Is weapon degradation in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom?

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is one of the most anticipated games of 2023, and with 10 minutes of pure gameplay now out in the wild, we finally have some much-needed answers to many burning questions. It’s been a long time coming, but the floodgates have opened.

Many mechanics that originated from Zelda: Breath of the Wild have made their way here, but also, we have a few new elements introduced that are hoping to shake up that formula. One thing many have wondered is whether weapon degradation will be returning for the sequel. If you’re curious to know that, let’s check out everything we know so far.

• Find out where to pre-order the Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Collector's Edition.

Is weapon degradation in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom?

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Weapon degradation was a controversial point in Zelda: Breath of the Wild. For those unaware, every weapon in the game had a limited amount of uses before it broke permanently. This forced players to experiment with anything and everything they could find, which many either loved or hated.

In the case of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, whether you want it or not, weapon degradation is making a return. As confirmed in the recent gameplay video, weapons will indeed break after a certain amount of uses, forcing you to experiment with the world.

However, a new mechanic known as Fuse may make things easier. This ability allows players to combine items to create something new and stop it from breaking. For example, the gameplay video showcased a tree branch being combined with a rock to create a new weapon.

While this may pad out how long you can use the weapon, we imagine it will still result in it breaking. It may just help sway those who aren’t a fan of weapon degradation over to the other side once Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom launches on May 12.

• We also have a guide on how to watch The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Direct that aired this week.