Master Sword

The is a recurring legendary sword in the , most known for being the trademark weapon of the main protagonist Link. Due to its long history of destroying or sealing away evil, it has been referred to by many titles, the two most notable being the Blade of Evil's Bane, and the Sword that Seals the Darkness. The sword plays an important role in nearly the whole series since . 
== Overview ==
The Master Sword was originally crafted by the Goddess Hylia as the Goddess Sword, and was later forged into the Master Sword by the Goddess's chosen hero and its spirit, Fi, who bathed it in the three Sacred Flames located across the land that would become the Kingdom of Hyrule. Din's Flame in particular imbued the sword with the Power to Repel Evil, a power augmented after the Sword received the blessing of Princess Zelda, which transformed the blade into the true Master Sword. As the sacred blade is destined to wipe out the great evil that constantly threatens the land of Hyrule, it is the only weapon that can defeat Ganon in the many games it appears in, with one exception. 
The Master Sword is often seen to choose or accept its master by its own will, always a hero who has gone through great trials that test his power, wisdom, and courage (much like the balance of the Triforce) to prove him worthy of wielding it. This may be the conscious choice of the sword's spirit, Fi, who sleeps eternally within the sword and only assists her heroic master.
When the Master Sword was originally introduced in artworks of , the Sword's grip was red and its cross-guard yellow (in-game, both the grip and guard are red). However, in its pedestal, the Master Sword has a purple grip and blue guard. Its most conventional appearance was clearly defined in , with the purple grip and purple guard, though in subsequent games and the re-release of , the purple has become more blue or indigo. In , the grip and guard are royal blue as opposed to a deeper color. For the rest of the games, the Master Sword is merely a bastard sword with a narrow and a wide, shallow that runs almost the entire length of the blade, although in some appearances it has no fuller at all. The Triforce can be seen engraved in the lower part of the blade and a yellow gemstone is embedded in the cross guard. It is seen in and that the state of the gem and the cross guard are indicative of the sword's awakening and power. When Link acquires the unawakened Master Sword in and the first form of the Master Sword in , the gem in its cross guard is dark and the guard is retracted toward the grip. Once the Master Sword has been restored to its full power in both games, its cross guard regains its winged form and the gem its yellow color.
==Abilities ==
The Master Sword's classic ability is the power to vanquish evil. Infused with the sacred flames provided by the Golden Goddesses and blessed with Hylia's power, the sword is effective even against evil ones possessing the Triforce. However, in order to keep the power to repel evil intact, two Sages, known as the Sage of Earth and the Sage of Wind, are in charge of praying to the gods and thus infuse the Master Sword with the gods' power, most notably in . Should something happen to these Sages, the Master Sword will weaken and lose its might to combat evil.
The sacred blade is also capable of destroying magical barriers and breaking curses that involve powerful, dark magic. In addition, it has the ability to lock away the remains of a demon. The Master Sword can also unleash Skyward Strikes by channeling heavenly energy. Even when low on power, the Master Sword can unleash Skyward Strikes through the use of lightning when it strikes the blade.
Only a true hero that is "pure of heart and strong of body" is capable of wielding the sacred blade, and as such, those with tainted hearts can't even touch this sword. If a hero who is too young to bear the title that comes with the Master Sword withdraws this blade from its pedestal, the Master Sword will seal away the hero's soul and awaken him when the bearer comes of age to wield it, as seen in . However, if someone that is weak attempts to draw the Master Sword from its pedestal, they will lose their life, as seen in Breath of the Wild. The Master Sword also acts as a key to gain entrance to the Temple of Light. If the Master Sword is retrieved from its pedestal in the Temple of Time, the portal to the Sacred Realm will open, eventually leading to the Triforce. Additionally, the bearer of the sword can travel through time to some extent by simply thrusting the Master Sword into the Pedestal of Time, similar to the Ocarina of Time. The hero is able to travel backwards and forwards through the seven years of his life that were lost when he was kept in the Sacred Realm until he was old enough to hold the sword.
When in the Twilight, the Master Sword itself can be infused with the power of the Sols from the Twilight Realm, allowing it to cut through the dark fog that exists in the realm.
Even in its final form, as seen in and , that the Master Sword can be further improved by smithing or magical means. However, once its task is accomplished and the sword returned into its pedestal, it will revert back to its original shape. ending
==Mainline appearances==
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The does not exist in the original (nor its sequel), as the very first game of the franchise had the Magical Sword, its precursor. However, a sword closely resembling it can be seen on an artwork referring to in .
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A Link to the Past marks the Master Sword's grand debut in . It is the legendary blade that rests in the Lost Woods of northwestern Hyrule in a pedestal with ancient Hylian inscribed on it. The ancient text says the hero with three symbols of virtue will wield it on cataclysm's eve, reading: "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."
In order to defeat the evil wizard Agahnim that has taken over Hyrule Castle, Link must obtain the Master Sword, as instructed by Princess Zelda and Sahasrahla. However, before the young hero can wield it, however, he must first acquire the three Pendants of Virtue that are scattered throughout the land. After doing so, he retrieves the sacred blade from the Pedestal of Time within the Lost Woods. With it, he is able to destroy the electrical barrier that Agahnim had placed in the upper floor of Hyrule Castle. With the Master Sword in hand, Link eventually manages to defeat Agahnim twice in the game, and soon after, Ganon himself. With Hyrule safe from evil and at peace after claiming the full Triforce, Link places the Master Sword back in its pedestal.
The is twice as powerful as the and has a longer reach. When at full , the will also fire a when swung. In , the can also break .
