The Triforce of Courage resonating
The Triforce of Courage is one of the three pieces of the Triforce. It embodies the essence of the Goddess of Courage, Farore, the source of all life. [1] The Triforce of Courage is more than just a mere symbol of Link's exemplary courage,[2] who is almost always its bearer. Although Link himself is not as skilled at using magic like Ganondorf or Princess Zelda (who bear the Triforce of Power and Wisdom, respectively), as he on contrast focuses on swordplay, the Triforce of Courage still grants him untold mystical abilities due to the essence of Farore - one of them being protection against evil magic. It represents the lower-right piece of the Triforce.
Location and uses[]
The Triforce of Courage (bottom-right) united with the other pieces to wake up Princess Zelda in The Adventure of Link
Although the Triforce of Courage seemingly did not exist in the original The Legend of Zelda despite official artwork actually showing it, this piece was introduced in The Adventure of Link. Here, it is revealed that a previous King of Hyrule, fearing the misuse of the Triforce, sealed the Triforce of Courage away in the Great Palace, where only a hero worthy of its power would be able to obtain it after proving himself.[3] Link endured the trials of the Great Palace, including defeating his own shadow, and recovered the Triforce of Courage. Uniting it with the Triforce of Wisdom and Power he obtained in his previous quest to become the complete Triforce, he was able to break the powerful spell cast on the sleeping Princess Zelda and finally awakens from her deep slumber. Link also uses the Triforce of Courage alongside the other pieces to fully restore Hyrule after defeating Ganon in A Link to the Past.
The Triforce of Courage glowing on Link's left hand, as seen in Ocarina of Time
Ocarina of Time reveals that after Ganondorf touched the Triforce in the Sacred Realm shortly after Link pulled the Master Sword, the Triforce itself split into three pieces, with the Triforce of Courage being imparted to Link, while the other two, the Triforce of Power and Triforce of Wisdom, go to Ganondorf and Princess Zelda, respectively.[4] After Ganon is defeated and sealed inside the Evil Realm, Link, still the bearer of the Triforce of Courage, embarks on another journey and leaves the land of Hyrule, as seen in Majora's Mask. This causes the Hero of Time to be separated from "the elements that made him a hero," and the Triforce of Courage itself to be ultimately split into many pieces (and loses its powers bestowed upon him) and be hidden throughout the kingdom, similar to the Triforce of Wisdom in the case of The Legend of Zelda.[5] This leads to the events in The Wind Waker, where a different Link - the Hero of Winds, must retrieve the eight Triforce Shards of the Triforce of Courage from the bottom of the ocean.[6]
The broken Triforce of Courage with all of its shards put together, as seen in The Wind Waker HD
In Twilight Princess, the Triforce of Courage can be seen on the back of Link's hand from the start. One of the known effects of the Triforce of Courage in said game is transforming Link into a wolf instead of into a lost soul like every other being from the Light World.[7] The Triforce of Courage also repels the Shadow Beast who attempts to attack him when he is first dragged into the Twilight.
Trivia[]
- Development-wise, the Triforce of Courage was not initially planned during the making of the original The Legend of Zelda, as the Triforce itself did not start with three pieces and this part was added in its sequel. This implies the name "Triforce" originally referred to the shape of the pieces, instead of the numbers of the triangles as widely believed.
- In the Super Smash Bros. series starting in Brawl, as their Final Smash, Link and his other counterparts uses the Triforce of Courage to perform a special attack of immobilizing their target into its void, before delivering a series of rapid slashes then hitting them with a powerful blow, shattering it and send the foe flying.
Gallery[]
The Triforce of Courge resonating in Ocarina of Time 3D
Despite never being found in-game, the Triforce of Courage exists in The Legend of Zelda's artwork as part of the whole Triforce
The Triforce of Courage on Link's hand in The Wind Waker
The Triforce of Courage resonating on the Hero of Time's hand in the ending of Ocarina of Time 3D
Link showing the Triforce of Courage in A Link Between Worlds
Triforce of Courage resonating in Oracle of Seasons
Link finding a Triforce Shard in The Wind Waker
A shard of the Triforce of Courage (top piece)
Toon Link performing a Final Smash on Ganondorf with the Triforce of Courage as seen in the Super Smash Bros. games
References[]
- ↑ "Farore, the goddess of courage... [...] With her rich soul, produced all life forms who would uphold the law." — Great Deku Tree (Ocarina of Time)
- ↑ "My only mistake was to slightly underestimate the power of this kid... No... It was not the kid's power I misjudged, it was the power of the Triforce of Courage!" — Ganondorf (Ocarina of Time)
- ↑ The Adventure of Link manual, pg. 9-10
- ↑ "The one who holds the Triforce of Courage is... You, Link!" — Sheik (Ocarina of Time)
- ↑ "Once, long ago, he defeated Ganon and brought peace to the Kingdom of Hyrule... A piece of the Triforce was given to the Hero of Time and he kept it safe, much as Zelda kept hers. That sacred piece is known as the Triforce of Courage. When the Hero of Time was called to embark on another journey and left the land of Hyrule, he was separated from the elements that made him a hero. It is said that at that time, the Triforce of Courage was split into eight shards and hidden throughout the land." — King of Red Lions (The Wind Waker)
- ↑ "If you are able to collect all of them, they will fuse together and complete the piece of the Triforce, once again opening the passage through the waves to Hyrule. Even I do not know where they rest, but this much I do know: they lie hidden somewhere in this Great Sea." — King of Red Lions (The Wind Waker)
- ↑ "In the land covered in twilight, where people roam as spirits, you were transformed into a blue-eyed beast... That was a sign... It was a sign that the powers of the chosen one rest within you...and that they are awakening." — Faron (Twilight Princess)