- "IT'S DANGEROUS TO GO ALONE! TAKE THIS."
- — Old Man
Swords are recurring weapons in the Legend of Zelda series. They are long, sharp blades that are mounted to handles and often given hand guards as well. A sword serves as Link's primary weapon in all Zelda titles. Most swords can be carried in one hand, along with a shield in the other. Some swords, however, require both hands to be used. In virtually every game in the series, Link holds a sword in his left hand; the only exceptions are the Wii version of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, as these games utilize motion control and therefore must accommodate for the fact that most people are right-handed. Additionally, Link appears right-handed in the Master Quest mode of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, as left and right are inverted in this mode.
The most famous blade in the series is the legendary Master Sword. Most of the time, Link starts out with a relatively weak sword such as the Wooden Sword or the Kokiri Sword, and acquires a more powerful one such as the Magical Sword or the Master Sword as the game progresses. Many Zelda games contain three or more different swords, some of which are not required to complete the game, but can be obtained by completing various side quests — for example, the Gilded Sword and the Biggoron's Sword. In other instances, specific swords, often the Master Sword, are needed to overcome certain obstacles, and to complete the game. Some swords can be upgraded as Link progresses through the story, reforged by talented blacksmiths, or by powerful entities such as Great Fairies.
Some swords are unobtainable such as Zelda's Sword or are enemy weapons such as the Sword of the Six Sages and Scimitar of Twilight in Twilight Princess or Demise's Sword in Skyward Sword. However some games allow Link to utilize the swords of fallen enemies such as the Darknut Sword and Phantom Ganon's Sword in The Wind Waker or the Massive Swords in Skyward Sword. Breath of the Wild is the first game where Link can keep and equip swords obtained from enemies instead of wielding them temporarily and where enemies can utilize any swords discarded or dropped by Link if unarmed. However only incarnations of the chosen hero can apparently wield the Master Sword to combat evil as no incarnation of Zelda has shown the ability to do so despite being capable of holding it as several incarnations have demonstrated.
Hylians, Humans, Sheikah, Gerudo, Kokiri, Rito, Zora, Deities, and Demons have all have a history of utilizing swords as weapons as have numerous species of monsters and even autonomous machines such as Guardian Scouts and Ancient Robots. Gorons have a long history of crafting swords and in Breath of the Wild wield large blunt swords that function as a Hammer-Sword hybrid weapon. Koroks can craft high quality wooden Forest Dweller's Swords for Hylians. In addition to the Master Sword, various other holy swords exist such as the Fierce Deity Sword, Four Sword, Phantom Sword, Lokomo Sword, and Sword of the Six Sages though their power varies depending upon the sword. Demise's Sword, Death Sword, and the non-canon Soul Edge are examples of evil or demonic swords. Some enchanted swords may even possess sentient spirits such as Fi or the demonic Ghirahim that faithfully serve the wielder of the sword they inhabit. Breath of the Wild introduces magical elemental swords and greatswords empowered with fire, ice, or electricity.
Most swords Link wields are one-handed weapons allowing Link to equip a shield for defense. However some games feature heavy swords or greatswords that require two hands to wield properly. Two-Handed Swords generally have greater attack power and range though are generally slower and prevent Link from wielding them in conjunction with a shield thus reduce Link's defense. Link is often depicted as a prodigal swordsman whom often masters swordsmanship very early in life with the Link from Breath of the Wild being the youngest known Link to wield a sword as he was already a talented swordsman by the age of four capable of besting more experienced adult knights. Additionally some games provide various sword techniques Link can learn such as the Spin Attack, Sword Beam, Skyward Strike, Downthrust, Dash Attack, Roll Attack, Parry, and Flurry Rush.
