Master Sword: Difference between revisions

In ''[[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past|A Link to the Past]]'', the Master Sword had a red grip and yellow cross-guard (both are red in-game); However, before drawn from its pedestal, it is seen with a blue cross-guard and purple grip. The Master Sword's most iconic design, established in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|Ocarina of Time]]'', is as a longsword with a blue handle and pommel, green grip, blue cross-guard shaped like a pair of extended wings, a yellow gem in the center of the cross-guard, and a ricasso with the symbol of the [[Triforce]] etched into it. The blade itself is often seen with an ethereal blue shine, showing the sacred power that dwells inside the Master Sword.

In ''[[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past|A Link to the Past]]'', [[Link (A Link to the Past)|Link]] is instructed to find the Master Sword by [[Saharasla]], in order to defeat [[Agahnim]] and stop him from conquering [[Hyrule]]. The Master Sword is kept deep in the [[Lost Woods (A Link to the Past)|Lost Woods]], accessed through a log tunnel in the northwest corner of the woods; A prophecy is inscribed into the Sword's pedestal in ancient [[Hylian]], which can be translated using the [[Book of Mudora]]. To obtain the Master Sword, Link must first obtain all three [[Pendants of Virtue]], which enable him to pull the blade out.

The Master Sword replaces the [[Fighter's Sword]] once obtained. It deals double damage, has a slightly longer reach, and grants Link the ability to fire [[Sword Beam]]s while at full health; It is also required to destroy the magical barrier blocking access to the upper levels of [[Hyrule Castle (A Link to the Past)|Hyrule Castle]], and is used to obtain the [[Ether Medallion]] and [[Bombos Medallion]]. Finally, the Master Sword's [[Spin Attack]]s are the only attack capable of damaging Ganon. After Ganon is defeated, Link returns the Master Sword to the Lost Woods, where it can rest until the next hero needs it.

In ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|Ocarina of Time]]'', the Master Sword is kept in a hidden chamber in the [[Temple of Time (Ocarina of Time)|Temple of Time]], behind the [[Door of Time]]; The Sword serves as a seal to separate Hyrule from the [[Sacred Realm]], protecting the [[Triforce]] from falling into the wrong hands. During the events of the game, [[Link (Ocarina of Time)|Link]] is sent on a quest by the [[Great Deku Tree]] (and later [[Princess Zelda]]) to obtain the three [[Spiritual Stones]] and enter the Sacred Realm, so that he may claim the Triforce before Ganondorf does. After Link opens the Door of Time by placing the Spiritual Stones on their respective pedestals and playing the [[Song of Time]], he gains access to the hidden chamber, and pulls the Master Sword from the [[Pedestal of Time]]. However, since Link is too young to become the hero of time, his spirit is sealed inside the [[Chamber of Sages]] for seven years until he has come of age; During this time, Ganondorf enters the Sacred Realm, claims the [[Triforce of Power]], and conquers Hyrule as the King of Evil.

The Master Sword is Adult Link's default weapon. It deals double damage compared to the [[Kokiri Sword]] and has a longer reach; Additionally, the Master Sword is the only weapon which deals normal damage against Ganon. After completing the [[Forest Temple (Ocarina of Time)|Forest Temple]] and meeting [[Sheik]] at the Temple of Time, Link can use the Master Sword to travel through time; Placing it back in the pedestal sends him back to the child era, before Ganondorf becomes the King of Evil, while drawing it again returns him to the adult era. After Ganondorf is defeated and banished, Zelda sends Link back to the child era with the [[Ocarina of Time]] so he can regain his childhood; The young hero leaves the Master Sword in the Temple of Time, preventing the seal from ever breaking.

In ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons|Oracle of Seasons]]'' and ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages|Oracle of Ages]]'', the Master Sword is an optional sword upgrade that can only be obtained via a [[Linked Game]]. To obtain it, [[Link (Oracle Series)|Link]] must receive a sword upgrade with the [[Noble Sword]] in hand; This is done either by completing the [[Trading Sequence]], or via either the [[Clock Shop Secret]] or [[King Zora Secret]] (depending on the game). If Link obtains one of these upgrades with the [[Wooden Sword]], he will receive the Noble Sword instead, and the Master Sword is located via the other upgrade.

The Master Sword replaces the Noble Sword once obtained. It deals double damage compared to the Noble Sword (quadruple damage compared to the Wooden Sword), making it the most versatile sword in the game. Uniquely, the Master Sword in the ''Oracle'' games is not the real Master Sword, but merely the Noble Sword tempered to match its power; The replica resembles the Noble Sword, but is blue and features a second pair of prongs on the bottom of the cross-guard.

In ''[[The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker|The Wind Waker]]'', the Master Sword is kept in a hidden chamber in [[Hyrule Castle (The Wind Waker)|Hyrule Castle]]; While the Hero of Time returned to his era and left the Master Sword in the Pedestal of Time, the version of the Sword he used remained in the adult era, and was taken into safekeeping. The chamber features stained-glass windows depicting each of the Seven Sages, to memorialize the legend of ''Ocarina of Time''. Once again, the Master Sword maintains a seal, this time keeping time frozen in Hyrule Castle and weakening Ganondorf's magic; However, [[Link (The Wind Waker)|Link]] unknowingly draws the Master Sword from the pedestal after being instructed by the [[King of Red Lions]]; As a result, time in Hyrule Castle begins to flow again, and Ganondorf's magic is fully restored.

