A Nottingham man who purchased a screen-accurate replica of Link’s Master Sword from The Legend of Zelda has confirmed that its primary function is now serving as a pointing device during heated discussions about offside calls.
Daniel Mercer, 32, originally bought the £400 collectible with vague intentions of displaying it “somewhere nice” in his flat. However, the sword has instead become his go-to tool for emphatic gesturing whenever VAR reviews take longer than three seconds.
“It’s got a really good weight to it,” Mercer explained, demonstrating a sweeping motion towards his 55-inch Samsung. “When you’re trying to explain to your mates that there’s no clear and obvious error, you need something with proper heft. A TV remote doesn’t have the same authority.”
The sword, which took six months to arrive from a specialist retailer in Texas, was initially mounted on Mercer’s bedroom wall alongside his framed Breath of the Wild poster. It remained there for nearly three weeks before a controversial penalty decision during a Forest match prompted its first deployment.
“I didn’t even think about it,” Mercer said. “I just reached up, grabbed the sacred blade forged to seal the darkness, and used it to circle the area of the pitch where their striker clearly dived. Felt right, somehow.”
His girlfriend, Rachel Winters, confirmed that the Master Sword now lives propped against the sofa. “It’s mental, really. We’ve got a perfectly good coffee table, but no, the legendary weapon of Hyrule’s chosen hero has to be within arm’s reach at all times. God forbid he has to express an opinion about a handball without wielding three feet of stainless steel.”
Winters added that the sword has also been used to point at the doorbell camera, to indicate which takeaway menu he wants from the drawer, and once to reach the TV remote that had fallen behind the radiator.
Mercer maintains that the purchase was worthwhile. “People spend hundreds on football shirts they’ll never actually play football in. I’ve spent £400 on a mythical sword I’ll never defeat Ganon with. At least mine’s useful for illustrating tactical errors.”
When asked whether he had considered simply using his hands to gesture at the television like a normal person, Mercer looked genuinely confused. “I could, yeah. But then what would be the point of having a Master Sword?”
The sword’s manufacturer describes it as “a museum-quality piece for serious collectors.” Their website features the blade held aloft in dramatic lighting, accompanied by a quote about honour and heroism. There is no mention of its potential applications in illustrating why the linesman’s flag should have gone up in the 67th minute.
Mercer is now considering purchasing a replica Hylian Shield, which he believes would be “perfect for blocking out Rachel when she’s trying to talk to me during the Match of the Day analysis.”