Weapons, Shields, Bows and Arrows

The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild features a large variety of melee weapons and shields to use in combat. The overwhelming majority of weapons and shields are found while exploring Hyrule, either in treasure chests, stuck in the ground, or dropped from enemies. No weapons or shields can be purchased from general shops – with the exception of arrows for bows, which are listed further down this page.

All weapons and shields have a set durability. After using the weapon and shield in combat, it will deteriorate and eventually break. Using power attacks, setting a weapon on fire, and throwing a melee weapon will decrease a weapon’s durability. Once a weapon breaks, try to find another one quickly or equip a spare from your inventory.

Link will begin the game with 8 Melee Weapon Slots, 5 Bow Slots, and 4 Shield Slots. The inventory can be upgraded by finding Korok Seeds and giving them to Hetsu, a character exploring Hyrule. See the Korok Seeds page for more info.

Melee Weapons

A few weapon will be imbued with an elemental power; however, the extra effect doesn’t last forever. Use an elemental melee weapon while it’s glowing to deal extra elemental effects. Stop using the weapon for a few seconds to allow it to recharge before the element can be used again.

Effect Description
Attack Up Increases the power of Link’s attacks in combat.
Durability Up Increase the durability of a weapon, allowing it to be used in combat for a longer period of time before breaking (when compared to weapons of the same name).
Long Throw Increase the distance the weapon can be thrown.
Quick Shot Increases the rate of fire of a bow.
Fire Sets the target on fire, causing damage for several seconds and deteriorates wooden weapons and shields. Equipping a fire element weapon will also decrease the blue section in the temperature meter.
Ice Freezes the target solid, leaving them vulnerable to attacks.
Electricity Stuns the target and forces them to drop any currently held weapon, shield, or bow.

Breath of the Wild weapons are best categorized as one-handed and two-handed, as there are a variety of types and strengths. One-handed weapons consist of blades, clubs, and magical rods. Two-handed weapons consist of blades, axes, spears, clubs, and boomerangs. Only one-handed weapons can be used with shields.

