Recurring weapons and items from The Legend of Zelda series

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In The Legend of Zelda series of video games, the protagonist Link uses a variety of weapons and items during his quests. These often recur between games, though some are exclusive to a small number of games in the series. Objects may have different appearances across games, but usually have the same purpose in the gameplay. Items and weapons found in a dungeon are typically essential to clearing that dungeon and defeating that dungeon's boss. There are also some items Link never gets (but play an important role in the game) or doesn't get until the end sequence.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Contents

[edit] Swords

Link's most common weapon is a Sword. Games usually begin with Link possessing or acquiring a weak sword such as the Wooden Sword, but more powerful swords may be obtained as the game progresses, the final and most powerful usually being the Master Sword.

[edit] Biggoron's Sword/Great Fairy's Sword

Biggoron's Sword is received from the immense Goron smith Biggoron in The Ocarina of Time after the completion of a long and complicated trading sequence. This trading sequence is thought to be Adult Link's version of the Happy Mask Trading Sequence, a trading sequence centered on masks, performed by Young Link seven years earlier. The sword resembles a German Zweihander. It is identical to the Giant's Knife, except it is unbreakable. In Ocarina of Time where Biggoron was first introduced, the sword is Link's reward for helping Biggoron. It is the repaired version of the Broken Goron's Sword. This powerful blade is twice as strong as the Master Sword but it is not magical and cannot be paired with a second item. The Biggoron's Sword in the 2-D game allows the longest reach of any melee weapon.

Great Fairy's Sword, found in Majora's Mask, is essentially the same weapon as the Biggoron's sword, in that its much more powerful than even the Gilded Sword and cannot be used with a shield. The main difference is the more elaborate design and that it's now a C-button item. Link receives this upon finding all fifteen scattered fairies and returning them to the Great Fairy Fountain in the fourth dungeon.

In Soul Calibur II, the Biggoron's Sword is used as a very long one-handed sword that Link partners with the usual Hylian Shield. Because it is the same sword that required two hands in Ocarina of Time, Link is penalized for the greater power of the sword by losing a small sliver off his health meter every time he swings the sword. The Great Fairy's Sword also makes an appearance in Soul Calibur, although in this game it is small enough for Link to use with a shield.

[edit] Four Sword

Four Sword
Four Sword

The Four Sword is a weapon with the same function as (and judging by the legend might be a better version of) the Master Sword: to banish evil. It has the ability to split its wielder into up to four clones, each representing an element and each with their own Four Sword. It is unknown whether the power of the sword is divided amongst its copies or if every copy is as strong as the original sword. It was created by the Minish (but called the Picori by the rest of Hyrule). When not empowered with the four magical elements of wind, water, earth, and fire, it is reduced to the less powerful Picori Blade or White Sword. In the series, it also serves as a prison for the villain Vaati and later, Ganon.

In The Minish Cap, there is a large fair and swordfighting contest annually in Hyrule to honor the Minish. The winner of the contest gets to touch the Picori Sword, which was given long ago as a gift to the Hylians by the Minish and kept by the Hylian Royal Family . When Vaati won, he was allowed to touch the Picori Blade and unexpectedly broke it at the hilt, reducing it to the Broken Picori Blade. Link is able to have the Picori Sword fixed. The new blade is called the White Sword, which is later imbued with the powers of the four elements and becomes the Four Sword. Vaati is defeated by Link and sealed into the Four Sword after which it was sealed in an altar.

In Four Swords, Link is tricked into pulling the Four Sword from the pedestal allowing Vaati to escape. Again, the four Links are able to overcome Vaati.

In Four Swords Adventures, Link must again wield the Four Sword to save Hyrule from Vaati. The four Links must also face Ganon this time. This time around, it's Ganon who gets locked in the Four Sword.

The Four Swords' version of the sword had a Vaati's eye symbol in place of the original jewel on the hilt, which may have something to do with Vaati being sealed in the blade at the beginning of both stories. Vaati's influence also causes the doppelganger ability to be a curse instead of a power, by forcing the wielder to be split into four instead of letting the wielder control the power.

[edit] Magical Sword

The Magical Sword
The Magical Sword

The Magical Sword is the most powerful sword Link receives in the original Legend of Zelda. In the game, the Magical Sword is twice as strong as the White Sword and four times stronger than the regular Sword. According to the instruction manual to The Adventure of Link, Link carries an otherwise unnamed "magical sword" in the sequel, which may be this sword. The official English Zelda website claims that the Magical Sword is the Master Sword.

The Magical Sword also makes an appearance as a weapon for Link in Soul Calibur II (with a matching Magical Shield), but with a different design. In this game, it is a separate weapon from the Master Sword and deals damage even if the target is guarding or blocking.

