Editing Sword Guard

{{species infobox
|image=''[[File:CoH Guard green.png]]''<br>Sprite of a Sword Guard in ''[[Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer featuring The Legend of Zelda]]''
|first_appearance=''[[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past]]''
|latest_appearance=''[[Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer featuring The Legend of Zelda]]''
|variant_of=[[Guard (enemy)|Guard]]
|variants=[[Force Soldier]]<br>[[Sky Sword Soldier]]
|relatives=[[Big Dark Stalfos]]<br>[[Darknut]]<br>[[Lorule Soldier]]<br>[[Spear Soldier]]
|comparable=[[Boarblin]]<br>[[Moblin]]<br>[[Shrouded Stalfos]]<br>[[Taros]]
}}

'''Sword Guards''', also known as '''Sword Soldiers''',<ref>Stratton, Steve, and Cory Van Grier. ''The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds'' Prima Official Game Guide. Page 84.</ref> are a variety of [[Guard (enemy)|Guard]] typically armed with a longer sword and larger shield. They are more aggressive than basic Guards, but are still among the weakest.

==History==
===''The Legend of Zelda'' series===
====''The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past''====
[[File:Sword Soldier ALttP green sprite.png|frame|left]]
Sword-wielding soldiers first appear with many other soldier types in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past]]''. They are initially found inside [[Hyrule Castle]], and continue to appear throughout [[Hyrule]], following a set path until noticing Link. Compared to basic soldiers, the sword-wielding ones have a wider stance with larger pauldrons, a longer sword, and a larger shield. They are more aggressive than generic soldiers, as when they detect [[Link]]'s presence by sight or sound, they will immediately stop what they are doing and chase after him, attempting to stab him with their sword. If Link attempts to attack one with his, they will try to parry. They appear in green and indigo, with the latter being stronger.

'''Elite Knights'''<ref>Stratton, Bryan, and Stephen Stratton. ''The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past/Four Swords'' Prima's Official Strategy Guide. Page 72.</ref> make an appearance in the upper levels of Hyrule Castle. They are a shieldless indigo type with the horned helmet design that appears in pairs, with both charging at Link incessantly as soon as he enters the room. Unlike other sword soldiers, they hold their swords from a high angle instead of far out in front of them. After [[Agahnim]] sends Link to the [[pyramid]], this type cannot be encountered again due to the castle doors being locked.

====''The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures''====
[[File:FSA Sword Soldier green.png|frame]]
In ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures]]'', sword soldiers again appear as a common soldier type, and look like the ones in ''A Link to the Past'', but more detailed. They appear in green and gray, with the gray ones being stronger. They sometimes appear among normal soldiers assisting a [[Darknut|Chief Soldier]], which acts like a giant sword soldier with a forward-slashing attack. The gray ones first appear when two assist a [[Big Dark Stalfos]] near [[Kakariko Village]]. Additionally, a being called a [[Force Soldier]] acts like a sword soldier, but resembles a giant [[Force Gem]] unless approached.

====''The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds''====
In ''[[The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds]]'', Sword Soldiers appear throughout Hyrule alongside basic soldiers after Hyrule Castle is taken over by [[Yuga]]. They act like the ones in ''A Link to the Past'', though they do not react to sound anymore. They appear in green and blue, with the latter having the horned helmet design. Both act the same aside from strength, however. When defeated, they usually give a [[Rupee]] the same color as their armor.

In [[Lorule]], certain [[Moblin]]s act similar to Sword Soldiers, though they wield a machete-like weapon and a much larger shield that is better at blocking Link's attacks. In [[Lorule Castle]], one type of [[Lorule Soldier]] acts like Sword Soldiers, but is stronger and with different armor with horns and a grate-like face mask.

====''The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes''====
In ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes]]'', Sword Soldiers are again divided between green and blue, appearing with the other Soldiers in the [[Fortress]] area. Both are quite adept at parrying Link's attacks, so it helps to distract them with one Link while another attacks from behind. The green ones only have a sword, while the blue ones also have a large shield. The shield acts like the Moblins' in ''A Link Between Worlds'', and as such it is most effective to remove it with an item like the [[Gripshot]]. In the [[Sky Realm]], the [[Sky Soldier]] counterparts to the green and blue Sword Soldiers are the [[Sky Sword Soldier]] and the [[Sky Shield Soldier]], respectively.

===''Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer featuring The Legend of Zelda''===
[[File:CoH Guard blue shield.png|frame]]
In ''[[Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer featuring The Legend of Zelda]]'', Sword Guards appear in many colors, though only the red ones are identified as such in English. '''Green Guards''' are depicted with a sword and shield, though they keep their swords pointed upwards. The shield blocks all direct attacks from the front. They normally patrol randomly, but upon seeing the player character begin aggressively pursuing. '''Blue Guards''' have both a sword-and-shield and a sword-wielding variety, with the latter keeping the sword pointed forwards and thus having more attack range but less defensive capabilities. Red-colored Sword Guards act as a stronger version of the forward-pointing Blue Guards, while '''Black Guards''' act as a stronger version of the upward-pointing ones.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Sword Soldier ALttP indigo sprite.png|''[[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past]]''
FSA Sword Soldier gray.png|''[[The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures]]''
FSA Sword Soldier blue.png|''The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures'' (unused)
FSA Sword Soldier red.png|''The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures'' (unused)
CoH Guard blue sword.png|''[[Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer featuring The Legend of Zelda]]''
CoH Sword Guard.png|''Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer featuring The Legend of Zelda''
CoH Guard black.png|''Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer featuring The Legend of Zelda''
</gallery>

==Names in other languages==
{{foreign names
|Jap=剣兵士<br>''Ken Heishi''<br>剣兵士 (突撃)<br>''Ken Heishi'' (''Totsugeki'')
|JapM=Sword Soldier<br><br>Sword Soldier (assault) (used for Elite Knight in ''A Link to the Past'')
}}

==References==
<references/>
{{Guards}}
{{ALTTP}}
{{FSA}}
{{ALBW}}
{{TFH}}
{{COH}}
[[Category:Guards]]
[[Category:The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past enemies]]
[[Category:The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures enemies]]
[[Category:The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds enemies]]
[[Category:The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes enemies]]
[[Category:Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer featuring The Legend of Zelda enemies]]
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