The Mystery of Link’s Many Ages (Zelda Theory)

[@BanditGames]

Which version of Link is your favorite? Mine is... well, the Hero of Time. I mean, cmon.

[@legend8265]

Mine is twilight princess

[@ChaosCat942]

Me too

[@LuisSilva-wd7ze]

Definitely hero of time and hero of the winds

[@thelastronin2285]

Botw

[@thepenguinboi8679]

Hero of Time story wise, Hero of Winds design wise,Hero of Wild food obsession wise

[@Dragon-Draws]

Nah, Fi or Hylia saw how letting the hero sleep messed up the timeline so she didn’t mess with the hero’s age again

[@thomashost272]

I will refer to my reply to the video for my theory as to the explanation for the age thing. Considering your thoughts are somewhat similar to mine, I think you'd be interested in my idea.

[@GabdaRocur]

Hylia saw that now she has three timelines to handle and never want to do that again

[@rhettmitchell]

@@GabdaRocur age of calamity would like a word

[@Ardour_of_A_Leopard]

@@rhettmitchell Age of Calamity is a HW game and these are never canon. This is confirmed by the director of the Zelda series.

[@mastersaskashi8654]

Fi in Ocarina of Time: This Link is too young, we must wait 7 more years. Fi in Wind Waker: Yeah, this is a badass kid, he gets a pass.

[@CipherionYT]

I mean, WW link wasn’t born with the triforce of courage, he had to prove his worth. So that could be an explanation

[@CipherionYT]

@Zachary Erickson wasn’t he technically born with it? It didn’t activate until later but he didn’t need to literally collect the triforce

[@lschnitzer7770]

@Zachary Erickson after he was time prisoned

[@tootnoot3074]

I see it this way. link got the hero's clothes when he was as old as the hero of time, oot link was 16-17 years old when he became the hero of time so doesn't that mean that windwaker link is as old as the hero of time therefore he could pick up the master sword?

[@tootnoot3074]

@Zachary Erickson the only time windwaker link was revealed to be 12 was in super smash bros brawl's trophy menu. Sadly many information about the trophies in that game are wrong and many are uncanon. Since it has been revealed that link was 17 in oot it means that windwaker link was also around the same age as oot link.

[@A_Professional_Idiot_mk.2]

Rauru said he was too young to be he “Hero of Time” not that he was too young to wield the master sword. So he was likely too young and physically weak to be able to stop Ganondorf, rather than being unable to use the master sword at all. Or something like that

[@MrHyruleanSkele]

Yes! I have the same thoughts! I would like to add that if link had to complete the 5 temples, it would be impossible due to the items he cannot have until an adult and some of the ledges would be too high to climb. Link probably would have a hard time trying to even lift the megaton hammer or biggoron sword. (This is assuming that link pulled the sword and 7 years had passed but he's still a child.) There is one problem with link pulling the sword and not time traveling. There are various events in the game where those 7 years needed to pass. I won't give any examples since this reply is already really long. That's all. Thank you for reading all of this.

[@TheNachmar]

I was thinking the exact same thing, to be honest, that it was a requirement more linked to being the Hero of Time than to actually wielding the sword itself, possibly also a requirement of not so much age, but maturity (as others have pointed out in other comments), which would explain why OoT Link maybe wouldn't be ready but WW Link would. Then again, in the specific case of WW, the master sword was powered down and Link literally proved himself worthy to the gods before going to claim it

[@jerotoro2021]

I think the problem was that Link drew the MS too early. Fi intended for Link to leave Kokiri Forest when the Deku Tree died, join the military and become Zelda's knight. Then Ganondorf would launch his attack on Hyrule, Link would collect the three stones from their holders and access the Master Sword WHILE GDORF WAS BUSY WITH WAR, and then confront him as a trained Hero. But the Deku Tree messed up the timeline by giving Link the Kokiri emerald instead of holding on to it like he was supposed to. This lead to Link going to get the other two, and then being at the castle gates while Zelda was escaping, so she stupidly threw the ocarina at him. Pretty sure Fi was facepalming the entire time.

[@robintst]

They were likely trying to make that point in the cutscene just before you get the Ocarina of Time where Ganondorf on horseback basically just swats him away like a fly.

[@EvyDevy]

Exactly my thoughts!

[@Rocpacci]

I think with the wind waker, he’s allowed to use the master sword at his age because he became the hero due to gathering all the triforce pieces himself, not being the goddesses “chosen” hero.

[@houseofskulltulips]

You get the Master Sword before collecting all the pieces of the Triforce of Courage though

[@Peace.and.knowledge1]

@@houseofskulltulips regardless with that effort. He deserves it *!

[@Nighto]

I considered the fact that it was that he also had the Ocarina of Time, as Shiek said, if he holds both, he holds time it's self.

[@Rocpacci]

@@houseofskulltulips Dang, it’s been a while since I played. I need a release on the switch 😭

[@houseofskulltulips]

@@Rocpacci Let’s hope. I’d also love the other remakes etc, ported to the Switch/Switch Pro.

[@linkswords10]

"MasterSword fine print: must be this old to wield"

[@RFDN0]

No it reads you need to be this old to pull from the pedestal of time.

