Hookshot

,, also known as Hook Shots, are recurring items in . A Hookshot first appears in .
==Location and uses==
Hookshots are machines consisting of a chain and hook. When used, the chains extend and send the hook attached towards their targets. The main purpose of the Hookshot is to grapple on to distant targets to pull Link toward them, allowing him to go to otherwise inaccessible areas. In most cases, attacking an enemy with the Hookshot will only stun them, but some weaker enemies such as Keese are defeated when hit with the Hookshot. However, certain enemies will pull Link toward them when hit by the Hookshot, such as Like Likes. Similarly to a Boomerang, the Hookshot can retrieve Rupees and activate distant switches.
In most of its appearances, a Hookshot is a Dungeon Item, typically found within a water-themed or flooded Dungeon. The Hookshot is usually guarded by the dungeon's mini-boss, and it often becomes necessary to navigate the remainder of the dungeon where it is found, as well as for defeating the boss.
In 2D installments of , the Hookshot can latch on to certain solid objects that stand in any of the four cardinal directions, including Blocks, small Treasure Chests, Skulls, Pots, and Jars. The Hookshot is often used to pull Link over water, chasm, and unsafe hazards. Meanwhile, in 3D installments of the series, the Hookshot can be used to reach higher or lower heights, and objects that can be grappled onto are usually marked with a bulls-eye target.
==Mainline appearances==
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In , the Hookshot is found in the Swamp Palace. Link uses the Hookshot to explore many areas, both in dungeons and, primarily, in the Dark World. The Hookshot can also stun certain types of enemies and defeat a few others instantly. Link cannot move while using the Hookshot, but he becomes temporarily invulnerable while using it.
The Hookshot is an essential part of the boss fight against Arrghus, as Link must use it to pull the Arrgi off of Arrghus before he can attack it.
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In , the Hookshot is located in Catfish's Maw. To obtain it, Link must defeat the Master Stalfos mini-boss, who has taken it from a treasure chest inside the dungeon. The Hookshot is used similarly as in , although a notable difference is that the item can be used to grab various bridges to extend them toward Link to use as platforms. The Hookshot is required to defeat the boss of Catfish's Maw, Slime Eel, by pulling its head from the wall, leaving it vulnerable. The Hookshot is required to complete the Signpost Maze.
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In , the Hookshot is found in Dampé's grave after besting Dampé the first time in a race as an adult. The Hookshot can be aimed around the environment from a stationary point from a first-person perspective. The Hookshot also produces a laser light used for aiming. When targeting, however, Link can aim up and down while moving side to side. The Hookshot has an upgrade, the Longshot, which has a longer reach than it. Both the Hookshot and Longshot are only usable by Link during the adult timeline.
The Hookshot is required to enter the Forest Temple, as Link cannot access the Temple and must aim the Hookshot at a nearby tree to enter. The game utilizes this idea of grappling to nearby targets to move around the environment (such as crossing gaps and traps) for the rest of the game. The Hookshot can collect Gold Skulltula Tokens and defeat weaker enemies. The sixth boss, Morpha, strongly focuses its attention on the Hookshot, using it to pull out its nucleus, making it vulnerable. 
The Hookshot can be used underwater if Link has the Iron Boots equipped. Certain underwater enemies can only be defeated from the Hookshot.
In , the laser dot is surrounded by an extra red ring when the Hookshot is pointed at a viable object. The Hookshot can also be aimed by moving the Nintendo 3DS.
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The Hookshot is found in the Pirates' Fortress in . It is one of the items that Link can only use in his regular form. The Hookshot is yellow and has only one chain length, although it can extend to about the same length as the Longshot in . Other than these differences, the Hookshot is otherwise the same as in the previous game.
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In , the Hookshot is located in the Wind Temple, where Link can obtain it after defeating the Mini-Boss, the summoning Wizzrobe. The Hookshot functions similarly as in previous 3D installments. Just like before, a red dot is used a pointer but a yellow starburst indicates any objects that can be grabbed. The Hookshot is used differently with the Iron Boots. If Link equips both items simultaneously, he becomes so heavy and does not get pulled towards his target. Because of this, the Hookshot gives Link a stronger pull on objects, allowing for them to be moved toward him.
