User:Xelleak/Xelleak's Sandbox
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Spoiler Alert! This article describes a subject that is sensitive to plot development. |
- This article is about the recurring legendary sword. For the sword's Hyrule Warriors moveset, see Hylian Sword. For The Recovered Memory from Breath of the Wild, see The Master Sword (Memory). For the precursor from The Legend of Zelda and The Adventure of Link, see Magical Sword.
Games | The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past | |
Upgrade to | Tempered Sword (ALttP) | |
Used by | ||
Base Power | 30 (Base) | |
Base Durability | 40 (Base) | |
Related | ||
The Master Sword is a recurring Sword in The Legend of Zelda series. Also known as the Sacred Sword, the Blade of Evil's Bane, or the Sword that Seals the Darkness, it is the signature weapon of Link and one of the most integral parts of both the character's visual identity and the franchise as a whole.
Overview
The Master Sword was originally forged by the Goddess Hylia as the Goddess Sword, which was later forged into the Master Sword by the Hero of the Sky and the spirit which dwelled inside the blade, Fi. The two bathed the Goddess Sword in the three Sacred Flames around the Surface to awaken the blade's hidden strength; Din's Flame specifically granted the Sword the ability to repel evil in all forms. After being bathed in all three Flames, Zelda's blessing transformed the Master Sword into its true form.
In A Link to the Past, the Master Sword had a red grip and yellow cross-guard (both are red in-game); However, before drawn from its pedestal, it is seen with a blue cross-guard and purple grip. The Master Sword's most iconic design, established in Ocarina of Time, is as a longsword with a blue handle and pommel, green grip, blue cross-guard shaped like a pair of extended wings, a yellow gem in the center of the cross-guard, and a ricasso with the symbol of the Triforce etched into it. The blade itself is often seen with an ethereal blue shine, showing the sacred power that dwells inside the Master Sword.
Abilities
The Master Sword is blessed with sacred light, and has the ability to vanquish any source of evil, bypassing even the power of the Triforce. It can also be used to destroy magical barriers or break curses involving powerful dark magic, and is capable of sealing the remains of demons inside of itself. Additionally, the sword draws on heavenly power to perform Skyward Strikes, firing projectiles of sacred power. Even when on low power, the Master Sword can conduct lightning strikes to fire Skyward Strikes made from electricity.
Only a hero "pure of heart and strong of body" is capable of wielding the Master Sword, and anyone with a tainted heart cannot even touch the blade. If a hero chosen by the Master Sword draws the blade when they are too young to bear the title of hero, their spirit will be sealed away, sending them into a deep slumber until they come of age (as seen in Ocarina of Time). If someone attempts to draw the Master Sword but is too physically weak to wield it, the blade will gradually drain their life force and kill them unless they release the sword. In Ocarina of Time, the Master Sword also serves as a key, keeping the entrance to the Sacred Realm sealed so long as it remains in the Pedestal of Time. If a hero has been placed into stasis by the blade, they can exploit this to perform a limited form of time travel, returning the Master Sword to the pedestal to revisit their youth, or drawing it again to return to the present.
As seen in A Link to the Past and A Link Between Worlds, the Master Sword can be further upgraded through smithing or magical means. However, these upgrades are never permanent, and after its task is accomplished and the Master Sword returned to its pedestal, it will dull back to its original state.
Mainline appearances
A Link to the Past
"The hero's triumph on Cataclysm's Eve wins three Symbols of Virtue. The Master Sword he will then retrieve, keeping the knights' line true."
In A Link to the Past, Link is instructed to find the Master Sword by Saharasla, in order to defeat Agahnim and stop him from conquering Hyrule. The Master Sword is kept deep in the Lost Woods, accessed through a log tunnel in the northwest corner of the woods; A prophecy is inscribed into the Sword's pedestal in ancient Hylian, which can be translated using the Book of Mudora. To obtain the Master Sword, Link must first obtain all three Pendants of Virtue, which enable him to pull the blade out.
The Master Sword replaces the Fighter's Sword once obtained. It deals double damage, has a slightly longer reach, and grants Link the ability to fire Sword Beams while at full health; It is also required to destroy the magical barrier blocking access to the upper levels of Hyrule Castle, and is used to obtain the Ether Medallion and Bombos Medallion. Finally, the Master Sword's Spin Attacks are the only attack capable of damaging Ganon. After Ganon is defeated, Link returns the Master Sword to the Lost Woods, where it can rest until the next hero needs it.
In the GBA version, the Master Sword can also break Jars and Skulls. The Master Sword can later be upgraded into the Tempered Sword, and then into the Golden Sword.
Ocarina of Time
In Ocarina of Time, the Master Sword is kept in a hidden chamber in the Temple of Time, behind the Door of Time; The Sword serves as a seal to separate Hyrule from the Sacred Realm, protecting the Triforce from falling into the wrong hands. During the events of the game, Link is sent on a quest by the Great Deku Tree (and later Princess Zelda) to obtain the three Spiritual Stones and enter the Sacred Realm, so that he may claim the Triforce before Ganondorf does. After Link opens the Door of Time by placing the Spiritual Stones on their respective pedestals and playing the Song of Time, he gains access to the hidden chamber, and pulls the Master Sword from the Pedestal of Time. However, since Link is too young to become the hero of time, his spirit is sealed inside the Chamber of Sages for seven years until he has come of age; During this time, Ganondorf enters the Sacred Realm, claims the Triforce of Power, and conquers Hyrule as the King of Evil.
The Master Sword is Adult Link's default weapon. It deals double damage compared to the Kokiri Sword and has a longer reach; Additionally, the Master Sword is the only weapon which deals normal damage against Ganon. After completing the Forest Temple and meeting Sheik at the Temple of Time, Link can use the Master Sword to travel through time; Placing it back in the pedestal sends him back to the child era, before Ganondorf becomes the King of Evil, while drawing it again returns him to the adult era. After Ganondorf is defeated and banished, Zelda sends Link back to the child era with the Ocarina of Time so he can regain his childhood; The young hero leaves the Master Sword in the Temple of Time, preventing the seal from ever breaking.
Oracle of Seasons & Oracle of Ages
In Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages, the Master Sword is an optional sword upgrade that can only be obtained in a Linked Game. To obtain it, Link must receive a sword upgrade with the Noble Sword in hand; This is done either by completing the Trading Sequence, or via either the Clock Shop Secret or King Zora Secret (depending on the game). If Link obtains one of these upgrades with the Wooden Sword, he will receive the Noble Sword instead, and the Master Sword is located via the other upgrade.
The Master Sword replaces the Noble Sword once obtained. It deals double damage compared to the Noble Sword (quadruple damage compared to the Wooden Sword), making it the most versatile sword in the game. Uniquely, the Master Sword in the Oracle games is not the real Master Sword, but merely the Noble Sword tempered to match its power; The replica resembles the Noble Sword, but is blue and features a second pair of prongs on the bottom of the cross-guard.
The Wind Waker
In The Wind Waker, the Master Sword is kept in a hidden chamber in Hyrule Castle; While the Hero of Time returned to his era and left the Master Sword in the Pedestal of Time, the version of the Sword he used remained in the adult era, and was taken into safekeeping. The chamber features stained-glass windows depicting each of the Seven Sages, to memorialize the legend of Ocarina of Time. Once again, the Master Sword maintains a seal, this time keeping time frozen in Hyrule Castle and weakening Ganondorf's magic; However, Link unknowingly draws the Master Sword from the pedestal after being instructed by the King of Red Lions; As a result, time in Hyrule Castle begins to flow again, and Ganondorf's magic is fully restored.
The Master Sword replaces the Hero's Sword once obtained; It deals double damage, and has a longer reach. However, Link later learns that Ganondorf has had the original Sages of Earth and Wind, Laruto and Fado, murdered, and without their prayers to maintain its strength, the Master Sword has dulled and lost its sacred power. In its dulled state, the cross-guard is curved into the blade rather than extending outwards, the gem on the base is black rather than gold, the Triforce symbol on the ricasso is gone, and the blade has lost its shine. After Link awakens Medli and Makar as the new Sages, their prayers restore the Master Sword's power; Medli's prayers restore the cross-guard to its original position, while Makar's restore the gem, Triforce symbol, and shine. Once both Sages are awakened, the Master Sword regains the power to repel evil, and can destroy the magical barrier blocking access to Ganon's Tower.
