Heart Containers and permanent equipment
Collect the Heart Container after each of the first eight dungeon bosses. Explore the overworld for the five additional containers; when an old man offers medicine or a heart, choose the heart for permanent completion.
Use the Raft and Stepladder to revisit shoreline rewards. Check sword thresholds separately: five hearts for the White Sword and twelve for the Magical Sword.
Buy the Blue Ring when your budget allows, upgrade bomb capacity in Levels 5 and 7, and check the equipment list before entering Death Mountain. The Red Ring replaces the Blue Ring later.