During the course of the game, Link can actually upgrade the Master Sword. Its first upgrade is the Tempered Sword, which is acquired when the Dwarven Swordsmith is reunited with his partner on the outskirts of Kakariko Village. In the tempered shape, the Master Sword is two times stronger than its standard form, has a glowing orange blade and makes a deeper swing sound as opposed to the usual slash sound. Its second and last upgrade is the Golden Sword, acquired by giving the Master Sword or Tempered Sword to the Cursed Fairy in the Mysterious Pond of the Dark World within the Pyramid of Power. In the golden shape, the Master Sword is four times stronger than its standard form, killing almost any enemy in one hit, has a golden blade and green hilt, has the ability to break jars and skull jars (in the GBA remake), and also make a deeper swing sound than the tempered form. Despite its great power, however, Silver Arrows outclass the Golden Sword in raw strength. Unlike all later games, the Master Sword does not defeat Ganon in A Link to the Past, as the sacred blade can only stun him, while the Silver Arrows are required to outright destroy the main antagonist, needing four shots to kill him (this particular role would be reversed for the Light Arrows starting in Ocarina of Time), similar to The Legend of Zelda. Although any version of the Master Sword can damage Ganon during the final battle, a Spin Attack is required for its normal or Tempered forms in the original Super NES release, as only the Golden Sword variant can harm him with standard slash attacks. 
Moreover, Link can obtain the magic of the Bombos and Ether Medallion by holding the Master Sword up into the sky next to certain inscriptions around Hyrule.
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Ten years after the Unification War in which a young Hero of Time is left an orphan in Kokiri Forest, he is sent out on a great quest to help him combat the king of the Gerudo thieves known as Ganondorf. To retrieve it from its pedestal, Link must collect the three Spiritual Stones, and play the Song of Time on the in front of the Door of Time to open the chamber where it is sealed. Only the one worthy of the title of the Hero of Time can draw the Master Sword; however, since Link was too young to bear such a title, the sacred blade sealed his spirit away in the Chamber of Sages until he became old enough to truly be the Hero of Time, resulting 7 years have passed. Additionally, because the Master Sword serves as a gateway between Hyrule and the Sacred Realm, like the Ocarina of Time, Ganondorf was able to access the Temple of Light and steal the Triforce shortly after Link pulled the sword from its pedestal, which resulted in it being split into three pieces due to his unbalanced heart and only obtaining the Triforce of Power, while Princess Zelda and Link respectively gain the Triforce of Wisdom and Triforce of Courage.
After clearing the Forest Temple, Link can travel back to his original time by placing the Master Sword in the Pedestal of Time. This becomes necessary as the young hero journeys to awaken the remaining five Sages, who are each revealed to be his childhood friends he formerly aided. Similarly, he can travel seven years into the future by simply taking the sword from its pedestal. Eventually, Link confronts the King of Evil in a fierce battle and is able to defeat him with the power of the Master Sword along with the help of the Seven Sages and Navi. Although ultimately victorious, Princess Zelda feels guilt for the Hero of Time having lost his childhood just to desperately save Hyrule from Ganondorf's nearly successful clutches and sends him back in time to relive the days he missed and thus creates a new history. Following this, Link returns the Master Sword to the Pedestal of Time and sealed the entrance to the Sacred Realm.
Ever since the Master Sword was pulled from the Pedestal of Time, it has become analogous with the legend of the Hero of Time.
In this game, the Master Sword can only be used by Adult Link. It is twice as powerful as the Kokiri Sword, but the Biggoron's Sword surpasses it by having double its power. However, although the Biggoron's Sword is the strongest Sword in Ocarina of Time and can be used in the final battle, it is still incapable of defeating Ganon, as only the Blade of Evil's Bane can deliver the final blow (otherwise the weapon simply misses). The finishing attack itself results in Link violently slashing Ganon's face multiple times before thrusting the Master Sword directly into his mouth, and, in an unusual move anywhere in The Legend of Zelda series, red blood being splattered (which was toned down to green in subsequent releases and the sword instead hitting his forehead in the 3DS remake). Surprisingly, despite the seemingly fatal blow, the beast did not die, but flailed and roared in agony.
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The Master Sword makes a reappearance in and , fittingly as the most powerful sword in the game. The only way to unlock the Master Sword is to have finished one of the games, and to have started a Linked Game on the opposite game. When a certain Secret in the game is found and told to Farore, she will upgrade the Noble Sword Link currently holds into the Master Sword. However, if Link still has the Wooden Sword, the Wooden Sword will become the Noble Sword, and the Master Sword will be found where the Noble Sword would have been.
Despite its name, the Master Sword in these games is not the actual sword itself, but is simply the Noble Sword upgraded so its power is similar to that of the real Master Sword.
To get the Master Sword, Link must find the Old Woman in South Lynna who will tell the Clock Shop Secret. She instructs the player to dig around the Clock Shop located in Holodrum. The old man inside will ask the player to play a game wherein 12 beasts must be beaten within 30 seconds. 
If Link discovers the King Zora Secret after completing the , a Zora in Hero's Cave will reward him with the Master Sword. However, if Link has already completed the , then the legendary blade will be found resting in its pedestal in the Lost Woods of northwestern Holodrum.
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If Link discovers the Clock Shop Secret after completing the , the legendary blade will be given to him by the Old Woman in South Lynna. However, if the Secret is discovered before the is complete, then Link will have to bring the Broken Sword that was given to him by the Old Zora who lives at the Coast of No Return to Patch on top of Restoration Wall for repairs. If the ceremony is successful, Patch will restore the Broken Sword. This will give Link an upgraded version of his sword, depending on what he had when the ceremony began. If Link had the Wooden Sword, Patch's restoration will give him the Noble Sword. If Link had the Noble Sword, the restoration will give him the Master Sword.
