THE MASTER SWORD is a MESS!! | THE LEGEND OF ZELDA | Pop-culture weapons analysed

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Link's Master Sword from the Legend of Zelda series, is a mess, so let's see how function it's design is and how to fix it.
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[@roeibe1265]

Hey shad! just finished to read your book a few falls ago and wanted to say that it was brilliant! can't wait for the sequel

[@siliarin2337]

cool comment :)

[@mencheperra3916]

@Brian the Trainer That would be awesome.

[@theforcedmeme]

I cant wait for the netflix adaption *hint hint*

[@MG-ee2rc]

Grammar police!!

[@marcpabel4768]

That sounds exactly like what he wouled say to himself if he was two persons. It also sounds as if your about to crawl into his ass...

[@etherealemily4901]

“We don’t know if it uses magic” It shoots lasers and is possessed by a spirit

[@_quidd]

Aze Fi is the triforce now, I guess

[@zjmiller6627]

He said we don’t know if magic affects the weight.

[@bonegloveGG]

@@zjmiller6627 The Goddess Sword was tiny. Goddess sword turned into Master Sword because of magic flames. Master Sword is huge. Sorry bud but it probably does.

[@RoarTheRapper]

Lol he was talking about whether magic was used in its creation 😅

[@thecatch6299]

Yeah literally is the sword that seals the darkness lol

[@Regnart_Seht]

Today on Shadiversity we body shame Fi.

[@Yukatoshi]

Shad is kinda chunky.

[@couchcommandoiv5528]

Videogames: Treat women as objects... Nah Treat objects as women... Oh yeah

[@Yukatoshi]

Steven Edward I played Tomb Raider a few days ago. What does that count as?

[@scythelord]

@@gladeonrav22 The only good communists are dead communists.

[@couchcommandoiv5528]

​@@Yukatoshi did you treat her right, or keep turning her to gold with Midas?

[@Ganjau]

“This sword is so impractically heavy” OoT Link deadlift throwing 785 tons of black granite over 100ft behind him.

[@mayonnaise2396]

Weight affects more than just the Weald ability of a sword. It also affects the swing and recovery of a swing.

[@KieraQ0323]

@@mayonnaise2396 he doesn't need a sword that works, he needs a magic piece of metal to swing around

[@nathanpfirman625]

Not to mention Link in BoTW is literally stop lynel attacks with just a plain old shield which has a video on it by Zeltik that he can stop 11 Million Newtons which is stronger than a rocket

[@beret4542]

@@nathanpfirman625 ikr

[@lienomzekon4763]

didn't he need magic gloves for that.

[@LS95774]

I think it's kinda funny how the redesign is basically what the Master Sword looked like until around Twilight Princess And I mean, in the original LoZ the magical sword was basically just a normal sword lol

[@HannaLivingston]

It wasn't in the original LoZ, though.

[@bailey6304]

@@HannaLivingston He said magical sword in that last part, as in the third sword in the original game

[@HannaLivingston]

@@bailey6304 Note that fhe comment says (edited). It said Master Sword when I first commented, so my correction was legitimate.

[@omegawilliam95s36]

Alternative Title: Australian man body shames Fi for 26 minutes straight.

[@liwendiamond9223]

-Snipped because OP made the correction.-

[@omegawilliam95s36]

LiwenDiamond I’m not good at determining where people are from.

[@liwendiamond9223]

@@omegawilliam95s36 All good. Yeah, you wouldn't know unless you're used to the accent or been told. I personally had no idea Shad was Australian until he mentioned it himself in one of his videos.

[@haruhisuzumiya6650]

and the goddess blade

[@Cadaverous0711]

Aw

[@antoniocialfi77]

Brain: all these revisions make sense, you won't stab your hand using the sword now. Also my brain: I don't like it. It looks wrong.

[@potat3746]

You are god damm right

[@neisan92]

personally I love it, My roomate has a replica and we tore into it's retarded design bits and how we would fix them. Shad got them almost all perfect. Lol

[@potat3746]

The retarded bits are part of the sword, it's uncomfortable seeing some thing you are familiar with but with some different bit. It make it feel wrong.

[@luisfernandocaelhernandez9599]

I don't like it either

[@captainflare9340]

same

[@diegog1853]

I prefer the subtle triforce. I see it more as some sort of religious memento. Not precisely the point of the whole sword, but just something to illustrate the alignment of the wielder. Similar to how most princess zelda designs have a triforce somewhere in her clothes. Not precisely as a center piece more of a reminder.

[@piggyguy3674]

Idk it kind of is the entire point of the sword

[@tsrenis]

@@piggyguy3674 Not really, it's just tangentially related to the triforce.

[@Vgamer311]

@@piggyguy3674 I wouldn’t say so, the triforce and the master sword aren’t even primarily associated with the same gods. The triforce is associated with the creation trinity while the master sword is associated with Hylia.

[@daridon2483]

​@@Vgamer311 And also serves as a reminder that the master sword was created by forging the goddess sword onto the fire of the 3 deities of creation (the same ones who made the triforce)

[@Vgamer311]

@@daridon2483 yes, so the sword does have ties to the triforce but the triforce isn’t the point of the sword.

[@TheDoomMaster]

"The diamond isn't even important" Wait until he finds out that thing is why the Master Sword functions in the first place.

[@Higher-Ground]

The diamond is my favorite thin on the sword other than the blade it's self

[@DarkManser]

Yeah isn't the diamond symbol of the Goddess Hylia and/or otherwise related to Fi?

[@Alex-wi1mx]

counter counter point: pommel gem

[@MK-dr7dx]

@UrBoiEthan Expanding on that, we saw in Skyward Sword that when Ghirahim's diamond core was nearly broken, it looked like he was on the brink of death. If we make the fairly reasonable assumption that Fi works on a similar principle, the diamond is vital for a sword spirit's survival. You get rid of the diamond and you've basically killed Fi. In doing so, you've either turned the Master Sword into a mindless magical artifact like the Triforce the can be used for good and evil alike with potentially disastrous consequences, or reduced the Master Sword to a mundane metal pokey stick.

[@katherineberger6329]

Design-wise, the diamond is an extraneous detail, same as the disk between the quillons and the grip. He's not talking about the lore, he's talking about the design of the thing. The Triforce is the central visual motif of the franchise.

[@joshuaowen6763]

Hey Shad, Since you were talking about Zelda why not do an in depth look of Hyrule Castle from Breath Of The a Wild? That would be awesome.

[@taranis04]

Joshua Owen YES

[@kumii0981]

No please no, we don't need Shad going bonkers over the lacking of proper machicolations. Edited word correction I didn't notice cause not reading what I typed before posting and going off to other things.

[@-Gax-]

@@kumii0981 But there's so much right with it too. I, for one, am interested in his opinion

[@nathanielzarny1176]

Replying so shad can see this

[@Pearg0ld]

Shadbase

[@Celestia282]

The diamond in the hilt does, in fact, play a role. As seen in Wind Waker, when the Master Sword lost its power after the deaths of the Sages, the diamond became faded, and after reacquiring the power to seal evil, the diamond became bright once again. Clearly, the diamond serves some practical purpose in channeling the sealing power and is, therefore, required. In addition, as the Master Sword is specifically the Sword of Evil's Bane, one could argue that the diamond, the source of the sealing power, IS the most prominent feature of the blade. The Triforce Symbol on the blade is simply a subtle nod to its divine origin. The sword does not have any direct connection to the Triforce, itself.

[@shawnwolf5961]

The Triforce symbol could glow when it becomes more powerful again, the diamond is NOT needed. Not to mention, the sword was created by the gods, so yes--it DOES have a connection to the Triforce.

[@Celestia282]

@@shawnwolf5961 The Triforce is not the source of the sealing power, and the two are unrelated. The Triforce is not even a good-aligned power as we have seen it used by and for evil countless times. Linking the Triforce design to the sealing power is incorrect, awkward, and contradicts lore. And no, the Master Sword does not have any connection to the Triforce. Both being made by the same beings does not mean they are related. The Terminator is not canon with Titanic just because they were both made by James Cameron.

[@Malkuth-Gaming]

@@shawnwolf5961 The Diamond was on the Goddeses Blade long before it was transformed into the Master sword. The Connection between the Sword and the Triforce is that the sword is the final seal into the sacred realm where the triforce is hidden. When Link pulled the sword from the pedistal in Ocarina of Time it removed the final seal which allowed Ganondorf to enter the Sacred Realm and use the Triforce to Transform Hyrule into a world of Darkness.