[edit] Master Sword

Main article: Master Sword

Also known as "The Blade of Evil's Bane", the Master Sword is one of the most powerful swords in the Zelda series, and is often required to defeat Ganon. The sword also doubles as a key to the Sacred Realm. Combined with the power of the Temple of Time, it was the final lock holding Ganondorf from the Triforce. When Link pulled the sword out of its pedestal, he was too young to hold the title of Hero of Time. Because of this, his spirit was frozen in time for seven years, until he was worthy of that title. Later on, Sheik tells Link that by reinserting the Master Sword into its pedestal, he may return to the time he left, which is necessary for several dungeons, such as the Spirit Temple. It can be upgraded, such as in A Link to the Past where it first became the Tempered Sword (sometimes called the "Bronze Sword" due to its appearance) and was later upgraded to the Golden Sword. In Twilight Princess, it is infused with the light power of the Sols to create the Light Sword. It then has the ability to cut through the Twilight fog created by Zant, and most enemies of the Twilight realm can be defeated with one hit - Twilight Messengers, Ravens, and Zant masks. The Light Sword exists and can be used only within the Palace of Twilight.

The Master Sword does not allow just anyone to hold it, as it can repel evil. Only those pure of heart can use the Sword.

In the Wind Waker, the powers of the Master Sword needed to be awakened by the Sages of the Master Sword after it was placed in a pedestal in the basement of the Hyrule of Old, underneath the Great Sea, for hundreds of years. Medli and Makar, the descendants of the ancient Sages, Laruto and Fado, were instrumental in the reawakening.

[edit] Wooden Sword

The Wooden Sword is Link's trademark starting weapon in many The Legend of Zelda titles, particularly the 2-D iterations. It is composed of wood, and usually the weakest melee weapon the player can attain. The wooden sword often allows Link to perform a trademark Spin Attack, but in some incarnations it cannot fire magical beams or smash pots. A sword with a brown blade is also the initial weapon in the original Legend of Zelda. It is identified as a normal "Sword", but is recognized as being made of wood. Link acquires a wooden sword very early on in Twilight Princess, but lends it to Talo shortly before Talo and the other children are kidnapped. In Twilight Princess, the wooden sword's appearance closely resembles a bokken, strengthening the implication that it was originally intended as a practice sword.

[edit] Ranged Weaponry

[edit] Boomerang

The Boomerang (ブーメラン Būmeran?) is a common weapon in the Zelda series. It is usually regarded as a weaker ranged weapon than the Bow and Arrows although it is infinitely reusable, can retrieve certain distant items, and often can immobilize larger enemies in their tracks. In The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess, the Boomerang can target and strike multiple enemies with each throw. Because the Boomerang can be locked on to multiple targets before being thrown, Link has a degree of control over its flight path. In some games an upgrade called the Magical Boomerang is available, which allows for a longer throwing distance and/or the ability to control the boomerang's flightpath after being thrown.

[edit] Bow and Arrows

The Bow and Arrows is a staple weapon of the Zelda series that Link uses to fight enemies or trigger switches from a distance. It is similar in nature to the Slingshot, although usually more powerful. The Bow and Arrows uses a depletable source of ammunition, though the ability to upgrade the carrying capacity of Link's quiver has been introduced in the later games.

Two-dimensional Zelda games usually feature standard, nameless bows which only shoot in the four cardinal directions on the screen. In these games there are usually upgrades to the standard arrow, such as the Silver Arrows. In Four Swords Adventures, the bow could be upgraded. This level 2 version allowed for quicker charging and shooting.

Bows and Arrows in the three-dimensional Zelda games are more interactive tools than their 2-D counterparts. When manually aiming a shot, the player's perspective is taken to Link's point of view, and can be fired in almost any direction within the three dimensions. In Ocarina of Time, the bow was named the Fairy Bow and gained by Link as an adult in lieu of his childhood projectile weapon: the Fairy Slingshot. A bow known as the Hero's Bow has appeared in Majora's Mask, The Wind Waker, and Twilight Princess. In Majora's Mask, the bow is small enough that it can be used by a child while still being a powerful weapon, and it is hinted that the Hero's Bow of Twilight Princess is the same bow used by the Hero in a prior Zelda game.

The Bow and Arrows from most 3-D Zelda games can use special elemental arrows along with the standard arrow for more powerful attacks and for puzzle-solving. Firing these types of elemental arrows expends an amount of "magic power", or magic points, and there usually is a delay between consecutive shots.

In some Zelda titles, bombs can be combined with arrows to make Bomb Arrows, which are used to blow up distant targets. It should be noted that this feature was an easter egg in Link's Awakening and as such was not needed to complete the game. In Twilight Princess, Link can combine his arrows with any type of Bomb. Unlike the Link's Awakening variation, if held for too long, the Bomb Arrows can detonate, damaging Link.