To obtain the Master Sword if Patch repairs the Broken Sword into the Noble Sword, the player will need to use the Clock Shop Secret given to them by the Old Woman. By taking her secret back to Oracle of Seasons and obtaining the Master Sword in that game, they will get a new secret. This secret can be given to Farore in , and the player will then obtain the Master Sword.
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The Master Sword is predominately referred to as the Blade of Evil's Bane in 's legends and lies in a hidden chamber in Hyrule Castle, deep beneath the waves of the Great Sea, once wielded by the Hero of Time. With the Master Sword resting in the Pedestal of Time, the sacred blade serves as a key to seal away Ganondorf's magic, keeping Hyrule frozen in time and all those who inhabit it. However, the Master Sword's use as a key to lock evil away is broken when a young Hero of Winds unknowingly draws the blade under the direction of the King of Red Lions. In doing so, he unwittingly awakens Ganondorf's army from their ancient slumber and also allows the villain to use his full magic again.
Later, Link learns that since Ganondorf murdered the original Sages of Earth and Wind, Laruto and Fado respectively, the Master Sword's edge has dulled and its power to repel evil has faded. As such, Link must awaken the two new Sages in order to regain that lost power: his friends Medli and Makar. It is then explained that those Sages are necessary in order to pray to the gods for the Master Sword and the Hero who wields it, to restore its edge, and to keep it glowing with the power to repel evil.
When Link first draws the weakened Master Sword from its pedestal, its guard is curved into the blade rather than extending outward as it once did; moreover, the gem that rests at the base of the blade is black rather than gold, and the symbol of the Triforce is missing. As Link awakens the new Sages of Earth and Wind, the Sages return the power to repel evil to the blade: the guard's original position is recovered with the Earth Sage's prayers, and the gem and the Triforce symbol are restored with the prayers of the Wind Sage. When the sword is fully restored, it glows with the power to repel evil, allowing Link to shatter the magical barrier in Hyrule that impedes his path to Ganon's Tower.
After making his way to the top of the tower, the Hero of Winds, with the help of Princess Zelda (Tetra) using Light Arrows, fights against Ganondorf using the Master Sword's power. To deal the final blow, after distracting Ganondorf to be hit by one last Light Arrow via deflecting it towards him with the Mirror Shield, the young hero powerfully thrusts the sacred blade into Ganondorf's forehead after leaping high into the air (dropping his shield in the process), which causes the King of Evil to completely turn into stone, therefore killing him. Hyrule is then entirely flooded by the wishes of the King Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule, leaving the Master Sword impaled in the villain's skull as the forgotten kingdom is permanently destroyed by the massive waves.
The Master Sword in this game is notably smaller than its other 3D appearances in the series, as the blade is only slightly longer than the Hero's Sword.
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The Master Sword in is located deep within the Faron Woods in the Sacred Grove, which are the ruins of the Temple of Time. The blade is said to have once been held by the Legendary Hero. 
When Link is permanently turned into a wolf by Zant's magic, Princess Zelda mentions that the Master Sword is the only relic that can break the curse placed on him. Link then ventures to the Sacred Grove and draws the blade from its pedestal, allowing Link to return to his Hylian form.
The Master Sword in this game also allows Link access to other numerous hidden temples later in the game, such as the Temple of Time. When Link goes through the Door of Time in the Sacred Grove, he travels back to when the Temple of Time stood tall and before it fell into ruin. Here, Link can briefly thrust the Master Sword in the Pedestal of Time, making a set of staircases appear that lead to an unexplored area of the temple that serves as one of the game's dungeons. The sword's initial locations marks a link between and , as it resides in the temple's ruins, a place that is notably similar to the sword's resting place in . 
The sword is, in comparison with the shield and the overall height of Link, considerably larger than in the other 3D releases, as opposed to . Regardless, the general design is consistent.
In the Palace of Twilight, Link fuses the Master Sword with the power of the Sols. This Light-Infused Master Sword enables Link to defeat most monsters of Twilight in a single blow. The sword is also capable of clearing away the Dark Fog that causes Link to revert back to wolf form. This upgrade is only usable while in the Twilight Realm. During the battle with Zant, the Master Sword is needed to damage him, while using the Ordon Sword merely causes Zant to teleport away.
Midna notes that the Sols' light being transferred to the Master Sword is the work of the gods of the Twilight Realm, and that they too are on Link's side.
In the final battle against Ganondorf, Link uses the Ending Blow to thrust the Master Sword into Ganondorf's chest via his open wound, killing him. During the ending credits, the sword is shown resting in its pedestal in the Sacred Grove.
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In , it is revealed that the Master Sword was originally known as the Goddess Sword, which rested in Skyloft, a floating island above the clouds. After sealing Demise, the goddess Hylia created Fi, an intelligent humanoid spirit who resides in the Sword, and gave it the purpose of assisting her chosen hero throughout his journey. Eventually, in order to open the Gate of Time at the Sealed Grounds, Impa explains to Link that he must seek out the three Sacred Flames and purify the Sword into their heat. Each time Link bathes the Goddess Sword in one of the flames, the Sword is empowered and is physically altered, with Din's Flame tempering the Goddess White Sword into the Master Sword and giving it the power to repel evil. Although it is in the same incomplete state as in , it still holds a sacred force of "tremendous power" considered to be a divine power that was left by the gods of old, and it is also capable of activating the Gate of Time.
