Talk:Clawshot

I didn'tentirly read everything, but what is the difference between Grapling Hook, Hook Shot, & Clawshot?-- կրակ (խոսել) -- 05:47, 4 February 2010 (UTC)

The Grappling Hook is basically inferior to the Hookshot and Clawshot. It does not latch on to things like the the other two items, but it can wrap around Grappling Posts allowing Link to swing across a wide pit. Other uses include pulling down hanging switches and fishing for treasure in the Great Sea. Unlike the other two, it can only stun enemies and is incapable of damage (except for a few bosses and small creatures). I guess does have some unique uses so it isn't really that inferior to the Hookshot and Clawshot.

The Hookshot is the most common of the three. Usually, it can be upgraded to the Longshot which is basically a Hookshot with a wider range. The Hookshot works on a variety of objects including wood, targets, chests, and vines. Unlike the Grappling Hook, the Hookshot can actually do damage (this is mostly comparable in Wind Waker where both items are present in the same game). However, stronger enemies like Lizalfos and Stalfos only get stunned. The Hookshot is also the most versatile of the three since Grappling Hooks only work Grappling Posts and Clawshots only work on metal grating.

The Clawshot is very similar to the Hookshot, except that that it literally uses metal claws instead of a single sharp metal point. The design seems to be more realistic than the Hookshot. How can a single metal point pierce an object deep enough and handle the tension to carry an adult person across a wide distance? With the Clawshot, an object is actually "grabbed" instead of pierced which makes a more realistic mechanical design (of course the Clawshot isn't exactly too realistic itself). Gameplay-wise, it is inferior to the Hookshot because it can only attach to grating while the Hookshot can attach to all sorts of objects. Both objects use spring-loaded chains to "power" the shot.

All three objects share several similarities. The Grappling Hook, the Hookshot, and the Clawshot can all be used to retrieve distant items including hearts, spoils, and magic containers. All three also accomplish the same primary purpose: getting across wide pits. All three items consist of some type of rope or chain link attached to a metal object. Compared to other offensive weapons, these items are usually inferior. Swords, Bows, and Bombs are much more effective weapons than the three items.

Hope that helps.--Knife 02:18, 5 February 2010 (UTC)

Merge Clawshot and Hookshot?
When the Clawshot was first unveiled, there was perhaps reasonable argument to keep Hookshot and Clawshot separate. Six years and four games later, though, it has become quite obvious that the Clawshot has blatantly but profoundly replaced the Hookshot in the series. Considering both this and the fact the items are practically identical (really, even boomerangs and bombs have as much functional and aesthetic variance across the series), it seems appropriate that the two articles be merged on ZeldaWiki. Would anyone oppose me beginning the merging the two into a single "Clawshot" page, to which Hookshot/Longshot redirects? --Douken 22:07, 1 October 2012 (UTC)


 * I oppose. Just because the Clawshot has replaced the hookshot lately, doesn't mean that we should merge them together. I think, considering this case only, it's fine to keep them separate, considering they have a different name. Plus, with the Double Clawshots, that sort of gives them a whole new function that the Hookshot can't duplicate. --Dany36 15:35, 2 October 2012 (UTC)


 * Considering they have a different name? Power Bracelet,  Titan's Mitt, and the Golden Gauntlets all share the same page.  Magic Boomerang, Fairy Boomerang, and Gale Boomerang all have about as much difference in name has Clawshot and Hookshot, yet also share the same page.  So do Roc's Feather and Roc's Cape.  Red Mail and Zora Tunic.  The list goes on. I... don't really see the point in that particular argument.
 * Yes, Double Clawshots give a "whole new function" that the Hookshot can't duplicate. It adds another layer of functionality--just as the Remote Bombs of  added a new layer of functionality to Bombs; or the ability to target multiple enemies with one throw of the Boomerang added a new layer of functionality to it from  onward; or Fire Arrows; or Bomb Arrows; or Roc's Cape; or even having separate ammunition bags for separate ammunition types in SS undefined, and once again, the list goes on--but nearly the same could have been achieved all the way back in, had the game merely allowed Link to wield his Hookshot alongside his newly-acquired Longshot, or enabled him to hang on to the Hookshot after it had retracted fully.  The difference lies more in the limitations of the system in which it's used, rather than the item itself.  (Heck, if that's anyone's argument, compare 's super Boomerang to the Gale Boomerang of .)
 * I don't mean to come off as offensive, but frankly, considering so many similar items are merged on into one article ZeldaWiki, it seems odd if not hypocritical that Hookshot and Clawshot remain separate... despite being more similar in aesthetic, function, and name than many of the merged items. Do you still oppose nonetheless? --Douken 21:51, 2 October 2012 (UTC)


 * One could just as easily compare the Hookshot and Clawshot to the Gust Jar and Gust Bellows (which have a similar appearance and function), or the Zora's Flippers and Mermaid Suit, which, although different aesthetically, just "adds another layer of functionality." Furthermore, all of the items you mentioned, Douken, are (1) direct upgrades of another item on the same page and/or (2) doomed to be stubby articles on their own. This is not the case for the Hookshot and Clawshot.


 * Although the wiki does have a tendency to merge items with very similar functions, this tendency is not ubiquitous, as evidenced by the articles I mentioned above. For that reason, I don't believe we can justify the merging of the Hookshot and Clawshot articles simply by looking at how things are dealt elsewhere on the wiki. I'd like to point out this discussion has hinged pretty much entirely on that so far.


 * I think the two pages are fine as they are because firstly, neither of them are stubby, and secondly, they're fairly well-harmonized without being redundant. Merging Hookshot and Clawshot would create several inline redirects and would complicate proper linking to whichever item loses its page. That said, if it came to a merge, I guess I wouldn't really mind that much, though I would rather see Clawshot merged onto Hookshot. Alternatively, we could name the article "Hookshot and Clawshot" like SmashWiki (just throwing that thought out there). 21:36, 5 October 2012 (UTC)