How to Find the Master Sword in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Your quest for the legendary Master Sword in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild begins not with a fight, but with a journey into the heart of a living, breathing maze. This section will guide you through the misty, disorienting path to find the sword's resting place—the rest of the guide will cover how to claim it and unleash its power.
The entrance to Korok Forest.
First, you need to find the entrance to the Lost Woods. This optional area is located in the Woodlands Region, north of Hyrule Castle. The quickest way is to activate the Woodland Tower for a clear view, then follow the road east and north until you see a foggy archway with a lit torch. When the title "Lost Woods" appears on screen, you’ve arrived.
Dismount your horse before entering. The fog will quickly send you back to the start if you stray, and you don’t want to lose your ride.
Navigating the Lost Woods is the game’s most famous puzzle. Stray from the correct path, and a thick fog will envelop you, teleporting you right back to the entrance. Here’s the trick: the wind is your guide. At the first lit torch, watch which way the embers drift. Follow that direction to the next torch. A reliable sequence for this initial section is: North, North, West, West, South, then West. This will lead you to two final torches before a large Ogre Tree.
After these two torches, the marked path ends. This is where most players get stuck. Pick up the unlit torch leaning nearby and light it. Now, stand still and watch the embers flying from your torch—they point the way forward. Keep the wind at your back and follow those embers. If your torch goes out, you can relight it with a Fire Arrow or by striking Flint with a metal weapon.
⚠️ Watch out: The fog moves fast here. If you start to see it creeping in, you’ve gone the wrong way—you’ll be sent back to the two torches. Don’t panic, just re-light and check the ember direction again.
If you faithfully follow the embers, you’ll emerge into a clearing and then pass through a narrow path between two rock faces. Congratulations, you’ve made it to Korok Forest in the heart of the Great Hyrule Forest.
This serene, glowing clearing is your destination. At its center, you’ll find the ancient Great Deku Tree, the guardian of the forest and the Master Sword. Speaking to him provides crucial lore and context for the trials ahead. And just before him, embedded in the Pedestal of Time, is your goal: the legendary Master Sword, the Blade of Evil’s Bane.
You’ve solved the puzzle and found the sword’s sanctuary. Now, let’s talk about what it truly takes to pull it from its stone.
Master Sword Health Requirements in Breath of the Wild
You’ve found the sacred pedestal in Korok Forest, and the legendary blade stands before you. This is the moment—but in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the Master Sword won’t yield to just anyone. You need raw, permanent strength to claim it.
Navigating the Lost Woods is the first step to reaching the Master Sword.
The 13-Heart Threshold
The Great Deku Tree’s warning is literal: to survive the act of pulling the sword from the stone, Link must have 13 Heart Containers. This is a strict, non-negotiable health check coded into the game. When you walk up and hold [Y] to pull, your health will drain steadily in a dramatic tug-of-war. If you don’t have those 13 full, red heart containers when the draining stops, you’ll be forced to let go, and the attempt fails.
⚠️ Watch out: Temporary yellow hearts from food or elixirs do not count toward this requirement. The game only checks your base, permanent red hearts. Don’t waste a hearty meal before trying—it won’t help.
Since you start the game with only 3 hearts, you need to earn an additional 10 Heart Containers. This is your primary goal once you know the sword’s location.
How to Earn Your Heart Containers
There are two reliable ways to gain permanent hearts in Breath of the Wild, and most players use a mix of both.
1. Spirit Orb Conversion: This is your main method. Complete Shrines—each one rewards you with a Spirit Orb. Once you have 4 Orbs, visit any Goddess Statue (found in towns like Kakariko Village or Hateno Village, or at the Temple of Time). Interact with the statue and choose “Receive a Heart Container” to trade 4 Spirit Orbs for one permanent heart.
- To get 10 hearts, you’ll need 40 Spirit Orbs, which means completing 40 Shrines. It’s a grind, but it’s the most straightforward path.
2. Divine Beast Completion: Each of the four main dungeons—Vah Ruta, Vah Medoh, Vah Rudania, and Vah Naboris—grants you a full Heart Container upon beating the Blight Ganon boss inside. If you complete all four, that’s 4 hearts right there, reducing the number of Spirit Orbs you need from 40 to 24.
The Horned Statue: Your Respec Option
What if you’ve invested all your Spirit Orbs into Stamina Vessels for climbing and gliding? Don’t worry—Breath of the Wild has a solution. In Hateno Village, near Firly Pond, you’ll find the Horned Statue.
Speak to this mysterious statue, and it will offer to swap your Stamina Vessels for Heart Containers (and vice versa) for a fee of 20 Rupees per transaction. So if you need to re-spec your stats temporarily to meet the 13-heart requirement, this is your go-to. You can always swap back after you’ve claimed the sword.
If you’re close to the requirement, use the Horned Statue for a quick fix. Grab the sword, then immediately swap back to your preferred stamina setup. It’s a small price to pay for the legendary blade.
With 13 solid red hearts in your meter, you’re ready. The draining animation will play, but you’ll endure it, and the Master Sword will finally be yours. Let’s go claim it.
How the Master Sword Recharge and Durability Works
You finally have the legendary blade in hand—but in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the Master Sword plays by its own rules. It doesn't behave like any other weapon in your inventory, and understanding its unique energy cycle is key to wielding it effectively.
The Master Sword enters a cooldown state when depleted.
The Sword's Hidden Energy Meter
Think of the Master Sword as having a battery, not traditional durability. It will not break permanently, but it will "lose its power" after you've landed approximately 40 hits in its standard state. When this hidden energy meter is depleted, the sword will shatter with a flash of light and become unusable, entering a recharge phase.
