Master Sword
| |
| The Master Sword resting in the Lost Woods. | |
| Master Sword | |
| Origin | Ancient Hyrule |
| Type | Weapon |
| Debut | The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past |
The Master Sword is a magical sword that is the bane of evil and is particularly effective against Ganon, possessor of the Triforce of Power. It has become one of the most emblematic weapons of the The Legend of Zelda series since its introduction in A Link to the Past. It can only be properly wielded by a true hero.
Information
The Master Sword is said to have been forged long before the time of Ganon as instructed by a 'divine oracle' and is said to have been made to prevent the Triforce from being stolen by those with evil hearts. Within The Wind Waker, the source of it's power comes from two of the sages, whose prayers to the gods give the sword the power to defeat evil. Without them, it becomes dull and closer to being a normal sword (but still particularly powerful). However, it is uncertain if this applies outside of The Wind Waker, as the Master Sword does not suffer from this problem in any other game.
This sword has been used many times by heroes through the ages (all of whom are named Link). When it is not in use, the Master Sword usually is resting in a pedestal at once of several locations. In most cases, the sword is used as a key of different sorts and effects its environment after being withdrawn. To claim the Master Sword, three objects (which correspond to the three parts of the Triforce) must usually be obtained beforehand.
Ocarina of Time
The Master Sword is found in the Pedestal of Time within the Temple of Time, hidden behind the Door of Time which only opened when the Song of Time was played on the Ocarina of Time after all three Spiritual Stones have been gathered. Drawing the Master Sword from the pedestal will open a gate to the Sacred Realm. However, the Master Sword can only be drawn by the Hero of Time. Since Link is still a child and not yet old enough to be the Hero of Time when he pulls the Master Sword, he goes into a slumber for seven years. The Master Sword than acts as a method of time travel, as Link could return to his childhood years by returning the Master Sword to the Pedestal of Time, and pulling it back out would send him back to the future.
Link used the Master Sword to aid in his battles against Ganon, eventually defeating the beast with the sword. At the end of the game, Princess Zelda used the Ocarina of Time to send Link back to his childhood years. Link was returned to the Temple of Time, where he returned the Master Sword to its resting place and closed the Door of Time to cut off the connection between the two eras.
Twilight Princess
The Master Sword is found in the ruins of the Temple of Time near Faron Forest, known as the Sacred Grove (which seems to have been intended as a way of bridging its different locations in Ocarina of Time and A Link to the Past). When Link is trapped in his wolf form by an evil curse, he approaches the Master Sword, and it cleanses the evil, turning Link to normal. Link then draws the sword and uses it in his quest. During return visits to the sanctuary, Link can briefly place the Master Sword back in its pedestal to open new areas, including the "real" Temple of Time. Link later impales Ganondorf on the Master Sword, leading to Ganondorf's supposed death. In the game's ending credits, the Master Sword is shown to have been returned to its pedestal.
The Wind Waker
The Master Sword is found in the basement of Hyrule Castle (an area adorned with stain glass windows depicting scenes from Ocarina of Time), underneath the Great Sea. Link pulled the Master Sword from its pedestal, causing time to un-freeze in Hyrule Castle. Link attempted to use the Master Sword against Ganondorf, but he failed due to the fact that the Master Sword had grown dull without the prayers of the sages, Laruto and Fado, whom had been killed by Ganon's men.
Link then sought two new Sages, Medli and Makar, and brought them to their respective temples. With their prayers, the Master Sword was restored to full power. Link then used it in battle with Ganondorf. In the end, Link defeated Ganondorf by planting the Master Sword in his head, which turned him into stone. Ganondorf's petrified body and the Master Sword that was still lodged in it were left at the bottom of the Great Sea.
A Link to the Past
The backstory of the game mentions that during the Imprisoning War, the King of Hyrule and the sages tried to find the Master Sword and a hero capable of wielding it after Ganon found the Triforce, but they could not find either one, which led to them sealing Ganon away by themselves. Within the game, the Master Sword was found in the Lost Woods. Link was able to claim it after gathering all three of the Pendants of Virtue. The drawing of the Master Sword also cleared all of the fog in the Lost Woods and allowed Link to shoot sword beams. With the Master Sword in his possession, Link destroyed the barrier blocking off the tower of Hyrule Castle and battled various monsters of the Dark World.
The Master Sword could additionally be upgraded into the Tempered Sword with help from the dwarven smithies. It could then be further upgraded (or simply bypassed straight) into the Golden Sword by Venus, Queen of Fairies. At the end of the game, Link returned the Master Sword to its pedestal, where it would sleep forever.
The Oracle games
The Master Sword also appeared in one of the two Oracle games (Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages). It only appeared if certain conditions were met. It could be accessed either as the final part of a trading sidequest or by distributing passwords between the two games. Depending on the path, the Master Sword is either upgraded from the Noble Sword (casting into doubt the authenticity of the sword's presence in the games) or obtained separately.
There are a total of four variable paths towards getting the Master Sword depending on the order the two games are played with and whether the trading sidequest or password is done first. By going through the trading sidequest after the passwords (meaning that the upgrade would be used to make the Wooden Sword into the Noble Sword), the Master Sword is obtained as an independent item. In Oracle of Seasons, it could notably be found within a grove in Holodrum's Lost Woods (which is evocative of its earlier appearances and seems the most likely to fit into continuity). In Oracle of Ages, Link receives a Broken Sword from an Old Zora in exchange for a Sea Ukulele. According to the Old Zora, it once was a Hero's Sword that was given to his ancestors long ago by a hero (possibly a former Link). The sword is repaired as the Master Sword in a "ceremony" (actually a minigame) that a man holds on Restoration Wall.
The other two options are for upgrading a Noble Sword obtained during the trading sidequest using the passwords. In Oracle of Ages (one that is linked to an "Oracle of Ages"), the sword is upgraded by King Zora out of gratitude after he receives a message from a Zora that he sent to Holodrum. In Oracle of Seasons, an old man living under the Clock Shop in Holodrum Village will subject Link to a test after hearing from a hag in Labrynna, and if Link passes, the old man then gives the sword new power, which could upgrade it from a Noble Sword to Master Sword. The Master Sword is not necessary for defeating Ganon or beating the game.
Other Appearances
Video Games
- The Master Sword also appears as an item in Animal Crossing and Animal Crossing: Wild World.
- The Master Sword is Link's primary weapon in Super Smash Bros., Super Smash Bros. Melee, and Super Smash Bros. Brawl. A trophy of the Master Sword appears in Super Smash Bros. Melee. The trophy incorrectly states that the Master Sword first appeared in Ocarina of Time.
- The Master Sword also appears in Soul Caliber II as Link's default weapon.
Trivia
- In A Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time, and The Wind Waker, getting the Master Sword required getting three different but otherwise similar objects: Pendants, Spiritual Stones, and Pearls respectively.