Where Exactly is the Master Sword Hiding?
Okay, first things first. You've probably heard whispers about the Lost Woods. That place is a maze. Seriously, I wandered in circles for ages the first time, fog swallowing me up every few steps. Not fun. The key is the torches. Sounds simple, but when you're actually there, it's easy to panic.Navigating the Lost Woods Like a Pro
Here’s the lowdown on actually getting through: * **Enter the Woods:** Head northeast from Hyrule Castle, past Woodland Stable. You can't miss the giant fog wall. * **Follow the Wind:** Watch the embers from the lit torches near the entrance. They drift in the direction you need to go. * **Pathfinding:** Stick to the dirt paths. Veering off usually triggers the fog reset faster. * **Landmarks:** Look for distinctive trees and those glowing blue Koroks. They're breadcrumbs. * **Final Stretch:** Eventually, you'll hit a dense area with giant tree roots. Follow the lanterns here. Don't rush. And then, bam! Korok Forest. It's this weirdly peaceful little village right in the center. The Deku Tree is massive – hard to miss. And right in front of him? That's where the loz breath of the wild master sword rests, plunged into the pedestal, glowing softly. Moment of truth time.The Heart Container Price Tag - No Cheating
This part tripped me up early on. You just can't pull it out without paying the toll upfront. Forget temporary buffs from food. The game checks your *permanent* heart containers. You need exactly **13** red hearts displayed on your screen. Yellow hearts (temporary ones) don't count. Zero wiggle room. * **Starting Point:** You begin with 3 hearts. * **Total Needed:** 10 extra hearts. * **How to Get Them:** Complete Shrines. Four Spirit Orbs = 1 Heart Container. So, that's **40 Spirit Orbs** needed just for the hearts required to pull the sword. Tough grind early game.
Pro Tip: Seriously, focus on shrines early. Don't try to brute force it with 10 hearts like I did... wasted a trip. Mark shrines on your map as you spot them from towers. Cook Hearty food only *after* pulling the sword for survival, not for the pull itself.
What Does the LoZ Breath of the Wild Master Sword Actually Do?
Okay, you pulled it. Big moment! Feel powerful? It should. But let's be real – it's not an instant 'I win' button. Understanding its quirks is key to using it well.Base Stats and Durability Reality
Outside of specific situations: * **Base Attack Power:** 30 damage. Honestly? That's kinda... middling late game. You'll find Royal Broadswords hitting harder (36), and Savage Lynel Crushers can hit 78+. The Master Sword's strength isn't raw power alone. * **It "Breaks" (But Not Really):** This is the biggie. After extended use (roughly 40 hits at base power), the sword glows red, flashes warnings, and "shatters." But here's the relief – it doesn't vanish forever. It enters a **10-minute real-world cooldown period**. Check your inventory; it'll have a countdown timer. When it hits zero, you can use it again. Phew. No permanent loss on the loz breath of the wild master sword.The Glowy Power-Up - When It Shines
This is where it gets good. The Master Sword senses two threats: * **Guardians:** Any type – decayed, stalker, skywatcher, turret. Doesn't matter. * **Ganon's Blight Bosses:** Wind-, Fire-, Water-, Thunderblight, and Calamity Ganon himself. * **Ganon's Malice:** Areas heavily corrupted by it (like inside Hyrule Castle). In these presences, the sword **glows with a bright blue light**, its damage output **doubles to 60**, and its durability gets a massive buff. Suddenly, it becomes very potent. It's Hyrule's ultimate evil-bashing tool for a reason. Taking down Guardians becomes noticeably smoother. Finding those decayed ones scattered around becomes less of an ammo drain and more of a cleanup chore.Unlocking Its True Potential: The Trial of the Sword (DLC)
So you've got the sword. Cool. But if you have the Expansion Pass DLC, there's a whole other level. The Trial of the Sword is... intense. Remember Eventide Island? Multiply that difficulty by about ten and put it indoors. It's three sets of increasingly brutal combat trials (Beginner, Middle, Final Trials), each with multiple floors. You start each trial with nothing – no armor, no items, just your underwear and the Master Sword. Scavenge gear on each floor to survive waves of enemies.Why Bother? The Rewards
Completing each trial section permanently upgrades the Master Sword: * **Complete Beginner Trials:** Base power permanently increases from 30 to **40**. Glowing-state power increases to **60** (from base 60? Wait, no, base becomes 40, glowing becomes 80? Let me clarify...). Actually, completing the trials upgrades the *base* state. So: * Base Power (after Beginner Trials): 40 (Glowing: 80) * Base Power (after Middle Trials): 50 (Glowing: 100) * Base Power (after Final Trials): **60** (Glowing: **120**) * **Durability Skyrockets:** Seriously, the fully upgraded Master Sword lasts *forever* compared to its base form. You can actually rely on it for general combat without constant breaking. It feels like the true legendary blade finally.
