Finding The Master Sword
Table of Contents
In Tears of The Kingdom, there are two quest-oriented methods to acquire the Master Sword and one direct method. Each method requires the completion of 20 Shrines and using the Lights of Blessing acquired from the shrines to upgrade Stamina to two full rings. The first method involves collecting all the Dragon Tears in the Geoglyphs throughout Hyrule. The second method involves traveling to the Korok Forest. The direct method involves going straight to the Master Sword.
Dragon Tears Geoglyph Questline
This questline enriches the story experience and leads to discovering the Master Sword’s location. The chronological collection of dragon tears is recommended for a coherent narrative. Simultaneously, players should aim to complete at least 20 shrines to ensure enough stamina to acquire the Master Sword.
The quest commences Northwest of Lookout Landing and North of New Serenne Stable. Players will find Impa near a broken air balloon, studying a Geoglyph here. Speak with Impa, use Ultrahand to fix the balloon, and then use fire to light it. After ascending in the hot air balloon with Impa, investigate the Geoglyph below to locate the dragon tear. Identifying the filled-in tear shape within the Geoglyph is the key to finding a Dragon Tear. Approaching Dragon Tears from above by using nearby Skyview Towers or Sky Islands is the easiest way to spot the Dragon Tears. Drop down and activate the Dragon Tear.
Upon activating a Dragon Tear and viewing the ensuing cutscene, converse with Impa again to learn about the Forgotten Temple in Tanagar Canyon. Travel North to find the entrance to the temple in the canyon and navigate through it to find a large room depicting a map of Hyrule and the Geoglyph locations.
Players should collect the Geoglyph Dragon Tears in chronological order for the best narrative experience:
- Rauru Geoglyph from Lindor’s Brow Skyview Tower
- Temple Geoglyph from Lindor’s Brow Skyview Tower
- Purah Pad Geoglyph from Eldin Canyon Skyview Tower
- Molduga Geoglyph from Great Sky Island
- Ganondorf Geoglyph from Gerudo Canyon Skyview Tower
- Sonia Geoglyph from Lindor’s Brow Skyview Tower
- Dagger Geoglyph from Rabella Wetlands Skyview Tower
- Demon King Geoglyph from Pikida Stonegrove Skyview Tower
- Secret Stone Geoglyph from Mount Lanayru Skyview Tower
- Gravestone Geoglyph from Great Sky Island
- Master Sword Geoglyph from Thyphlo Ruins Skyview Tower
After collecting all Dragon Tears, an event marks a final 12th Dragon Tear location, most accessible from Ulri Mountain Skyview Tower. This final Dragon Tear reveals the Master Sword’s location. Though optional, completing this questline simplifies the Master Sword’s acquisition.
Korok Forest & The Great Deku Tree Questline
This questline offers another method to locate the Master Sword, with a little less story. Complete both the “Dragon Tears” questline and the “Korok Forest” questline to experience the whole story. From Woodland Stable, travel North to drop into Minshi Woods Chasm and navigate NorthWest through the depths under the Lost Woods. Head to the center directly under Korok Forest using the surface map in the Depths. A lit-up platform is found here where you can use Ascend to reach the Korok Forest.
Here, an anomaly in the forest leads you to enter the Great Deku Tree and drop down a chasm to purge the gloom infesting the Korok Forest. Prepare for close-quarters combat against Gloom Spawn and Phantom Ganon in a small, gloom-filled arena.
Utilizing the Armor of the Depths, Multi-shot Bows, Bomb Flowers, Dazzle Fruit, Puffshrooms, gloom-recovery Food and Elixirs, and combat techniques like Flurry Rush and Bullet Time help to make this fight easier.
Defeating these foes restores normalcy to Korok Forest and the Great Deku Tree, who then grants the “Recovering The Hero’s Sword” quest. This quest puts a marker on the Master Sword’s location. Once again, ensure stamina is upgraded to two full rings before attempting to acquire the Master Sword.
Spoiler Warning: Direct Acquisition Method
For players seeking a more direct method, be aware of story spoilers. The Master Sword can be pulled at any point if your stamina wheel is upgraded to two full rings. You can find the Master Sword stuck in the head of the Light Dragon, which flies in a two-hour route around Hyrule that is very high up and hard to reach. The Dragon Tear Geoglyph and Korok Forest questlines serve as triggers to lower the Light Dragon’s flight path for easier access.
With enough Zonaite Charges and a flying vehicle, you can reach the Light Dragon from anywhere as long as you can find it. The easiest direct method is to wait at the top of the Great Sky Island above the Room of Awakening and watch to the East for the Light Dragon to appear near the Zonaite Forge Sky Island.
The Great Sky Island, Zonaite Forge Sky Island, Wind Temple, Water Temple, and the tops of the three dive ceremony Sky Islands (Courage, Bravery, and Valor) are all high enough to reach the Light Dragon before its flight path is lowered.
Wait for the Light Dragon to get closer and save your game to reload if you miss your target. Glide or use a flying Zonai vehicle to land on the Light Dragon. Make your way to the head of the dragon to find the sword. Interact with it to start the stamina test, which you can only pass if you have at least two full stamina rings. After passing the test and viewing the cutscene, you will have acquired the Master Sword!
End Game Spoilers: Final Method
There is one last way to obtain the Master Sword in the game’s climax. After confronting Ganondorf, if you have not obtained it already, the game presents the Master Sword during a critical moment. This method does not save the sword in your inventory for post-game use, serving more as a narrative device than a practical acquisition method.