[@dampseeker]

plot twist: he didnt read the price tag and was saving up for 7 years

[@luckymark571]

Lul

[@rhettmitchell]

@Annalise Barrett *will not glow until adulthood*

[@MrLukeStump]

I think once he is 13 or a teenager(the age of puberty) he is able to pull the master sword. I remember having to get 13 heart containers in breath of the wild to be able to pull the master sword. 13 is the important number here, but just because he can pull the master sword at age 13 does not mean he is going to. Just because he is physically able to pull the master sword does not mean he is truly ready for the challenges, but being older and more mature is a good thing, because a 16 year old is more mature than a 13 year old, even if both of them hit puberty. There is a reason why teens are teens and fit into this category. Once a person is 20 they are no longer a teen.

[@Agent-Ig]

It’s possible Fi decided not to do a repeat of the OOT warp for BoTW link when he drew the sword and just let him train with it in its unpowered state (30 base damage non glowy form), only unlocking the blades true power when a direct source of Ganon’s Malice is nearby

[@eileensmiller8041]

@Zachary Erickson we still don't know if Age of Calamity is cannon or not

[@RFDN0]

Well breath of the wild is the first time the mastersword was not in the pedestal of time. It might only have that function if the mastersword is working and pulled from the pedestal of time.

[@RFDN0]

@Zachary Erickson We have multiple sources that contradict age of Calamity from breath of the wind's timeline prior to Terico creating the split.

[@Agent-Ig]

@@RFDN0 Maybe, after all it’s only when in that pedestal dose it act as a key to the sacred realm. And then after the events of Ocarina of time, the link to the sacred realm was broken? Since TP link wasn’t sent there when he pulled the sword from the pedestal of time. (Probably. I haven’t played TP) It also could be that Raru chose to keep link sealed away in the temple of light until it was the right time to release him according to the prophecy

[@RFDN0]

@@Agent-Ig Well TP Link did enter into a past version of the temple of time. He did this by replacing the master sword back into the pedestal. But we know BOTW link didn't draw the Master sword from the pedestal of time. That is in the temple of time not the Korak forest.

[@knuckles_812]

Is it possible that 12 is the minimum requirement with which to hold the sword, but that the sword understands when the best time to awaken Link would be so as to defeat Gannon? When Link grabbed the sword at 9 years old in OoT, it could have woke him up at 12 but would all the pieces have been put in place for Link's success at that time? Just a thought.

[@firionkaiser8291]

@Zachary Erickson It didn't happen because there was no need for it to happen. Wind Waker Link wasn't under the same position as OoT Link. Rauru specifically states that Link wasn't old enough to be the Hero of Time so he was put to sleep for seven years

[@walkingtacocomics9225]

Yeah, that makes lots of sense. Link wouldn’t get Epona if the ranch was being fought over, he would have to wait for Bongo Bongo to escape from the bottom of the well, the master carpenters needed to be captured, Volvagia needed to be revived, and who knows what messed up stuff Ganondorf was doing in those years.

[@Archtik]

Well, Raru said Link was to young to be the Hero of Time not the hero in general, so perhaps only the Hero of Time had the age requirement.

[@rhettmitchell]

Hmmmmmm

[@majuuorthrus3340]

Rauru doesn't want a child soldier. The various spirits and deities of Hyrule don't care. Toddler Link is probably a bad idea though, no matter how adorable that would be.

[@CheeseburgerEnjoyer]

I mean he is literally the hero of TIME. There is probably a reason why he needs to age 7 years

[@luckymark571]

Bandit you look very young to be born in 1952 props to you :D

[@BanditGames]

Thank you thank you

[@Maisonbleuedame193]

@@BanditGames lmao

[@Kai-rg4kb]

Hmm 69 years old ;)

[@luckymark571]

@@Kai-rg4kb Ah yes the golden age

[@haileeraestout5567]

@@BanditGames Can You Do Zelda's Sealing Power? And How Long She Fought Ganon

[@AlexRosslerArt]

Maybe it's not the age, but the emotional maturity of the hero that the Master Sword judges...?

[@sheenawarecki92]

That's always been my assumption, that and evil doesn't care how old the hero is so the hero is needed when they're needed so there isn't much of a choice in the heros age.

[@minight1711]

Problem is that the hero of time seems not to "live" his growth, Navi says "look at you, you are an adult", Link couldnt have gotten more mature just by getting physically older without going through multiple life experience. He is basically a child in an adult body, thats why Zelda sends him back in time so that he can actually live a childhood

[@MaskedMajoraYT]

Wouldn't oot link be more mature than ww link saying that he lost the only father figure he had, and pretty much grew up as an outcast to the kokiri?

[@teateakira5971]

@@sheenawarecki92 there’s got to be some villain out there that wouldn’t hit a child

[@MidoriOfTheShuinsen]

If we're judging by maturity, then Link is forever barred from wielding the Master Sword in my playthrough.

[@Draco3210]

I think it's more likely that the sword doesn't have an actual age limit attached to it, but rather just actively judges whether and when each hero is ready to wield it on an individual basis. Young Link from oot was simply not ready/not powerful enough as a child, so it sealed him away for 7 or so years until he was powerful/mature enough. Link from ww was simply powerful enough to wield the master sword at a much younger age than oot link. Most of the time, a Link is ready to wield the sword by the time they are 16 or 17, but ww link happened to be mature enough at a much younger age (much like botw Link if creating a champion is to be believed), and oot Link was simply not ready yet/not powerful enough when he first found the master sword. Also, think about how the sword judges Link in botw. It tests him based on his number of heart containers/how much life force he has. This would imply that it judges a hero worthy based not on how old he is (since he is 117 years old) but on how powerful he is.

