Skyward Sword Items

Shields

Group the shields by 'family'. Wooden Shield can be upgraded to the Banded Shield... These will be listed under 'Wooden Shields'. Mention all upgrades briefly, but then a link to the more elaborate pages.

A familiar item, the Shield returns in Skyward Sword. Link has used the Shield in every Zelda main series title since the beginning. The Shield is controlled using the Nunchuck attatchment. Link uses this to defend against attacking enemies slashing with their weapons or shooting projectiles at him, just as we have seen before. Additionally, Link can use his Shield to deflect certain items back at enemies by players moving the Nunchuck in a forward, thrusting motion, an example being reflecting rocks back at Octoroks when they shoot towards him. It can quickly be held in defense following Sword combo. The Shield Link uses in Skyward Sword is very reminiscent of the Hylian Sheild from Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, and Twilight Princess, as it follows the same design of the Hylian Shield. Motion control of the Shield is quite limited compared to the Sword, but it plays a vital roll in combat in nonetheless.

Wooden Shields

The wooden shield returns in Skyward Sword and will once again be the first form of defense for Link in the game. In Skyward Sword, through the use of Wii motion plus the nunchuk can be raised when in combat to block enemy melee attacks and can also be used when facing enemies with range attacks to deflect their projectiles. Enemy attacks will quickly damage your shield rendering it useless after only a small number of hits. While not confirmed the wooden sword's weakness of fire will most likely return in the newest Wii installment.

Due to its low resistance and from previous Zelda adventures it would seem that the wooden shield will be very cheap in comparison to its later upgrades. Due to its low dependency it would also be safe to assume that the price to have the wooden shield fixed when destroyed in battle will be more than affordable.

Iron Shields

The iron shield is the second shield encountered in Skyward Sword and offers a much greater resistance to attacks then that of the wooden shield. While melee attacks and projectiles can still be blocked through the use of the nunchuk the amount of damage sustained by the shield is largely reduced making it far more durable.

The price point of the Iron shield will far higher than that of the wooden shield, with more valuable and durable materials used to craft the shield, any potential buyer would have to fork over more than a few rupees to own it. With a much higher breaking point, the cost of fixing such a shield would also be much greater than that of the wooden shield.

Hylian Shields

The final shield in the game is the legendary Hylian shield used by heroes all across time, future and past. The Hylian Shield offers all of the functionality of the other two shields (once again through the use of Wii motion plus and the nunchuk) with a much greater resistance to enemy attacks and projectiles.

The Hylian Shield is the strongest shield that can be forged in Skyward Sword and so costs a fair chunk of your wallet to take home. On the plus side the Hylian Shield is the most dependable shield in the game taking an extremely low amount of damage in combat. The price to repair such a shield if it were ever to break would then surely be as high as the Hylian Shield's shield meter.

Swords

Link has more control over his sword in this adventure than ever before. By way of the Wii Motion Plus, the sword now can swing in whichever direction the player chooses, giving the experience of 1:1 swordplay. Often, this proves to be a very vital point in the game. Offensively, many enemies must be defeated by swinging the sword certain ways. Such is the case for Deku Babas, where Link must slash them in the way their mouth is open (either vertically or horizontally) to defeat them. Another example is the Mechanical Totem Pole, which must be sliced horizontally twice, and then stabbed to defeat. Other enemies will try to cover parts of their body from attack, whereas Link will have to attack the revealed areas to defeat the enemy. The Skulltula is a great example of this, as Link has to hit it so it becomes stunned and stands up on its hind legs, thus revealing a weak point. Others may have defenses up that must be broken with Sword, like the Spear Moglin, in order to defeat it. The player must use a variety of techniques to defeat a variety of enemies.

The sword also plays a key role in getting through doors. Certain doors will have an eye that will follow Link's sword as long as he is standing on a platform. Moving the sword in a circular motion will spin the eye around, causing a dizzying affect and allowing for the eye to be struck. Once destroyed, the doorway will be accessable to go through. A slash-able gear appears on another door version, which Link must quickly slash in two different directions in order to open.

One of the most interesting features of the sword is dowsing mode. To go into dowsing mode Link holds the sword strait forward. When Link goes into dowsing mode the screen changes to first person and you have to pick what you are looking for be it important items, heart pieces, rupees, or even Zelda herself. When Link is facing the direction you need to go to find the item, the sword emits a loud noise. This is going to play a key role in the game especially when it comes to finding Zelda.

The Zelda team has finally brought back the Sword Beam. To charge the sword Link has to point his sword skyward until the light reaches the tip of the sword. You can then swing your in any direction to release the sword beam. This is going to both be used to attack enemies and to send large boxes with the bird symbol on the ground up to the sky where it will be replaced with a chest.

