Template:Featured Template:Spoiler
|
But then, when all hope had died, and the hour of doom seemed at hand... a young boy clothed in green appeared as if from nowhere. Wielding the Blade of Evil's Bane, he sealed the dark one away and gave the land light. | 
|
| — The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker | ||
The Master Sword, hidden in the depths of the Lost Woods of A Link to the Past. This image was recreated in Twilight Princess
The Master Sword (マスターソード, Masutaa Sōdo) (also known as The Blade of Evil's Bane[1][2][3] or as the Sword of Time[4]) is typically the most powerful weapon in a Zelda game for general usage; with the exception of the Biggoron Sword, Gilded Sword, Great Fairy's Sword, and the upgrades in A Link to the Past. The Master Sword will usually have a power level of two or three times that of the starting sword. Zelda states that the sword was created by Ancient Sages[3]. However, how, when, and exactly which sages created it remains unclear.
A Link to the Past
The Master Sword here 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 shall then receive, keeping the knights line true." This sword has the power to emit a beam from its blade to attack enemies from a distance. This happens only when Link's health is completely full. It is the second sword acquired in the game, and the third and fourth swords are more powerful versions of the Master Sword. The Master Sword is also called "the Blade of Evil's Bane" and has the power to repel evil. This was the Master Sword's first appearance in a Zelda game, and has a backstory provided in the manual. Shortly after the creation of the world, the Goddesses instructed the people to forge a sword that would have the power to vanquish anyone who misused the Triforce.[5] The location of the blade was already forgotten by the time of the Imprisoning War, and no hero was found worthy of wielding it.[6]
The legendary blade of Ocarina of Time.
It is said that A Link to the Past is chronologically the last Zelda game in which the Master Sword appears, meaning that no game can be placed after A Link to the Past in a timeline if it bears the Master Sword. This is because of a quote which appears at the end of the game. [7]
Ocarina of Time
This legendary blade resides in the Temple of Time. To gain the Sword, Link must collect the three Spiritual Stones, and play the Song of Time on the Ocarina of Time to open the chamber where it is sealed. The Master Sword is the final key to the sacred realm and the Temple of Light, which houses the Triforce[8]. Only the one worthy of the title of the Hero of Time can draw the Master Sword[9]. In both Ocarina and the Wind Waker, the Master Sword locks away evil from Hyrule. When removed from it's resting place, its prime purpose becomes to help attack and reseal evil, and restore peace to the world. When Link pulls the Master Sword out of it's pedestal, he travels seven years into the future[9]. He can also return to the past by plunging the sword back into the pedestal[10]. In the end of the game, the Master Sword is used by Link to defeat Ganondorf, and seal him into the Evil Realm[4].
Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons
The Master Sword makes a reappearance in the Oracle series, fittingly as the most powerful sword in the game. When combined with the power of the Red Ring, the Master Sword is capable of taking down almost any boss in two to three Spin Attacks. 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.
The Master Sword, also fittingly, is the only sword capable of hurting Ganon without resorting to spin attacks.
The Wind Waker
The Master Sword is predominately referred to as the Blade of Evil's Bane in The Wind Waker's legends and rests in a hidden chamber in Hyrule Castle, deep beneath the waves of the Great Sea. The Master Sword's use as a key to lock evil away is broken when a young Link unknowingly draws the blade under the direction of the King of Red Lions[11]. He unwittingly awakens Ganondorf's army from their ancient slumber. Later, Link learns that due to Ganondorf murdering of the Sages, Fado and Laruto, the Master Sword had lost its power to repel evil and Link must awaken two Sages in order to regain that lost power[12]. Those Sages are apparently there in order to pray for the Master Sword and the Hero who wields it and to keep it glowing with the power to repel evil. The sword has a new design in this game.
Twilight Princess
Master Sword in TP
The Master Sword within Twilight Princess is located deep within the Faron Woods in the Sacred Grove (the ruins of the Temple of Time). The blade is said to have once be held by the Legendary Hero. It is the one relic that allowed Link to break the curse that Zant places on him after the end of Lakebed Temple and return to his human form. Link then draws the blade from its pedestal, and Midna proclaims that the sword chose Link to become its new master.
The Master Sword in this game also allowed Link access to other numerous hidden temples later in the game (such as the Temple of Time). The sword's initial locations marks a link between A Link to the Past and Ocarina of Time, as it resides in the Temple's ruins, a place that is notably similar to the sword's resting place in A Link To The Past.
The sword is (in comparison with the shield and the overall height of Link) considerably bigger than in the other 3D releases. Regardless, the general design is consistent throughout them all.
Light-infused Master Sword
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 Twilight Monsters 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.
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[13].
Some fans believe that during the boss battle against Puppet Zelda, the light infusion of the sword gives it the ability to repel projectile attacks being sent at Link in order to damage the foe. However, there is no evidence to support this as the Master Sword was perfectly able to do this in previous games without the light infusion. In fact, this ability of repelling these evil attacks could be part of the sword's "power to repel evil". The most likely answer is simply because the sword is highly reflective due to the fact the Empty Bottles can be used for the same purpose in a few games of the series.
At the end of the game, Link (before returning to Ordon Village), places the sword back in its pedestal in the Sacred Grove.
Zelda Wii
Link and the mysterious character resembling the Master Sword.