Fire Arrows

The heads of the Fire Arrows are set aflame, allowing them to burn their targets upon contact. They are very effective against undead enemies, and are often needed in order to melt ice that blocks Link's path. It is often possible to shoot a makeshift fire arrow without using magic power by shooting a normal arrow through an existing flame. In Super Smash Bros. Melee, Young Link uses Fire Arrows as his B-Button attack.

Ice Arrows

Ice Arrows can render their target temporarily frozen and, in Majora's Mask, create ice platforms in water or encase enemies in blocks of ice on which Link can stand. They are sometimes necessary to extinguish flames or freeze water streams in puzzles throughout the games. However, in Ocarina of Time, the Ice Arrows have little practical use besides attacking enemies, although they can be effective against the Shadow Temple boss Bongo Bongo - they can freeze his hands and buy Link more time to attack. In The Wind Waker, one can freeze the enemy and then break them with the Skull Hammer or with a Fire Arrow.

Light Arrows

The Light Arrows of legend can pierce pure evil and are possessed by few. They are useful or required to defeat Ganondorf on several occasions. The Light Arrows are similar in this respect to the Silver Arrows from previous Zelda games, but unlike the Silver Arrows, the Light Arrows are used to penetrate Ganon's defenses, rather than to strike the killing blow. Because of the power and importance of these arrows, Link must expend more magic than when firing other types of magic arrows. The Light Arrows are typically the most damaging projectile weapon in any Zelda title in which they appear, specially in The Wind Waker, where they can kill any enemy, no matter how strong they are or which part of their body is hit. In Majora's Mask, they can also be used to affect light-sensitive objects. In The Wind Waker, Link gives the Light Arrows to Princess Zelda in the final fight against Ganon, so that she can bounce them off of Link's Mirror Shield to stun him, allowing Link to attack. Light Arrows are only used once in Twilight Princess, in the final battle, once again wielded by Princess Zelda. They are created by the Light Spirits.

Light Arrows are also featured in The Minish Cap as an optional arrow upgrade, though they serve a somewhat different function.

Silver Arrows

The Silver Arrows are the only available means to defeat Ganon (as their magic is said to be able to destroy pure evil not just stun it as we see with the Light Arrows) in the two Zelda titles in which they appear. Unlike other special arrows in the Legend of Zelda series, the Silver Arrows are not a combination of regular arrows with either magic or bombs, but an item on their own. In The Legend of Zelda, they were one of the two special items found in the final labyrinth. In A Link To The Past, they were a gift from a Great Fairy.

[edit] Slingshot

Fairy Slingshot
Fairy Slingshot

The Slingshot is Link's alternative weapon to the Bow and Arrows in many games. Usually, he gets the Slingshot first and later gets the more powerful Bow and Arrows. It uses rocks and seeds as ammunition and stores them similar to arrows in the inventory. In Ocarina of Time it was known as the Fairy Slingshot and served as Young Link's ranged weapon (Adult Link would use the Fairy Bow). In Oracle of Seasons, it fires various Magical Seeds whose effects range from igniting enemies to creating whirlwinds; in Oracle of Ages it was replaced with the "Seed Shooter", a gun-like weapon which fired the aforementioned magical seeds with the added effect that the seeds could rebound if shot against walls. In Four Swords Adventures (and also in Oracle of Seasons) it could be leveled up. The level 2 version ("Hyper Slingshot" in Seasons) was capable of charging up and releasing three rocks at the same time in three different directions. In Twilight Princess, Link must acquire a slingshot in order to proceed early in the game, but it has very slight offensive capability, a shorter range than is found in previous games, and is rendered virtually useless after he receives the Hero's Bow.

[edit] Hook Devices

The Hook Devices are great tools and weapons. They attach either to an object (in which case they help Link change his location) or an enemy (in which case they either harm it, stun it or pull it towards Link so he can finish them in melee combat).

Hookshot

The Hookshot is a spring-loaded, trigger-pulled grappling hook attached to a lengthy chain. Since its first appearance in A Link to the Past, the Hookshot's main purpose has been to pull Link across large distances by hooking onto certain surfaces (like wood), but it also can be used as an offensive weapon similar in effect to the Boomerang. It can even pick up items from a distance. In certain situations (such as when wearing the Iron Boots) Link can use it to pull a target towards him instead. In Ocarina of Time the Hookshot can be upgraded to become the Longshot, which expands twice as far and has the same blue and purple color as the Hookshot. In Majora's Mask, the device receives a different aesthetic design, resembling a gold-colored hand with a pointing index finger, and its chain length lies somewhere between those of the Hookshot and Longshot from Ocarina of Time. Link's Awakening contains yet another slightly different take on what is essentially the same item.

Variations of the hookshot include the Switch Hook, a chain device from Oracle of Ages that switches Link's location with that of another object; the Grappling Hook, an item from Wind Waker that wraps around certain outcroppings and allows the user to swing from it; and Twilight Princess' Clawshot, which is essensially a hookshot that allows the user to raise and lower himself on the chain while attached to surfaces. In Twilight Princess, another Clawshot is found later in the game and the two combined form the Double Clawshots, enabling movement without touching the ground in certain areas by firing one whilst remaining aloft with the other.