In the past, Link's Sword is then blessed by Zelda to become the True Master Sword. Once blessed, it possesses the Light Force. In the form of the True Master Sword, the damage dealt by a sword strike increases threefold, and the Skyward Strike charges much faster and is colored blue. The Sword's appearance also slightly changes, similar to : the cross-guard extends outwards and turns into a brighter shade of purple, the blade takes on a slight bluish luster, and the gem and the Triforce symbol are restored. Additionally, if looked at closely when it is in a hilt, or placed in the pedestal in the post-battle cutscenes, the guard forms the shape of a blue Loftwing, with the gem as the beak, and gold detailing as the talons. The Master Sword is used to defeat Demise, whose "residual consciousness" is absorbed into the Master Sword and is sealed away before promising that an incarnation of his hatred would haunt those with the Spirit of the Hero and the blood of the Goddess. Link then relinquishes the Sword into a pedestal in the Sealed Grounds and, thereafter, Fi enters the Master Sword to sleep forever.
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The Master Sword in is the same legendary blade from , which is once again found inside of the Lost Woods. Much like in the Super NES title, the Master Sword is obtained by collecting the three Pendants of Virtue. One of the Pendants is given to Link by Princess Zelda, and the others are found in the Tower of Hera and the House of Gales. The Master Sword is the only thing that has the power to break the Barrier surrounding Hyrule Castle, which is necessary for Link to face Yuga atop the Castle, and subsequently travel to Lorule for the first time. When obtained, it replaced the previously-used Forgotten Sword.
Like A Link to the Past, the Master Sword can be upgraded twice by collecting pieces of Master Ore hidden throughout Lorule. By taking the Master Sword to the Blacksmith in Hyrule with two pieces of Master Ore, he will upgrade it to the Master Sword Lv2. The Master Sword Lv2 is twice as powerful as the standard Master Sword and has a tempered, red blade, making it almost identical to the Tempered Sword from . When Link collects the remaining two pieces of Master Ore and takes them to the Blacksmith in Lorule, he will upgrade the sword again to the Master Sword Lv3. This final upgrade of the Master Sword doubles its damage again, making it eight times as powerful as the Forgotten Sword. It also has a golden blade, making it almost identical to the Golden Sword from the .
Despite its increased strength, the Master Sword Lv2's Sword Beam does the same base amount of damage as the Master Sword. The StreetPass Shadow Links and Gramps, the elderly man in Kakariko Village, are able to wield the Master Sword Lv3. The former can be attributed to the Shadow Links being mere shades, but no explanation is given as to why Gramps can wield the sword.
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10,000 years prior to the events of , a Hero wielded the Master Sword and sealed Calamity Ganon away within Hyrule Castle using the its power. The Master Sword was also wielded by the Link one hundred years before he awoke from the Slumber of Restoration. During Link's first Recovered Memory, Subdued Ceremony, the royal speech that Zelda recites states that the Sword is bound to the Hero of Hyrule and always aided him whether "skyward bound", adrift in time, or steeped in the glowing embers of twilight." In Link's third Recovered Memory, Resolve and Grief, Zelda asks Link if he can hear the Master Sword speaking to him. During Link's 17th Recovered Memory, Zelda's Awakening, Link is greatly wounded and the Master Sword is in poor condition. After Zelda awakens her sealing power to save Link from a Guardian Stalker, Link collapses in exhaustion. The Master Sword speaks to Zelda, informing her what she must do to save both Link and Hyrule Kingdom. After putting Link in the Shrine of Resurrection for his one hundred year slumber, Zelda takes the Master Sword to its Pedestal in Korok Forest, where she promises that Link will return for it.
After Link awakens 100 years later, the Master Sword still remains in the Korok Forest beyond the Lost Woods. During his journey, Link may come across several rumors pertaining to its location. Upon reaching the Lost Woods, Link has to walk a certain path that leads to the Korok Forest. There, the Master Sword rests on its Pedestal. When Link approaches it, The Great Deku Tree will inform him that if a person who is deemed weak attempts to draw the sacred sword, they would surely lose their life. Therefore, Link must have at least 13 Hearts to be able to draw the blade from its resting slumber.
The Master Sword has a base strength of 30 damage; however, its holy power is awakened in the presence of evil. While Link is inside a dungeon, near Guardians, or in proximity to Malice, the blade glows with a blue aura. In this state, the Master Sword's power is doubled to 60. Unlike all other weapons, it runs out of energy temporarily after a certain amount of uses instead of breaking. It is unusable in this state and will regain its energy after 10 minutes. While in the awakened state, the Master Sword's energy lasts much longer, enduring approximately 11,400 damage before needing to recharge. Also unlike most other weapons, the Master Sword cannot be thrown. Instead, it can fire a Sword Beam when the 'R' button is held and released if Link has full health. The Beam inflicts 10 damage on enemies, and its range is increased by the total amount of Heart Containers that Link has obtained. Firing a Sword Beam will also slightly reduce the Master Sword's Durability. The Sword Beam appears and functions like the Skyward Strike from , with Link sending off a blue disc of energy from the Master Sword after charging it in the air. After completing the Trial of the Sword from DLC pack, the Master Sword will be awakened permanently, and using the Sword Beam will no longer affect its Durability.
Being made of metal, the Master Sword will attract Lightning if it is equipped during a Thunderstorm, and it will likewise conduct Electricity. Unlike other weapons, however, it cannot be knocked out of Link's hands or dropped. It also does not burn when exposed to fire or a Scorching Climate.
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Sometime after the events of the previous game, the Master Sword was returned to its Pedestal in Korok Forest. It would eventually be retrieved by Link and Princess Zelda before they ventured Beneath Hyrule Castle to investigate the source of the Gloom. The Great Deku Tree mentioned to the two of them that the sword was fully restored, implying it was not actually at full power in Breath of the Wild, and that it could be bathed with sacred power to strengthen it, potentially without limit.
