Item Evolution

Okay, items can't "evolve" as such, since they aren't living entities, but they can be improved and modified. I am going to look at all the items throughout the series, excluding swords and shields, since they have both been previously covered by Master of ALttP and myself. Since I can't have more than ten pictures in one post, I will post links to pictures of the items, so if you want to see what they look like, just click on the links.This thread is being based on the Wise Men's timeline theory, and so the items I show will be in that order. Please note: When I put a *, it means degrees.

Boomerangs:

Ocarina of Time:
Image:
http://www.zeldalegends.net/gallery/...boomerang2.jpg

This boomerang is orange in colour and has a large red jewel in the centre of it, which is surrounded by a line of gold. On either end of the boomerang are three stripes: two outer green stripes and an inner yellow stripe. The boomerang is angled at 90*.

Majora's Mask:
The boomerang is not in Majora's Mask.

Twilight Princess:
Since the Gale Boomerang is not a normal boomerang, I think it unfair to compare it to normal boomerangs, since it is designed to create little tornados, not just to come to back to its user like other boomerangs.

The Wind Waker:
Image:
http://www.zeldalegends.net/gallery/..._boomerang.jpg

The Wind Waker boomerang is yellow in colour and is detailed with grey carvings. There is a grey bit on each end of the boomerang, and the middle grey bit seems to curve and loop around the boomerang, with a small red jewel set into the middle. The TWW boomerang is angled at about 100*.

Phantom Hourglass:
Not released.

The Minish Cap:
Image:
http://www.zeldalegends.net/gallery/.../Boomerang.gif

Here we see the introduction of the more simple boomerang. Not really fancily designed or particuarly quick, but effective none the less. It is red in colour and has two yellow stripes at either end of the boomerang. It is angled at about 90*.

Image:
http://www.zeldalegends.net/gallery/...lBoomerang.gif

The Magical Boomerang in TMC looks exactly the same as the boomerang in TWW.

Four Swords:
Image:
http://gallery.zeldalegends.net/cate.../boomerang.gif

The FS boomerang is incredibly similar to the TMC boomerang. Near identical in fact. The only difference is that the stripes are now white and the boomerang is slightly bulkier than it was in TMC.

Four Swords Adventures:
Image:
http://www.zeldauniverse.net/images/.../boomerang.png

The FSA boomerang is exactly the same as the TMC and TWW boomerang. It seems that the people of Hyrule were experimenting with different boomerangs around this time.

A Link to the Past:
Image:
http://gallery.zeldalegends.net/cate...Boomerang1.gif

http://gallery.zeldalegends.net/cate...-boomerang.jpg

The boomerang in ALttP is blue in colour and has three white stripes on either end of it. There is a circular red jewel surrounded by a thin gold ring. The boomerang is angled at about 100*.

Image:
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m.../boomerang.jpg

The ALttP magical boomerang is the same as the ALttP boomerang, except coloured red and able to travel faster and further. Since there is no artwork for the ALttP magical boomerang, I must assume it has the same detail as the normal boomerang.

Link's Awakening:
Image:
http://www.thehylia.com/media/albums...a/items_80.jpg

This looks just like the ALttP boomerang apart from its red. Since LA Link is the same as ALttP Link, I can assume that this is the magical boomerang from ALttP, due to its red colouring and identical markings to ALttP's boomerang.

Oracles:
Item:
http://www.zeldalegends.net/gallery/..._Boomerang.gif

The Magical Boomerang is blue in colour, and has no designs on it.

Item:
http://www.zeldauniverse.net/gallery.../boomerang.gif

The boomerang is brown in colour, and has three black triangles on the middle of it. It has two white stripes on either end of it, and is angled at 90*.

Legend of Zelda:
Image:
http://www.zeldauniverse.net/gallery.../boomerang.gif

The LoZ boomerang is brown in colour and has a single white stripe on one end of it. It is angled at around 90*, although it curves all the way around, making it hard to judge.

Image:
http://www.zeldauniverse.net/gallery...cboomerang.gif

The LoZ magical boomerang is exactly the same as the normal boomerang, but it is blue in colour.

