The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom — Best Weapons & Shields

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom offers a variety of weapons and shields to choose from. What’s more? You can now use the new Fuse ability to craft an even more powerful weapon by fusing a weapon or shield to the overwhelming number of items you pick up from your surroundings. At the base, Link has swords, shields, and bows for fighting enemies along his path to rescue Princess Zelda. Let’s see how they stack up in our The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – best Weapons & Shields article.

5. Hylian Shield

One of the best shields you won’t want to miss is the Hylian Shield. And luckily for you, you can get it in the early hours of the game. This shield is nearly indestructible thanks to the metal material it is made of. Otherwise, other shields like the Wooden or Ordon Shield barely compare, as they’re made of material that breaks easily.

The Hylian Shield has a shield guard of 90, which is the highest among all shields. It can withstand enemy attacks the longest. Further, the Hylian Shield stuns enemies so that they refrain from unleashing consecutive attacks. If used wisely, the Hylian Shield can last as long as the whole main story’s playthrough. But if it breaks, you can build Tarrey Town to get another one.

How to Get the Hylian Shield

If Hylian Shield sounds like your cup of tea, you can get it from a treasure chest available in the early hours of the game. Simply go to the docks on the floating island that was once Hyrule Castle. You’ll need to light the beacon at the side hole of the docks around the castle’s perimeter to reveal a hidden chest that has the Hylian Shield inside. Alternatively, if you have 210 rupees (slightly more than other shields’ worth), you can buy the shield from a Goron in Hyrule Castle Town.

4. Royal Guard's Bow

The Royal Guard’s Bow is one of the most powerful bows to have in your arsenal. It originates from the Sheikah, who designed it as a prototype for combating the Great Calamity. The Sheikah was forged using ancient technology and delivers an impressive damage rate of 50, which is significantly higher than any other bow. Furthermore, the Royal Guard’s ow fires at a pretty fast rate.

On the downside, the Royal Guard’s Bow suffers from low durability. So, you may need to weigh the pros and cons wisely. It breaks down too quickly, often needing repairs every now and then. It may even break completely, forcing you to get a new one or switch to another weapon. But for the cons it suffers, Royal Guard Bow’s is impressively quicker. Plus, if you want to go on offense, you can rely on it to fire devastating single shots that’ll prove more than worth the trouble.

How to Get the Royal Guard’s Bow

To get the Royal Guard’s Bow, you’ll need to go to Princess Zelda’s study in Hyrule Castle. You’ll see the bow lying on Zelda’s desk. Alternatively, you may spot it above the fireplace in Zelda’s room or inside the Square Spiral Staircase.

3. Mighty Zonaite Longsword

The Mighty Zonaite Longsword is a double-handed weapon. On its own, it offers a base attack of 16 and a durability of 18. Not much compared to other weapons on this list. However, you can create a stronger, more durable weapon when you fuse a Zonaite Longsword with a Soldier's Construct Horn. This creates a fast and powerful weapon called a “soldier’s blade.”

The Soldier Construct Horns have different levels. So, if you want overkill, you can keep upgrading to the highest levels that deal the most damage. In any case, you enjoy a rare combination of speed, power, and durability that other weapons can hardly compare to.

2. Savage Lynel Bow

Alternatively, consider the Savage Lynel Bow. It has two main pros: high stopping power and the ability to pierce thick armor. The Savage Lynel Bow is made from a special steel found at the peak of Death Mountain. This material makes it strong enough to fire three arrows at once. Hence, despite a damage output rate of 32, you can unleash a double or triple threat damage output by firing two or three arrows. 

When combined, arrows shot from the Savage Lynel Bow easily pierce armor. You can use the Savage Lynel Bow to drop enemies with thick armor. Alternatively, you can use it when facing larger groups of enemies. The only caveat is that the triple threat works best at close range since the arrows will fly out horizontally. 

How to Get Savage Lynel Bow

To get the Savage Lynel Bow, you’ll need to face a White-Maned or Silver-Maned Lynels. These are among the most powerful enemies scattered throughout Hyrule, particularly in the Coliseum Ruins, the Central Hyrule Depths, or Hyrule Field. Although killing a Lynel isn’t going to be easy, once you do, you’ll be rewarded with the bow, among other weapons, as the item drops.

1. Master Sword

The Master Sword is hands-down the most powerful weapon in Tears of the Kingdom. It’s no stranger to Legend of Zelda veteran players, who often gravitate toward Master Sword. With Fuse, you can further elevate its power to new heights. Unlike other weapons that need to be replaced when they break, the Master Sword only takes 10 minutes to repair itself. Depending on your playstyle, you may even go without needing to repair it thanks to its unlimited durability.

Additionally, when you reach maximum hearts, Master Sword can fire a laser beam, which is a long-range sword attack only Master Sword has. It fits nearly all playstyles thanks to the variety of tactics you can use. Since it's single-handed, you can wield the Hylian Shield with the other. 

How to Get the Master Sword

To get the Master Sword, all you need to do is jump onto a flying dragon and pull the sword out of its forehead. Fun, right?

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