The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap

References

1. ^ abThe Minish Cap counts Link's health in eighths of a heart, as A Link to the Past does and as the zladx annotators' comment on Link's Awakening's health byte says ("$08 = 1 heart"); a new file starts him at 24, three hearts. When Link holds up a Piece of Heart, the code refills his health to its maximum and adds 1 to the piece count. The fourth piece resets the count to 0 and then does what a Heart Container does: it adds 8 to the maximum, capped at 160 (20 hearts, A Link to the Past's cap), and refills his health again. Both earlier games also make a container from every fourth piece.Codezeldaret/tmc · spannerisms/usdasm · zladx/LADX-Disassemblyrevised
   How we know

   134        case 2:
   135            if (super->type != ITEM_HEART_CONTAINER) {
   136                if (super->type != ITEM_HEART_PIECE) {
   137                    break;
   ⋮
   139                ModHealth(160);
   140                gSave.stats.heartPieces++;
   141                if (gSave.stats.heartPieces < 4) {
   142                    break;
   ⋮
   144                gSave.stats.heartPieces = 0;
   ⋮
   146            gSave.stats.maxHealth += 8;
   147            if (gSave.stats.maxHealth > 160) {
   148                gSave.stats.maxHealth = 160;
   ⋮
   

   204s32 ModHealth(s32 delta) {
   ⋮
   208    newHealth = stats->health + delta;
   ⋮
   212    if (stats->maxHealth < newHealth) {
   213        newHealth = stats->maxHealth;
   ⋮
   215    stats->health = newHealth;
   

   1688    save->stats.health = 24;
   1689    save->stats.maxHealth = 24;
   

   776    maxQuarterHearts = gSave.stats.maxHealth / 2;
   ⋮
   797    maxHearts = maxQuarterHearts / 4;
   

   20390|05F08A| LDA.l $7EF36B
   20391|05F08E| INC A
   20392|05F08F| AND.b #$03
   20393|05F091| STA.l $7EF36B
   20394|05F095| BNE .not_full_set
   ⋮
   20400|05F09C| LDY.b #$26 ; ITEMGET 26
   

   13529|08C48B| LDA.l $7EF36C
   13530|08C48F| CMP.b #$A0
   13531|08C491| BEQ .not_heart
   ⋮
   13533|08C493| CLC
   13534|08C494| ADC.b #$08
   13535|08C496| STA.l $7EF36C
   

   2922    ; If found 4 heart pieces…
   ⋮
   2929    ; Clear heart pieces count
   ⋮
   2935    ; Increase the maximum number of hearts
   

   3382; Amount of health ($08 = 1 heart)
   3383wHealth::
   

   Checked against the evidence by its author, an AI model, 2026-10-22.

   Revised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-10-22.

   In the claim ledger

2. ^The Minish Cap takes a touch's effects from a collision matrix: the entry at the toucher's hit type × 34 + the touched one's hurt type. For an Octorok or a Leever (hit type 25) touching Link in his normal state (hurt type 0), the US ROM's entry gives Link 30 invincibility frames, a knockback duration of 8, and 2 damage, a quarter heart. The collision loop skips a pair while either has a nonzero iframe count, unless either has bit 7 of its collision flags set, and Link's count steps one toward 0 each frame his update runs, so the protection lasts 30 frames. Link's Awakening sets its count to 80 and A Link to the Past to 58.Codezeldaret/tmc · “Legend of Zelda, The - The Minish Cap (USA)” · zladx/LADX-Disassembly · spannerisms/usdasmrevised
   How we know

   436	bl arm_CalcCollisionDirection
   437	mov r6, r0
   438	ldrb r1, [OTHER, #0x3f] // hitType
   439	mov r0, #0x22
   440	mul r1, r0, r1
   441	ldrb r0, [THIS, #0x40] // hurtType
   442	add r0, r0, r1
   443	mov r1, #0xc
   444	mul r2, r0, r1
   445	ldr r1, _080B2014 @ =gCollisionMtx
   ⋮
   447	mov r1, #0
   

   329	ldrb r0, [OTHER, #0x3c] // collisionFlags
   330	orr r0, r0, r3
   331	lsrs r0, r0, #7 // top
   332	bhs _080B1D20
   333	ldrb r0, [OTHER, #0x3d] // iframes
   334	orrs r0, r0, r2
   335	bne next_other
   

   731        org->knockbackSpeed = 16 * settings->orgKnockbackSpeed;
   732        org->iframes = settings->orgIframes;
   733        if (org->iframes == 0)
   734            org->iframes = -1;
   735        org->knockbackDuration = settings->orgKnockbackDuration;
   736        tgt->damage = settings->tgtDamage;
   

