Master Sword
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The Master Sword (マスターソード Masutā Sōdo?) is a fictional sword from Nintendo's Legend of Zelda video game series. It was first introduced in the game The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. It traditionally rests in sacrosanct locations indigenous to Hyrule, such as the "Temple of Time" or the "Lost Woods". It is known as "The Blade of Evil's Bane". In general, it acts as a weapon for the chief protagonist, Link.
The sword also doubles as a key to the Sacred Realm. While it impedes evil's ability to act, its seal is not inviolable. A Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time, and The Wind Waker all begin just as Ganon is finding a way around the sword's power. In the last two, drawing the sword from its pedestal releases the seal completely, allowing evil to act. However, it also anoints the hero, and with the sword in hand, he is ultimately able to defeat Ganon.
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[edit] Role throughout the series
| The Hero's triumph on Cataclysm's Eve Wins three symbols of virtue. The Master Sword he will then retrieve, Keeping the Knights' line true. |
[edit] The Legend of Zelda
- See also: The Legend of Zelda
The most powerful sword of the original adventure was known as the Magical Sword. Nintendo's official Zelda website indicates that it may be the Master Sword under a different name.<ref>The Great Hyrule Encyclopedia. Nintendo. Retrieved on 2006-09-27.</ref>
[edit] Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
- See also: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
The sword Link wielded was never referred to by name in the game, although the instruction manual referred to it as a generic "magical sword". The official Zelda site suggests this may be the Master Sword as well.
[edit] A Link to the Past
- See also: A Link to the Past
The sword that was destined to slay Ganon was sealed in a pedestal deep within the Lost Woods. This pedestal would only relinquish the Master Sword to one who had shown true courage. After gathering the Pendants of Courage, Wisdom, and Power, Link was able to draw the blade and use it to fight the forces of darkness. When Link's health was full, the sword allowed Link to shoot spiralling waves of magic energy from it in an attack called the Beam Attack. The Dwarven Smithies turned the Master Sword into the Tempered Sword, and the Fat Fairy, upon having the Tempered Sword thrown into her Fairy Fountain, transformed it into the Golden Tempered Sword (called by some players the Great Fairy Sword) giving it unknown mystical abilities for future heroes to discover. After defeating Ganon at the end of the game, Link returned the sword to its pedestal, where it rested forever, according to the text at the end of the game.
In the Japanese-language version, the Tempered and Golden Tempered Swords were simply called "Level 3" and "Level 4" Master Swords.
[edit] Link's Awakening
There is no mention of the Master Sword in this game. However, once the player collects twenty hidden secret seashells, and enters the Seashell Mansion, Link will be granted the Seashell Blade, also noted as the lv-2 sword. Like the Master Sword in A Link to the Past, the Seashell Blade shoots bolts when Link's hearts are all full. It should be noted that in the DX version of the game (for Gameboy Color) the sword is called the Master Sword and has a slightly different sprite. It is otherwise the same.
[edit] Ocarina of Time
- See also: Ocarina of Time
The Spiritual Stones - the Kokiri's Emerald, the Goron's Ruby, and the Zora's Sapphire - along with the Ocarina of Time and Song of Time were the keys to the Door of Time and the Master Sword. The sword served both as an entryway to the Sacred Realm, and as a controller of the flow of time, allowing Link to travel between the future and the present. Not only that, but it is the key to locking the King of Evil, Ganon, in exile, due to its magical properties.
As in A Link To The Past, the Master Sword has the ability to deflect magical bolts (notably in the battle with Phantom Ganon). However, it does not fire bolts when Link is at full health.
Only the Biggoron's Sword is stronger, but it must be wielded with both hands, and thus cannot be used with a shield. In addition, in the final battle with Ganon, it does not matter how many times players strike the last boss with Biggoron's Sword, Ganon will not die until the last blow is struck with the Master Sword.
The pedestal before the door of the chamber that holds the sword bears the following inscription:
Ye who owns 3 Spiritual Stones,
Stand with the Ocarina of Time and play the Song of Time
[edit] Oracle of Ages and Seasons
In a password-linked game, players are able to give their sword new power, and it is renamed from the Noble Sword to the Master Sword. The Noble Sword was originally found broken in two, or hidden deep within the Lost Woods, depending on which game was played first. The Master Sword was the Level 3 Sword of the game, second only to the Biggoron's Sword in attacking power. However, the Biggoron's Sword required two hands to wield, disallowing the use of other items while equipped. The Master Sword was also the only weapon capable of damaging Ganon without charging a spin-attack and the only weapon to either send him back to the Dark World or destroy him, for it is the only sword made for the annihilation of evil.
In one order of play, the Noble Sword is "sharpened" by Zoran royalty (compare with Princess Ruto) to become the Master Sword, indicating the Noble Sword is a depowered Master Sword, much like its initial appearance in The Wind Waker.