The Adventure of Link:
The boomerang is not in AoL.

Summary for Boomerangs:
Let's group the boomerangs.

OoT/TWW - Orange/yellow colour with fancy designs in the middle and sides, with a red jewel in the centre.
TMC/FS/FSA - Expirementation with older boomerangs and simpler boomerangs. Introduction of red/brown boomerangs
ALttP/LA/LoZ - Two types of boomerangs. A normal one and a better magical one. Introduction of blue boomerangs and staying with older red/brown ones.

Originally, boomerangs were fancy and looked pretty. As the availability of fancy boomerangs lessened, newer, slower boomerangs were introduced, and didn't cost much compared to magical boomerangs, and were also easier to come across. After the success regular boomerangs had, they became more and more available, as magical boomerangs began to be forgotten. But then the popularity of magical boomerangs went up again, and became commonly used items. After a while, the people decided to have both normal and magical boomerangs available at ease, and gave each different colours, so as to tell them apart.

Now, on to Canes!

Canes:

Ocarina of Time:
No canes are in OoT.

Majora's Mask:
No canes are in MM.

Twilight Princess:
No canes are in TP.

The Wind Waker:
No canes are in TWW.

Phantom Hourglass:
No canes are in PH.

The Minish Cap:
Image:
http://www.zeldalegends.net/gallery/...aneofPacci.gif

The Cane of Pacci is yellow in colour and looks just like you'd expect a cane to look like: straight until the top where it curves into a hook-like shape. It has the ability to launch magical projectiles that flip certain objects over when it makes contact with them. It can also thrust items upwards when the projectile is aimed into a hole.

Four Swords:
No canes are in FS.

Four Swords Adventures:
No canes are in FSA.

A Link to the Past:
Image:
http://www.zeldauniverse.net/images/...affofbyrna.png

The Cane of Byrna is blue in colour, and is practically identical in shape as the Cane of Pacci, except it gets narrow towards the bottom. The Cane of Byrna surrounds Link with a magical forcefield that'll protect him from damage and will hurt enemies that can into contact with the barrier.

Image:
http://www.zeldauniverse.net/images/...fofsomaria.png

The Cane of Somari is identical in appearance to the Cane of Byrna, except its red. The Cane of Somari can create small blocks that can be used to press switches. If the Cane comes into contact with one of these blocks, it'll shatter into pieces and hurt any enemys in the way of the pieces.

Link's Awakening:
No canes are in LA.

Oracles:
Image:
http://www.zeldauniverse.net/images/...items/cane.gif

The OoA Cane of Somari is identical in appearance and function to the ALttP Cane of Somari.

Legend of Zelda:
No canes are in LoZ.

The Adventure of Link:
No canes are in AoL.

Canes Summary:
Let's group the canes:

TMC - The first Cane in the series is yellow and can flip objects over.
ALttP / OoA - Canes have evolved since TMC, and now are red and blue, and can create blocks and cast magical barriers.

Canes were first developed after the flood, and after Hyrule drains. Canes are recent technology in Hyrule, and the first one was the Cane of Pacci, simply able to flip objects over. After many more years of testing and development, Canes were more powerful, and could create physical objects and create damage resistant barriers around people. Since the Oracles are relatively close to ALttP, Canes haven't developed any further, and the Cane of Somari is still in use.

Gloves, Gauntlets and Other Handwear:

Ocarina of Time:
Image:
http://www.zeldalegends.net/gallery/...ergauntlet.jpg

The Silver Gauntlets are long gloves that go up to the elbow and have plates of silver along it. On the plate that covers the back of the hand is a large red jewel. The Silver Gauntlets give their wearer huge strength, and the ability to lift very heavy objects.

Image:
http://www.zeldalegends.net/gallery/...d_gauntlet.jpg

The Golden Gauntlets look exactly the same as the Silver Gauntlets, except the plates are made of gold, instead of silver. Like the Silver Gauntlets, the Golden Gauntlets give their wearer immense strength, but even more than what the Silver Gauntlets do. The Golden Gauntlets enable Link to lift incredibly immense and heavy objects.

