The Triforce has been ’s defining symbol si𒀰nce the franꦛchise began in 1986. The first game was all about Link finding the Triforce. Come the second game, the Triforce is given its third piece and takes center stage once again. By A Link to the Past, the Trif🍸orceꦓ had finally made its full, complete appearance.
For as visually identical as the three Triforce pieces are, each piece has its own distinct set of powers and abilities. The Triforce may be at its strongest when it’s complete, but it’s at iꦜts most interesting when it’s split apart.𓆉 Often hidden in the background with Princess Zelda, the Triforce of Wisdom is perhaps the most fascinating piece.
10 The Piece That Started It All
While Link’s main goal in The Legend of Zelda is to save Hyrule from Ganon’s clutches (while saving Princess Zelda in the process,) he spends most of th🐓e game tracking down pieces of the Triforce. Specifically, the Triforce of Wisdom which Ganon presumably shattered. By the end of the game, Link reassembles the Triforce of Wisdom and defeats Ganon.
Interest💮ingly, the animated series features the Triforce of Wisdom fairly heavy. It’s the piece of the Triforce that Link is instructed to keep safe. As the series went on, however, the Triforce of Wisdom would fade into the background while the Triforce of Courage took center stage.
9 The First Piece Of The Triforce To Shatter
On that note, this also means that the Triforce of Wisdom is the first piece of the Triforce to break apart. At least as far as release order goes. The Triforce pieces would remain whole up 🥂until the release of The Wind Waker where the Triforce of Couraဣge was shattered very much like the Triforce of Wisdom.
This is something The Wind Waker does rather deliberately. Not only does TWW pay tribute to Ocarina of Time, it also pays a lot homage to the first game, to the point where it was the most exploraꦇtion heavy 3D Zelda before Breath of the Wild. The broken Triforce pieces were just another way to linܫk the games together.
8 One Half Of The Original Triforce
It’s also worth noting the fact that the Triforce of Wisdom was introduced not as on🔯e-third of the Triforce, but one half. The original Legend of Zelda only mentions two Triforce pieces: the Triforce of Wisdom and the Triforce of Power. The next🍸 game would introduce the Triforce of Courage, but the first game seems to suggest that the Triforce is made up of two halves.
This likely explains the role the Triforce of Wisdom plays in the animated series. More 🐼importantly, it’s a glimpse at the series’ once rather thoughtless lore. A Link to the Past would help solidify the mythology but at th🐷e expense of the Triforc𒀰e of Wisdom’s importance.
7 Zelda’s Signature Piece
An important reason why the Triforce of Wisdom isn’t more pro♏minent in the series is due to the fact that Zelda herself spend﷽s most games in the background. What the Triforce of Power is for Ganon and the Triforce of Courage is for Link, the Triforce of Wisdom is for Zelda. It’s her signature piece whenever she has a Triforce piece.
It also makes sense since she’s the smartest of the trio. ꦰLink doesn’t talk so he can’t really engage intellectually through te൩xt and Ganon, while sometimes wise, is mostly just a brute who wants the Triforce to take over Hyrule. Zelda is typically the only character who spouts genuine Wisdom. Cast in point: Sheik.
6 Wisdom Is Governed By Nayru
Not only does each piece of the Triforce have its own unique property but they’re also all governed by and associated with different Goddesses. The Triforce of Power is🀅 Din’s, the Triforce of Courage is Farore’s, and the Triforce of Wisdom is Nayru’s. Interestingly, despite the connection, Nayru should inhere🐠ntly have to Zelda, they rarely intersect on a thematic level.
There’s also the fact that Zelda herself has been recontext﷽ualized as a reincarnation of Hylia, giving her a completely different signature Goddess. Even then, though, Zelda’s displays of wisdom do suggest that Nayru’s influence is present, even if it seems unlikely Nintendo will ever linger on t♔he pair’s dynamic.
5 Zelda Usually Already Has The Triforce Of Wisdom
Where Link and Ganon typically need to obtain their pieces꧙ of the Triforce whenever they appear, Princess Zelda usually already has the Triforce whenever she appears. There’s nothing to suggest she doesn’t already have the Triforce of Wisdom in Ocarina of Time, and both The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess feature Zeldas who already have💞 their Triforce part.
Even Breath of the Wild Zelda already🔥 has her piece of the Triforce. It’s ꦇvery rare for Zelda to appear and then get the Triforce of Wisdom, though this is usually because Zelda herself isn’t a character the games actively foc🍃us on, Skyward Sword and BotW excluded.
4 Blue Wisdom
In a series as color-coded as The Legend of Zelda, it perhaps goes without saying that each Goddess has her own color. Din is re༺d, Farore is green, and Nayru is blue. As Nayr🍰u is the Goddess who governs over the Triforce of Wisdom, its color would, in turn, be blue. Naturally, Zelda doesn’t really stray from the c🎐our♛se on this front.
That sa✱id, it’s only blue by proxy of Nayru. Zelda herself actually doesn’t wear any major blue highlights in the 3𓆉D games (outside of Breath of the Wild.) Even more interestingꦇly, the animated series featured a green Triforce ofꦉ Wisdom.
3 The Triforce Of Wisdom Was Incomplete In The Adult Timeline
In general, the Adult Timeline isn’t particular🃏ly kind to the Triforce. The Triforce of Power is implied to be dormant within Ganondorf, the Triforce of Courage is outright broken into pieces by the time Link gets around to it, and the Triforce ꧂of Wisdom has a piece held hostage by the King of Red Lions.
Interestingly, The Wind Waker more or less confirms thaꩵt it’s the Triforce of Wisdom which can change Zelda’s appearance. This was implied in Ocarina of Time through Sheik, but Tetra’s Triforce focused transformation marks one of the few instances of the Triforce e✃xplicitly doing something to someone.
2 The Triforce Of Wisdom Rejects Zelda In Breath Of The Wild
While Zelda ultimately manifests her powers in the end (and stronger than eve🎶r it seems,) Breath of the Wild marks the only time in the series where the Triforce refuses to resonate with a chosen one. No matter what Zelda does, she simply cannot make use of her🌌 implied possession of the Triforce of Wisdom.
Interestingly, Breath of the Wild n♚ever makes mention of the Trifroce’s relation to Ganondorf or Zelda. By the time BotW starts, it doesn’t seem like anyonꦺe in Hyrule even says the word “Triforce” anymore. While it manifests inside of Zelda, it seems the Triforce is all but forgotten💃— the Triforce of Wisdom included.
1 Wisdom And The Light Arrows
In the way that Link is co🦋nnected to the Master Sword, Princess Zelda is connected to the light arrows. Or is she? Every single time Zelda uses the Light Arrows, it’s always combined with her having th♚e Triforce of Wisdom. The Light Arrows aren’t Zelda’s weapon, they’re the Triforce of Wisdom’s.
It seems quite clear that the Triforce of Wisdom is what allows Zelda to conjure up the Light Arrows. She even gives them to Link after discussing the Triforce with hꦯim in Ocarina of Time. 🔯Zelda with the ☂Triforce even uses the Light Arrows against Ganondorf in both The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess.