Bow: Difference between revisions

'''Bows''' are recurring items in [[The Legend of Zelda (Series)|''The Legend of Zelda'' series]]. They can often be upgraded with new types of [[Arrow]]s and larger [[Quiver]]s. The perks of having a Bow is that Link can attack enemies from range, not having to engage in melee combat with them or activate switches which cannot be reached by the sword. However, Bows are ammunition-based, so Link must keep supplying them with arrows.

The Bow is found in the first dungeon of ''[[The Legend of Zelda]]'', [[Level 1: The Eagle]]. The Bow allows Link to fire off arrows at enemies. Before Link gains the ability to use it, he must first purchase the arrows from one of the [[Item Shop]]s for 80 [[Rupee]]s. Also, as opposed to possessing a limited number of arrows, firing an arrow drains Link's [[Wallet]] by one rupee.{{Ref|pg. 24|For every arrow Link shoots, he loses one [Rupee].|''[[The Legend of Zelda]] Game Manual''}} The Bow is required to complete the game, because it is the only weapon capable of defeating [[Gohma (The Legend of Zelda)|Gohma]], as well as [[Ganon]]. In the final dungeon of the game, [[Level 9: Death Mountain]], Link receives the [[Silver Arrow]]s, which do more damage and are required to defeat Ganon.

Link obtains the Bow as the treasure of the [[Eastern Palace (A Link to the Past)|Eastern Palace]], also the first dungeon of the game. Link starts out with the ability to hold 30 arrows, but this amount can be increased by five if he donates 100 rupees to the [[Venus|Great Fairy]] in [[Lake Hylia]]. This is repeatable until Link reaches the maximum amount of 70. In a similar fashion to the original ''The Legend of Zelda'', Link obtains the [[Silver Arrows]] from the [[Cursed Fairy]] inside the [[Pyramid of Power]], which do incredible amounts of damage and are needed to defeat Ganon.

The Bow functions like it does in other 2D ''Zelda'' titles, but in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening|Link's Awakening]]'', Link can create a [[Bomb Arrow]] by dropping a bomb and firing an arrow at the same time. The Bow can be purchased from the [[Mabe Village]]'s [[Town Tool Shop|Shop]] for a whopping 980 rupees. It is possible to steal it by simply grabbing it and heading out the head. However, stealing from this shop will cause two annoying consequences. Firstly, for the rest of the game, Link will be called THIEF by everyone instead of the name chosen on the Select File Screen. Secondly, every time Link enters the shop after he has stolen an item, the shopkeeper will yell at Link and kill him.

The [[Fairy Bow]] is found in the [[Forest Temple (Ocarina of Time)|Forest Temple]] in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|Ocarina of Time]]''. Link receives [[Fire Arrow]]s by shooting at the sun above [[Lake Hylia]] and [[Ice Arrow]]s by completing the [[Gerudo Training Ground]]. Also, Link receives the [[Light Arrow]]s from [[Zelda|Princess Zelda]] once he has awakened all the [[Seven Sages]]. Using the Bow puts the user in a first-person perspective, and the arrows arc upwards somewhat. Link's original quiver can hold 30 arrows and can be upgraded to 40 and 50 in the [[Kakariko Village]] [[Shooting Gallery]] and the [[Horseback Archery]] mini-game, respectively.

The Hero's Bow is obtained in the [[Woodfall Temple]] in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask|Majora's Mask]]''. It functions in exactly the same way as ''Ocarina of Time's'' Fairy Bow, with the only difference being in its appearance. Link also gets new types of arrows in every dungeon. Link acquires the [[Fire Arrow]]s in the [[Snowhead Temple]], [[Ice Arrow]]s in the [[Great Bay Temple]], and [[Light Arrow]]s in the [[Stone Tower Temple]]. There are two Shooting Galleries, one in [[Clock Town|East Clock Town]] and another in the [[Southern Swamp]]. Beating either upgrade Link's quiver once.

The Hero's Bow is obtained in the [[Tower of the Gods]]. It functions the same way as it does in previous 3D ''Zelda'' titles, except that the arrows travel entirely straight, instead of arcing upwards. Quiver upgrades are obtained from various [[Great Fairy|Great Fairies]], allowing Link to eventually hold 99 arrows. Link receives the [[Fire Arrow]]s and [[Ice Arrow]]s from the [[Queen of Fairies]], and the [[Light Arrow]]s in the catacombs.

