How to Get the Master Sword in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

In Tears of the Kingdom the Master Sword isn't in a forest – it's riding on the head of a dragon. Here's what you need, how to find the Light Dragon and how to pull the blade free.

In Breath of the Wild, the Master Sword waited in a quiet clearing in the Korok Forest. In Tears of the Kingdom, Nintendo made things a lot more dramatic: the legendary blade is lodged in the head of an enormous dragon that circles Hyrule in the sky. Getting it is one of the most memorable moments in the game – and it's very doable once you know what to prepare.

What you need

Two full stamina wheels. This is the requirement that matters. When you try to pull the sword, Link has to hold on while the dragon thrashes, and the amount of stamina you have decides whether you succeed.

• You start with one wheel. Each stamina upgrade adds a fifth of a wheel, so you need five stamina upgrades.
• Each upgrade costs four Lights of Blessing (from shrines) at a Goddess Statue – 20 Lights of Blessing in total.
• Food and elixirs don't count. Temporary extra stamina (the yellow wheel) won't let you pull the sword. It has to be permanent stamina.
• Already spent your blessings on hearts? Visit the Horned Statue to swap heart containers for stamina vessels.

A note on hearts: unlike Breath of the Wild, there's no heart requirement for the Master Sword in this game.

Should you finish the Dragon's Tears first?

The Light Dragon and the sword are tied to the Dragon's Tears questline, where you find geoglyphs around Hyrule and watch memories of the past. Guides differ on whether you must finish it first: some report the Light Dragon is reachable while you explore, while others describe its full circuit starting after the twelfth memory. Either way, the memories explain who the dragon is – so if you care about the story, finishing them first gives the moment far more weight.

How to find the Light Dragon

The Light Dragon is the huge white-and-gold dragon gliding slowly over Hyrule. It follows a long, fixed loop across the whole map and is often spotted over the Lanayru region.

1. Climb a Skyview Tower near where you spot the dragon. Launch yourself into the sky for height.
2. Use your scope or simply look up – the dragon is massive and hard to miss once you know what you're looking for.
3. Get ahead of its path. It's slow but steady. Gliding towards where it's going is easier than chasing it from behind.
4. Ride the updrafts. The dragon is surrounded by rising air. Open your paraglider near it and you'll be lifted up alongside it.

Pulling the sword

1. Land on the dragon's back and run toward its head. Watch your stamina – don't burn a whole wheel on the way.
2. Interact with the Master Sword when the prompt appears.
3. Hold the button while Link pulls and the dragon struggles. With two full wheels, your stamina will last until the sword comes free.
4. Enjoy the cutscene – you'll then find yourself back on solid ground with the Master Sword in hand.

After you get it

The Master Sword in Tears of the Kingdom can't break permanently – when it runs out of energy, it simply needs time to recharge. It can also be fused with materials, just like other weapons, which makes it one of the best long-term weapons in the game.

Common mistakes

• Counting on stamina food. Only permanent stamina wheels work.
• Chasing the dragon from behind. Get ahead of its route and let it come to you.
• Running on its back with a nearly empty wheel. Walk calmly toward the head, then pull with full stamina.
• Forgetting the Horned Statue. If you went all-in on hearts, you can rebalance without starting over.

Quick checklist

The Master Sword is the kind of reward that makes you stop and stare at the sky every time the dragon passes overhead afterwards. Bank those stamina upgrades, pick your moment and go claim it.

This article was written by AI (Claude) and checked against the sources above. Games are updated regularly, so details may change.