The Master Sword, also known as the Blade of Evil’s Bane, has appeared in nearly everyLegend of Zeldagame sinceA Link to the Past. As it directly relates to the legend of the Hero of Time, it’s both the iconic symbol of the series as well as perhaps the most important piece of lore in the franchise. However,Breath of the Wildhandled the weapon very differently. Many players may be wondering howBotW 2will handle the Master Sword canonically, but what does that mean forHyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity?
Rather than following in the footsteps of the previousHyrule Warriors,which was officially deemed to take place in a different dimensionand therefore non-canon,Age of Calamitywill act as aBreath of the Wildprequel, expanding on the events that took place 100 years prior. Because of the way the Master Sword was portrayed inBotW, it’s worth wondering ifHyrule Warriors: Age of Calamityplans to give it the same treatment, or if it will follow suit of otherZeldagames.
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Obtaining The Master Sword in Breath of the Wild
Different than otherLegend of Zeldatitles, acquiring the Sword of Time inBotWis purely optional, and not at all needed to finish the game. Just like any other weapon in the game, the Master Sword has durability and is breakable, but it’s unique from other weapons because its power doubles in the “presence of evil” such as Guardians and Calamity Ganon. Unlike past games, the sword can be optionally obtained anytime after The Isolated Plateau quest once thirteen hearts are earned. But it’s not needed for the final boss fight, nor is it a required quest, making players wonder if pulling the sword from the stone is canon at all.
The Blade of Evil’s Baneis resting on its pedestal in the Korok Forest, where Zelda left it under the Great Deku’s Tree protection to keep it safe until Link’s return, as shown in a memory inBreath of the Wild. BecauseAge of Calamityis known to be very story-heavy and will likely overlap with many of Link’s memories seen in the hit 2017Zeldahit, it’s expected that much of this lore will be covered in the hack and slash. But will it be considered canon?
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The Zelda Timeline’s Treatment of Breath of the Wild
The entireBreath of the Wildstoryline is a headscratcher because it still hasn’t been proven where exactly it falls on the official timeline. It has been heavily suggested that it serves as a convergence point at the end of all the timelines, but for mystery’s sake, that has remained unconfirmed. This convergence has big implications for thetheBreath of the Wildsagabeing a completely separate entity, but even the Master Sword contradicts this. It could be thatBreath of the Wildfollows a completely new canon, at least in application, and it could be thatAge of Calamityestablishes how the Master Sword is different. Or perhaps all of the connections show how this Master Sword is canonical yet option.
After all, as far as the Master Sword’sstory inAge of Calamitygoes, its story has been more or less unveiled throughout Link’s memories, and it’s clear that the Master Sword remains part of the main story. Though gameplay shows Link using a generic sword, it’s known that Link eventually acquires the Master Sword while adventuring with Zelda. This suggests thatAge of Calamitymay show its original use, making it a major plot point like past titles. If it continues to be an optional weapon, then the question becomes what’s so special about the Master Sword. For now, fans will have to wait for release to see how the Big N tackles this relatively convoluted subject matter.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamityreleases on November 20th for the Nintendo Switch.
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