Navigating the Great Sea in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker requires more than just a sturdy sail and a sense of direction. While Treasure Charts and Triforce Charts lead to specific loot, the twelve Special Charts act as a functional overlay for the world map. These items reveal the locations of hidden enemies, essential upgrades, and specific world events that are otherwise left to guesswork. Mastering the collection of these charts is a prerequisite for anyone aiming for a 100% completion run or simply looking to streamline their late-game navigation.

Unlike standard maps, many Special Charts are part of a multi-step "salvage chain." To obtain one, you often need to find a specific Treasure Chart first, sail to a designated coordinate, and use the Grappling Hook to haul the Special Chart from the ocean floor. This hierarchical progression makes them some of the most elusive items in the game.

The Foundational Maps: Tingle, Beedle, and the In-credible Chart

The first set of Special Charts are generally acquired through social interaction or the mail system. They provide the most basic level of world data needed to progress through the mid-game.

Tingle’s Chart

Location: Windfall Island (D-2) Requirement: Release Tingle from jail.

This is usually the first Special Chart most players encounter. By exploring the back alleys of Windfall Island and finding the prison cell behind Lenzo’s Pictograph Studio, you can release Tingle. In gratitude, he gives you this chart along with the Tingle Tuner (or Tingle Bottle in the HD version). This map identifies the location of Tingle Island (C-3) and, more importantly, the two locations where Great Fairies provide wallet upgrades—specifically at Northern Fairy Island and Outset Island. It is a fundamental tool for early-game resource management.

Beedle’s Chart

Location: Received by Mail Requirement: Obtain Bombs.

Once you secure Bombs from Niko on the Pirate Ship, Beedle will send this chart to your mailbox. It marks every location where his Shop Ship anchors across the Great Sea. While standard Beedle ships are easy to find, the chart also reveals the location of the "Masked Ship" near Rock Spire Isle (B-3). This specialized shop is the only place to purchase a Piece of Heart, a Treasure Chart, and an Empty Bottle, making the chart vital for collectors.

In-credible Chart

Location: Received by Mail Requirement: Rescue Aryll; 201 Rupees for postage.

Tingle remains a central figure in chart collection. After you rescue Link’s sister from the Forsaken Fortress, Tingle sends this map via the Rito postal service. However, it arrives as "Cash on Delivery," requiring 201 Rupees to open. The In-credible Chart is mandatory for the end-game quest as it tracks the locations of all eight Triforce Charts (or shards in the HD version). Once a shard or chart is collected, the map automatically updates with a cross-mark, allowing you to visualize your progress toward the final confrontation.

The Combat and Exploration Utilities

These charts focus on revealing the structural hazards and hidden interiors scattered across the 49 sectors of the Great Sea.

Submarine Chart

Location: Boating Course (F-7) Requirement: Boomerang or Deku Leaf.

Submarines are hidden mini-dungeons that often contain Pieces of Heart or Treasure Charts. To find all of them, you must visit the Boating Course. There are two islands here; on the smaller one, you must drop into a secret hole and hit three switches simultaneously (or in quick succession) while fending off Mini-Blins. Success spawns a chest containing the Submarine Chart. This tool highlights every submarine in the ocean, turning them from random encounters into targeted objectives.

Platform Chart

Location: Submarine near Flight Control Platform (G-2) Requirement: Combat readiness.

Similar to the Submarine Chart, the Platform Chart reveals the locations of all lookout platforms. These wooden structures often house cannons and archers but also contain chests with valuable spoils or maps. To get this chart, you must locate the submarine hovering near the Flight Control Platform, board it, and defeat all waves of enemies inside. The map is particularly useful for players who want to clear all sector-based combat challenges.

Secret Cave Chart

Location: Overlook Island (G-1) Requirement: Treasure Chart #13.