The Master Sword replaces the [[Hero's Sword]] once obtained; It deals double damage, and has a longer reach. However, Link later learns that Ganondorf has had the original Sages of Earth and Wind, [[Laruto]] and [[Fado]], murdered, and without their prayers to maintain its strength, the Master Sword has dulled and lost its sacred power. In its dulled state, the cross-guard is curved into the blade rather than extending outwards, the gem on the base is black rather than gold, the Triforce symbol on the ricasso is gone, and the blade has lost its shine. After Link awakens [[Medli]] and [[Makar]] as the new Sages, their prayers restore the Master Sword's power; Medli's prayers restore the cross-guard to its original position, while Makar's restore the gem, Triforce symbol, and shine. Once both Sages are awakened, the Master Sword regains the power to repel evil, and can destroy the magical barrier blocking access to [[Ganon's Tower (The Wind Waker)|Ganon's Tower]].

In ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess|Twilight Princess]]'', the Master Sword is kept deep within the [[Sacred Grove]] in [[Faron Woods (Twilight Princess)|Faron Woods]], inside the ruins of the [[Temple of Time (Twilight Princess)|Temple of Time]]. When [[Link (Twilight Princess)|Link]] is trapped in his [[Wolf Link|wolf form]] after [[Zant]] drives a [[Shadow Crystal]] into his forehead, [[Zelda (Twilight Princess)|Princess Zelda]] informs him that only the Master Sword can remove it and lift the curse. Link and [[Midna]] journey to the Sacred Grove and are eventually able to gain access; The Master Sword emits a brilliant blast of sacred light, removing the Shadow Crystal from Link and enabling him to draw the blade.

The Master Sword replaces the [[Forgotten Sword]] once obtained. It deals double damage, has a longer reach, and can fire Sword Beams when Link is at full health; It is also required to dispel the magical barrier around Hyrule Castle and confront [[Yuga]]. It can later be upgraded to the [[Tempered Sword|Master Sword Lv2]], and then the [[Golden Sword|Master Sword Lv3]], by giving [[Master Ore]] to the [[Blacksmith]] in both Hyrule and [[Lorule]], respectively.

The Master Sword is a metal [[One-Handed Weapon]], which cannot be dropped or put on display in [[Link's House]]; However, it takes up no space in the player's inventory, instead having a dedicated slot. It has a base attack power of 30, and a base durability of 40. However, if Link is in the proximity of [[Malice]] (either from being inside a [[dungeon]], in the proximity of Guardians, [[Blight Ganon]]s, Calamity Ganon, or Malice itself), the blade will glow blue, increasing the attack power to 60 and vastly increasing the durability; The awakened Master Sword is the strongest one-handed weapon in the game. If Link attempts to throw the Master Sword, he will instead fire a Sword Beam if he is at full health, which takes 1 durability from the blade; Sword Beams deal 10 damage, and the range increases alongside Link's number of Heart Containers. Upon running out of durability, the Master Sword's blade turns black and loses its sacred property, rendering it unusable for 10 real-life minutes until it has recharged.

In ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom|Tears of the Kingdom]]'', the Master Sword was returned to its pedestal sometime after the events of the previous game, to recharge following Calamity Ganon's defeat. When [[Gloom]] begins to leak from [[Beneath Hyrule Castle]], Link and Zelda retrieve the sword to use during their investigation; The Great Deku Tree explains that the Master Sword has been restored to its full power, and reveals that it has the ability to grow stronger when exposed to sacred light, potentially with no limit. Later, when the two confront Ganondorf's mummified body in the [[Imprisoning Chamber]], Link attempts to use the Master Sword to block a stream of Gloom directed at Zelda; The Gloom corrodes and shatters the blade into pieces, although the tip cuts Ganondorf's cheek as it flies off. Ganondorf recognizes the Master Sword for what it is, and expresses disappointment at having defeated Link so easily. When the [[Upheaval]] begins and Zelda falls into the chasm below, Link tosses the destroyed Master Sword aside to try and save her.

When Link recovers in the [[Room of Awakening]], he finds the '''Decayed Master Sword''' stuck in a nearby rock, with only the hilt and decayed ricasso still intact. In this state, the Master Sword has a base damage of 1 and a durability of 5; It has lost all of its sacred power, cannot be [[fuse]]d, and will not recharge after running out of energy, making it the worst weapon in the game. However, it is required in order to get past several vine walls that block Link's path in the Room of Awakening. Later, after Link passes through the [[Temple of Time (Tears of the Kingdom)|Temple of Time]], he discovers a pedestal with a glowing yellow light shining from it; The Master Sword instructs him to place it on the pedestal. When Link does so, the blade is sent back in time via [[Recall]], where it is retrieved by Zelda in the distant past.

