Daily Debate: What is the Best Optional Sword Upgrade in the Zelda Series?
Posted on July 23 2021 by Mike Midwood
No Zelda adventure takes place without a blade in hand, and most allow that primary weapon to be improved upon at least once. Starting with The Legend of Zelda, upgrading Link’s sword has always been one of the most satisfying moments in each game. Whether you’re a completionist or you rely on these upgrades to mitigate the game’s difficulty, ascending a sword’s power always comes with a palpable sense of strength. Which of these blade upgrades is your favorite? Specifically, we’re talking about optional swords that are more powerful than the strongest required sword.
Technically, every sword in The Legend of Zelda is optional, but many may see the most powerful one — the Magical Sword — as more of a necessity than an a luxury. The game can be very challenging and you can gain access to it just before taking on those difficult final dungeons. While A Link to the Past does end with the Master Sword, it can be optionally upgraded twice. Anyone who wields the Golden Sword will attest to its destructive force. The Koholint Sword from Link’s Awakening confers the iconic sword beam to the player beside the power boost.
Perhaps the most recognizable ubersword in the Zelda series is Biggoron’s Sword. Debuting in Ocarina of Time, this two-handed beast can shred through enemies and bosses with ease. It disallows use of a shield, but most fights won’t last long enough for that to matter. Sadly, story consistency renders it incapable of killing the final boss. Biggoron’s Sword is also available in the linked game of Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages. Majora’s Mask has a bunch of sword upgrades. Only the starting Kokiri Sword is mandatory, but Link can upgrade to the Razor Sword, Gilded Sword, Great Fairy Sword, or Great Deity Sword. The Gilded Sword is probably the most useful, as it can be gained pretty early, but the Great Deity Sword is an absolute monster of damage and range. It completely trivializes any fight where it’s used.
Which optional sword upgrade is your favorite? Do you feel you truly need these upgrades, or do you just like to complete your collection? Let us know in the comment below!
Hi, I’m Mike Midwood and I’m a Senior Editor at ZeldaDungeon! Video games and literature are my greatest joys in life. An avid Zelda fan, some of my other favorite games include the Resident Evil and Dark Souls series. I hope you enjoy my content here on ZeldaDungeon!
“The sword has no strength unless the hand that holds it has courage.”
