Rupees in Ocarina of Time are tight early and worthless late, which means the order you spend in matters more than how much you gather. Two things should come before anything else, and one purchase is a trap almost everyone falls into once.
Buy Wallet Capacity First
Your starting wallet holds 99 rupees. Until you raise that, every rupee you find above the cap is wasted, and the game hands them out in 20s, 50s and 200s.
The upgrades come from Gold Skulltula tokens rather than shops: the Adult’s Wallet at 10 tokens and the Giant’s Wallet at 30, both from the House of Skulltula in Kakariko. Our guide on all Gold Skulltula rewards covers the milestones.
Do this before any serious farming. Our guide on how to farm rupees covers what to do once you have the capacity.
Then Magic Beans
Ten beans, and the price rises by 10 rupees with each one, so the tenth costs ninety. That escalation is why buying them across a long stretch of the child era is easier than saving up for all ten.
The hard constraint is that only child Link can plant them, so the window closes when you pull the Master Sword. Our guide on where to plant magic beans covers the ten patches.
The Purchase to Avoid
The Giant’s Knife, sold in Goron City for a substantial sum, looks like an upgrade. It shatters after a handful of swings and leaves you with a broken hilt.
The weapon people think they are buying is the Biggoron’s Sword, which comes from a trading quest rather than a shop, does not break, and hits harder than the Master Sword. Our guide on the Biggoron Sword covers the twelve steps.
Buying the Giant’s Knife is not fatal, but it is the single most common waste of money in the game.
Worth Buying
- Deku Shields, repeatedly, because the wooden one burns on contact with fire. Our guide on how to use the shield covers why it keeps happening.
- Bombs and arrows, as consumables before a dungeon.
- Bottled potions, red and green, which are cheap insurance.
- Bombchus, which several puzzles want and which are awkward to find otherwise.
Money Stops Mattering
By the late game you will be capped at 500 rupees with nothing left to buy. That is worth knowing so you stop farming rather than grinding past the point of usefulness.
If you have spare money and nothing to spend it on, the Gold Skulltula hunt and the heart pieces are the remaining progress. Our guide on all heart pieces covers the 36.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should you buy first? Nothing. Raise your wallet capacity with Gold Skulltula tokens before spending seriously.
How much do magic beans cost? The first is 10 rupees, rising by 10 with each purchase.
Is the Giant’s Knife worth buying? No. It breaks after a few swings. The Biggoron’s Sword is the one you want.
What is the maximum wallet size? 500 rupees, with the Giant’s Wallet at 30 Skulltula tokens.