The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time/Equipment

These are the items you find during your journey that Link can equip. They can't be assigned to buttons but are instead equipped on the equipment sub-screen. There are four main slots: Tunic, Boots, Sword, and Shield. Only one of each kind can be equipped at a time.

Swords
Kokiri Sword

Link "borrows" this sword, a blade of much importance to the Kokiri, at the beginning of his quest. It does a small amount of damage, and is often hard to use to defeat powerful monsters.

Master Sword

The legendary sword that only the Hero of Time can wield. Taking the sword out of its pedestal will transport Link seven years into the future, while putting it back will return him to the past. This sword does a higher level of damage to monsters, and is the only sword that can defeat pure evil.

Giant's Knife This powerful blade can be crafted by a giant Goron, Medigoron, in Goron City for 200 rupees, provided that you've opened his shop using Bombs. Link needs two hands to wield this sword, leaving him without a shield for defense, but the strength and length of the blade are worth it. Unfortunately, this blade will shatter after eight hits, or if you strike a wall, but you can purchase another one from Medigoron if you break it. You can't re-purchase this if you obtain the Biggoron Sword.

Giant's Knife (Broken) This is what you'll get if you misuse the Giant's Knife. Its length and power have been severely weakened (it is about 1/4 of the power of the fixed version) to the point where it rivals a pocket knife, but it can still be used to attack enemies. Link can't use a shield alongside this weapon. If you obtain the Biggoron Sword or re-purchase the Giant's Knife, this weapon will disappear from your inventory.

Biggoron's Sword This sword is by far the most powerful of them all, it's pretty much the same as the Giant's Knife, but unlike the Giant's Knife, it will never break. The Biggoron Sword can only be obtained through completion of the item trading quest. It requires two hands to use.

Shields
Deku Shield

Small wooden shield that Link obtains near the start of his adventure. This shield is flimsy and made of wood, so fire-based attacks can easily burn and destroy it. This is used by Young Link as a standard shield, but is not recommended for use in Dodongo's Cavern, since many fire enemies are found inside. If it's destroyed, you can just buy another one to replace it. In fact, one is for sale in Dodongo's Cavern, and one can be found in a chest. Like Likes find this shield to be delicious, and they will try to eat it.

Hylian Shield

When you can first obtain this shield as Young Link, don't buy it right away, as a guard you must talk to later in the game will give you a discount off its regular price. Young Link cannot efficiently use this shield because of his size, so he will instead use it like a turtle's shell on his back. When link is an adult however, he can use the shield normally. This can be retrieved for free from Kakariko Graveyard at night (pull back the tombstone with flowers and jump in). LikeLikes might eat this shield if they attack Link, but it can be recovered if they are defeated quickly. Even if the shield is lost, another one can be purchased from several different shops.

Mirror Shield

This magical shield can reflect light, some magical spells, and just deflect regular attacks like a regular shield (some attacks may not be deflected, like Octorok rocks). Unlike the Hylian Shield, this item cannot be eaten by Like Likes. Like Likes despise the shield because its mirrory surface is so bright. (Hint: If you are being eaten by a Like Like, quickly switch to this shield to avoid losing your Hylian Shield to the Like Like!)

Tunics
Kokiri Tunic

This is the basic green tunic that Link begins his adventure with. There are no special effects, it's just what Link and Kokiri normally wear. It's the only tunic Young Link can use.

Goron Tunic

There are two main ways of obtaining this tunic. One is to stop the small Goron rolling around Goron City with a bomb when Link is an adult, and the other is to purchase it for 200 rupees from the Goron Shop. If you purchase it from the shop first, the rolling Goron won't even mention anything about a tunic.

This fire-red tunic protects Link from the intense heat of the volcanic interior of Death Mountain and Fire Temple. Without it, the Fire Temple cannot even be attempted. While Link is wearing this, Like Likes might eat it if they attack him. If they are defeated quickly, Link will be able to retrieve his lost tunic. If its eaten permanently by a Like Like, another one can be purchased in the Goron Shop.

Zora Tunic

Much like the Goron Tunic, there are two ways to obtain the Zora Tunic. The first can only be done when Link is an adult: Unfreeze King Zora with blue fire from Ice Cavern. The second option is to purchase it for 300 rupees in the Zora Shop. If you obtain it in the shop before unfreezing King Zora, he won't give you a tunic.

This blue tunic allows Link to magically breathe underwater. The Zora Tunic item is used extensively in Lake Hylia and the Water Temple, and is often used alongside the Iron Boots. While Link is wearing this, Like Likes might eat it if they attack him. If they are defeated quickly, Link will be able to retrieve his lost tunic. If it’s eaten permanently by a Like Like, another one can be purchased in the Zora Shop.

Boots
Kokiri Boots

Link's original boots. There aren't any special properties, they're just what he normally wears. These are the only boots Link can wear as a child.

Iron Boots

These heavy, iron-coated boots increase their wearer's weight dramatically, and are normally hard to walk around in. When worn underwater, they can be used to walk along the bottom of lakes and rivers. The Iron Boots can also be used to withstand powerful gusts that would otherwise blow the wearer away.

These will often be used in conjunction with the Zora Tunic in Lake Hylia and the Water Temple. They can also prove useful in the Shadow Temple, although they aren't a necessity.

Hover Boots

These boots let Link briefly walk across midair. To activate the boots, simple walk off of a ledge. Link will keep moving as if there were still solid ground beneath him, but this effect will only last for a few moments. When worn on solid ground, they provide little traction.