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This article is about the recurring weapon. For the fashion accessory, see Ribbon.

Bows,(TLoZ | ALttP | LA | FS | FSA | TMC | PH | ST | SS | ALBW | TFH | HW)[1][name reference needed] also known as Hero's Bows,(MM | TWW | TP | HWL)[1][2] and Fairy Bows,(OoT)[1] are recurring items in The Legend of Zelda series.

Location and uses[]

The Bow allows Link to fire Arrows as its main ammunition, allowing him to snipe enemies and faraway objects such as Switches.[3] Arrows are the most important aspect of the Bow, considering they are the projectiles needed for it to function properly. Unlike the Bow, which must be equipped to use, Arrows are automatically drawn upon its use. Some games feature varieties of Arrows, such as Fire Arrows and Bomb Arrows, which usually must be equipped to the Bow in order to be used.

Being a staple item in The Legend of Zelda series like the Boomerang and Bombs, the Bow is almost always found in a Dungeon. The item is typically guarded by a Mini-Boss in 3D installments of the franchise. In 2D games, the Bow can shoot Arrows at any cardinal direction, while in the 3D titles, the Bow instead switches to a first-person view and can fire Arrows at any angle. Since its debut, the Bow has been expanded to be equipped with and fire other varieties of Arrows, such as the Fire Arrows and Ice Arrows, among a few others.

The Bow of Light is a recurring upgraded form of the Bow, which fires Arrows of sacred light. The Crossbow is a variant of the regular Bow, which instead fires Arrows from a wide angle, and has only appeared in ambiguous and non-canon media.

The Legend of Zelda[]

The Legend of Zelda Manual Description
The Legend of Zelda logo
Bow, and wooden and silver arrows
Link can use them only if he has both the bow and an arrow. For each arrow Link shoots, he loses one ruby. Oh, by the way, there are some enemies that can be disposed of using only the bow and arrow. So be alert!

In the original The Legend of Zelda, the Bow is found in Level-1 of the main quest and in Level-5 of the Second Quest. In order to use the Bow, Link must purchase an Arrow from a Shop for 80 Rupees.[4] After Link has done so, he will be able to shoot the Bow by consuming one Rupee per Arrow shot.[5] The Bow and Arrow deals 2 damage to enemies that can be inflicted by them. Pols Voices are weak to Arrows and will be defeated by them in one hit. Gohmas can only be defeated with the Bow and Arrow.[6] Link can also shoot Silver Arrows from the Bow, which must be used as the final blow on Ganon to destroy him and obtain the Triforce of Power.

A Link to the Past[]

A Link to the Past Manual Description
A Link to the Past logo
Bow
The bow is a powerful weapon that can be found in the first palace, but you need arrows to use it. Arrows sometimes appear when you defeat an enemy and sometimes they are hidden in pots. There is a rumor that somewhere in Hyrule you can a silver bow and arrow of even greater strength.
A Link to the Past & Four Swords Manual Description
A Link to the Past & Four Swords logo
Bow
This is a powerful weapon, but you can only use it when you have arrows.

In A Link to the Past, the Bow is found in the Eastern Palace. Arrows are now introduced as ammunition items, allowing the Bow to fire Arrows without using Rupees. The Bow is a powerful weapon whose Arrows inflict piercing damage to most enemies, making it a stronger weapon than the starting Sword. In some situations it is the only weapon that can damage certain enemies, namely the Eyegores. Aside from attacking enemies at a distance, it can also be used to hit and activate Switches that are out-of-reach. While mostly used to solve puzzles, the Bow is also necessary to defeat Ganon by shooting a Silver Arrow when he is weakened, requireing four shots to kill him.

The Bow is also used to play the Shooting Gallery game in the Village of Outcasts.

Link's Awakening[]

Link's Awakening Manual Description
Link's Awakening logo
Bow
The Bow allows you to attack distant enemies. You can use the Bow only if you have arrows, so always keep an eye on the number of arrows you have left. If you run out of arrows, you can get more at shops.

In Link's Awakening, the Bow is not found in any dungeon but is instead bought from the Town Tool Shop in Mabe Village for an extremely pricey 980 Rupees, making it one of the most expensive items in The Legend of Zelda series. It can, however, simply be stolen. The Bow becomes available once Link has bought the Deluxe Shovel from the store. Like the Bow in A Link to the Past, the Bow is able to inflict heavy damage onto most enemies, and in some cases is one of the very few items that can damage certain enemies, such as the Armos who are normally invincible to the Sword. Despite its usefulness, the Bow is not actually required up to a certain point. It becomes necessary to shoot at a cyclops statue in Turtle Rock to make a Key drop.

Ocarina of Time[]

In Ocarina of Time, the Bow is called the Fairy Bow.[7] It is found in the Forest Temple, awarded after Link defeats the three Stalfos. As an item obtained when Link is an adult, it cannot be used in the past as a child. As in previous games, the Bow is used to snipe enemies as well as objects such as switches, especially Eyeball Switches. The Bow is also used to engage the first three Poe Sisters in combat by firing Arrows at their portraits, although they do not actually require the Bow itself to be defeated. The Bow can also be used to fight Phantom Ganon, although it is not necessarily required either. The Bow becomes necessary to fight Ganondorf at his castle by shooting Light Arrows at him when he is stunned as well as destroying the elemental barriers.

