Sword Training
Sword Training is a recurring event in The Legend of Zelda series.[1] It exists primarily as a tutorial, but also an endurance Mini-Game in Majora's Mask, The Wind Waker, Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks.
Location and Rules
Ocarina of Time
Though Ocarina of Time does not have an interactive Sword Training event, Link can read on swordfighting techniques from Signs in the Forest Training Center outside the Know-It-All Brothers' house in Kokiri Forest. Doing so is optional.
Majora's Mask
In Majora's Mask, the Swordsman's School in West Clock Town offers two courses. The Novice Course is an optional tutorial that costs 1 Rupee. The Expert Course is a mini-game that costs 10 Rupees. There is a Piece of Heart reward for earning 30 points in the Mini-Game by slicing all 10 logs with the Jump Attack.
The Wind Waker
In The Wind Waker, Link must complete Orca's tutorial inside Orca's House to obtain the Hero's Sword. Link must peform, in order, the Horizontal Slash, Vertical Slash, and Thrust eight times each, then the Spin Attack, Parry Attack and Jump Attack two times each. Later in the game, when brought ten Knight's Crests, Orca does another short training tutorial to teach Link the Hurricane Spin.
When Link returns to Outset Island after his initial departure, he can practice with Orca in a Minigame where he has to hit Orca as many times as possible. The Minigame ends when Link is hit three times, or he has scored 1,000 hits on Orca. Orca rewards Link with a Piece of Heart for 500 hits, and different Rupee amounts for 100, 300, and 1000 hits. He will also accord Link a title rank reflecting his skill level.
| Hits | Reward | Rank achieved |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 50 Rupees | Knight |
| 300 | 100 Rupees | Swordsman |
| 500 | Piece of Heart | — |
| 1,000 | 200 Rupees | Master |
If Link obtains a higher rank on the first try, he will not receive the Rupee rewards for any of the ranks beneath it. [clarification needed]
If Link gets 1,000 hits on the first try, he will be awarded with a Piece of Heart and nothing else.
Twilight Princess
In Twilight Princess, Link shows the children from Ordon Village how to use a sword. The young hero is asked to show the horizontal, vertical, frontal and spin attacks, in that order.
Each time Link meets the Ancient Hero, he is taught a Hidden Skill and puts it into practice by attacking the Spirit with it. There are seven training sessions in total, and each skill will only be passed when it's successfully tested.
Phantom Hourglass
Phantom Hourglass has a sword tutorial shortly after Link collects Oshus's Sword, whose owner tests his ability to perform an attack by simply touching some wooden targets with the Stylus, then by tracing short lines and finally the Spin Attack (done by tracing a circle around Link himself).
If Link boards the Prince of Red Lions Ship, he will be challenged by Nyeve to test his sword techniques in a Mini-Game. At first, just one or two attacks will be enough for Nyeve,[citation needed] but later the young hero has to hit him 100 times to receive a Heart Container.
Spirit Tracks
In Spirit Tracks, Link's trainer is Guard Captain Russell, who starts the practice to approve Link's use of a Recruit's Sword. The test is based on doing each attack twice towards any of the three Castle Guards that train with Link.
Later on, after Link completes the Snow Temple, Captain Russell sends Link a Letter challenging him to a new Sword Training program he has begun.[2] In this Minigame, which costs 20 Rupees, Link must strike the three Castle Guards as many times as possible before he is hit three times. Once Link reaches 100 hits, the Castle Guards will begin to use charging attacks which are more difficult to avoid. The prize for scoring 60 or more points is a Heart Container. Afterward, Link can train again and win random Treasures for achieving certain scores; 60 to 119 hits earns a Treasure worth 150 Rupees, 120 to 199 hits earns a more rare Treasure worth 500 Rupees, and 200 hits or more earns one of the most valuable Treasures, a Regal Ring or an Alchemy Stone. If Link manages to reach 900 hits or more,[3] Russell will begin to refer to him as "captain".[4]
Skyward Sword
In Skyward Sword, Link must complete sword training in the Practice Hall of the Knight Academy to obtain the Practice Sword. There are several trunks with scars that indicate the swing direction they must be cut through. Two of the trunks also allow Link practice the Ending Blow and, once he buys the shield, he can practice the Shield Attack with a hanging trunk that will try to hit him back after a sword slash.
References
- ↑ The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD PRIMA Official Game Guide, Prima Games, pg. 144
- ↑
If you want to take your technique to the next level, stop by the training room in the castle. We're waiting for you!
— From Russell (Spirit Tracks) - ↑
That's quite the achievement, Recruit! I never thought I'd see one of my men break that number! Here, take this! You could be the only one to beat this room's record for hits. And that record would be 900 hits! Compared to that, your record is just a drop in the ocean, so keep practicing!
— Russell (Spirit Tracks) - ↑
Ho ho ho! So you've done it at last! We may have a new captain of the guard on our hands! Ho ho ho! Sigh...
— Russell (Spirit Tracks)