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Blade Traps,(LA)[1] also known simply as Traps,(TLoZ | TMC)[2][3] are recurring traps in The Legend of Zelda series.

Characteristics

Blade Traps are formidable, mechanized obstacles equipped with spikes or blades. In most appearances, Blade Traps are impervious to all attacks, like with most obstacles. Some Blade Traps are dormant until approached while others move in a set path by themselves. When Link crosses the path of a Blade Trap, whether vertically or horizontally, it will react instantly by closing in rapidly on Link, damaging him on contact. After being set off, a Blade Trap will slowly return to their original position.

Other Blade Traps, such as those in Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, glide along a projected path. These Blade Traps move along the ground regardless of Link's presence, at a constant speed. The paths of these Traps vary; some move from one side to the next, while others move in a complete circle.

Blade Traps have a giant variation, aptly named Giant Blade Traps, which are mostly the same, except their size makes them harder to avoid. There are also sentient, bladed traps named Chasers that follow Link down narrow corridors upon noticing him.

Mainline appearances

The Legend of Zelda

The Legend of Zelda Manual Description
The Legend of Zelda logo
Traps and Stone Statues
Somebody placed these in the labyrinth a long time ago. They suddenly attack Link when he approaches them. So you've really got to watch out!

In The Legend of Zelda, Traps appear in most dungeons, and rooms with Traps usually have four of them, one in each corner. If Link is directly across from a Trap, it slides in his direction before retracting slowly to its original position. Traps are blue and have two spikes protruding from each side, possessing a total of eight spikes.

A Link to the Past

In A Link to the Past, Blade Traps now have varying forms of behavior, most commonly moving back and forth in a room, while some function identically to their appearance in The Legend of Zelda. Some of the Blade Traps are motionless. Blade Traps appear only in several of the Dark World dungeons, the first being Palace of Darkness, followed by the Swamp Palace, Skull Woods, Ice Palace, Misery Mire, and lastly Ganon's Tower. Blade Traps also appear in the fight against Mothula, where they sometimes move after Link.

Blade Traps are colored gray and now have a spike in each corner, giving them a total of twelve spikes. A Link to the Past is also the first appearance of their larger variation, Giant Blade Traps, all of which function identically to Blade Traps from The Legend of Zelda.

Link's Awakening

In Link's Awakening, Blade Traps are encountered as traps in most dungeons. They first appear in Tail Cave, followed by Bottle Grotto, Catfish's Maw, Face Shrine, Eagle's Tower, and lastly Turtle Rock. Blade Traps behave identically as in The Legend of Zelda, and if Link has the Roc's Feather equipped, he can jump over a Blade Trap. If Link is hit by a Blade Trap, he loses a heart of health.

Ocarina of Time

Blade Traps appear in a few dungeons in Ocarina of Time, including Dodongo's Cavern, followed by the Shadow Temple, Spirit Temple, and Ganon's Tower. They also appear in two mini-dungeons, Ice Cavern and Gerudo Training Grounds. Blade Traps have one of two behaviors, which is either moving in a set path or traveling after Link.

Majora's Mask

Blade Traps in Majora's Mask are based on their appearance in Ocarina of Time. However, Blade Traps are a lot less common, with only a few of them appearing in Beneath the Well. Every Blade Trap has a behavior of moving back and forth on one side of a room.

Oracle of Seasons

In Oracle of Seasons, Blade Traps appear in three varieties: blue, green, and orange, each being a recolor of their sprite from Link's Awakening. Blue Blade Traps function identically to every Blade Trap in The Legend of Zelda and Link's Awakening. Green Blade Traps quickly move back and forth in a set path. Orange Blade Traps are behaviorally similar to blue Blade Traps, except they move in Link's direction more quickly and retract more slowly, making them harder to avoid.

Blade Traps are weaker than in Link's Awakening, as contact with them takes away only half a heart from Link's health bar, presumably in favor of Giant Blade Traps returning from A Link to the Past, as they can deal one heart of damage to Link.

Oracle of Ages

In Oracle of Ages, Blade Traps appear only in blue and green varieties, behaving identically to the same type in Oracle of Seasons respectively.

Four Swords

In Four Swords, Blade Traps appear in three varieties: red, blue, and green. The difference between each type is that red Blade Traps can move in multiple directions, blue Blade Traps move in only one direction, and green Blade Traps move in a set path, not unlike in Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages. In Four Swords Anniversary Edition, Blade Traps appear abundantly throughout the Hero's Trial, where they are encountered in every stage.

