Highlights

  • The Master Sword and the Four Sword are both powerful weapons that can defeat evil and allow for time travel.
  • The Four Sword has the unique ability to split the wielder into four identical copies, which has been crucial in defeating the villain Vaati.
  • The design of the Four Sword can change, and it has the ability to absorb elements, growing in power as it does so.

The Legend of Zelda franchise is synonymous with mystical weapons and items used to defeat the forces of darkness. Throughout the long-running series, various incarnations of the hero, Link, have wielded different swords and weaponry to aid him on his quest to restore peace to the world. The most iconic and important of these swords is the Master Sword, which has appeared in more Legend of Zelda games than any other. Though the Master Sword is the most notable weapon used by Link, there is another all-powerful sword that can defeat evil and seal away darkness, the Four Sword.

The Four Sword was first introduced in 2002's Game Boy Advance title A Link to the Past & Four Swords, the re-release of the Super Nintendo classic paired with a new multiplayer side game. Added to the GBA Link to the Past was a new secret dungeon called the Palace of the Four Sword. In this dungeon, players must fight through a boss rush gauntlet to get to the final battle of four Dark Links, which, if defeated, restores the Four Sword. The history of this blade was expanded even further in The Minish Cap, which highlighted some key differences between it and the famous Master Sword.

The Master Sword vs. The Four Sword

The Master Sword

The Four Sword

Repels and Banishes Evil

X

X

Allows for Time Travel

X

X

Shoots Sword Beams

X

X

Creates Clones of the Wielder

X

Breaks Curses

X

Senses Portal to Dark World

X

Houses a Sword Spirit

X

A Link to the Past's Kakariko Village beside an establishing shot of Breath of the Wild's Kakariko Village
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What Makes The Four Sword Unique

Legend of Zelda Four Swords Main Art Cropped

The History of the Four Sword

The Four Sword was created by tiny beings called the Minish, known as Picori to the Hylians. In The Minish Cap, it is revealed that it was originally called the Picori Blade, given to the Hero of Man by the Picori people during a great war. As the story goes, they descended from the heavens when the land of Hyrule was in a time of war and offered the sword and a magical light force as a gift to thwart evil. Link in The Minish Cap restores the Four Sword and uses it to defeat the evil Vaati and save Princess Zelda.

The evil sorcerer Vaati also threatens peace in Four Swords and Four Swords Adventures. Though he is usually sealed away by the power of the Four Sword, the villain is freed in both games and escapes the sanctuary. Both Four Swords and The Minish Cap follow a similar story that follows Link and Zelda as childhood friends who are separated by Vaati. In all appearances of the Four Sword, the blade plays a crucial part in defeating the evil Vaati—and eventually Ganon—and restoring peace.

The Master Sword and The Four Sword: Key Differences

Both the Master Sword and the Four Sword are divine blades that can only be wielded by a pure-hearted hero to seal away darkness. They both have similar abilities, as they can both defeat evil beings and allow for time travel under certain circumstances. They are both worshiped by the people of Hyrule, given shrines in their honor, and can both be upgraded. But that is really where the similarities end.

The major difference between the two swords is that the Four Sword has the unique ability to split the wielder into four nearly identical copies of themselves. This strategic advantage is what allowed Link to defeat Vaati each time he returned, and also allowed for some pretty awesome cooperative play via the GBA Link Cable.

The design of the Four Sword changed from Minish Cap and Four Swords Adventures as it has the ability to absorb elements. This allowed the Four Sword to grow in power and change from a more Master Sword-like design to the gold-hilted blade it is known to be.