Majora's Mask:
No gauntlets/gloves are in MM.

Twilight Princess:
No gauntlets/gloves are in TP.

The Wind Waker:
No gauntlets/gloves are in TWW.

Phantom Hourglass:
No gauntlets/gloves are in PH.

The Minish Cap:
No gauntlets/gloves are in TMC (I'm aware that the Mole Mitts are gloves of sorts, but they come under digging equipment).

Four Swords:
Image:
http://www.zeldauniverse.net/images/...tems/glove.gif

The Magnetic Gloves are shaped like a "U" and are red and silver in colour, with a ring of gold to cover the wrist. They have the ability to pull or push their wearer to or away from magnetic objects, aswell as other people.

Four Swords Adventures:
No gauntlets/gloves are in FSA.

A Link to the Past:
Image:
http://gallery.zeldalegends.net/cate...Powerglove.gif

http://www.zeldauniverse.net/images/...powerglove.png

The Power Glove is a metal glove made of silver and allows its wearer to lift objects that they wouldn't normally be able to. It looks just like a regular glove, only its covered in silver.

Image:
http://gallery.zeldalegends.net/cate...an%3BsMitt.gif

http://www.zeldauniverse.net/images/...titansmitt.png

The Titan's Mitt is a metal glove made of gold and allows its wearer to lift really heavy objects that they wouldn't normally be able to. It looks just like a regular glove, only its covered in gold.

Link's Awakening:
No gauntlets/gloves are in LA.

Oracles:
Image:
http://www.zeldalegends.net/gallery/...neticglove.gif

The Magnetic Gloves are red and silver in colour, and looks just like the Power Glove and Titan's Mitt. The Magnet Gloves have the ability to attract or repel certain metal objects using its magnetized metal, just like the FS Magnetic Gloves.

Legend of Zelda:
No gauntlets/gloves are in LoZ.

Adventure of Link:
Image:
http://www.zeldauniverse.net/images/...handyglove.png

The Handy Glove is silver in colour, and is made of metal, and has spikes on the knuckles. The Handy Glove allows its wearer to break through rocks.

Summary for Gauntlets, Gloves and Other Handwear:
Let's group the gauntlets, gloves and other handwear:

OoT/ALttP - Gauntlets and gloves were made of silver and gold, and allowed their wearers to lift heavy objects.
FS/OoS - Gloves allowed their wearers to attract or repel items to or from them or themselves to and from items.
AoL - Glove that allowed its wearer to break through rocks.

Items that allowed their wearers to lift immensly heavy objects were made of silver and gold, and covered the arm up to the elbow. As technology advanced, magnetic gloves were invented, and were shaped like traditional "U" magnets. Further development on older gloves reduced their size from gauntlets to gloves, and only one was needed. Magnetic gloves then advanced further, and became shaped like normal gloves, allowing their wearer to both use magnetic powers and use their hand normally.

On to Roc's Items.

Roc's Items:

Ocarina of Time:
No Roc's items are in OoT.

Majora's Mask:
No Roc's items are in MM.

Twilight Princess:
No Roc's items are in TP.

The Wind Waker:
Image:
http://www.zeldauniverse.net/images/...items/wing.png

The origin of all Roc's items can be found in TWW. Kargarocs and the Helmaroc King have feathers that are used as Roc's Feathers. These feathers usually come from the tail of a Kargaroc, but can also come from the body of a Kargaroc. Kargaroc feathers are either, blue, white or yellow in colour, and can have two or all three of these colours in the same feather.

Phantom Hourglass:
No Roc's items are in PH.

The Minish Cap:
Image:
http://www.zeldalegends.net/gallery/...oc%3BsCape.gif

Roc's Cape is made up of numerous Roc's Feathers (Kargaroc feathers) and has greater power than just a single Roc's Feather. It allows its wearer to not only jump higher and farther than normal, but allows them to glide for a short period of time. Roc's Cape is white with the bottom being lined with blue.