[@Banjoisawesome]

@@Celestia282 Oh yes it does dunce! Link in Skyward Sword tranformed it from the flames of the three Golden Godesses, and since they made the Triforce, IT'S CONNECTED TO THE TRIFORCE! NOW SHUT UP!

[@CRYOKnox]

whats that with the rude ton? Are you people arguing like this IRL its completely okay to have another view and maybe engage in a more beated way but this donkey screaming among people that clearly like the same stuff to a degree... Geez

[@Rebel37th]

Shad: “I remade and redesigned the master sword.” Zelda fans: “..... You.... you did what now??”

[@redviper8972]

It made me triggered

[@kennybautista7698]

Iugh

[@fruitjucplayz8164]

Very much triggered, By making that monstrosity he destroyed the lore connected to that sword, and its just plain UGLY.

[@sengokusanada2690]

@@redviper8972 same.

[@akumaprocel6837]

Literally what the actual fuck

[@A1phaWolf150]

I like the first revision, it makes the sword look cleaner and more realistic without taking out anything important, but the other two are α little excessive and not lore friendly.

[@VictorianGentleman]

That was such a concise and mature response which I completely agree with and applaud you for.

[@jakealexander5503]

I can't agree more

[@sleinzer2302]

What kind of weird a did you use there?

[@r2020E]

A possibility would be to outline the triforce with a little bit of gold leaf (very thin just for color)

[@litwick1563]

I would argue it’s more lore friendly to give more prominence to the triforce.

[@IGSA101]

For it being impractically heavy, we know link is unnaturally strong so that shouldn't be a problem.

[@theinfinit1529]

With the help of those gloves from ocarina of Time link can push rocks a hundred times the size of him

[@theinfinit1529]

And in wind waker he can pick up a rock that's also 100 times the size of him

[@LylaDagger]

@@theinfinit1529 In the he other games he didn't have those gauntlets so he's become kinda super human.

[@OneEyedCloud01]

In TP Link tosses gorons that should shatter his entire skeleton. He clearly has some sort of superhuman gene

[@reagame8700]

@@OneEyedCloud01 does the "Spirit of the Hero" gene count?

[@ScottyAlmondjoy]

As others have stated, the diamond actually does play a role. It also kind of looks like a beak to the wings of the quillions. The blue and gold elements from the ricasso thing look like legs. You could get a similar effect by bluing the edges of the ricasso with the same treatment as the guard, assuming that they’re made from the same metal (or the divine skill of its makers), or just using gold leaf and have longer “bird legs”. You could play with the geometry of the ricasso, bluing, and leafing to make the “legs” look right. Likewise, the easiest way to make the triforce pop would be with gold on the blade itself, which is definitely a technique used on historical blades. The wear-resistance of the gilding could be chalked up to magic.

[@BobT36]

I think you're right about the head / legs. Check the eagle / bird on the Hylian shield, it's clear meant to portray that. Still silly though in the sword design yeah.

[@KairuHakubi]

it's also clear that at some point that diamond was meant to do something, as the model actually changes in Ocarina when the sword's drawn. it appears to change to a sheikah symbol or.. sooomething when sheathed.

[@anonymousfellow8879]

Fi is designed to look like the Master Sword. Not the other way around. The design is Purely Aesthetic~ and not at all functional in most of its appearances in the series OoT-and-onward. ...add in the fact that that thing NEVER keeps its temper?! Ever?? It’s junk. Just use any incarnation of the Sacred Arrows and be done with it-THOSE are insanely powerful against regular enemies and NEVER have to be “upgraded” to do reasonable or noteworthy damage. (And in the first installment? You literally cannot beat PigGanon unless you first find the Silver Arrow, comparable to the Light Arrows)

[@zachrodan7543]

@@anonymousfellow8879 in the original game, there was no master sword. there was the magic sword, but it is debatable whether that was the master sword or not. while it is true that fi is designed to look like the master sword, her design tells us a lot about what elements of the master sword's designs are seen as important by the developers, as those are the elements that appear in fi's design.

[@lukewilliams8548]

Yeah, gold inlay for the triforce would be great!

[@gloom727]

The thing is about the sword is that it isn’t meant for just anyone to use. Littearly only one person ever can use it so it may not work for average people but it works for them-

[@sebastianramsey5019]

personal i think its more like thors hammer anyone who is worthy can wield it just link is reincarnating and thus consistent

[@feltonthecat475]

@@sebastianramsey5019 Nope, Link is said the be the chosen ONE multiple times in the series. Hylia chooses him specifically and only "the Goddess's chosen hero" can wield the Master Sword.

[@DusktheEpicHedgehog]

@@feltonthecat475 that's not technically true Zelda herself has been show using the sword in WW and in BOTW granted she didn't attack anything with it but there nothing saying she can't since she could pick it up

[@feltonthecat475]

@@DusktheEpicHedgehog Well, it could be that since Zelda in Skyward Sword is a reincarnation of the goddess Hylia, all other Zeldas would have that sacred blood, which would allow them to use the sacred blade. Idk

[@wet0wl]

@@sebastianramsey5019 Ganon is actually the only character that reincarnates, every Link and Zelda is a different person just with the same name with the Spirit of the Hero and Blood of the Goddess respectively… God I’m such a nerd

[@flores5420]

13:58 POV: You’re getting stabbed in the face by Link

[@Cry0tiK]

This made me laugh more than it should’ve

[@geschnitztekiste4111]

Death for breakfast

[@Anths_art]

Pov: You're Ganondorf at the end of The Wind Waker

[@ToaTakanuva23]

The gem is supposed to show the “life” of the sword since it has a spirit in side of it. The tri force is like that because of its story and is to show it can seal away evil

[@hwatgamertv7039]

ok👌

[@Curts_videocassette]

ok

[@shin_a]

Ok

[@prometheus6664]

Idk why but this video triggered me so much. He treats it as it needs to be functional for a normal soldier but its a sword only to be used by Link. I didn't see any issue with it and I agree with you. The wings reference loftwings and theres importance to the design so changing it just doesn't make sense.

[@shin_a]

Bradford Lindemer yeah exactly

[@EnchWraits]

Yes, the yellow gem. Who wants to kill the sword's magic spirit?

[@zockingtroller7788]

Ganon

[@Star-Gazor]

me. I was never a fan of Fi

[@jameswalker199]

Recut the magic gem into a triangle and put it in the empty spot in the triangle emblem if you're worried.

[@keiyakins]

@@jameswalker199 dear goddesses no. You need to have at least *some* respect for the fantasy setting that birthed this and that is not how the triforce works.

[@Blapedred]

@@keiyakins lOrE

[@theturkerk1793]

This blade would be really heavy link: proceeds to shoo away a 16,000 pound creature

[@rockbender3]

I know he was doing this based on functionality and design, but it’s difficult to watch this video as a Zelda fan...

[@d34thxvii48]

It's fun to see into things from the perspective of someone who knows next to nothing about the sword lol

[@d34thxvii48]

Never mind he lost me at 24:00. That's when I realized he's serious or this whole video was for April fools memes

[@israelwilson9496]

Same

[@tforcwahs]

Can not agree more

[@linklink3008]

Especially since he murdered Fi...

[@sebastianuglyrat]

“We don’t know if magic affects the blade” It shoots beams from the blade...

[@RasMatHam02]

And anyone who has played Skyward Sword knows that the sword is probably more magic than actual physical material (the original sword is tiny compared to the fully upgraded Master Sword)

[@haruhisuzumiya6650]

@@RasMatHam02 divine forge with dragon servant flame. and skyward pose unlocks its true splendour and it recharges. it you drop the sword it will teleport to the lost woods..

[@fresh-tea9559]

That and I'm pretty sure the diamond is more central to the design because it's the divine energy put in by Hylia to seal ganon, and that the triforce is on there to show what the sword is restoring the balance of, rather than what it is.

[@drewce390]

If link is at full health.

[@yoda908]

@@RasMatHam02 the original sword was just called the magic sword if I recall. The original Legend of Zelda was simple; you got the wood sword right away then you could go straight to the graveyard if you had 12 hearts and remember the path combination.

[@JeanneDGames]

I always thought that the Triforce engraving was meant to be akin to the blacksmith's branding. It's a sword forged by the Goddess Hylia (or, before that lore was established, the three goddesses), and serves as the key to the Sacred Realm where the Triforce itself lies. The Triforce is the symbol of Hylia and the other gods, and in turn used by Hyrule, the royal family, and anything closely tied to the Sacred Realm. The engraving isn't a centerpiece, it's a faint reminder that you're swinging around a divine instrument. I don't think your other points were bad but honestly moving the triforce and making it big and prominent kinda turned me off your redesign. Wasn't very into the changes made after the first set.

