In The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, weapons serve as Link's primary means of offense, allowing him to directly damage and defeat enemies. These diverse tools are central to combat, but they operate under a distinct durability system that sees them eventually break, often at critical moments.
The Core Mechanics of Combat with Weapons
Weapons are Link's main way of defeating Enemies by dealing damage to them directly. Every weapon possesses specific attributes that dictate its effectiveness and role in combat, making strategic choice and management crucial.
Weapon Types and Attributes
The world of Hyrule offers a vast arsenal, ranging from simple tree branches to powerful ancient technology. Weapons are broadly categorized by their handling and attack patterns:
- One-Handed Weapons (Swords, Clubs): Offer a balance of speed and power, allowing Link to use a shield simultaneously for defense. They typically have quick attack combos.
- Two-Handed Weapons (Greatswords, Axes): Deliver slower, more powerful strikes. While Link cannot use a shield, these weapons often have a wide area of effect and excel at breaking enemy defenses or mining ore.
- Spears (Lances, Tridents): Provide rapid, long-reaching jabs, ideal for keeping enemies at a distance or quickly overwhelming them.
- Bows: Used for ranged combat, consuming arrows. Different arrow types (fire, ice, shock, bomb) add elemental effects.
- Shields: Primarily for defense and parrying, but can also be used offensively for shield surfing or deflecting projectiles.
Each weapon is defined by its Attack Power (the amount of damage it deals per hit) and Durability (how many hits it can withstand before breaking).
| Weapon Type | Pros | Cons | Common Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-Handed | Fast attacks, shield compatible | Moderate damage, shorter reach | General combat, quick combos, defense |
| Two-Handed | High damage, wide area attacks | Slow, no shield | Crowd control, heavy enemies, resource gathering |
| Spears | Long reach, fast jabs | Lower damage per hit, no shield | Poking enemies, keeping distance |
| Bows | Ranged combat, elemental arrows | Consumes arrows, limited close-range | Targeting weak points, initiating combat |
| Shields | Defense, parry, shield surf | Minimal offensive use (deflect) | Blocking, parrying, utility |
Durability and Breaking
A core mechanic of Breath of the Wild is weapon durability. Weapons have a set amount of durability and will break when this value reaches zero. This system encourages players to constantly adapt their strategy, scavenge for new equipment, and experiment with different weapon types.
Crucially, when a weapon breaks, it deals twice as much damage as its base attack power in a final, powerful strike. This can be a strategic advantage, allowing you to finish off tough enemies or deal significant damage to bosses.
Practical Insights:
- Inventory Management: Link's inventory slots are limited, necessitating careful management of weapons. Consider dropping weaker or nearly broken weapons to make room for more powerful ones.
- Throwing Weapons: A nearly broken weapon can be thrown at an enemy for a powerful final attack, similar to its breaking bonus. This is an excellent way to dispose of a weak weapon while still getting value from it.
- Weapon Degradation: Different surfaces affect durability differently. Hitting enemies with weapons consumes durability, but so does hitting environmental objects like rocks (unless the weapon is specifically designed for mining).
Combat Techniques and Advantages
Beyond basic swings, weapons allow for various combat techniques:
- Charged Attacks: Holding down the attack button with most melee weapons executes a powerful, often area-of-effect, charged attack.
- Throwing: Most melee weapons can be thrown, dealing damage and often applying the "breaking bonus" if their durability is low.
- Flurry Rush: Successfully dodging an enemy attack at the last moment triggers a slow-motion "Flurry Rush," allowing Link to unleash a rapid series of attacks.
- Elemental Effects: Weapons with elemental properties (fire, ice, electricity) can apply status effects to enemies and interact with the environment. For instance, a fire weapon can ignite grass, creating updrafts for the Paraglider.
Enhancements and Special Properties
Some weapons come with stat boosts (e.g., "Attack Up," "Durability Up," "Long Throw") that enhance their capabilities. Others have unique properties, such as the Master Sword's ability to glow and deal extra damage when near Ganon's corruption or within a Divine Beast.
Weapon Acquisition and Management
Weapons are abundant in Hyrule, found through various means:
- Enemy Drops: Defeating enemies often yields their equipped weapons, providing a constant supply. Stronger enemies tend to drop more powerful weapons.
- Chests: Treasure chests hidden throughout the world and within shrines frequently contain valuable weapons.
- Shrines and Dungeons: Many shrines reward Link with unique or powerful weapons upon completion.
- Environmental Pickups: Simple items like tree branches, rusty broadswords, or even enemy arms (like Moblin Arms) can be used as weapons.
Managing your inventory is key. With limited slots, players must decide which weapons to keep, which to drop, and when to use a weaker weapon to save a stronger one for a tougher encounter.
For a comprehensive list of weapons and their detailed statistics, resources like the Zelda Wiki can be incredibly helpful.
