How to Get the Hylian Shield - The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Guide - IGN (2024)

While The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword contains many types of Shields that Link can buy, upgrade, and use, all of them have a limited amount of durability - with the exception of the legendary Hylian Shield. It is by far the most powerful shield in the game, but getting it is no easy task. This page contains information on how to obtain the Hylian Shield, and tips for completing the Boss Rush mode to get it.

The Hylian Shield is obtained by fighting through Boss Rush Mode. This mode is only available once you have saved the Thunder Dragon in Lanayru Gorge, late in the game when Link is tracking down the Song of the Hero. If you speak to him again, and he'll let you relive both Boss Fights and Silent Realm challenges you have already completed.

To get the Hylian Shield, play through Boss Rush and quit after beating eight (8) bosses and you'll earn the "Absurdly Sturdy Shield", which is in fact, the Hylian Shield!

The Hylian Shield is the best shield in the game. While it can't be upgraded, it's also indestructible, and can never be shattered. It also grants Link hardy resistance to fire and electrical attacks.

After reviving the Thunder Dragon in Lanayru Gorge, he'll provide Skyward Sword's version of Boss Rush Mode: The Thunder Dragon's Lightning Round. You can only fight the bosses you've already fought, so the last three fights - including the final boss - are off limits until you get all the way back to the Thunder Dragon through Hero Mode. You are able to choose the first boss and then the Thunder Dragon chooses for you. You can also go through the Silent Realms you have finished.

Boss Rush Rewards

The best rewards you can get from Boss Rush Mode are the Hylian Shield and a Heart Piece. The Rupee rewards aren't too shabby either. After each battle you are given the option to quit or continue. If you decide to quit, you'll get the prize listed below, depending on how many cumulative battles you fought:

Bosses

Here are the 12 Bosses you can fight, but note that the order can be randomized. You can only fight the Bokoblin Horde, Demise, and Ghirahim's third battle after unlocking Hero Mode and getting all the way back to Lanayru Gorge.

• Ghirahim - first battle
• Scaldera
• Moldarach
• The Imprisoned - first battle
• Koloktos
• Tentalus
• Ghirahim - second battle
• The Imprisoned - second battle
• The Imprisoned - third battle
• Bokoblin Horde fight in the Sealed Grounds (The End)
• Ghirahim - third battle
• Demise

Boss Rush Strategies

You cannot use your Adventure Pouch, including bottled fairies,during Boss Rush Mode, but if you take a Guard Potion Plus and/or Stamina Potion Plus before talking to the Thunder Dragon, their effects will last 3 minutes into the battle. This is 3 minutes of actual fighting time; time speaking to the Thunder Dragon does not count toward this time. You can increase the time to 9 minutes if you have the Potion Medal in your Adventure Pouch when you talk to the Thunder Dragon. After using these potions, select a boss you have trouble with at the start and beat him easily.

An ideal load out for hero mode will consist of the following:

• The Goddess Shield - best self repairing shield available (remember to use the shield thrust)
• Potion Medal - to extend potion effects
• Guardian Potion/Potion + - protect against damage/invincibility
• Life Medal (x2) - maximize your hearts to 20

Using the Large Quiver or Large Bomb Bag will not help, since they are pouch items.

Unfortunately, you cannot use potions twice, or "stack" them, to double up the time length of the effect, if you take a time sensitive potion before the effect has worn off from the last potion consumed it simply restarts the clock.

• Use your bow or bombs when possible to deal extra damage while keeping your distance.
• The Skyward Strike is a very useful ranged attack. Use it when possible.
• Use your shield. Not only is it there for your protection but using a properly timed shield thrust can send an enemy reeling giving you an opportunity to go on the offensive.
• Take your time. Swinging your sword wildly and fast works sometimes but with some bosses especially this can be an invite for them to attack you.
• ANSWER THUNDER DRAGON CAREFULLY!! in between battles, don't rush through, Thunder Dragon asks if you want to quit and there is no "are you sure" option if you select quit.
• If trying boss rush multiple times use the stool near the mine cart to restore missing hearts between tries.
• Before each boss, watch online videos of the boss battles to familiarize yourself with their attacks and patterns.

While trying to beat bosses as quickly as possible is a great way to earn money, remember to take special care to keep your health bar as full as possible. Not all boss fights offer an easy way to recover lost hearts, but some provide easy ways to heal yourself outside the course of regular battle. For example, slashing the Imprisoned's toes will sometimes yield hearts as you fight it, but you can also abandon the fight while he's down to cut grass to get some hearts.

• Ghirahim: Break pots that line the arena with your sword.
• The Imprisoned: Cut grass along the path
• Scaldera: Look for heart plants at the very top of the battle arena.
• Koloktos: You can lure Koloktos into destroying the pillars that line the arena or, once you can grab his sword, do it yourself.
• Bokoblin Horde: This is the single-best way to replenish your hearts. Simply keep on battling Bokoblins and only advance when you run out of enemies or until your heart meter is full.

Note: Because your pouch is "off limits" even with heart medals, hearts will not appear in Hero Mode.