   224    if (org->kind == PLAYER) {
   225        damage = tgt->damage;
   ⋮
   236        health = ModHealth(-damage);
   

   424    super->hurtType = 0;
   

   87        super->hitType = definition->damageType;
   

   239const EnemyDefinition gEnemyDefinition_0[] = {
   240    { 1, 0, &gHitbox_0, SPRITE_OCTOROK, { 3, 1, 1, 1 }, 2, 96, 25, 15 },
   

   185const EnemyDefinition gEnemyDefinition_2[] = {
   186    { 2, 175, &gHitbox_0, SPRITE_LEEVER, { 3, 0, 0, 1 }, 6, 128, 25, 139 },
   

   224        HandlePlayerLife(super);
   225        DoPlayerAction(this);
   ⋮
   228        sub_080171F0();
   

   322static void sub_080171F0(void) {
   ⋮
   335    sub_080028E0(&gPlayerEntity.base);
   

   1167sub_080028E0: @ 0x080028E0
   1168	movs r1, #0x3d
   1169	movs r3, #1
   1170	ldrsb r2, [r0, r1]
   1171	cmp r2, #0
   1172	beq _080028F2
   1173	bmi _080028EE
   1174	rsbs r3, r3, #0
   1175_080028EE:
   1176	adds r2, r2, r3
   1177	strb r2, [r0, r1]
   

   In the cartridge (“Legend of Zelda, The - The Minish Cap (USA)”): the literal `_080B2014` that intr.s loads as gCollisionMtx; it holds 0x080B7B74; gCollisionMtx entry 34 × 25 + 0 = 850, at 0x080B7B74 + 12 × 850; its 12 bytes in ColSettings order (collision.c L26-L39) are 24, 30, 8, 2, 0, 16, 255, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0: Link's knockback speed 24, iframes 30, knockback duration 8, the Octorok's damage to him 2, then the Octorok's own speed 16, iframes −1, and duration 1. We don't reproduce the bytes.

   5347    ld   a, $50                                   ;; 03:6DB2 $3E $50
   

   146|0780B4| LDA.w $031F
   147|0780B7| BNE .have_iframes
   ⋮
   149|0780B9| LDA.b #$3A
   150|0780BB| STA.w $031F
   

   Checked against the evidence by its author, an AI model, 2026-10-22.

   Revised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-10-22.

   In the claim ledger

3. ^While Link's knockback duration is nonzero, a routine that his normal state calls each frame counts it one step toward 0 and, if it's still nonzero, moves him 0x280 along the knockback direction; the code's walking speed kWalkSpeed is Q_8_8(1.25), 0x140, so the atlas reads the push as twice walking speed, though the move routine wasn't read. His normal state skips the code that reads the d-pad while the duration is nonzero, so the player can't steer. The collision loop stores the direction for both parties, Link's the reverse of the toucher's. Among the cancels: a jump, a dash, a roll, a fall, swimming (a swim state above 1), a held object (states 1–4), and climbing unless the push is south. After an Octorok's touch (duration 8) that's 7 moves (computed). Link's Awakening's push runs a 16-frame countdown.Codezeldaret/tmc · zladx/LADX-Disassemblyrevised
   How we know

   1889void sub_080792D8(void) {
   ⋮
   1892    if (playerEntity->knockbackDuration == 0)
   1893        return;
   ⋮
   1895    if (playerEntity->action == PLAYER_08071DB8 || gPlayerState.dash_state || (u8)(gPlayerState.heldObject - 1) < 4 ||
   ⋮
   1898        gPlayerState.flags & PL_ROLLING) {
   1899        playerEntity->knockbackDuration = 0;
   1900    } else if (playerEntity->action == PLAYER_CLIMB && playerEntity->knockbackDirection != DirectionSouth) {
   1901        playerEntity->knockbackDuration = 0;
   ⋮
   1903        if ((s8)playerEntity->knockbackDuration >= 1) {
   1904            playerEntity->knockbackDuration--;
   ⋮
   1909        if (playerEntity->knockbackDuration == 0)
   1910            return;
   ⋮
   

   37#define kWalkSpeed Q_8_8(1.25)
   

   498    sub_080792D8();
   

   522    if (super->knockbackDuration == 0) {
   ⋮
   543                super->direction = gPlayerState.direction;
   

   564    } else {
   565        if (gPlayerState.item == NULL)
   566            UpdateAnimationSingleFrame(super);
   ⋮
   569        return;
   

   475_080B1F10:
   476	strb r6, [OTHER, #0x3e]
   477	eor r6, r6, #0x10
   478	strb r6, [THIS, #0x3e]
   

   735        org->knockbackDuration = settings->orgKnockbackDuration;
   

   ld a, $10 … ld [wIgnoreLinkCollisionsCountdown], a … cp ENTITY_MOLDORM … ld a, $14 … ld a, $18 … call func_003_7565

   588func_002_44C2::
   

   Checked against the evidence by its author, an AI model, 2026-10-22.