[@Portersona69420]

We know for a fact that the Master Sword in BOTW is the orginal becouse Zelda (or maybe it was the deku tree i forgot) said they can no longer hear the voice inside. (Aka Fi from skyward sword) Which is the FIRST game in the entire timeline.

[@rhettmitchell]

I think Zelda says that in the secret ending but I think the Deku Tree might mention the spirit of the sword or something

[@crvoincr]

Huh, you're right

[@JariDawnchild]

It may be that the Master Sword also takes into account how near the evil is, as well as the lengths the hero will go to obtain his goal if he started out with one and got dragged into the mess with the evil along the way if waiting for the hero to come of age isn't an option.

[@phoenixtilea5946]

You know, I've heard this issue about Link's age and the sage's line in Ocarina a few times, and I guess I interpret it in a very different way. The Legend of Zelda has a lot to do with destiny, people who have some manner of foretelling and how events should play out. What I took Raru to mean is that the time when Link drew the master sword wasn't the time of - well - the Hero of Time. Certain things needed to have happened and be in place for LInk to have gained the power and ability needed to defeat Gannondorf, and that period happened to be 7 years in the future. Raru didn't say he was too young to wield the blade, but that he was too young to be the Hero of Time, i.e. the time wasn't right for the hero to act. I don't know if that makes sense, and maybe I'm forgetting some dialog that specifically mentions the sword needing to be wielded by someone older, but theories that mention this as a consistency problem with the rules of the master sword (such as they are), have always kind of struck me as odd because I'm reading something entirely different in the sage's explanation.

[@yayayay5898]

yeah, i agree, especially then considering BOTW and the 100 year sleep. it's kind of a mix of predestination and free choice, there is a "time" for the hero to defeat ganon but when that time isn't a specific pre-planned instance

[@Nova-gh5yr]

"Why is Link always a different age?" Because they are literally different people meaning different looks, personalities, and ages

[@Koi_Swirl]

The video would be over too fast if he answered that way.

[@achilleonv]

@@Koi_Swirl That answer is in the official lore released by Nintendo. Each game is a different Link.

[@cheenis891]

Sir I love your pfp

[@Nova-gh5yr]

@@cheenis891 aw, thank you!

[@firionkaiser8291]

@@achilleonv Well with some small exceptions such as direct sequels

[@lydiaj2128]

2:48 “For much more content to come” *looks at camera*

[@thenewherooftime815]

My theory for why link in wind wakes is able to wield it is the soreness of the situation, and all of Hyrule is bassicly gone, so I believe that Fi could bend the rules a little bit

[@DrekenKasai]

About Wind Waker Link, one, he passed the trial of the Tower of the Gods, so he's technically approved by the gods being worthy of the master sword, two, his age is literally written in the intro cutscene of the game (at least in my version... french)

[@keenemaverick]

I think ultimately, the waiting 7 years wasn't necessarily about age, but about "readiness". WW link is ready. OOT link still needed time to cook.

[@ReikaBirdVods]

Well, in OoT Rauru's quote was "However, you were too young to be the Hero of Time...". Which doesn't mention he wasn't old enough to wield the blade, just that he wasn't ready to be the Hero of Time.

[@QunMang]

Did you notice something about the concept art you posted at 5:33? There are multiple Toon Links at different ages. In fact, one piece shows him at three different ages. What this likely means is that Link would have been the normal 16-17 year age when wielding the Master Sword against Ganon, and likewise truly the same age as Young Link in Ocarina of Time when receiving the clothes. At some point this idea was dropped and they stuck with a single Link- apparently the middle one at age 12. However, the script wasn't updated to align with this change so we're left with these two plot holes (the clothes and the sword). But as such it became official that Link could wield the Master Sword at a younger age than originally intended.

[@HyruleGamer]

3:58 that is a top tier pun 💪

[@ridwanali6186]

To be honest it was a good choice and joke

[@liammckinney5218]

i always thought it was something wayyy simplier. It was when that individual Link was mature enough. usually its 16/17 years, but WW Link chose to be the hero, rather than being chosen, so despite him having a more childish personality he is probably one of the most mature versions of link

[@ridwanali6186]

Botw Zelda theories have been milked dry so people prepare for the Zelda theories and even answers we’ve been waiting for

[@vezriyax]

ayyy glad to see you’re back with another great theory!!

[@matsvanaanhold398]

Nice pfp

[@bluecheckmiya]

I always just chalked it up to the fact that the Hero of Time was destined to be the age he was when he defeated ganon. I think it may just depend on the time in which the hero is needed

[@Mobilesuit413x]

I’m thinking it’s more so that Link could pull the master sword, but he just wasn’t ready to wield it. I remember Zelda saying in one of the memories in BOTW something along the lines of ‘can YOU hear the voice within the sword?’ And in all other memories we don’t see the master sword glow until Zelda’s 17th birthday and ‘speaks’ to her. I’m assuming after Link’s 100 year nap he has now met the age requirement, has his 13 hearts, and is finally ready to use the sword to its “fullest” might. Until the DLC is like hey.. your sword could be stronger~

[@catzplayers190]

they said he was too young to be the hero of TIME, not to be the hero.