[@Glockenspheal]

agreed, moreover the diamond is more of an indicator than a flair, as in games like Wind Waker it glows when the sword is powered up, having the triforce glow would be just... a bit too flashy for my taste and might give off the wrong idea, indicating maybe that the triforce itself was inside the blade somehow.

[@alfonsovelazquez9565]

Also I'm pretty sure the triforce on the blade glows in some special moments

[@JDLinkVT]

yeah, plus the diamond represents Fi too, the literal entity of the master sword

[@haileeraestout5567]

Hylia: (Pouts At Shad)

[@TehkeelaSuhnrayze]

It's also made to fight nonhuman enemies, including at least one god, and be wielded by an expert-level swordsman literally blessed by the gods and forged from a living entity made out of magic. I suspect it very much does not follow normal sword design rules because it was never intended for use as a normal sword. BotW backs this; unless you're using it to directly fight the Calamity or have put in some effort to power it up and thus proven yourself an expert, it doesn't hit at full power and there are other swords more useful.

[@YowLife]

The finished sword had a nicer blade, but the grip, guard and everything else felt inferior to the real Master Sword

[@pascalgagne221]

yeah, is fix master sword will be destroy by one hit against the real master, plus you can't fix a sword made by magic of the goddess Hylia, , the look of the sword have a reason why is look like this! but his sword, Link will look and he will say WTF in Hylien langue, and Zelda will say what you have done you fool, you a doom us all! and Ganon will be happy because the sword is no long work and Ganon can no long be defeated!

[@wet0wl]

Well I liked the grip just because it was flat and doesn’t change much but ye

[@devdog7409]

I agree. Honestly, no disrespect, but the sword got worse and worse the more he revised it. He can argue functionally all day, but from a visual perspective it is clearly inferior to the original. The first revision was pretty good.

[@reijimiyamoto4227]

@@pascalgagne221 can we even break master sword ?

[@pascalgagne221]

@@reijimiyamoto4227 the sword can be broken but only magic relic can repair it or the power of the goddess Hylia , the six sage and the 3 Golding goddess can repair it! out side of those who can repair the sword, those who a try to recreate the sword a fail, the sword in the video will be one of those fail master sword, because is can have only one, is why is call master sword, the people of hyrule a try to make more of the sacred blade but all fail, so if no one can recreate the sword can't repair it, but all fake master sword do not even look as the master sword, sure all have holy power but all finish by break away by heavy blow on it, the real master sword is can take many heavy blow, magic or not and is not break, sure the sword will break one day but if you put the sword back on the place you fount it, is will be repair fast and next take the sword back go continue your mission of safe hyrule against the force of evil. the fix master sword(faker) will break easy like all fake master sword on the first magic blow or heavy blow!

[@shovelknightmaster4657]

I don't think the discard that you hated so much was actually a discard. More of a separating barrier to prevent the hand from slipping up into that uncomfortable looking hilt

[@mattyjohnsson257]

DISCGUARD

[@enterprisethesylveon5787]

A Handguard

[@michaelcherokee8906]

That's a piss poor reason. Instead of adding a stupid handstop (and by the way it took me a few seconds to figure out what you meant by "discard") to protect the user from spike on the crossguard, just remove the spikes from the crossguard! Then you dont need the bulky hand stop, the sword can be lightened, and the whole thing benefits.

[@gektoast4968]

@@michaelcherokee8906 still would be uncomfortable

[@noterest1598]

The cross guard with its golden gem and gold tips is supposed to resemble a loft wing. The gem is its beaks and the tips are its legs.

[@premier1975]

Are you familiar with LoZ Skyward Sword and Phi, the spirit of the master sword?

[@noterest1598]

premier1975 Yeah it’s my favorite Zelda game.

[@themageofcontext7071]

The tips are prolly the wings

[@kleyo6765]

Yeah, because it’s the crest you can’t really swap the triforce and the gem since that would change the design on the crest. Cross guard being the wings, gem being the body, and the triforce being the head of the crest

[@noterest1598]

The Mage of Content By tips I was talking about the gold detailing, which resemble the feet of the loft wing The cross guard itself resembles the wings

[@VivioSaf]

1- Although the Master Sword is constantly praised as one of the most powerful weapons. It's main purpose is actually cerimonial. It's supposed to represent the servant of the Goddesses channeling their power. Probably not originally, but these servants are often represented as a bird, and this is probably why the center piece (with the guard and such) where supposed to look like a Bird. 2- The Triforce on the blade was supposed to represent the blessing of the goddesses ON THE BLADE. Most likely too, why it's carved into the blade. 3- Lately is heavily implied that the everything, except for the blade, is made of Time Shift Stones. What gives the Master Sword it's abilities to act as a key to time travel. (Not really much on this one, just a neat detail) Note: I actually liked the designs. Just don't like the repositioning of the Triforce mark.

[@geomenda7159]

I would reposition the triforce and still keep it carved on the blade

[@PhantomKING113]

Aaand that central jewel he removed houses Fay and Demise just viving in there. Aaand it probably also houses thev power of the Three Sacred Flames or something. Play tloz ss for the explanation, but basically power from the Three Golden Godesses is imbeded in the sword, which caused that jewel to shine and the guard to open a bit more. So... if, to show us the power of medieval accuracy, he sawed that jewel in three... now there's 3 Fays?

[@Nerd2Ninja]

@@PhantomKING113 No Fay just dies lol

[@Ninjaananas]

The main purpose is sealing the darkness. That's also what it was created for. Cerimonial purposes are secundary and serve the purpose to allow the sword to seal the darkness as seen in The Wind Waker. The wings are a common symbolism and stand for the Loftwings. They are seen on the Hylian Shield, in various crests and architectural elements.

[@GoldenLeafsMovies]

@@PhantomKING113 I was confused about Fay when reading your comment, isn't it called Fi?

[@pug8714]

It's a magic blade which fires magic beams, we don't question it Goddess Hylia frowns upon you

[@Hazy18]

*Hylia* "Hold my Loftwing, i'mma 'bout to wreck this boy."

[@EvilLasagna]

Okay but the spikes on the bottom of the cross-guard wings are kinda annoying tbh (I own a big metal master sword, they are pokey)

[@shoe5672]

It seems I wasn't the only one who felt personally attacked with this video 😂

[@astridposey]

the sword was made by a GODDESS FFS.

[@mad_quack]

“It seems like it would be heavy...” Me: *holding my master sword replica* “yes... yes it is heavy”

[@bakubread9308]

"not... they're kind of wings but they're more like ridged flaring things" nono, they're supposed to be wings, they reflect the crest of Hyrule which has wings based off the loftwing, some lore implications from Skyward Sword which is the beginning of the timeline I think

[@invisibleking726]

If you look at the crest on the shield you can see the entirety of the bird bears remarkably close resemblance to the hilt of the Master sword, though with no regard for the legs. The tail is the handle and pommel, the bulb is the body, and the wings (although the direction has been changed to show them horizontally) are the guard, with the triforce raised above the lofting it represents, who are known themselves to represent the goddess Hylia. The triforce should not be the major part of this sword, as it not actually linked to the triforce or the three goddesses of creation, but should probably be engraved with gold.

[@Ninjaananas]

@@invisibleking726 That makes sense. The sword was originally created by Hylia and the loftwings stand for the protection of Hylia. The Mastersword seales the darkness of Demise who is Hylia's mortal enemy. So it very much does makes sense that it has more of her symbolism since it is her protection.

