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[[File:File:TPHD Master Sword Artwork 1.png.png|20x20px]] [[|]] The Master Sword, also known as the Blade of Evil's Bane,[1][2][3] Sword of Resurrection and the sword thats seals the darkness, is a recurring legendary Sword in the Template:Series.[4][5] Originally crafted by the goddess Hylia as the Goddess Sword,[6] it was later forged into the Master Sword by the Goddess's chosen hero and its spirit, Fi, who bathed it in the three Sacred Flames located across the land that would become the Kingdom of Hyrule.[7] Din's Flame in particular imbued the sword with the Power to Repel Evil,[8][9] a power augmented after the Sword received the blessing of Zelda, which transformed the blade into the True Master Sword.[10][11] It is usually the only Sword that can defeat Ganon in the games it appears in.[12]

The Sword is often seen to choose or accept its master by its own will, always a hero who has gone through great trials that test his courage, wisdom and power to prove him worthy of wielding it. This may be the conscious choice of the sword's spirit, Fi, who sleeps eternally within the sword and only assists her heroic master.[13]

Overview

Lightsword

The Master Sword infused with the power of the Sols

When the Master Sword was first introduced in artworks of A Link to the Past, the Sword's grip was red and its cross-guard yellow (in-game, both the grip and guard are red). However, in its pedestal, the Master Sword has a purple grip and blue guard. Its most conventional appearance was clearly defined in Ocarina of Time, with the purple grip and purple guard, though in subsequent games and the re-release of Ocarina of Time 3D, the purple has become more blue or indigo. In The Wind Waker, the grip and guard are royal blue as opposed to a deeper color.

For the rest of the games, the Master Sword is a double-edged arming sword with a narrow ricasso and a wide, shallow fuller that runs almost the entire length of the blade, although in some appearances it has no fuller at all. The Triforce can be seen engraved in the lower part of the blade and yellow gemstone is embedded in the crossguard. It is seen in The Wind Waker and Skyward Sword that the state of the gem and the crossguard are indicative the sword's awakening and power. When Link acquires the unawakened Master Sword in The Wind Waker and the first form of the Master Sword in Skyward Sword, the gem in its crossguard is dark and the guard is retracted toward the grip. Once the Master Sword has been restored to its full power in both games, its crossguard regain its winged form and the gem its yellow color.

The Master Sword's most known ability is the power to vanquish evil. Infused with the sacred flames provided by the Golden Goddesses and blessed with Hylia's power, the Sword is effective even against evil ones possessing the Triforce. However, in order to keep the power to repel evil intact, two Sages, known as the Sage of Earth and the Sage of Wind, are in charge of praying to the gods and thus infuse the Master Sword with the gods' power.[14] Should something happen to these Sages, the Master Sword will weaken and lose its might to combat evil.

The sacred blade is also capable of destroying magical barriers[15][16] and breaking curses that involve powerful, dark magic.[3] In addition, it has the ability to lock away the remains of a demon.[17][18] The Master Sword can also unleash Skyward Strikes by channeling heavenly energy.[19] Even when low on power, the Master Sword can unleash Skyward Strikes through the use of lightning when it strikes the blade.

Only the true hero that is "pure of heart and strong of body" is capable of wielding the sacred blade,[20][21] and as such, those with tainted hearts cannot even touch this powerful sword.[22][23] If a hero who is too young to bear the title that comes with the Master Sword withdraws this blade from its pedestal, the Master Sword will seal away the hero's soul and awaken him when the bearer comes of age to wield it.[24][25] However, if someone that is weak attempts to draw the Master Sword from it's pedestal, they will lose their life.[citation needed]

The Master Sword also acts as a key to gain entrance to the Temple of Light. If the Master Sword is retrieved from its pedestal in the Temple of Time, the portal to the Sacred Realm will open, eventually leading to the Triforce.[26] Additionally, the bearer of the sword can travel through time to some extent by simply thrusting the Master Sword into the Pedestal of Time.[27] The hero is able to travel backwards and forwards through the seven years of his life that were lost when he was kept in the Sacred Realm until he was old enough to hold the sword.

When in the Twilight, the Master Sword itself can be infused with the power of the Sols from the Twilight Realm, allowing it to cut through the dark fog that exists in the realm.[28]

Even in its final form, it is seen in A Link to the Past that the Master Sword can further be improved by smithing or magic means. However, after its task is accomplished and the sword returned into its pedestal, it will regain its original shape.[29]

History and Appearances

With history spitting and taking three different paths after the events of Ocarina of Time, the Master Sword itself faces three different fates.

Unified Timeline: Creation and Early History

Prior to the Ocarina of Time, there was only one timeline, in which the events of Skyward Sword, The Minish Cap, Four Swords takes place. This section deals with the creation of the Master Sword and its early historical roles.

Skyward Sword

See also: Goddess Sword and Fi

In Skyward Sword, it is revealed that the Master Sword was originally known as the Goddess Sword, which rested in Skyloft, a floating island above the clouds. After sealing Demise, the goddess Hylia created Fi, an intelligent humanoid spirit who resides in the Sword, and gave it the purpose of assisting her chosen hero throughout his journey.[30] Eventually, in order to open the Gate of Time at the Sealed Grounds, Impa explains to Link that he must seek out the three Sacred Flames and purify the Sword into their heat.[31] Each time Link bathes the Goddess Sword in one of the flames, the Sword is empowered and is physically altered, with Din's Flame tempering the Goddess White Sword into the Master Sword and giving it the power to repel evil.[32][8] Although it is in the same incomplete state as in The Wind Waker, it holds a sacred force of "tremendous power" considered to be a divine power that was left by the gods of old, and it is also capable of activating the Gate of Time.[33]