Link uses the Master Sword during the final battle against Ganondorf, and with the help of Princess Zelda, kills him by driving the blade through his skull. As the last of Hyrule is flooded beneath the Great Sea, the Master Sword is left stuck in Ganondorf's petrified body, where it would remain for the rest of time.
Twilight Princess
In Twilight Princess, the Master Sword is kept deep within the Sacred Grove in Faron Woods, inside the ruins of the Temple of Time. When Link is trapped in his wolf form after Zant drives a Shadow Crystal into his forehead, Princess Zelda informs him that only the Master Sword can remove it and lift the curse. Link and Midna journey to the Sacred Grove and are eventually able to gain access; The Master Sword emits a brilliant blast of sacred light, removing the Shadow Crystal from Link and enabling him to draw the blade.
The Master Sword replaces the Ordon Sword once obtained. It deals double damage, has a longer reach, and is used to gain access to the Temple of Time dungeon by placing it in the Pedestal of Time. Later, after Link infuses the Master Sword with the Sols in the Palace of Twilight, the Master Sword's sacred power becomes even stronger, making it capable of instantly defeating Twilight monsters and clearing away Dark Fog. However, this upgrade is only in effect inside the Twilight Realm; Midna notes that this is a sign of the Twilight gods' favour.
At the end of the game, Link uses the Master Sword to finish Ganondorf using the Ending Blow. As peace returns to Hyrule, Link returns the Master Sword to the pedestal in the Sacred Grove, where it rests.
Skyward Sword
In Skyward Sword, the Master Sword is revealed to have originally been the Goddess Sword, and inhabited by a guardian spirit known as Fi. After Zelda and Impa travel to the past at the Temple of Time, the Old One informs Link that the Goddess Sword is not powerful enough to open the second Gate of Time in the Sealed Grounds, and that Link must first use the three Sacred Flames around the Surface to temper the blade and unlock the required power. Each Flame empowers and physically alters the sword; Din's Flame tempers the Goddess White Sword into the Master Sword. In this state, however, the blade's color scheme is duller, the cross-guard is curved into the blade, the gem on the cross-guard is black, and the blade is plain white, indicating that it is not yet at full power. Regardless, this Master Sword has gained the ability to repel evil, and can activate the Gate of Time.
After visiting Zelda in Hylia's Realm, the Master Sword is blessed, becoming the True Master Sword and reverting to its classic design. In this state, the Master Sword can only be wielded by a hero chosen by the Goddess, and its Skyward Strikes have greater speed and range. If examined closely, it is revealed that the cross-guard's unique design is meant to resemble a Loftwing, with the yellow gem as the beak and gold decals as the
A Link Between Worlds
Breath of the Wild
"The legendary sword that seals the darkness. Its blade gleams with a sacred luster that can oppose the Calamity. Only a hero chosen by the sword itself may wield it."
In Breath of the Wild, the Master Sword was wielded by Link prior to the Great Calamity, after he was discovered to be worthy of drawing the blade from its pedestal in Korok Forest. In "Subdued Ceremony", the speech recited by Zelda states that the Sword is bound to the spirit of the hero, and whether "skyward bound", "adrift in time", or "steeped in the glowing embers of twilight", it always comes to aid him. In "Resolve and Grief", Zelda reveals that she can hear the Master Sword talk to her, presumably referring to Fi.
During the Great Calamity, Link wielded the Master Sword against an attacking horde of Guardians as he was escorting Zelda to Fort Hateno. During the intense battle that ensued, Link was gravely wounded, and the Master Sword's power was completely exhausted from overuse, the blade being reduced to a decayed stump. When Zelda awakened her sacred powers and shut down the Guardian horde, she had Link delivered to the Shrine of Resurrection so he could recover from his wounds, and returned the Master Sword to its pedestal in Korok Forest so that it could recover, promising the blade that its master would return.