[edit] Shields

Shields assist the player in reflecting projectiles and preventing damage to Link. In some cases, Link's shield is important in solving puzzles. Shields, like weapons, come in many different sizes, shapes and designs. Link usually starts with a very basic wooden shield and then gets a metal shield later. He also sometimes acquires a special metal shield known as the Mirror Shield.

[edit] Wooden Shield

This shield is also known as the Deku Shield simple defensive item used in the beginning of most of Link's adventures. Although it takes on a variety of forms (in Ocarina of Time it is brown with a red spiral on it), each one is essentially an item used to deflect arrows and small projectiles. If most of the shields such as this touches fire, it usually burns and a new one must be purchased or found. For this reason the wooden shield is usually abandoned after a more powerful item, such as the Hylian Shield, is found.

In Twilight Princess, Midna makes Link get the Ordon Shield for her while in his wolf form. It is made of wood, and has the same properties as the wooden shield. It has a Ordon goat horn design on the front.

[edit] Hero's Shield

The Hero's Shield is a smaller metal shield similar to the Hylian Shield from Ocarina of Time, but with a varied design, an owl motif replacing what is widely believed to be a phoenix, a variant of which is found on most of the standard shields since A Link To The Past. The owl motif is likely Link's own custom design, and a reference to the owl Kaepora Gaebora. Link retains this shield in the beginning of the sequel Majora's Mask. It is every bit as reliable as the Hylian Shield, and its smaller size allows young Link to wield it together with his sword.

A shield with the same name, but a very different design is seen in The Wind Waker, appearing as Link's family shield. The design on the shield appears to be similar to that of the shield in Majora's Mask, but the bird motif appears to have the head of a bearded old man, possibly a nod to the popular theory concerning a connection between Kaepora Gaebora and Rauru the Sage. This shield appears as the Small Shield in The Minish Cap and Four Swords, as both games use the same art style as The Wind Waker.

[edit] Hylian Shield

The Hylian Shield (Hylia Shield in the Japanese version) is a large, adult-sized iron shield and bearing the crest of the Hylian Royal Family; a large red bird (widely believed to be a phoenix) above which sits the Triforce. In Ocarina of Time it can be purchased at the Bazaar in Hyrule Castle Town or found in a tomb in Kakariko Graveyard. It is able to deflect most projectiles back at enemies, and can block most melee range attacks. Link can use the Hylian Shield as a child, but only by strapping it on his back and crouching for protection. In Twilight Princess it must be bought at Malo Mart in Kakariko Village or at Hyrule Castle Town from a Goron selling swordsman supplies near the end of the game. The shield possesses two qualities that have made it somewhat famous; its ability to withstand fire-based attacks, and the fact that it is the shield of choice for Hylian Knights. This latter quality is particularly well-advertised at the Bazaar. Possibly to disprove rumours about a "tetra-force", the inverted golden triange at the bottom of the Ocarina of Time Hylian Shield has been removed. It was believed that this fourth, inverted piece fit in the centre of the Triforce, thus completing it. Instead, in Twilight Princess, the red bird is made larger and two more metal decals like the ones surrounding the Triforce symbol are added.

Appears In: Ocarina of Time, Soul Calibur II, Twilight Princess

[edit] Mirror Shield

The Mirror Shield is a shield made of highly polished metal. It has slightly differing designs in each game, but its main purpose is the reflection of light or magic projectiles.

The shield first appeared in A Link to the Past as an upgrade that allowed Link to block (but not reflect) lasers. It also appears in Link's Awakening and reflects lasers and fire, but does not damage enemies. In Ocarina of Time, it is used to solve a few puzzles and defeat the boss of the Spirit Temple, Twinrova. Interestingly, this is the only time that the Mirror Shield has the ability to absorb magical attacks. Also, unlike the Hylian Shield, it cannot reflect rocks shot from an Octo; instead it will shatter the rock, protecting Link but leaving the Octo well alive. In Majora's Mask, the shield bears an image of a screaming face that is reflected when exposed to light. In Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons, the Mirror Shield was obtained through a sidequest, and not through normal gameplay. The Mirror Shield is required in order to solve several puzzles in The Wind Waker, the design of the shield is exactly the same as the Mirror Shield in Ocarina of Time, but has blue outlines and a different picture design. In The Minish Cap, when used to block a projectile, the shield emits a small damaging beam of light back to the enemy. Interestingly, this is the first time an item cannot be obtained on the first playthrough. You acquire the Mirror Shield by beating the game and then seeing the Big Goron who eats your shield and spits out the Mirror Shield. Therefore, it's rather useless in The Minish Cap. This shield is also available in Soul Calibur II where any normal damage (as in everything but being thrown) was dealt back to the attacker by a factor of one half, though may cause Link to lose his balance from strong strikes.