In the past, Link's Sword is then blessed by Zelda to become the True Master Sword.[10] In the form of the True Master Sword, the damage dealt by a sword strike increases threefold, and the Skyward Strike charges much faster and is colored blue. The Sword's appearance also slightly changes, similar to The Wind Waker: the cross-guard extends outwards and turns into a brighter shade of purple, the blade takes on a slight bluish luster, and the gem and the Triforce symbol are restored. Additionally, if looked at closely when it is in a hilt, or placed in the pedestal in the post-battle cutscenes, the guard forms the shape of a blue Loftwing, with the gem as the beak, and gold detailing as the talons. The Master Sword is used to defeat Demise, whose "residual consciousness" is absorbed into the Master Sword and is sealed away before promising that an incarnation of his hatred would haunt those with the Spirit of the Hero and the blood of the Goddess.[18] Link then relinquishes the Sword into a pedestal in the Sealed Grounds and, thereafter, Fi enters the Master Sword to sleep forever.[13]

The Era of Chaos and The Era of Prosperity

Many years after the events of Skyward Sword, there was an Era of Chaos with wars and fighting over the Triforce that was located in the Sacred Realm. To protect the Triforce, the ancient Sage, Rauru, built over the remains of the Sealed Temple a new Temple of Time, which contained the only entrance to the Sacred Realm, using the Master Sword as a key to accessing the realm.[34][35][36] However, the entrance to the Master Sword chamber is sealed by the Door of Time. When the Master Sword was infused into the Pedestal of Time, it sealed that gateway in the hopes of preventing all but the most worthy to reach the Sacred Realm, where the sacred Triforce lies within the Temple of Light.[26] It is said that only the Hero of Time may enter the secret chambers of the temple and draw the Master Sword.[22] If the Hero of Time withdraws the Master Sword from its pedestal, it will once again open the portal to the Sacred Realm, granting access to the Temple of Light.[26]

Ocarina of Time

Ten years after the Unification War in which a young Hero of Time is left an orphan in Kokiri Forest, he is sent out on a great quest to help him combat the Gerudo thief known as Ganondorf. To retrieve it from its pedestal, Link must collect the three Spiritual Stones, and play the "Song of Time" on the Template:It in front of the Door of Time to open the chamber where it is sealed.[37] Only the one worthy of the title of the Hero of Time can draw the Master Sword; however, since Link was too young to bear such a title, the sacred blade sealed his spirit away in the Chamber of Sages until he came of age to be the Hero of Time.[38] Additionally, because the Master Sword serves as a gateway between Hyrule and the Sacred Realm, Ganondorf was able to access the Temple of Light and steal the Triforce after Link pulled the sword from its pedestal.[39]

After clearing the Forest Temple, Link can travel back to his original time by placing the Master Sword in the Pedestal of Time.[40] This becomes necessary as the young hero journeys to awaken the remaining five Sages.[41] Similarly, he can travel seven years into the future by simply taking the sword from its pedestal. Eventually, the young hero confronts the King of Evil and is able to defeat him with the power of the Master Sword along with the help of the Seven Sages.[42] Princess Zelda feels guilt for the Hero of Time having lost his childhood just to save Hyrule and sends him back in time to relive the days he missed and thus creates a new history. Following this, Princess Zelda returns the Master Sword to the Pedestal of Time and sealed the entrance to the Sacred Realm.[43]

Ever since the Master Sword was pulled from the Pedestal of Time, it has become analogous with the legend of the Hero of Time.[44]

Downfall Timeline

In a timeline in which the Hero of Time is killed in his final battle with Ganondorf in Ocarina of Time, Hyrule eventually goes into a period of decline and starts to diminish over time. The games set in this timeline include A Link to the Past, Oracles of Seasons, Oracles of Ages, Link's Awakening, A Link Between Worlds, The Legend of Zelda and The Adventure of Link.

A Link to the Past

The Master Sword in A Link to the Past is the legendary blade that rests in the Lost Woods of northwestern Hyrule in a pedestal with ancient Hylian inscribed on it.[45] The ancient text says the hero with three symbols of virtue will wield it on cataclysm's eve, reading: "The Hero's triumph on Cataclysm's Eve wins three Symbols of Virtue. The Master Sword he will then retrieve, keeping the knights' line true."[46]

In order to defeat the evil wizard Agahnim that has taken over Hyrule Castle, Link must obtain the Master Sword.[47] However, before the young hero can wield it, he must first acquire the three Pendants of Virtue that are scattered throughout the land.[48] After doing so, he retrieves the sacred blade from the Pedestal of Time within the Lost Woods. With it, he is able to destroy the electrical barrier that Agahnim had placed in the upper floor of Hyrule Castle. With the Master Sword in hand Link manages to defeat Agahnim twice in the game and, eventually, Ganon. With Hyrule safe from evil, Link places the Master Sword back in its pedestal, never to be used again.[49]

During the course of the game, Link can upgrade the Master Sword. Its first upgrade is the Tempered Sword, which is acquired when the Dwarven Swordsmith is reunited with his partner on the outskirts of Kakariko Village.[50] In the tempered shape, the Master Sword is two times stronger than its standard form, has a glowing orange blade and makes a deeper swing sound as opposed to the usual slash sound. Its second and last upgrade is the Golden Sword, acquired by giving the Master Sword or Tempered Sword to the Fat Fairy in the Mysterious Pond of the Dark World within the Pyramid of Power. In the golden shape, the Master Sword is four times stronger than its standard form, killing almost any enemies in one hit, has a golden blade and green hilt, has the ability to break jars and skull jars, and also make a deeper swing sound like the tempered form.

