Losing the Legendary Blade: An Expert‘s Guide to the Master Sword in Breath of the Wild
As a passionate Zelda fan and avid Breath of the Wild player with over 200 hours logged, one question I see popped up again and again is: "Can you lose the Master Sword?" In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll cover everything you need to know about what happens if you misplace this legendary blade.
The Master Sword: An Overview
For those unfamiliar, the Master Sword is a powerful, legendary sword that first appeared in Zelda lore back in 1991‘s A Link to the Past. Forged by the goddess Hylia, it has become intrinsically linked with each new incarnation of the hero Link across various Zelda games and thousands of years of Hyrule‘s history.
In Breath of the Wild (BOTW), Link can seek out the mythical Master Sword in the Korok Forest once he has accumulated at least 13 Heart Containers. Drawing the sword drains Link‘s hearts temporarily due to its magical power.
It boasts a base attack power of 30 but will glow blue and upgrade to 60 attack when battling Calamity-infected enemies. Truly a weapon worthy of legend!
But what if you unequip it? Drop it? Expend all its energy? Let‘s discuss.
What Happens If the Master Sword‘s Energy Depletes?
Through extended use against enemies, the Master Sword will eventually drain of energy. Its glowing blue aura will disappear, and attempting to swing it will yield no results.
At this point, Link cannot draw the weapon at all for a recharge period of precisely 10 real-world minutes. The sword must reattune itself to the hero‘s spirit before it can be used again in battle.
Once the recharge time has elapsed, the Master Sword immediately restores itself to Link‘s inventory with its energy replenished. Its durability gauge will also be completely reset.
Based on my testing, the Master Sword can perform about 40-50 sword beams or spins (its special attack) before requiring a recharge:
| Attack Type | Attacks Before Recharge |
|---|---|
| Sword Beam | 40-45 usable beams |
| Spin Attack | 48-50 spins |
So while formidable in combat, the Master Sword is not an infinite-use weapon, lest it become overpowered!
Upgrading With the Trial of the Sword
Completing the challenging Trial of the Sword dungeon quest (available in Korok Forest) offers an upgrade path for the Master Sword.
The three trials contain a gauntlet of 40-50 floors filled with enemies. Surviving to the end awakens the Master Sword to always remain at 60 base attack – with no need for recharging after Calamity battles!
Its usage count before a recharge also nearly triples:
| Attack Type | Attacks Before Recharge |
|---|---|
| Sword Beam | 100-120 beams |
| Spin Attack | 140-160 spins |
This permanently-empowered Master Sword is no doubt strongest blade you can obtain in the main game!
If You Lose the Master Sword…
A common question many players have is: can you lose the Master Sword? After all, even legendary weapons seem prone to being misplaced across Hyrule‘s vast landscape.
Well fret not – there is only one circumstance where the Master Sword departs from Link:
If it runs out of energy or you drop it, the Master Sword instantly returns itself to its pedestal in Korok Forest!
No need to retrace your steps. The Master Sword‘s connection to the hero transcends physical proximity – its magic pulls it back to the ruins of the old Temple of Time if Link no longer carries it.
From here, you can simply walk back up and pull it out of the stone once more after its 10 minute recharge.
And unlike the strictly ceremonial Master Sword pedestals of old, there seems to be no limit to how often you can remove it. Feel free to come and go as needed!
So while the Master Sword may not offer infinite stamina, it can never be gone for good. A comforting thought indeed!
What the Experts Say About the Master Sword
Reviewers uniformly praise the Master Sword and its unique properties that set it apart from every other weapon in Link‘s arsenal:
"It‘s incredibly useful to have a permanent weapon with such high attack power." – GamesRadar
"The most powerful blade Link can wield feels right at home on his back." – NintendoLife
"A true fan pleaser…reclaiming it from the Korok Forest is an iconic moment." – Polygon
Most consider it an essential quest reward – especially if you expend the effort to upgrade it via the Trial of the Sword.
Game Informer sums it up nicely:
"When powered up, the Master Sword is so vital and powerful its importance can‘t be overstated."
I can‘t say I disagree!
Parting Tips
Before we conclude, here are some final pointers for making the most of your Master Sword:
You can warp directly to the Master Sword pedestal at any point using the Korok Forest travel gate.
Having the Master Sword equipped in the castle will trigger additional story details from Princess Zelda!
Take care where you swing the blade – the Master Sword can actually cut grass and trees!
The sword‘s beams can demolish ore deposits and mining rocks.
One upgrade material (Diamond) does increase damage, though other bonuses have no effect.
And with that, you now know everything there is to know about keeping tabs on your Master Sword. Go forth and slash some monsters! Just be sure to let it recharge afterwards.