The crescent moon design for the Mirror Shield of Ocarina of Time was changed for the GameCube re-release. Several other appearances of this design in the game (which resembles an Islamic symbol) were changed as well. In general, the Gerudo symbol has been changed in all Zelda games where it is featured.

[edit] Clothing and Jewelry

[edit] Tunics

Anyone's most important piece of equipment, Link can be seen in his traditional green outfit in every Zelda game. However, he has also worn other kinds of clothing depending on the situation.

Green Tunic

Also known as the Kokiri Tunic, Green Jerkin, Hero's Clothes, and perhaps other names, Link's Green Outfit is his standard choice of clothing. The clothes do not have any obvious particular use except to iconify the wearer as Hyrule's signature Hero. In Twilight Princess, Link wears a layer of chainmail underneath the tunic. Some variation of the green tunic is worn in every game, though not always constantly.

Ocarina of Time Tunics

The Goron Tunic is a dark red tunic that allows Link to go into areas with an extremely high temperature. It is used in the Fire Temple and Death Mountain Crater areas in Ocarina of Time. In Ocarina of Time, it can be obtained by bombing a rolling goron in Goron City, or by buying it in the shop for 200 rupees.

The Zora Tunic is a blue tunic that allows Link to breathe underwater. It is supposedly made of fish scales. In Ocarina of Time, it can be obtained by either thawing out King Zora (after Ice Cavern, but before the Water Temple) or it can be bought for 300 rupees from the shop in Zora's Domain. It is needed most in the Water Temple.

In Twilight Princess, a suit of armor known as the Zora Armor is obtained from the Zora Queen Rutela after helping her son, Ralis. The suit gives Link the appearance of a Zora, as it appears to be made of shed Zora scales. It allows Link to breathe underwater, and also gives him the ability to swim freely underwater, but at the cost of increasing the damage sustained from fire and ice attacks.

The Magic Armor is a new type of armor found in Twilight Princess and the Wind Waker. It can be purchased in the Hyrule Castle Town branch of Malo Mart. While wearing it, Link is immune to all forms of damage, so will lose no hearts. However, his rupees slightly drain while wearing the Magic Armor and they drain more quickly when he receives damage. When he has no rupees left, Link's movement becomes impaired and the gold parts of the armor become blue. In this state, Link receives normal damage, as if he were wearing the Hero's Clothes and his movement is imparied as if he was wearing the iron boots. In the Wind Waker, the Magic Armour is received from Zunari once the trading quest is complete. It forms a purple energy barrier around Link, using up Magic Power.

Other colored tunics and armor

Link's outfit has traditionally had color variations which appear for a wide variety of different reasons according to the various installments in the series. In addition to the original green, the first two traditional variations were blue and red. The colors are typically associated with specific clothing items, but their uses are numerous and varied, with little that remains constant between titles. The only generalization that can be made is that they often serve to protect Link from various harmful influences.

When Link gets the blue or red ring in the original Legend of Zelda, he gains a whitish-blue or red color change, respectively.

In A Link to the Past, Link receives both blue and red mail, harking back to the blue and red rings of the original Legend of Zelda. Link's hat changes to yellow while wearing the blue mail, and a bluish-purple while wearing the red.

Note that Link has appeared wearing other colors in various games, most notably purple in the Four Swords titles and a light silver purple color in Super Smash Bros, but these additional facades are mainly visual in nature.

It should also be noted that different colors of tunics can be acquired in both Ocarina Of Time and Majora's Mask using a cheating device (probably because the colors of all the tunics in these games are changed using a palette swap).

[edit] Hats

Hats are rarely something separate from the rest of Link's outfit, but there have been a few occasions in which Link's hat was something on its own. Link's hat is usually the same color as his tunic, but as noted above, Link's hat has been known to change color to yellow while wearing the blue mail and to a bluish-purple while wearing the red mail in A Link to the Past.

Shrinking hats

Ezlo is a Picori who was transformed into a hat against his will by Vaati the wizard. As a hat, he can cause Link to shrink to insect-sized proportions using portals located throughout Hyrule. A hat with a similar function, the Gnat Hat, preceded Ezlo.

[edit] Boots

Pegasus Boots
Pegasus Boots

Boots first appeared as an item in The Adventure of Link, allowing Link to walk over certain sections of water.

Flippers/Zora's Flippers

Flippers or Zora's Flippers are found only in the 2-D games. They allow Link to swim and prevent him from drowning. Sometimes they aren't strong enough for deep water, in which case Link needs to find something better eventually. Link also wears flippers as part of the Zora Armor in Twilight Princess, but they are not seen as an item on their own.