Moreover, Link can obtain the magic of the Bombos and Ether Medallion by holding the Master Sword up into the sky next to certain inscriptions around Hyrule.[51]

Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages

The Master Sword in Oracle of Seasons

The Master Sword makes a reappearance in the Template:OoX, fittingly as the most powerful sword in the game. When combined with the power of the Red Ring, the Master Sword is capable of taking down almost any boss in two to three Spin Attacks. The only way to unlock the Master Sword is to have finished one of the games, and to have started a Linked Game on the opposite game. When a certain secret in the game is found and told to Farore, she will upgrade the Noble Sword Link currently holds into the Master Sword. However, if Link still has the Wooden Sword, the Wooden Sword will become the Noble Sword, and the Master Sword will be found where the Noble Sword would have been.

A Link Between Worlds

Template:Sources

The Master Sword sprite from A Link Between Worlds

The Master Sword in A Link Between Worlds is the same legendary blade from A Link to the Past, which is once again found inside of the Lost Woods, presumably having been left there by the Link from A Link to the Past. Much like in A Link to the Past, the Master Sword is obtained by collecting the three Pendants of Virtue, which are found inside the Eastern Palace, the Tower of Hera and the House of Gales. The Master Sword is the only thing that has the power to break the Barrier surrounding Hyrule Castle, which is necessary for Link to face Yuga atop the castle, and subsequently travel to Lorule for the first time. When obtained, it replaced the previously-used Forgotten Sword.

The Master Sword can be upgraded twice by collecting pieces of Master Ore hidden throughout Lorule. By taking the Master Sword to the Blacksmith in Hyrule with two pieces of Master Ore, he will upgrade it to the Master Sword Lv2. The Master Sword Lv2 is twice as powerful as the standard Master Sword and has a tempered, red blade, making it almost identical to the Tempered Sword from A Link to the Past. When Link collects the remaining two pieces of Master Ore and takes them to the blacksmith in Lorule, he will upgrade the sword again to the Master Sword Lv3. This final upgrade of the Master sword is again twice as powerful, making it eight times as powerful as the Forgotten Sword. It also has a golden blade, making it almost identical to the Golden Sword from the previous game.

Despite its increased strength, the Master Sword Lv2's Sword Beam does the same base amount of damage as the Master Sword. The StreetPass Shadow Links and Gramps, the elderly man in Kakariko Village, are able to wield the Master Sword Lv3. The former can be attributed to the Shadow Links being mere shades,[52][53] but no explanation is given as to why Gramps can wield the sword.

Child Timeline

This timeline follows the child ending of Ocarina of Time, in which the Hero of Time informs Princess Zelda and the King of Hyrule of what will happen if Ganondorf is to be trusted. The games set on this timeline include Majora's Mask, Twilight Princess and Four Swords Adventures.

Twilight Princess

The Master Sword in Twilight Princess is located deep within the Faron Woods in the Sacred Grove, which are the ruins of the Temple of Time.[3] The blade is said to have once been held by the Legendary Hero.[9]

When Link is permanently turned into a wolf by Zant's magic, Princess Zelda mentions that the Master Sword is the only relic that can break the curse placed on him.[3] Link then ventures to the Sacred Grove and draws the blade from its pedestal, allowing Link to return to his Hylian form.[54]

Mastersword

Master Sword in Twilight Princess

The Master Sword in this game also allows Link access to other numerous hidden temples later in the game, such as the Temple of Time. When Link goes through the Door of Time in the Sacred Grove, he travels back to when the Temple of Time stood tall and before it fell into ruin. Here, Link can briefly thrust the Master Sword in the Pedestal of Time, making a set of staircases appear that lead to an unexplored area of the temple that serves as one of the game's dungeons. The sword's initial locations marks a link between A Link to the Past and Ocarina of Time, as it resides in the temple's ruins, a place that is notably similar to the sword's resting place in A Link To The Past.

The sword is, in comparison with the shield and the overall height of Link, considerably bigger than in the other 3D releases. Regardless, the general design is consistent throughout them all.

Light-infused Master Sword

In the Palace of Twilight, Link fuses the Master Sword with the power of the Sols. This Light-Infused Master Sword enables Link to defeat most monsters of Twilight in a single blow. The sword is also capable of clearing away the Dark Fog that causes Link to revert back to wolf form.[28] This upgrade is only usable while in the Twilight Realm.

Midna notes that the Sols' light being transferred to the Master Sword is the work of the gods of the Twilight Realm, and that they too are on Link's side.[55]

In the final battle against Ganondorf, Link uses the Ending Blow to thrust the Master Sword into Ganondorf's chest, defeating him. During the ending credits, the sword is shown resting in its pedestal in the Sacred Grove.

Adult Timeline

This timeline follows the adult ending of Ocarina of Time, in which the Hero of Time leaves this timeline behind and Hyrule returns to peace for a time. The games set on this timeline include The Wind Waker, Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks.

The Wind Waker

The powerless Master Sword from The Wind Waker

The Master Sword is predominately referred to as the Blade of Evil's Bane in The Wind Waker's legends and lies in a hidden chamber in Hyrule Castle, deep beneath the waves of the Great Sea.[2][56] With the Master Sword resting in the Pedestal of Time, the sacred blade serves as a key to seal away Ganondorf's magic, keeping Hyrule frozen in time and all those who inhabit it.[57] However, the Master Sword's use as a key to lock evil away is broken when a young Link unknowingly draws the blade under the direction of the King of Red Lions.[57] In doing so, he unwittingly awakens Ganondorf's army from their ancient slumber and also allows Ganon to use his magic again.

