Slingshot

A slingshot in Ocarina of Time.
Slingshot
Type	Projectile weapon
Debut	The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

The slingshot is a basic projectile weapon that has appeared in several The Legend of Zelda games, starting in the 3-D era.

Information

Slingshots are small weapons which are primarily used by child versions of Link. Although the slingshot was made to serve as a juvenile toy, it has also served as a weapon for Link until he could obtain a bow and arrow. Sera herself has admitted that they are toys for kids, but they "sting something AWFUL" when hit by it. Slingshots usually use seeds as ammo, with the most common type being Deku Seeds, which can be kept in Bullet Bags. Higher level slingshots have only rarely appeared within several games; Oracle of Seasons had a Hyper Slingshot, while Four Swords Adventures had the Level 2 Slingshot, and Skyward Sword had the Scattershot. They were all essentially the same in that they could fire three seeds at the same time in different directions, although the ones from the latter games could also be charged to increase the projectile distance.

Appearances

In Ocarina of Time, the Fairy Slingshot was found within the Deku Tree dungeon, and it was the first inventory weapon Link could find in the game. He could only use it as a child, and it acted as Link's primary projectile weapon for the childhood era, as he could only use the bow when he was older. Link could initially carry 30 Deku Seeds, which could grow to 40 when winning the Deku Seeds Bullet Bag and 50 when it was made larger. The upgrades were made after winning target practice minigames at the Lost Woods and at Hyrule Castle Town's Shooting Gallery. In Oracle of Seasons, the Slingshot was found in the Dancing Dragon Dungeon and could fire any of the different types of seeds from Link's Seed Satchel. The advanced Hyper Slingshot was found in the Sword & Shield Maze.

Slingshots appeared as common items in various areas within Four Swords Adventures and could be temporarily upgraded into Level 2 Slingshots by the Great Fairies. This version of the slingshot had infinite ammunition. In Twilight Princess, the slingshot could be bought from Sera at Ordon Village at the beginning of the game. It was the first weapon Link could obtain in the game and was popular with the village's children, who had Link demonstrate it for them. The slingshot was compatible with various types of ammunition, as it could fire 50 pellets, pumpkin seeds or Deku Nuts. In Skyward Sword, the Slingshot and a Seed Bag were given to Link by Bucha as a reward for saving the Kikwi tribe. It was described as a sacred item of the tribe, and Bucha had always kept it on his person. The slingshot could later be upgraded to the Scattershot by Gondo, and the game's item system allowed Link to carry more seeds by obtaining, buying and upgrading more seed bags through various means, although he could only carry as much as could be fit into the limited amount of Adventure Pouches.

Other Appearances

Video Games

• It appears as an item in Color Changing Tingle's Balloon Trip of Love, where it is found at Peter's House and can be used for attacking crows or knocking down items from high places. This version has unlimited ammunition.
• In Hyrule Warriors, Lana can transform her Spear into various other weapons in battle, with one of them being a giant version of the slingshot that can fire a giant Deku Nut.

Other Media

• In the Ocarina of Time manga, Link already possessed the slingshot at the beginning, and he showed Saria how to use it. It was later vital for Link's fight against Queen Gohma, as in the game, although he rarely used it afterwards.

Trivia

• Twilight Princess is the first game in which Link can use the slingshot as a young adult.