Mirror Shield

Mirror Shield
Type	Shield
Debut	The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

The Mirror Shield is a special shield with reflective properties which is usually shown as the most powerful shield within the The Legend of Zelda series.

Information

The Mirror Shield has different appearances from game to game, but its properties are usually similar. As the most advanced shield, it can reflect all types of projectile attacks. Additionally, in most later games the Mirror Shield can reflect beams of light. This makes the shield essential for several puzzles, and reflecting light is also a key to defeating or stunning certain supernatural enemies.

Appearances

In A Link to the Past, the Mirror Shield is found at Turtle Rock and is shown to be particularly large. It could be used to block beams. In Ocarina of Time, Link could find it in the Spirit Temple in the future and could only use it during his adult years. It bore the Gerudo symbol. In Majora's Mask, the Mirror Shield was found at the end of the labyrinth underneath Ikana Canyon|Ikana Canyon's well. It was mostly used for exploring the Ancient Castle of Ikana and the Stone Tower, as well as in the battle against Igos du Ikana and his servants. The shield in this game had a unique design which resembling a screaming face.

In Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons, a Mirror Shield could be obtained in a linked game. The shield is given by a wise man at the Eyeglass Isle Library in Ages or updated by a Subrosian Smithy in Seasons after said person is given a password from the linked game. In The Wind Waker, it was found at the Earth Temple and could be used in conjunction with Medli's harp for advanced light-reflection puzzles. In The Minish Cap, the Mirror Shield was a bonus item that could only be unlocked after beating the final boss once. Biggoron would then ask to chew on Link's shield for a while and spat it out afterwards. His chewing somehow reshaped the shield to make it into a Mirror Shield. This Mirror Shield took in projectile attacks and turned them into beams which fire back at the enemy.

Other Appearances

Video Games

• In Soul Calibur II, the Mirror Shield was available as a purchasable item, and it was paired with the Master Sword. The shield makes all hits into counters and reflects a third of the damage from each attack back at the opponent. This was most likely reflecting the pair being the most advanced sword and shield within the Zelda series. An advanced version of its Ocarina design was used for this appearance.
• In Hyrule Warriors, the Wind Waker version of the Mirror Shield could be wielded by Toon Link with the Lokomo Sword as the third level of his Light Sword weapon set. The Mirror Shield from Majora's Mask also appeared as a Defense badge.
• In Cadence of Hyrule, the Mirror Shield appeared as the final shield upgrade that was available for Link and Cadence.

Trivia

• The Gerudo symbol was changed in rereleases of Ocarina of Time following complaints about the symbol's resemblance to the Islamic flag. This applied to the symbol appearing on the Mirror Shield as well, and the revised Mirror Shield was also found in unused Majora's Mask data.