Later, Link learns that since Ganon murdered the Sages of Earth and Wind, Laruto and Fado respectively, the Master Sword's edge has dulled and its Power to Repel Evil has faded.[58] As such, Link must awaken the two new Sages in order to regain that lost power.[59] It is then explained that those Sages are necessary in order to pray to the gods for the Master Sword and the Hero who wields it, to restore its edge, and to keep it glowing with the power to repel evil.[14]

Stone ganon

The Master Sword stuck in Ganon's forehead causes him to turn into stone

When Link first draws the weakened Master Sword from its pedestal, its guard is curved into the blade rather than extending outward as it once did; moreover, the gem that rests at the base of the blade is black rather than gold, and the symbol of the Triforce is missing. As Link awakens the new Sages of Earth and Wind, the Sages return the power to repel evil to the blade: the guard's original position is recovered with the Earth Sage's prayers,[60] and the gem and the Triforce symbol are restored with the prayers of the Wind Sage.[61] When the sword is fully restored, it glows with the power to repel evil, allowing Link to shatter the magical barrier in Hyrule that impedes his path to Ganon's Tower.[16]

After making his way to the top of the tower, Link, with the help of Princess Zelda, fights against Ganondorf using the Master Sword's power. To deal the final blow, the young hero thrusts the sacred blade into Ganondorf's forehead, which causes the King of Evil to completely turn into stone. Hyrule is then flooded by the wishes of the King Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule, leaving the Master Sword impaled in Ganon's skull as the forgotten kingdom is destroyed by the waves.

Unknown Timeline

Breath of the Wild

The Master Sword, also called Master Sword of Resurrection, appears in Breath of the Wild, and lies in a hidden area of Korok Forest. Resting forgotten in its Pedestal, it appears severely dilapidated, with large portions of the blade serrated, damaged, and covered in rust.

In his journey, Link hears some rumors about the Master Sword's location, and in order for him to obtain it, he has to reach the entrance of the Great Hyrule Forest by flying directly to it from the Woodland Tower. Upon reaching the Lost Woods, Link has to walk a certain path that leads to the Korok Forest. The Master Sword rests on its pedestal at the center of Korok Forest, and is revealed to Link that if a person who is deemed weak attempts to draw the Master Sword from the pedestal, they will slowly lose their life. Link must be powerful enough to be able to draw the blade from its resting slumber and have at least thirteen hearts in order to collect it.

The Master Sword has a base strength of 30 damage, however, its holy power is awakened in the presence of evil and while Link is in certain areas and near certain enemies, such as Ganon, the blade glows with a characteristic blue aura. In this true state, the Master Sword's damage is doubled, bringing its strength to a whopping 60 damage, making the Blade of Evil's Bane the most powerful single-handed weapon in the game. Like all other weapons, it has durability and can be rendered unusable after extensive use. However, unlike other blades, it does not break nor disappears from Link's inventory and has the ability to auto-repair itself to gradually recover its lost durability after some time, restoring itself back to its original, fully repaired condition.

Unlike the other weapons in the game, the Master Sword cannot be "tossed" at enemies. Instead, it will fire Sword Beams, provided that Link is not injured and his health is full. The beams do 10 damage, and the range is increased by the total amount of Heart Containers Link has.

Discrepancies

Until the release of Skyward Sword, the origin of the Master Sword was never seen and only alluded to in what could be considered legends that were corrupted by oral tradition; mistranslations from Japanese have further clouded the facts. For instance, according to the English manual of A Link to the Past, after Ganon entered the Golden Land and obtained the Triforce, the people of Hyrule forged a Sword resistant to magic, which could even repulse powers granted by the Triforce.[62] The seven Sages searched for one worthy of wielding the Master Sword, but never found such a person, leaving them, with the aid of the knights of Hyrule, to seal away Ganon instead.[63] Although the mistranslated English manual states that the Master Sword was not created until after Ganon invaded the Golden Land, the Japanese manual states that it was forged long before the Imprisoning War.[64] The location of the blade was already forgotten by the time of the Imprisoning War, and no hero was found worthy of wielding it.[65] This notion that the Master Sword was forged to protect the Triforce is supported by the fact that Hylia (The first wielder of the Goddess Sword) was the Triforce's guardian.

Both the English and Japanese manual of A Link to the Past describe that the Master Sword was forged by the people of Hyrule, and not necessarily by the Ancient Sages. It isn't until Twilight Princess that Princess Zelda mentions that the Ancient Sages crafted the Master Sword.[3]

Skyward Sword, which takes place at the beginning of the Zelda Timeline, reveals the complete origin of the Master Sword, revealing that it was forged into its well-known current form from being the Goddess Sword created by the goddess Hylia.[6][7][10]

The ending of A Link to the Past claims that the Master Sword "sleeps again, forever" after Link places it back in its shrine in the Lost Woods, but Oracle of Ages, Oracle of Seasons, and A Link Between Worlds, each set after this game, show Link once again taking up the Master Sword, indicating that this line was merely metaphorical.

The Oracle series also complicates matters by introducing Master Swords that are created by sharpening Link's Noble Swords, either by a mysterious old man or by King Zora. These blades clearly have different origins and capabilities than the blade of legend, and likely only share the name due to their physical resemblance.

Other Appearances

The Master Sword appears as a cameo in other Nintendo series.

For more information, visit the Cameos of The Legend of Zelda page.


Ancient Stone Tablets

In Ancient Stone Tablets, the Hero of Light can obtain the Master Sword from the Lost Woods during week 4. During previous weeks, a Soldier blocks the entrance to its resting place. The Master Sword is the most powerful Sword in the game. When at full health, it can shoot Sword Beams. During the ending of the game, the Hero of Light, alongside Princess Zelda and Aginah, return the Master Sword to its pedestal.

