The Master Sword

The Origins of the Master Sword

The master sword is also known as, “The Goddess Sword,” “Blade of Evil’s Bane,” “The Legendary Sword,” “The Master Sword Resurrection,” “The Hero’s Sword,” “The Sword that Seals the Darkness,”and “The Sacred Sword.”

The Legend of Zelda’s master sword was forged by the goddess, Hylia, one of three goddesses of Hyrule, the fantasy world of Zelda. The sword’s first name was, “The Goddess Sword.”“The Goddess Sword” was later forged into “The Master Sword,” with the help of a humanoid spirit named Fi, which resides in the sword. The spirit Fi, furthers the blade’s power by bathing The Goddess Sword in 3 Din’s flames that were blessed with special powers from the Golden Goddess of Hylia.

After its creation, The sword then lives out its days by recurring throughout The Legends of Zelda series as the primary tool that the reincarnated hero must obtain in order to defeat the world’s current evils, throughout the times.

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The Appearance of Link’s Sword

In most of the Legend of Zelda games, the master sword has a firm blue or purple grip. It has a blue guard and a double edged steel blade. It has a narrow ricasso and a wide shallow fuller that extends the entire length of the blade. The master sword is always a single handed weapon throughout the series of games as it is seen used with a shield in all of them. The height of the blade as seen in Ocarina of Time, measures to be half the height of Link. In Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword the sword is measures almost as long a Link is tall. The blade is heavy and only designed for an adult as is the case in Ocarina of Time. Neatly engraved on the base of the blade is the famous Triforce symbol known by many Zelda fans. The sword also contains a yellowish gemstone embedded in the lower part of the blade.

3 States of Activity of the Zelda Sword:

Active State:

When the sword is in the active state, the yellow embedded gem is illuminated, signifying energy.  The wings on the guard also are retractive and expand when the sword is awakened, signifying that it is ready for battle.

Inactive State:

When the Sword is inactive, the yellow embedded gem is dark and not illuminated. The wings on the sword are rested, and not erect.

Low Power State:

As stated in The Breath of the Wild, The sword is coated in red rust. It is also very low power. In this state, the sword can only have “moments” of activity that conjure when an enemy is detected by the inner magic of the sword, or when power can be temporarily derived from attracting lightning. The rusted appearance is said to attract the lightning during thunderstorms.   

Other than The Wind Waker, Skyward Sword, and The Breath of the Wild, The sword presents as still with no noticeable activity changes.

The Abilities of Link’s Master Sword

It destroys evil:

The master sword has numerous capabilities that it has and that it bestows on its master. The master sword’s most famous ability is that it can eliminate and destroy all evil entities. For instance, the sword is the only weapon that can defeat Ganondorf, once the triforce is in the hands of evil. When the sword acquires din’s flame, it gains the awesome ability to “repel” evil. The evil repellent can be used in an offensive sense, but also in a defensive sense; as no evil can touch the sword.

Damages enemies:

The sword is used in a wide range of different attacks to damage and kill enemies. The damage inflicted upon enemies increases as the sword evolves in power, as Link gains experience.

It’s durable:

The master sword has incredible strength and power because it can never be broken. It has been known to lose power, but never be broken, as seen in The Breath of the Wild. In the game Depending on your health the sword as well is strengthened, when your health is full, the sword is at it strongest potential in battle. Depending on which Zelda game you play, the durability mechanics of the sword varies however.  

It can open doors:

The master sword is not only used as the greatest weapon against evil, it can also be used as a key, to open secret places.The sword is the key to open the Temple of Light. Also, when the sword is removed from the Temple of Time and it opens the Sacred Realm that leads to the Triforce. In The Twilight Princess, the sword is the key to enter the Temple of Time. The sword can also hit special switches that can only be accessed by a master sword spin attack.

Time travel:

As seen in The Ocarina of Time; upon pulling the sword from the pedestal in the temple of time, the sword can grant the ability to travel forward and backward through time.

