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| ==Functionality== | | ==Functionality== |
| Link has always used the shield to defend himself. Sometimes, the shield is even necessary to defeat specific enemies. However, the way the shield is utilized varies; depending on the game, Link is limited to defending either automatically or manually.
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| ===Automatic=== | | ===Automatic=== |
| In ''[[The Legend of Zelda (Game)|The Legend of Zelda]]'', Link's shield is always held in front of him, but he can only deflect projectiles and attacks in the direction he is facing. Once again, in ''[[The Legened of Zelda: A Link to the Past|A Link to the Past]]'', the shield deflects attacks in the same way as in ''The Legend of Zelda''. But, he doesn't only need to use it in the direction he's facing. As he charges his sword for a [[Spin Attack]], Link can hold his shield on his right side (except when looking east, in which case he holds it on his left side), leaving that side guarded but his front open. | | In some games, Link's shield functions automatically, regardless of what the player does. These games are ''[[The Legend of Zelda (Game)|The Legend of Zelda]]'', ''[[Zelda II: The Adventure of Link|The Adventure of Link]]'', ''[[The Legened of Zelda: A Link to the Past|A Link to the Past]]'', ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords|Four Swords]]'', ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures|Four Swords Adventures]]'', ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass|Phantom Hourglass]]'' and ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks|Spirit Tracks]]'' |
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| In ''[[Zelda II: The Adventure of Link|The Adventure of Link]]'', Link's shield can not only reflect ranged attacks, but direct ones as well. This is crutial for fighting enemies like [[Iron Knuckle|Iron Knuckles]] and [[Stalfos]]. However, without the [[Deflect Spell]], Link's shield cannot deflect attacks from chain hammers, axes, clubs, and fireballs. In ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures|Four Swords Adventures]]'' can also deflect both ranged and direct attacks, but as before, they are vulnerable to certain attacks. In ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass|Phantom Hourglass]]'' and ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks|Spirit Tracks]]'', Link's can protect against ranged and close-ranged attacks. Only in ''Phantom Hourglass'', however, can Link use the power of Wisdom Gems to augment the defensive powers of his shield.
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| ===Manual=== | | ===Manual=== |
| The shield in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening|Link's Awakening]]'' is used every other item in that game; it's assigned to a button. Because of this, this is the first ''Zelda'' game to allow Link to utilize the shield whenever desired. This function is also used in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages|Oracle of Ages]]'' and ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons|Oracle of Seasons]]''. This function appears again in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords|Four Swords]]'' and ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures|Four Swords Adventures]]'', in which the shield can bounce some attacks back at enemies.
| | Starting in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening|Link's Awakening]]'' the shield must be used manually, by having it equipped. This function is also used in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages|Oracle of Ages]]'' and ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons|Oracle of Seasons]]''. This function appears again in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords|Four Swords]]'' and ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures|Four Swords Adventures]]'', in which the shield can bounce some attacks back at enemies. |
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| | ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|Ocarina of Time]]'' was the first game to require you to press and hold the shield button while the shield was active, but you were able to hold other items as well, this method allowed for two methods of use. He can hold it while crouching, tilting it in whatever direction he faces. He can also, while [[Targeting System|targeting]], Link can focus on his enemy while moving freely and defending with his shield, all at the same time. All manual shields can deflect certain enemy projectiles. |
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| ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|Ocarina of Time]]'' was the first game to break this pattern; all shields must be equipped before using. Link can use the shield in two ways. He can hold it while remaining stationary, tilting it in whatever direction he faces. He can also, while [[Tergeting System|targeting]], Link can focus on his enemy while moving freely and defending with his shield, all at the same time. All manual shields can deflect certain enemy projectiles. In certain cases, like when [[Link|Child Link]] equips the [[Hylian Shield]], Link carries the shield on his back at all times, even when defending, because the shield is too heavy for his current state. This method of defending can be used to block the debris that falls from [[Death Mountain]], and a similar defending mechanic is present in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask|Majora's Mask]]'' and ''[[The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker|The Wind Waker]]''. | | ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess|Twilight Princess]]'' while using the [[Targeting System|targeting]] system, Link automatically lifts his shield in defense. Projectiles can be reflected with the [[Shield Attack]] |
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| ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess|Twilight Princess]]'' takes the shield mechanics to the next level again. When targeting an enemy, Link automatically lifts his shield in defense. However, he can't automatically reflect projectiles without use of the [[Shield Attack]], a learned ability he can also use to open the defenses of enemies and stun them. <br><br>
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| ==Shields Appearances in Games== | | ==Shields Appearances in Games== |
| This section covers each shield as it is in each Zelda game. | | This section covers each shield as it is in each Zelda game. |