A Link to the Past Comic

Master Sword (comic)

The Master Sword in the comic

In the A Link to the Past comic, Sahasrahla's Wife elaborates on part of the Master Sword's history: she tells of ancient scrolls that speak of the prosperous people who once inhabited the land of Hyrule. According to the scrolls, they made many powerful weapons, including the ultimate treasure, the Master Sword, crafted specifically to resist evil power and which now rests in the Lost Woods.[66] Link begins his quest to search for the Master Sword after Agahnim kidnaps Princess Zelda to cast the third and final incantation on her and thus break the seal that binds Ganon to the Dark World. Before Agahnim is able to take her away, Zelda reveals to Link that only the Master Sword can harm Agahnim.[67] The young hero eventually finds Sahasrahla, and although the old man is puzzled as to how someone so young like Link could be searching for the Master Sword,[68] he tells Link he must recover the Pendants of Virtue to claim the legendary weapon. After acquiring the three Pendants of Virtue, Link heads out to the Lost Woods and retrieves the legendary weapon out of its pedestal.

Link, now confident with the power of the Master Sword, heads out to battle Agahnim atop Hyrule Castle. Sahasrahla contacts Link and tells him not to trust all his power in the Master Sword, for even the legendary blade cannot harm Agahnim's body.[69] Link attacks him anyway, but the Master Sword passes right through the evil wizard,[70] which causes him to turn around and paralyze Link by only looking at him.[71] Agahnim then casts Zelda into the Dark World, which causes for Link's rage towards Agahnim begins to channel through the Master Sword since the young hero and the legendary blade are as one.[72] Agahnim and Link begin to battle, and after Sahasrahla reveals to the young hero that the Master Sword was also forged to repel evil magic,[73] Link uses the sword to turn back Agahnim's magic against him and successfully defeat him.[74]

Link also uses the Master Sword to battle against Ganon, which he uses to stun the King of Thieves while Zelda delivers the final blow with the Silver Arrow. With Hyrule now at peace, Link returns the Master Sword to its pedestal in the Lost Woods. The comic's final scene shows the Master Sword overgrown by foliage as it sleeps, waiting for a new bearer when disaster befalls Hyrule again.[75]

Super Smash Bros. Series

Template:Smashwiki In the Super Smash Bros. series, the Master Sword is Link's main weapon. In Super Smash Bros. Melee, the Master Sword can also be obtained as a Trophy. The Subspace Emissary from Super Smash Bros. Brawl shows a cutscene where Link pulls out the Master Sword from the Pedestal of Time in the middle of a forest when he is first introduced.

Game Image Description How to Unlock
Super Smash Bros. Melee File:Master Sword Trophy.png The Master Sword varies a bit between titles in the Legend of Zelda series, but it's generally the most powerful blade that Link can carry. It's a magical weapon that can be wielded only by a true hero, and, as its name implies, it's the weapon of choice in decisive battles. At the end of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Link returned it to its stone pedestal. Random

Soulcalibur II

The Master Sword is one of Link's weapons in SoulCalibur II, and it can be used with either the Hylian Shield or the Mirror Shield. Since it is Link's most familiar sword, the Master Sword in conjunction with the Hylian Shield is considered to be Link's most balanced weapon.[76]

Name Image Cost Attributes In-game Description
Master Sword & Hylian Shield File:Master Sword (SCII).png
Free
Well-balanced
A magic sword and shield that have accompanied Link on many adventures and helped him repeatedly save the land of Hyrule. This journey is no less dire, and Link once again goes into battle equipped with these items, this time in another world. These are well-balanced arms for Link.
Mirror Shield File:Mirror Shield (SCII).png
2200 Gold
Hits taken are counters
33% of damage received is inflicted back onto opponent
A mirror-like shield found in the Spirit Temple. It is an amazing work of art, and there are few who would argue that it is not one of the finest shields in Hyrule. It is said that its surface reflects not only light but hostile intent as well.

Hyrule Warriors Series

File:HW - True Master Sword.png

The True Power of the Master Sword being awoken in Hyrule Warriors

The Master Sword, combined with the Hylian Shield, appears as one of Link's unlockable weapons in Hyrule Warriors. It is obtained by completing "The Sacred Sword" Scenario in Legend Mode. It performs similarly to Link's Hylian Sword moveset, although with a base attack power of 300, being much more powerful than most obtainable Swords. It also performs a wider and faster Spin Attack combo than the other Swords. After completing the "A War of Spirit" Scenario, Link can fire Sword Beams with certain combos at full health. It is of the Light element.

Unlike other weapons, the Master Sword is one-of-a-kind and multiples cannot be obtained from weapon drops. In Hyrule Warriors it has one ability slot known as Evil's Bane, which is unlocked after collecting all Level 1, 2 and 3 weapons in Adventure Mode and then accumulating 25,000 kills with the Master Sword. In Hyrule Warriors Legends, it has two ability slots, one being Evil's Bane, and the other being Exorcism. Evil's Bane is unlocked in the same manner as in the Hyrule Warriors, but the kills requirement is lowered to 10,000 instead. Exorcism requires unlocking all of the Level 4 weapons, which are exclusive to Hyrule Warriors Legends, and then accumulating 25,000 kills with the Master Sword. Evil's Bane increases the Master Sword's base attack power by 200 and, in Hyrule Warriors, also unlocks the Legendary seal for other Warriors' weapons that have that skill available. In Hyrule Warriors Legends, Exorcism unlocks the Legendary seal and also increases the Master Sword's base power by an additional 400 points, bringing the total to 900. Unlocking the Evil's Bane skill awards the "True Master Sword" Medal in the Hyrule Warriors, while Exorcism does this in Hyrule Warriors Legends.

