Fairy Bow

The Fairy Bow, Hero's Bow or just Bow is a weapon that appears in almost every game in the Zelda series. It usually works just like you'd expect a bow to work. In the first game in the series every arrow shot would cost Link one rupee. In all subsequent games, Link would carry a supply of arrows that would be depleted by shooting them, and replenished with power-ups found after defeating monsters. They'd also be found under rocks, bushes and tall grass as presents left by the Minish.

The monster Gohma can only be defeated by repeated shots to the eye with arrows (not to be confused with the Queen Gohma, who can be defeated with the slingshot and Kokiri Sword.) If the player doesn't have any arrows, they simply cannot defeat a Gohma, and must exit the room (if possible) or otherwise commit suicide.

In all games that have the bow, there is a limit on the amount of arrows Link can hold at one time. It varies from game to game, and is usually 255 or 99. In The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time, the arrow limit could be increased by obtaining the Bigger Quiver as a reward for various minigames. The order that they're found in is irrelevant, as each quiver is always bigger than the last, much like the wallet upgrades. In The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, certain Great Fairies would give Link a Bigger Quiver.

In some games, different kinds of magic arrows can be found. Once these arrows are found, they can give any normal arrow magical effects:
 * Fire Arrow - The Fire Arrow is a modernized version of the Fire Rod that shoots a flaming projectile when equipped with the Bow. It depletes Magic Points and one arrow. When one hits something it can set it on fire, as well as melt ice. It appears in The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time (when you shoot an arrow into the wicked day star from an island in Lake Hylia) and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (as a gift from the Queen Fairy.) Though you could use Din's Fire to light most torches in Ocarina, the Fire Arrow was needed to shoot switches covered in ice. In Wind Waker, you needed it to melt the ice on the Ice Island.
 * Ice Arrow - The Ice Arrow is a modernized version of the Ice Rod that shoots a freezing projectile when equipped with the Bow. It depletes Magic Points and one arrow. When one hits something it can freeze it, as well as douse a flame. It appears in The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time (when you clear the optional Gerudo Fortress dungeon) and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (as a gift from the Queen Fairy.) The Ice Arrow was not required in Ocarina at all, but added a fun side quest. In Wind Waker, you need it to douse the fire on Fire Island.
 * Magic Arrows - In The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures, the Great Fairy would upgrade Link's Bow(s), allowing them to shoot magic arrows when charged the Bow.
 * Bomb Arrows - In The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, the player could 'make' Bomb Arrows, by equipping both the Bombs and the Bow and pressing the buttons simultaneously. This would result in firing an arrow with a bomb attached to it that would explode on impact. This is the only case, in any Zelda game, where two items could be combined like that.


 * Silver Arrow - The Silver Arrow is a gift from the (fat) Great Fairy in the Pyramid of Power in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. In The Legend of Zelda, it is found in Ganon's lair under Spectacle Rock. In both games, the arrows are helpful (but non-necessary) in defeating the final boss, Ganon. However, in the first Zelda game, the arrows are needed to solve the final puzzle and save Princess Zelda. If the player does not have the Silver Arrow, they'll have to repeatedly set themselves on fire until they die, as they cannot exit the final room.
 * Light Arrow - The Light Arrow is unlike the Silver Arrows in that it depletes Magic Points, but like the Silver Arrow in that it is crucial to the plot. In The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time, Princess Zelda reveals herself to give the Light Arrow to Link, but as a result, she is captured by Ganondorf. In the final battle of Ocarina of Time, the Light Arrow is needed to pierce Ganondorf's dark aura, allowing Link to attack him. When Ganondorf transforms into Ganon, Light Arrows can be fired at the yellow stone on his forehead (other games have implied that this stone somehow prolongs his life.) In The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Light Arrow is found in Ganon's Tower after defeating Phantom Ganon. It is used (along with the Hero's Bow) by Zelda herself in the final battle to cover Link as he sword fights Ganondorf.

The final boss of The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, Nightmare had many different phases, the final phase required Link to shoot several arrows into his eye (much like a Ghoma) to defeat him. If the player ran out of arrows before defeating him, there would have to (you guessed it) commit suicide.

Appearances

 * The Legend of Zelda - Found in the first dungeon, the Eagle Dungeon. Depletes rupees when shot.
 * The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past - Found in the Eastern Palace. From this game on it depletes arrows when shot.
 * The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening - Bought at the Item Shop
 * The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - Found in the Forest Temple. In this game and all preceding 3D Zelda games, the bow can be shot from a first person (even while on horseback) in addition to working in melee combat with Z-Targeting. This is the first time it's called the Fairy Bow, instead of just Bow.
 * The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask - Found in the Woodfall Temple. Called the Hero's Bow. This is the first time Young Link can use the Bow.
 * Super Smash Bros. Melee - Used by Link to shoot an unlimited amount of arrows. It's also used by Young Link to shoot an unlimited amount of Fire Arrows.
 * The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker - Found in the Tower of the Gods.
 * The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords - Found on pedestals in various locations.
 * The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap - Found in the Castor Wilds.
 * The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures - Found on pedestals in various locations.
 * The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess - Called the Hero's Bow and found in the Goron Mines.
 * The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds - Unlike previous installments, the Bow has a "usage bar", which only allows Link to fire so many arrows before it's recharged. The bow can be rented (and eventually bought) from Ravio and can be upgraded twice: first to the "Nice Bow" and then to the "Bow of Light".