The Master Sword sits in a pedestal in the inner chamber of the Temple of Time in Ocarina of Time, and you open that chamber by collecting all three Spiritual Stones and playing the Song of Time on the altar. There is no shortcut and no alternative route. The whole first act of the game is the requirement.
The Three Spiritual Stones
Each stone comes from finishing a dungeon, and they are collected in a fixed order:
- Kokiri’s Emerald, the forest stone, from inside the Great Deku Tree.
- Goron’s Ruby, the fire stone, from Dodongo’s Cavern on Death Mountain.
- Zora’s Sapphire, the water stone, from inside Jabu-Jabu’s Belly.
Our guide on getting to Death Mountain covers the route to the second of those, which is the one most players stall on.
The Song of Time and the Ocarina of Time
You also need the Song of Time and the Ocarina of Time itself. Both come from Zelda: she gives you the ocarina as she flees Hyrule Castle, and the song comes with it.
This happens automatically once you return to the castle with all three stones, so it is not something you can miss or do out of order.
Opening the Door of Time
With the stones and the song in hand, go to the Temple of Time in Hyrule Castle Town. Step up to the altar in front of the sealed Door of Time and play the Song of Time. The three stones set into the altar, the door grinds open, and the inner chamber is yours.
Walk in and pull the sword from the pedestal.
What Happens When You Pull It
This is the game’s central turn, so it is worth knowing before you commit. Pulling the Master Sword seals Link away for seven years and returns him as an adult, with Hyrule substantially changed. It is not a reversible action in the moment, though you can later travel between the two eras by replacing and re-drawing the sword at the pedestal.
Anything you left unfinished as child Link is still doable, but you have to come back for it. If you were partway through side content, it is worth tidying up first.
The Master Sword is also not the first blade you carry. Our guide on getting your first sword covers the Kokiri Sword, and how to use the shield covers the defensive half of adult Link’s kit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get the Master Sword as child Link? You pull it as a child, but the act immediately ages Link to adulthood. There is no way to wield it as a child.
Can you go back to being a child? Yes. Returning the sword to the pedestal sends you back, and you can move between eras freely afterwards.
Do you need to finish all three dungeons? Yes. All three Spiritual Stones are required to open the Door of Time.
Is the Master Sword the strongest weapon in the game? The Biggoron’s Sword deals more damage, but the Master Sword is required for the story and cannot be skipped.