Skyloftian Sword

Link has more control over his sword in this adventure than ever before. By way of the Wii Motion Plus, the sword now can swing in whichever direction the player chooses, giving the experience of 1:1 swordplay. Often, this proves to be a very vital point in the game. Offensively, many enemies must be defeated by swinging the sword certain ways. Such is the case for Deku Babas, where Link must slash them in the way their mouth is open (either vertically or horizontally) to defeat them. Other enemies will try to cover sections of their body from attack, whereas Link will have to attack the revealed areas to defeat the enemy.

The sword also plays a key role in solving some puzzles. Certain locks must be opened by slashing the sword in a certain direction. Eyes appear on or around doors and will follow Link's sword. Moving the sword in a circular motion will spin the eye around, causing a dizzying affect and allowing for the eye to be struck. Once destroyed, the doorway or gate will be accessable to go through.

From the beginning of the game, Link carries around this simple sword, though there isn't much use for it in Skyloft, high above the evil surface.

Skyward Sword

This sword comes to Link in the form of Phi as he's falling from his bird after Lord Ghirahim's attempted kidnapping of Zelda. After returning him to Skyloft, Link is able to use this more powerful sword on his quest to find Zelda. Lord Ghirahim cites this sword as the only reason Link still lives after their first encounter at the end of Sky Temple. Besides allowing Link to communicate with Phi, the Skyward Sword also has the power to unleash a sword beam after it's raised skyward while his hearts are full. The game will revolve around upgrading the Skyward Sword into the Master Sword.

Master Sword

The Master Sword, which appeared in Ocarina of Time, The Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, A Link to the Past, and arguably the Oracle games, is first forged in Skyward Sword. It is the fully upgraded form of the Skyward Sword, and resembles the Skyward Sword's spirit Phi. Since Phi isn't seen in any other game, it's possible that she may have to make some sacrifice to make this transformation. This sword has the power to repel evil. It will eventually be placed in the Pedestal of Time within the Temple of Time as a key to the Sacred Realm

Upgrade System

Skyward Sword is going to have an intricate upgrade system in the game where link uses items he gets from killing enemies and rupees to make his items better throughout the game. Most of the the items are up-gradable. To upgrade your item you have to see the tinkerer located in the Bazaar in Skyloft.

Bow and Arrow

The bow and arrow is used by holding the Wii-mote up and down in front of the screen to aim and holding C on the nunchuck and pulling back then letting go of C to shoot. There is a power meter based on how long you hold back the nunchuck before releasing C. Although it takes a lot more work than the Slingshot you are rewarded with a more powerful weapon. This weapon is good against enemies such as hanging Skulltulas and hanging Deku Babas.

Slingshot

Unlike the Bow in this game, the Slingshot only requires players to point and shoot with the Wii Remote. With this, the Slingshot isn't too different from the one we saw in Twilight Princess. Link will simply take aim at a target and shoot a projectile at it. It appears to be less powerful compared to the Bow, as it is in previous adventures. The Slingshot, however, can take out some weaker enemies, such as Keese, in one hit.

Bombs

These classic items also return in Skyward Sword. Link can equip Bombs just as usual, though in this adventure, he has the ability to throw them overhead a desired distance, as well as rolling them across the ground. Depending on how far the Wii Remote is from the screen, the distance of the Bomb to be thrown is determined. Players will swing the Wii Remote overhead to sling a Bomb that way, and underhanded to roll it across the ground. Certain low-leveled holes in walls hide bombable items or switched behind them, where rolling a Bomb underneath is the only way to access. The Beetle can also carry and drop Bombs to long distance locations, so as long as it doesn't explode before it gets there. The bomb looks to be a lot more accessible than in previous adventures.

Beetle

A new item, only referred to as the "Beetle", gives Link the ability to grab from long distances away. Player will equip the Beetle and release it with a button, thus taking control of the item as it flies through the air. Releasing the Beetle is a lot like aiming the Slingshot, and players choose a direction before releasing. Players will be given a 3rd-person perspective from behind the Beetle as it flies, controlling its path by tilting the Wii Remote. Flying into distant items, the Beetle will pick these up and return them to Link. The Beetle is also able to drop items, such as bombs, in flight. However, running into a wall will knock the Beetle down, resulting in having to re-equip the Beetle and try again. The Beetle is a mostly gold insect like item with a jade abdomen and dark gold claws. Its design is not based off of any past Zelda item.

New

Gust Jar

(replaces "Mystery Item")