Daily Debate: Is It Time for Zelda to Move Away from the Master Sword?
Posted on March 11 2025 by John Lortie
The Master Sword’s been a near-constant in Zelda since its introduction in A Link to the Past. We’ve seen it transcend systems and adventures, accompanying each Link as he sets out to best his enemy. Nearly every console Zelda title (meaning ones not relegated to a handheld system – the Switch blurs those lines) since its introduction has featured it.
The series has shed some of its core tenets in the current console generation. We’ve seen a playable Princess Zelda as the protagonist. Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom don’t mention the Triforce by name, and what it’s called is seemingly forgotten in Echoes of Wisdom. Zelda’s also moved away from the “get dungeon item, beat dungeon boss, progress game” loop that defined it for decades. There are those who are even more familiar with Link wearing blue than they are with him in green.
If Nintendo stays on track to further reimagine Zelda, what’s the next thing to go? Could it be the Master Sword? It seems likely that, since the Triforce’s influence is already diminished, this could be the next in-game object on the chopping block!
There are a handful of games where Link doesn’t wield the Master Sword. Aside from The Legend of Zelda and Zelda II, these mostly smaller adventures don’t deal with Ganon and the power of the Triforce. We know that Zelda doesn’t need the Master Sword to be successful (see Majora’s Mask and Link’s Awakening for prime examples). Couple this with the variety of weapons introduced in Breath of the Wild and we have the making for some new all-powerful weapon.
There’s also the chance that Zelda could do away with the concept of a weapon of “Evil’s Bane” entirely. If the series moves on from Ganon, Link could fight the final battle with whatever he has equipped.
What do you think? Is it time for Zelda to move away from the Master Sword? Let us know in the comments!
John’s been a Zelda fan since he was seven years old (which was a good few decades ago). He loves the last three months of the year, analog media, his family, and Tolkien. His favorite Zelda game is Breath of the Wild and his favorite game is Night in the Woods.
