Boomerang

The boomerang is a projectile weapon that has appeared in almost every Zelda game. It can be used to stun enemies, but a single hit will kill weaker enemies. However, it is more commonly used to retrieve items that are out of your reach or to solve puzzles. The boomerang first appeared in The Legend of Zelda and has gone through several design changes since then. Recently, even the way it is used has been changed.

The Legend of Zelda
The boomerang is one of the first items you acquire in The Legend of Zelda. You receive it by defeating a room full of Goriya in the Eagle Labyrinth (the first level of the game). In this game, it is used mainly for acquiring out of reach items, but it can stun or kill enemies as well.

An upgraded version of the boomerang, called the magical boomerang, was made available later in the game. It is found in the Moon Labyrinth. The only difference between the boomerang and magical boomerang is the distance they can be thrown. The magical boomerang will travel twice as far before returning to you.

The Adventure of Link
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link is one of the few Zelda games where Link does not acquire the boomerang. Even so, it does make an appearance. The Goriya return and still use the boomerang as their weapon of choice.

A Link to the Past
The boomerang returns in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and works the exact same way as it is does in The Legend of Zelda. It is again found early in the game, this time in Hyrule Castle.

Later, you can upgrade your boomerang to the magical boomerang by visiting the Waterfall of Wishing. The Great Fairy there will upgrade it if you tell her the truth.

Link's Awakening
In The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening the boomerang is a very useful, but optional, weapon. In order to acquire it, you must first complete a large trading sequence in order to receive the magnifying lens. You must then visit Toronbo Shores and find a hidden cave on the eastern side. Inside, you will meet a tiny creature (who cannot be seen without the magnifying lens) who will offer to trade you a boomerang for your shovel.

The boomerang can again be used in the traditional way, but it now has a few more uses. Though minor, it can be used to cut bushes. It's simply a faster way to get the job done. Its usefulness as a weapon has also been greatly improved. In this game, few weapons will get the job done faster than the boomerang.

The boomerang is perhaps most useful in defeating the final form of the Final Nightmare, Deathl. Deathl is a large eye with two huge club-like arms that rotate around the eye. In order to defeat him, you must avoid the arms and wait for the eye to open. When it does, you shoot it with arrows, and you will need a lot of them. It can be a very difficult fight, but if you have the boomerang then it is much easier. A single hit to the eye with the boomerang will send Deathl to his grave.

Ocarina of Time
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was the first time the boomerang was placed in a 3D space. It is found Inside Jabu-Jabu's Belly and is used mainly for that dungeon only. Outside of the dungeon, it can be used to retrieve some items, but is more commonly used as a weak weapon against enemies. The boomerang's usefulness is limited because it is found in the last dungeon played through as young Link and cannot be used as adult Link.

Oracle of Ages
The boomerang returns as a useful weapon in The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages. It is found in Rolling Ridge and can again be used to retrieve out-of-reach items and to attack enemies.

Oracle of Seasons
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons includes a boomerang identical to the one in The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages, but this time it is found in Subrosia. The game also has a second boomerang that is not found in the other Oracle game, the magic boomerang. Rather than being simply a distance upgrade, like the magical boomerang, the magic boomerang is completely under your control. You can guide its path around obstacles in order to solve more complicated puzzles.

Four Swords
The traditional boomerang makes another appearance in The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords. Because Four Swords is a competitive game, it is most useful for collecting rupees before your opponent, but can still be used as a weapon as well.

The Wind Waker
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker adds another new feature to the boomerang. The boomerang, found in the Forbidden Forest, can now lock on to up to five different targets. This feature is often used for solving puzzles involving switches or for collecting multiple items at the same time. It is relatively weak as a weapon, but can be used to briefly stun some enemies.

Four Swords Adventures
The second cooperative competitive Zelda title has the players searching for force gems rather than rupees, but the boomerang is still very useful for getting to the force gems before your opponents. Unlike the original multiplayer game, the boomerang can now be held in place before returning to you. This can be useful for retrieving moving force gems or attacking some enemies.

The Minish Cap
The magical boomerang returns as an optional item in The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap. In order to acquire it, you must fuse kinstones with Tingle and his brothers. This will allow you to hit four switches in North Hyrule Field in order to access the treasure chest containing the magical boomerang.

Twilight Princess
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess reinvents the boomerang. The new boomerang, called the gale boomerang, houses the Spirit of the Wind and creates a small tornado when thrown. It is found in the Forest Temple after fighting the possessed monkey leader, and can be used to transport objects from one area to another, solve puzzles, and put out torches. The lock-on feature from The Wind Waker also returns.

Phantom Hourglass
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass again reinvents the boomerang by allowing you to draw a specific path for it to follow with your stylus.