This is where the salvage chains begin. First, you must go to Two-Eye Reef (D-7) and destroy all the wall-mounted cannons to spawn a chest containing Treasure Chart #13. Following that map leads you to Overlook Island (G-1), where you must use the Grappling Hook at the X-mark on the sea floor to pull up the Secret Cave Chart. This map marks every island that contains a hidden underground cavern, which is essential for players who feel they are missing specific Heart Pieces or items tucked away in holes.

Tracking Collectibles: Octos, Fairies, and Hearts

The following charts are designed for the completionist. They track specific upgrades and high-value targets across the map.

Octo Chart

Location: Northern Triangle Island (D-3) Requirement: Treasure Chart #26.

Big Octos are the Great Sea’s version of world bosses. They are identified by the flocks of seagulls circling a specific spot. To find them systematically, you first need Treasure Chart #26, which is found by clearing the cannons at Six-Eye Reef (D-4). Using that chart at Northern Triangle Island reveals the Octo Chart. This map not only shows where the Octos are but also indicates how many eyes each one has (4, 8, or 12), which correlates to the difficulty of the fight and the quality of the reward (such as the Magic Meter upgrade from the 4-eyed variant).

Great Fairy Chart

Location: Four-Eye Reef (A-2) Requirement: Treasure Chart #41.

The Great Fairies provide essential upgrades to your carrying capacity for arrows, bombs, and magic. To find them all, you must first secure Treasure Chart #41 from Five-Eye Reef (B-6) by clearing the fortifications. Using that chart at Four-Eye Reef leads to the Great Fairy Chart. This is arguably one of the most useful Special Charts, as it ensures you don't miss any of the eight fairy upgrades hidden across the map.

Island Hearts Chart

Location: Flight Control Platform (G-2) Requirement: Treasure Chart #19.

There are 44 Pieces of Heart in Wind Waker. The Island Hearts Chart shows the number of heart pieces located specifically on the islands (as opposed to those found on the sea floor). To get it, you must clear Four-Eye Reef (A-2) to get Treasure Chart #19, then salvage the Special Chart at the Flight Control Platform. Note that this chart contains a known error in the original game, suggesting there are more pieces on Windfall Island than there actually are, but it remains a vital checklist for health upgrades.

Sea Hearts Chart

Location: Boating Course (F-7) Requirement: Treasure Chart #32.

While the Island Hearts Chart tracks land-based pieces, the Sea Hearts Chart tracks those hidden in sunken treasure chests. You obtain this by clearing Three-Eye Reef (A-4) for Treasure Chart #32, then salvaging the prize at the Boating Course. This map effectively bridges the gap between your standard Treasure Charts and your health bar.

Light Ring Chart

Location: Cyclops Reef (C-4) Requirement: Treasure Chart #21.

Light rings appear on the ocean surface, indicating sunken treasure that can be retrieved with the Grappling Hook. While most are always present, some clusters of light rings only appear during a full moon. To track these lucrative spots, you must get Treasure Chart #21 from Cyclops Reef (C-4) and use it within the same sector to find the Light Ring Chart. This is the primary method for farming large quantities of Rupees late in the game.

The Ghost Ship Chart: A Story Necessity

Among all twelve, the Ghost Ship Chart is the only one that is strictly required to finish the game’s main quest. Without it, you cannot enter the Ghost Ship to retrieve a necessary Triforce Chart.

Location: Diamond Steppe Island (A-6) Requirement: Hookshot.

Getting this chart is one of the more complex environmental puzzles in the game. You must use the Hookshot on the palm trees to scale the jagged rocks of Diamond Steppe Island. At the top, a hole leads into a subterranean maze of warp jars. You must navigate this maze correctly—avoiding Floormasters—to reach the chest at the end. Once obtained, the Ghost Ship Chart reveals the ship's location based on the current phase of the moon. Only when you have this chart in your inventory will the Ghost Ship become tangible, allowing Link to board it when he sails into its spectral aura.

