The Enchanting Rewards of the Great Fairies in Majora’s Mask
The Great Fairies in The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask are not merely decorative elements; they are integral to Link’s journey, offering substantial enhancements and abilities. Each Great Fairy, once healed, provides Link with a unique and powerful reward that dramatically impacts his adventure. The rewards range from combat upgrades to increased magical prowess and valuable tools, making their rescue a critical part of a successful playthrough. The rewards are: a better charged spin attack, an increased magic meter, the Great Fairy Sword, double defense, and the ability to upgrade armor.
The Core Great Fairy Rewards
Enhanced Spin Attack
After restoring the Great Fairy in Clock Town, Link receives an upgrade to his spin attack. This isn’t just a cosmetic change; the charged spin attack becomes more potent, dealing increased damage to enemies and making it easier to clear groups of foes quickly. This buff is especially crucial in the later stages of the game, where enemies become more resilient. Notably, in the 3DS version of Majora’s Mask, this Clock Town Great Fairy instead rewards Link with an increased magic meter.
Increased Magic Meter
The Great Fairy of Snowhead rewards Link with an increased magic meter, a boon for players who rely heavily on magic. This enhancement allows Link to use magic-based masks, such as the Deku, Goron, and Zora Masks, for a longer duration. This is particularly beneficial during dungeon exploration and boss battles. In the original Nintendo 64 version, it was the Great Fairy in Clock Town who offered the expanded magic meter. The 3DS remake swaps the Clock Town reward to the increased spin attack.
Double Defense
The Great Bay Great Fairy provides a crucial defensive upgrade: double defense. This significantly reduces the damage Link takes from enemy attacks, effectively halving the damage he would normally receive. With double defense enabled, Link’s health increments become eighths of a heart, allowing for more granular health management. This extra layer of protection is invaluable when facing powerful enemies and difficult boss encounters.
The Great Fairy’s Sword
The Great Fairy in Ikana Canyon rewards Link with the coveted Great Fairy Sword. This isn’t just another sword; it’s a powerful item that deals significantly more damage than the Gilded Sword, though it’s used as an item that must be placed in a (C) button slot. The Great Fairy Sword deals four times the damage of the base Kokiri Sword and twice the damage of the Gilded Sword. Though its angle of attack can be somewhat unwieldy, its sheer power makes it a formidable weapon.
Armor Upgrades
While Majora’s Mask is not the game that introduced armor upgrades, the Great Fairies’ role in item enhancements is continued in later titles like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. In these later games, after rescuing them from the confines of their cocoons, Great Fairies offer to enhance Link’s armor, provided he possesses the required materials. These upgrades increase the armor’s defense value and add a star to the armor’s icon to show its upgrade level. The process involves paying a rupee fee and sacrificing specific materials.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Great Fairy Rewards
1. What does the Great Fairy Mask do?
The Great Fairy Mask in Majora’s Mask is obtained by returning a missing stray fairy to the Great Fairy in Clock Town. Its main function is to assist in locating stray fairies within dungeons. The mask will glitter when a stray fairy is present in the same room, making the task of collecting them far more manageable.
2. What is the best reward a Great Fairy can give?
The best reward is subjective and depends on the player’s playstyle. However, many consider the Great Fairy Sword to be among the best optional rewards in the entire series due to its overwhelming damage output. For others, the double defense upgrade makes gameplay more forgiving, particularly when facing tough boss battles. The spin attack upgrade and increased magic meter are also extremely valuable.
3. Is the Great Fairy Sword better than the Gilded Sword?
The Great Fairy Sword does twice the damage of the Gilded Sword. However, the Great Fairy Sword is an item, not a regular sword, and requires a (C) button slot to use. It also has an awkward swing arc. The Gilded Sword is easier to use and can attack more rapidly. It comes down to player preference and fighting style.
4. How many Great Fairies are in Majora’s Mask?
There are five Great Fairies in Majora’s Mask. Each is split into pieces by the Skull Kid and must be restored by collecting stray fairies and returning them to their respective fountains.
5. What do you get for collecting all the stray fairies?
For each Great Fairy, the reward differs. In Clock Town, you’ll get either a stronger spin attack or an expanded magic meter, depending on the game version. In Snowhead you get an increased magic meter, while in Great Bay you get double defense. Finally, in Ikana, you get the Great Fairy Sword. The fifth Great Fairy, located in a hidden location, does not require any stray fairies to heal and provides no reward.
6. What is the significance of upgrading your magic meter?
The expanded magic meter allows Link to utilize magic-based masks and abilities for longer periods, which is particularly useful during challenging battles and dungeon segments.
7. Does the double defense upgrade truly halve damage?
Yes, the double defense upgrade obtained from the Great Bay Great Fairy effectively reduces all incoming damage by half. This is an incredibly powerful buff that significantly increases Link’s survivability.
8. How do the Great Fairies in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom reward the player?
In these titles, the Great Fairies enhance Link’s armor, increasing its defensive properties. Each consecutive Great Fairy raises the armor level by one and adds a star to the armor to show it has been upgraded.
9. Is it worth it to unlock all the Great Fairies in Tears of the Kingdom?
While it takes a significant amount of time and resources to unlock and upgrade all Great Fairy Fountains, this effort is worthwhile because it enables players to reach the maximum potential of their armour.
10. How much do you have to pay the Great Fairies in Tears of the Kingdom?
You need to pay 100 Rupees to unlock the first fountain, 500 to unlock the second, 1,000 to unlock the third, and 10,000 to unlock the fourth and final fountain.
11. Is there a horse god in Zelda?
Yes, there is a Horse God in both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, however, the horse god is NOT a Great Fairy and he is not involved in armor upgrades. He will revive any horse that has died, usually for a price.
12. What is the most useful mask in Majora’s Mask?
While there are many useful masks in Majora’s Mask, the Bunny Hood is considered among the most practical due to its ability to increase Link’s running speed and jumping distance.
13. What is the scariest element of Majora’s Mask?
The most frightening element is often cited as the descending Moon. Its constant presence and increasing proximity create an unsettling sense of dread and impending doom.
14. What is the strongest sword in the Zelda series?
The Fierce Deity Sword, obtained by using the Fierce Deity’s Mask, is often considered the most powerful weapon in the Zelda franchise.
15. Is the Gilded Sword a permanent upgrade?
Yes, the Gilded Sword is a permanent upgrade in Majora’s Mask. However, the Razor Sword is not permanent and reverts to the Kokiri Sword after 100 strikes or after playing the Song of Time.
In conclusion, the Great Fairies in Majora’s Mask offer a range of powerful upgrades that significantly affect Link’s abilities and overall gameplay. From enhanced combat skills to improved defense and magic, each reward is crucial to completing the game and makes the task of finding and healing all of them highly worthwhile.