The Master Sword was originally crafted by the Goddess Hylia as the Goddess Sword, and was later forged into the Master Sword by the Goddess's chosen hero and its spirit, Fi, who bathed it in the three Sacred Flames located across the land that would become the Kingdom of Hyrule. Din's Flame in particular imbued the sword with the Power to Repel Evil, a power augmented after the Sword received the blessing of Zelda, which transformed the blade into the true Master Sword.

The Sword often choose or accepts its master by its own will, always a hero who has gone through great trials that test their courage, wisdom and power to prove themselves worthy of wielding it. This may be the conscious choice of the sword's spirit, Fi, who sleeps eternally within the sword and only assists her heroic master. It is most often used by Link.