How to Arm Yourself to the Teeth: A Guide to Getting Weapons in Breath of the Wild
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The world of Hyrule in Breath of the Wild is vast, beautiful, and teeming with danger. To survive and ultimately defeat Calamity Ganon, you’ll need a steady supply of weapons. But where do you find them? The answer is multifaceted and a key element of the game’s open-world design.
The primary way to get weapons in Breath of the Wild is by looting them from enemies, chests, and the environment. Enemies frequently drop the weapons they wield, and you’ll find weapons in chests scattered throughout the world, often in shrines, enemy camps, or hidden locations. You can also find weapons lying around in specific locations, such as camps, stables, and ruins. Remember that weapons have durability, so managing your inventory and consistently acquiring new weapons is crucial for long-term survival.
Exploring Weapon Acquisition in Hyrule
Breath of the Wild doesn’t just hand you weapons; you have to earn them. This makes exploration and combat inherently rewarding. Let’s delve into the various methods of weapon acquisition in detail:
Defeating Enemies and Looting
This is your bread and butter. Almost every enemy in the game, from the lowly Bokoblin to the formidable Lynel, carries a weapon. Upon defeat, they will drop their weapons.
- Bokoblins & Moblins: Typically wield clubs, Bokoblin Bats, Moblin Clubs, and occasionally lower-tier swords and spears.
- Lizalfos: Spears, swords, and boomerangs are common finds.
- Stalkers & Guardians: Ancient weapons, like swords, spears, and axes, are dropped by Guardians (both decayed and active). Stal enemies also carry weapons.
- Lynels: High-tier swords, spears, crushers, and bows, making them a prime target for weapon upgrades.
Chests: Your Hidden Arsenal
Chests are scattered everywhere. They range from simple wooden chests containing basic weapons to elaborate metal chests holding powerful and rare items.
- Shrines: Each shrine (both trial and blessing shrines) will always have a chest that may contain a valuable weapon.
- Enemy Camps: Clearing out enemy camps often unlocks chests hidden within.
- Hyrule Castle: This location is packed with powerful weapons that can be found in different rooms and corridors of the castle.
- Overworld Exploration: Use the Sheikah Slate’s magnesis rune to find metal chests hidden underwater or buried in the ground.
Environmental Finds: A Keen Eye Pays Off
Sometimes, weapons are simply lying around waiting to be discovered.
- Stables: Stables often have hay bales or storage areas where you can find pitchforks, woodcutter’s axes, or even swords.
- Ruins: Ancient ruins can contain decayed weapons, but also occasionally intact ones.
- Monster Camps: Sometimes, weapons can be found stuck in the ground within the camp.
- Specific Locations: Some NPCs will leave weapons near them after a certain event.
Completing Quests and Challenges
Many quests and challenges reward you with weapons. These are often higher-quality or unique weapons you won’t find easily otherwise.
- Side Quests: Several side quests offer weapons as rewards.
- Main Quests: Progressing through the main storyline will also award you with powerful weapons.
- Shrine Quests: Some Shrine Quests give you access to a weapon, such as the Thunderblade in the Isolated Plateau.
Amiibo Support: Scanning for Loot
Using Amiibo figures can grant you access to exclusive weapons and items. Specifically, scanning Zelda-related Amiibos can reward you with weapons. This is not always guaranteed and is only once per day.
- Specific Amiibo: Figures like the Link (Archer) or Link (Rider) Amiibo can grant access to bows, swords, or horse gear.
Weapon Durability and Management
A crucial aspect of weapon acquisition in Breath of the Wild is understanding weapon durability.
- Weapons Break: All weapons, except for the Master Sword, have a limited lifespan. They will break after a certain amount of use.
- Durability Indicators: There is no explicit number. The weapon model will show damage, and the sound your weapon makes will signal that a weapon is about to break.
- Strategic Use: Save powerful weapons for tougher enemies and use weaker weapons for smaller encounters.
- Master Sword: This unique weapon has limited energy, but after a cooldown, it becomes available for use again.
Understanding the different weapon types is essential to use them effectively.
- One-Handed Weapons: Allow you to use a shield.