100 years later, in the present, the Master Sword remains in Korok Forest, the blade fully repaired; Link can come across several hints on where to find the Master Sword during his journey. When he does find the Sword, the Great Deku Tree warns Link that to test the wielder's worth, drawing the blade will drain their life energy and kill them if they are not worthy. To draw the Master Sword from its pedestal, Link must have at least 13 Heart Containers.
The Master Sword is a metal, one-handed weapon, which cannot be dropped or put on display in Link's House. It has a base attack power of 30, and a base durability of 40. However, if Link is in the proximity of Malice (either from being inside a Dungeon, in the proximity of Guardians, or near Malice itself), the blade will glow blue, increasing the attack power to 60 and vastly increasing the durability; In this awakened state, the Master Sword becomes the strongest one-handed weapon in the game. Additionally, if Link attempts to throw the Master Sword, he will instead fire a Sword Beam if he is at full health, which takes 1 durability from the blade; Sword Beams deal 10 damage, and the range depends on his number of Heart Containers. Upon running out of durability, the Master Sword loses its power and cannot be used for 10 minutes until it has recharged, the blade turning black to reflect this.
The Master Sword can be upgraded by progressing through the Trial of the Sword. Completing the Beginning Trials increases the Master Sword's base attack power to 40, and completing the Middle Trials increase it to 50. Completing the Final Trials will awaken the Master Sword's full power, causing it to remain in its awakened state at all times, enabling Link to fire Sword Beams without draining durability, and increasing the durability to a whopping 188.
Tears of the Kingdom
In Tears of the Kingdom, the Master Sword was returned to its pedestal sometime after the events of the previous game, to recharge following Calamity Ganon's defeat. When Gloom begins to leak from Beneath Hyrule Castle, Link and Zelda retrieve the sword to use during their investigation; The Great Deku Tree explains that the Master Sword has been restored to its full power, and reveals that it has the ability to grow stronger when exposed to sacred light, potentially with no limit. Later, when the two confront Ganondorf's mummified body in the Imprisoning Chamber, Link attempts to use the Master Sword to block a steam of Gloom directed at Zelda; The Gloom corrodes and shatters the blade into pieces, although the tip cuts Ganondorf's cheek as it flies off. Ganondorf recognizes the Master Sword for what it is, and expresses disappointment at having defeated Link so easily. When the Upheaval begins and Zelda falls into the chasm below, Link tosses the destroyed Master Sword aside to try and save her.
When Link recovers in the Room of Awakening, he finds the Decayed Master Sword stuck in a nearby rock, with only the hilt and decayed ricasso still intact. In this state, the Master Sword has lost all of its power, with a base damage of 1 and a durability of 5; It cannot be fused, and will not recharge after running out of energy, making it the worst weapon in the game. However, it is required in order to get past several vine walls that block Link's path in the Room of Awakening. Later, after Link passes through the Temple of Time, he discovers a pedestal with a glowing yellow light shining from it; The Master Sword instructs him to place it on the pedestal. When Link does so, the blade is sent back in time via Recall, where it is retrieved by Zelda in the distant past.
The Master Sword assures Zelda that Link is safe in the present, and that it was sent back so that it could recover its strength to face Ganondorf. Now understanding why she was sent back in time, Zelda comes up with a plan to draconify herself, enabling the Master Sword to absorb sacred light over millennia and return to its former glory. After Mineru seals her spirit in the Purah Pad, the rest of the Seven Sages promise to pass on their abilities to their descendants, and the Great Sky Island is equipped with everything Link needs to recover, Zelda swallows a Secret Stone and transforms into the Light Dragon, the Master Sword becoming embedded in a growth on her forehead.
In the present, after Link awakens Mineru, she advises that he recover the Master Sword. To locate the blade, Link must defeat the Phantom Ganon inside the Deku Tree Chasm and purge the Gloom-corrupted fog from Korok Forest; The recovered Great Deku Tree will then mark the Light Dragon's current position on the map. When Link attempts to pull the Master Sword, the Light Dragon reacts in pain and attempts to shake him off; Link needs at least two complete Stamina Wheels to hold on until the Light Dragon calms down and the growth retracts. Once successful, Link draws the Master Sword; The decayed blade has been replaced with one made from the Light Dragon's crystal, and its power is restored. If Link did not already retrieve the Master Sword, he draws it during the battle against the Demon Dragon.