The 40-hit count is generous for normal exploration. Don't be afraid to use it on regular foes—just keep a solid backup weapon handy for when it runs out.
The 10-Minute Recharge Cycle
Here's the good news: once the sword's power is gone, you're not hunting for a replacement. It simply needs time to recover. The Master Sword requires a 10-minute real-time cooldown once depleted. You'll see it grayed out in your inventory with a timer icon. During this period, you cannot select or use it. The countdown continues whether you're playing, in a menu, or even if you put the Switch to sleep, so you can simply explore, cook, or tackle a shrine while you wait. Trust me, it'll be ready before you know it.
Recognizing Its Awakened State
The sword's true power awakens in the presence of pure evil. When you're near Ganon-corrupted enemies—specifically Guardians or within the Divine Beasts—the Master Sword will emit a persistent, glowing blue aura. This is your visual cue that it's entered its "Awakened" state. In this mode, its hidden durability skyrockets, allowing you to land nearly 200 hits before needing to recharge, making it the ultimate tool for dismantling Guardians.
Damage Output: Standard vs. Awakened
The Master Sword's combat effectiveness shifts dramatically between its two states:
- Base Damage: In its standard, non-glowing state, the sword has an Attack Power of 30. This is solid and reliable for most overworld threats.
- Awakened Damage: When the blade is glowing with that blue aura, its power doubles to an impressive 60 Attack Power. This makes it one of the most powerful one-handed weapons in the game, especially when facing the Calamity's forces.
So, there you have it. The Master Sword in Breath of the Wild is a rechargeable powerhouse: 40 hits, a 10-minute nap, and a glowing form that doubles its damage against the enemies you need it for most. Manage its energy wisely, and it will never truly fail you.
Master Sword Special Abilities and Combat Tips
The Master Sword isn't just a powerful blade—it’s a versatile tool that can turn the tide of any battle in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Once you’ve pulled it from its pedestal, mastering its special abilities is key to unlocking its true potential. Let's break down the sword beam and its hidden situational bonuses.
Combat in Breath of the Wild often revolves around precise sword strikes.
Unleashing the Sword Beam
The iconic Sword Beam is your ticket to ranged combat without using a single arrow. To fire it, hold [R] to aim and release to launch an energy projectile. Here’s the catch: this ability is only available when Link is at full health. If you’re missing even a quarter-heart, you’ll just perform an awkward sword toss with no beam. This damage scales with your total maximum Heart Containers, meaning the more hearts you have, the farther and more powerful your beam becomes.
Use the beam to safely chip away at distant enemies or to trigger environmental puzzles. It’s perfect for conserving precious Ancient Arrows or Bomb Arrows during a tough fight.
Keep in mind that firing beams consumes a small amount of the sword's hidden durability meter. While it’s less than a standard swing, spamming beams will still drain its energy faster, so use them strategically.
When the Sword Truly Awakens
You already know the Master Sword glows with an awakened blue aura near Malice, but this state isn’t just for show. In the presence of Guardians or inside Divine Beasts and Hyrule Castle, its combat effectiveness skyrockets. Not only does its damage jump to 60, but its durability increases to a staggering 188 hits before needing to recharge. This makes it the ultimate weapon for clearing out Guardian-infested areas or storming the castle.
This next part can feel overwhelming—don’t panic. The key is recognizing when you’re in an “awakened” zone. Listen for the distinctive piano sting and watch for the persistent blue glow. With this setup, you’re ready to dominate the most malice-ridden corners of Hyrule. Trust me, once you’ve used the fully awakened Master Sword to dismantle a walking Guardian, you’ll never want to face them with anything else.
With the beam for precision strikes and awakened power for heavy combat, the Master Sword transforms from a legendary artifact into your most reliable partner in Breath of the Wild.
How to Upgrade the Master Sword in Breath of the Wild
So you've claimed the legendary blade, mastered its ebb and flow of power, and even learned to fire sword beams—but your journey with the Master Sword isn't over yet. In The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the sword’s ultimate potential is locked behind its most grueling challenge: the Trial of the Sword. This is where you forge the Blade of Evil's Bane into its true, unyielding form.
Navigating the Lost Woods.
To begin, you must have purchased the Breath of the Wild Expansion Pass, which unlocks the "Master Trials" DLC pack. Once installed, return to Korok Forest and approach the Pedestal of Time. Here’s the key step most guides miss: you need to place the Master Sword back into the pedestal to begin the trial. This will trigger a sequence that strips you of all your gear and throws you into a gauntlet of 45 combat rooms across three escalating tiers: Beginning, Middle, and Final Trials.
This challenge is a pure test of survival and resourcefulness. You'll start each floor with nothing but your wits and Runes, scavenging weapons and food as you go. Mastery of the game's physics and stealth is more valuable here than any high-level armor.
If you've struggled with the Master Sword's 10-minute recharge period, you're not alone—that’s the very limitation this trial seeks to erase. Successfully conquering all three tiers of the Trial of the Sword rewards you with the Permanent Awakening for your blade. This means the Master Sword will forever remain in its "awakened" state: dealing a constant 60 damage and boasting its maximum high durability without ever needing to cool down. It’s the ultimate reward, transforming the sword from a powerful-but-temperamental tool into the relentlessly mighty artifact of legend.
With the Master Sword permanently awakened, you’re ready to face Hyrule’s greatest threats with the confidence of a true hero. Let’s go.