- Two-Handed Weapons: More powerful attacks at the expense of speed and defense.
- Spears: Long reach and quick attacks.
- Bows: Ranged combat.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Weapon Acquisition
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about getting weapons in Breath of the Wild, designed to provide even more clarity and insight into this core gameplay mechanic.
1. How can I increase my weapon inventory?
You can increase your weapon inventory by collecting Korok Seeds and trading them to Hestu. Hestu starts at the bridge near the Dueling Peaks stable, moves to the Riverside Stable, and eventually ends up in Korok Forest. The initial inventory upgrades are cheap, but the cost increases exponentially as you upgrade it more.
2. What are the best locations for farming weapons early in the game?
Early in the game, focus on clearing enemy camps around the Great Plateau and in the Central Hyrule area. These camps often have easily accessible weapons. Keep an eye out for chests near stables.
3. How do I repair broken weapons?
You cannot repair most broken weapons in Breath of the Wild. Once a weapon breaks, it’s gone forever. However, there are a few exceptions:
- The Master Sword: Recharges its energy after a cooldown period.
- Ceremonial Weapons: Can be remade by a craftsman in specific locations.
- Champion Weapons: Can be remade by specific NPCs after the weapon is broken once.
4. What is the strongest weapon in Breath of the Wild?
The Royal Guard’s Claymore and the Savage Lynel Crusher generally have the highest base attack power. However, this is subject to buffs (e.g. +attack from fairies).
5. How can I get the Hylian Shield?
The Hylian Shield can be found in a chest in the lockup underneath Hyrule Castle. You’ll need to defeat a Stalnox to access the chest. The Hylian Shield can be purchased in Tarrey Town if it breaks.
6. Can I keep the Master Sword permanently?
Yes, after completing the “Trials of the Sword” DLC, the Master Sword will permanently remain in its powered-up state with no cooldown, essentially making it unbreakable.
7. Are there any unique weapons I should look out for?
Yes, many unique weapons have special properties or designs. Some examples include the Korok Leaf, Thunderblade, Great Eagle Bow, Boulder Breaker, Lightscale Trident, and Daybreaker. The “One-Hit Obliterator” is another unique weapon that kills enemies in one hit but leaves you very vulnerable.
8. How does the difficulty setting affect weapon drops?
The game does not have difficulty settings that directly affect weapon drops. However, progressing further into the game will result in enemies using stronger weapons. Enemies also rank up and will drop better weapons than earlier versions of the same enemies.
9. Can I store weapons in my house?
Yes, after purchasing a house in Hateno Village, you can store weapons, shields, and bows on the wall mounts inside. This allows you to keep some of your favorite weapons safe from breaking.
10. What is the best way to deal with Guardians and acquire their ancient weapons?
Use the Perfect Parry technique to deflect Guardian laser beams. Aim for their eye to stagger them. Alternatively, use Ancient Arrows to instantly defeat Guardians, but you won’t get any loot.
11. Are there any hidden weapon shops in the game?
While there are no dedicated “hidden” weapon shops, some traveling merchants may offer unique or rare weapons for sale. For example, Beedle sells arrows.
12. How can I find weapons with special effects, like fire or ice?
Weapons with elemental effects can be found in various locations, often near areas with corresponding elements, such as volcanoes for fire weapons or snowy mountains for ice weapons. Defeating enemies that wield elemental weapons is also a good way to obtain them.
13. What do I do when my weapon inventory is full?
When your weapon inventory is full, you’ll need to either use some weapons until they break, drop unwanted weapons, or store them in your house. Prioritize keeping your best weapons and consider dropping weaker or redundant ones.
14. How do I efficiently farm Lynels for their powerful weapons?
Learn the attack patterns of Lynels and master the perfect parry and flurry rush techniques. Using stasis is also very useful. Equip strong armor and weapons, and bring plenty of healing items. Lynels respawn after a blood moon, so you can return to their locations to farm them repeatedly.
15. Does weather affect the use or availability of certain weapons?
Yes, certain weapons are affected by weather. Metal weapons attract lightning during thunderstorms, and fire weapons can melt ice. It’s important to consider the weather when choosing your weapons.