Link’s journey through the dangerous land of Hyrule in The Legend of Zelda (NES) begins humbly, armed only with the Wooden Sword given by an Old Man. While essential for starting his quest, this basic blade quickly proves insufficient against the increasingly formidable monsters guarding the Triforce shards. Upgrading Link’s sword is not just helpful, it’s crucial for survival and progress. Two powerful upgrades await discovery: the White Sword and the legendary Magical Sword. Finding them requires exploration, bravery, and gathering strength in the form of Heart Containers.
The White Sword: A Necessary Step Up
The White Sword is the first significant offensive boost Link can acquire, doubling his attack power.
Requirement: 5 Heart Containers. The Old Man residing in the sword’s location will only bestow it upon Link if he possesses at least this much life force.
Damage Output: Twice that of the Wooden Sword. This significantly speeds up combat, allowing Link to defeat enemies like Moblins, Tektites, and Octoroks much faster.
Special Ability: Like the Magical Sword, the White Sword allows Link to shoot a Sword Beam projectile when he is at full health, adding a ranged attack option.
Location: Hidden within a cave concealed behind a waterfall. This area is located in the mountainous region of northeast Hyrule, often patrolled by dangerous blue Lynels – be cautious on your approach!
How to Reach (From Starting Screen):
- Go right one screen (East).
- Go up five screens (North) into the more mountainous terrain.
- Go right five screens (East), navigating past lakes and potential enemies.
- Ascend the stairs visible on the screen.
- Go left two screens (West).
- You’ll arrive at a screen dominated by a large waterfall. Climb the stairs beside it to find the cave entrance.
Acquisition Tip: Focus on completing the first couple of dungeons (Level 1: Eagle and Level 2: Moon) and finding easily accessible secret Heart Containers in the overworld (like bombing suspicious walls or burning specific bushes) to meet the 5-heart requirement relatively early in the game. Upon entering the cave, the Old Man will grant you the sword if you meet the condition.
The Magical Sword: Ultimate Power
The Magical Sword represents the pinnacle of Link’s swordsmanship in this adventure, quadrupling his initial attack power. It is essential for tackling the later dungeons and confronting Ganon.
Requirement: 12 Heart Containers. This substantial requirement means Link must have explored much of Hyrule and conquered numerous dungeons before he can wield this blade.
Damage Output: Four times that of the Wooden Sword (or twice that of the White Sword). This formidable power makes short work of even tough enemies like Darknuts and Wizzrobes.
Special Ability: Allows Link to shoot Sword Beams when at full health, just like the White Sword, but backed by significantly more power.
Location: Secreted away beneath a specific gravestone within the eerie Graveyard, located in the west-central part of Hyrule.
How to Reach:
- From the starting screen, go right one screen (East).
- Go up five screens (North).
- Go left two screens (West), then down one screen (South).
- Go left one screen (West), then up one screen (North), entering a forested area (potentially navigating the Lost Woods if you take a wrong turn – follow the correct path!).
- Go left two screens (West).
- Go down one screen (South).
- Go left two screens (West), passing through areas potentially containing Armos statues or Peahats.
- Go up one screen (North) to enter the Graveyard, recognizable by its rows of tombstones and patrolling Ghasts (which appear when Link touches a gravestone).
- Inside the Graveyard, locate the third column of gravestones from the left side of the screen. Push the middle gravestone in this column upwards to reveal a hidden staircase.
Acquisition Tip: Reaching 12 Heart Containers is a major milestone. It typically requires completing approximately 5-6 dungeons and finding most, if not all, of the hidden overworld Heart Containers. This sword is intended as a late-game acquisition. The Old Man in this hidden chamber will acknowledge your power (“YOU’VE GOT THE POWER TO USE THIS”) and grant you the sword if you have the 12 hearts.
Securing these powerful blades is a testament to Link’s growing strength and a vital part of the preparations needed to face the challenges ahead, defeat Ganon, and restore peace to Hyrule. Happy adventuring!