Quick answer: in Tears of the Kingdom, the Master Sword is stuck in the head of the Light Dragon, which flies a slow loop across the sky of Hyrule. To pull it out you need two full stamina wheels. Find the dragon, land on her back, run up to her head and hold the button to pull the sword.
You can get it surprisingly early in the game. You do not need to finish the regional temples first. This guide covers what you need, three ways to track down the Light Dragon, and how the sword works once you have it.
What You Need Before You Try
The only hard requirement is stamina.
- Two full stamina wheels. Link starts the game with one wheel. Each stamina upgrade adds one fifth of a wheel, so you need five upgrades.
- 20 Lights of Blessing. Each upgrade at a Goddess Statue costs four Lights of Blessing, and you get one Light of Blessing for each shrine you complete. That means about 20 shrines.
- Do not rely on food. Extra stamina from meals or elixirs is not a reliable way to meet the requirement. Spend your blessings on stamina at a Goddess Statue instead.
Hearts do not matter for pulling the sword, so if you are planning ahead, put your next few upgrades into stamina. It also helps with climbing, gliding with the paraglider and sprinting.
Three Ways to Find the Light Dragon
The Light Dragon is easy to spot because she glows and flies above the clouds, but you need a way to get on top of her.
Option 1: Go straight for her
If you just want the sword, you can skip the story entirely.
- Climb a Skyview Tower and launch into the sky.
- Look around the horizon for a long, glowing white dragon.
- Use the map to place a marker on her rough path, then glide to a high sky island along that route.
- Wait for her to pass under you and drop down onto her back.
She flies slowly and never dives into the Depths like some other dragons do, so once you know her path, landing on her is very doable.
Option 2: Collect the Dragon’s Tears
The Dragon’s Tears are memories hidden at geoglyphs on the ground across Hyrule. Collect all eleven, and the game reveals a final tear. Watching that last memory explains the story behind the Light Dragon and marks the Master Sword’s location for you. This is the most rewarding route if you care about the story.
Option 3: Help the Great Deku Tree
The fog around the Lost Woods blocks the normal route to Korok Forest, but you can reach it from the Depths below.
- Head into the Depths under the Lost Woods and make your way up into Korok Forest.
- Talk to the Great Deku Tree and head inside.
- Drop down into the chasm and defeat the Gloom Hands waiting at the bottom. Bring food that heals or protects against gloom.
- Return to the Deku Tree to start the quest Recovering the Hero’s Sword. The game now tracks the Light Dragon on your map.
How to Land on the Dragon and Pull the Sword
Once you are on her back:
- Run forward toward her head. You can walk freely along her back.
- Look for the glowing sword sticking out of her forehead.
- Hold the interact button to pull it out. Your stamina drains while you pull.
- If you run out of stamina, you slide off. Do more shrines, upgrade stamina and try again.
Bonus tip: while you are on her back, hit the shards and scales that glow along her body. Light Dragon parts are some of the best Fuse materials in the game.
Master Sword Durability and Recharge
The Master Sword works a little differently from every other weapon in Tears of the Kingdom.
- It never breaks. Instead, it runs out of energy after heavy use.
- It warns you first. The sword flashes when its energy is low.
- It recharges in about 10 minutes. You cannot use it while it recharges, so keep a few backup weapons.
- It glows near Gloom. The blade reacts to enemies covered in Gloom and deals bonus damage to them.
- You can Fuse to it. Fusing materials boosts its attack and adds elemental effects, just like other weapons.
Getting the sword early makes the rest of the game a lot easier, especially for temple bosses like the Frost Gleeok and dungeons like the Wind Temple.
FAQ
How many hearts do you need for the Master Sword in TOTK?
None. Unlike Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom checks stamina, not hearts. You need two full stamina wheels.
How many shrines do you need?
About 20, which gives you 20 Lights of Blessing. Trade them at a Goddess Statue for five stamina upgrades.
Can you get the Master Sword early?
Yes. You can grab it as soon as you have two stamina wheels and can reach the Light Dragon. You do not need to finish the regional phenomena first.
Can the Master Sword break in TOTK?
No. It runs out of energy and needs about 10 minutes to recharge, but it never breaks permanently.
Where does the Light Dragon fly?
She flies a long, slow loop over Hyrule, high in the sky. Climbing a Skyview Tower and scanning the horizon is the easiest way to spot her.
Final Tip
The fastest route is simple: clear around 20 shrines, put all your blessings into stamina, then climb a Skyview Tower and go find the glowing dragon. Once you have the Master Sword, you will want a good mount too, so check out our guide to Zelda’s golden horse.
