Who is Fireblight Ganon?#
For those who haven't played Breath of the Wild, Fireblight Ganon is one of the four elemental Blight Ganons created by Calamity Ganon to take control of the Divine Beasts. This fiery apparition defeated Daruk and seized control of Divine Beast Vah Rudania on Death Mountain.
What makes Fireblight Ganon visually distinctive is his weaponry - his right arm transforms into a massive blue-glowing ancient sword that he wields with devastating effect. This unique design aspect - the weapon being part of the character's body rather than something held - is what inspired the most interesting element of this prop build.
Overview#
Unlike some of my more complex sword builds, this project was relatively straightforward once I had created the template. The most innovative aspect was figuring out how to create the illusion that the sword extends directly from the user's arm, with no visible handle or grip.
The entire project took just a weekend to complete, making it a perfect quick build for Legend of Zelda fans looking to recreate one of the game's more unusual weapons.
Materials Used#
- Corrugated cardboard (recycled from packaging)
- Old black t-shirt (for the fabric transition)
- Old sock (to create the hidden handle)
- PVC wood glue
- Spray paint (bright blue for the "ancient technology" glow effect)
- Basic craft tools (utility knife, scissors, ruler)
Creating the Template#
As with my previous sword projects, the first step was creating an accurate template. I followed the same process outlined in my Master Sword post, using reference images from the game and scaling the design to the appropriate size.
For this project, I've preserved the template and made it available for download at the end of this post in both PDF and Adobe Illustrator formats, so you can skip this step if you want to build your own version.
The Building Process#
Cutting the Cardboard Layers#
I started by tracing the template onto cardboard and carefully cutting out the first layer. Fireblight Ganon's sword has a distinctive angular shape that requires precision cutting, especially around the sharp points and edges.
Layering and Assembly#
As with my previous sword projects, I created multiple layers of cardboard with the corrugation running in alternate directions for strength. This sword didn't need as many layers as the Savage Lynel Sword - three layers of thikc cardboard provided sufficient rigidity while keeping the weight manageable.
I used the same edge-hardening technique with PVC wood glue that I've used on previous projects. This is particularly important for this sword design, which has many pointed angles that would quickly become damaged without reinforcement. To replicate this, after the build is complete, coat the sword edge all around with PVC glue, making sure plenty gets into the corrugations. Using a skewer or similiar to push
The Arm Integration Trick#
The most innovative aspect of this build was creating the illusion that the sword emerges directly from the user's arm. Here's how I achieved this effect:
- I cut up an old black t-shirt and glued this using the PVC glue to the base of the sword, creating a fabric "transition" zone.
- For the handle, I used an old sock positioned so it would be completely hidden by the fabric when worn.
- The user slips their hand into the sock, which functions as a hidden handle inside the fabric wrapping.
- When worn, the black fabric wraps around the user's forearm, making it appear as if the blue sword is emerging directly from their arm - just like Fireblight Ganon in the game.
This simple but effective technique creates a much more convincing effect than a traditional handle would have provided.
Painting#
For the distinctive blue glow of ancient technology weapons in Breath of the Wild, I used a bright blue spray paint. Rather than trying to add lighting effects with LEDs (which would have made the project more complex), the vibrant blue paint alone does an excellent job of suggesting the sword's luminous quality from the game.
The Finished Sword#
The completed Fireblight Ganon sword captures the angular appearance of the ancient technology weapons from Breath of the Wild. The bright blue spray paint makes it "pop" against other weapons and props, creating a cool visual effect.
What makes this prop particularly fun is how the fabric integration creates a convincing illusion - when you're wearing it, a quick glance really does make it look like your arm transforms into a glowing ancient weapon, just like the "real" Fireblight Ganon.
Final Thoughts#
This was a relatively simple weekend project that demonstrates how a clever design element (the fabric arm integration) can elevate a basic cardboard prop into something more unique and game-accurate. Sometimes the most effective props aren't the most complex or expensive to create - they just need one innovative feature that captures the essence of the original design. If you want to make it for yourself or your little one, grab the template below and start crafting!
If you enjoyed this project, check out my other Zelda weapon recreations in the Swords-n-Stuff series, including the Master Sword and Savage Lynel Sword.