The Bow can be randomly found on the Item Podiums that exist in the game. Link can charge it to make it shoot faster.

The Bow can be randomly found on the Item Podiums that exist in the game. Charged shots can pierce multiple targets, and break objects as well as pin large objects (like force crystals) to the wall. If Link meets the [[Great Fairy]], she upgrades it to the Level 2 Bow, which can have 3 arrows on the screen at once.

The Bow is found in [[Castor Wilds]]. Its firing rate can be increased by catching the [[Joy Butterfly]] found in the [[Wind Ruins]], which appears after Link successfully performs a [[Kinstone Fusion]] with [[Din (Oracle)|Din]]. The Bow can eventually fire [[Light Arrow]]s if Link performs an optional side quest, which is rather lengthy.

In ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess|Twilight Princess]]'', the Bow is called the Hero's Bow and is obtained in the [[Goron Mines]]. Depending on what system the game is being played on, the controls regarding the Bow vary. In the [[Nintendo GameCube|GameCube]] version, the aiming system is the same as in previous 3D ''Zelda'' titles. On the [[Nintendo Wii|Wii]], Link must aim the Wii Remote at the point where they want to shoot. The camera can be rotated using the joystick, allowing for simultaneous movement and aiming. The quiver upgrades can be obtained by completing the [[STAR Game]] in [[Castle Town]] with the [[Clawshot]], or, to make it easier, the [[Double Clawshots]]. These upgrades allow Link to hold 60 and 100 arrows, respectively.

The Bow in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass|Phantom Hourglass]]'' is found in the [[Temple of Courage]]. Because this game features touch screen controls, here you touch the screen where you want to shoot and release to fire. Link starts out with a quiver that can hold 20 arrows. After completing the [[Temple of Courage]], Link gets a [[Letter]] from [[Romanos]], which tells Link about his new [[Shooting Gallery]]. Playing his mini-game and scoring between 1,700 and 1,990 points awards Link with a larger quiver; one that can hold 30 arrows. Purchasing the final upgrade for 1,000 rupees from the Molida or Mercay island item shops allows Link to hold 50 arrows.

The Bow is found in the [[Fire Temple (Spirit Tracks)|Fire Temple]], and is fired in the same way as it was in ''Phantom Hourglass''. In the [[Sand Temple]] Link obtains the [[Bow of Light]], which he must use to activate certain switches and defeat [[Malladus]]. After completing the Fire Temple, Link can purchase the first quiver upgrade at the shop in [[Goron Village]] for 2,000 rupees, allowing Link to hold 30 arrows. For an upgrade to 50 arrows, score between 3,500 and 4,000 points in the [[Pirate Hideout Mini-Game]].

The Bow is received in the [[Sandship]], and can be used to defeat far-off enemies, activate [[Timeshift Stone]]s, and more. The controls are much different than that Link has ever since before. It is used with the Wii Remote in the right hand and the Nunchuck in the left. After holding C to nock an arrow, Link can pull back the Nunchuck, as if Link is pulling back the string on an actual bow, and release the C-button to shoot an arrow. This is the same control scheme that can be found in Wii Sports Resort for archery. As usual, Link can shoot enemies with the Bow, and items can be knocked off trees and other objects. Additionally, items dropped by enemies (such as hearts) can also be shot with the Bow and pinned to walls. By doing this, Link can reclaim his dropped heart as well as his arrow.

The Bow returns in the newest ''The Legend of Zelda'' adventure, ''[[The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds|A Link Between Worlds]]''. The Bow can be rented (50 rupees) or purchased (800 rupees) from [[Ravio's Shop]]. However, there are no arrows in this game. Instead, every time Link uses the Bow, his [[Energy Gauge]] depletes; this is the first game since the original ''The Legend of Zelda'' to feature the Bow, but not collectible arrows.

Numerous types of bow are available in ''Breath of the Wild'', but all lose durability with use until they ultimately break.

File:Bow.png|Artwork from ''The Legend of Zelda Game Manual''