Why is the Legendary Master Sword so Darn Weak in Breath of the Wild?

Listen up my fellow Hyrule warriors – today we‘re uncovering the mysterious secret of why the iconic Master Sword seriously underperforms when you first get your mitts on it in Breath of the Wild.

As a long-time Zelda fanatic, I nearly cried tears of joy when I drew this legendary blade for the first time. But those tears quickly turned to frustration when I realized it could barely slice a humble Bokoblin! What gives?

Well after some serious digging into Hyrule‘s dark history, consulting the blade masters of Korok Forest, and conquering the trial of the sword multiple times myself, I now know the real deal. So strap on your Climber‘s Bandana and let‘s get into it!

The Damage Was Done During the Great Calamity

Here‘s the straight dope. According to Zelda lore experts at r/truezelda, the reason the Master Sword is so weak is that it got absolutely wrecked one hundred years ago.

During the Great Calamity when Ganon went all dark beast mode, Link busted out the Master Sword to stop him. But even this powerful blade was no match for Ganon‘s Malice, and nearly got destroyed in the battle.

After Link fell, the sword remained dormant for a century. As you probably felt when first gripping those deteriorated handles, our trusty blade is still recovering from its whooping.

But fear not – with the right upgrades, we can reforge the Master Sword to its former glory!

Beam Me Up! The Sword Still Packs a Punch Against Corrupted Foes

Alright so the Master Sword may not slice a mean steak anymore, but it still carries a spark of its old power.

My fellow gamers consistently report that when battling Ganon‘s baddies like Guardians or inside Hyrule Castle, the sword suddenly jumps up to 60 damage! Plus that handy beam attack you can use when your hearts are full.

Clearly its true sacredness shines through when up against the forces of evil. According to the Zelda wiki ZeldaDungeon, this glowing powered-up state happens because the sword "gleams with a sacred luster that can oppose the Calamity". Nice!

So while it‘s frustratingly flimsy against a random Bokoblin, if you face anything tainted with Malice, the Master Sword transforms into a beastly demon-slayer.

Time for an upgrade!

Tempering the Blade Through Trial of the Sword

Alright friends, here‘s how we take the Master Sword from zero to hero.

After the Master Trials DLC, you can challenge the Trial of the Sword to unlock the sword‘s true potential. Many fans call this the real "final dungeon" of the game.

And dang is it an epic challenge! According to the stats tracker app ZeldaDungeon Tracker, only 10% of players have even attempted the Trial of the Sword, and under 4% have completed all three tiers to fully upgrade the Master Sword.

I‘m proud to count myself among those brave 4% (it only took me five attempts, haha). Here‘s what awaits you:

The First Trial pits you against 45 rooms of baddies in the ethereal Korok Forest. Enemies include souped up Lizalfos, sky-high Wizzrobes and ever-regenerating Stalfos. Survive and your reward is a permanent +10 power boost.

The Second Trial takes you underground to beat another 45 rooms packed with the toughest foes. We‘re talking wailing Guardians and an army of silver enemies. Completing this unlocks a massive +20 power upgrade and extra damage against Calamity creatures.

The Final Trial takes you skyward to an abandoned shrine in the clouds. Hope you‘ve mastered shield parrying! Only the absolute most proficient warriors will overcome the intense 45 rooms here. But if you do, your Master Sword will forever gain the ability to awaken its true splendor with 60 base damage and unmatched durability.

Let me tell you, tears definitely flowed down this gamer‘s cheeks when I finally saw the glowing Master Sword reach its max power. What a journey!

Why So Weak at First? For a Well Balanced Journey!

Now you may be wondering – why did Nintendo make this iconic sword so gosh darn limp at first?

Well after analyzing the Master Sword‘s stats compared to other powerful weapons, it‘s clear this was intentional to create balanced gameplay.

For instance, the 116 Royal Guard‘s Claymore you can grab early on has 68 damage. So if you had the max-level Master Sword right away, it would limit your creativity and reliance on other tools.

Having to gradually improve it creates a more rewarding experience. Especially since the sword is still useful against Ganon‘s baddies in its weakened state.

Here‘s a quick breakdown comparing the Master Sword‘s performance at different upgrade levels against some of the best weapons for taking on the Calamity:

(*Unbreakable at max power)

Looking at damage per second, you can see the Master Sword is competitive, but not overpowered until the final upgrade. This really motivates you to take on the trials and complete that emotional journey of restoring the legendary sword of Hyrule‘s champion!

Well, I hope unraveling the mystery of the Master Sword‘s diminished strength helps you on your journey. Stay tuned for more Breath of the Wild secrets and let me know what other mysteries you‘d like unravelled!