One Missing Moment In The Zelda Timeline Could Explain A Huge Unaddressed Plot Point

There are plenty of oddities to be found throughout The Legend of Zelda timeline, but one particularly strange situation could easily be explained by a single incident unmentioned in the franchise so far. Of course, with Hyrule existing in one form or another for millennia, it is clear that the games only scratch the surface of its full history. But even so, some of these apparent omissions can be striking in the context of the games themselves.

There are many major events in The Legend of Zelda that the series only briefly mentions or alludes to. For example, several Zelda games use wars to explain the issues faced by Hyrule, but very few large-scale conflicts can actually be seen occurring as part of the main plot. However, the lore of the games also suggests an event with potentially catastrophic consequences for Hyrule must have taken place in a particular branch of the Zelda series’ complex timeline, whether or not a currently unknown war also took place around that time.

The Master Sword Disappears From Zelda’s Fallen Hero Timeline

No Explanation Has Been Given To Explain What Happens To It

A Link Between Worlds official art showing Link looking at the castle in the distance while Zelda and other characters images are above it in the air

The Master Sword, Link’s most iconic weapon, is curiously absent in the Fallen Hero timeline after the events of A Link Between Worlds. While the blade evidently survives the Hero of Time’s clash with Ganondorf in Ocarina of Time, even if its wielder does not, this state of affairs does not last forever. Although the reincarnation of the hero who saves both Hyrule and Lorule in ALBW uses the Master Sword to do so, it is nowhere to be found in games set later in the same timeline branch.

The unclear chronological placement of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom makes it difficult to say if the Master Sword disappears forever after ALBW, but the sword’s absence for a large part of history is still notable.

Of course, from a development standpoint, the reason for the Master Sword’s absence in some of these games is very clear. The Fallen Hero timeline ends with the original The Legend of Zelda and its sequel. However, neither of these two titles featured the Master Sword because the legendary blade was one of the many recurring features of the Zelda series that were introduced in the hugely influential A Link to the Past. Nevertheless, the Master Sword’s absence in these games has yet to be explained, a fact that has only been emphasized by Echoes of Wisdom.

Echoes Of Wisdom Proves The Master Sword Could Be Lost

Link’s Signature Weapon Is Still Missing Despite It Now Being Well-Established

While the Master Sword’s absence in The Legend of Zelda and The Adventure of Link could be simply attributed to being a peculiarity of the early franchise, Echoes of Wisdom has now firmly disproven that. The most recent Zelda title also lacks the Master Sword, despite the weapon now having long-since become iconic. Instead, Link and Zelda wield the Sword of Might; a weapon specifically created by Echoes of Wisdom’s Lueburry, as well as the similar Bow of Might and Bombs of Might.

At first glance, it could be argued that with Lueburry’s assistance, Link simply had no reason to seek out the Master Sword in EoW. Likewise, the Sword of Might being upgradable with collectible Might Crystals gives people more to do during gameplay. But even so, the sword is not even in its traditional place of rest, being watched over by the Deku Tree. This fact even becomes something of a plot point, as Zelda eventually has to give back the Sword of Might for the final battle due to Link having no access to other weapons.

Zelda: Every Scene Where Link Gets The Master Sword, Ranked

Obtaining the Master Sword is a big moment in any Zelda game that features the iconic blade, but some installments give the scene extra reverence.

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The events of Echoes of Wisdom only seem to confirm that the Master Sword was somehow lost after the events of A Link Between Worlds. Whether this was the result of another war, a costly battle against Ganon, or even simple misfortune is uncertain, but something clearly must have occurred regardless. As a result, this creates a significant mystery surrounding the Master Sword, something that arguably deserves to be explored in full by the franchise in the future.

Link Can Still Save Hyrule Without The Master Sword

Other Swords Can Be Just As Effective In Facing The Forces Of Evil

Cover art for The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures depicting four Links, split by the Four Sword, surrounded by enemies. — Cover art for *The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures* depicting four Links, split by the Four Sword, surrounded by enemies.

Given the Master Sword’s significance, it is unfortunate that an event that is so catastrophic to Hyrule has never been depicted, despite many games being strongly influential on the Zelda timeline. Even EoW fails to explain the Sword of Evil’s Bane’s disappearance, despite being perfectly placed to do so. On the other hand, it is worth noting that Link has repeatedly saved Hyrule without it both before and after its introduction. Again, the original game is a perfect example of this, but weapons like the Four Sword have also proven worthy substitutes when the Master Sword is unavailable.

The Master Sword’s going missing is a major plot point in the Zelda timeline that has gone completely unaddressed for many years now. The release of Echoes of Wisdom only seems to confirm that something must have happened to the legendary weapon. However, it is also worth noting that it can be effectively replaced, and depending on how one views BOTW’s timeline placement, the sword may not disappear forever regardless. Nevertheless, it would be very interesting if The Legend of Zelda explored this strange detail one day, filling in this huge gap in the story of Hyrule.