Iron Boots

These are heavy, ironclad boots that allow Link to sink quickly in water, among other weight-related uses, such as depressing switches. In Twilight Princess, they can also be used on magnetized surfaces to walk along walls and ceilings. Interestingly, Link's sword, shield and bow are entirely unaffected by the magnetic field. Comically, Link is only affected by their weight when he wears them on his feet, and not by simply carrying them on his person.

Hover Boots

The Hover Boots are a magical pair of boots that allow Link to walk on water and over chasms for a brief time. They take the appearance of normal leather boots with a pair of golden wings on the heel. While these boots have lower traction than Link's default Kokiri Boots, they are most helpful in the Shadow Temple and the Spirit Temple portions of the game.

Pegasus Boots

The Pegasus Boots (or sometimes called Pegasus Shoes), named after the mythological Pegasus, allow Link to sprint at high speeds. In Four Swords Adventures, Level 2 "Pegasus Boots" allow Link to run across holes in the ground, similar in function to the Hover Boots.

[edit] Capes

In some of his adventures, Link finds special Capes that prove to be very handy from time to time.

Roc's Cape

The Roc's Cape allows Link to jump in the 2-D games. It allows maneuverability in the air: when using it while jumping, Link will glide a bit farther. The Roc's Cape is technically an upgrade of the Roc's Feather, which only allows Link to jump.

Magic Cape

The Magic Cape simply makes Link invisible and invulnerable to attack. It is only effective as long as the magic bar lasts.

[edit] Bracelets, Gauntlets, Gloves, and Rings

In almost every Zelda game (with the exception of Twilight Princess) Link acquires at least once one of these things.

Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons Rings

There are 64 rings to collect in Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons, with varying magical abilities.

Power Bracelets

The Power Bracelets (or Power Bracelet) allow Link to pick up Dodongos, boulders, stones, pots, elephantine statues, sarcophagi and trees. A variation of this, the Power Gloves, exists in Oracle of Ages, and is used to lift objects too heavy for the regular Power Bracelet.

Mole Mitts

The Mole Mitts gave Link the ability to dig through sand and soft dirt.

Goron's Bracelet

The Goron's Bracelet was an item that Link acquired from Darunia in the Goron City as a child. It was equippable only by Young Link and allowed him to lift tufts of grass and Bomb-Flowers. Oddly, when Link became an adult, he was apparently strong enough to lift these items on his own.

Silver and Gold Gauntlets

The Silver Gauntlets are acquired by Young Link at the Spirit Temple as he was fulfilling a request from Nabooru, but can only be equipped by Adult Link. The Silver Gauntlets allow Link to move giant silver blocks and pick up silver boulders. The Gold Gauntlets are acquired in Ganandorf's Castle and is the last item Link receives in the game. They allow Link to move giant silver slabs of rock in order to access previously unreachable areas. He uses them only twice in Ganon's Castle to move the large slabs of rocks that are in the way.

Magnet Gloves

The Magnet Gloves are a set of gloves that attract or repel magnetized orbs in line with Link. They can also pull Link to or push Link away from a magnetized post fixed into the ground. The gloves alternate between a positive and negative charge with each use.

[edit] Explosives

[edit] Bombs

The Zelda series commonly uses Bombs. They are round in shape and usually require the fuse to be lit to explode. Link can use them to damage enemies, break walls and barriers and solve puzzles. If used at sea in The Wind Waker, bombs can be shot out of a cannon. In Twilight Princess, you can also obtain water bombs, which are identical in functionality to the normal bombs with the exception that the water bombs can be detonated underwater. They are essential in solving some side-quest puzzles and in the Lakebed Temple. An upgrade of Bombs called Remote Bombs can be obtained while fusing Kinstones in The Minish Cap.

Bombchu

A Bombchu is a bomb in the shape of a chu (mouse). They are mechanical devices which run along floors and walls before exploding. They first appeared as items in Ocarina of Time, and later as enemies in Majora's Mask called Real Bombchus.

A similar item appears in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess called a Bombling. It is an insect-shaped bomb. It is similar to the bombchu in that it will run when you set it down, but unlike the bombchu, it will blow up when it hits a wall.

Oddly, in The Wind Waker, Bombchu is the name of the enemy Rats that carry Bombs.


[edit] Musical Instruments

See: Musical instruments from The Legend of Zelda series.

Various Musical Instruments are used throughout the Zelda series. Tunes played on these items may have a variety of effects, including damaging enemies, transporting Link, or revealing secrets.

[edit] Canes, Rods and Wands

Throughout the Zelda series Canes, Rods and Wands are occasionally among the usable items.

The Canes of Byrna, Pacci, and Somaria all share an identical appearance aside from their color, which would seem to suggest they are of similar origin. The Cane of Byrna and Somaria appear in A Link to the Past, and cost magic to use. The Cane of Byrna is blue, creates temporary invincibility, and later appeared as a weapon in Soul Calibur II. The Cane of Somaria is red and creates a block upon use. Using it a second time makes the block explode and send magical waves in four directions. The Cane of Pacci appeared in The Minish Cap, where it changes things to their opposite form.