In the concept art of the next Wii Zelda title released during E3 2009, Link is seen lacking any sort of sword. However, he is accompanied by a girl resembling both the Fairy Queen and the Master Sword itself. Speculation has already arisen as to the identity of the girl; comparisons between her and the Master Sword, as well as Link's strange lack of a blade, have led many fans to believe that this new character is, perhaps, the incarnation of the Master Sword. However, nothing has been confirmed yet regarding her identity despite her strong resemblance to the Blade of Evil's Bane.
Cross-references
In popular culture, the Master Sword suggests direct comparisons to the Sword in the Stone, a mythical blade wielded by King Arthur at the begining of his journeys in medieval times. Just as the sword was set in the stone, the Master Sword is a sword in a pedestal. The Master Sword can only be drawn by the one chosen by destiny. However, the similarities end there. Any perceived connection is merely fan speculation.
Theories
Some fans believe that the inscription on the sword's pedestal in A Link to the Past refers to the story of the sword's first master, the Hero of Time (who was the legendary Hero at the time of the Great Cataclysm), that triumphed over many enemies on the very eve of the Great Cataclysm and won the three Spiritual Stones, the necessary keys to open the way to the Master Sword. This would mean that the "three symbols of virtue" were the three Spiritual Stones, giving credence to the possibility that the stones may have been transformed into the Pendants of Virtue at some point following the Imprisoning War and retained their role as necessary keys needed to unlock the Master Sword from its resting place. If the inscription on the Pedestal of Time (the sword's pedestal) is referring to the story of the Hero of Time, this would suggest that the Hero of Time was a descendant of the Knights of Hyrule ("keeping the Knights' line true) and lend credence to the possibility that the Link in A Link to the Past is a descendant of the Hero of Time since it is noted that the Link in A Link to the Past is the last of the Knights' bloodline and that the Hero of Time kept the Knights' line true at the time of the Great Cataclysm (when all the Knights of Hyrule were wiped out).
See also
- Swords of A Link to the Past
- Swords of Ocarina of Time
- Swords of The Wind Waker
- Swords of Twilight Princess
References
- ↑ "Link, I am surprised a young man like you is searching for the sword of evil's bane. Not just anyone can use that weapon." — Sahasrahla (A Link to the Past)
- ↑ "It is none other than the Master Sword... The blade of evil's bane." — King of Red Lions (The Wind Waker)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Our world is one of balance... Just as there is light to drive away darkness, so, too, is there benevolence to banish evil. Head for the sacred grove that lies deep within the lands guarded by the spirit Faron. There you will find the blade of evil's bane that was crafted by the wisdom of the ancient sages...the Master Sword." — Zelda (Twilight Princess)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Link! Finish him off with the sword of time, the Master Sword!" — Zelda (Ocarina of Time)
- ↑ "However, it could not be assumed that only a good person would get their hands on the Triforce.For that reason, the people of Hyrule were told by the gods to make something that would repulse any evil that may kidnap the Triforce: the blade of evil's bane." (The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (JP version) manual, [which page?])
- ↑ "The Sages first had to search for the existence of the Master Sword and a hero to use it." (The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (JP version) manual, [which page?])
- ↑ "AND THE MASTER SWORD SLEEPS AGAIN... FOREVER!" — N/A (A Link to the Past)
- ↑ "The Master Sword—the evil-destroying sword that you pulled out of the Pedestal of Time—was the final key to the Sacred Realm." — Rauru (Ocarina of Time)
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Only one worthy of the title of "Hero of Time" can pull it from the Pedestal of Time.... However, you were too young to be the Hero of Time.... Therefore, your spirit was sealed here for seven years." — Rauru (Ocarina of Time)
- ↑ "If you want to return to your original time, return the Master Sword to the Pedestal of Time. By doing this, you will travel back in time seven years...." — Sheik (Ocarina of Time)
- ↑ "By the way, boy... When you drew that sword of yours out of its pedestal... Did you by chance notice how all the monsters frozen in time down there suddenly began stirring again? Do you understand precisely what that means? ...I highly doubt you do. Foolish child. While that sword is indeed the blade of evil's bane, at the same time, it has long played another role... You see, it is also a sort of key... a most wretched little key that has kept a seal on me and my magic intact! By withdrawing the blade, you have broken that seal..." — Ganondorf (The Wind Waker)
- ↑ "O great hero, chosen by the Master Sword! My name is Laruto. I am a Zora sage. For an age, I offered my prayers here in the Earth Temple, praying that the power to repel evil would ever remain within the Master Sword. And yet... unfortunately, due to Ganondorf's evil designs, the Master Sword you hold has lost this power. After his defeat at the hands of the Hero of Time, Ganondorf was sealed away... but not for all time. He was revived, and he returned to Hyrule in a red wrath. He attacked this temple and stole my soul, knowing that he had to remove the power contained in that enchanted blade. In order to return the power to repel evil to your sword, you must find another to take my stead in this temple and ask the gods for their assistance." — Laruto (The Wind Waker)
- ↑ "Amazing... The power of the Sols has been transferred to your sword... The guardian deities of my world are on our side, too! You really are the chosen one, Link... A true hero! As long as you have that sword, you should be able to repel the shadows Zant has spread!" — Midna (Twilight Princess)
Template:Swords