Four Swords:
Image:
http://www.thehylia.com/media/albums...fs/item_19.jpg

FS Roc's Cape is exactly the same as TMC Roc's Cape.

Four Swords Adventures:
Image:
http://www.zeldauniverse.net/images/...ms/feather.gif

The FSA Roc's Feather looks just like the TWW Kargaroc Feather, except it's blue, but Kargaroc Feathers can also be blue. The Roc's Feather allows its user to jump higher and farther than normal.

A Link to the Past:
No Roc's items are in ALttP.

Link's Awakening:
Image:
http://www.thehylia.com/media/albums...a/items_46.jpg

The LA Roc's Feather is a pink/red colour, so this particular feather probably came from the wing of a Kargaroc, since they have red feathers on their wings.

Oracles:
Image:
http://www.zeldauniverse.net/images/...ms/feather.gif

The Oracle Roc's Feather is blue and slightly white in colour. It has the same powers as any other Roc's Feather.

Legend of Zelda:
No Roc's items are in LoZ.

Adventure of Link:
No Roc's items are in AoL.

Summary for Roc's Items:
Let's group them:

TWW - Where all the items originated from: Kargarocs.
TMC / FS - Capes made from white and blue Kargaroc feathers.
FSA / LA / Oracles - Feathers from different parts of a Kargaroc used to increase jumping ability.

When people realized that Kargaroc feathers could increase their jumping abilities, they became popular. At first, capes were made to allow limited flying ability. After Kargaroc feathers became in short supply, capes stopped being made, and single feathers were sold to increase jumping ability.

And finally, arrows.

Arrows:

Ocarina of Time:
Image:
http://www.zeldauniverse.net/images/.../firearrow.gif
Fire Arrows are magic arrows that have the tip covered in white hot flames. They can melt ice and set things alight.

Image:
http://www.zeldauniverse.net/images/...s/icearrow.gif
Ice Arrows are magic arrows that have the tip covered in freezing cold ice. They can freeze enemies in their tracks and surround things in ice.

Image:
http://www.zeldauniverse.net/images/...lightarrow.gif
Light Arrows are sacred arrows that can pierce the deepest darkness, and are the only thing that'll bring the King of Evil to his knees. The tip is covered in pure, bright light, and can thwart the strongest evil.

Majora's Mask:
All arrows and their abilities are exactly the same as in OoT, so I won't repeat any of it.

Twilight Princess:
Currently unknown.

The Wind Waker:
Image:
http://www.zeldauniverse.net/images/...reicearrow.png

The TWW Fire and Ice Arrows are exactly the same as they were in OoT and MM.

Image:
http://www.zeldauniverse.net/images/...lightarrow.png

The TWW Light Arrows are a slightly different shape to the OoT and MM ones, as the rear of the arrow fans out more and the entire arrow is golden. It's function and power is the same as in OoT and MM.

Phantom Hourglass:
Currently unknown.

The Minish Cap:
Image:
http://www.zeldalegends.net/gallery/...ightArrows.gif

Can't really tell from the sprite what they look like in detail, but they have the same function as in OoT, MM and TWW: they can harm evil ones and pierce darkness.

Four Sword:
No special arrows are in FS.

Four Swords Adventures:
No special arrows are in FSA.

A Link to the Past:
The Silver Arrows have taken the Light Arrows job of the ultimate weapon against the King of Evil. They are made of pure silver, and have the ability to strike into the hearts of evil ones.

Link's Awakening:
No special arrows are in LA.

Oracles:
No special arrows are in the Oracles.

Legend of Zelda:
Image:
http://www.zeldalegends.net/gallery/...ilverarrow.gif
The LoZ Silver Arrows have the same ability and appearance as the ALttP Silver Arrows.

Adventure of Link:
No special arrows are in AoL.

Summary for Arrows:
Let's group the arrows:

OoT / MM / TWW - Fire, Ice and Light Arrows available to those who need them.
TMC - Fire and Ice arrows gone, but Light Arrows remain.
ALttP / LoZ - King of Evil either became immune to Light Arrows or the people forgot how to make them, so new Silver Arrows were created in the Light Arrows place.