[edit] The Wind Waker
- See also: The Wind Waker
After Link has proven his worth, the gods open the way to Hyrule and its castle, Hyrule Castle, now located deep beneath the sea. When he first arrives there, the entire castle is frozen in time, a whole army of enemies locked in one moment during an attack on the castle. The Master Sword is located in a hidden chamber in the basement of the castle and when it is removed, this army is unfrozen. However, the sword is unpowered and unable to defeat Ganon. A major part of the quest in The Wind Waker involves restoring the power of the Master Sword by returning sages to the temples in order to pray for the Master Sword and the Hero who wields it. When the two sages have been returned, the Master Sword returns to its full power and enables Link to break the barrier between the castle and the path to Ganon's lair, the final dungeon of the game. At the very end, Link plunges the Master Sword into Ganon's head, which turns him to stone.
When the Master Sword is first acquired, its hilt guard is locked upwards and the gem in the center is black. Later on in the game, the guards are extended outwards, the gem becomes yellow, and the sword glows when unsheathed.
[edit] Twilight Princess
- See also: Twilight Princess
At first, it was unknown whether Link would wield the Master Sword in Twilight Princess. The sword that Link had been seen carrying in the E3 and press event trailers and development screenshots was the Ordon Sword. At the end of the first trailer, it is the Master Sword in the logo (the same logo used for Ocarina of Time). However, a recent official artwork shown at E3 depicts Link holding what is undoubtedly the Master Sword (see right).
In Twilight Princess, the Master Sword is found at the Sacred Grove, which is later revealed to be the ruins of the Temple of Time. It is used to purge the curse on Link, allowing him to return to his human form after he has been locked in his wolf form by Zant. After that, he has the ability to change between his two forms at will. It can later be upgraded to the Light Sword, which glows with an evil-destroying aura which can break Shadow Crystals. It shines brightest in the Twilight Realm, where it can desipate the fog that previously required the Lantern to navigate.
The sword also has a few cosmetic changes done to it in the game similar to the aesthetics in the Temple of Time dungeon; implying that the Master Sword may be of techno-magical origins like the Temple, in addition to the fact that the metal comprising the weapon appears completely immune to corrosion (as per being exposed to the elements for years or even centuries).
[edit] Super Smash Brothers series
- See also: Super Smash Bros. series
In Super Smash Bros. and Super Smash Bros. Melee, Link's appearance is similar to that of Ocarina of Time, and he is armed with the Master Sword. In Melee, "Young Link" is also available as a playable character and appears as he did in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, equipped with the wooden Deku shield and armed with the Kokiri Sword. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Link appears as he does in Twilight Princess with the Master Sword.
In the Adventure game, the Underground Maze stage involves the player searching for the Triforce in a labyrinth. There are seven rooms in the labyrinth where the Triforce may be found. Finding the Triforce ends the stage. The location is random; instead of the Triforce, one is more likely to come across the Master Sword set into a small pedestal. It vanishes upon approaching, at which point Link appears and forces a battle. There are five such swords in this stage, and thus up to five battles with Link that the player may experience.
The description of the Master Sword trophy erroneously states that the Master Sword first appears in Ocarina of Time, as the game is the earliest in the storyline. The first game released that used the term Master Sword is A Link to the Past. This error was corrected in the PAL edition, and the Player's Choice version. When the price was sent up to $30, it stopped being labeled Players Choice, but was the same version.
[edit] Soul Calibur II
- See also: Soul Calibur II
In Soul Calibur II, the Master Sword is Link's basic and most balanced weapon and companion to the Hylian Shield. The magical sword from the original Zelda is also available as a weapon.
[edit] Trivia
- At E3 2004, Shigeru Miyamoto came onstage brandishing a replica Master Sword and Hylian shield.
- The Master Sword is featured in several Real Life comics although Greg Dean, the author and main character, does not own the sword in reality. He has repeatedly addressed the issue, both in and out of the comic, and it has become somewhat of an in joke throughout the comic[1].
- In the Kirby series Meta Knight's sword is called Master (although it was called Galaxia in the Kirby anime).
- The Master Sword appears in Shining Soul II, and it can only be wielded by Warrior and Ninja classes.
- There is a weapon called the 'Master Sword' obtainable by the player in Final Fantasy Tactics Advance. It makes an appearance as a two-handed sword that "only master swordsmen can wield."
- There is a piece of furniture called The Master Sword in Animal Crossing for the Nintendo GameCube and Animal Crossing: Wild World for the Nintendo DS. On the DS game, if the player touches the sword, the trademark Zelda "new item" sound plays.
- In the MMORPG World of Warcraft', there is a character named Linken, a left-handed Gnome who dresses in a green hat and tunic. Through the quest "It's dangerous to go alone" (a tribute to the first Legend of Zelda) it is possible to obtain Linken's Sword of Mastery, a nod by Blizzard Entertainment's developers to Link's Master Sword and the Legend of Zelda series.
- Blacksmith Rob Miller, of London, constructed a replica Master Sword. (seen here: http://www.planetgamecube.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=9387) It is currently owned by Paul Hantschel, who requested to have the sword built for himself.
[edit] Notes
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| Master Sword · Rupee · Triforce · Gossip Stone |