[@mariothecoinhunter2575]

This is true

[@mariothecoinhunter2575]

This is all true

[@deedlessdeity218]

Good thing on the hilt, pointing out the crossguard definitely, but on the solutions I am torn. You overlooked a few key aspects of the Master Sword: The crystal is a key feature of the Sword through it's incarnations, and this is also found especially in its original form: The Goddess Sword. I would ask you to give a quick look over the progression of the Sword in Skyward Sword. Initially, the sword comes off more like the ceremonial lightning-shooty weapon of the Goddess; for the sake off the argument let's doubt she ever crossed blades with it as she was soaring the sky. The Goddess Blade represents Fi, the AI (spirit) that resides in the sword, and of whom the crystal is probably the core processor of. As such, originally the the Goddess Sword is truly just a "Swordshaped Weapon", as you effectively beat your computer over your enemy's head. It is a Star Trek Tricorder that analyzes everything around it while also shooting energy. Nothing that calls for bonking over someone's head. Furthermore, the crossguard on the Goddess Sword-versions represent Fi's dress, while once it is reforged into the Master Sword, becomes a bird that begins to spread it's wings. Maybe also representative of the Goddess Hylia's wings (though lets hope she didn't look that menacing. The Triforce was really a later creation of "the Gods/Hylia", and the wielder of the Master Sword is the one supposed to use/wield/subject/harness the power of the Triforce. As such the with the bird, maybe also a reference to birds in Skyward or simply of the Hero himself, the Triforce is placed beneath the bird's claws, is relevant symbolism here in the blade. The bird controls or triumphs over the Triforce. The Crystal is the core processor or maybe power source (crystals have that function oftentimes in Zelda) of the sword, and thus is key part to its function and thus cannot be missed. The Triforce must *not* be a dominant part of the sword, for it is the sword and its wielder supposed to be in control of the Triforce, not the other way around. Making the Triforce the dominant accessory of the Master Sword would send the wrong message. Furthermore, Hylia (and other beings, and the sages, et al) never wanted the people to rely on the Triforce; it is support to be an ultimate last measure, not your personal wishfulfillment tool to throw parties. Therefore it is also not the Triforce you subject yourself to or that you are a subject of (that would mean the opposite of the Triforce's virtues), and neither do you pray to this allmighty weapon/tool as a god itself. Skyward Sword is essentially the story of how the Goddess's ceremonial tricorder laser-pewpew toy was turned into a somewhat swordlike weapon to bonk baddies over the head with, because nothing else useful remained from that era to face the Demon King that she failed to destroy herself - and thus sets up a parcour training course with deadly weapons instead all around the continent for the Hero to jump through hoops (pretty weird plan with way too much effort - should have just destroyed the Demon King anyway :P) But jokes aside; I'd really like to know what you think regarding the Master Sword (re)design after considering these bits and bops :) edit: semantic typos

[@theevilloafers5235]

You made a 2000 word essay just to explain the reason why crystal is unbreakable

[@KickyFut]

I am in full agreement!!😁 I had said... a much truncated version myself, but did say a couple similar points. What I mentioned was that the Triforce isn't even involved in getting the Master sword.

[@delwynmarcoux1523]

huh! so the first re-design that he did is alright then yeah?

[@kelborhal2576]

Nnnnmmeeeeerrrrrdddddd

[@akiraishin7141]

Great explanation. Hope he sees this

[@nickybutton100]

Mom, can we get the Master Sword? No Timmy, we have one at home. The one at home:

[@israelwilson9496]

XD

[@victorialeigh5711]

@15:37 The gem on the handle of the Master Sword is an indication of its power (fully awaken), so it is really essential! It is shown activated in several games such as Wind Waker. When you play through Skyward sword the gem appears and it becomes yellow when activated.

[@piggyguy3674]

He meant that it was too small and unnoticeable to be there. That’s why his second design has a bigger one

[@izenheimreborn6390]

Make the game a component of the triforce like his second design

[@TheOnlyBiodude]

We dont know if the blade is magic?! It is literally used to seal away evil. The sword allows users to fire fricking beams.

[@gigaslave]

It's divine, blessed by a protector Goddess with the power to seal or slay evil.

[@LylaDagger]

@@gigaslave Yes. Goddesses that use magic friend. Everyone in Zelda uses magic. From potions, to fairies, to how they fight. The sword is magic. Divine magic sure, but still magic.

[@andreicecold4379]

Why is everyone using this quote, its not the quote

[@JoshJonka]

I wonder if the reason why the master sword is made with so many functional deficiencies was because with it being a pain in the ass to control, the only way you could use it was to be the "chosen one"

[@TheHuntContinues]

I know you mean like Laser Beams, but I was just picturing it launching modern support beams for construction

[@justaperson8852]

"zelda is a medieval fantasy game" Link: summons a bomb with his phone edit: Damn thats more than the amount of people I know irl

[@dadwholefttogetmilk4083]

Also Link: rides a motorcycle

[@ZinTyPhoon]

@@dadwholefttogetmilk4083 Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the master sword also basically just a holy USB stick?

[@Titleknown]

Also Link: Rides a magical train on tracks made from the chains of a demon god.

[@dadwholefttogetmilk4083]

@@ZinTyPhoon Your right

[@justaperson8852]

zelda: head to hyrule castle link: sleeps with Paya

[@PatCatzz]

Talks about the swords design in Breath of the wild. Shows art from Twilight princess. Yeah. Nice going Shad.

[@rolandodr98]

Tbf... most of the sword art from BOTW has the sword in its depleted state.

[@neverinstone]

Well I think they kinda stopped redesigning the sword with tp

[@constant98_nero54]

Damn I was gonna comment that

[@DenverStarkey]

well in all fairness the swords hasn't really changed from TP , to SWS to BoTW. it's basically the same design in all three games.

[@athelonus]

That's more of an editor's mistake I think

[@derskalde4973]

I like the first redesign best. It still looks, and thereby feels, like the Mastersword. I read a few comments pointing out, that the diamond shape is important because of Phai (or Fi). I have a similar "concern" with those weird little stud things. Well, I have to admit, I really only realized this while watching this Video, but the whole crossguard section resembles a bird. The crossguard "flares" look like wings, and if you point the blade downward, that diamond shape resembles the head, and those things with the studs appear like very stylized legs and feet. If you look back at Skyward Sword, where Link forges the Mastersword, this could also be a reference to the Skybirds they ride in that game. So I think those weird stud things have, if not practical or aestetic, but historical and/or cultural, significance.

[@thomazplays9305]

Yeah it kinda looks like Fi

[@skadi2911]

I personally prefer the first functional design that the keeps the diamond on the guard. [Skyward Sword spoilers incoming] This diamond is actually important, because in Skyward Sword, when the sword is actually created from the Godess Sword, this diamond is here to mimic the one on Fi's chest, and it's in this diamond that she rests when she is "inside" the sword, that's where she falls into her eternal sleep at the end of the game, accompanying all next incarnations of Link. I just don't see it going away that easily. The Triforce is certainly an important thing, but its apparition on the blade where it actually is has a strong importance in the game as well. When Link finally gets the Din Flame and makes the Sword take its final form, it's still not totally awaken, the wings aren't deployed and the Triforce isn't on the blade. It's just when Zelda finally unlocks the Sword's full power that the Triforce appears, which shows that Link is finally worthy of getting the Triforce. That's why I think both are important and should be somewhere on the sword. Otherwise, great video as always, I learned a lot of things thanks to you :D

[@jennytalia6724]

Yup he really didnt do the appropriate lore dive. However the first model is perfectly fine

[@The_Toxic_Avenger]

The diamond is not important because Skyward Sword's story was really stupid.

[@thesilentshadow1256]

@@The_Toxic_Avenger YEAH no, its beautiful. the game was limiting but if you talk with everyone else, well, the story is amazing.

[@skadi2911]

@@The_Toxic_Avenger I hope they only announce SS HD alone for 2021 instead of the rumored collection, just to make haters like you mad AF :))))

[@jennytalia6724]

@@The_Toxic_Avenger "things arent important because I don't like them!"

[@chrissy5854]

“diamond isn’t important” who’s gonna tell him that’s literally the swords life😐

[@christiancardenas2543]

Literally EVERYONE IN THE COMMENTS HAVE BEEN SAYING THAT, seriously where is that specific bit of lore about the jem anyways in the games or a comment that the developers said in an interview or something. (If it's in the game I understand but, if not how would you expect him to know that.)

[@acetrainerdevin1164]

@@christiancardenas2543 in windwaker it is shown that when the gem isnt glowing that the sword doesnt have its power to repel evil

[@christiancardenas2543]

@@acetrainerdevin1164 that could also just mean that the sword itself is magic. (Thanks for answering my question)

[@acetrainerdevin1164]

@@christiancardenas2543 yeah the sword itself is also magic it was forged by the goddess hylia and the flames of the 3 goddesses that created hyrule

[@christiancardenas2543]

@@acetrainerdevin1164 then what's the jem for?

[@ignisshadowflame1027]

Without the story behind the sword it is not a good design but when you take into account all of the lore of the series it is a great design for it.

[@masterlordsempai426]

This is a touchy subject it's like he's telling someone obese girlfriend to lose weight but the sword is loved by many😅

[@OpsFox245]

Doesn't the diamond represent Fi? The goddess inside the mastersword and the triforce the three golden goddess who made the world. Some symbolism seems to have been lost in your later edits Shad.

[@archerestarcher]

It only represents Fi from Skyward Sword onwards, but her design was more based on the sword's design rather than the other way round. If this design had existed back then, Fi would look different.

[@Varios77]

Your right, I don't think shad knows that fi even exists though, he should've done more research

[@Doctorgameplay26]

Fi is not a goddess. Fi is a spirit who resides in the Master Sword, created by the goddess Hylia. But yes, the diamond does represent her.

