Boomerang

The Boomerang is a projectile weapon that has appeared in every Zelda game to date. 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 Link's 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. They can also be used to turn Sparks and Anti-Fairies into Fairies.

Typical Boomerangs
Boomerangs listed below function only to stun and retrieve out-of-reach items.

The Legend of Zelda
The Boomerang is one of the first items that can be acquired in The Legend of Zelda. In the first quest and second quest, it can be obtained by defeating a large number of Goriya in a room of the first dungeon in the game, the Eagle Labyrinth.

'A Link to the Past''
The boomerang is again found early in the game, this time in Hyrule Castle.

Ocarina of Time
Ocarina of Time was the first time the boomerang was placed in a 3D space. It is found inside Lord Jabu-Jabu's belly and becomes young Link's most powerful ranged weapon. It provides young Link's counterpart to adult Link's hookshot, allowing young Link to finally capture those out-of-reach Gold Skulltula tokens.

Although Jabu-Jabu's Belly is the last dungeon young Link goes through before entering the Temple of Time, the boomerang still proves invaluable when Link returns to the past to go through the Bottom of Kakariko Well and the Spirit Temple.

and
The boomerang returns as a useful weapon in Oracle of Ages, and is found in Rolling Ridge.Oracle of Seasons includes a boomerang identical to the one in Oracle of Ages, but this time, it is found in Subrosia.

Four Swords
The traditional boomerang makes another appearance in Four Swords. Because Four Swords is a competitive game, it is most useful for collecting Rupees before opponents but can still be used as a weapon as well.

In The Minish Cap, the boomerang can be bought in the shop at Hyrule Town for 300 rupees.

Boomerangs with Added Characteristics
These boomerangs listed below have other characteristics besides and along with those of stunning and item retrieval.

In Link's Awakening, the boomerang is a very useful but optional weapon. It is one of the most powerful weapons in the game. In order to acquire it, Link must first complete a long trading sequence in order to receive the magnifying lens. Link must then visit Toronbo Shores and find a hidden cave on the eastern side. Inside, he will meet a tiny creature (who cannot be seen without the magnifying lens) who will offer to trade Link a boomerang for a weapon of his choice.

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. It is one of the two weapons able to kill an Anti-Fairy, the other being the Magic Powder and the only weapon able to kill a Spark. It can also defeat certain enemies in one hit that no other weapons can, such as Ghinis. In other cases, it is surpassed slightly by weapons such as the Bow and Magic Rod.

The boomerang is perhaps most useful in defeating the final form of the Final Nightmare, Dethl. It can be a very difficult fight, but if Link has the boomerang, it is much easier. A single hit to the eye with the boomerang will defeat Dethl.

The Wind Waker adds another new feature to the boomerang. The boomerang, found in the Forbidden Woods, 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.

Four Swords Adventures
The second cooperative competitive Zelda title, Four Swords Adventures, has the Links searching for Force Gems rather than Rupees, but the boomerang is still very useful for getting to the Force Gems before opponents.

Unlike the original multiplayer game, the boomerang can now be held in place before returning to Link. This can be useful for retrieving moving force gems or attacking some enemies and is a great weapon at sea.

Phantom Hourglass again reinvents the boomerang, allowing the player to draw a specific path for it to follow using the stylus. The Boomerang in this game is found in the Temple of Fire.

In Spirit Tracks, the Boomerang can be found inside the Snow Temple. It functions in the same way that it did in Phantom Hourglass.

Magical Boomerang
In The Legend of Zelda, an upgraded version of the Boomerang, the blue Magical Boomerang, could also be obtained later in the game. In the first quest, it could be found in the second dungeon, the Moon Labyrinth. However in the second quest, its location was moved to the third dungeon. The only main difference between the Boomerang and the Magical Boomerang is the distance they can be thrown. The Magical Boomerang will fly twice as far when thrown before returning to Link.

'A Link to the Past'' incorporates a Boomerang that can be upgraded to the Magical Boomerang by visiting the Waterfall of Wishing. The Great Fairy there will upgrade it if Link tells her the truth.

also has a second boomerang that is not found in the other Oracle game, the Magic Boomerang. Rather than being simply a distance upgrade, the magic boomerang is completely under Link's control. Link can guide its path around obstacles in order to solve more complicated puzzles.

When the Boomerang is upgraded to a Level 2 Boomerang in Four Swords Adventures, it will have a longer reach and speed out of Link's hand faster.

The Magical Boomerang also appears and is acquired by fusing Kinstones with Tingle and his brothers to reveal a hidden chest underground. This boomerang has a longer range, can change direction mid-flight, and will destroy some enemies the regular boomerang only stuns.

Gale Boomerang
reinvents the boomerang. The Gale Boomerang is a special boomerang inhabited by the Fairy of the Winds who allows it to summon small gales in order to attack or retrieve objects. It was originally held by the possessed Ook, the leader of the Faron Woods monkeys. It is found in the Forest Temple after fighting Ook and can be used to transport objects from one area to another, solve puzzles, and put out torches. This is also the first boomerang to house the spirit of a fairy, this case being the Fairy of Winds.

The Gale Boomerang is the key item needed to defeat the Forest Temple's boss, Diababa.

The biggest difference is the mini-tornado that is produced when the boomerang is launched. It works similarly to the boomerang in The Wind Waker, giving Link the option to lock onto up to five targets. It is used for many purposes throughout the game such as spinning fans, turning the direction of bridges, and catching Golden Bugs located across Hyrule.

Zora Boomerang
In Majora's Mask, the boomerang does not appear as an item but as an ability of Link in his Zora form. The fins in the forearms of Zora Link become boomerangs when the "B" button is charged. At this point, the actions of Link are the same as if he were holding the boomerang button in Ocarina of Time with the exception of this version being two boomerangs. The attributes of these weapons are basically the same as its previous incarnation.

Trivia

 * 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.
 * In the Super Smash Bros. fighting series and in Soulcalibur II, one of Link's Special Attacks hurls a boomerang at the opponent.
 * The boomerang of Ocarina of Time appears in Super Smash Bros. and Super Smash Bros. Melee as a trophy.