[@fmega4467]

I think that maybe the reason the hero of time had to be older for his specific adventure

[@niagargoyle]

It is interesting how the two exceptions are also examples of the Master Sword’s power needing to be unlocked. Breath of the Wild Link went through the trial of the sword at 17, so he was of age when the power was fully awakened. As for Wind Waker Link, one possibility is this second Master Sword has different rules. Another is that the trials of awakening/unlocking the sword can get around the age requirement; it’s like taking a test to get out of attending a class.

[@munkiemedia3323]

I’ve always thought him being frozen wasn’t down to the age needed to weld the sword but sages and all knowing he needed to be older to actually have a chance of beating ganondorf in that incarnation.

[@adenbickford]

i think some don't age up is because it was not drawn from the pedestal of time, which was said to also be a factor in time travel by sheik in oot

[@williamgroves3134]

I would have had The sage say that Link was not ready to be hero of time.

[@justfilthygamin]

I believe they said the link in Tri-Force heroes is the same link as a link between worlds. He left Hyrule to be a hero elsewhere

[@thomashost272]

I think I can explain the age thing. I think it's Physical Capability, rather than literal age, though in most cases they require them to be 16 in order to get that physical maturity required, whereas Link was raised by a Royal Knight to BE a Royal Knight from an early age, being physically capable of taking out a guardian with a pot lid and taking out a large number of Knights before hitting age 10, and the burden of being the holder of the Master Sword matured his mind fully around 5 or so years too early. Using OoT as a base reference, Young Link was weak, needing a Power Enhancing Wrist Band to get the physical power Adult Link has without the Power Bracelet. Yet by the time the Hero of Wilds was the Young Hero of Time's age, he could beat the ENTIRE Royal Guard single-handedly.

[@HanayoSora]

I'm thinking that the reason why Link in Windwaker was allowed to wield the Master Sword has to do with his situation and his unique position. Maybe up until the era of Ocarina of Time, it really was mandatory for the hero to be 16, simply because that's the ideal age for someone to be trusted with a task as big as sealing Ganon away. However, when Link from OoT did not return to rescue Hyrule, which caused the flooding of Hyrule to occur (definitely a very rash choice on the Goddesses' behalf), the world was desperate for a hero. When Link from Windwaker took the Master Sword, maybe it didn't put him into coma because it was nothing more than the shell of what it was. But by the time Link did power it back up, maybe the Goddesses and the sword itself saw that Link really was capable enough to wield the sword and they were also very desperate for a new hero, so they decided to let the age restriction slip. After all, this Link wasn't chosen by fate. He kinda twisted fate's arm after it let his sister get stolen. Or maybe it really was a different sword like you said~ Sorry for the long paragraph. Just really love your theory videos ^^

[@Rocpacci]

And the goddesses didn’t bestow the triforce upon him, he drug it up. He turned himself into the hero.

[@Lion-dg5zn]

I’m not sure about this but I swear it said that he was too young to be the hero of time meaning that all of the other links probably are able to wield it at a different age. Maybe I am looking at it too literally.

[@EnchWraits]

The explanation for the hero of the wild is just that he's a crazy (wild) beast.

[@crianite]

For the whole debacle about the Hero of the Wind's age and how its the hero of legend's age, they could be referring to the hero of the minish and four sword link

[@kellymccartney1974]

You should totally do a parallel video of the incarnations of Zelda ages!!! I would watch the crap outta that! Thanks for all the hard work. Love your videos!

[@joshuagiehll3737]

Well, I've always figured that the Hero was always as old as he needed to be for a given threat.

[@MonsterMaze]

Wow, I'm early! Great video as always my friend ^^

[@skullkid7989]

Hey what’s up

[@MonsterMaze]

@@skullkid7989 Im good! How about you?

[@Melont06]

Hi Monster Maze :D

[@siroctopus2652]

I mean it could just be a matter of how it was worded, Rauru specifically said that he was too young to be the Hero of Time, not that he was too young to wield the master sword (of course there could be many other points in the timeline that say you need to be a certain age to wield the master sword, or the original Japanese translation could state so) edit: another thing is that botw Link was wielding the master sword in a supposed 'weakened' state in botw, so it's possible he didn't need to be 16/17 to wield ( it it's implied that this is due to the damage the master sword had taken in the calamity, but the master sword glows when at full power (in botw) and it doesn't glow in any of the memories)

[@composedentirelyof5388]

The thing that could explain botw link being 12 or 13 when he pulled the sword could be that the sword new that the calamity wouldn't arise until link was 17 so it made an exception, or it could be that Fi chooses if the person is the right age to wield the sword. this is just what I think

[@MalformedNPC]

I know it's a corny explanation but it's fated. In Ocarina Link couldn't wield half of the items necessary to defeat Ganon when he was young. In Breath of the Wild the Master Sword knew although Link had used it before that he had become too weak in stasis. There is no set age for Link to obtain the Master Sword but there is a set time for him to be the hero.

[@painuchiha2694]

I don’t think there’s a specific required age for the master sword In ocarina of time the sages probably just decided lonk was not ready yet

[@justanotherfoolish]

10 months later. still says Lonk

[@joss5150]

He was too young to be the "Hero of time". Link in Windwaker is the "Hero of wind". You know this, you call him the Hero of winds.

[@undeadgentalmen]

Tri force Heroes was the weird one, with Huey, Dewey, & Louie running around.

