6 Facts About the Master Sword and Replicas

Video game swords are easily up there with guns as the most popular weapons in gaming, but when it comes to the swords themselves, few have swords as famous as the Master Sword from the Legend of Zelda, a fantasy RPG game franchise owned and published by Nintendo.

Unlike many video game swords, the Legend of Zelda’s Master Sword keeps a similar form throughout the games, making it a staple in the gaming culture zeitgeist that has managed to stay recognizable no matter what version of the game you play. 

1. The Master Sword Has Been Around Since the First Zelda Game  

Depending on what interpretation you want to make, the Master Sword has been part of the Zelda franchise since the very first game, the 1986 Legend of Zelda. However, the sword didn’t have its name at the time and was referred to as the “Magical Sword”. 

That said, the Magical Sword already looked like the Master Sword, sharing its purple-blue hilt and chunky, angular pommel.

2. Link’s Master Sword Was Made by Hylia 

The Master Sword has already been in use in the Legend of Zelda games for decades before Nintendo clarified its origins in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword where we learn that it was created by Hylia as the “Goddess Sword”.

This Goddess Sword was meant to be the weapon of a Chosen Hero who was selected to protect the Kingdom of Hyrule. The sword is also a symbol of how tightly bound Princess Zelda and Link’s fates are since we also learn later that Hylia was the ancestor of Zelda and was reborn as her.

3. The Master Sword Has the Triforce Engraved On It

There’s a lot of non-realistic design elements that set the Zelda Master Sword apart from real swords. Aside from its chunky design and colorful hilt, you’ll notice that at the top half of the blade length is an engraved Triforce symbol.

In the lore of the Legend of Zelda, the Triforce is symbolic of Ultimate Power and the Power of the Chosen One. Its three part form is due to the fact that it was once owned by Nayru, Din, and Farore, the Three Golden Goddesses who created the Kingdom of Hyrule.

Its connotations, divine origin, and design are reminiscent of the Lord of the Rings swords as well as the lore around many legendary Japanese katanas that were supposedly used by gods. Because Link is the Chosen Hero in question, it’s only natural that his sword has the kingdom’s symbol of power and protection from the goddesses.

4. The Sword Has A Spirit Within It

If the sword wanted to, it could choose to be only used for self defense because the Master Sword isn’t just a divine sword but a sentient one. In it lies the spirit of Fi, a being created by Hylia to exist alongside the sword in order to help guide the Chosen Hero in his quest to save Hyrule. 

5. The Master Sword Gained A Visual Identity In Ocarina of Time

The Master Sword goes through a number of minor changes before the release of Ocarina of Time, the most famous of the Legend of Zelda games. Originally developed for the N64, Ocarina of Time and its now dated graphics were the first to solidify the Master Sword’s visual identity as a medieval inspired longsword with a winged crossguard and the Triforce symbol.

Since then, recent iterations of the game have followed this pattern and most cosplays make use of the Ocarina of Time design for the Master Sword.

6. Breath of the Wild Established That the Sword Will Always Be Link’s

Breath of the Wild (BOTW) is the most recent Legend of Zelda game to bring back the Master Sword, but it did so with an additional lore tidbit using the game’s Recovered Memory system. 

The first memory that Link gains, Subdued Ceremony, opens with Princess Zelda reciting a speech about how the Master Sword is tied to the Hero of Hyrule regardless of where and when he is in the universe. Since Link is the Hero of Hyrule, this indicates that not only will he always be the Chosen Hero, but that the Master Sword will always be his in every lifetime.

7. Link Fights Dark Link With the Master Sword In Hyrule Warriors

As a champion of the light, Link is often fighting against monsters and dark forces, but sometimes that means fighting his dark side in the form of Dark Link. In Hyrule Warriors, Link is punished for his arrogant behavior at the Temple of Souls where Cia, a sorceress plotting to conquer Hyrule, uses the darkness in his heart, his arrogance, to create Dark Links that then besiege him.

Link is forced to literally fight his inner demons and after succeeding, and hopefully, learning his lesson, he gains access to the true power of the Master Sword. Gameplay wise, this just means that he gets to do combos with Sword Beams now. 

You Can Get A Master Sword Replica for Your Link Cosplay 

Video game replica swords are a favorite among gamers decorating their game room and Live Action Role Playing (LARP) enthusiasts trying to cosplay as their favorite character. This makes it no surprise that, like many popular anime, Link’s Master Sword has a high quality replica.

This replica of the Master Sword may look like it has a stainless steel blade, but it’s actually just injection molded plastic. The details and paint job are so meticulously done that it looks like real metal, especially in the lighting often seen in game and anime conventions.

The sword is an officially licensed Nintendo product so you can count on getting the most out of your money.

• Material: Injection molded plastic
• Length: 66 cm

Conclusion

The Legend of Zelda is one of the biggest titles in gaming, making the Master Sword the Excalibur of gamer culture. This iconic sword wielded by Link has a history stretching back to the first days of the franchise and is fortunately available as official merchandise from Nintendo themselves.