The Fire Rod and Ice Rod appeared in A Link to the Past, where they fire magic blasts. The Rod of Seasons appeared in Oracle of Seasons, and is a rod that can alter the season of the surrounding area. The Dominion Rod appeared in Twilight Princes, where it allows its user to breathe life into certain statues, useful for operating switches, defeating enemies, or destroying barriers. The player finds it in the Temple of Time and is later used to solve a cross-Hyrule puzzle to find the next dungeon.

[edit] Tools

Fishing Rod

The Fishing Rod (sometimes called the Fishing Pole) is a tool which enables Link to fish. The Fishing Rod first appeared in Link's Awakening, where Link participated in a fishing mini-game. Link did not actually obtain the Fishing Rod, but was merely lent it by a fisherman. Link can also rent a Fishing Rod in Ocarina of Time, and can obtain one of his own in Twilight Princess, along with the Fish Log, which keeps track of the fish Link has caught. In addition, like bottles from the Ocarina of Time, they can be used to distract Ganondorf to free him up for a few sword attacks.

Lamp/Lantern

The Magic Lamp or Lantern was first used in A Link to the Past as a replacement for Candle. It was called the Lamp and is the first item Link acquires. It is used to give a small amount of light in dark areas. It is also used to light torches, a function taken over by other items in games that feature no lantern. A Lantern known as the Flame Lantern appears in The Minish Cap, where it can also melt ice. A regular Lantern reappears in Four Swords Adventures as the only item that can't be upgraded by a Great Fairy. A Lantern also appears in Twilight Princess, where it is used to light up darkened areas, set things aflame and drive away dangerous fog, requiring a supply of Lantern Oil, with the option to store additional oil in Bottles.

Shovel

The Shovel first appeared in A Link to the Past as an item that allows Link to dig up soft ground, sometimes revealing an item or object. In Twilight Princess, Link's wolf form can dig without aid. In Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, Dampé will dig on command for Link. In The Wind Waker, giant pigs will dig if fed bait, usually uncovering rupees (and one well-hidden Piece of Heart). In Four Swords Adventures, the level 2 shovel will alert the player to the presence of treasure by way of a beep that increases in intensity/frequency the closer the player gets to the buried item. In The Minish Cap, the Mole Mitts serve a similar purpose. If they are used while standing over grass, rupees and other items can be found in the ground.

Deku Nuts

Deku Nuts are seeds harvested from the great Deku Tree and dead Deku Babas that explode with an overpowering flash, acting like natural stun grenades. They are used by Link in combat to blind enemies, and Sheik and Impa use their quick flash in Ocarina of Time to make hasty escapes.

[edit] Containers

Among the items that can be obtained by Link are Containers that allow him to carry other things, such as ammunition, small objects, and even life power.

Bottles

Bottles are an essential part to many of Link's quests. These containers are used and often required to carry various things.

Due to their usefulness they are highly sought after and up to four bottles can be found in a single game, with the exception of six in Majora's Mask. They are said to be made of crystal glass. Amusingly, a bottle can be used to knock back Ganondorf's magic spells in Ocarina of Time, Phantom Ganon's attacks in The Wind Waker and Ocarina of Time, and Ganon's Puppet Zelda's attacks in Twilight Princess. This is perhaps a throwback to A Link to the Past in which Link could use the Bug-Catching Net to deflect Agahnim's magic.

Heart Containers

Heart Containers are obtainable items which increase Link's maximum health meter. While it is possible to lose health, it is not possible to lose a heart container (i.e. the possibility of having a certain number of health points). The only exception is from the second quest of The Legend of Zelda where it is possible to give up a heart container in order to proceed through certain dungeons.

Link receives a Heart Container in Ocarina of Time.
Link receives a Heart Container in Ocarina of Time.

Heart Containers appear in one of two forms:

  • As full Heart Containers (generally after beating a boss) which gives the player one additional heart.
  • As smaller containers, found at certain locations in the game or as a reward for completing a mini-game or sidequest. The games refer to these items as Pieces of Heart. In The Wind Waker, Pieces of Heart can also be found by lowering the Grappling Hook at locations marked on the Treasure Charts. A set (four in all games, with the exception of Twilight Princess, where it is six) of these must be collected to complete one more full Heart Container and increase the player's health meter. The completion status of the current Heart Container (i.e. a quarter full, half full, three quarters full, or empty) is visible on the game's Quest Status/Item Subscreen.

Certain sidequests enable the player to gain more than one Piece of Heart total, but never more than one piece at once. It is not possible to be given a Piece of Heart worth more than a quarter of a heart (or a sixth in Twilight Princess), or to be given two in succession without visiting another character or completing another task in between with the exception of using the all night mask in Majora's Mask in which you can gain two pieces from the same character by listening to stories.