In the Legend Mode Scenarios, after obtaining the Sword, Link becomes cocky and overconfident in his abilities. In "A War of Spirit", while Link goes to face Cia at the Temple of Souls, she uses his overconfidence against him by using the darkness in his heart to create Dark Links to fight him repeatedly. With the aid of his allies, he is able to overcome these threats, and the bond shared between them awakens the True Power of the Master Sword. From that point, at full health, Link can fire Sword Beams with certain combos. After Link defeats Ganon in "Liberation of the Triforce", he returns the Master Sword to its pedestal at the Temple of the Sacred Sword to rest.

Nintendo Land

The Master Sword appears in Nintendo Land as well. It is one of the 200 prizes that can be won using the coins at the game on the top of the central tower located in the middle of the plaza. Upon touching the prize in the plaza using the touch screen or simply jumping into it, Monita will make the following comment:

Battle Quest Prize Master Sword
Monita says:

Master Sword

Trivia

  • In The Wind Waker, according to the original Japanese text, the Master Sword was sealing Ganon's minions and not his magic, as can be observed in-game.[57][77]
  • The Master Sword is a signature symbol of the Zelda series, being displayed in title logos such as in A Link to the Past and appearing as Link's main weapon in other games like Soulcalibur II and the Super Smash Bros. series.
  • A weapon known as a Master Sword appears in Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem, released shortly after A Link to the Past. While it bears the same name and is a powerful weapon, it has a very different appearance to the weapon from the Zelda series. It also appears in the DS remake, and in Fire Emblem: Thracia 776, where its appearance is closer to that of the Zelda blade.
  • The Snake Killer from The Frog For Whom the Bell Tolls is quite similar to the Master Sword. The Snake Killer was pulled from the ground in an area called the "Ice Cave", and was necessary to defeat the final boss, Delarin, who was a snake. An ancient tablet regarding the Snake Killer had this inscribed on it: "When thou seeth thy true friend, the golden sword shalt awaken." When the spring bell had rung, and Richard turned back into a human, the Snake Killer begins to glow, and Prince Sable uses the sword to slay Delarin.
  • At the end of Skyward Sword, because of the time travel involved, the Goddess Sword and Master Sword exist simultaneously. The Master Sword is within the Sealed Temple while the Goddess Sword is up in Skyloft.
  • In Four Swords Anniversary Edition, completing the Realm of Memories unlocks the Master Sword as Link's new sword. However, Link remains divided into four even after obtaining the sword, which implies that this sword is not the same as the true Master Sword, merely an upgrade of the conventional Four Sword. It is interesting to note that the Four Sword's original form, the Picori Blade, greatly resembled the Master Sword.
  • In the A Link to the Past manga, it is said that the Master Sword was made by the Sages by instruction of the Gods.[78]
  • The Master Sword is often mistakenly thought to be a longsword, which was a weapon typically fought using two hands. In actuality, the Master Sword is an arming sword, which evolved into the short sword. Specifically, the Master Sword appears to use a hybrid handle, allowing Link to grab the bottom half of the handle and the pommel of the sword for extra power.

Etymology

TMC Forest Minish Artwork Names in Other Regions TMC Jabber Nut Sprite
Language Name Meaning
Japan Japanese マスターソード (Masutā Sōdo) Master Sword
Canada FrenchCA Épée Maîtresse
Épée de Légende Template:ExpGame
Épée de légende Template:ExpGame
Master Sword
Sword of Legend
Sword of legend
French Republic FrenchEU Epée de Légende Template:ExpGame
Excalibur Template:ExpGame
Sword of Legend
Federal Republic of Germany German Masterschwert Master Sword
Italian Republic Italian Spada Suprema Supreme Sword
Russian Federation Russian Высший Меч Жизни (Vysshiy Mech Zhizni) Highest Sword of Life
Spanish-speaking countries Spanish Espada Maestra Master Sword

Gallery

The following is a gallery regrouping all of the currently hosted images of Gallery:Master Sword.



