Great Swords

Great Swords
Demon King, Ganondorf wielding his Swords of Despair from Hyrule Warriors
First appearance	Hyrule Warriors (2014)
Appearances	Hyrule Warriors Legends (2016)
Found	Default Weapon Type
Use	Damage Enemies Cutting Grass Breaking Pots Darkness Elemental Attribute

Non-canon warning: This article or section contains non-canonical information that is not considered to be an official part of the Legend of Zelda series and should not be considered part of the overall storyline.

"A set of great swords brimming with dark power. Hold Y at the end of a Combo to fill your gauge. Press Y to unleash the collected energy in a powerful attack."

— In-game description

Great Swords is the default weapon moveset of Ganondorf in Hyrule Warriors and Hyrule Warriors Legends. They are described as a set of Great Swords brimming with dark power. This weapon type has a Darkness Elemental Attribute and its Strong Attack allows Ganondorf to fill his dark energy gauge in order to unleash the collected dark energy in a powerful attack. Ganondorf can also envelop himself in a shadowy shroud that resembles a shadowy version of his Ganon form.

Ganondorf's Special Attack is a reference to Demise's second battle phase. Similar to Demise, Ganondorf charges up his sword with a lightning strike, then fires a lightning bolt by swinging it.

Ganondorf's Level 3 weapons are the Swords of Demise, while their 8-Bit versions are the 8-Bit Magical Keys. The 8-Bit version only appears in Hyrule Warriors and is replaced by Ganondorf's Level 4 weapon in Hyrule Warriors Legends.

His victory pose with this weaponset depicts him taking out his swords, breathing in, before violently smashing the blades into the ground, and then proceeds to chuckle and then laugh evilly as a shadowy apparition of Ganon appears behind him.

Weapon Levels

• Level 1 - Swords of Despair
• Level 2 - Swords of Darkness
• Level 3 - Swords of Demise
  • Level 4 - Swords of Demise +
• 8-Bit - 8-Bit Magical Keys

Theory

Theory warning: This section contains theoretical information based on the research of one or several other users. It has not been officially verified by Nintendo and its factual accuracy is disputed.

Gerudo Fighting Style

Ganondorf's dual Great Swords may be based on Gerudo Thief from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Gerudo Guard from The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask as they also wield two swords in combat. This also indicates the possibility that Gerudo train in the art of wielding two swords in combat. Additionally both Ganondorf and the Gerudo Guards guard against attacks by crossing their dual swords together. Alternatively, Ganondorf developed the style himself and it was later adopted by the Gerudo Guards seen in Ocarina of Time. Ganondorf (in The Wind Waker) and Ganon (Ocarina of Time) are both known to dual wield swords/blades in final boss fights indicating it may be his preferred weapon style.

Theory warning: Theories end here.

Gallery

The Swords of Despair icon from Hyrule Warriors

The Swords of Darkness icon from Hyrule Warriors

The Swords of Demise icon from Hyrule Warriors

The 8-Bit Magical Keys icon from Hyrule Warriors

Promotional Render of Ganondorf (Era of Twilight Armor) holding one of his Swords of Despair from Hyrule Warriors

Render of Ganondorf (Era of the Great Sea robes) wielding his Swords of Despair from Hyrule Warriors Legends

Promotional Render of the Swords of Despair from Hyrule Warriors

Promotional Render of the Swords of Darkness from Hyrule Warriors

Promotional Render of the Swords of Demise from Hyrule Warriors

Ganondorf's Strong Attack when the Darkness Gauge is full from Hyrule Warriors

Non-canon warning: Non-canonical information ends here.