How to fix weapon durability in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom

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Weapons degradation in TOTK can't be stopped, but can be slowed down

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
(Image credit: Nintendo)

Zelda Tears of the Kingdom weapon durability has returned, with weapon degradation meaning that practically anything you find is doomed to break - though whether it breaks sooner or later depends on the weapon's individual stats and what you use the Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Fuse ability to mix it with, as different materials will alter the durability of the weapon that they're attached to. So with that in mind, here's everything you need to know about weapon degradation in Tears of the Kingdom, including only unbreakable weapon that you'll definitely want to get your hands on as fast as possible.

Is there weapon durability in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom?

Zelda Tears of the Kingdom weapon durability degradation break

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Yes, there is weapon degradation in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom. What that means in this game in particular is that a basic weapon with no fused qualities will break very quickly, usually in 20 hits or less. A visual and auditory warning will trigger when your weapon has taken extensive damage and is close to breaking, so either stash it for later or make those last blows count!

Using Fuse to combine weapons with other weapons, monster parts, or found items is the best way to counter low weapon durability. Even when you fuse your Zelda Tears of the Kingdom weapons to create some unique tools, they will still break after some time. Fuse is the best way to delay your weapons breaking, however, since there is no way to repair weapons or even sell damaged ones for rupees. You also can't take apart your fusions, so be sure to check how much damage each monster part or item will give you by checking the the "Fuse ability" number in the upper left-hand corner of the item's picture in your inventory,

There is one weapon that won't break - at least, not a second time. If you want to get ahold of the Zelda Tears of the Kingdom master sword, we have a whole dedicated guide to help you do just that.

How to stop weapons breaking in Tears of the Kingdom

Zelda Tears of the Kingdom weapon durability degradation break

(Image credit: Nintendo)

You can improve your Tears of the Kingdom weapon's durability by means of Fuse, one of the new Zelda Tears of the Kingdom abilities. This is a great way to keep your favorite items performing at their best for longer. 

Some fused items, like Black Moblin Horns, add not only damage points but extra durability to your weapons. Other monster parts, like Gibdo Bone and Bokoblin Arm Bones, add a lot of damage but break extremely easily.

Remember, this isn't the same thing as repairing the weapon - it's just increasing its "max health", to use a helpful comparison. Still, it's more than what Breath of the Wild offered, and takes a lot of the sting out of weapon degradation in the long run, since weapon drops are very frequent in Tears of the Kingdom.

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Joel Franey
Joel Franey
Guides Editor, GamesRadar+

Joel Franey is a writer, journalist, podcaster and Very Tired Man with a BA from Brunel University, a Masters from Sussex University and a decade working in games journalism, often focused on guides coverage but also in reviews, features and news. His love of games is strongest when it comes to groundbreaking narratives like Disco Elysium, UnderTale and Baldur's Gate 3, as well as innovative or refined gameplay experiences like XCOM, Sifu, Arkham Asylum or Slay the Spire. He is a firm believer that the vast majority of games would be improved by adding a grappling hook, and if they already have one, they should probably add another just to be safe. You can find old work of his at Eurogamer, Gfinity, USgamer, SFX Magazine, RPS, Dicebreaker, VG247, and more.

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