Heads Up: The Trials are HARD. Especially the Final Trials. Lynels, Guardians galore, limited resources. Save before starting each trial section. Cook lots of defense or attack buff food BEFORE entering – the buff persists inside! I learned that the hard way during my first disastrous attempt. Bring Ancient Arrows for Guardians and Lynels in the later floors if you can spare them (find them in chests inside too, but sparingly).
Master Sword vs. The Competition: Is It Worth It?
Look, it's iconic. Pulling it feels amazing. But is it practical? Let's break it down objectively.Pros of the Master Sword
- Unbreakable (Technically): The cooldown is annoying, but knowing it always comes back is huge peace of mind. No weapon anxiety against Guardians.
- Supercharged vs. Evil: 60/80/100/120 damage against Guardians and Ganon-related foes is top-tier. Ancient weapons with Ancient Proficiency armor compete, but require setup.
- Free Ammo: Beam attacks (when at full health) are handy for sniping Keese or hitting switches from afar. Costs nothing.
- Post-Trial Beast: The fully upgraded loz breath of the wild master sword (60 base / 120 glowing) is arguably the best general-use weapon in the game, blending great power and near-infinite durability.
- No Repair Costs: Unlike champion weapons, no Diamonds needed to fix it after it 'breaks'. Just wait.
Cons of the Master Sword
- The Heart Gate: Grinding 40 Spirit Orbs early/mid-game is a significant time investment just to access it.
- Meh Base Power: 30 damage (pre-trial) is easily outclassed by many weapons found later (e.g., Royal Guard’s Claymore 72, Savage Lynel Sword 58-100).
- Cooldown Limbo: That 10-minute wait after it breaks feels like an eternity mid-battle, forcing you to switch.
- Trial of Pain: Unlocking its full power via the DLC trials is brutally difficult and time-consuming.
- No Modifiers: You'll never find a Master Sword with a durability++ or attack up++ modifier like other weapons. What you see is what you get.
Damage Output Comparison
| Weapon | Base Damage | Max Damage (With Mods) | Durability | Special Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master Sword (Base) | 30 | 30 | ~40 hits (Renews) | Glows (60 dmg) near Malice/Guardians |
| Master Sword (Fully Upgraded) | 60 | 60 | ~188 hits (Renews) | Glows (120 dmg) near Malice/Guardians |
| Savage Lynel Sword | 58 | 100 (Attack Up++) | 41 | High drop chance from Silver Lynels |
| Royal Guard's Claymore | 72 | 116 (Attack Up++) | 15 (Very Low) | Common in Hyrule Castle |
| Ancient Battle Axe++ | 60 | 75 (Attack Up++) | 25 | +80% Damage with Ancient Proficiency Armor Set Bonus vs Guardians |
| Great Thunderblade | 32 | 42 (Attack Up++) | 40 | Shock AoE effect on hit |
Master Sword Mechanics Deep Dive
Beyond the basics, there are some nuances players often wonder about.Beam Attacks - Range but Limited
When you have full hearts, holding 'R' charges the Master Sword, letting you fire a beam. It's fun, but honestly? Mostly niche. * **Damage:** Matches the sword's current base power (30/40/50/60). * **Uses:** Sniping distant weak enemies (Keese, Chuchus), hitting switches or Korok balloons, cutting rope-bridges. Not great against anything tougher. * **Limitations:** Drains durability *slightly* per shot (about 1/4th of a 'hit'). Needs full hearts. Not affected by the glow boost. I rarely used it outside of puzzles.Durability and Cooldown - The Nitty Gritty
* **Base Durability:** ~40 hits before breaking/cooldown. * **Glowing Durability:** Significantly higher. Roughly double the base durability? Maybe ~80 hits? It's harder to exhaust when powered up. * **Upgraded Durability (Post-Trials):** Roughly 188 hits for the fully upgraded Master Sword. This is massive. It lasts ages. * **Cooldown:** Always 10 minutes real-time. Sleeping/waiting at fires does NOT speed this up. Warping doesn't reset it. Only actual clock time passing. Put it away and go pick mushrooms for a bit. * **"Break" Animation:** It flashes red several times, makes a warning sound, then shatters in a specific animation. You can’t use it until the timer is up.What Doesn't Drain Durability?