[@DregExheart]

Have to do with their body, like Hero of twilight is the bigger one among the Links, Hero of Time is one of the shortest (even shorter than Zelda), so he needs to be at least have the physycal capacity to be a hero. And is like the sword have the inteliigency to calculate the correct age needed to be the Hero, his chances to winning in the correct time for the destruction don't be too advanced. So yeah, it's FI who decides if the Hero in time is capable of use the Master Sword

[@ninjagamer1359]

Maybe BotW Link could use the Master Sword earlier because it wasn’t time for the Hero yet, like he wasn’t about to face the evil the sword was designed to defeat yet, so it was fine being used in a passive time

[@willian1917]

I believe that the Master Sword determines the hero based on his "potential" and his age may not be an issue for that, but it's just a theory....a game theory.

[@linkrichardson6226]

Can we just assume ol' Grandma had a bit a mishap with her ageing memory and forgot the Hero's age? 😆😂

[@allhumansarejusthuman.5776]

Id say He usually has to be at minimum 16, because of the whole draining the life force test, but he may be able to pull that off early with ample and direct training

[@MasterTim1127]

Bandit, I love your content. I just finished running a Legend of Zelda d&d campaign. Your content helped me a lot with world building.

[@zenith613]

Let me know how it went, I’m curious.

[@MasterTim1127]

Background: Twenty years after the events of Legend of Zelda Age of Calamity. Calamity Ganon was defeated ushering in an Age of Prosperity (campaign title). Queen Zelda and King Consort Link have led Hyrule in a time of peace. They have a son, Prince Rhoaman, named after King Rhoam who passed the same day as his birth. At the point when the story begins he is nineteen. The heroes are part of a group called The Champions of Hyrule led by Link. Recently there have been Bokoblins sighted at an old ruin as well as sightings of a strange man with red hair and gray skin. The Champions are sent to investigate. The ruins are Zonai ruins, the individual in question goes by the name Phantom Ganon. He controls malice which he uses to corrupt his minions, as well as the sheikah slate pedestals. The Champions soon learn that Phantom Ganon is raising the ruins up from the ground for what they presume to be a war. As they unravel his plan they learn that the ruins are temples to Nayru, Farore, Din, and Demise. The Zonai were the first hylians to inhabit the world. There was a fifth temple that was actually a door way to enter the Sacred Realm. The Zonai once opened this doorway using the Fused Shadow to enter the Sacred Realm, but they were cast out and banished for their wicked ways. Phantom Ganon sought to raise up the fifth temple so that he could enter the Sacred Realm and destroy it. In the final battle against Phantom Ganon, one of the Champions landed a grievous blow against him, tearing away his breastplate, and revealing his flesh. He was not as they expected. His skin was tan, and he had a scar that was infected with malice that they had seen before. In a previous battle, after Link had been defeated, the Champions looked to Prince Rhoaman to pick up the Mastersword. But he could not, for he was corrupted by malice. He revealed a scar on his chest. He had been stabbed by a Yiga assassin who had corrupted him with malice. But, being a child of Zelda, he was born with great power. He used that power to control the malice inside of him. He became Phantom Ganon. After learning this truth, the Champions questioned him. He revealed that his plan to destroy the Sacred Realm would prevent the goddess Hylia from being reincarnated and therefore would stop Demise from being reincarnated, ending the cycle of death. The Champions could not allow him to complete his goal. They killed him, ending his treachery and saving the day. During the epilogue, the Sheikah were escavating the final temple when they discovered a hidden chamber where they found a mummified Ganondorf which they in that moment awakened.

[@MasterTim1127]

The awakening of Ganondorf is to set up for a future campaign that I am going to start writing where the Champions will learn that Prince Rhoaman was being manipulated by Ganon the whole time. By destroying the Sacred Realm, Hyrule would be thrown into chaos without a goddess to guide them. Zombie King Ganondorf would rise up from his prison and finally rule Hyrule forever.

[@MrHyruleanSkele]

I think I figured the master sword age requirement. This is actually not the only age requirement that exists. Although it's not for the master sword, the reasons for the requirement are similar or the same. Zelda 2 has this requirement. Link could not go on his second adventure until he was 16 because only then did the crest of the triforce appeared on link's hand. To quote hyrule historia, "those who wielded the triforce were required to possess the unique characteristic of having been born with a heart free from wickedness." Another quote, "the monarch's magic ensured that a crest would appear upon a worthy person who had been properly raised, once they had reached a certain age and gained enough experience." These requirements could be the same for the hero of time, because of the circumstances hyrule is facing.

[@michaelstapleton664]

Great theory! My thought has always been that after the events of ocarina, fi realized that sealing away the hero until he’s ready doesn’t help anyone (ganon breaking into the sacred realm and the timeline split) it just so happens that most of the time the conflict of the games arise around the time any number of links is around the age of 16. If the wind waker master sword is the same sword from ocarina, then a) probably didn’t seal toon link away because it was powered down, or as I said, Fi realized her mistake and didn’t act. Fi technically hadn’t come in contact with a hero since skyward sword so she probably assumed it was best for him to be around the same age as her previous master, until she found her actions made things “worse”.

[@5h0ckblock]

I don't think it matters that Toon Link didn't age up when he got the master sword. In OoT it was explicitly stated he wasn't old enough to be the Hero of *TIME* not that he wasn't old enough to be a hero. A lot of puzzles in OoT require Link to constantly swap between being an adult and child. Perhaps just like how the shiekah shrines were designed specifically for link long before he was born, OoT Link was also predestined to take on challenges tailor made for him. Whether it be the goddess of time, Rauru, or some other entity, something knew Link would one day go on his adventure to defeat Ganondorf. They knew Links only chance at victory would be through the use of time travel, so they imbued the master sword with time altering magic.