It expunges curses and barriers:

The sword can be helpful in breaking and destroying magical barriers and curses. The sword is used to cut through magical barriers that have been laid by dark magic. For example, the sword was the only weapon that could save a hero from a shadow crystal curse in A Link Between Worlds. In Twilight Princess, obtaining the master sword broke the Zan magic curse of Link permanently remaining a wolf. The sword was also used in A Link to The Past to destroy the electrical barrier that Agahnim placed on the upper floor of hyrule castle. In The Wind Waker, when the sword is fully powered, it can destroy the magical barrier blocking the entrance to Ganon’s Tower in Hyrule.

Encapsulate demons:

The master sword can ultimately isolate and capture the remains of demons. The sword has successfully absorbed the remains of the demon, Demise; locking away his evil soul forever. This ability was performed in Skyward Sword.

It Has a Light force:

The sword can harness heavenly energy or lightning strikes in order to perform the “Skyward Strike” ability in the game Skyward Sword. The sword is held upward to the heavens, and charged by the sky; giving it the power to strike with a beam to attack distant enemies.

Repel:

The master sword also possess great reflection properties. It reflects an enemies magical attacks and subverts that attack back onto its foe’s as seen in “The Ocarina of Time” while fighting against fake Ganondorf and the real Ganondorf.  

Seals Evil:

The sword is noted to be able to seal evil after Link is coaxed into mistakenly removing the fixed sword in The Wind Waker, causing evil to be again set free.  

Self defense:

In The Breath of the Wild, if you try to pull the sword with less than 13 hearts, the sword attempts to kill you. Also in the Ocarina of Time, if you pull the sword at too young of an age, the sword will seal your soul for a period of time.This is seen when Link tries to access the sword and consequently, it transforms him into his older self from the future after encapsulating him for 7 years.

Magic:

In A Link to The Past, Link can hold the sword up to the sky when allocated near specific inscriptions to obtain magic of bombos and esther medallions.

Can still operate when damaged:

In the game Skyward Sword , the sword begins damaged but, with the ultimate power of the gods embedded into the sword upon its creation, it can still manage to still hail mary an emergency attack when an enemy is close by. However, its does take 10 minutes to reboot afterward.

Rejuvenates:

As seen in The Breath of the Wild  Zelda places the damaged sword back into its founding pedestal, and the sword is instantly restored back to its original form. Link can also speed up sword reboot time if he inserts it in pedestal as well.

Slash Objects:

The sword can be used to slash ordinary objects such as: jars, barrels, grass, rocks, trees, and balloons.

The Modifications of The Hero’s Sword

The sword can be changed with other resources to level up its power, and give it additional capabilities. The modifications are performed by Smithing and Magic.

Infusion: The master sword can be infused with Sols to gain the ability to cut through the dark fog in The Twilight Realm, as seen in The Twilight Princess.

EXP: The sword often modifies itself with more power and strength the more experience gained.

Zelda Blessing: In Skyward Sword After the Goddess Sword is tempered into The master sword, Zelda blesses the sword in the past, upgrading The master sword into The True Master Sword, giving the Sword its Light Source ability. This modification increases damage x3 and charges the sword faster.

Upgrades:

• In A Link Between Worlds, The master sword can be upgraded twice by collecting master ore and giving it to a blacksmith. The first upgrade is Lv2, which increases power 2x and turns the blade red. The second upgrade, at Lv3, is 8x more powerful, and turns blade gold.
• The Adventures of Link, the master sword is empowered by experience, the more enemies you killed the more experience you gained, therefore allowing you to level up, making the sword more powerful. The master sword, in this game, is the only one weapon that gets better and better with experience. All other weapons are expendable.
• In A Link to the Past, the sword can be upgraded to the “tempered sword,” and “the golden sword.” Upon upgrading the tempered sword,” it gains 2x its strength and develops an orange glow and a larger swing. When upgraded to the “golden sword,” it gains 4x its usual strength, is gold with a green hilt, and has an even stronger swing than the tempered sword.

The Mind of The Master Sword

Conscious: The sword serves its master, but also has a mind of its own. This includes the spiritual conscious of the humanoid spirit entity, FI; who resides in the sword for the sole purpose to guide the chosen heroic master in his quest. With Fi, the sword performs the ability to choose it’s own master. Fi chooses only a master that has proven a life of wisdom, power, courage, strength, and has a pure heart. The chosen hero must have these heroic traits to be proven worthy to yield the master sword. If you are determined by the sword to not be of age to bear its responsibilities and title, your soul will be sealed away until you are of age to bear it, as seen in The Ocarina of Time.

