Master Sword

Lore & Background

In the series mythology, the Master Sword originates as the Goddess Sword created by the goddess Hylia in Skyward Sword. It is inhabited by a humanoid spirit named Fi and transforms into the Master Sword after being forged with three Sacred Flames. The blade possesses diverse magical abilities depending on the era: it generates fire and lightning attacks in A Link to the Past, acts as a seal for the Sacred Realm in Ocarina of Time, and can alter time flow by sending Link back to his childhood or forward to the future. In Breath of the Wild, the sword is unbreakable but must recharge after use; it glows blue and doubles its attack strength near Calamity Ganon's minions. The design typically features a one-handed longsword blade with a blue or purple hilt, green grip, spread-winged handguards, and a yellow gem inlaid in the center.

In Their Own Story

The narrative arc often follows Link embarking on a journey to recover the sword from its pedestal, usually located in the Lost Woods or Temple of Time. In A Link to the Past, Link must obtain three pendants to prove he is worthy before drawing the blade to defeat Agahnim and Ganon. In Ocarina of Time, collecting three Spiritual Stones opens the Door of Time; upon pulling the sword, it seals Link in the temple for seven years until he matures into the Hero of Time. The Wind Waker sees the sword inside sunken Hyrule Castle, where it blocks Ganondorf's powers and freezes time around the castle until Link restores its strength to turn Ganondorf to stone. In Skyward Sword, Link uses three Sacred Flames to forge the Goddess Sword into the Master Sword, eventually sealing Demon King Demise within it while placing Fi in eternal slumber inside the blade.

Reader's Guide

To wield the Master Sword, one must typically pull it from a pedestal after meeting specific criteria, such as collecting pendants or spiritual stones. In Twilight Princess, retrieving the sword breaks Zant's magic that turned Link into a wolf and later opens a path in time within the Sacred Grove. In A Link Between Worlds, the sword is upgraded by blacksmiths using master ore to break the magical barrier on Hyrule Castle. For Breath of the Wild, players must be strong enough to pull it from its pedestal in Great Hyrule Forest; once retrieved, completing "The Trial of the Sword" DLC permanently upgrades the blade to its highest attack level. In Tears of the Kingdom, the sword retains similar characteristics, emitting higher-powered attacks near enemies associated with Ganondorf.

Did You Know?

• The scene where Link obtains the Master Sword in A Link to the Past was conceived by screenwriter Kensuke Tanabe.
• In Skyward Sword, the premise for creating the origin story of the sword was built around using the Wii MotionPlus accessory to control its movements.
• Director Hidemaro Fujibayashi noted that knitting together various elements from previous games to create the origin story resulted in "all sorts of contradictions" with existing timelines.