Hylian Shield

The Hylian Shield is the traditional shield of the Knights of Hyrule and a shield commonly used by Link in the 3D Zelda games. Unlike Wooden Shields, the Hylian Shield will not burn upon contact with fire. Throughout the Zelda games, the Hylian Shield has changed little in terms of overall appearance, always bearing the symbol of the Triforce and, beneath it, a red Hylian Crest representing the Crimson Loftwing that helped Link at the founding of Hyrule. The first Hylian Shield was a legendary shield guarded by the Thunder Dragon Lanayru, who created a challenge to judge whether someone would be worthy of wielding the shield.

Ocarina of Time


In Ocarina of Time, the Hylian Shield can either be purchased or found by Young Link. Emblazoned with Hylian artwork, complete with a Crimson Loftwing and the Triforce, the Hylian shield is much too large for young Link to wield on his arm and functions more like a turtle's shell. After his seven year sleep, Link became able to use it as his standard shield.

The Hylian Shield becomes almost necessary to survive a visit to the Great Fairy in Death Mountain, as child Link's 'turtle shell' use of the shield protects from recurrent flaming rock eruptions. It is also not prone to the risk of being burnt by particular fire-borne enemies, such as the Fire Keese. However, the shield can be lost by the shield-eating Like Likes if Link is swallowed by one. Child Link's use of the shield limits mobility while defending and does not provide as much adequate protection from the front as the Deku Shield (and the Hylian Shield as an adult) and is similarly unable to reflect Deku Scrub and Octorok attacks, but it can defend Link from the boulders that rain from Death Mountain. It is worth noting that the guard at the gates of Kakariko Village (leading to Death Mountain) can offer Link a discount in correspondence with the owner of the Bazaar in Hyrule Castle Town. If Link speaks to the guard and then attempts to purchase the shield at normal price at the Bazaar in the Market, the shop owner will give Link the discount. However, a free shield can be found if Link opens a certain grave at night in the Kakariko Village Graveyard.

The pedestal on which the avian is perched on is often seen to be the "missing fourth piece" of the Triforce, combined known as the Tetraforce, that completes the triangle. No point in the series has the existence of a fourth piece ever been mentioned, however. This inverted triangle was presumably removed to dismiss the confusion of its such existence.

Twilight Princess
In Twilight Princess, the Hylian Shield becomes available before entering the Goron Mines in the newly established Malo Mart. It can also be bought (for a higher price) from a Goron in Castle Town. Its appearance is largely similar to its Ocarina of Time incarnation, with some minor design changes. It looks more weathered than before due to prolonged use over time. The metal frame is thinner now, and the numerous rivets are replaced by three large bolts. The Triforce symbol has become smaller, now with metal framing it. In contrast, the Crimson Loftwing is noticeably bigger and takes up the entire bottom half of the shield. The inverted triangle at the bottom has been removed and two metal decals take its place.

Skyward Sword
The Hylian Shield makes another appearance in Skyward Sword. Its design in the beta was largely similar to that of Twilight Princess, albeit with brighter colors more akin to the original Ocarina of Time design. Some time prior to E3 2011, the design was altered, removing the silver rim around the Triforce and the metal ornamentation beneath the Crimson Loftwing design. As with all shields, the Hylian Shield is controlled by using the Nunchuk: by quickly thrusting the Nunchuk forward, Link will raise his shield and use it to defend himself against enemy attacks. Unlike other shields in the game, the Hylian Shield is indestructible, with its durability bar permanently filled with a glowing blue color to signify this. Unlike its past appearances, the shield cannot be obtained early on in the game, due to the nature of normal shields as potentially temporary items with limited durability. It is the reward from the Thunder Dragon Lanayru's boss battle fights if the player wins eight fights consecutively and then quits.

A Link Between Worlds
The Hylian Shield makes its first appearance in a 3D top-down perspective Zelda game, replacing the usual Mirror Shield as a treasure in A Link Between Worlds, found as the dungeon item of Turtle Rock. It replaces the standard shield once obtained. Unlike the standard shield, it can block magical attacks such as beams, such as the beams fired by Beamos, as well as block the Lynels' fire breath, although it cannot reflect them back.

Similar shields
While not actually identified as a "Hylian Shield", there are various shields in other games that bear a striking resemblance to it.

A Link to the Past
While none of the sprites in-game are detailed enough to show the actual shield design, official art for both the Super Nintendo and Game Boy Advance versions of A Link to the Past depict a shield with similar qualities to the Hylian Shield.

The Triforce symbol is at the top, surrounded by two inverted triangles. Beneath it is a large bejeweled golden bird.

A shield similar to this one also appears in Link's Awakening and the Oracle series.

Majora's Mask
In Majora's Mask, Link starts off with a shield called the Hero's Shield. The shield has many of the Hylian Shield's features, including the red Hylian eagle, the blue base, the Triforce, and the metal decals. However, the Hero's Shield features a simplified and abstract style in comparison. The bird's head is more hunched, and the shape cannot be seen, but its face is visible. Its wings are also much larger than its body, and point down. The Triforce has moved from above the bird to below it, greatly decreased in size.

This shield also appeared in the SpaceWorld 2001 tech demo for the Nintendo GameCube. Strangely enough, it is the older incarnation of Link that is wielding it.

The Wind Waker
The Wind Waker also has a shield dubbed the Hero's Shield. Its design is even more simplistic than the Majora's Mask version. The shield is predominantly brown now as opposed to the usual blue. The Triforce is in the very center of the shield. There are long swirls surrounding it as well as three bolts at its corners. A winged creature with horns replaces the bird, but unlike the Majora's Mask version, it faces up, wings spread out like the original Hylian Shield.

Super Smash Bros. Series
Link's older incarnation has appeared in all three Super Smash Bros. games to date, and has wielded the Hylian Shield and Master Sword in each game. In Super Smash Bros., the shield is identical to the one Link wields in Ocarina of Time. In Super Smash Bros. Melee, he has an updated version of the Ocarina of Time shield, which remains largely the same. One notable difference is that it takes on a noticeably purple hue, rather than blue. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Link's Hylian Shield is the one found in Twilight Princess. When standing still, it can deflect projectiles, like arrows or bullets.

The Hylian Shield appears as a collectible sticker in Brawl.

Soulcalibur II
In Soulcalibur II, the Hylian Shield also appears as Link's default weapon, along with the Master Sword. It is his most balanced weapon in the game. The Hylian Shield is also paired off with other weapons such as the Biggoron's Sword, Razor Sword, the Great Fairy's Sword, and the Bug-Catching Net.