Master Sword Legend

Lore & Background

The Master Sword's creation is rooted in the origins of the entire Zelda timeline. According to legend, three Goddesses bestowed the Triforce, which the Demon King Demise sought to claim. After Hylia drove him back but could not kill him due to her weakened state, she created the Goddess Sword and reincarnated as a mortal named Zelda. She tasked Link with finding Sacred Flames to strengthen the blade. Once Link purified the sword with these flames, Zelda sealed herself inside a crystal at the Temple of Time in the Lanayru Desert. This act transferred her power into the weapon, upgrading it from the Goddess Sword into the Master Sword. This blade became the only thing capable of absorbing Demise's essence and fulfilling Hylia's wish to destroy him using the Triforce.

In Their Own Story

In the present era of Skyloft, Link drew the Goddess Sword from the statue of Hylia after Zelda was kidnapped by a dark tornado. Guided by the sword spirit Fi, Link traveled through portals in the clouds to the Surface regions of Faron Woods, Eldin Volcano, and Lanayru Desert. There, he defeated bosses and collected Sacred Flames to purify the blade. When Ghirahim attempted to free Demise by resurrecting him in the past, Zelda sealed herself inside a crystal at the Gate of Time. This sacrifice upgraded the sword into the Master Sword. Link then used this weapon to fight through Ghirahim's army in the past, defeat the resurrected Demise, and absorb his essence into the blade before using the Triforce on Skyloft to ensure Demise's destruction.

Reader's Guide

To obtain the Master Sword in Skyward Sword, players must first draw the Goddess Sword from the statue of Hylia on Skyloft. Link then navigates the Surface overworlds—Faron Woods, Eldin Volcano, and Lanayru Desert—using a Loftwing to travel between areas. In each region, he must complete specific trials to find Sacred Flames, which are used to purify the sword at the Sealed Temple. The process requires defeating enemies and solving environmental puzzles. Once all three flames are collected, Link returns to the Time Gate in Lanayru Desert, where Zelda transforms the blade into the Master Sword. This upgraded weapon is then essential for battling Ghirahim and Demise in the past, as well as using its Skyward Strike ability to trigger magical switches throughout the game.

Did You Know?

• The Master Sword originated as the Goddess Sword, which was stored in a statue of Hylia on Skyloft.
• Zelda sacrificed herself by sealing her soul into a crystal to upgrade the Goddess Sword into the Master Sword.
• The sword was purified using Sacred Flames found in Faron Woods, Eldin Volcano, and Lanayru Desert.
• Link used the completed Master Sword to absorb Demise's essence before destroying him with the Triforce.