Ocarina of Time introduces horseback archery, in which Link can ride Epona and fire Arrows while galloping along. This method of archery is used to great extent in hunting Big Poes in Hyrule Field, which can only be attacked by shooting Arrows at them while riding Epona, as they will vanish if Link attempts to approach them himself. Link must also ride Epona to participate in the Horseback Archery Range near the Gerudo Fortress, where Link must shoot at targets while Epona automatically gallops along the track.

Another Shooting Gallery game can be played in Kakariko Village when Link is an adult and he is even provided a Bow to use if he does not already have the Fairy Bow. The prize for winning the game is a larger Quiver. However, Link will only be rewarded 50 Rupees if he is using a rented Bow.

Ocarina of Time also introduces three new Arrows that the Bow can be equipped with: the Fire Arrow, Ice Arrow, and the aforementioned Light Arrow. These Arrows produce different effects when shot, making the Bow more versatile and useful in defeating certain enemies and solving puzzles. These Arrows must first be equipped to the Bow to be used.

Majora's Mask[]

In Majora's Mask, the Hero's Bow is found in the Woodfall Temple, guarded by a lone Dinolfos. The Bow is required to solve puzzles and defeat certain enemies and mini-bosses, including Gekko, the Wizzrobes, Mad Jelly, and Eyegores. As in Ocarina of Time, Link obtains the Fire, Ice, and Light Arrows to equip his Bow with, all of which are found in the subsequent temples.

Horseback archery returns in Majora's Mask, made possible by riding Epona once Link has retrieved her. Horseback archery plays a less significant role in Majora's Mask as it is not required to complete anything, although it can be used as a strategy to fend off the Ghosts at Romani Ranch during the night of the First Day.

The Bow can also be used to play a variety of archery games found throughout Termina. It is used to play the Shooting Gallery games found in East Clock Town and the Southern Swamp, as well as the archery game sponsored by the Swamp Tourist Center, in which Link must shoot at Koume's hanging target without actually shooting her. A fourth target-shooting game is provided in Honey and Darling's Shop, although the Bow is not necessarily required to play it.

Four Swords[]



Four Swords Manual Description
Four Swords logo
Bow and Arrows
Press the A Button to nock an arrow and release the button to shoot the arrow. Press and hold the A Button longer to build up power in the Bow—you can then shoot a more powerful volley.

In Four Swords, the Bow can be obtained as a temporary item in certain areas of Stages. It handles similarly to how it behaved in A Link to the Past.

The Wind Waker[]

In The Wind Waker, the Hero's Bow is found in the Tower of the Gods. The Bow is used to shoot targets such as Eyeball Switches to activate doors and platforms. Some enemies, such as Beamos and Gohdan, can only be defeated using the Bow. Link also receives the Fire, Ice, and Light Arrows during his quest. Unlike previous games, The Wind Waker implements such Arrow varieties right into the Bow itself as modes, so that Link can easily and instantly switch between any of them (by use of the R-button) without needing to go into any subscreens beforehand.

The Bow is also used to play a shooting mini-game with the Fishman, provided Link has already had a portion of his Sea Chart filled. The game requires Link to shoot Arrows at the Fishman to help relieve his body aches.[8]

During the final battle against Ganondorf, Princess Zelda uses Link's Bow to cover for him by shooting Light Arrows at the villain, stunning him and allowing Link to strike Ganondorf with the Master Sword.

Four Swords Adventures[]

Four Swords Adventures Manual Description
Four Swords Adventures logo
Bow
Fire arrows at your enemies. Press and hold the A Button and then release it to fire a high-speed arrow.
Lev. 2
Tap the A Button to fire three rapid shots. The time that you have to hold the A Button is shorter than that for the normal high-speed arrow.

In Four Swords Adventures, the Bow appears as a temporary item in certain Stages, similarly to Four Swords. It is most often used to solve certain puzzles, but can also be used to attack enemies from afar. The Links can also upgrade their Bow by presenting it to a Great Fairy at her fountain, which she will raise to Level 2 - a stage at which not only gains the power to charge Arrows, but also can shoot an array of three Arrows at a time, instead of the standard one.[9]

The Minish Cap[]

The Minish Cap Manual Description
The Minish Cap logo
Bow and Arrows
A powerful weapon that enables you to pick off enemies from afar. Watch your supply of arrows, though!

In The Minish Cap, the Bow is found in the northwestern section of Castor Wilds. Link obtains it by shrinking to Minish size and entering a small hole beyond a puddle of water, where he fights a group of five Mulldozers that relinquish the Bow once defeated. The Bow is used to defeat enemies and activate Switches, most notably the wall-mounted Eyeball Switches. It is also required to fight Eyegore Statues, which are initially inactive and will only move once an Arrow is shot into their eye. Unlike previous games, the Bow is not nearly as powerful as it once was and the upgraded Four Sword is usually stronger in most circumstances.

Link can also get his Bow upgraded to shoot Light Arrows, provided if he does so before traveling to the Palace of Winds. Once Link has Fused Kinstones with Strato at Hyrule Town, he will be able to enter the Home of the Wind Tribe via a portal. Link must then use the Gust Jar to remove a ghost from Gregal, curing him of his possession and preventing his death. When Link later revisits him, he will receive the Light Arrows. The upgrade allows Link to charge his Bow by holding the button it is equipped to, which will allow it to shoot stronger Light Arrows.

