Summary

  • Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom offers a fresh take on gameplay by putting Princess Zelda in the spotlight instead of Link.
  • The absence of the Master Sword in this installment may signal a new direction for the iconic weapon in the series.
  • With Zelda wielding the Tri Rod to summon creatures for combat, the need for the Master Sword is questioned.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is one of the biggest surprises of 2024, with only rumors about a Zelda-led Legend of Zelda title circulating up until its announcement. Since players will be playing as Zelda rather than Link in Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, that alone makes this installment different from any other game in the series. Additionally, it will also be bringing a brand-new ability to the table via the Tri Rod, which seems to function similarly to Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom's Ultrahand ability. Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom's uniqueness doesn't end there, however, as one of The Legend of Zelda's most recognizable features has yet to be revealed, and it will presumably not make an appearance in the game.

The Master Sword has been recognized as one of The Legend of Zelda's most iconic weapons since its introduction in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past in 1991. While it hasn't been included in every Zelda game, it has certainly appeared more often than it has not. Now, based on what has been revealed so far and what can be assumed from Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom's premise, the legendary blade may once again be left out of this particular installment, setting it up to join an exclusive club in the Legend of Zelda series.

Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom May Set the Master Sword Aside

Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom's Announcement Trailer Doesn't Feature the Master Sword

The first bit of evidence that suggests the Master Sword's exclusion from Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is the announcement trailer itself. Nowhere in the trailer is the Master Sword shown, even during the cinematic sequence where Link fights Ganondorf. Link is holding a sword, but it isn't the typical design of the Master Sword. In fact, the sword Link is wielding has a Zonai-like design, suggesting a possible connection to Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom's Premise Doesn't Leave Much Room for the Master Sword

Another thing to consider is Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom's premise, which sees Zelda taking the lead this time instead of Link. As such, there is little room for the Master Sword, since the weapon has primarily been wielded by Link in past entries. Zelda has been known to use a sword throughout the series, but it is almost always her own blade rather than the Master Sword.

In Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Zelda wields the Tri Rod, which allows her to create "Echoes" of objects and monsters that she can then summon to help her progress through the game's world. Her primary method of combat involves summoning monsters with the Tri Rod that can help her take down other enemies, as opposed to simply using a melee weapon like The Legend of Zelda's main playable protagonist, Link. With the abilities of the Tri Rod in her hand, there is little reason for Zelda to ever need the Master Sword.

Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Wouldn't Be the First Game to Exclude the Master Sword

If Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom does leave the Master Sword out, it wouldn't be the first game in the series to do so. Interestingly enough, that "exclusive club" of Zelda games includes many installments that aren't as notorious as others — specifically, Zelda: Link's Awakening, Zelda: Majora's Mask, Zelda: Four Swords (although it does appear in the Anniversary Edition), Zelda: Four Swords Adventures, Zelda: The Minish Cap, Zelda: The Phantom Hourglass, Zelda: Spirit Tracks, and Zelda: Triforce Heroes​​​​​​.

It hasn't been confirmed whether the Master Sword will be featured in The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, and that bit of information will likely be kept under wraps until the game's release on September 26, 2024. It's possible that the sections where Link is playable in Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom will see him eventually wielding the legendary blade, but that remains to be seen.

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The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
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Released
September 26, 2024
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
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Save Hyrule—this time with the wisdom of Princess Zelda!

The people of Hyrule are being stolen away by strange rifts—and with a certain swordsman among the missing, it’s up to Princess Zelda to save her kingdom in the latest adventure in The Legend of Zelda™ series!



Team up with the ethereal creature Tri and use the Tri Rod to create “echoes,” which are imitations of things you find in the environment—then recreate those echoes whenever you like to solve puzzles and defeat enemies. Use echoes like water blocks to reach new heights, make bridges out of old beds, throw rocks at foes, or find your own combination of echoes to do things your way. You can even make echoes of monsters to fight at your side in combat!
 

ESRB
E10+ For Everyone 10+
Developer(s)
Nintendo, Grezzo
Publisher(s)
Nintendo
Platform(s)
Nintendo Switch
Genre(s)
Adventure