Most Zelda games have a limit of twenty hearts, if the player does all the tasks required to get all possible Heart Containers and Pieces of Heart. However, a player can use a gameshark or similar cheating device to gain more than twenty hearts.

Heart Containers also appear in the Super Smash Bros. series as healing items. In Super Smash Bros. a player using a Heart Container will lose 100% of your damage. In all modes of Super Smash Bros. Melee except "All-Star", the container will drop the user's current damage back to zero percent. They also appear in a few other games including UPIXO In Action: Mission in Snowdriftland, serving the same purpose that they do in Zelda games.

Wallet

Link uses a Wallet in one 2-D and all 3-D games to store his Rupees in. The Wallet can be upgraded through side-quests. Sometimes Link cannot buy a certain object until he upgrades his wallet, because its price is higher than his default Maximum Rupee capacity.

[edit] Dungeon items

These items can only be found and used in dungeons.

Big Key

The Big Key originated in A Link to the Past, where it unlocks specific doors with large keyholes and large treasure boxes holding one-of-a-kind items. It returns in most later Legend of Zelda games, but only unlocks the door to the boss's lair. In some games it is referred as the Boss Key. In Link's Awakening it is referred to as the Nightmare Key. In 3-D games Big Keys are always found in unique, ornately decorated Treasure Chests, with the exception of the big keys of Snowpeak Mansion and Goron Mines in Twilight Princess. The big key of Snowpeak Mansion was stored in an ordinary treasure chest, as it was considered a bedroom key and not an orthodox Big Key. The big key of Goron Mines was not stored in any treasure chest, and was actually given to the player in pieces at various intervals in the dungeon.

Compass

A Compass allows adventurers to locate treasure and enemies while exploring dungeons, temples and palaces. It is also one of the only two ways to locate invisible treasure chests (the other being a rumbling where the treasure chest is supposed to be). In Link's Awakening and the Oracle games, the compass makes a tone when you enter a room with a key in it.

Dungeon Map

Made by previous adventurers, these explorers made meticulous Maps of their findings, and left them hidden within the walls of some dungeons to aid future explorers. The dungeon map shows Link the entire dungeon in which it was found. It also shows which rooms he already has visited and which not.

Small Key

Each Small Key can open only one door. In the original Legend of Zelda, not all keys found in a dungeon were necessary to complete it. Unused keys could be used in other dungeons, and extra keys could be bought at shops. They could also be used that way in The Adventure of Link. However, Link couldn't buy extra keys in that game, sometimes making it impossible to complete until the Magic Key was found. In all subsequent Zelda games, small keys can only be used in the dungeon they are found in and frequently, all keys must be found to complete each dungeon.

[edit] Other

Hammers

Hammers are typically powerful, somewhat cartoon-sized whacking devices used primarily to destroy large rocks, inflict large amounts of damage, or smash things into the ground (such as certain types of switches). In the 3-D games, hammers are usually too big for Link to hold with just one hand, preventing him from using his shield when holding it. The first hammer seen was in The Adventure of Link, where it allowed Link to destroy boulders in his path in the overworld. In Ocarina of Time, the hammer was called the Megaton Hammer and was obtained in the Fire Temple. The hammer was called the Skull Hammer in The Wind Waker, where it not only pounded certain switches down but created enemy-stunning shockwaves when it struck the ground. In Four Swords Adventures, you can slam the hammer to make the ground shake and reveal underground items. There is no hammer in Twilight Princess, but the Ball and Chain does the same job.

Roc's Feather
Roc's feather
Roc's feather

The Roc's Feather allows Link to jump in the 2-D games. Its upgrade is called the Roc's Cape. This is similar to Super Mario World in which acquiring a feather gave Mario a cape which enabled him to fly. In the Oracle games, it is actually a blue feather.

Gossip Stone

Gossip Stones are mysterious grey stones, first introduced in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The stones were created by the Sheikah, and hold small bits of 'secret' information. These small pieces of gossip, usually taken from an overheard conversation, are only discovered when the Mask of Truth is worn. The stones return with the same form and function in Majora's Mask. However, if a player uses the Blast Mask or a bomb in front of the Gossip Stones, they will flash blue and then red. After they turn red, they will launch into space and explode.

In The Wind Waker, Gossip Stones return as small, rare pendants that can be used to communicate at a distance. These advanced Gossip Stones were created by Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule. Such a pendant is used by Tetra and The King of Red Lions to communicate with Link.

Gossip stones also appear in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, albeit with a hole in their centers that you can hear the wind whistling through. In his wolf form, Link is able to howl to the melody of these songs in order to later be transported to a special area where he learns seven Hidden Skills from a former Hylian Knight (possibly one of the heroes from a previous Zelda game).

[edit] See also

[edit] References


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