When Link and Zelda reach the Imprisoning Chamber and the mummy that is Ganondorf reawakens, Link attempts to use the Master Sword to block a deadly Gloom attack targeted at Zelda. However, the Gloom instead mangles his arm and severely decays the Master Sword. When Link tries to block another tendril of Gloom, the sacred sword shatters, with the tip of the blade flying towards and cutting Ganondorf. As Ganondorf himself begins to speak, he realizes that the sword he had just broken was the legendary Blade of Evil's Bane that seals the darkness, expressing genuine disappointment at having beaten his fated opponent's best weapon so easily. As he causes Hyrule Castle to rise and Zelda to plummet down a deep chasm, Link tosses the now heavily damaged Master Sword aside in a futile effort to save the princess.
When Link comes to in the Room of Awakening, the Decayed Master Sword is stuck in a nearby rock, with only the hilt and the badly decayed base of the blade intact (much like a broken Giant's Knife in Ocarina of Time). Link can pull it out with no problem, but in its current damaged state it has a pitiable base strength of just 1, cannot be used as a Fused Weapon, and will not recover energy when it runs out. At the end of the Temple of Time and his journey on The Great Sky Island, Link discovers a glowing yellow orb. The Decayed Master Sword chimes, instructing Link to place it in the glowing orb. The effect of Recall is then played out as the sword is sent back countless millennia, where Zelda awaits to retrieve it.
The Decayed Master Sword communicates to Zelda that Link is safe and that it traveled back in time to find her and recover its strength. Now realizing why she was sent so far back in time, Zelda devises a plan to repair the Master Sword and render it able to stand against Ganondorf. Princess Zelda and Mineru discuss the sword and all the Great Deku Tree told the former about strengthening it with sacred light, with Mineru realizing Zelda intends to undergo the forbidden act of draconification to strengthen the sword in her light, Mineru protests, before ultimately forcing herself to accept Zelda's determination to sacrifice everything to defeat Ganondorf.
With their plan in place, Zelda and Mineru begin preparations to ensure Link would be sufficiently prepared to face the Demon King once more. Finally, with Mineru's spirit inside the Purah Pad and stowed inside a Steward Construct, the rest of the Sages having promised their descendants would awaken to support Link when the time comes, and the Great Sky Island containing everything Link needs to get him started on his journey, Zelda swallows her Secret Stone, takes the Decayed Master Sword, and transforms into the Light Dragon, which proceeds to roam the skies for countless millennia until it reaches the present day.
Link may come across the corrupted Korok Forest during his journey and purge the Great Deku Tree of Gloom corruption, although Mineru will point Link to the Forest if he hasn't retrieved the sword when she gives him her vow. Link informs the tree that the Master Sword has disappeared. However, the Great Deku Tree senses the sword's presence, stating it appears to be in the sky, and moving at that.
Link can find the Master Sword embedded in a growth on the head of the Light Dragon. However, when he attempts to pull it, the Light Dragon, who has lost her previous identity as Zelda, reacts violently and attempts to shake him off. Link needs at least two full Stamina Wheels to hold on long enough for the Light Dragon to roar and climb above the clouds, where a golden sky awaits. 
The Light Dragon comes to a stop as the growth holding the Master Sword retracts, allowing Link to pull it out with no difficulty. The glowing sheen covering most of the sword peels away to reveal the restored blade, its inconsistent hue marking the severe damage it sustained, but otherwise fully restored and strong enough to stand against the Demon King. Alternatively, if Link hasn't recovered the sword by the final battle, when the Light Dragon intervenes to assist Link against the Demon Dragon, the same sequence will play, beginning from when the growth recedes, before the battle proper.
The Master Sword in its restored state functions similarly to how it does in , including its ability to regenerate itself after "breaking". (represented by the trait, "Revitalized Sword of Legend".) with a few key differences. First of all, the damage output is still 30, but it's not shown on the weapons menu at all. It also retains a reawakened version that activates in the presence of Gloom-wielding enemies (i.e. most of the enemies in The Depths, Gloom Spawn), but due to the relative abundance, this only increases its damage by 15 compared to the previous game's 30. Additionally, like most other weapons in the game its durability has been reduced. Finally, it can be used as a base for a Fused Weapon, with a few limitations: the fused material doesn't increase durability, and the added damage isn't increased in the presence of Gloom enemies. The fused material also cannot be recovered by Pelison because the Master Sword cannot be taken out of Link's inventory; reflecting this, it will only appear on the blade while it is in use as a green apparition, and when not in use, glowing green runes appear on the blade to indicate a fusion.
Gameplay-wise, the Master Sword as Link wields it during the intro of the game underneath Hyrule Castle has its own slot and stats. Using glitches, it is possible to acquire it in a normal save: its name and description both read "MsgNotFound", it has a base attack power of 30 (the same as the revitalized sword), and is unbreakable, although it cannot be fused with any material without further glitches.
==Discrepancies==
Until the release of , the origin of the Master Sword was never seen and only alluded to in what could be considered legends that were corrupted by oral tradition; mistranslations from Japanese have further clouded the facts. For instance, according to the English manual of , after Ganon entered the Golden Land and obtained the Triforce, the people of Hyrule forged a Sword resistant to magic, which could even repulse powers granted by the Triforce. The seven Sages searched for one worthy of wielding the Master Sword, but never found such a person, leaving them, with the aid of the knights of Hyrule, to seal away Ganon instead. Although the mistranslated English manual states that the Master Sword was not created until after Ganon invaded the Golden Land, the Japanese manual states that it was forged long before the Imprisoning War. The location of the blade was already forgotten by the time of the Imprisoning War, and no hero was found worthy of wielding it. This notion that the Master Sword was forged to protect the Triforce is supported by the fact that Hylia (The first wielder of the Goddess Sword) was the Triforce's guardian.