Spin-off appearances
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This section describes a subject that is or may be outside the core Zelda canon. |
Super Smash Bros.
In every Super Smash Bros. game, Link uses the Master Sword as his primary weapon, alongside the Hylian Shield.
Hyrule Warriors
In Hyrule Warriors, the Master Sword is a weapon class used by Link.
Uniquely, the Master Sword is one-of-a-kind, and the player cannot obtain new copies of the weapon or sell it. It uses the same moveset as the Hylian Sword, but several attacks are stronger, and Link's Spin Attack has a wider range. After completing A War of Spirit in Legend Mode, the Master Sword's power is fully awakened, enabling Link to fire Sword Beams after certain attacks while at full health. Additionally, the Master Sword comes with two Legendary Skills, which can only be removed once a specific requirement has been fulfilled:
- Evil's Bane: To unlock this Skill, remove the Legendary Seal by obtaining all Level 1, 2, and 3 weapons, then get 10,000 KOs (25,000 in the Wii U version) to unlock the Skill. Increases the Master Sword's strength by +200.
- Exorcism: Only appears in Hyrule Warriors Legends and Definitive Edition. To unlock this Skill, remove the Legendary Seal by obtaining all Level 4 weapons, then get 15,000 KOs to unlock the Skill. Increases the Master Sword's strength by +500, and unlocks all Sealed Skills on other weapons.
| Weapon | Element | Strength | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
 Master Sword |
 Light
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300 (+200 with Evil's Bane) (+500 with Exorcism) |
Complete The Sacred Sword in Legend Mode. |
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity
In Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, the Master Sword
Other appearances
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This section describes a subject that is or may be outside the core Zelda canon. |
SoulCalibur II
In SoulCalibur II, the Master Sword is the default weapon used by Link. It is wielded alongside the Hylian Shield, but can also be wielded alongside the Mirror Shield from Ocarina of Time after unlocking it.
| Weapon | Cost (Gold) | Attributes | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 Master Sword |
Unlocked from start. | Well-balanced | A magic sword and shield that have accompanied Link on many adventures and helped him repeatedly save the land of Hyrule. This journey is no less dire, and Link once again goes into battle equipped with these items, this time in another world. These are well-balanced arms for Link. |
 Mirror Shield |
2,200 | Hits taken are counters 33% of damage received is inflicted back onto opponent |
A mirror-like shield found in the Spirit Temple. It is an amazing work of art, and there are few who would argue that it is not one of the finest shields in Hyrule. It is said that its surface reflects not only light but hostile intent as well. |
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
In The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, the Master Sword is exclusive to the Nintendo Switch version, and can be obtained by scanning Zelda Amiibo or inside a chest near Paarthurnax at the Throat of the World. It functions as an Elven Sword with slightly lower weight, and uniquely, it is the only weapon in the game that does not accumulate bloodstains.
Nintendo Land
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In Nintendo Land, the Master Sword appears as one of the 200 prizes that can be won using the central tower in Nintendo Land plaza.
My Nintendo Picross: Twilight Princess
In My Nintendo Picross: Twilight Princess, the Master Sword is the twenty-fourth puzzle in the Picross series and the sixteenth in the Mega Picross series.
Super Mario Maker 2
In Super Mario Maker 2, the Master Sword as added as a power-up to the Super Mario Bros. style in the v2.0.0 update. When collected, it transforms the player into Link, who can use the sword to perform stab attacks, as well as the Dash Attack and Down Thrust; Link can also block hazards with the Hylian Shield, use the Bow to fire Silver Arrows, and create and throw Bombs; Additionally, the game's music is replaced with the soundtrack from The Legend of Zelda.
Gallery
- Ocarina of Time
N64 promo render
The Master Sword in the Pedestal of Time
N64 icon
3DS icon
- The Wind Waker
GCN artwork
- A Link Between Worlds
Link obtains the Master Sword