[@alexscott8799]

Fi was worse than Navi, I'd be fine with her being done away with tbh

[@devincombs4509]

agree, but its not like shad had time to learn the whole lore for the zelda universe.

[@XanderVJ]

I'll go with the first design, the one that just makes the sword functional. As other people have pointed out, the golden diamond has a function (being reflective of its power and represent the core of Fi), and the Triforce is supposed to have just a secondary relationship with the Master Sword (the Triforce was created by the goddesses Din, Nayru and Farore, while the Master Sword was created by the goddess Hylia as the Goddess Sword. Although the Master Sword DID receive power from the three Creator Goddesses, it's not directly linked to them). Now, to me seeing the crossguard so thin is something that I'm not sure if I would ever get used to, but I understand it's essential for making the sword practical. I do agree with the spikes on the wings, though. They added them in "Twilight Princess", presumably to make it look more badass, but it's the most nonsensical part of the design, in my opinion. It's a recipe to stab yourself in the wrist.

[@godzillafetus30]

XanderVJ I respectfully disagree with the nonsensical part kinda... I understand why it makes no snense butt I looks cewl

[@godzillafetus30]

*it

[@kaassoufflex9023]

Ironically the big bulbous part that he didn’t like is what’s keeping the spikes from poking the wrist. Eliminating that part results in a higher grip and bleeding forearms 😅

[@Ninjaananas]

The wings stand for the loftwings. It is an important symbol.

[@nicholasopperman427]

The disk guard could be used as a counter to the spikes on the hilt

[@Kevin-jb2pv]

... You know Link is, like, Spiderman strong, right? Dude blocks Lynels with a tiny shield, throws giant rocks around like volleyballs and has been shown to be capable of eating semi-molten boulders without chipping a tooth.

[@joshholland8564]

Plus eats zeldas cooking

[@magnawaves]

...................

[@sagepuppet]

@@joshholland8564 💀

[@Dado_nastro]

​@@joshholland8564you didn't have to do her like that💀

[@JPMusicOfficial367]

I admittedly took this video way more personally than I should’ve

[@TheLadyLiddell]

Same, honestly. There's so much lore behind the sword and its design (especially after Skyward Sword) that just shouldn't be ignored.

[@JPMusicOfficial367]

@@TheLadyLiddell yeah exactly, if this guy has ever played a zelda game before he doesnt show it

[@zacharyblack8623]

If the design was changed so would the lore. I love Zelda games myself but that doesn’t make everything about them perfect. If his design was used instead then the sword would be powered but the Triforce symbol instead of the diamond. The sword was designed first then the lore was made to retroactively justify those design decisions

[@JPMusicOfficial367]

@@zacharyblack8623 probably true, but tbh i still vastly prefer the diamond at the center instead of the triforce. its so much more subtle, having the triforce be the focal point feels a bit more in your face. even before skyward sword I still wouldnt doubt the diamond design choice was still intentional, in the games it kind of feels like the developers intentionally withhold attention to the triforce as a whole, as to give it an air of mystery. idk tho this could be bias talking as well haha

[@zacharyblack8623]

@@JPMusicOfficial367 that’s a fair take

[@bh2817]

The crossguard is a loftwing (a mountable bird and part of the heritage of the Hero which is established in Skyward Sword). You can see the wings coming into the body of the bird, with the gold diamond device being the head, and the the two smaller gold pips below being the talons. You see a similar reference to the loftwing in the winged bird device in the lower field of the Hylian shield.

[@Hugemiler]

FINALLY a comment pointing out that the guard is a bird, the "diamond" is not a diamond, but a head with a beak ponting downwards and the golden "caps" between the guard and the blade are the bird's feet. I came here to do that, but insted I will just upvote you =]

[@avisariods4063]

Interesting. Ive always thought the sides resemble to bat wings xD and for its colors whenever Id see it from afar cos I dont know a thing bout zelda, I thought it was an "evil" swordp

[@kitsunelegend7976]

I think keeping the first redesign with the diamond, but inlaying the triforce on the blade with gold to make it stand out much more, would be a good way to fix some of the issues Shad has, but also keep the original lore of the sword intact.

[@princekamoro3869]

@@Hugemiler The birds feet are supposed to be pointed away from the triforce. But then again, the crossguard wings are upside down, so maybe the bird got lost.

[@Hugemiler]

@@princekamoro3869 Maybe it's a *Lostwing*?

[@WarDogMadness]

you've turned it into the biggoron knife in the n64

[@finnbarmccready3383]

sooooooooo dogshit?

[@WarDogMadness]

@@finnbarmccready3383 well from a long handled arming sword to a hand and half sword.

[@morrigankasa570]

@@finnbarmccready3383 I loved the Biggoron Sword the flimsy knife sucked but the legit sword was my favorite weapon in game after I got it I used it almost always

[@siemino7444]

@@finnbarmccready3383 what was the problem with the biggrons knife?

[@themagicalonionfairy7455]

@@siemino7444 id imagine that its for one a knife and two in addition to being a knife it isnt a one handed weapon

[@e-mage5818]

The sword’s hing is supposed to look like the hilyain crest

[@asbuilt0017]

What’s a hing?

[@asbuilt0017]

Oh wait do you mean the pokey outey bits

[@ryanmoore1871]

I thought it was the royal family crest?

[@asbuilt0017]

@@ryanmoore1871 they are the same thing

[@asbuilt0017]

I think

[@teero121]

homie over here got the real triforce of courage for the title alone

[@OptimusNiaa]

Fi gonna haunt him in his sleep now with incessant reminders that, "Master, the batteries in your Wiimote are nearly depleted."

[@haileeraestout5567]

Now That Would Be Funny To See How Upset Fi Really Is

[@linklink3008]

YESSSS

[@linklink3008]

@@haileeraestout5567 No.... poor Fi...

[@linklink3008]

@@haileeraestout5567 *hugs you*

[@linklink3008]

@@haileeraestout5567 Umm... how? *has no idea what to do*

[@maskkeeperduffy9069]

“Local Artist Redesigns Socially Awkward Girl’s House Without Permission!”

[@Row.]

Does the master sword always have some magic spirit girl in it or is it a Skyward Sword thing only?

[@maskkeeperduffy9069]

Daldo X Fi has been in the Master Sword ever since the end of SS. She even makes a brief sort of appearance in Breath of the Wild, which is at the end of the timeline. By the way, that diamond he says has no meaning? Yeah, it’s a direct reference to Fi.

[@Row.]

@@maskkeeperduffy9069 Thanks for the answer: I've only played skyward sword on the wii, so I don't really know much about the franchise or the various elements

[@maskkeeperduffy9069]

@@Row. No problem. Truth be told, Zelda was never intended to have an overarching story, but placed references to past games in newer games. Fans started piecing things together, and that may have encouraged the devs to really think more about how they could capitalize on the lore idea. So, they made Skyward Sword. The Master Sword was designed without Fi in mind for 1991's A Link To The Past. So, Fi was given a big old diamond in her chest, because she was to be the spirit of the Master Sword. So, while Shad saying that the diamond doesn't hold any relevance to the franchise is mostly correct, Fi's introduction in 2011 changes things. That diamond is now a reference to the sword's origin. I'd also argue that the Triforce on the hilt doesn't look as good as the diamond does. Perhaps if the individual triangles had a little bit of height, like really short pyramids, perhaps they would look better. But plastering your franchise's icon on every piece of equipment is just gaudy. The Hylian Shield has the Triforce. Link's own hand usually has the Triforce. And Link's sword and shield have pretty much always been the only icon to accompany the title screens. The Triforce hasn't done that since the first game. And even then it was just one triangle. Point is the Master Sword has its own identity apart from the Triforce.

[@ZombieLicorice]

John Duffy yeah, I actually like the design inconsistency with links different equipments. Helps it feel like he is finding ancient artifacts of legend that we’re not tailor made for just him, kind of like how you find stuff in dnd

[@Dragonlord826]

I'd like to point out that every link that wields the master sword is physically insanely strong

[@kawaiiaudreyneko7962]

I’d like to think that for the chosen hero it’s not really heavy at all, considering that WW Link had and used it as a child before even getting the power bracelets.

[@Blazemoth]

Dude, the thing literally seals the darkness, obvs it uses magic.