Mastery of the Salvage Chain

Understanding the relationship between the Reefs and the Special Charts is the key to efficient exploration. The "Eye Reefs" (named after the number of islands they contain: One-Eye to Six-Eye) are the primary hubs for these charts. Each reef follows a similar pattern: destroy the permanent gun emplacements and ships, and a chest will appear.

For a streamlined experience, it is advisable to tackle the reefs in a single circuit once you have obtained the Bombs and the Grappling Hook. Starting from the southern reaches of the map and moving north allows you to collect the prerequisite Treasure Charts in a logical flow.

Practical Navigation Tips

  1. Moon Phases: Both the Ghost Ship and the Full Moon Light Rings rely on the in-game lunar cycle. If you are hunting for these specific items, use the Song of Passing (taught by Tott on Windfall Island) to skip days until the moon is in the correct phase. This saves significant real-world time.
  2. Chart Management: Once a Special Chart is active, it can be toggled on the main Sea Chart screen. Use this to cross-reference with your current position. If you are in a sector and the Special Chart indicates an objective (like a Big Octo), you will see the icon pulsing or highlighted.
  3. Upgrade Synergy: Prioritize the Great Fairy Chart. Having expanded Bomb and Arrow capacity makes clearing the other reefs significantly easier, as you won't have to break your rhythm to find ammo refills.
  4. The Salvage Corp: Keep an eye out for the Salvage Corp divers. While they don't provide Special Charts, they often hang around the sectors where these charts are buried, providing a visual clue that you are in the right area to use your Grappling Hook.

The Evolution of the Charts in Wind Waker HD

In the high-definition remake for the Wii U, some aspects of the charts were adjusted to improve the game's pacing. The most notable change is the reduction of Triforce Charts. In the original version, you had to find eight charts and pay Tingle a hefty sum to decrypt each one. In the HD version, five of these were replaced with direct shards, though the In-credible Chart remains essential for tracking the remaining three.

Additionally, the HD version introduced the Swift Sail, which makes the hunt for Special Charts much less tedious. Since several Special Charts require you to sail back and forth between reefs and salvage points, the ability to always have the wind at your back and move at double speed is a massive advantage. If you are playing the HD version, prioritize getting the Swift Sail from the Windfall Auction before starting your Special Chart hunt.

Summary of the 12 Special Charts

To ensure nothing is missed, here is a quick-reference checklist for the 12 charts:

  • Tingle's Chart: (D-2) Free Tingle. Shows Tingle Island and Wallet Fairies.
  • Beedle's Chart: (Mail) Get Bombs. Shows all Shop Ships.
  • In-credible Chart: (Mail) Post-Aryll rescue. Tracks Triforce progress.
  • Octo Chart: (D-3) Needs Treasure Chart 26. Tracks Big Octos.
  • Great Fairy Chart: (A-2) Needs Treasure Chart 41. Tracks Fairy upgrades.
  • Island Hearts Chart: (G-2) Needs Treasure Chart 19. Tracks land-based health pieces.
  • Sea Hearts Chart: (F-7) Needs Treasure Chart 32. Tracks sea-based health pieces.
  • Secret Cave Chart: (G-1) Needs Treasure Chart 13. Tracks hidden island holes.
  • Light Ring Chart: (C-4) Needs Treasure Chart 21. Tracks lunar light rings.
  • Submarine Chart: (F-7) Complete Boating Course cave. Tracks all submarines.
  • Platform Chart: (G-2) Clear submarine near G-2. Tracks lookout platforms.
  • Ghost Ship Chart: (A-6) Complete Diamond Steppe maze. Mandatory for Ghost Ship entry.

By systematically collecting these items, the Great Sea transforms from a vast, intimidating expanse into a manageable grid of opportunities. Each chart represents a layer of knowledge that makes the Hero of Winds more efficient and prepared for the challenges within Ganon's Tower. Whether you are hunting for every last Heart Piece or simply need to find the Ghost Ship to move the story forward, these twelve maps are your most valuable assets on the open water.