In the present, after Link awakens Mineru, she advises that he recover the Master Sword. To locate the blade, Link must defeat the [[Gloom Spawn]] inside the [[Deku Tree Chasm]] and purge the corrupted fog from Korok Forest; The recovered Great Deku Tree will then mark the Light Dragon's current position on the map. When Link attempts to pull the Master Sword, the Light Dragon reacts in pain and attempts to shake him off; Link needs at least two complete [[Stamina Wheel]]s to hold on until the Light Dragon calms down and the growth retracts. Once successful, Link draws the Master Sword; The decayed blade has been replaced with one made from the Light Dragon's crystal, and its power is restored. If Link did not already retrieve the Master Sword, he automatically draws it during the battle against the [[Demon Dragon]].

The Master Sword functions similarly to its appearance in ''Breath of the Wild'' but like all other weapons, has been nerfed to account for fusing. When the blade is in the proximity of Gloom-infected enemies, it glows blue, increasing its attack power by 15 while confronting [[Phantom Ganon (Tears of the Kingdom)|Phantom Ganon]] and [[Demon King Ganondorf|Ganondorf]], it increases by 30 and becomes unbreakable. The Master Sword can be fused like any other weapon, with the fused material remaining until the blade runs out of energy; However, the material cannot be recovered at the [[Break-a-Part Shop]] and its durability isn't increased. When the blade is fused, glowing [[Zonai]] runes appear along the side, and the fused material will only appear briefly as a green apparition whenever the blade is drawn.

An alternate version of the Master Sword, titled "MsgNotFound", is used by Link in the game's prologue. It is based on the sword's first appearance before Ganondorf destroys it, and it can be used in regular gameplay through hacking; It has a base power of 30 and infinite durability, but cannot be fused without causing glitches.

After acquiring all three Pendants, Link draws the Master Sword from its pedestal and travels to Hyrule Castle to confront Agahnim; Though he grows cocky, Sahasrahla warns Link not to place his full trust in the blade, as even the Master Sword cannot harm Agahnim's body. Sure enough, the Master Sword passes through Agahnim without harming him, and the sorcerer paralyzes Link with a single glance before banishing him to the [[Dark World]]. Since the hero and the blade are as one, Link's rage towards Agahnim channels through the Master Sword, Sahasrahla informs Link that the Master Sword can also ''repel'' evil, not just resist it; Turning Agahnim's magic back at him, Link is able to win the fight.

Link uses the Master Sword against Ganon, stunning him and enabling Zelda to finish the King of Thieves with the [[Silver Arrow]]s. As peace returns to Hyrule, Link returns the Master Sword to its pedestal; The final scene is of the Master Sword, overgrown and covered in foiliage, as it rests.

In ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ancient Stone Tablets|Ancient Stone Tablets]]'', the Master Sword can be obtained from the Lost Woods during Week 4; In previous weeks, the entrance to its resting place is blocked by a Soldier. It is the strongest sword in the game, and can shoot Sword Beams while the player is at full health. In the ending, the player, Zelda, and [[Aginah]] return the Master Sword to its pedestal.

In ''[[Super Mario Maker 2]]'', the Master Sword as added as a power-up to the ''Super Mario Bros.'' style in the v2.0.0 update. When collected, it transforms the player into Link, who can use the sword to perform stab attacks, as well as the [[Dash Attack]] and [[Down Thrust]]; Link can also block hazards with the Hylian Shield, use the [[Bow]] to fire [[Silver Arrow]]s, and create and throw [[Bomb]]s; Additionally, the game's music is replaced with the soundtrack from ''[[The Legend of Zelda]]''.

*The Snake Killer from ''[[Wikipedia:Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru|The Frog For Whom the Bell Tolls]]'' is very similar to the Master Sword; It was drawn from the ground in an isolated area (the Ice Cave), and was required to defeat the final boss (Delarin, a snake). An ancient tablet regarding the Snake Killer had the message "When thou seeth thy true friend, the golden sword shalt awaken." When the spring bell was rung and Richard transformed back into a human, the Snake Killer began to glow and was used by Prince Sable to slay Delarin.

*In the ending of ''Skyward Sword'', due to the time travel involved, the Master Sword and Goddess Sword exist simultaneously; The Master Sword is laid to rest in the [[Sealed Temple]], while the Goddess Sword remains [[Inside the Statue of the Goddess]] in [[Skyloft]]. This likely explains how the [[Goddess Statue]]s in ''Tears of the Kingdom'' are able to reward it to Link.

**The Master Sword also exists twice in both ''Breath of the Wild'' and ''Tears of the Kingdom''; The original one, wielded by Link before the Great Calamity and during the events of ''Breath of the Wild'', and the repaired Master Sword embedded in the Light Dragon's forehead.

*Princess Zelda is the only character other than Link who is seen touching the Master Sword; She returns it to Link when the blade is knocked out of his hand in ''The Wind Waker'', she places the broken Master Sword into its pedestal in ''Breath of the Wild'', and carries it in ''Tears of the Kingdom'' after Link sends it back to her. It is implied that [[Rauru (Tears of the Kingdom)|King Rauru]] can also touch the Master Sword, since there is no other plausible explanation for how the blade was transported from the Depths to the Room of Awakening.