Daily Debate: Should the Master Sword Have an Upgrade in Tears of the Kingdom?
Posted on March 12 2023 by John Piland
One of the key mysteries going into The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is the deterioration of the Master Sword. Once thought to be indestructible, the Blade of Evil’s Bane was first seen rusting away in Breath of the Wild, presumably because of Link’s defeat whilst protecting Zelda. Yet, the topic of the sword’s decay is never really touched upon. Now, the sword is but a shadow of its former self, and it seems that Link may need to collect a series of ancient tears in order to restore it.
Assuming restoration is indeed the goal, the question lingers: Is that all? Twice has the player been able to upgrade the Master Sword, in A Link to the Past and A Link Between Worlds. Each game has two upgrades: the Tempered Sword and the Golden Sword in A Link to the Past, and the Master Sword Lv2 and Lv3 in A Link Between Worlds. In the former, the sword takes on the appearance of another arm entirely, while in the latter, just the blade changes color. Consistent between the two is the color of the blades, with red for the first upgrade, and gold for the second. Each upgrade strengthens the damage the weapons deal.
The sword upgrade was one of my favorite features in each of those games, and I was disappointed when it didn’t return in Breath of the Wild. Perhaps I’m getting my hopes up, but the stakes seem higher than ever before in Tears of the Kingdom, making it the perfect time to go all out. After all, if it’s truly Link’s final showdown with the ultimate evil — a fight Zelda herself isn’t sure she can win — why not make the sword as strong as it can be?
Upgrading the Master Sword beyond its standard form doesn’t just have to be about damage and cosmetics, however. With weapon durability likely to return, upgrades are the perfect opportunity for a weapon with greatly increased durability paired with incredible strength. Breath of the Wild balanced the Master Sword by having it run out of energy every so often, making the player wait 10 minutes before it could be used again. Perhaps with the Golden Sword, after many trials and tribulations to bring the weapon to its ultimate state, the player is rewarded with a legendary weapon true to its name that never runs out of energy — or at the least, one with a significantly shorter restoration timer.
There’s also the possibility the Master Sword could take on an energy-like form, as suggested by some officially released artwork. The Master Sword taking on a new form — or state of matter — entirely is nothing short of an enticing concert. If it’s attuned to some form of ancient technology or magic, it’d be great if the player could customize it for speed, power, etc. Alas, only time will tell.
Should Link be able to upgrade the Master Sword in Tears of the Kingdom? What perks should the upgrade(s) have, if so? Let us know in the comments below!
John has been a Zelda fan for over 10 years now and is proud to say the series has had a major impact on his life (and wallet). After years of going to Zelda Dungeon for guides or the latest news on the series, John achieved their dream when they joined the writing team in 2019; John can hardly believe how long it’s been. A librarian, he loves meticulously arranging his library of Zelda games and collectibles. After what felt like an eternity of waiting for Tears of the Kingdom, John looks forward to the future of the Zelda franchise with enthusiasm, whether that’s the upcoming movie, a new spin-off/remake, or the next big game.