Using the Hookshot is required to free Makar from the Wind Temple, as it can pull the heavy stones off the wall. The boss of the Wind Temple, Molgera, can only be attacked after Link uses the Hookshot to grab its tongue and be pulled toward it. The Hookshot is required to climb up Ganon's Tower.
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The Hookshot can be rented for 50 Rupees or bought for 800 Rupees from Ravio's Shop in . The Hookshot can be upgraded to the Nice Hookshot by Mother Maiamai, if Link has purchased the Hookshot from Ravio's Shop and has found at least 10 Lost Maiamais. The Nice Hookshot deals more damage and extends farther.
The Hookshot can be used to grapple onto switches as well as wooden walls, which Link can then quickly merge with. Certain Floodgate switches in the Swamp Palace can only be grabbed with the Hookshot. These change the water level of the dungeon. 
Other than this, it behaves similarly to how it did in and is used to defeat the updated version of Arrghus.
==Spinoff appearances==
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In , the Hookshot is an item obtained in the "The Shadow King" scenario. The Hookshot is used to grapple onto ledges, indicated by a bulls eye target overhead and a glowing space when the Hookshot is selected. It can also be used to grapple onto enemies and quickly move towards them, sometimes also while performing an attack on certain enemies in some instances, such as on Aeralfos when it is in flight. The Hookshot can temporarily be upgraded by finding a item upgrade power-up in battles, which increases its strength for its duration. In this state it can also be used to pull and crash a tiny Moon onto enemies. Its duration can be increased by crafting Whip Badges. The Hookshot is also used to pull down and stun Argorok when its tail glows blue, as well as weaken a part of Ganon when his tail glows. The Hookshot can expose an Aeralfos' Weak Point Gauge.
In Adventure Mode, the Hookshot is an Item Card. It can latch on to certain targets on the map, pulling the player's warrior there and unlocking the square that the target is in.
==Crossover appearances==
=== series===
The Hookshot is Link's in and . In and , it was replaced by the Clawshot. Link, Young Link, and Toon Link can use this move as a to grab the edge of the stage and pull themselves back up to it. Young Link and Toon Link's versions of the Hookshot have a shorter range compared to the adult Link version. The Hookshot returns in for Young Link and Toon Link. However, normal (or adult) Link for the first time, does not have a Hookshot or Clawshot, but rather a normal grab.
The Hookshot is also a Sticker in .
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The Hookshot appears as a key item that can assist Cadence, Link, Yves, and Princess Zelda in reaching areas that would otherwise be out of reach to them, along with stunning and knocking back enemies. It can later be upgraded to the Longshot.
==Nomenclature==
==Gallery==
File:Hookshoticon.png|The , as seen in the of 
File:LA Hookshot Artwork 2.png|Artwork of the Hookshot from 
File:LA Hookshot Artwork 3.png|Artwork of the Hookshot from 
File:Hookshot obtained MM.jpg|The Hookshot being obtained in 
File:ALBW Ravio Hookshot Artwork.png|Ravio demonstrating the Hookshot's use from 
File:ALBW Rented Hookshot Model.png|The from 
File:ALBW Rented Hookshot Icon.png|The icon from 
File:ALBW Nice Hookshot Model.png|The from 
File:ALBW Nice Hookshot Icon.png|The icon from 
File:Hookshot 2 (SSBM).jpg|Link using the Hookshot from 
File:Hookshot 3 (SSBM).jpg|Young Link using the Hookshot from 
File:Hookshot (SSBB).jpg|Toon Link using the Hookshot from 
File:HW Hookshot Icon.png|Hookshot icon from 
File:HW Hookshot Sprite.svg|The from 
File:HWDE Hookshot Icon.png|The from 
File:HWDE Hookshot Icon 2.png|The from 
File:CoH Hookshot Sprite.png|Sprite of the Hookshot from 
==See Also==
* Clawshot
* Grappling Hook
* Gripshot
* Longshot
* Switch Hook