Sword Beam
The Sword Beam is a maneuver often utilized by Link wherein, when he is at full health, an attack with his sword will result in a beam of light streaking out and striking anything in its path. It is useful for when one does not wish to engage in close quarters combat or use ammunition like arrows. At times, it can be utilized with any blade; at others, only special blades like the Master Sword will create a Sword Beam when swung. This depends on the game.
There are two known variations, the first being a straight beam that is actually shaped like the blade of the sword it springs from. This is the most common variation, appearing in The Legend of Zelda, The Adventure of Link, Link's Awakening, Oracle of Seasons, Oracle of Ages, Four Swords Adventures, The Minish Cap, Phantom Hourglass, and Spirit Tracks.
The other, rarer variation, appears as a circular swirl of propelled sparkles, has thus far only appeared in A Link to the Past , Four Swords, in The Minish Cap after you get all four elements.
A related maneuver is known as the Peril Beam, which works exactly the same, except the beam is shot out while only one Heart Container remains filled, not while at full health. This variation is only found in The Minish Cap.
Thus far, the Sword Beam has only appeared in the 2D Zelda games, with two exceptions. The sword beam was supposedly going to be in Ocarina of Time, but it was scrapped; the discs of light released from Fierce Deity Link's sword in Majora's Mask are suspiciously similar to the Sword Beam, and possibly the move's first 3D appearance.
The first true appearance of the Sword Beam in a 3D Zelda game is Skyward Sword. In a reference to the game's title, Link can point his sword skyward, charging it with energy from the heavens, to unleash a crescent-shaped Sword Beam.
In Oracle of Ages, if the Light Ring is equipped, then the Sword Beam will be performed not only when Link is at full health, but also when he has one or two hearts missing. If Link finds the Level 2 Light Ring, it will also be performed when he has three hearts missing. As with all rings, it can be transferred to Oracle of Seasons if the games are linked.
Trivia
- The sword beam in Four Swords Adventures does not result as a function of Link's full health, but as an extra Four Sword power after Link gains 2000 Force Gems in a particular stage, fully enabling the sword to banish evil.
- Interestingly, even though the Sword Beam appears in the familiar blade-shaped variation in The Minish Cap, the Four Sword's curse-breaking maneuver is visually identical to the swirl variation despite working completely differently.
- In the TV series, the Sword Beam is the only attack which Link performs with his sword, other than using it to parry. Presumably this is because at the time cartoons could not depict graphic weapon violence, so a magic beam was seen as a softer alternative.
- The sword beam that was in the pre-release development period of Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time can be found in the Ocarina of Time Debug ROM's gameplay keep.
- It is possible that the sword beam may have been acquired at the unicorn fountain because they were both removed from the final game and also the sword beam seems as if it would use magic which would make sense if it were learned at the unicorn fountain.
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