Nice little bonus: Some uses don't count against durability at all! * Cutting grass, bushes, or bamboo. * Breaking ore deposits (like Flint or Amber rocks). * Chopping down trees (surprisingly efficient lumberjack tool!). * Hitting non-enemy objects (crates, barrels, signs).Real Talk: Common Questions & Headaches (FAQ)
Can the Master Sword break permanently?
Absolutely not. This is the big relief. Even when it "shatters," it just goes on cooldown for 10 minutes and then reappears in your inventory ready to go again. Forever. No rebuying, no remaking. That's the core perk of the loz breath of the wild master sword.
Why isn't my Master Sword glowing near this Guardian?
Annoying, right? A few possibilities: * It's still on cooldown from a previous use. Check your inventory slot – if it's greyed out with a timer, that's why. * The Guardian is inactive/dead. The sword only reacts to active threats. A decayed Guardian leg isn't enough; the eye needs to be active/scanned you. * You might be *just* outside the activation range. Try moving closer to the malice source or active Guardian.
I have 13 hearts (including yellow ones), why can't I pull it?
Oh, this stings. Been there. Yellow hearts don't count. You need 13 permanent, red heart containers. Temporary boosts (food, elixirs) are useless for this check. Farm those shrines!
Is the Trial of the Sword worth the pain?
Subjectively? If you plan to play a lot *after* getting the Master Sword, especially going after harder enemies or exploring Hyrule Castle thoroughly, then yes. The permanent 60 base damage and vastly improved durability transform it into Link's signature, reliable weapon. If you're mostly done with the game after pulling the sword, maybe skip the frustration. But that upgrade makes it feel truly legendary.
Can I use the Master Sword against Lynels effectively?
Base form? Not really. 30 damage is low for those tanks. Glowing? Better (60), but Lynels aren't considered "evil" like Guardians, so it won't glow near them. Fully upgraded (60 base)? Definitely viable and strong, especially with good combat skills. High-tier Lynel weapons still hit harder (if you can get them), but the Master Sword's infinite renewability makes it excellent for consistent Lynel farming without gear fear.
Do I need the Master Sword to beat Ganon?
Nope! Not at all. Breath of the Wild gives you incredible freedom. You can beat Calamity Ganon with tree branches and pot lids if you're skilled (or crazy) enough. The Master Sword is helpful, especially its damage boost *inside* the castle and against Ganon, but it's not mandatory. Plenty of other strong weapons work fine.
**Personal Take:** Getting the Master Sword early felt forced and slowed me down. I recommend enjoying the exploration, collecting hearts naturally as you discover shrines you *want* to solve. The moment you walk into Korok Forest with 13 hearts organically is way more satisfying. As for the Trial of the Sword? Loved the *idea*, hated the execution. The difficulty spike was brutal, especially the Final Trials. Ancient Arrows became my crutch. Fully upgrading it felt fantastic, but man, it was a slog at times.