Weapon Types & Properties

Weapon Types & Properties

In Breath of the Wild, understanding your weapons is crucial for survival and efficient combat. Unlike previous Zelda titles, weapons here have durability and will break, encouraging you to constantly adapt and utilize your environment. This section will break down the primary weapon types, their unique properties, and strategies for effective use.

One-Handed Weapons

These weapons offer a balance of speed and power, allowing Link to use a shield simultaneously for defense. They are excellent for quick combos and precise strikes.

• Swords & Scimitars:
  • Characteristics: Fast attack speed, moderate damage. Ideal for engaging multiple weaker enemies or chipping away at stronger foes while maintaining defense.
  • Strategy: Combine with a shield for perfect parries and flurry rushes. A common early-game example is the Soldier's Broadsword, often found in enemy camps on the Great Plateau. For a powerful upgrade, seek out the Master Sword after completing the "Hero's Sword" quest, which has infinite durability in the presence of Ganon or within Divine Beasts.
  • Notable Finds:
    • Knight's Broadsword: Often dropped by stronger Bokoblins and Moblins in later regions like Akkala.
    • Royal Broadsword: Found in Hyrule Castle and guarded by high-tier enemies.
• Clubs & Maces:
  • Characteristics: Slower than swords but often deal more damage. Many have elemental properties.
  • Strategy: Use their heavier hits to stun enemies or break their guard. The Spiked Boko Club is a common early-game weapon, useful for its raw power against low-level enemies.
  • Elemental Variants:
    • Flameblade: Found in various shrines and enemy camps (e.g., Akkala Citadel Ruins). Deals fire damage, useful for igniting grass or melting ice.
    • Frostblade: Similar to the Flameblade but deals ice damage, freezing enemies and cooling Link in hot environments. Often found in cold regions like Hebra Mountains.
    • Thunderblade: Deals electric damage, stunning enemies and disarming them. Common in areas with electric Lizalfos.

Two-Handed Weapons

These powerful weapons require both of Link's hands, meaning you cannot use a shield. They excel at crowd control and delivering massive damage, often with a wide attack arc or a powerful charge attack.

• Greatswords & Axes:
  • Characteristics: Slowest attack speed but highest damage per hit. Their charge attack often involves a spinning attack that hits multiple enemies.
  • Strategy: Best used against groups of enemies or single, slow-moving targets. The Traveler's Claymore is a good starting point, often found in chests or dropped by larger Bokoblins.
  • Notable Finds:
    • Royal Claymore: A high-damage weapon found in Hyrule Castle and dropped by stronger enemies.
    • Stone Smasher: Found in Goron City, excellent for mining ore deposits due to its high durability and rock-breaking properties.
• Spears & Halberds:
  • Characteristics: Fastest attack speed among all weapon types, but lower damage per hit. They have excellent reach, allowing Link to keep enemies at a distance.
  • Strategy: Ideal for poke-and-run tactics, keeping dangerous enemies away, or rapidly building up damage on a stunned foe. The Soldier's Spear is a reliable early-game option, often found in enemy camps.
  • Notable Finds:
    • Royal Halberd: A powerful spear found in Hyrule Castle and dropped by high-tier enemies.
    • Zora Spear: Found in Zora's Domain, has increased damage when wet.

Bows

Bows are essential for ranged combat, puzzle-solving, and exploiting enemy weaknesses. Arrows are consumed with each shot, so manage your supply carefully.

• Characteristics: Varying range, accuracy, and number of arrows shot per draw.
• Strategy: Target weak points (like a Hinox's eye or a Guardian's eye) for critical damage. Use elemental arrows (Fire, Ice, Shock, Bomb) for environmental effects or specific enemy vulnerabilities.
• Arrow Types & Acquisition:
  • Normal Arrows: Purchased from merchants in villages like Kakariko Village and Hateno Village, or found in chests and enemy drops.
  • Elemental Arrows: Primarily found in chests, dropped by specific enemies (e.g., Fire Arrows from Fire Lizalfos), or purchased from certain merchants.
  • Bomb Arrows: Extremely powerful, but explode on impact and can harm Link if too close. Also ignite in hot environments.
• Notable Bows:
  • Soldier's Bow: A common early-game bow, reliable for basic ranged attacks.
  • Royal Bow: Offers good damage and range, found in Hyrule Castle and dropped by stronger enemies.
  • Savage Lynel Bow: Dropped by Lynels, often shoots multiple arrows at once, making it incredibly powerful for concentrated damage.
  • Ancient Bow: Crafted at the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab, boasts high damage and excellent accuracy, especially with Ancient Arrows.

Shields

Shields are primarily defensive but can also be used offensively through shield surfing or parrying.

• Characteristics: Varying defense ratings and durability.
• Strategy: Use to block incoming attacks, but be mindful of durability. A well-timed Perfect Guard (parry) can reflect projectiles and stun enemies, making it an invaluable combat technique.
• Notable Shields:
  • Traveler's Shield: A basic shield found early in the game.
  • Knight's Shield: Offers good defense, often found in enemy camps in mid-game areas.
  • Royal Shield: High defense, found in Hyrule Castle.
  • Hylian Shield: The most durable shield in the game, found in a specific location within Hyrule Castle's Lockup. It has incredibly high durability and can be re-purchased from Granté in Tarrey Town after it breaks.

Weapon Properties & Enhancements

Beyond their base stats, many weapons come with special properties or can be enhanced.

• Durability: All weapons (except the Master Sword in specific contexts) have a limited number of uses before breaking. Always keep an eye on the flashing icon in your inventory.
• Attack Up: Increases the weapon's base damage.
• Durability Up: Increases the weapon's lifespan.
• Critical Hit: Grants a chance for a critical strike, dealing extra damage.
• Long Throw: Increases the distance Link can throw the weapon.
• Elemental Effects:
  • Fire: Ignites enemies and environment, melts ice.
  • Ice: Freezes enemies, cools Link in hot areas.
  • Electric: Stuns enemies, causes them to drop their weapons, and can trigger environmental hazards.
• Guardian Slayer: Increased damage against Guardian enemies.
• Ancient Proficiency: When wearing Ancient Armor, Ancient Weapons and Bows deal increased damage.

Remember to experiment with different weapon types and their properties. The dynamic combat system of Breath of the Wild rewards adaptability and strategic thinking!