Twilight Princess[]

In Twilight Princess, the Hero's Bow is kept in the Goron Mines. It is the treasure of the Gorons and once belonged to the hero of legend.[10][11] The item is guarded by the Goron Dangoro, who suspects that Link has come to steal the weapon.[12] After being defeated, Dangoro realizes that Link has come to save Darbus and allows him to take the weapon so that he can save the Goron patriarch. While Link cannot obtain specialized Arrows in this game, he can combine his Arrows and Bombs together to create explosive Bomb Arrows.

The Hawkeye can be used in conjunction with the Bow as a sniper scope, which adds a crosshair for better aim. The Hawkeye can be purchased in Malo Mart after playing a target-shooting game with Talo and Malo in Kakariko Village.

As in Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, Link can also fire the Bow while riding Epona. This is used to great extent while escorting Telma and her wagon through Hyrule Field, as Bulblin archers will attempt to set fire to the wagon with Fire Arrows from afar and Kargaroks disrupt the journey by dropping explosives to scare Telma's horse. Horseback archery is also used to fight King Bulblin when he is encountered at the Great Hylian Bridge during the escort; Link must fire Arrows at the weak points in his armor to proceed.

During the penultimate fight against Ganondorf, Princess Zelda calls upon the Spirits of Light to receive the Light Arrows and aids Link with her own Bow by shooting at Ganondorf to stun him while on horseback. This allows Link to close in on Ganondorf without interference and strike him with the Master Sword.

Phantom Hourglass[]

In Phantom Hourglass, the Bow is found in the Temple of Courage. The Bow is used differently in this installment, as the stylus and touch screen are dominantly used during all aspects of gameplay. Unlike the manual aiming and shooting of the Bow as seen in previous titles, the Bow is shot simply by tapping the touch screen with the stylus in the direction of a target or at the target itself. A line may also be drawn from Link to the target to better aim and shoot an Arrow; even if the line does not reach the target in question, Link's vision range will increase, revealing targets previously concealed by the borders of the normal game screen. As in previous games, the Bow is used mainly to snipe enemies and far off objects, especially Eyeball Switches. Arrow Orbs are used to redirect Arrows to whichever direction they are pointing at, by shooting an Arrow into the orb. These Orbs allow Link to strike objects that are obscured at an angle.

The Bow is also used to play a target-shooting game at Molida Island.

Spirit Tracks[]

In Spirit Tracks, the Bow is obtained at the Fire Temple. The Bow uses the same control scheme as in Phantom Hourglass, by using the stylus and touch screen to aim and fire an Arrow. Arrow Orbs return and are again used to redirect Arrows to other directions.

An upgrade to the Bow, called the Bow of Light, is obtained at the Sand Temple after the defeat of Skeldritch. The Bow is able to charge its Arrows and fire bolts of sacred light, producing a stronger attack. It was once used by the Spirits of Good against the Demon King Malladus, and Link and Zelda are urged to find it as a means of driving his spirit from Zelda's body.[13] Aside from shooting stronger Arrows, the Bow plays a pivotal role in the final battle against Malladus. After reconnecting her spirit with her body, Zelda takes the Bow of Light and uses it to stun Malladus in Cole's body, allowing Link to strike him.

The Pirate Hideout features a target-shooting game in which Link must shoot at the Miniblins with the Bow to rescue a Goron child trapped in the hideout.

Skyward Sword[]

In Skyward Sword, the Bow is kept at the Sandship and obtained after defeating LD-002G Scervo. The Bow is utilized by pulling back the Nunchuk, similarly to how one would pull back the string of a bow. By holding the C-button on the Nunchuk, Link can shoot an Arrow by releasing said button. However, the A-Button can be pressed instead of using the aforementioned method, although it takes longer for the Arrow to charge up. Normal enemies can be shot with the Bow as well as items that can be knocked off of trees. Dropped items from enemies (such as Hearts) can also be shot with an Arrow, causing them to stick in the side of walls. Doing so will allow Link to reclaim the Heart as well as the Arrow.

Link can also upgrade the Bow at the Skyloft Bazaar's Scrap Shop for a fee, which increases its range and strength.

Upgrades[]

UpgradeDescriptionMaterialsCostLocation
SS Iron Bow Icon
Iron Bow
Increased power and range.SS Tumbleweed Icon × 3 Tumbleweeds
SS Evil Crystal Icon × 1 Evil Crystal
SS Monster Claw Icon × 3 Monster Claws
SS Eldin Ore Icon × 2 Eldin Ores
Cost50 RupeesScrap Shop
SS Sacred Bow Icon
Sacred Bow
Further increased power and range.SS Tumbleweed Icon × 5 Tumbleweeds
SS Evil Crystal Icon × 2 Evil Crystals
SS Lizard Tail Icon × 3 Lizard Tails
SS Goddess Plume Icon × 1 Goddess Plume
Cost100 RupeesScrap Shop
SS Iron Bow Icon
Iron Bow
DescriptionIncreased power and range.
MaterialsSS Tumbleweed Icon × 3 Tumbleweeds
SS Evil Crystal Icon × 1 Evil Crystal
SS Monster Claw Icon × 3 Monster Claws
SS Eldin Ore Icon × 2 Eldin Ores
CostCost50 Rupees
LocationScrap Shop
SS Sacred Bow Icon
Sacred Bow
DescriptionFurther increased power and range.
MaterialsSS Tumbleweed Icon × 5 Tumbleweeds
SS Evil Crystal Icon × 2 Evil Crystals
SS Lizard Tail Icon × 3 Lizard Tails
SS Goddess Plume Icon × 1 Goddess Plume
CostCost100 Rupees
LocationScrap Shop