[@kingcrono7801]

The Link you play as in Triforce Heros is confirmed to be Link from A Link Between Worlds after his adventure. The other two "players" are considered two other random heros that fit Link's description. So in short, Link is through the eyes of the player and is the same Link from ALBW.

[@jkbatty]

I think it might be a timeline thing as well as a Master Sword thing. All the games from the Child's Timeline seem to get the Master Sword as an 'adult' because that has worked so far for that timeline. Meanwhile in Wind Waker, the Adult Timeline, where due to time-travel shenanigans TO GET AN ADULT LINK there is no Link available when he's needed again, things go very badly. I think that is why the Master Sword in Wind Waker doesn't make Link wait to be any more 'adult' than he is because that WENT BADLY LAST TIME.

[@lord_alex12]

Wait so Adult Link isn't legally an adult well that case I will now refer to him Slightly Taller Link

[@GhostieGwen]

I think the botw issue can be explained in that for every other Link, the master sword is first retrieved after the danger arises. Botw Link retrieved the blade years before the calamity, but was 17 when the calamity occured and he was needed as the hero. Oot Link got the sword after the danger arose, but before he was ready to wield the sword. As a result, he had to be sealed away for his own protection.

[@SAWFD1413]

wild's link may have been 12 when he first pulled the sword but was not "required" to defeat Gannon at that point in time. and so he was allowed to train until he hit 16+ or zelda was of 16-17 years old, when all 3 requirements were met. 1st being master sword being used, 2nd being Zelda & link's age & 3rd may have been the maximum age of the 2 before Gannon auto-failed and might have broke the cycle doing so(failing by never showing up)

[@TheAxmore]

TFH is not hard to make sense of. The fashion kingdom (I forget it's name) had a prophecy about a hero who looks a certain way that would save them. so they put out a call for help from anyone that fit the description. ALBW Link happened to fit that description and travelled there during his travels. there he met other heroes who looked like him. To put it simply the link you play as (Green Link) is the real Link, the red and blue ones are just other random heroes who look like him

[@nicholaszacharewicz693]

Is it maybe just a prophecy sort of thing? Like, The Hero of Time specifically had to be 16 while the rest were just coincidences since there's not a lot of in-game focus on Link's age except in OoT?

[@chips5248]

I think when it says "wield" they mean use it's true power, so it would make sense for the hero of the wild have it in age 12

[@victorceju]

MaskedNintendoBandit said something here that I think it's not 100% accurate. He says that the blade in Breath of the Wild might be the second sword, not the original one. I think that's incorrect because the sword does speak to Zelda. Hence, the sword is the original one. Then, you could say "But then how it's possible that a 12-year-old boy can wield the sword". I have to agree with other people. That requirement was part of the OoT, not the rest of the games.

[@elcroquetero9850]

I think that the Heroe of the Wilds having the second Master Sword wouldn't make sense because of Fi been at that sword, so it seems that he wields the true Master Sword

[@Solomoncaesar]

I personally think for Wind waker and Botw link 12/13 is old enough to wield the master sword but In Ocarina of time Fi chose to age him further because her logic told her he had a higher chance of success if he was a certain age. Closer to the hero of skies, but after seeing the hero of time triumph as a child she didn’t age future links but that’s just a theory. Also another idea is that in wind waker the sword wasn’t at full power so it could be drawn under less strict circumstances. And since link was able to restore its power at 12 it thought he was old enough to wield its full power at 12 and was okay with BOTW link being that age when he got the Sword.

[@MrLukeStump]

I think once he is 13 or a teenager(the age of puberty) he is able to pull the master sword. I remember having to get 13 heart containers in breath of the wild to be able to pull the master sword. 13 is the important number here, but just because he can pull the master sword at age 13 does not mean he is going to. Just because he is physically able to pull the master sword does not mean he is truly ready for the challenges, but being older and more mature is a good thing, because a 16 year old is more mature than a 13 year old, even if both of them hit puberty. There is a reason why teens are teens and fit into this category. Once a person is 20 they are no longer a teen.

[@tonsu646]

So my Theory is that in the original timeline in OoT, Link pulls the Sword and doesn't age. But this sword is too big for him, He cant even use the Hylian Shield right as a kid. Link does his best to beat Gannon, but Link just isn't ready to stop this Gannon so he dies in the end. He is just too young to use the sword right. After the Sages seal Gannon, Rauru sends a message back in time to himself, Telling his past self to seal Link until he is ready. This act creates the Downfall Timeline. We even see this in the picture of the timeline itself, the line that splits off into the downfall timeline starts before the child and adult, witch start at the same points.

[@fortniteshouldlearn6595]

WAITTTTT. WHAT IF THE HERO'S MIND GETS AGED UP IF HE IS PHYSICALLY STRONG ENOUGH TO WIELD IT SO THE BLADE MATURES HIM MENTALLY BUT IN OCARINA OF TIME HE NEEDED BOTH HIS MIND AND BODY TO BE AT REST SO HE COULD MATURE. AKA The Master Sword determines when you would be ready since it has that time-travel part to it. So, it would know if you're mentally ready or not. So, Wind Waker Link was ready but Ocarina of Time Link wasn't ready for it.