References

  1. "This mighty weapon became known as the blade of evil's bane, or the Master Sword." (A Link to the Past manual, pg. 5)
  2. 2.0 2.1 "It is none other than the Master Sword... The blade of evil's bane." — King of Red Lions (The Wind Waker)
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "Our world is one of balance... Just as there is light to drive away darkness, so, too, is there benevolence to banish evil. Head for the sacred grove that lies deep within the lands guarded by the spirit Faron. There you will find the blade of evil's bane that was crafted by the wisdom of the ancient sages...the Master Sword. The Master Sword is a sacred blade that evil can never touch. Evil cloaks you like a dark veil... and that blade is the only thing that can cleave it." — Princess Zelda (Twilight Princess)
  4. http://www.usgamer.net/articles/eiji-aonuma-unboxes-the-legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild-talks-about-master-sword-of-resurrection>
  5. http://nintendowire.com/news/2017/02/03/aonuma-ventures-wild-find-master-sword-resurrection/
  6. 6.0 6.1 "Link, the goddess created Fi and the great blade she's a part of for very specific reasons." — Zelda (Skyward Sword)
  7. 7.0 7.1 Template:Cite book
  8. 8.0 8.1 "The sacred red flame has imbued your blade with a divine power that repels evil." — N/A (Skyward Sword)
  9. 9.0 9.1 "You got the Master Sword! The legendary blade with the power to repel evil...once wielded by the legendary hero himself!" — In-game description (The Wind Waker)
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 "Along your travels you have found wisdom, power, and courage, and for this I shall bless your sword with the goddess's power. May it give you and your sword the strength to drive back the abomination that threatens this land!" — Zelda (Skyward Sword)
  11. "The goddess has blessed your blade, and the Master Sword has at last achieved its ultimate form! The sword is now imbued with the mythical power to drive back demons, and only Link may wield it!" — N/A (Skyward Sword)
  12. "It is none other than the Master Sword... The blade of evil's bane. It is the only sword that can banish Ganon from the world above!" — King of Red Lions (The Wind Waker)
  13. 13.0 13.1 "But now, at the end of my journey with you, as I prepare to sleep within the Master Sword forever, I experience a feeling I am unable to identify." — Fi (Skyward Sword)
  14. 14.0 14.1 "The fact that the Master Sword lost the power to repel evil suggests to me that something has happened to the sages who infused the blade with the gods' power." — King of Red Lions (The Wind Waker)
  15. "The sword you hold in your hand is the one and only Master Sword! Now that you possess that blade, you can break the barrier at the castle. [...] Why, that's incredible! How easily it cuts through such dark magic!" — Sahasrahla (A Link Between Worlds)
  16. 16.0 16.1 "Now that the Master Sword is once again blessed with the power to repel evil, you should be able to break through Ganon's Barrier and enter the tower!" — King of Red Lions (The Wind Waker)
  17. "The last remnants of Demise are decaying slowly within the sword." — Impa (Skyward Sword)
  18. 18.0 18.1 "I have confirmed the eradication of the demon king. His residual consciousness has been absorbed into the Master Sword...and is now sealed away." — Fi (Skyward Sword)
  19. "To gather energy from the heavens and charge up a Skyward Strike, point your sword skyward." — Fi (Skyward Sword)
  20. "It was so powerful that only one who was pure of heart and strong of body could wield it." (A Link to the Past manual, pg. 5)
  21. "You got the Master Sword! Only the true hero can wield this legendary weapon!" — Sword description (Twilight Princess)
  22. 22.0 22.1 "The Master Sword is a sacred blade which evil ones may never touch...." — Rauru (Ocarina of Time)
  23. "The blade of evil's bane. Those with evil hearts cannot touch it." — In-game description (Twilight Princess)
  24. "Only one worthy of the title of "Hero of Time" can pull it from the Pedestal of Time....However, you were too young to be the Hero of Time.... Therefore, your spirit was sealed here for seven years." — Rauru (Ocarina of Time)
  25. "After you opened the door of time, the Master Sword sealed you away in the Sacred Realm..." — Princess Zelda (Ocarina of Time)
  26. 26.0 26.1 26.2 "The Temple of Light, situated in the very center of the Sacred Realm, is the last stronghold against Ganondorf's evil forces. The Master Sword--the evil-destroying sword that you pulled out of the Pedestal of Time--was the final key to the Sacred Realm." — Rauru (Ocarina of Time)
  27. "The Master Sword is a ship with which you can sail upstream and downstream through time's river... The port for that ship is in the Temple of Time..." — Sheik (Ocarina of Time)
  28. 28.0 28.1 "Light filled the Master Sword! Its blade glows with a golden light in the Twilight Realm. With it, you can cut through dark fog!" — N/A (Twilight Princess)
  29. A Link to the Past ending
  30. "First, she created Fi. She made the spirit that resides in your sword to serve a single purpose: to assist her chosen hero on his mission." — Zelda (Skyward Sword)
  31. "First, you and your sword must grow together. {Color" — SS Red (Faron Woods)...Eldin Volcano...and Lanayru Desert... A sacred flame is hidden somewhere in each of these lands. Seek them out, and purify your sword in their heat. Only after your blade has been tempered by these three fires will it be fully imbued with the great power for which you search.|Impa|SS}}
  32. "Master, now that it has been tempered by the last of the sacred flames, your blade has finally revealed its true form. You now hold the Master Sword." — Fi (Skyward Sword)
  33. "There can be no doubt. The sacred flames have purified this blade. Well done, Link. That sword holds tremendous power. That power is a sacred force. It is a divine power left to us by the gods of old. The same power that is spoken of in the Ballad of the Goddess." — Impa (Skyward Sword)
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  36. "Ages ago, we ancient Sages built the Temple of Time to protect the entrance to the Sacred Realm..." — Rauru (Ocarina of Time)
  37. "That's right... The Temple of Time is the entrance through which you can enter the Sacred Realm from our world. But the entrance is sealed with a stone wall called the Door of Time. And, in order to open the door, it is said that you need to collect three Spiritual Stones. And another thing you need...is the treasure that the Royal Family keeps along with this legend..." — Princess Zelda (Ocarina of Time)
  38. "Only one worthy of the title of "Hero of Time" can pull it from the Pedestal of Time.... However, you were too young to be the Hero of Time.... Therefore, your spirit was sealed here for seven years." — Rauru (Ocarina of Time)