Communicates:The sword with the conscious of Fi can also spiritually communicate to the mind of Zelda, as seen in The Breath of the Wild.

Expresses Feelings: In The Breath of the Wild, the sword indicates its “mood” to Link by glowing.

The Maintenance of The Zelda Sword

Must be forever powered by 2 sages: As seen in The Wind Waker,  The master sword relies on two sages for continuous power. The sages are The Sage of Wind, and The Sage of Earth. Together, the sages pray to the gods to empower to the sword. The sages have to remain protected in order for the sword to keeps it ability to repel evil. Without the sages, the blade loses the power to repel evil and becomes dull, while also losing its glowing properties. The sword cannot be restored until the sages are replaced.

The sword must maintain connection with the master: In The Breath of the Wild The sword will rust and wear if loses connection with its chosen hero. The reason the sword was found rusted by Zelda, was because of the absence of Link.  Link was in restoration which further deprived him of his memories. The sword itself became rusted due to Link’s absence as if they were connected.

Sword recharges in pedestal: In The Breath of the Wild for faster recharge, you can put the sword back in the pedestal in Korok Forest for instant recharge. If you wait for a charge without the pedestal, it can take up to 10 minutes.  

Where is the Master Sword Found?

• In A Link To The Past, the master sword resides in the pedestal of time in the lost woods. In order for the sword to be retrieved, Link must present to the site with all 3 pendants of virtue collected.

• In The Ocarina of Time, the sword is sealed in the chamber of sages located in the Temple of Time. All 3 spiritual stones must be collected and the “Song of Time” must be played before Link can enter the Temple of Time to retrieve the sword.

• In The Oracle of Seasons & Oracle of Ages, Since these are two separate games, you must first complete one of the games in order to unlock the master sword. Once you complete a game, you can “link” to the other game, allowing you to be able to get the sword. To get the sword you need to obtain a secret and tell it to Farore, prompting her to upgrade the Noble sword into The master sword. If you still currently hold the Wooden sword during this event, then Farore will only upgrade you to the Noble sword, and you must find The master sword where the Noble sword would have been found.

• In The Wind Waker the master sword is found in The Temple of Time in a chamber of Hyrule castle that is located beneath the sea.

• In Twilight Princess, Link in wolf form, finds the master sword in The Temple of Time ruins, located in Faron Woods in the sacred grove.

• In Skyward Sword, With the “Goddess White Sword,” Link must alchemize it to The master sword by bathing it in 3 of Din’s flames. After it is bathed in all 3 flames, it officially becomes tempered into the master sword. This game explains the very birth origins of the sword.

• In A Link Between Worlds after finding the 3 pendants of virtue, then solving a puzzle, the master sword is found in the Lost Woods.

• in Breath of the Wild, the master sword is on a platform in the center of the grove of The great hyrule forest.

The Variations of Link’s Sword

• The first introduction to the master Sword was in A Link To the Past. The sword colors were red and yellow. The grip was red, and the cross guard, was yellow.
• In the Ocarina of Time, The swords grip is purple, and the cross guard is indigo blue.

• In The Wind Waker, the grip and guard are both a royal blue and are actually in a curved fashion. The cross guard also gradually expands as the sword gets stronger.

• The “Awakening” of the master Sword, characterised by the brightening embedded yellow gem and the retraction of the winged cross guards, first appeared in the Skyward sword and The Wind Waker games.

• In Twilight Princess, the sword in comparison to the height of Link and the shield, the sword can be seen as noticeable longer in proportion to the conventional design.

• In Skyward Sword, Din’s Flame transforms the goddesses white sword into the master sword.   

The Fighting Style of The Master Sword

Links fighting style is mostly a “sword and shield” style of fighting. This allows Link to fight while being able to protect himself. This type of fighting style allows for good counter attacking after an enemy attack has been blocked. Link has used many types of shields with the master sword. Here is a list of some of the different types of shields Link has used.

