Beam Sword

Lore & Background

The Master Sword is a divine, magic sword and the signature weapon of Link. It has become a defining aspect of Link's identity alongside the Hylian Shield. The majority of The Legend of Zelda video games follow a similar story arc that involves Link embarking on a journey that eventually leads him to recovering the Master Sword. The blade is traditionally found in its stone pedestal and must be pulled from the pedestal by Link to retrieve it. Although it is not always the strongest sword in Zelda games, the Master Sword is superior to other in-game weapons as it is the only weapon in most games that has the capability of defeating Ganon. In the mythology of the series, the Master Sword is a divine object—in Skyward Sword, it originates in the Goddess Sword, created by the goddess Hylia, and is inhabited by a humanoid spirit named Fi. Over the course of the game, the Goddess Sword is transformed into the Master Sword, a powerful blade that has the magical ability to repel evil.

In Their Own Story

In A Link to the Past, Link sets out to rescue Princess Zelda by retrieving the blade from its pedestal in the Lost Woods and using it to defeat the evil wizard Agahnim and finally, Ganon. Link must obtain three pendants to prove himself worthy of claiming the sword. In Ocarina of Time, the sword is located in the Temple of Time, locked behind the Door of Time. Link must collect three Spiritual Stones to open the Door of Time and claim the Master Sword from its pedestal. Due to his youth, the sword seals him in the Temple of Time for seven years until he is ready to be the Hero of Time. In The Wind Waker, Link finds the Master Sword inside the sunken Hyrule Castle. The sword blocks Ganondorf's magical powers and freezes time around the castle. When the blade is removed from its pedestal, it restores Ganondorf's minions and magic and it loses its power to repel evil. Once Link has replenished the Master Sword's power, he is able to destroy Ganondorf by plunging it into his forehead and turning him to stone. In Twilight Princess, Link seeks out the Master Sword in the Sacred Grove within the ruined Temple of Time. Retrieving the sword is the only way to break the sorcerer Zant's magic, which has turned Link into a wolf. In Skyward Sword, the Master Sword plays a central role in Link's journey to defeat the main antagonist, Demon King Demise. The plot charts the weapon's transition from the Goddess Sword into the Master Sword. Link uses three Sacred Flames to forge the Goddess Sword into the Master Sword and, after defeating Demon King Demise, seals him inside the sword by placing it in its pedestal. In the finale, a humanoid spirit named Fi is placed in an eternal slumber within the Master Sword.

Reader's Guide

In Breath of the Wild, Link can obtain the Master Sword once he is strong enough to pull it from its pedestal. It is located deep in the Lost Woods within Great Hyrule Forest. In this game the sword is heavily damaged and covered in Malice after being used in battle against Calamity Ganon 100 years before the events of the game. Its superior qualities are indicated by its high durability, as it is the only weapon that is unbreakable and must be recharged before being wielded again. When in close proximity to enemies associated with Calamity Ganon, it glows blue and doubles its attack strength. After successfully retrieving the Master Sword and purchasing the DLC, the player is given the opportunity to tackle one of the end game challenges named 'The Trial of the Sword', which is aimed at advanced players. Upon successfully completing all of the levels, the Master Sword is permanently upgraded to its highest attack level. In Tears of the Kingdom, it possesses similar characteristics and emits higher powered attacks in proximity to enemies associated with Ganondorf. The design of the sword has evolved over the course of each Zelda title, but it has become identifiable by its purple and silver design. It is a one-handed longsword blade featuring a blue or purple hilt with green grip, purple spread-winged handguards and a yellow gem inlaid in the centre. A defining feature of the sword is that it displays the Triforce, which is engraved on the blade just above the ricasso.

Did You Know?

• The Master Sword was introduced in the 1991 game The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.
• In Skyward Sword, the Master Sword originates from the Goddess Sword, created by the goddess Hylia, and is inhabited by a humanoid spirit named Fi.
• In Breath of the Wild, the Master Sword is the only weapon that is unbreakable and must be recharged before being wielded again.
• In Ocarina of Time, pulling the Master Sword from its pedestal seals Link in the Temple of Time for seven years until he is ready to be the Hero of Time.
• The Master Sword has appeared in other video games including Super Smash Bros., Mario Kart 8, and Hyrule Warriors.