Thirteen years ago, we here at Virtual Bastion (then United We Game) made lists of our favorite items in the Zelda games. My original list included items from the six Zelda games I had under my belt then — Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask, Wind Waker, Phantom Hourglass, Twilight Princess, Spirit Tracks — and a lot has happened in the Zelda universe since then! Not to mention that I can now add a few new titles to that list: Link’s Awakening (2019 version), Breath of the Wild, and Tears of the Kingdom. In different ways, items in these three games gave new “dimensions” to Link’s capabilities, meaning that adding them also adds quite the challenging in choosing just five items now. But, let’s give it a go nonetheless!
Original item #5: Whirlwind (Spirit Tracks)
NEW item #5: Hawkeye (Twilight Princess)
I haven’t thought about The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks in a long time. And frankly, if I want to talk about unfinished Zelda games, Spirit Tracks would top that list. From its controls to its story, I didn’t connect with any of what that game offered. Still, back in the day, I enjoyed in it Link’s Whirlwind ability enough to include it. Today, Twilight Princess‘s Hawkeye ability take my number five slot. Though it’s a pain in the neck to obtain, it’s well worth every effort because of how much it improves Link’s Hero Bow, essentially turning it into s sniper rifle. It’s an indispensable item, one that any player should set their sights on (no pun intended) as soon as it becomes available.
Original item #4: Din’s Fire (Ocarina of Time)
NEW item #4: Din’s Fire (Ocarina of Time)
Lack of a Switch 2 aside, I don’t know that I harbor much interest in the upcoming Ocarina of Time remake, but it’s nice that it’s going to exist. Nothing wrong with introducing it to a new generation of players, after all, because it’s an awesome game with awesome items. And that’s why OoT’s Din’s Fire stay on my list in the number four spot. Now, I almost thought to replace it with another fire-dealing object, the Magic Rod from Link’s Awakening, which is extremely fun to use and useful besides. But, Din’s Fire stays because it also offered protection via Link’s shield in addition to being a fire-projectile spell. It’s a win for versatility!
Original item #3: Hawkeye (Twilight Princess)
NEW item #3: Skull Hammer (Wind Waker)
In the middle of my original list I had the Hawkeye; today, Wind Waker‘s Skull Hammer — my original number one pick — takes its place. Link’s been given lots of great weapons over the years (and in the new games, he can make just about any weapon under the sun), but none remain as great as the formidable Skull Hammer. This giant, wacky, two-handed weapon made for some of the best, and silliest, combat in Wind Waker. From its size relative to Link, to its massive strength, to its ability to stun enemies, everything about just works, and works extremely well.
Original item #2: Phantom Sword (Phantom Hourglass)
NEW item #2: Roc’s Feather (Link’s Awakening)
Of all the versions of Link’s Master Sword, the Phantom Sword in Phantom Hourglass is probably still my favorite. I hedged on including it on my original list, because I wasn’t sure it strictly counted as an item, but it made it into the number two spot as an “obtainable thing” nonetheless. We’ll talk again should I ever complete a “favorite Master Swords” list, but on this list now, I opted to boot the sword in favor of a small item that give Link a BIG ability in Link’s Awakening: the ability to jump! I get that this was probably a bigger deal in the original game, but was overjoyed upon obtaining it. Again, it’s one of those necessary items one needs to complete the game, so it’s not as if it’s rare or unusual. Still, it made Link’s Awakening all that more magical and accessible.
Original item #1: Skull Hammer (Wind Waker)
NEW item #1: Paraglider (BotW/TotK)
Move over Skull Hammer, because there’s a new way of traversal in town, and it’s…the paraglider! I don’t think that anyone would argue that if it weren’t for the paraglider, getting around in Breath of the Wild/Tears of the Kingdom would have been an awful chore. These weren’t the first games to include gliding as a mechanism, and they won’t be the last, but gliding is so beautifully integrated into these new takes on Hyrule that it’d be hard to imagine the games otherwise. And not only is gliding useful, but it’s fun, too. There’s something memorizing in watching Link sail effortlessly through the sky, knowing that he’s going make it safely to a formerly unreachable spot. Gliding in BotW and TotK is where it’s at, which is why the paraglider takes my number one spot.
What are some of your favorite items in The Legend of Zelda games?
Lede image captured from The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening [2019 remake] gameplay (© Nintendo).