Category:A Link to the Past Articles Needing Attention
Both the English and Japanese manuals of describe that the Master Sword was forged by the people of Hyrule, and not necessarily by the Ancient Sages. It isn't until that Princess Zelda officially mentions that the Ancient Sages crafted the Master Sword.
The ending of claims that the Master Sword "sleeps again, forever" after Link places it back in its shrine in the Lost Woods, but , set after this game, shows Link once again taking up the Master Sword (plus nearly every later game since has it seen again), indicating that this line was merely metaphorical.
, which takes place at the beginning of the Zelda Timeline according to Hyrule Hystoria, reveals the complete origin of the Master Sword, revealing that it was forged into its well-known current form from being the Goddess Sword created by the goddess Hylia.
==Spinoff appearances==
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In , the Hero of Light can obtain the Master Sword from the Lost Woods during week 4. During previous weeks, a Soldier blocks the entrance to its resting place. The Master Sword is the most powerful Sword in the game. When at full health, it can shoot Sword Beams. During the ending of the game, the Hero of Light, alongside Princess Zelda and Aginah, return the Master Sword to its pedestal.
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The Master Sword, combined with the Hylian Shield, appears as one of Link's unlockable weapons in . It is obtained by completing "The Sacred Sword" Scenario in Legend Mode. It performs similarly to Link's Hylian Sword moveset, although with a base attack power of 300, being much more powerful than most obtainable Swords. It also performs a wider and faster Spin Attack combo than the other Swords. After completing the "A War of Spirit" Scenario, Link can fire Sword Beams with certain combos at full health. It is of the Light element.
Unlike other weapons, the Master Sword is one-of-a-kind and multiples cannot be obtained from weapon drops. In it has one Skill known as Evil's Bane, which is unlocked after collecting all Level 1, 2 and 3 Weapons found in Scenarios in Legend Mode and in the Adventure Map in Adventure Mode and then accumulating 25,000 KOs with the Master Sword. In and , it has two Skills, one being Evil's Bane, and the other being Exorcism. In and , Evil's Bane is unlocked in the same manner as in , but the KOs requirement is lowered to 10,000. In , Exorcism requires unlocking all of the Level 4 Weapons found in the Twilight Map and the Termina Map in Adventure Mode and then accumulating 25,000 KOs with the Master Sword while in , all Weapons, including the Multi-Element Weapons, must be collected but the KOs required is lowered to 15,000. The Evil's Bane Skill increases the Master Sword's base attack power by 200 and, in , also unlocks the Legendary seal for other Warriors' weapons that have that Skill available. In and , the Exorcism Skill unlocks the Legendary seal and also increases the Master Sword's base power by an additional 400 points, bringing the total to 900. Unlocking the Evil's Bane skill awards the "True Master Sword" Medal in , while Exorcism does this in and .
In the Legend Mode Scenarios, after obtaining the Sword, Link becomes cocky and overconfident in his abilities. In "A War of Spirit", while Link goes to face Cia at the Temple of Souls, she uses his overconfidence against him by using the darkness in his heart to create Dark Links to fight him repeatedly. With the aid of his allies, he is able to overcome these threats, and the bond shared between them awakens the True Power of the Master Sword. From that point, at full health, Link can fire Sword Beams with certain combos. After Link defeats Ganon in "Liberation of the Triforce", he returns the Master Sword to its pedestal at the Temple of the Sacred Sword to rest.
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In , the Master Sword is first seen in the Scenario, "Freeing Korok Forest", where Zelda, Link, Impa, the four Champion, and Hestu go to the pedestal, only to be blocked by Astor. Astor summons four Hollow to battle Link. Link is drawn near the Master Sword and pulls it out when his old sword breaks. Astor then engages in a fight against Link, summoning his Hollow. Once he is beaten, he admits how strong the Master Sword is.
The Master Sword initially has an attack power of 51.
==In other media==
=== (Ishinomori)===
In the , Sahasrahla's Wife elaborates on part of the Master Sword's history: she tells of ancient scrolls that speak of the prosperous people who once inhabited the land of Hyrule. According to the scrolls, they made many powerful weapons, including the ultimate treasure, the Master Sword, crafted specifically to resist evil power and which now rests in the Lost Woods. Link begins his quest to search for the Master Sword after Agahnim kidnaps Princess Zelda to cast the third and final incantation on her and thus break the seal that binds Ganon to the Dark World. Before Agahnim is able to take her away, Zelda reveals to Link that only the Master Sword can harm Agahnim. The young hero eventually finds Sahasrahla, and although the old man is puzzled as to how someone so young like Link could be searching for the Master Sword, he tells Link he must recover the Pendants of Virtue to claim the legendary weapon. After acquiring the three Pendants of Virtue, Link heads out to the Lost Woods and retrieves the legendary weapon out of its pedestal.
Link, now confident with the power of the Master Sword, heads out to battle Agahnim atop Hyrule Castle. Sahasrahla contacts Link and tells him not to trust all his power in the Master Sword, for even the legendary blade cannot harm Agahnim's body. Link attacks him anyway, but the Master Sword passes right through the evil wizard, which causes him to turn around and paralyze Link by only looking at him. Agahnim then casts Zelda into the Dark World, which causes for Link's rage towards Agahnim begins to channel through the Master Sword since the young hero and the legendary blade are as one. Agahnim and Link begin to battle, and after Sahasrahla reveals to the young hero that the Master Sword was also forged to repel evil magic, Link uses the sword to turn back Agahnim's magic against him and successfully defeat him. 