One-handed swords
- Ancient Short Sword
- Eightfold Blade
- Feathered Edge
- Fighter's Sword
- Flameblade
- Forest Dweller's Sword
- Forgotten Sword
- Four Sword
- Frostblade
- Gerudo Scimitar
- Gilded Sword
- Goddess Sword
- Golden Sword
- Guardian Sword
- Hero's Sword
- Knight's Broadsword
- Koholint Sword
- Kokiri Sword
- Lokomo Sword
- Lynel Sword
- Magical Sword
- Master Sword
- Mighty Lynel Sword
- Moonlight Scimitar
- Noble Sword
- Ordon Sword
- Oshus's Sword
- Phantom Sword
- Practice Sword
- Razor Sword
- Recruit's Sword
- Royal Broadsword
- Royal Guard's Sword
- Rusty Broadsword
- Savage Lynel Sword
- Scimitar of the Seven
- Smith's Sword
- Soldier's Broadsword
- Sword (Link's Awakening)
- Sword (Breath of the Wild)
- Tempered Sword
- Thunderblade
- Traveler's Sword
- White Sword
- Wooden Sword
- Zora Sword
Two-handed swords
- Ancient Bladesaw
- Biggoron's Sword
- Boulder Breaker
- Cobble Crusher
- Edge of Duality
- Eightfold Longblade
- Fierce Deity Sword
- Giant's Knife
- Golden Claymore
- Great Fairy's Sword
- Great Flameblade
- Great Frostblade
- Great Thunderblade
- Knight's Claymore
- Royal Claymore
- Royal Guard's Claymore
- Rusty Claymore
- Silver Longsword
- Soldier's Claymore
- Stone Smasher
- Sword of the Six Sages
- Traveler's Claymore
- Windcleaver
Non-obtainable/temporary swords
- Broken Goron's Sword
- Broken Sword
- Darknut Sword
- Death Sword
- Demise's Sword
- Demon Tribe Sword
- Fake Sword
- Heavy Gibdo Sword
- Massive Sword
- Phantom Ganon's Sword
- Picori Blade
- Scimitar of Twilight
- Sharp Machete
- Sword of the Six Sages
- Zelda's Sword
Other swords
- Armos Sword
- Cutlass
- Demon Blade
- Giant Blade
- Goddess Blade
- Great Swords
- Hylian Sword
- Light Sword
- Lyphos Sword
- Rapier
- Scimitars
- Soul Edge
| Characters |
| Ganon · Link · Old Man · Princess Zelda —Full list of characters |
| Bosses |
| Aquamentus · Dodongo · Manhandla · Gleeok · Digdogger · Gohma · Gannon |
| Locations |
| Lake Hylia · Lost Hills · Lost Woods · Death Mountain · Graveyard · Spectacle Rock —Full list of locations |
| Dungeons |
| First Quest |
| Level 1 · Level 2 · Level 3 · Level 4 · Level 5 · Level 6 · Level 7 · Level 8 · Level 9 |
| Second Quest |
| Level 1 · Level 2 · Level 3 · Level 4 · Level 5 · Level 6 · Level 7 · Level 8 · Level 9 |
| Equipment |
| 2nd Potion · Arrow · Blue Candle · Blue Ring · Bomb · Book of Magic · Boomerang · Bow · Food · Letter · Life Potion · Magical Boomerang · Magical Key · Magical Rod · Power Bracelet · Raft · Recorder · Red Candle · Red Ring · Silver Arrow · Stepladder |
| Items |
| Wooden Sword · White Sword · Magical Sword · Small Shield · Magical Shield |
| Quest Items |
| Triforce of Wisdom |
| Races |
| Fairy · Gerudo · Hylian |
| Characters |
| Dark Link · Ganon · Link · Princess Zelda —Full list of characters |
| Bosses |
| Horsehead · Helmethead · Rebonack · Carock · Gooma · Barba · Thunderbird · Dark Link |
| Hyrule |
| Western Hyrule · Eastern Hyrule · Lesser Hyrule · Maze Island —Full list of locations |
| Dungeons |
| Parapa Palace · Midoro Palace · Island Palace · Maze Island Palace · Ocean Palace · Hidden Palace · Great Palace |
| Equipment |
| Items |
| P Bag · 1-up Doll · Magical Sword · Magical Shield · Candle · Flute · Handy Glove · Hammer · Raft · Boots · Magical Key · Cross |
| Spells |
| Fairy Spell · Fire Spell · Jump Spell · Life Spell · Reflect Spell · Shield Spell · Spell Spell · Thunder Spell |
| Quest Items |
| Trophy · Water of Life · Kidnapped Child · Six Crystals · Triforce of Courage |
| Races |
| Fairy · Hylian |
| Characters |
| Link (x4) · Princess Zelda · Vaati —Full list of characters |
| Bosses |
| Deguchitato · Derazoru · Gouen · Vaati |
| Stages |
| Chambers of Insight · Sea of Trees · Talus Cave · Death Mountain · Vaati's Palace · Hero's Trial · Realm of Memories —Full list of locations |
| Equipment |
| Weapons |
| Bomb · Boomerang · Bow · Bow-Wow · Four Sword · Shield |
| Items |
| Armor Seed · Fairy · Gnat Hat · Heart · Heart Container · Magnetic Glove · Pegasus Boots · Razor Seed · Roc's Cape · Rupee · Pegasus Seed · Small Key |
| Quest Items |
| Golden Key · Hero's Key · Medal of Courage · Silver Key |