[@gergernzero6904]

could be you can wild the sword at a younger age but when it need to kill evile or when it has it powers unlock you have to be a set age. That could explan windwaker as well as he had to reempower it and by doing that got a loop hole if it is not a defrent sword.

[@SAI-Max_D]

I think the reason for OoT Link's being sealed away for 7 years might be the result of 2-3 factors 1: This incarnation of Link is, as far as we know, the only time that the Chosen Hero *attempted* to draw the Master Sword before the age of 10 (this would enable us to factor in the age for Zelda 1's Link as many have speculated that the Master Sword & Light Arrows were redefined forms of the Magic Sword & Silver Arrows) 2: The Ocarina of Time might have had an influence, if not be the actual cause, for the whole temporal sealing - just look at what it can do when playing the Song of Time, especially in Majora's Mask 3: Either Fi or perhaps Link subconsciously triggered the 7-year time sleep as either one knew that the young hero was far too inexperienced to defeat Ganondorf as was made painfully clear right before the Ocarina (either that, or this Link was still too short to physically wield the legendary longsword)

[@bloomhug]

If this theory is true, then BOTW makes sense, because he isnt wielding the full strength of the Master Sword. In multiple cutscenes, it's said that Link is unable to hear the spirit of the Master Sword (Fi). However, in the DLC, when he completes the Master Trials, he is accepted by the sword and is able to hear Fi for the first time. Before, the Master Sword was just another sword to him.

[@toeyboi9488]

Link can’t drink alcohol in gerudo town because he is to young but he is 117 years old bruh

[@mrett4758]

From you quoting oot "too young to be the hero of time" key words (hero of time) and when time line split and fan wanted to know what went were it was decided not to put an age issue on the use of the master sword. But the storyline effect of that is different age heros can use the sword but they stick really close to the late teens area.

[@zartoru_]

My guess is that the master sword put link in stasis in OOT because it was in the temple of time and it was connected to the sacred realm, but in WW the sword wasn't powerfull enough to send link in the sacred realm, and then when he awokened it he was to far away (cause let's be honnest, if BOTW link is an absolute monster, he could have lifted the entire pedestal with the sword in it :'))

[@baggett09]

When you said it didn't make sense how botw link was less than 16/17, my mini-theory is that it wasn't powered up to it's full potential, because of the master trials existing. Also there was no malice in hyrule back then to power it up being before the calamity.

[@LozPlaya]

I am guessing the 16 year old rule probably comes from the fact that the original wielder of the sword, SS Link, was 16, and so Fi only allows people old enough to use it based on her previous experience. In the adult timeline she gets to "see" the effect such a hard keeping of this rule does, as it allows Ganon to effectively conquer hyrule for 7 years. It could be that to avoid what happened during Link's seven year sleep happening again in windwaker, Fi opted to allow a fudging of the 16 year old rule. That's my theory. I think she saw what happened to hyrule after, and the toll it took on OoT Link, and she decided to avoid that scenario again, by allowing a younger hero to yield the sword, and stop ganon before he could do too much damage again.

[@jayb8934]

Here’s another take on it: it’s not age that determines when the hero can wield the master sword, but a combination of their physical and spiritual strength. It just so happens that the Hero of Time didn’t meet the requisite “power level”, so to speak, until age 16. Maybe that is around the average age that the hero becomes strong enough. The Hero of the Wild seems to have been particularly gifted. It’s noted that he could defeat grown men when he was 4! As such, that’s why he reached a high enough “power level” to use the sword at a younger than average age. This also explains why, despite being 17, the Hero of the Wild CAN’T use the master sword when he first awakens post-calamity. He’s been greatly weakened. It’s explained in game, trying to draw the sword without the required “power level” is fatal. In BotW, you have to regain that level of strength, as represented by your number of hearts. So to sum up, it’s not really age, but overall strength that matters. Most Links probably reach that level at around 16, but BotW shows us that it can happen either before or after that age.

[@heylisten4967]

People seems forget that link in ocarina of time just hold the True master sword potential awake by rauru in the end during the last battle against Ganon , when she glows , it's probably the situation where the sword really chooses when the person is ready or not .

[@dasheiligedonerhuhn]

link "possessed" the master sword with 12-13 he used it against the evil guys (not casual bokos or deserted sheikahs) with 17,when Ganon started having an actual influence on hyrule

[@ValiareTheForsaken01]

IIRC, the green Link from Triforce Heroes is supposed to be the same one from A Link Between Worlds.

[@Einlanzer83]

Maybe the magic sword is the master sword, just a retcon. It is the most powerful sword in the game. Link also starts off with it in Zelda II and doesn't get any other sword in the game. In LoZ, like BotW, in order to get the sword you need a certain amount of hearts.

[@ThePsychicPsycho_uZ]

Well you DO need 13 hearts to pull it out of the pedestal in Breath of the Wild.

[@TakumiJoyconBoyz]

My theory is that it wasn't that he needed to be a certain age to wield the Master Sword, it's that the sword knew he needed to grow more for THIS specific task. He's not old enough to be the "Hero of Time". Also, with Wind Waker, I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that he was supposed to be younger at the beginning of the game and grow older over time but that idea was scrapped along the way.