   Revised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-10-22.

   In the claim ledger

4. ^ abWhen a monster dies, its death effect calls the drop routine with the monster's drop table: 6 for Octoroks, ChuChus, Leevers, and Peahats. Unless the room disables random drops, the routine adds the table's 16 weights to an active Picolyte's row, then adds 5 to the heart weight at 8 health (one heart) or less, 3 to bombs with none carried, 3 to arrows with none, and 1 to the 5-rupee weight at 10 rupees or fewer; a weight below 0 (the tables rule an entry out with −999) counts as 0. One Random() value then picks the entry: its bits 24–27 choose where to start, and the value modulo the weights' sum walks the 16 entries from there. Table 6 weighs nothing 73, a green rupee 25, a heart 5, bombs 1, and arrows 1, so with no Picolyte and no need bonus an Octorok drops nothing about 70% of the time (computed). Bombs and arrows drop only once Link has the bag or the bow. A Link to the Past instead steps each prize pack through 8 prizes in order.Codezeldaret/tmc · “Legend of Zelda, The - The Minish Cap (USA)” · spannerisms/usdasmrevised
   How we know

   123    static const u8 DeathFx_EnemyDroptables[] = {
   124        [OCTOROK] = 6,
   125        [CHUCHU] = 6,
   126        [LEEVER] = 6,
   127        [PEAHAT] = 6,
   

   237    if (this->parentId < 0xf0) {
   238        CreateRandomItemDrop(super, DeathFx_EnemyDroptables[this->parentId]);
   

   427    if (gRoomVars.randomDropsDisabled != TRUE) {
   428        ptr2 = &gDroptableModifiers[DROPTABLE_NONE];
   429        ptr4 = NULL;
   430        switch (r3) {
   431            case 1 ... 12:
   432                ptr4 = &gEnemyDroptables[r3];
   

   456        if (ptr4 != 0) {
   457            if ((r1 = gSave.stats.picolyteType) == 0) {
   ⋮
   464                ptr3 = &gEnemyDroptables[r1 + 6];
   ⋮
   468            SumDropProbabilities(droptable.a, ptr4->a, ptr2->a, ptr3->a);
   469            if (gSave.stats.health <= 8) {
   470                droptable.s.hearts += 5;
   ⋮
   472            if (gSave.stats.bombCount == 0) {
   473                droptable.s.bombs += 3;
   ⋮
   475            if (gSave.stats.arrowCount == 0) {
   476                droptable.s.arrows += 3;
   ⋮
   478            if (gSave.stats.rupees <= 10) {
   479                droptable.s.rupee5++;
   

   495            summOdds = SumDropProbabilities2(droptable.a, droptable.a, ptr2->a, ptr3->a);
   496            rand = Random();
   497            item = (rand >> 0x18);
   498            item &= 0xF;
   499            rand = rand % summOdds;
   ⋮
   502                for (r3 = 0, r1 = 0; r3 < 0x10; r3++, item = (item + 1) & 0xF) {
   503                    if ((r1 += droptable.a[item]) > rand) {
   504                        break;
   ⋮
   508            r1 = gUnk_080FE1B4[item];
   509            if (r1 != ITEM_NONE) {
   510                return CreateItemDrop(arg0, r1, 0);
   

   30	// sum 3 drop probabilities, clamp to 0, return scalar sum
   ⋮
   42	bpl positive_drop_chance // clamp to 0
   43	movs r5, #0
   44positive_drop_chance:
   45	strh r5, [r0, r4] // store in output
   46	adds r7, r5
   

   19Random: @ 0x08000E50
   20	ldr r2, =gRand
   21	ldr r0, [r2]
   22	lsls r1, r0, #1
   23	adds r0, r0, r1
   24	movs r1, #0xd
   25	rors r0, r1
   26	str r0, [r2]
   27	lsrs r0, r0, #1
   

