So, you’ve finally made it through the Lost Woods. You navigated that creepy fog, avoided the ghosts, and stood in front of the pedestal. You pulled it. The Master Sword in Breath of the Wild is officially yours. But then, twenty minutes later, you’re fighting a Guardian near Hyrule Castle and the screen flashes that dreaded red text: The Master Sword is running out of energy. Wait, what?
This is the Blade of Evil’s Bane. The legendary weapon that has appeared in almost every Zelda game since A Link to the Past. It isn't supposed to "run out of energy." It’s supposed to be the ultimate weapon. Honestly, when Nintendo first revealed that the Master Sword could actually break—well, "recharge"—the fanbase went into a bit of a meltdown. It felt like a betrayal of the lore. But after years of playing this game and diving into the mechanics, it’s clear that the Master Sword in Breath of the Wild is designed differently for a very specific reason. It’s not a carry-all. It’s a tool for a specific job.
Getting the Master Sword: The 13-Heart Hurdle
Most players think you can just rush the Korok Forest. You can't. To pull the Master Sword in Breath of the Wild, you need exactly 13 heart containers. No, "yellow" temporary hearts from eating hearty radishes don't count. The Great Deku Tree is literally watching your life force to see if you're strong enough to survive the pull. If you try it with 12 hearts, you die.
It’s a brutal gatekeeper.
Because the game is open-ended, you can theoretically get those hearts whenever you want. You could grind out 40 shrines right at the start, or you could trade your Stamina Vessels at the cursed statue in Hateno Village to cheat your way to the requirement. I’ve seen speedrunners do this in record time, but for the average player, the Master Sword represents a mid-game milestone. It’s the point where you stop being a scavenger and start being a hero.
Interestingly, the sword's base attack power is only 30. That's... underwhelming. A Savage Lynel Sword can hit for 58 or higher. Even a decent Royal Broadsword found in a chest might outclass it. This is the first major misconception: the Master Sword isn't the "strongest" weapon in the game by raw numbers, at least not at first. Its true value lies in its durability and its "awakened" state.
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The Secret Mechanics of the Blade of Evil’s Bane
When you get near "Malice"—that purple/black goo covering the land—or inside a Divine Beast, the sword starts to glow. This is when the Master Sword in Breath of the Wild actually becomes the weapon you expected.
The attack power jumps from 30 to 60.
The durability skyrockets.
Normally, the sword has a durability of 40 hits. In its glowing, awakened state, that number jumps to 188. That is a massive difference. You can basically clear an entire Divine Beast or take down multiple Guardians without the sword ever needing to recharge. It’s specifically tuned to fight Ganon’s influence. If you’re using it to chop down trees or kill Blue Bokoblins in a field, you’re wasting it. Use an axe. Or a stick. Seriously.
The Beam Attack
One thing people often forget is the beam. If you have full health and try to "throw" the Master Sword, Link will instead fire a blue crescent of light. It’s a throwback to the original NES Zelda. The distance the beam travels is actually tied to how many heart containers you have. More hearts? More range. It’s not a huge damage dealer, but it’s great for popping Keese or hitting those annoying Octoroks without wasting your "real" arrows.
Why the Recharge Mechanic Actually Saves the Game
Let's talk about the elephant in the room: the 10-minute cooldown.
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When the sword breaks, it doesn't vanish from your inventory like a traveler's sword. It just sits there, greyed out, for 600 seconds. While it feels annoying, this mechanic forces you to keep engaging with the rest of the game’s systems. If the Master Sword never broke, you’d never use the weird, cool weapons like the Windcleaver or the elemental rods.
However, there is a way to make it "permanent" in a sense.
The Trial of the Sword DLC changed everything. If you complete all three tiers of the trials—Beginning, Middle, and Final—the Master Sword stays in its "awakened" 60-damage state permanently. It still has durability, but it’s the 188-hit version. It makes the game significantly easier, which is why Nintendo locked it behind what is arguably the hardest challenge in the entire game.
Common Myths and Misconceptions
I’ve seen a lot of misinformation floating around Reddit and various forums about this weapon. Let’s clear some of it up.
- Can the Master Sword break forever? No. It is the only weapon in the game that stays in your inventory permanently. Even if you try to drop it, the game won't let you.
- Does it do more damage to Ganon? Yes, it stays in its 60-damage state for the entire final boss fight.
- Is it better than the Hylian Shield? They aren't comparable. But, if you have both, you look like the Link from the box art, which is basically the goal of the game, right?
- Can you lose it? Only if you use glitches. In a standard playthrough, once you have it, you have it.
The Master Sword also has a unique interaction with the "Master Works" lore. In the game's memories, we see Zelda struggling with her powers while Link stands by with the sword. The sword actually has a "voice" (indicated by a chiming sound), which Zelda eventually hears. This is a direct reference to Fi from Skyward Sword. It’s a nice touch for long-time fans that proves this isn't just a random sharp object—it’s a sentient entity.
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How to Optimize Your Use of the Master Sword
If you want to get the most out of the Master Sword in Breath of the Wild, you need to treat it like a specialized tool.
Don't use it on standard enemies unless you have already finished the Trial of the Sword. Save it for Guardians. When the sword is glowing, it can chop off a Stalker Guardian's legs in one or two hits, which also stuns the machine. This is the most efficient way to farm Ancient Gears and Shafts.
Also, keep an eye on your health. If you take a tiny bit of chip damage from a fire or a fall, you lose the ability to throw beams. Carry some "filler" food—like a single cooked apple—just to top off that last quarter-heart so your beams stay active.
Another pro tip: The recharge timer starts the moment the sword breaks. If the sword is "low on energy," it’s often better to just hit a tree a few times to break it intentionally. That way, the 10-minute timer starts immediately and you’ll have a fresh sword sooner, rather than having it break right in the middle of a big fight later.
Actionable Next Steps for Players:
- Check your Heart Count: If you’re under 13, head to the Dueling Peaks or Hateno region to find high densities of easy shrines.
- Locate the Korok Forest: It’s in the Great Hyrule Forest, north of Hyrule Castle. Follow the wind and the embers of your torch to find your way through the fog.
- Prioritize Guardians: Use the sword specifically for farming Guardian parts near the Central Tower to upgrade your Ancient Armor set.
- Consider the DLC: If you find the breaking mechanic too annoying, the Trial of the Sword is the only "official" way to buff the durability to a point where it feels almost unbreakable.
The Master Sword isn't just a weapon; it's a test of the player's patience and understanding of Breath of the Wild's world. It demands respect, but it rewards you by being the most reliable companion you have against the Calamity. Just don't try to use it to mine ore. You're better than that.