  39. "But, remember... Though you opened the Door of Time in the name of peace... Ganondorf, the Gerudo King of Thieves, used it to enter this forbidden Sacred Realm! He obtained the Triforce from the Temple of Light, and with its power, he became the King of Evil..." — Rauru (Ocarina of Time)
  40. "If you want to return to your original time, return the Master Sword to the Pedestal of Time. By doing this, you will travel back in time seven years...." — Sheik (Ocarina of Time)
  41. "When evil rules all, an awakening voice from the Sacred Realm will call those destined to be Sages, who dwell in the five temples. One in a deep forest... One on a high mountain... One under a vast lake... One within the house of the dead... One inside a goddess of the sand... Together with the Hero of Time, the awakened ones will bind the evil and return the light of peace to the world..." — Sheik (Ocarina of Time)
  42. "Link! Finish him off with the sword of time, the Master Sword!" — Princess Zelda (Ocarina of Time)
  43. "You must lay the Master Sword to rest and close the Door of Time... However, by doing this, the road between times will be closed..." — Princess Zelda (Ocarina of Time)
  44. "You got the Master Sword! The legendary blade with the power to repel evil...once wielded by the legendary hero himself!" — Item description (Twilight Princess)
  45. "Take the three Pendants into the Lost Woods. The Master Sword awaits you there." — Sahasrahla (A Link to the Past)
  46. "The Hero's triumph on Cataclysm's Eve Wins three symbols of virtue. The Master Sword he will then retrieve, Keeping the Knight's line true." — N/A (A Link to the Past)
  47. "The only weapon potent enough to defeat the wizard is the legendary Master Sword." — Loyal Sage (A Link to the Past)
  48. "Not just anyone can use that weapon. Legends say only the Hero who has won the three Pendants can wield the sword." — Sahasrahla (A Link to the Past)
  49. "AND THE MASTER SWORD SLEEPS AGAIN... FOREVER!" — N/A (A Link to the Past)
  50. "Oh! Happy days are here again! You found my partner! ... We are very happy now... Drop by here again! At that time, we will temper your sword perfectly!" — Dwarven Swordsmiths (A Link to the Past)
  51. "Hold up the Master Sword and you will get the magic of Ether." — Inscription (A Link to the Past)
  52. ""Their characters become Shadow Link characters in this world. Once they appear you can then battle them."" — Gramps (A Link Between Worlds)
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  54. "The sword accepted you as its master..." — Princess Midna (Twilight Princess)
  55. "Amazing... The power of the Sols has been transferred to your sword... The guardian deities of my world are on our side, too! You really are the chosen one, Link... A true hero! As long as you have that sword, you should be able to repel the shadows Zant has spread!" — Princess Midna (Twilight Princess)
  56. "The item you seek is hidden somewhere in this castle. To find it, you must find the entrance to the basement. But...that entrance has been blocked by a mighty threshold, firmly sealed to prevent evil from ever gaining access." — King of Red Lions (The Wind Waker)
  57. 57.0 57.1 57.2 "By the way, boy... When you drew that sword of yours out of its pedestal... Did you by chance notice how all the monsters frozen in time down there suddenly began stirring again? Do you understand precisely what that means? ...I highly doubt you do. Foolish child. While that sword is indeed the blade of evil's bane, at the same time, it has long played another role... You see, it is also a sort of key... a most wretched little key that has kept the seal on me and my magic intact! By withdrawing the blade, you have broken that seal..." — Ganondorf (The Wind Waker)
  58. "You cannot defeat me with a blade that does not sparkle with the power to repel evil! What you hold is useless. Go back to the world below, and tell that to the pathetic fools who made this blade! Its power is gone, and its edges are dull!" — Ganon (The Wind Waker)
  59. "O great hero, chosen by the Master Sword! My name is Laruto. I am a Zora sage. For an age, I offered my prayers here in the Earth Temple, praying that the power to repel evil would ever remain within the Master Sword. And yet... unfortunately, due to Ganondorf's evil designs, the Master Sword you hold has lost this power. After his defeat at the hands of the Hero of Time, Ganondorf was sealed away... but not for all time. He was revived, and he returned to Hyrule in a red wrath. He attacked this temple and stole my soul, knowing that he had to remove the power contained in that enchanted blade. In order to return the power to repel evil to your sword, you must find another to take my stead in this temple and ask the gods for their assistance." — Laruto (The Wind Waker)
  60. "Link, the power to repel evil is not yet fully awakened. To complete the awakening of the Master Sword, you must go to the Wind Temple for one more prayer. Now, Link... Step into the light behind you and return to the surface. Your next duty is to find the sage of the Wind Temple. I will remain here and continue to pray." — Medli (The Wind Waker)
  61. "Link, I have fully restored the power to repel evil to your Master Sword. ...And my ancestors are most satisfied. I shall continue praying to the gods here." — Makar (The Wind Waker)
  62. "Suspecting that Ganon's power was based on the Triforce's magic, the people of Hyrule forged a sword resistant to magic which could repulse even powers granted by the Triforce. This mighty weapon became known as the blade of evil's bane, or the Master Sword." (A Link to the Past manual, pg. 5)
  63. "As the Seven Wise Men searched for a valiant person to take up the Master Sword, Ganon's evil army swarmed from the tainted Golden Land into Hyrule and attacked the castle." (A Link to the Past manual, pg. 6)
  64. "However, it could not be assumed that only a good person would get their hands on the Triforce. For that reason, the people of Hyrule were told by the gods to make something that would repulse any evil that may kidnap the Triforce: the blade of evil's bane." (The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (JP version) manual, pg. 7)
  65. "The Sages first had to search for the existence of the Master Sword and a hero to use it." (The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (JP version) manual, pg. 7)
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  76. "Link's most familiar and well-balanced weapon." — Sword description (Soulcalibur II)
  77. "その剣は、魔を撃退する退魔の剣 であると同時に、 我が魔族を封じていた、いまいましい封印 そのものなのだよ!" — Ganondorf (The Wind Waker, Japanese version) (Translation by jacensolo06)
  78. "The King called the 7 Sages and the Guardian Knights to seal the origin of the evil flow. Then, the Sages, by a divine message from God, created the sword that could repel the power of the Triforce being controlled by evil. The Master Sword was made." — Sahasrahla ()

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