[@vivalafiaga]

the reason for the focus on the cross guard is that it's essentially the hyrulian royal crest. the triforce is a ubiquitous thing in the zelda games and it's a religious thing, the mastersword is essentially used by an agent of the royal family (pulling from MANY zelda games here but that's for the majority not the exceptions), ergo having the sword emblamatic of the royal crest of hyrule makes way more sense with context :)

[@lukeout9035]

Yes, but it was created before hyrule and the royal family, originally by hylia but then made into the Master Sword by SS link

[@lukeout9035]

But i do agree to a degree

[@roxasvonbielefield2245]

@@lukeout9035 The royal family crest come from that of the Goddess

[@lukeout9035]

@@roxasvonbielefield2245 True

[@philipgreenwald1476]

Wasnt the cross gaurd the hylian eagle? I thought the gem was the beak and the little gold caps were its talons.

[@Kumori90]

Hylia, Din, Farore, and Nayru: “You have chosen death...”

[@Zeru64_]

Fi: Step back ya sis, leave him to me.

[@Ninjaananas]

@@Zeru64_ Fi would not exactly call her master sister.

[@nelbraudo-441]

Hell Yeah! 😂

[@TheRoseReaper]

@@Ninjaananas If she used slang she might.

[@MidoseitoAkage]

Fi wants to know the location of Shad's house.

[@casualgamer1286]

Yes the sword does look heavy however the hero’s are very strong, just play hyrule warriors age of calamity’s cutscenes

[@jmjfreezie]

Master sword + bastard sword = MUSTARD SWORD!

[@scythelord]

As far as the "disk guard" I always felt that wasn't exactly meant as protection for the hand, but rather a better hard stop for the hand of the wielder to choke up against. Link does thrusting attacks occasionally and having a solid and round structure to butt up against that keeps his grip from moving too deep into the guard to where the crossguard could potentially interfere with his arm, since it sweeps back toward the pommel.

[@KairuHakubi]

Yeah isn't that what that's for

[@kerokerocola]

From certain angles at the start, it kinda looked like the base of a lance to me and led me to think the same thing. Seeing later that it was a bit of a rounded bulb that didn't really seem wide enough to provide protection as a side guard left me feeling a bit meh about it (and therefore probably the easiest thing to remove to simplify the design). I would definitely be interested to see a version where that part was actually expanded to be more practical as protection and as a base for stabbing into the think hide of monsterous beasties.

[@KairuHakubi]

@@kerokerocola At the very least, the Razor Sword definitely has that, and the Hero's Sword from Wind Waker also kinda does.

[@scorpioneldar]

having wielded many real swords thrusting strikes don't really slide you up and down your sword much if you holding it right. If your hilt can slide along your hand you rob power from your thrust. there really is no need to cap your hilt in that manner. you only choke up against the crossguard for extra control. Thrusts tend to be from the bottom of the hilt for range and maximum penetration. a proper grip is so strong that you can hold the blade and not cut yourself because the blade will not slide when you make contact with the enemy. some styles of fighting like murder strokes and half swording rely on these kinds of blade grips.

[@kerokerocola]

I didn't necessarily think that it would be super practical in a normal "vs humanoid" setting, and may not be in any setting. I just thought it might be of some use if you needed to try and stab through something like a thick dodongo hide that wouldn't fully give way to the initial thrust. While doubling as a sort of sideguard. Probably too cumbersome, and yeah, get in the way of swings if it swept back toward the hand.

[@LealFireball]

The first redesign looked pretty much the way I expected it would, but, I'm not sure if the triforce should be the centerpiece of the design. The triforce represents the three golden goddesses from the hyrule creation myth, but the master sword was forged by another, lesser goddess who has her own cult, the triforce I think should remain as a secondary element because it really is only secondarily related to the sword and its only really there to show that it's a sacred item and that is has reverence towards the supreme deities. Its powers don't come from the triforce or the golden goddesses, the central ridge also feels rather empty without the triforce design there.

[@gormauslander]

It's actually not known whether she is "lesser" or what her relation is in the religion. It's kinda weird how little it's talked about

[@LuckySketches]

Still, giving it a gold inlay would be nice.

[@LealFireball]

@@gormauslander Yeah, you're right, but going from the fact that hylia seems to serve the three main goddesses and, while powerful, can't seem to be able to do stuff like warp reality permanently like the triforce can, I think it's safe to assume so until stated otherwise.

[@inarencommander4663]

Perhaps Hylia is the 4th golden triangle on the Hylian Shield?

[@LuckySketches]

@@inarencommander4663 The loftwing is a symbol of Hylia, but maybe the 4th triangle is too.

[@greyrifterrellik5837]

Does anyone else feel like the functionality redesign basically just looks like he scaled it down a bit on one axis?

[@arkbuildersparadigm564]

Big Zelda fan here. I’ve seen a few of your vids before, but this one caught my eye. I really liked the final design towards the end of the video (the one all the way to the right). Also, I should have commented on your other vids where you show us the scabbard design prototype, as well as the one that you had someone working with you to improve (I think it was a brown leather with latches to remove) Anyway, good channel you have here. Your knowledge and experience is great, but you are also entertaining and fun to listen to 😎.

[@Bubu567]

AFAIK, the sword was created by a single goddess(Hylia, the creation goddess), but the triforce represents the three goddesses of virtue. The triforce never was the 'focus' of the sword. The wings are. Hylia is represented as a winged angel with a golden jewel around her neck. The triforce represents the three virtue goddesses she birthed. (With classic womb imagery being intentional). With this in mind, take another look at the original design.

[@Jeikobu]

Adding onto the original jewel, its luster/shine represents the power state of the master sword

[@zachrodan7543]

I don't think anything in zelda lore has suggested hylia having created the three other goddesses... if anything, it seems more likely that hylia came after them, given that din, nayru, and farore were the goddesses of creation, while hylia was the goddess of the people. additionally, hylia can't be the one who created the goddesses that created the triforce, as it would then stand to reason that she would be able to bypass whatever limits they put on the triforce. we know that she can't bypass those limits because the whole reason hylia gave up her divinity and was reborn as zelda was so that she would be able to use the triforce, which could only be used by mortals.

[@Jeikobu]

@@zachrodan7543 the 3 golden goddesses created the planet, then the triforce, then left both under the protection of hylia

[@michaelpettersson4919]

Well that may be the offical explanation. The real one is that this is an old game series that started out with poor graphics and cartoonish designs. Taking low poly cartoon models and turn them into modern HD graphics without dropping the cartoonish desigs lead to thing like this sword.

[@deedlessdeity218]

@@zachrodan7543 The problem here is that OoT lore is already myth that has been twisted through the ages. If we want to figure out what might have happened as close as possible we can only rely on Skyward Sword for world building, as that as the oldest in the timeline: Ganon was not yet Ganon but Demon King Demise, King of the Monsters, local deity and ruler. Hylia, the Hylians happened to encroach on his domain, apparently strip mining the place for precious resources (time crystal and rupees). Hylia was their ruler, Goddess soaring through the sky. Whether they came from another continent on the planet or "elsewhere" is left to interpretation. Hylian leftovers are extremely technologically advances. Demise's temple however is quite basic. As such, in later games we could infer that all those sneaky dungeon traps, especially Beamos, are salvaged sheikah-technology from before the initial sealing of Demise. Incarnations of the "three Goddesses" are already present in the form of the three dragons we meet in Skyward Sword. Incidentally their symbols and elements are switched around a bit, further giving credence to the idea that things simply got mixed around through the millenia of retelling stories and misinterpreting whatever artifacts someone may have found. The Deku which tells Link in OoT of the creation myth was not even around or sentient in Skyward Sword, it was just a giant tree. As such, the "3 Goddesses" are only the dragon-servants of the Goddess Hylia, there is no other Goddess. Over time, the memory of Hylia seems to have taken a backseat, while the three Goddesses representing the virtues of the Triforce took prominence. Hylia as such is then also the only likely candidate for also being the "Goddess of Time" (Cia (Hyrule Warriors) is definitely not canon). During the forging of the Master Sword, there were no "three Goddesses" around, and the Triforce was a still hidden superweapon. For good reasons, for it is the public knowledge about the Triforce that sparked later wars in order to control it.

[@Terkanil]

Personally, I was fine with the first render, but after that, it lost me as Shad seemed to miss one of symbolic correlations in the sword's cross guard. If you look at it, blade down, you'll see a bird. Many parts of Zelda connect the symbolism back to the Hyrule Royal Crest, which depicts a bird, and the Triforce. The bird design was brought, lore-wise, as a connection to the Loftwings from the time of Skyward Sword. So, by the second render, Shad had removed the symbolic reference to the Loftwing.

[@ryla22]

YES! That was super important and the reason why the triforce was put seccond place. I wish shad actually knew the lore....

[@Raiethstar]

He even mentions it kinda looks like a bird “but it isn’t”. I kinda tuned out after that.