A Link Between Worlds[]

In A Link Between Worlds, the Rented Bow can be rented from Ravio's Shop. It is the first item that Ravio rents to Link, initially for free so he can enter the Eastern Palace. Afterwards the Bow can be rented for a fee of 10 Rupees,[14] followed by 50 Rupees once the Eastern Palace is cleared. Like Ravio's other rented items, Link will lose the Bow if he collapses during battle, in which Ravio's bird Sheerow will appear to recollect the Bow, forcing Link to rent the item again. Once Link obtains all three Pendants of Virtue, he will be able to purchase the Bow to keep for 800 Rupees. The Bow is used similarly in past 2D Zelda games, but now no longer uses ammunition and instead uses Energy to fire Arrows.

The purchased Bow can be upgraded to the Nice Bow by Mother Maiamai once Link has rescued at least ten lost Maiamais. This Bow fires an array of three Arrows at once.

Link is also given the Bow of Light by Zelda during the last phases of the final battle against Yuga Ganon, when he merges into the wall. This Bow is unique as it allows Link to fire Arrows when he has wall merged, which becomes necessary to distract Yuga to strike him from behind.

Tri Force Heroes[]

In Tri Force Heroes, the Bow appears in certain Levels as an item the Links can use for the duration of that Level, similarly to those in Four Swords and Four Swords Adventures. The Bow is used identically to the one from A Link Between Worlds, as it uses Energy instead of actual ammunition to launch Arrows. The Bow is often used in solving puzzles; some unique puzzles require the Links to form a Totem so that the top Link can fire an Arrow at a target. This can also be used as a strategy in fighting enemies who are stacked on top of each other. The Kokiri Clothes can be worn to upgrade the wearer's Bow, allowing it to shoot an array of three Arrows at once.

The Bow is acquired by all three Links in the first Level of Tri Force Heroes, the Deku Forest. It then appears in Buzz Blob Cave (three Bows), Moblin Base (two Bows), Forest Temple, Hinox Mine, Fire Temple, Training Ground, Palace Noir, Floating Garden, and Sky Temple (one Bow per Stage). They also appear in the Forest Zone, Flooded Zone, Fortified Zone, Shadow Zone and Baneful Zone of the Den of Trials, as well as the Coliseum's Woodlands and The Ruins arenas.

Breath of the Wild[]

BotW Bow Icon

Bows are no longer a singular item in Breath of the Wild, but an entire class of weapons with varying stats that Link can equip. As such, Bows can be found much earlier and more easily than in previous games. However, Bows have a Durability system and will break after repeated uses. To counteract this, several Bows can be carried and switched between as needed. Different types of Arrows, such as Fire Arrows, can also be obtained and used with Link's currently equipped Bow.

Some bows, like the Lynel Bow and Forest Dweller's Bow, shoot multiple arrows. Most shoot three arrows, although the Duplex Bow shoots two and a randomly occurring item bonus allows some bows to shoot five arrows. Multiple-shot bows do not consume multiple arrows. Two additional types of bow, the Phrenic Bow and the Golden Bow, allow the player to zoom in and gain a clearer view of the area they are aiming at when the bow is used. This effect also increases the range of the bow's shots, allowing Link to hit targets that are further away then would otherwise be possible.

A slow-down effect will occur when Link aims with a Bow while airborne. While aiming, Link's Stamina will be drained quickly and he will not be able to aim once it runs out. Link can stop the slow-down effect by pulling out the Paraglider or canceling it by pressing the B button twice.

Link can carry a maximum of thirteen Bows after completing upgrades with Hestu.[15]

List of Bows[]