Link also uses the Master Sword to battle against Ganon, which he uses to stun the King of Thieves while Zelda delivers the final blow with the Silver Arrow. With Hyrule now at peace, Link returns the Master Sword to its pedestal in the Lost Woods. The comic's final scene shows the Master Sword overgrown by foliage as it sleeps, waiting for a new bearer when disaster befalls Hyrule again.
==Crossover appearances==
=== series===
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In , the Master Sword is Link's main weapon.
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The Master Sword reappears as Link's primary weapon in . It can also be obtained as a Trophy. In the Temple stage in Adventure Mode, it can be seen in its pedestal in random locations where encountering one spawns Link to battle against.
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The Master Sword is both Link's and Toon Link's main weapon in . The Subspace Emissary shows a cutscene where Link pulls out the Master Sword from the Pedestal of Time in the middle of a forest when he is first introduced.
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Like in , both Link and Toon Link use the Master Sword.
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The Master Sword is used by both Link and Toon Link in . When Link's damage is at 0%, he is capable of firing Sword Beams from the Master Sword by performing his Forward Smash attack.
Additionally, the Master Sword has a brief role in the World of Light. Here, it is in a pedestal at the center of the . Unlike other appearances, any of the fighters can pull the Master Sword, not just Link. Pulling out the Master Sword is required, as by doing so, it emits a glow that dispels the darkness covering the northern area of Sacred Land.
===Animal Crossing series===
The Master Sword in its pedestal is a recurring furniture item in the Animal Crossing series. In Animal Forest, the Master Sword is a randomly unlockable item in the game's lottery, and is listed as a small furniture under Group B. In the first few Animal Crossing games where the Master Sword appears, it is designed after its appearance in .
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The Master Sword is one of Link's weapons in , and it can be used with either the Hylian Shield or the Mirror Shield. Since it is Link's default weapon and most familiar sword, the Master Sword in conjunction with the Hylian Shield is considered to be Link's most balanced weapon.
Weapon 	Cost 	Attributes 	In-game Description
Master Sword & Hylian Shield	Free 	Well-balanced	A magic sword and shield that have accompanied Link on many adventures and helped him repeatedly save the land of Hyrule. This journey is no less dire, and Link once again goes into battle equipped with these items, this time in another world. These are well-balanced arms for Link.
Mirror Shield 	2200 Gold	Hits taken are counters
33% of damage received is inflicted back onto opponent	A mirror-like shield found in the Spirit Temple. It is an amazing work of art, and there are few who would argue that it is not one of the finest shields in Hyrule. It is said that its surface reflects not only light but hostile intent as well.
===WarioWare series===
====WarioWare: Smooth Moves====
In WarioWare: Smooth Moves, the Master Sword is the focus of the Ocarina of Time microgame, based on the identically titled game, where child Link has to pull it out from the Pedestal. If done successfully, Link either becomes an adult (in level 1), an old man (level 2), or a Cucco (level 3).
====WarioWare Gold====
In WarioWare Gold, the Master Sword is again the focus of the Ocarina of Time microgame, having the same role as before.
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The Master Sword appears in as well. It is one of the 200 prizes that can be won using the coins at the game on the top of the central tower located in the middle of the plaza. Upon touching the prize in the plaza using the touch screen or simply jumping into it, Monita will comment on it.
===Mario franchise===
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In and , the Master Sword, in a giant size, also can be seen resting in a pedestal in Hyrule Castle on Hyrule Circuit. Touching the three crystals that appear before the Master Sword activates a Dash Panel ramp, which racers can drive off of to touch the Master Sword and receive a Spin Boost.
There are a few animations in which Link holds up the Master Sword, including when performing a trick in midair or from being selected on the character select screen. Because of this, the game features two Master Swords at once on-screen.
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The Master Sword was introduced as a power-up in the Ver 2.0.0 update, exclusively in the Super Mario Bros. style, in . If Mario touches the Master Sword, he transforms into Link.
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The twenty-forth puzzle in the Picross series and the sixteenth puzzle in the Mega Picross series depict the Master Sword.
===The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim===
The Master Sword is available exclusively in the Nintendo Switch version of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. It can be obtained from either scanning an amiibo related to , or through finding it in a Treasure Chest near Paarthurnax at the Throat of the World.
==Trivia==
*Since its debut in A Link to the Past, the Master Sword is widely known as one of the most recognizable swords, if not weapons altogether, in the video game industry, and the iconic scenes of Link pulling the sacred sword from its pedestal throughout the franchise are often compared to The Sword in the Stone from the British mythologies of King Arthur, with many fans calling the Master Sword a modern retelling of that story.
*In , according to the original Japanese text, the Master Sword was only sealing Ganondorf's minions and not his magic, as can be observed in-game. (Translation by jacensolo06)
*Like the Triforce, the Master Sword is a signature symbol of , being displayed in title logos starting in A Link to the Past and appearing as Link's main weapon in other games such as the Super Smash Bros. series and .
*A different weapon known as a appears in , released shortly after . While it bears the same name and is a powerful weapon, it has a very different appearance to the weapon from series. It also appears in the Nintendo DS remake, and in , where its appearance is closer to that of the Zelda blade. It also appears in under the ownership of Reinhardt: Thunder's Sword, where it is called "Meisterschwert."
*The Snake Killer from the Japan-exclusive Game Boy title is quite similar to the Master Sword. The Snake Killer was pulled from the ground in an area called the "Ice Cave", and was necessary to defeat the Final Boss, Delarin, who was a snake. An ancient tablet regarding the Snake Killer had this inscribed on it: "When thou seeth thy true friend, the golden sword shalt awaken." When the spring bell had rung, and Richard turned back into a human, the Snake Killer begins to glow, and Prince Sable uses the sword to slay Delarin.
