Master Sword Designs Over The Games

One of the most important items in all of Zelda lore is the Master Sword — a blade that possesses the power to vanquish evil and cast darkness from the land. It's most often used by the hero, Link, to defeat the evil Ganondorf, sealing him away where he can no longer terrorize the respective land of each game.

The Master Sword is typically shown with a blue hilt and silver blade, though its overall design has changed slightly from game to game. It first appeared in A Link to the Past in the Lost Woods, which became the standard for the series.

9 Hyrule Warriors

Link wields a pretty wide variety of items in Hyrule Warriors, and one of them is, of course, the Master Sword. It's combined with the classic Hylian Shield to make a combo weapon that can be unlocked in the Sacred Sword scenario. It functions almost exactly like Link's Hylian Sword weapon, but it's a lot more powerful and can't be collected in multiples.

After completing certain missions, Link can also fire the classic sword beams from it. This appearance is great, but it doesn't really expand on the Master Sword's established role or design from previous games.

8 A Link Between Worlds

Much of A Link Between Worlds models A Link to the Past, as a direct sequel game that takes place in the same version of Hyrule. Here, the Master Sword is found in the Lost Woods after the player collects the three Pendants of Virtue.

It's first used to break the seal that protects Hyrule Castle so Link can confront Yuga, then access Lorule for the first time. Similar to its original appearance, the Master Sword can actually be upgraded, this time with the use of Master Ore.

7 Twilight Princess

Lost deep inside the Faron Woods is the Master Sword in Twilight Princess. Link first seeks out the legendary blade at the behest of Princess Zelda, who informs him it's the only way to break the curse that has turned him into a wolf. This version of the Master Sword can be used to access certain key areas, like the Temple of Time.

Interestingly, due to the mirrored gameplay of Twilight Princess on the Wii, Link wields the Master Sword in his right hand for the first time. It can be infused with the light of the Sols to upgrade it, allowing Link to clear away Dark Fog and defeat enemies very easily. At the end of the game, the Master Sword is thrust into Ganondorf's chest to kill him.

6 Oracle Of Ages & Seasons

It's unclear if the Master Sword present in the Oracle games is the real Master Sword, and some debate exists among fans. Due to these games' entry into the series being very early on, it's unclear if this Master Sword is in any way connected to the one in Hyrule. It's not in the right location given the series' established timeline, and it is breakable when the Master Sword typically isn't.

There are a few ways to get your hands on the "Master Sword," depending on which of these two games you're playing first. But, whether it's real or not, it's a nice little touch to be able to wield this legendary blade in a far-off foreign land. It must give Link a bit of homesickness.

5 Wind Waker

In the sea-faring Wind Waker, the Master Sword took on a fairly-different look than it had in the past. In this version, its hilt is a pretty different shape and it's considerably shorter, most likely to match tiny Toon Link's small stature. The saga of the Master Sword in this game is interesting — the blade's power has faded and Link has to seek out two new sages to replace Laruto and Fado to replenish its power.

After this, the blade's former shape reappears, implying that it has been restored to its former glory. The scene at the end of the game with Link jumping up and plunging the Master Sword straight into Ganondorf's face is an iconic scene from the series, too.

4 Ocarina Of Time

This is probably the Master Sword appearance that most people remember. As always, the Master Sword can be found after the end of the game's first arc — here being when Link collects the three Spiritual Stones. Unlike other iterations, though, the Master Sword is not found in the forest, but rather in the Temple of Time.

Since he was too young to wield the legendary sword, the Master Sword seals Link in the Temple for seven years. Throughout the game, Link can insert and remove the sword to go backward and forward in time, respectively. The Master Sword is great in this appearance, but the fact that it is weaker than another available sword is concerning. However, time-traveling is fantastic and outweighs the weaker stature of this sword.

3 Breath Of The Wild

One of the best appearances of the Master Sword is also one where it's not even necessary to complete the game. In Breath of the Wild, the Master Sword is entirely optional, and Link can defeat Calamity Ganon using other weapons entirely.

In this iteration of Hyrule, the Master Sword is once again found in the depths of the Lost Woods, hidden in the Korok Forest. Something done right in this game is putting Link to an actual test to wield the sword, requiring him to have a certain number of hearts to pull it from the pedestal. This Master Sword is also more of a blessing than it has been in other games, as its the only weapon in BOTW that won't break.

2 A Link To The Past

The original appearance of the Master Sword is arguably one of the best. Hidden deep within the Lost Woods, as is typical, is the legendary blade which can only be accessed by Link once he obtains the three Pendants of Virtue. The grove in which it's found is beautiful, and the sword itself plays an important role throughout the game.

Link can use the Master Sword to access new items, break seals, and vanquish Ganon. It can be upgraded a couple of times, ending in an extremely strong forged sword that can kill most enemies in a single hit. This appearance set the standard for all future appearances, from its location in the forest to its ability to destroy evil.

1 Skyward Sword

While A Link to the Past was the first appearance of the Master Sword in real life, the first time it appeared in the in-game lore was in Skyward Sword. The Master Sword was originally called the Goddess Sword and used to defeat Demise. From there, the Goddess Hylia created Fi to inhabit the sword as a spirit and help any hero who was able to wield it.

Link spends the events of the game imbuing the sword with the power of the Sacred Flames before it's blessed by Zelda and becomes the true Master Sword. Being able to live through the forging of this original sword and knowing that it has a spirit residing within it to help the legendary hero makes this easily the best iteration of the Master Sword.

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