[@nikobitan7294]

The sword still has the iconic wings, though? Where are you seeing this removed?

[@TibrisXVII]

Though this was retconned with skyward sword, the original meaning behind the bird motif was likely to represent a phoenix. Destruction and rebirth are the most central core themes of The Legend of Zelda going as far back at A Link to the Past. The Master Sword is shaped like a phoenix because it is needed when Hyrule faces destruction, and through its use, Hyrule is reborn.

[@RedWolf777SG]

Yeah, that what I was thinking. So its kinda frustrating that he missed that symbolism. The crossed guard is supposed to resembled a bird.

[@erobwen]

I actually prefer the first one. But the triforce could be etched out and painted blue for more contrast. Also, I think that the wings could be just a little bit bigger and sweep a little bit more forward to make the hilt and crossguard appear bigger to balance it better against the blade.

[@asatomunowa3185]

Shad, you are a genius. I am a big LoZ fan and the design of the master sword always bothered me too, since i do swordfighting myself and saw all the flaws too that you mentioned here. I always told myself "well, its a magic sword for the chosen one and this magic helps link performing his cuts and movements by kind of "reading" link and knows what move he wants to perform next". After all there is fi who knows the incarnation of link the hero well. But i simply LOVE what you did to that sword. Its BEAUTIFUL, a MASTERPIECE! I cant stop looking at the design you made. Also because it gives strong Ocarina of Time vibes and thats my favourite game of the series since it was the first zelda game i ever played. So you combined practical use with a strong nostalgia feeling. .... gosh i keep glancing at the sword while writing this comment rn its just so awesome. Thank you for that video!

[@therighteously8454]

Shad: I fixed the Master Sword Comments: But, did you really?

[@israelwilson9496]

To me no No he did not

[@RisingForce_DMA]

@@israelwilson9496 From a practical and realistic point of view he made a great readjustment, that was the idea.

[@fortniteshouldlearn6595]

@@RisingForce_DMA Too bad he messed up the actual design. It's like a writer cutting out world-building. Makes the story feel super bland.

[@RisingForce_DMA]

​@@fortniteshouldlearn6595 In fact, the idea is not to create a story with this new model, but to show what it would be like in real life, real life is usually super bland kkkkk

[@Just-A-Bit]

@@fortniteshouldlearn6595 but he made multiple designs. The first one being the closest to original but more practical

[@themanyouwanttobe]

Link after laying a charging 2 ton Centaur on its ass by shrugging: "What weight?"

[@lyndenhaineault3225]

Isn’t a Lynel charge the same power and magnitude of a massive truck driving towards you at like 60mph??? I can’t remember I just know it’s powerful af and link can stop it in a instant with a push of a pot lid 😭 the master sword could weigh as much as the buster sword and link wouldn’t have any problems wielding it

[@DenverStarkey]

A lynel is NOT a centaur. it's like a centuar but with a lion's body not a horses.

[@NitroNinja324]

@@DenverStarkey And it's as big as an elephant. Which animals it's made of doesn't matter as much as the MASS of the damn thing.

[@DenverStarkey]

@@NitroNinja324 wasn't my point , geezus the OP called them a centaur. just holy fuck people like to argue too damn much on the internet ... i mean you are taking what i say out of context just to make an argument with me i wasn't even arguing about. my point had ZERO to do with the mass of the animal, only to do with the fact the man called them something they were not. FFS.

[@NitroNinja324]

@@DenverStarkey What are you on about? It's literally a centaur, albeit a bit more monstrous. You wanna tell me that a lightsaber isn't a "laser sword" too?

[@technoimperialist9509]

When you say the master sword is ugly Legend of Zelda fans: you have chosen death 8:28

[@nagasakeigames2098]

just gotta point this out, the master sword is made from another sword called the godess sword, which was made from a special ore from the godess that made it, this ore is strong and light making it invulnerable if 6 sages offer prayers and the descendant of the godess blesses it.

[@respecthalo2963]

*looks at my Master Sword on the wall* *Sighs*

[@ellie8272]

tbh I vastly prefer it to any of shad's designs

[@streamershaven]

The sword handle, Crossguard, and hilt are made from Timeshift Stone. The properties are...basically unknown, other than it is not particularly strong or heavy. This is why the master sword, despite being tens of centuries-old is able to maintain its existence in the form that it is. This is also why the Link of the current time has to "Power it up" somehow, as the sword keeps reverting to its original form. Incidentally, that is also why the curse from demise persists through the ages... Of course, this is just a theory that I enjoy. The Purple part of the sword is the Timeshift stone.

[@odenmora7574]

You know I really super enjoyed the first design. You stayed true to the sword’s identity but made it more realistic to wield and I can respect that. This was quite interesting to watch. Nice job.

[@Trianull]

I still think the first redesign is the best one for two reasons: Something I just realized earlier today is that when viewed tip-down, the whole crossguard is in the shape of a bird, with the center diamond being its beak. This would tie it back to the Loftwings from Skyward Sword, which is also the game where the Master Sword was forged. (A similar bird motif is seen in the royal family's crest, displayed in red on the Hylian Shield.) The blade is the acual part that repels evil, the handle and crossguard rather keep the sword from falling into disrepair due to them being made of timeshift stone. The Triforce being on the blade makes more sense this way.

[@tagginondawal3961]

*insert Link shocked face followed by him "hyaa"ing everything for talking smack about the Master Sword.* Joking aside, I love this series. It's interesting to see your views on fictional weaponry and how you could make them work in the real world.

[@sithisarcanis]

I think the final design is pretty cool. Didn’t like the intermediate ones as much but the final is pretty tits. I would like to see some kind of rune work kind of like the frostmourne. But the final design is perfect of LoZ

[@toristeunebrink5705]

The cross guard isn’t just wings its a whole bird. The diamond is the head and beak and the other golden bits are the feet. Birds are a huge part of Zelda lore Edit: when I wrote this I could not think of “loftwing” for some reason😂🤦🏼‍♀️ but yeah. Loftwings, Rito etc.

[@raccoonja5905]

Oh wow I've never realised that. But now I see it.

[@evecampbell3069]

How did I ~just~ notice this?!

[@Megorium]

Exactly thank you!

[@burnhazard]

I came here to say this.

[@DerekWolset]

No

[@balefulbunny]

The whole time I was watching this video, I was hoping you'd bring the blade further into the hilt, removing the skinny part completely and bringing in the cross guard for a more gladius inspired design. I'm no good at drawing, but I can visualize the concept and think it would tie all the elements together brilliantly. Anyone else feel the same way?

[@tarotcard0371]

Shad: "The Gem isn't important." Comments: "It houses Fi's soul" Me: "Like he said. Not important."

[@Mysticuffs]

I actually like Fi

[@cgunugc]

I'm surprised to say I think this sponsor is both interesting and relevant. Weiiird - that's basically never true.

[@Ditidos]

In the case of Campfire I usually see it only in worldbuilding channels. So they al least kind of know who would be interested in it.

[@davidegaruti2582]

Well , when skillshare sponsors educationals channels i find it adequate ...

[@UltimatePerfection]

@@davidegaruti2582 it fails on the interesting part, considering how many tutorials are free on youtube on basically any skill set.

[@christopherpurakal8741]

I agree

[@MisterBallZach]

You removed fi's brain and released demise that gem is important lol

[@linklink3008]

Very important...

[@samuraijaco1]

Well, just make the gold triforce he puts on the gem.

[@roven_5530]

@@samuraijaco1 well then we would need to change fi's human-like thingy form

[@badreddinekasmi8919]

@@roven_5530 you just need to change her gem into a triforce. It's not a big change. On top of that Fi is a more recent addition to the games and is much less iconic compared to the tri force.

[@Shadic4101]

Put the gem on the pommel?

[@viktorthevictor6240]

I always imagined that when wielded by Link it would be light as a feather

[@KaiKrimson56]

You did a great job redesigning it! 24:55 My favorite is the one on the left since I like the diamond and I like that the triforce blends in with the blade. Making it the centerpiece in the other two designs makes it draw too much attention to it.

[@jerichamesclammay3107]

Ganondorf: an impressive looking blade, but nothing more. Shadiversity: *recreates it* Ganondorf: 0.o

[@MedusaLegend]

What about we have a look at his own sword inherited from Demise?

[@chubbyadler3276]

@@MedusaLegend Zelda certainly has no shortage of swords to analyze and recreate. I imagine, however, that the fierce deity sword would be particularly tricky, as well as having the awesomeness of matriculations. ;)

[@Icalasari]

@@chubbyadler3276 That sword definitely only works thanks to magic

[@Jc-go3mz]

Roger Gilbert matriculations??