Bow Compendium No. Strength Durability Range Description
BotW Bow of Light Icon
Bow of Light
319/324 100 100 500 Princess Zelda gave you this bow and arrow for the battle with Dark beast Ganon. When wielded by the hero, it fires arrows of pure light strong enough to oppose the Calamity.
BotW Wooden Bow Icon
Wooden Bow
320/325 4 20 20 This wooden bow may not be the most reliable for battling monsters, but it is excellent for hunting small animals.
BotW Traveler's Bow Icon
Traveler's Bow
321/326 5 22 20 A small bow used by travelers for protection. It doesn't do a lot of damage, but it can be used to attack foes from a distance.
BotW Soldier's Bow Icon
Soldier's Bow
322/327 14 36 20 A bow designed for armed conflict. Inflicts more damage than a civilian bow, but it will still burn if it touches fire.
BotW Knight's Bow Icon
Knight's Bow
323/328 26 48 20 The sturdy metal construction of this bow offers superior durability, while its lack of firing quirks makes it quite reliable. Once favored by the knights at Hyrule Castle.
BotW Royal Bow Icon
Royal Bow
324/329 38 60 20 In the past, the king of Hyrule presented this bow to only the most talented archers in the land. Its combat capabilities are as impressive as its extravagant design.
BotW Forest Dweller's Bow Icon
Forest Dweller's Bow
325/330 15×3 35 20 The Koroks made this bow for Hylians. It's crafted from flexible wood and uses sturdy vines for the bowstring. Its construction may be simple, but it fires multiple arrows at once.
BotW Silver Bow Icon
Silver Bow
326/331 15 40 20 A bow favored by the Zora for fishing. It doesn't boast the highest firepower, but the special metal it's crafted from prioritizes durability.
BotW Swallow Bow Icon
Swallow Bow
327/332 9 30 40 This bow is a favorite among Rito warriors. The bowstring has been specially engineered for aerial combat, which allows it to be drawn faster than a normal bow.
BotW Falcon Bow Icon
Falcon Bow
328/333 20 50 40 A highly refined Rito-made bow created by a master Rito craftsman. Rito warriors favor it for its superior rate of fire, which helps them excel even further at aerial combat.
BotW Great Eagle Bow Icon
Great Eagle Bow
329/334 28×3 60 40 A bow without equal wielded by the Rito Champion, Revali. It's said Revali could loose arrows with the speed of a gale, making him supreme in aerial combat.
BotW Golden Bow Icon
Golden Bow
330/335 14 60 40 This Gerudo-made bow is popular for the fine ornamentations along its limbs. Designed for hunting and warfare alike, this bow was engineered to strike distant targets.
BotW Phrenic Bow Icon
Phrenic Bow
331/336 10 45 40 A bow passed down through the Sheikah tribe. Concentrating before drawing the string will allow you to target distant enemies as easily as those nearby.
BotW Ancient Bow Icon
Ancient Bow
332/337 44 120 50 This bow is the result of Robbie's research. Ancient Sheikah technology allows it heightened functionality, Arrows fired from it travel in a perfectly straight line.
BotW Royal Guard's Bow Icon
Royal Guard's Bow
333/338 50 20 30 This prototype Sheikah-made bow was designed to fight the Great Calamity. made with ancient technology, it boasts a high rate of fire and firepower but has low durability.
BotW Twilight Bow Icon
Twilight Bow
[note 1]
30 100 8,000 A bow used by the princess who fought the beasts of twilight alongside the hero. It's said to contain the spirits of light's power. It fires arrows straight and true, as if beams of light.
BotW Boko Bow Icon
Boko Bow
334/339 4 16 20 A basic Bokoblin bow made of wood. It's made by taking any tree branch and tying a string to either end, so don't expect much in the way of combat effectiveness.
BotW Spiked Boko Bow Icon
Spiked Boko Bow
335/340 12 20 20 An upgraded Boko Bow bound with animal bone to boost its durability and firepower. Its craftsmanship is sloppy, but it's light and easy to use.
BotW Dragon Bone Boko Bow Icon
Dragon Bone Boko Bow
336/341 24 30 20 A Boko bow reinforced by fossils. Bokoblins handpicked the materials it's made from, so it boasts a respectable firepower.
BotW Lizal Bow Icon
Lizal Bow
337/342 14 25 20 A wooden bow created by Lizalfos. It's reinforced by the bones of a large fish - a marked improvement over any standard wooden bow.
BotW Strengthened Lizal Bow Icon
Strengthened Lizal Bow
338/343 25 35 20 A Lizal bow with a grip reinforced by metal. The body is made from the branches of a flexible tree that grows near water, which offers some serious destructive power.
BotW Steel Lizal Bow Icon
Steel Lizal Bow
339/344 36 50 20 This bow is wielded by lizalfos who are expert marksmen. The metal that reinforces much of the weapon adds some additional weight but offers heightened durability.
BotW Lynel Bow Icon
Lynel Bow
340/345 10×3 30 20 A Lynel-made bow crafted from rough metal. True to the vicious nature of Lynel weaponry. It fires a spread of multiple arrows at once. Ideal for taking down quick-moving targets.
BotW Mighty Lynel Bow Icon
Mighty Lynel Bow
341/346 20×3 35 20 This massive Lynel bow sports a bowstring made from a metal so tough, mere Hylians have trouble drawing it back.
BotW Savage Lynel Bow Icon
Savage Lynel Bow
342/347 32×3 45 20 This Lynel bow is made from a special steel found at the peak of Death Mountain. It has tremendous stopping power and can pierce thick armor as easily as thin paper.
BotW Duplex Bow Icon
Duplex Bow
343/348 14×2 18 40 A bow favored by the skilled archers of the Yiga Clan. It's been engineered to fire two arrows at once to ensure your target comes to a swift and none-too-pleasant halt.

In other media[]

The Legend of Zelda TV Series[]

Main article: Zelda's Bow

In The Legend of Zelda TV series, the Bow is mostly used by Princess Zelda and by enemies such as Stalfos and Moblins. The Bow differs from its in-game appearance as it shoots beam-like Arrows instead of the usual Arrows. Link is only seen using it once in "Underworld Connections," where he fires an Arrow tied to a rope to walk to the princess's alcove.