*Despite most games in The Legend of Zelda series heavily suggests the Master Sword to be the ultimate weapon in their storyline, if not the franchise as a whole, and is often required to defeat Ganon due to its Power to Repel Evil, it is not technically such; Gameplay-wise, although indeed powerful in its own right, several other weapons stronger than the sacred sword exist; The Biggoron's Sword, Silver Arrows, and Light Arrows are the most well-known examples in the longtime series to be more powerful than the Master Sword in raw strength. Plus, in and , it can be optionally upgraded to be more potent than it normally is, as seen as the Tempered/Golden Sword. This also applies to its spin-off appearances as well, specifically SoulCalibur II, as in that game, aside from the Biggoron's Sword, the Megaton Hammer, Great Fairy's Sword, and even the Razor Sword surpasses the legendary blade in damage, and the Cane of Byrna can also do so through a Soul Charge. It is likely the Fierce Deity's Sword by Fierce Deity Link in Majora's Mask is stronger than the Master Sword as well.
*At the end of , because of the time travel involved, the Goddess Sword and Master Sword exist simultaneously. The Master Sword is within the Sealed Temple while the Goddess Sword is up in Skyloft. This likely explains its appearance in both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom with the latter being having it as a reward for repairing the Giant Goddess Statue in the Forgotten Temple or as an unlockable after scanning the Skyward Sword Link amiibo.
* and are the only games so far in which the , already seemingly at its full power (as opposed to its powered-down appearances in , , , and ), can be permanently upgraded to deal even more damage.
* In , completing the Realm of Memories unlocks the Master Sword as Link's new sword. However, Link remains divided into four even after obtaining the sword, which implies that this sword is not the same as the true Master Sword, merely an upgrade of the conventional Four Sword, similar to the Oracle games. It is interesting to note that the Four Sword's original form, the Picori Blade, greatly resembled the Master Sword.
* Although most games have the Master Sword simply wound or defeat Ganon or his incarnations such as Demise by a finishing blow followed by being sealed away, three titles so far - , Twilight Princess, and Tears of the Kingdom, are very few exceptions where the Blade of Evil's Bane outright kills the main antagonist similar to how he was slain by the Silver Arrows in The Legend of Zelda and A Link to the Past (although in these cases, he didn't battle Link in his true form, but as merely Ganondorf or the Demon Dragon in Tears of the Kingdom).
* Dark Link in , , , as well as the games appear to be wielding the Master Sword (or its upgrades) himself, though it is likely due to gameplay mechanics.
*In the , it is said that the Master Sword was made by the Sages by instruction of the Gods.
*While the Master Sword is usually used in one hand, it is large enough to be used with two hands, as the weapon is that of a two-handed broadsword.
*In , the gem and round area above the grip of the Master Sword are engraved with boxlike symbols reminiscent of Hylian. In , the symbols were removed from the gem, and the cross guard engravings were replaced with the represented by equivalent characters from the . The exceptions are 'j' and 'v', for which there are no Greek equivalents; other characters are used instead.
*A hidden detail of the Master Sword in Ocarina of Time, while the weapon is on Link's hand, the Sheikah symbol is visible on the bottom of the blade just above its guard.
*Due to the time travel elements in , there are two Master Swords in existence at the same time in Hyrule -- the "original" Master Sword used by the past hero who sealed Calamity Ganon and then used by Link in , and the Revitalized Master Sword possessed by the Light Dragon. Both swords exist simultaneously until the Master Sword is sent back in time at the Temple of Time, at which point only one Master Sword exists in Hyrule.
*Although Ocarina of Time's release predates Skyward Sword by 13 years, the Master Sword glowing before the final blow to defeat Ganon is possibly the spirit of Fi telling Link to finish the Demon King off.
*The Lokomo Sword from and Phantom Sword from both bear a striking resemblance to the Master Sword though their abilities are different. Both swords may have been forged to purposely resemble the Master Sword due to its legendary status acquired during the Hero of Time's usage.
*In , when fusing an object to the Master Sword, it's implied that the Master Sword itself absorbs the strength and ability of the object due to the fact that the blade will return to its normal shape with Zonai text appearing along the blade. 
*The Gilded Sword in Majora's Mask shares a slight resemblance to the Master Sword, due to their similar shape and strength.
*Princess Zelda is the only other character besides Link to be seen holding the Master Sword. She can be seen giving the sacred blade back to Link in after it is knocked out of the young hero's hands by Ganondorf. Similarly, the Himekawa manga adaptation of has Zelda lift and throw the Master Sword to Link during the final battle with Ganon. In , she is seen inserting the Master Sword into its pedestal in the Korok Forest so that it may recover alongside Link for the next century. In , she is seen again holding the sword when it travels back through time, when Zelda talks to Mineru regarding her plan, and also when she swallows her Secret Stone. As the Light Dragon, Zelda wielded, healed, and empowered the Master Sword for thousands of years. King Rauru may have also held the Master Sword after saving Link and replacing his decayed arm. When Link finally awakens, Rauru tells him that his Master Sword is leaning against some rubble. After the sword becomes shattered, he is seen dropping the sword in order to try and catch Zelda but fails. He himself is caught by Rauru's arm but does not have the Master Sword in either hand, meaning Rauru must have also grabbed the sword knowing its importance. 
*According to , both the hilt of the Master Sword and Ocarina of Time were created from Timeshift Stones. This likely explains their time-based abilities and similar color.
*Ghirahim is capable of stealing the Master Sword while revisiting his first and second fights.
==Nomenclature==
==Gallery==
de:Master-Schwert
es:Espada_Maestra
fr:Épée_de_Légende
it:Spada_Suprema
ja:マスターソード
pt-br:Espada Mestra
zh-tw:大師之劍