   112    [6] = { {
   113        .none = 73,
   114        .rupee1 = 25,
   115        .rupee5 = -999,
   116        .rupee20 = -999,
   117        .hearts = 5,
   118        .fairy = 0,
   119        .bombs = 1,
   120        .arrows = 1,
   121        .mysteriousShells = 0,
   

   528        case ITEM_BOMBS5:
   529            if (!GetInventoryValue(ITEM_BOMBBAG)) {
   530                return ITEM_NONE;
   ⋮
   533        case ITEM_ARROWS5:
   534            if (!GetInventoryValue(ITEM_BOW)) {
   535                return ITEM_NONE;
   

   In the cartridge (“Legend of Zelda, The - The Minish Cap (USA)”): gUnk_080FE1B4, the entry-to-item table, whose values the decompilers give only in a comment (itemUtils.c L416-L420); the ROM's 16 bytes are 0, 84, 85, 86, 95, 96, 93, 94, 63, 252, 253, 254, 255, 0, 0, 0, which include/item.h names none, the 1-, 5-, and 20-rupee pieces, heart, fairy, 5 bombs, 5 arrows, shells, the red, blue, and green Kinstones, and the enemy beetle. We don't reproduce the bytes.

   24136|06F9B2| JSL GetRandomNumber
   ⋮
   24138|06F9B6| PLY
   ⋮
   24140|06F9B7| AND.w PrizePackRarities,Y
   24141|06F9BA| BNE .you_dont_get_a_drop
   ⋮
   24155|06F9C4| LDA.w $0FC7,Y
   24156|06F9C7| INC A
   24157|06F9C8| AND.b #$07
   24158|06F9CA| STA.w $0FC7,Y
   

   Checked against the evidence by its author, an AI model, 2026-10-22.

   Revised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-10-22.

   In the claim ledger

5. ^Each Kinstone fuser in The Minish Cap has a data entry whose second byte, which the decompilers call its stability, is the percent chance it offers a fusion: GetFusionToOffer returns no fusion when that byte is at most Random() % 100, none before Link has the Kinstone Bag, and none before the story's progress reaches the entry's first byte. The one call the atlas read is in the Blade Brothers' first action, which sets them up. An entry of 0xFF in a fuser's list stands for a shared fusion: from a random start among 18, the first not yet fused. In the US ROM's table, of the 119 fusers after entry 0, 77 have 100, 20 have 50, 21 have 30, and one has 60 (computed).Codezeldaret/tmc · “Legend of Zelda, The - The Minish Cap (USA)”revised
   How we know

   1235    fuserId = GetFuserId(entity);
   1236    fuserData = gUnk_08001DCC[fuserId];
   1237    if (GetInventoryValue(ITEM_KINSTONE_BAG) == 0 || fuserData[0] > gSave.global_progress) {
   1238        return KINSTONE_NONE;
   

   1257        if (offeredFusion == KINSTONE_RANDOM) { // random shared fusion
   1258            offeredFusion = GetRandomSharedFusion(fuserData);
   

   1274    randomMood = Random();
   1275    fuserStability = fuserData[1];
   1276    if (fuserStability <= randomMood % 100) {
   1277        return KINSTONE_NONE; // fickleness
   

   1943const u8 SharedFusions[] = {
   ⋮
   1948u32 GetRandomSharedFusion(u8* fuserData) {
   1949    s32 r = (s32)Random() % 18;
   1950    u32 i;
   1951    for (i = 0; i < 18; ++i) {
   1952        u32 kinstoneId = SharedFusions[r];
   1953        if (!CheckKinstoneFused(kinstoneId))
   1954            return kinstoneId;
   1955        r = (r + 1) % 18;
   ⋮
   1957    return KINSTONE_JUST_FUSED;
   

   154    KINSTONE_RANDOM = 0xFF,
   

   314void sub_08068AFC(BladeBrothersEntity* this) {
   315    super->action = 1;
   316    super->spriteSettings.draw = 1;
   317    this->fusionOffer = GetFusionToOffer(super);
   

   307gUnk_08001DCC:: @ 08001DCC
   308	.4byte gUnk_08001FAC
   309	.4byte gUnk_08001FB4
   

   In the cartridge (“Legend of Zelda, The - The Minish Cap (USA)”): the fusers' pointer table, 120 words, the first pointing at 0x08001FAC where the table ends; the fusers' entries, every pointer landing in this range; second bytes counted: entry 0 (first byte 99) has 0, and of entries 1–119, 77 have 100, 20 have 50, 21 have 30, one has 60. We don't reproduce the bytes.

   Checked against the evidence by its author, an AI model, 2026-10-22.

   Revised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-10-22.

   In the claim ledger