In Hyrule's earlier days, knowledge of how to make Fire and Ice Arrows was known of, and so were available for people who wanted them, after completing a small task. Light Arrows were created to help destroy evil that may threaten Hyrule, and were effective aginst Ganondorf in OoT. By the time Ganondorf got out of his seal again, Hyrule was flooded, and the knowledge of how to make Fire and Ice arrows was only known by the Queen of the Fairies. The Light Arrows were still an effective weapon against Ganondorf, but they didn't seem to harm him as much as they did in OoT.

In TMC, when Ganondorf was thought to be dead, Light Arrows were still kept by the Wind Tribe in case he should come back. However, when Vaati threatened Hyrule, the Light Arrows were effective against him and helped seal him into the Four Sword. For a while, Light Arrows were not needed, and so, the making of them stopped. But when Ganon returned in FSA, Light Arrows weren't available, and Zelda and Link had to improvise with normal arrows and a ball of light. After that, the people began work on remaking the lost Light Arrows, but the knowledge of how to had long passed, so they created a new weapon: the silver arrow. This proved effective against Ganon until he was totally destroyed once and for all in LoZ.


So there you have it. How items have evolved throughout the series. I hope you all enjoy reading it, and any feedback would be appreciated. I may add more items to it, it depends on whether I think the items necessary or not.

|ZeldaGamer21|

wow this has helped me. I dident know what they were called before but now WOW Great post zeldagamer21

Very nice compilation you have here. My only complaint is that I would rather see Hyperlinked text rather than URL links (it's not very appealing to the eyes).

The only comments I have so far, as for the content, are as follows: under the Gloves section, you're missing the following items--Goron's Bracelet (OoT) and Power Bracelets (TWW, TMC, FSA, LA, and the Oracles). I would also include Rods under the Canes section. (link'd to the Wise Men's Council, btw). I would also have described the Trident's possible role in making the Light Arrows obsolete.

Also, I would include the Pegasus Boots too. They were in TMC and ALttP as far as I know.

Good job, though, ZG21.

Originally Posted by LionHarted

The only comments I have so far, as for the content, are as follows: under the Gloves section, you're missing the following items--Goron's Bracelet (OoT) and Power Bracelets (TWW, TMC, FSA, LA, and the Oracles). I would also include Rods under the Canes section. (link'd to the Wise Men's Council, btw). I would also have described the Trident's possible role in making the Light Arrows obsolete.

Bracelets haven't changed much through the series. Their appearance has been essentially the same, as well as their use, so I didn't think it appropriate for an item evolution thread. Same with rods. I was going to do them, but how have they evolved? They either spew fire or freeze things. Not much evolution going on there.

Also, I would include the Pegasus Boots too. They were in TMC and ALttP as far as I know.

As with rods and bracelets, Pegasus Boots haven't evolved, have they? They've always been winged boots that make you run fast, so they weren't that appropriate for this thread.

Originally Posted by ZeldaGamer21

Pegasus Boots haven't evolved, have they? They've always been winged boots that make you run fast, so they weren't that appropriate for this thread.

Well, going from something you can get at your local shoemaker to a legendary artifact of the Hero is quite a big jump, don't you think?

Originally Posted by LionHarted

Well, going from something you can get at your local shoemaker to a legendary artifact of the Hero is quite a big jump, don't you think?

True, but in terms of use and appearance they have barely changed, hence why they weren't included.

There are bomb arrows and light arrows in TP.

Originally Posted by Black Omnimon

There are bomb arrows and light arrows in TP.

Technically, there were also bomb arrows in LA. I mean, it seems rather odd that they'd be in there by chance, you know? Besides, LA had the concept of combining items, didn't it? You use Roc's Feather when running with the Pegasus Boots and you jump farther, and then you use a bomb and arrow at the same time to create a bomb arrow.

Its a cool idea, but I don't think that these items really evolved. They are just variations of the original items.

This thread has been dead for nearly three months now. Please do not revive threads that have been inactive for more than a month.

-R.I.P.