[@anonymousfellow8879]

Ganondorf...doesn’t ever use Demise’s blade?

[@cainmclaughlin5663]

I forget where I heard this from but it was tested that link in the breath of the wild has the sword strength of like 20 tons I think

[@kaprison2012]

HEY SHAD nice video i honestly find it very comfortable to listen to during work and any other type of project i actually wanted to know you opinion on the biggoron sword from zelda

[@iakan6937]

Shad: "That area seems a bit bare, like something should go there" Also Shad: removes the something that was there

[@dudeat1320]

I thought he was about to put some criss-cross pattern similar to the hilt

[@RedDragonKeeper]

The Zelda series has a sword that I think is even crazier and probably a lot less realistic. All you gotta do is get all the masks :)

[@ShermTank7272]

That game has _two_ ridiculous swords - the great fairy sword would be more like a giant club in reality

[@frosticle6409]

Double helix fierce deity sword lol

[@Funknwanker]

I have always loved the design of the fierce deity link but always hated the sword design.

[@ashenwulf]

Oh really? Let’s see which sword is crazy at the beginning of The Champions Ballad DLC, for breath of the wild.

[@banann_ducc]

Cole Firewolf that is not a sword just a one handed class weapon

[@leisk77]

Really, i have no idea how the master sword looks like a mess at all. Can someone give me a single reason why this video makes sense?

[@killajive1]

Pointing sword tip up, hyrule runes should read from top to bottom “It’s dangerous to go alone! Take this.”

[@deedlessdeity218]

It's a bird! Shad, the crossguard is meant to represent a bird! For the sky! Or the wings of the Goddess or whatever. It's originally the Goddess Sword after all.

[@matthewmuir8884]

You're correct; it's supposed to visually resemble the bird on the crest of the Hylian Shield. The pommel and grip is the tail, the disc guard is the body, the crossguard is the wings, and the diamond is the head. The bird even sits below the Triforce on the shield, which explains why the bird sits below the Triforce on the sword.

[@deedlessdeity218]

@@matthewmuir8884 Due to the shape of the wings and the tiny golden bits I would have thought the bird to be the other way around: the round disc being the head, while it has the Triforce beneath its claws (though the the Triforce would be upside down). I see it this way for several reasons: The Goddess Sword's crossguard is Fi's dress as she dances, thus the sword should be "read" that way. The wings/feathers also make more sense that way in the Master sword. On the Hylian shield the Triforce makes the head of the bird, but here on the sword clearly see it beneath its claws. This indicates controlling the Triforce, "mastering" it so to speak; which is the one key aspect of the wielder of the Master Sword, while it no aspect of any random soldier wielding a Hylian shield.

[@matthewmuir8884]

@@deedlessdeity218 The reason I think the pommel and guard is the tail and the diamond is the head is that, if you look at the Hylian Crest (the bird on the Hylian Shield), that's where they are (the tail goes down very low while the head almost hugs the center and sits between the outstretched wings). "On the Hylian Shield the Triforce makes the head of the bird" that's not correct; the bird has its own distinct head, and the whole bird is underneath the Triforce. That's another reason I think the diamond's the head and the pommel's the tail: it makes the Master Sword's design match up with the crest of the Hylian Shield.

[@generaljimmies3429]

Well, Zelda did have a Blue Loftwing. Only fair it would be shown on "her" sword. And Link's Loftwing is on the Hylian Shield.

[@deedlessdeity218]

@@matthewmuir8884 Thing I forgot to write initially and in the bigger post: In several games there are "Master Crests", usually held as belt buckles by corrupted knights. Their engraving looks the same as crossguard of the master sword when pointing the blade down: spread wings. Please show me a bird that spreads its wings the other way around, I think their bones work the way you imagine.

[@surgerules6701]

I love how he revises it but man at arm’s actually made a scale replica along with a replica Hylian shield

[@Hedge_Knight_Gaming]

And when Man at Arms made it, it was well balanced and fully functional.

[@zockingtroller7788]

It takes a true master of a blade to know it's power Shad didn't even look into the story of the sword and just looked at the disign and that was his biggest mistake, no disign makes sense without the story behind it

[@hotduck123]

@@zockingtroller7788 what

[@hotduck123]

@Mark0M ah

[@s.r.dragonreads4915]

I would love to see an analysis of the other swords in breath of the wild too.

[@johnpratts2856]

I prefer the first more accurate version. Also, it was once called the Goddess Sword in LoZ : The Skyward Sword. See that, and you'll understand why the Triforce was placed, "second" in its Master Sword design.

[@SuperZeldaGirl]

Watching was really interesting but I couldn’t help but keep thinking about you body shaming Fi 😂

[@janoahj642]

Lol, same for me! 😂

[@lostartist7751]

Watch as Shad designs his ideal Waifu sword

[@jackbishop8610]

Wait where?

[@mermanhellville]

@@jackbishop8610 Technically throughout the whole video since Fi's the spirit 'sleeping' inside the Master Sword

[@jackbishop8610]

@@mermanhellville Ahhhh, funny

[@Arzene22]

Fi: Stop bodyshaming me

[@alexs.2731]

I’m pretty sure that the sword is supposed to be unnaturally heavy so that it doesn’t snap when link swings it

[@gabrielactias4248]

I do like how you moved the Triforce. And as far as the rest of the blade Hylian runes and glyphs would look beautiful!

[@seanspies8731]

Shad: "It would be really heavy!" Link has been shown to be capable of superhuman strength in lore both with and without magical assistance from gauntlets and such. The Legendary Hero isnt cut from the same cloth that normal people are.

[@TheAbsol7448]

Two words. Shield bash.

[@TheAbsol7448]

@Benjamin Hewitt If you have that strength, a heavy blade would hit very hard, making it effective. If you're that strong, the extra carrying weight wouldn't matter. If you were strong enough to use Cloud's Buster Sword, why settle for something that would be the equivalent of a pocket knife to you?

[@larrote6467]

​@@TheAbsol7448 because momentum exists. Someone that is strong enough to carry the Buster Sword would be more effective carrying a much thinner sword that's the same length. Besides, the Buster Sword looks more like a knife than an actual sword.

[@TheAbsol7448]

@@larrote6467 A heavier object would deal more damage because of it's weight. Using your logic, regular humans should use seqing needles to fight instead of swords. If you're that strong, why use a regular sword? It'd be the same as a normal person using something as light as a sewing needle. Why use a regular sword when you're strong enough to provide the momentum required for a blade that's heavier than a guillotine blade?

[@larrote6467]

@@TheAbsol7448 jajajajajajaja, that's YOUR logic (and a very silly one, rapiers are pretty thin and they only serve 1 function, so sewing needles are out of the question). ok: p = mv, so the best damage output would come from having the max amount of mass and the max amount of velocity possible. Which means, there is a definitive point in which heavier becomes counterproductive, as you would be slower. And every unit of mass does not equal to a unit of velocity, it's more like a logarithmic relationship. Also, you seem to think that swords are blunt weapons, they work differently than maces and hammers. I'm betting you don't know self defense or martial arts either by your logic.

[@tonyborden9767]

I personally preferred the one that stayed truest to the design of the master sword but more practical, as in the others it seemed like you tried to modify its iconic nature too much. I still liked all designs of course, great video.

[@nikobitan7294]

All the iconic elements are still here. The generic gem that every fantasy sword has to have just got removed.

[@oscarrenaupallares330]

@@nikobitan7294 The problem is with what it got replaced, it throws away the subtelty of the sword completly, I don't mind that much the other changes but the "generic gem" MUST be there

[@aaronking2020]

@@nikobitan7294 the "generic gem" was literally the most important bit of the sword, in the lore, it's literally the bit that lets link seal Gannon away.

[@CypressConroy]

Yeah at the end it’s pretty tacky

[@whathow229]

@@nikobitan7294 why are you defending him so much by commenting on every vid

[@brittical-hit]

How to improve the master sword: literally strip of the diamond in its center, removing all the magic from the blade, and turn it from a one handed shortsword to a two-handed longsword. … that said, the grip comment was a good point, and I agree on it.

[@RisingForce_DMA]

The idea was to redo it in a more realistic and less magical way kkk

[@coffeeninja88]

I'm a little late to the party, because I've never seen your channel before. I think it came up in my suggested videos because I spent a weird amount of time looking into how lightsabers allegedly work the other day. That makes sense, right? Anyway, this is fantastic. Love your ideas. I watch enough Man at Arms to halfway understand them, too. Definitely subscribing. I imagine I'll be watching a lot of these tonight.