Wooden Shields

Many shields that link has used have been wooden shields. These are great for bouncing back enemy projectiles such as the deku scrubs. Wooden shields are also a good means of blocking enemy attacks in general. However wooden shields can be easily broken if they are used to block a fire attack.

Metal Shields

Metal shields are what link usually gets to use mid game or even in the end game. These are usually never broken, depending on what game you’re playing. The most notable of metal shields is known as the “hylian shield.”

Mirror Shields

In more than one game link has used a mirror shield, usually near the end of the game. The mirror shield is used to open doors and unlock puzzles to move further in the dungeon/area. Mirror shields aren’t really used in battle except to much more use than a metal shield. One exception is when Link used the mirror shield to attack the two twinrova, the two witches in the in the Ocarina of Time.  

Notable Bosses Eliminated Due In a Large Part, By The Master Sword

• In  A Link to the Past, Ganon is located at the Pyramid of Power, “The Dark World”. The hero Uses the master sword as his main weapon. When Ganon is the color blue it mean he is stunned and in this time of being stunned is when hitting him with the swords does the most damage. In this battle you will also need to use silver arrows to defeat him. You need to shoot him a couple of times as well as hitting with your sword before he dies.

• In The Ocarina of Time, Link uses the master sword to repel fake Ganondorf and Real Ganondorf’s lightning balls. The master sword needs to be swung at the ball of lightning at a certain time hitting the ball of lighting back at Ganondorf. Do this up to a number of four times and Ganondorf should be defeated.

• The Oracles of Season & The Oracle of Ages  In The Game Oracle of Seasons in the Dark Dungeon, the master sword is used to hit Ganon to beat him you do have to dodge getting squished as well, but once you do the master sword is an effective weapon against him. The Evil King Ganon is located at the Onox’s Castle.  

• In The Wind Waker, the sword helps with Killing Ganon. You have to hit him with your sword when he is stunned by using your shield reflecting princess Zelda’s light arrows back at him. With the master sword as a final blow to his forehead you have finished Ganon off for good. The sword is left in the Ganon’s skull.

• In Twilight Princess, you are battling with your sword the whole time.The move Back Slice is very effective in this battle.you want to dodge a lot in this fight to survive by back flipping and side jumping. Just as Ganon strikes you need to knock him to the ground then pressing the duel button. Doing this till Ganon is knocked down, and hitting him with you sword till the final blow.    

• In Skyward Sword, The master sword causes the final blow to the major antagonist, demon “Demise;” who is beaten with the skyward strike-light force ability.

• A Link Between Worlds The Boss in this Game is Yuga, Located in the Throne Room. There is two halfs to defeating Yugi in battle. The Bow of Light as well as the master sword is very important to use against Yuga. In this battle you must continue to stunned and hit Yuga till he dies.

• In The Breath of the Wild Link versus the rare “Golden Lynel” in “Breath of the Wild”,using the combo move “Flurry Rush” with a fully powered master sword. Jousting the master sword, he is able to stop Lynel’s sword in its full swing stopping the Golden Lynels in his charge.  Link is very successful in defeating the Golden Lynel with the master sword.
• After defeating the Golden Lynel you face another boss, the “Scorch of Divine Beast Naboris”also known as “Scorch of Divine Beast Medoh” at Naboris dungeon. Then you battle “Thunderblight Ganon” at Vah. After Defeating “Thunderblight ganon,” Link is challenged by another evil, the “Calamity Ganon” by knocking him down and slashing him with the master sword using the combo “Flurry Rush”. Link also battles a and “Windblight ganon”. After defeating “Windblight Ganon”, WindBlight Ganon transforms into a bewitched Yuga the clans leader. This member was the leader known as, “Master Kohga”. “Master Kohga,” is difficult to beat. When you tire Master Kohga out  he falls to his death on accident.

The Retirement of The Master Sword

When The reincarnated Hero completes all his tasks and restores the land  back to its normal state, the master sword is returned back to its pedestal and changes back to its unmodified, original shape, ready for the next reincarnated hero to use for his designated tasks.

Speculation of the Master Sword

The master sword has an alikeness to King Arthurs, A Sword in the Stone, in that it too, must be pulled from a stone by its chosen master.