| Characters |
| Main Characters |
| Link (x4) · Princess Zelda · Six Maidens · Vaati —Full list of characters |
| Bosses |
| Phantom Ganon · Helmaroc King · Stone Arrghus · Jalhalla · Dagtail · Frostare · Big Dodongo · Vaati · Ganon |
| Levels |
| Whereabouts of the Wind · Eastern Hyrule · Death Mountain · Near the Fields · The Dark World · The Desert of Doubt · Frozen Hyrule · Realm of the Heavens —Full list of locations |
| Equipment |
| Weapons |
| Bomb · Bombos Medallion · Boomerang · Bow · Fire Rod · Four Sword · Lantern · Magic Hammer · Quake Medallion · Shield · Slingshot |
| Items |
| Blue Bracelet · Carrot · Force Gem · Force Fairy · Heart · Heart Container · Moon Pearl · Pegasus Boots · Power Bracelet · Roc's Feather · Shovel · Small Key |
| Quest Items |
| Knight Mark · Letter · Magic Book · Royal Jewels · Vaati Barrier |
| Races |
| Gerudo · Goron · Hylian · Zuna |
| Characters | ||
| Ezlo · King Daltus · Link · Princess Zelda · Smith · Vaati —Full list of characters | ||
| Bosses | ||
| Big Green ChuChu · Gleerok · Mazaal · Big Octorok · Gyorg Pair · Vaati Reborn · Vaati Transfigured · Vaati's Wrath | ||
| Locations | ||
| Castor Wilds · Cloud Tops · Eastern Hills · Hyrule Town · Lake Hylia · Lon Lon Ranch · Minish Woods · Mount Crenel · Mt. Crenel's Base · North Hyrule Field · Royal Valley · South Hyrule Field · Trilby Highlands · Veil Falls · Western Wood · Wind Ruins | ||
| Dungeons | ||
| Deepwood Shrine · Cave of Flames · Fortress of Winds · Temple of Droplets · Royal Crypt · Palace of Winds · Dark Hyrule Castle | ||
| Equipment | ||
| Weapons | ||
| Smith's Sword · White Sword · Four Sword · Small Shield · Mirror Shield · Bombs · Boomerang · Bow · Cane of Pacci · Gust Jar | ||
| Items | ||
| Bottle · Flame Lantern · Flippers · Grip Ring · Mole Mitts · Ocarina of Wind · Power Bracelets · Roc's Cape | ||
| Quest Items | ||
| Elements · Kinstones · Tiger Scrolls | ||
| Races | ||
| Deku · Fairy · Goron · Human · Hylian · Minish · Wind Tribe | ||
| Characters | ||
| Bellum · Ciela · Linebeck · Link · Ocean King · Oshus · Tetra —Full list of characters | ||
| Bosses | ||
| Blaaz · Cyclok · Crayk · Diabolical Cubus Sisters · Dongorongo · Gleeok · Eox · Bellum · Ghost Ship · Bellumbeck | ||
| Locations | ||
| Bannan Island · Cannon Island · Goron Island · Harrow Island · Isle of Ember · Isle of Frost · Isle of Gust · Isle of Ruins · Isle of the Dead · Mercay Island · Molida Island · Zauz's Island —Full list of locations | ||
| Dungeons | ||
| Temple of Fire · Temple of Wind · Temple of Courage · Ghost Ship · Goron Temple · Temple of Ice · Mutoh's Temple · Temple of the Ocean King | ||
| Equipment | ||
| Weapons | ||
| Oshus's Sword · Wooden Shield · Boomerang · Bombs · Bow · Bombchus · Grappling Hook · Hammer · Phantom Sword · Shovel · Fishing Rod | ||
| Quest Items | ||
| Leaf · Neri · Ciela · Pure Metals · Phantom Hourglass · Spirit Gem | ||
| Races | ||
| Anouki · Deity · Fairy · Gerudo · Goron · Human · Hylian · Yook | ||
| Characters |
| Anjean · Byrne · Chancellor Cole · Link · Malladus · Princess Zelda —Full list of characters |
| Bosses |
| Stagnox · Fraaz · Phytops · Cragma · Byrne · Skeldritch · Demon Train · Chancellor Cole · Malladus |
| New Hyrule |
| Locations |
| Fire Realm · Forest Realm · Ocean Realm · Sand Realm · Snow Realm —Full list of locations |
| Dungeons |
| Forest Temple · Snow Temple · Ocean Temple · Fire Temple · Sand Temple · Tower of Spirits |
| Equipment |
| Lokomo Sword · Rail Map · Recruit's Sword · Recruit Uniform · Spirit Flute · Spirit Tracks · Spirit Train · Stamp Book · Tears of Light |
| Weapons |
| Boomerang · Whip · Whirlwind · Bow · Sand Wand · Bow of Light |
| Races |
| Anouki · Demon · Goron · Hylian · Lokomo |
| Characters | ||
| Link · Princess Styla · King Tuft · Madam Couture —Full list of characters | ||
| Bosses | ||
| Arrghus · Blizzagia · Margoma · Moldorm | ||
| Locations | ||
| Hytopia · Woodlands · Riverside · Volcano · Ice Cavern · Fortress —Full list of locations | ||
| Items | ||
| Gripshot · Bomb · Boomerang · Bow · Fire Glove · Gust Jar · Hammer · Water Rod | ||
| Races | ||
| Hylian | ||