[@thecriticalcanadian]

I think the only reason why OOT Link was sent to the future was for training purposes. From what I recall, in most games, link is shown to have had some training previous to obtaining the master sword, LTTP had his uncle who was a solider, Wind waker had Orca, Twilight had the shade. The only one I can think of who didn't get trained by someone was OOT Link.

[@sonic-bb]

twilight also had the help of the other villagers. before the shade. oot link really was the only one without any training whatsoever

[@ninjagamer1359]

“The Hera of the Skies, Hera of Time, Hera of Twilight, Hera of the Past, Hera of Hyrule, Hera of Winds, and Hera of the Wild” - this is all I hear

[@stevemcleave1164]

Ok i know technically Age of Calamity is not canon, but wouldn't that mean that link in that game is 12? Like link doesn't have the master sword at the start of the game, and the game takes place a bit before Ganon rises. And this is before the age of calamity "timeline" even came into play because egg bot doesn't affect anything until the pillar appears

[@crvoincr]

My theory is the master sword chooses a worthy hero from the hero themselves, not their age. Child link wasn't worthy, so it made him older. But toon link was already worthy at age 12, so he was able to wield it.

[@Gigadander]

I think it's just experience and his level of "force". Using BOTW he can't pull the Master Sword till his hearts (life force) is at a certain point.

[@ruinicibz4511]

My theory: The only reason link had to become 16 in ocarina of time, is that ocarina of times hero's prophecy was a 16 year old would beat ganon. The other links' prophecy doesn't say that they have to be 16, or any age for that matter.

[@rodreyes5]

Nice theory , also , Hylia ( I think , sry I'm new to this ) created the prophecy , but she didn't specify ALL the details so maybe is that , the prophecy can change depending on the circumstances on something

[@ruinicibz4511]

@@rodreyes5 Think of it this way, You are going to the store, and you have to buy a soap and shampoo (horrible example ik), That part is written out, you have to buy a soap and shampoo, the rest is variable as you pointed out. It doesn't matter if the soap is on clearance, or there is a karen who wants the shampoo and won't give it, all that matters is you get the soap and shampoo, and similarly all that ocarina of time link had to do was be 16 and defeat ganon (and some more stuff)

[@clueless8659]

I honestly think that the reason for the messed up age and master sword ownerships is that ocorina of time says that he was not the right age to be the hero of TIME, but the other links might not have been needed to be that age and it might just be a coincidence that they wielded the sword at the same age or around the same age

[@Omegaman87272]

I don't Necessarily think the Master Sword Has Anything to do with the age and to be quite frank I don't think anything is particularly age related. It was said that link in Zelda 2 was about 16 when he obtain the triforce of Courage. Skyward Sword Link happened to be 17 when obtaining his piece of the triforce. However its not a matter of age necessarily but when the specific links reached Mental Maturity! It Makes since for the Windwaker Link To reach mental maturity at age 12 because he had to deal with his Sister getting kidnapped aswell as taking care of his grandmother at a young age as in basically he had to be the man of the house since neither of his parents nor his grandfather was present at all. Obtaining the Triforce is purely a sign of reaching Mental Maturity and for the Link from Ocarina he happen to not reach mental maturity until age 16 and therefore was not worthy of being called the Hero of Time until such!

[@_gremlinboy]

I think the wind waker and spirit tracks links are my favorite,,, no real justification I just love link's baby design

[@miaswapp]

Or the lowest age you can draw the master sword is 12 and the only reason the hero of time had to sleep for seven years was because he was nine and 7 is an important number in Zelda lore you know the 7 sages, 7 wisemen, and 7 maidens

[@lukes9192]

My thought is that the sword just has this as a tool that has only been necessary once. It knew OoT link didnt have a chance as a child and decided he needed to age. The others were generally close to peak shape from an age standpoint, or were just ready. After all, they can all use bows and stuff like that where the hero of time could not. He was aged to be more prepared and theres still a timeline for his defeat, the sword had to have known he didnt match ganondorfs power

[@Melont06]

This whole time I thought young Link was 10 and then he was 17

[@Zihvorion]

I thought so too. I remember the hero of time's age being stated in the game and again to reiterate he was 17 to wield the Master Sword.

[@truelionofhylia8152]

Ten years old, then seventeen years old. Yeah. That makes sense. One guide said he was ten. Then the amiibo came out with Link as the seventeen-year-old he was after seven dark years. Even the amiibo said he was seventeen.

[@truelionofhylia8152]

The Link in Twilight Princess had his Hero's Journey as a young seventeen-year-old. Maybe he'd be seventeen throughout the whole story. Midna could be in his age group. The Princess Zelda in Twilight Princess was twenty years old, just three years older. Link was three years younger at seventeen.

[@929er13]

@@truelionofhylia8152 pretty sure twilight princess link is 19

[@joelcomer]

True Lion of Hylia Bro just chill he said I think not ITS like you are doing. He wasn’t being pushy and trying to assert his dominance, like you. No one cares.

[@theanthropologuy7775]

Hey Bandit! Good video, as usual. I just realized something watching an old Zeltik video on the Fire Temple: it was built by the Gerudo! That grinning face looks like an early Gerudo symbol. The original was a crescent, I know. But there are switches in the fire temple that used to have the crescent, and were updated to the Gerudo emblem. There's also a big block with the Gerudo symbol on it. Then in BOTW, Spectacle Rock wound up in the Gerudo Wasteland instead of Death Mountain