Spinoff appearances[]

Zelda's Adventure[]

In Zelda's Adventure, the Bow & Arrow appears as a Spell which lets Zelda fire Arrows with her Wand. It is dropped by a swarm of Loccasins early in the Shrine of Air. The Spell costs 1 Rupee to use.

Hyrule Warriors[]

The Bow is an item obtained in "The Sorceress of the Woods" Scenario in Hyrule Warriors. The Bow is used to fire Arrows that inflict minor damage, but can also be used to stun or instantly kill certain enemies. The Bow can temporarily be upgraded to fire Light Arrows by picking up its power-up in battles, increasing its damage and area of effect for its duration. Its duration can be extended by crafting Hawkeye Badges for Warriors. It is the only weapon that can kill Deku Babas, which first appear in "The Sorceress of the Woods", as they emit a poisonous aura that they hide in whenever another attack is directed towards them, thus requiring the use of the Bow. The Bow is also used to stun Gohma when it shows its weak spot during the boss battles against it.

A different kind of upgrade that fires Light Arrows is also temporarily granted by Zelda during "Liberation of the Triforce", where its use is necessary to stun and defeat Ganon. In Adventure Mode battles where Ganon is fought, the regular Bow is capable of stunning him.

Princess Zelda also uses a Bow that fires Light Arrows as part of her Rapier moveset. This Bow is different compared to the item Bow, as it is executed by pressing the Strong Attack button, is used in her Special Attack and as her Weak Point Smash.

Crossover appearances[]

Super Smash Bros. series[]

Throughout the Super Smash Bros. series, using a Bow is part of Link's, Young Link's, and Toon Link's Neutral special move. It involves any of the Links getting out his Bow and launching an Arrow at an opponent. The more the Bow is charged, the farther the Arrow will travel and the more damage it will inflict.

Super Smash Bros. Melee[]

Both Link and Young Link use the Fairy Bow from Ocarina of Time in Super Smash Bros. Melee, even though Young Link never used the Fairy Bow in either Ocarina of Time or Majora's Mask. Instead of shooting normal Arrows, Young Link's Bow shoots Fire Arrows, although they do not travel as far as Link's and inflict less damage.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl[]

Bow (SSBB)

Link getting ready to fire an Arrow from his Bow in Super Smash Bros. Brawl

The Hero's Bow from Twilight Princess replaces the Fairy Bow in Super Smash Bros. Brawl as Link's Bow. The Arrows of this Bow fly much faster and farther than those in Super Smash Bros. Melee, able to easily clear the wide Bridge of Eldin stage when fully charged. This is more akin to their canon appearances, as Arrows in The Legend of Zelda series always fly straight forward and never succumb to the more realistic effects of gravity as they always do in Super Smash Bros.. In addition, The Wind Waker's version of the Hero's Bow is used by Toon Link; however, the Arrows of his Bow fly more slowly than those of any previous game, have a slight upward arc to their trajectory, and inflict less damage.

Zelda's Bow from Twilight Princess also appears as a Sticker, although it is referred to as the Hero's Bow.


Sticker Artwork from Effect in The Subspace Emissary Usable by
SSBB Hero's Bow Sticker Icon
Hero's Bow
Twilight Princess [Slash] - Attack +8 All

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U[]

In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, Link and Toon Link retain a Bow as their special move. Like with any other special move, Link's and Toon Link's Bow move each have two custom variants. The custom variants of Link's Bow are the Power Bow, which has less range but can inflict more damage, and Quickfire Bow, allowing Link to fire Arrows more quickly. The two variants of Toon Link's Bow are the Fire Bow, in which he launches a Fire Arrow, and Piercing Bow, which launches an Arrow straight and quickly, although the Arrow is weaker and does not travel as far.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[]

The Traveler's Bow from Breath of the Wild replaces the Hero's Bow as Link's Bow in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Like in Breath of the Wild, when Link fires an Arrow it stays on the ground for a period of time, which can then be picked up and thrown or used to draw two Arrows at once for double damage.

SoulCalibur II[]

How to perform: Horizontal Attack ButtonPlusVertical Attack Button

In SoulCalibur II, Link can take out the Fairy Bow by simultaneously pressing the horizontal attack button and the vertical attack button. By holding the vertical attack button, he will charge his Bow. The more time that the Bow is charged, the more powerful the attack becomes. A fully charged Bow will allow Link to release a Fire Arrow instead of a normal Arrow. By tilting the control stick upwards or downwards, Link can change the direction that the Arrow will take, making the Bow a high, mid, and low attack. A normal Arrow will deal at least 40 HP worth of damage, while a Fire Arrow will deal a maximum of 60 HP damage. A hit from a Bow's Arrow, whether charged or not, will cause Link's opponent to fall to the ground.

