Wonder Boy in Monster Land/Items

Swords
A stronger sword is the key to defeating enemies quickly. However, unlike most equipment, you can't buy swords at any shop. You'll have to earn them by challenging powerful enemies. And if you miss one, you won't be able to collect the most powerful sword of all.

Armor
Armor cuts down on the amount of damage you take when you get hurt. The stronger the armor, the less damage you receive. You begin the game with no armor at all. You don't need to purchase every armor available, but in a game where health is very precious, it's worth it to have some form of protection on you. Note that the Knight Armor is more expensive than the Heavy Armor, but the Heavy Armor is stronger. Aim to have the Armor of Legend by the end of the game.

Shield
Shields are an important aspect of your defense. They protect you from the projectiles that the enemies fire at you. When you get hit by a projectile, or even an enemy, you get pushed back. The stronger your shield, the less you will get pushed around. The Light shield should be the first piece of equipment that you buy, but the Legend shield should be the last.

Shoes
Shoes affect neither your offense or your defense, but rather your mobility. The better your shoes, the fast you can run and the higher you can jump. There are some areas that you can not reach unless you are wearing good enough shoes. Try to get the best pair you can afford.

Special weapons
Special weapons can be purchased from stores, but they are also occasionally dropped by some of the tougher enemies. When you collect them, they stack up, so collecting one does not replace another. The most recent special weapon must first be used up, however, to access previous weapons that you've collected. Push down on the control pad to utilize special weapons.

Items
All of the following items are dropped by defeated enemies (except for the hourglass) or revealed by jumping into particular locations in various stages. Each are important, so collect as many of them as you can find.

Inventory
The following are typically obtained from defeated monsters, although it is possible to purchase them from certain shops. Many of them have a lifetime as well, so don't count on them staying with you throughout your adventure.

Sub-quest items
The following items have no direct function in the game except during the very last stage. If you are able to discover some secret doors and decipher some cryptic clues, you may find yourself on an extended trading mission which will ultimately result in your possession of one of two powerful items that will make the game easier to complete. It will take a lot of work to obtain those items however, but it's worth the effort if you succeed.

Point items
Some enemies drop regular items the first time you kill them, some do not. Those that do will drop point items the second time you kill them. Those that do not usually drop point items the very first time. Collect these to boost your chances of increasing your life meter by reaching certain point thresholds.