Swords of A Link to the Past

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There are four available levels of sword strength in A Link to the Past. The Fighter's Sword,^[1] the Master Sword, the Tempered Sword and the Golden Sword. Of these, the Fighter's Sword and the Master Sword at the only two unique swords, the other two are upgrades to the Master Sword.

Fighter's Sword

Link's Uncle will give this sword to Link early in the game (together with the Fighter's Shield) as he enters Hyrule Castle, and teaches Link the Whirling Blade Technique. He will use this blade during the game until he can find the Master Sword. During the ending sequence of the game, Link's Uncle is shown with this sword again.

Master Sword

Main article: Master Sword

Once Link has found all three Pendants of Virtue, he may enter the Lost Woods and retrieve the Master Sword from its pedestal. The Master Sword is required to advance in the game because the Fighter's Sword is incapable of breaking the Lightning Lock Agahnim has placed across Hyrule Castle's entrance. In addition to being twice as strong as the Fighter's Sword and having a longer reach, the Master Sword can also fire a Beam Attack when Link is at full health. The Beam Attack does as much damage as the Fighter's Sword. In the GBA remake, the Master Sword, as well as its upgrades, can break signs.

Tempered Sword

The Tempered Sword is the third sword level. It is acquired when the missing Dwarven Smith is reunited with his partner. At this point, the pair will temper the Master Sword for Link for the tiny sum of 10 Rupees in thanks. However, the forging process will take time, and Link will be forced to leave his sword with them and wait. During this time, Link can perform the actions of swinging a blade without one in his possession, essentially causing him to punch out at enemies. This, however, will cause no damage to any enemy, so he will have to rely on his other items to fight until he returns for his blade. Tempering the Master Sword makes the sword much stronger, gives it a reddish-orange glow, and causes it to make a deeper swing sound as opposed to the usual slash sound. It is four times stronger than the Fighter's Sword, but the Beam Attack still retains its original power, and continues to do so even as the sword is upgraded again.

Golden Sword

If Link throws the Tempered Sword into the Mysterious Pond of the Dark World within the Pyramid of Power, the Fat Fairy will transform it into the Golden Sword, which has a golden blade and green hilt, and is eight times stronger than the Fighter's Sword. In the Game Boy Advance version of the game, it also has the ability to break jars (or skulls in the Dark World).

In Ancient Stone Tablets, when the Hero of Light draws the Master Sword from the Lost Woods, he obtains it at this power level from the start, due to it being strengthened to this state by Link prior to the events of the game. The Golden Sword is seemingly the strongest variation of the Master Sword to yet appear in a Zelda game, and it is the only sword that is able to harm Ganon without using the Whirling Blade Technique.

Trivia

A Link to the Past is the only game in which the Master Sword, already seemingly at its full power (as opposed to its powered-down appearances in The Wind Waker and Skyward Sword), can be permanently upgraded to deal more damage.