Trivia[]

  • The Bow has also been used as a weapon by several enemies, including Bow Moblins, Bow Soldiers, Bulblins, Bokoblins, and Stalkoblins. Generic Moblins and Shrouded Stalfos are also implied to carry Bows, as they shoot projectiles that resemble Arrows.
  • Given the name "Hero's Bow", it may well be the same Bow used throughout many of the games, or at least inspired by the original Bow. According to Dangoro, the Hero's Bow of Twilight Princess is said to have once belonged to a hero from the past.[10][11]
    Unused Fairy Bow waiting position

    The cut waiting position in Ocarina of Time that would later be used for Breath of the Wild

  • In Ocarina of Time, there is an unused animation of Link using the Fairy Bow in a crouching position. Although it was cut for the N64 game for unknown reasons, it would be reused for Breath of the Wild and its sequel.
  • In Majora's Mask, all four main dungeon items pertain to the Bow. Woodfall Temple features the Bow itself, while the Snowhead Temple has Fire Arrows, the Great Bay Temple has Ice Arrows, and the Stone Tower Temple has Light Arrows.
  • A majority of Enemies notably use Bows and Arrows throughout The Legend of Zelda series.
  • In Tears of the Kingdom, using a bow midair will also start a slowdown effect (also known as Bullet Time Mode) but instead of starting a stamina drain, it consumes 1/3 of the Stamina Wheel when firing an arrow.
  • In Breath of the Wild, water splash effects are not slowed down in Bullet Time Mode (using bow midair).

Nomenclature[]

TMC Forest Minish Artwork Names in other regions TMC Jabber Nut Sprite
LanguageNameMeaning
JapanJapaneseユミ (Yumi) (TLoZ)
弓 (Yumi) (TLoZ | ALttP)[16][17]
弓矢 (Yumiya) (ALttP | ALBW | TFH)[18][19][20]
弓 (Yumi) (TLoZ | ALttP)[21][22]
妖精の弓 (Yōsei no Yumi) (OoT)[23]
弓矢 (Yumiya) (ALttP | ALBW | TFH)[24][25][26]
弓矢 (Yumiya) (ALttP | ALBW | TFH)[27][28][29]
Same as English.
Same as English.
Bow and Arrow
Same as English.
Same as English.
Bow and Arrow
Bow and Arrow
NetherlandsDutchBoog (TLoZ)[30]Bow
CanadaFrenchCAArc (ST | ALBW | TFH)[31][32][33]
FranceFrenchEUArc (TLoZ | ST | ALBW | TFH)[34][35][36][37]
Arc des fées (OoT3D)[38]
Bow
Bow of the fairies
GermanyGermanBogen (ST | ALBW | TFH | HWDE)[39][40][41][42]
Holzbogen (SS)
Heroenbogen (HWDE)[43]
Same as English.
Wooden Bow
Same as English.
ItalyItalianArco (ST | ALBW | TFH)[44][45][46]
South KoreaKorean화살 (Hwasal) (ALBW)[47]
SpainSpanishEUArco (ST | TFH | BotW)[48][49]
Arco y flechas (ALBW)[50]
Latin AmericaSpanishLAArco (ST | TFH)[51][52]
Arco y flechas (ALBW)[53]
This table was generated using translation pages.
To request an addition, please contact a staff member with a reference.

Gallery[]

See Also[]