The Wind Waker

Tingle's Comment
Tingle says:

It's a Trap!

Be careful! It's dangerous!

Traps appear in only two dungeons in The Wind Waker, the Wind Temple and Ganon's Castle. All of them have a brown base with a large cleaver blade on each side. Traps repeatedly slide across the room in a set path and then pause briefly before returning to their original position. Late into the Wind Temple, Link is required to move blocks into the paths of Traps to hinder their movements so that he can enter the Boss Room.

Four Swords Adventures

Traps in Four Swords Adventures function very similarly as in Four Swords. , Traps are an occasional hazard, first appearing in Hyrule Castle, where they debut in a pair guarding a staircase. They resemble their Four Swords design, but with a thicker outline.

The Minish Cap

Trap (Figurine from The Minish Cap)
TMC Trap Figurine Sprite
Trap
Appears in various areas.
A trap with sharp blades. Some are
triggered by nearby intruders, while
others follow a set path.

Traps appear in dungeons in The Minish Cap. There are two variants, blue and green, with different functions. Blue Traps remain motionless until Link passes through their line of sight, whereupon they move quickly toward him in an straight line. They strike him, if possible, and continue to the end of their path – whether that be the opposite wall, an obstacle, or another Trap – before returning to their original position. Green Traps follow a set path, either moving back and forth from wall to wall or encircling a group of Blocks.

Twilight Princess

Blade Traps appear in dungeons in Twilight Princess. Stone models are found in the Arbiter's Grounds, while gilded models are found in the Temple of Time; both appear as obstacles that move along Spinner rails. They also appear during the battle with the boss of the Arbiter's Grounds, Stallord.

In the Temple of Time, it is possible to destroy Blade Traps by using a Dominion Rod to bring a statue to life in the Temple of Time and use its axe to smash Blade Traps.

Phantom Hourglass

Blade Traps are hazards first encountered in the Temple of Courage in Phantom Hourglass. Similarly as in The Wind Waker, Link can push blocks into the path of a Blade Trap to block its movements.

Spirit Tracks

In Spirit Tracks, only a few Blade Traps appear, all within the Fire Temple.

Skyward Sword

In Skyward Sword, Blade Traps are hazards encountered in Lanayru Desert on the way to the dragon Lanayru, but only while a Timeshift Stone is activated. All of them move back and forth repeatedly.

A Link Between Worlds

Blade Traps return as obstacles in A Link Between Worlds. They appear in a three dungeons, in order of Tower of Hera, the Desert Palace, and lastly Turtle Rock. Some Blade Traps do not move, while others travel in a set path. Blade Traps are always spinning, even while they do not move around.

Spinoff appearances

BS The Legend of Zelda

In BS The Legend of Zelda, Blade Traps are obstacles which commonly appear, and they behave similarly as in The Legend of Zelda.

Zelda's Adventure

In Zelda's Adventure, Blade Traps appear in the Shrine of Destiny and later also in the Shrine of Strength. They are designed after their sprite in The Legend of Zelda, except Blade Traps are light gray and possess three spikes on each side. In most cases, Zelda has to avoid Blade Traps, but one of the rooms in the Shrine of Destiny has a Crystal Switch that, when activated, causes every Blade Trap to vanish, making this technically the first appearance where Blade Traps can be defeated. However, in all other cases, Blade Traps cannot be defeated, requiring Zelda to avoid them instead.

Ancient Stone Tablets

Blade Traps in Ancient Stone Tablets are based on their appearance in A Link to the Past, and they appear in the Lost Woods and during the boss fight against Mothula, functioning identically to Mothula's battle in A Link to the Past.

Nomenclature

TMC Forest Minish Artwork Names in other regions TMC Jabber Nut Sprite
LanguageNameMeaning
JapanJapaneseトラップ (Torappu) (TLoZ)[4]
トラップ(小) (Torappu (Shō)) (ALttP)[5]
トラップ(大) (Torappu (Dai)) (ALttP)[6]
トラップ(青) (Torappu (ao)) (TMC)[7]
Trap
Trap (Small)
Trap (Large)
Trap (Blue)
NetherlandsDutchVallen (TLoZ)[8]
FranceFrenchEUPiège (TLoZ)[9]Trap
This table was generated using translation pages.
To request an addition, please contact a staff member with a reference.

Gallery

See also

References

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