Notes

  1. Obtained randomly from the Treasure Chest dropped by scanning Super Smash Bros. series Zelda amiibo

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Encyclopedia, Dark Horse Books, pg. 118 (TLoZ | ALttP | LA | OoT | MM | FS | TWW | FSA | TMC | TP | PH | ST | SS | ALBW | TFH)
  2. "Hero's Bow: Use this to dispel tornados." — Tutorial (Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition)
  3. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass — Prima Official Game Guide, Prima Games, pg. 11
  4. "Link can use them only if he has both the bow and an arrow." (The Legend of Zelda manual, pg. 24)
  5. "For each arrow Link shoots, he loses one ruby." (The Legend of Zelda manual, pg. 24)
  6. "Oh, by the way, there are some enemies that can be disposed of using only the bow and arrow. So be alert!" (The Legend of Zelda manual, pg. 24)
  7. "You found the Fairy Bow! On the Select Item Subscreen, you can set it to (<), (v) or (>)." — N/A (Ocarina of Time)
  8. "That's a fine-looking bow you got there! Where'd you get that? If you're not in any kind of hurry, why don't you stop and play with me a bit?" — Fishman (The Wind Waker)
  9. "Tap A Button to fire three rapid shots. The time that you have to hold the A Button is shorter than that for the normal high-speed arrow." (Four Swords Adventures manual, pg. 29)
  10. 10.0 10.1 "You got the Hero's Bow! This Goron treasure once belonged to a hero of legend." — N/A (Twilight Princess)
  11. 11.0 11.1 "...Ah! So THAT is why you are here! In that case, take the weapon of the Hero of the past..." — Dangoro (Twilight Princess)
  12. "Whoa... Human?! What business does a human have coming here?! None! No business! This is a forbidden place! I will protect this treasure from you!" — Dangoro (Twilight Princess)
  13. "In the battle between the Demon King and the spirits, there was a weapon called the Bow of Light... Perhaps it can drive his spirit from your body." — Anjean (Spirit Tracks)
  14. "Oh dear... Look at you. Does this happen a lot? The hero business seems like awfully tough work. I'm not cut out for that kind of life. But I guess you just gotta get up off the floor and start again! You'll be needing the bow again? All right then! But this time, I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask for my rental fee. It's 10 Rupees, OK?" — Ravio (A Link Between Worlds)
  15. "Shakalo... I can expand your bow stash no further." — Hestu (Breath of the Wild)
  16. The Legend of Zelda manual, pg. 23
  17. A Link to the Past manual, pg. 42 Nintendo Official Guidebook—The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past & Four Swords (Shogakukan) pg. 13
  18. Nintendo Official Guidebook—The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Vol. 1 (Shogakukan 1) pg. 23
  19. "弓矢
    まっすぐに飛んで敵を打ち抜く!
    狙いながらの移動も可能!!
    " — Inventory (A Link Between Worlds)
  20. "弓矢を手に入れた!
    Ⓨで矢を撃てるぞ!!
    " — N/A (Tri Force Heroes)
  21. The Legend of Zelda manual, pg. 23
  22. A Link to the Past manual, pg. 42 Nintendo Official Guidebook—The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past & Four Swords (Shogakukan) pg. 13
  23. Nintendo Official Guidebook—The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Shogakukan) pg. 153
  24. Nintendo Official Guidebook—The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Vol. 1 (Shogakukan 1) pg. 23
  25. "弓矢
    まっすぐに飛んで敵を打ち抜く!
    狙いながらの移動も可能!!
    " — Inventory (A Link Between Worlds)
  26. "弓矢を手に入れた!
    Ⓨで矢を撃てるぞ!!
    " — N/A (Tri Force Heroes)
  27. Nintendo Official Guidebook—The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Vol. 1 (Shogakukan 1) pg. 23
  28. "弓矢
    まっすぐに飛んで敵を打ち抜く!
    狙いながらの移動も可能!!
    " — Inventory (A Link Between Worlds)
  29. "弓矢を手に入れた!
    Ⓨで矢を撃てるぞ!!
    " — N/A (Tri Force Heroes)
  30. The Legend of Zelda manual, pg. 24
  31. "Vous avez obtenu un arc et des flèches! Touchez l'écran tactile pour viser." — N/A (Spirit Tracks)
  32. "Arc
    Visez en vous déplaçant et tirez droit devant pour vous débarrasser de vos ennemis.
    " — Inventory (A Link Between Worlds)
  33. "Vous avez obtenu un arc!
    Appuyez sur Ⓨ pour tirer des
    flèches!
    " — N/A (Tri Force Heroes)
  34. The Legend of Zelda manual, pg. 24
  35. "Vous obtenez l'arc et des flèches! Touchez l'écran tactile pour viser." — N/A (Spirit Tracks)
  36. "Arc
    Visez en vous déplaçant et tirez droit devant pour vous débarrasser de vos ennemis.
    " — Inventory (A Link Between Worlds)
  37. "Vous avez obtenu un arc !
    Tirez des flèches avec Ⓨ !
    " — N/A (Tri Force Heroes)
  38. "Arc des fées
    Une arme pour archers adultes. Tendez, visez et tirez !
    " — Inventory (Ocarina of Time 3D)
  39. "Du hast den Bogen erhalten! Berühre den Touchscreen zum Zielen und lass los, um einen Pfeil abzufeuern." — N/A (Spirit Tracks)
  40. "Bogen
    SchieSSe Gegner aus sicherer Entfernung ab. Du kannst dich beim Zielen bewegen.
    " — Inventory (A Link Between Worlds)
  41. "Der Bogen!
    Verschieße durch
    Drücken von Ⓨ Pfeile!
    " — N/A (Tri Force Heroes)
  42. "Du hast den Bogen erhalten! Mit ihm kannst du auch weiter entfernte Gegner angeifen! Kleinere Gegner werden durchshlagen!" — N/A (Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition)
  43. "Heroenbogen:
    Damit löst du Wirbelstürme auf.
    " — Tutorial (Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition)
  44. "Hai ottenuto Arco e Frecce! Per scoccare una Freccia tocca il touch screen e solleve lo stilo." — N/A (Spirit Tracks)
  45. "Arco
    Abbatti i nemici che si trovano dritto davanti a te. Anche mentre ti muovi!
    " — Inventory (A Link Between Worlds)
  46. "Hai ottenuto l'arco!
    Scocca le frecce con Ⓨ!
    Semplice ma efficace.
    " — N/A (Tri Force Heroes)
  47. "화살
    곧장 날아가 적에게 적중!
    조준하면서 이동도 가능!!
    " — Inventory (A Link Between Worlds)
  48. "¡Has conseguido un arco y flechas! Toca la pantalla táctil y levanta el lápiz para disparar." — N/A (Spirit Tracks)
  49. "¡Obtienes el arco y las flechas!
    ¡Dispara con Ⓨ!
    ¡Simple pero efectivo!
    " — N/A (Tri Force Heroes)
  50. "Arco y flechas
    ¡Dispara flechas que hieren a los enemigos a distancia! ¡Muévete mientras apuntas!
    " — Inventory (A Link Between Worlds)
  51. "¡Has conseguido el arco y las flechas! Toca la pantalla táctil y levanta el lápiz para disparar." — N/A (Spirit Tracks)
  52. "¡Obtienes el arco y las flechas!
    ¡Dispara con Ⓨ!
    ¡Simple pero efectivo!
    " — N/A (Tri Force Heroes)
  53. "Arco y flechas
    ¡Dispara flechas que dañan a los enemigos a distancia! ¡Muévete mientras apuntas!
    " — Inventory (A Link Between Worlds)
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