NameDamageHandsMaterialEffect
Tree Branch21HWood-
Korok Leaf11HWoodSend air into sails of small rafts.
Torch21HWoodIlluminates dark areas and transfers flames.
Drillshaft142HMetalJab and mine ore
Woodcutter's Axe32HMetalCut
Double Axe182HMetalCut
Iron Sledgehammer122HMetalSmash
Farming Hoe162HMetal-
Farmer's Pitchfork72HWood-
Soup Ladle41HWood-
Wooden Mop52HWood-
Boat Oar142HWood-
Edge of Duality502HAncientCut
Feathered Edge151HMetalCut
Feathered Spear102HMetalJab
Demon Carver401HMetalCut
Cobble Crusher152HMetalSmash
Stone Smasher422HMetalSmash
Boulder Breaker602HMetalSmash
Vicious Sickle161HMetalCut
Moonlight Scimitar251HMetalCut
Scimitar of the Seven321HMetalCut
Windcleaver402HMetalCut, sends a blade of wind that does 20 damage.
Gerudo Scimitar161HMetalCut
Gerudo Spear162HMetalJab
Zora Sword151HMetalCut
Zora Spear92HMetalJab
Forest Dweller's Sword221HWoodCut
Forest Dweller's Spear112HWoodJab
Flameblade241HMetalFire element
Great Flameblade342HMetalFire element
Frostblade201HMetalIce element
Great Frostblade302HMetalIce element
Thunderblade221HMetalElectric element
Great Thunderblade322HMetalElectric element
Flamespear242HMetalFire element
Frostspear202HMetalIce element
Thunderspear222HMetalElectric element
Throwing Spear62HMetalJab
Traveler's Sword51HMetalCut
Traveler's Claymore102HMetalCut
Traveler's Spear32HMetalJab
Rusty Halberd52HMetalJab
Rusty Broadsword61HMetalCut
Rusty Claymore122HMetalCut
Soldier's Broadsword141HMetalCut
Soldier's Claymore202HMetalCut
Soldier's Spear72HMetalJab
Knight's Broadsword261HMetalCut
Knight's Claymore382HMetalCut
Knight's Halberd132HMetalJab
Royal Broadsword361HMetalCut
Royal Guard's Sword481HMetalCut
Royal Claymore522HMetalCut
Royal Guard's Claymore722HMetalCut
Royal Halberd262HMetalJab
Royal Guard's Spear322HMetalJab
Eightfold Blade151HMetalCut
Eightfold Longblade322HMetalCut
Silver Longsword222HMetalJab
Silverscale Spear122HMetalJab
Golden Claymore282HMetalCut
Lightscale Trident222HMetalJab
Ceremonial Trident142HMetalJab
Serpentine Spear122HMetalJab
Fishing Harpoon82HMetalJab
Boomerang82HWoodThrow and retrieve
Boomerang242HMetalThrow and retrieve
Giant Boomerang252HWoodThrow and retrieve
Guardian Sword201HAncientCut
Guardian Sword+301HAncientCut
Guardian Sword++401HAncientCut
Ancient Bladesaw552HAncientCut
Ancient Battle Axe302HAncientCut
Ancient Battle Axe+452HAncientCut
Ancient Battle Axe++602HAncientCut
Ancient Short Sword401HAncientCut
Ancient Spear302HAncientJab
Guardian Spear102HAncientJab
Guardian Spear+152HAncientJab
Guardian Spear++202HAncientJab
Bokoblin Arm51HBoneSmash
Moblin Arm152HBoneSmash
Lizalfos Arm121HBoneSmash
Boko Club41HWoodSmash
Spiked Boko Club121HWoodSmash
Boko Spear22HWoodJab
Spiked Boko Spear62HWoodJab
Dragonbone Boko Spear122HWoodJab
Dragonbone Boko Club241HWoodSmash
Boko Bat62HWoodSmash
Spiked Boko Bat182HWoodSmash
Dragonbone Boko Bat362HWoodSmash
Moblin Club92HWoodSmash
Moblin Club272HWoodSmash
Dragonbone Moblin Club452HWoodSmash
Moblin Spear42HWoodJab
Spiked Moblin Spear92HWoodJab
Dragonbone Moblin Spear152HWoodJab
Lizal Spear72HMetalJab
Enhanced Lizal Spear122HMetalJab
Forked Lizal Spear182HMetalJab
Lizal Boomerang141HMetalCut
Lizal Forked Boomerang241HMetalCut
Lizal Tri-Boomerang361HMetalCut
Lynel Sword241HMetalCut
Mighty Lynel Sword361HMetalCut
Savage Lynel Sword581HMetalCut
Lynel Crusher362HMetalSmash
Mighty Lynel Crusher542HMetalSmash
Savage Lynel Crusher782HMetalSmash
Fire Rod51HMagicFire element
Meteor Rod101HMagicFire element
Ice Rod51HMagicIce element
Blizzard Rod101HMagicIce element
Lightning Rod51HMagicElectric element
Thunderstorm Rod101HMagicElectric element
Master Sword301HMagicLight element
NameGuardMaterialEffect
Pot Lid1Wood-
Wooden Shield2Wood-
Emblazoned Shield3Metal-
Hunter's Shield3Wood-
Fisherman's Shield3Wood-
Traveler's Shield4Wood-
Soldier's Shield16Wood-
Knight's Shield40Metal-
Royal Shield55Metal-
Forest Dwellers Shield30Wood-
Silver Shield18Metal-
Kite Shield14Wood-
Gerudo Shield20Metal-
Radiant Shield35Metal-
Daybreaker48Metal-
Rusty Shield3Metal-
Royal Guard's Shield70Metal-
Boko Shield3Wood-
Spiked Boko Shield10Wood-
Dragonbone Boko Shield25Wood-
Lizal Shield15Metal-
Reinforced Lizal Shield22Metal-
Steel Lizal Shield35Metal-
Guardian Shield18AncientStrong against ancient weapons
Guardian Shield+30AncientStrong against ancient weapons
Guardian Shield++42AncientStrong against ancient weapons
Shield of the Mind's Eye16WoodDefense Guard Up
Ancient Shield70AncientStrong against ancient weapons
Lynel Shield30Metal-
Mighty Lynel Shield44Metal-
Savage Lynel Shield62Metal-
Hylian Shield90MetalHighest durability and defense

Bows

In addition to melee weapons, Link can carry around Bows and Arrows. These can be instantly drawn out, even when a melee weapon is currently equipped. Aim for the head to stun a target, deal extra damage, and cause the enemy to drop their weapon.

All bows have a set durability. After using the bow in combat, it will deteriorate and eventually break. Once a bow breaks, try to find another one quickly or equip a spare from your inventory. Bows can have special effects, just like weapons.

Effect Description
Attack Up Increases the power of Link’s attacks in combat.
Durability Up Increase the durability of a weapon, allowing it to be used in combat for a longer period of time before breaking (when compared to weapons of the same name).
Quick Shot Increases the rate of fire of a bow.
Five-Shot Burst Turns one arrow into five without using additional arrows.
NameDamageMaterialEffect
Wooden Bow4Wood-
Traveler's Bow5Wood-
Soldier's Bow14Wood-
Knight's Bow26Metal-
Royal Bow38Metal-
Royal Guard's Bow50Metal-
Silver Bow15Metal-
Golden Bow14MetalIncreased Zoomed
Swallow Bow9WoodIncreased Zoomed
Falcon Bow20MetalIncreased Zoomed
Great Eagle Bow28MetalIncreased Zoomed
Phrenic Bow10MetalIncreased Zoomed
Ancient Bow44Ancient-
Boko Bow4Wood-
Spiked Boko Bow12Wood-
Dragonbone Boko Bow24Wood-
Lizal Bow14Wood-
Strengthened Lizal Bow25Metal-
Steel Lizal Bow36Metal-
Lynel Bow10x3MetalTurns one arrow into three without using additional arrows.
Mighty Lynel Bow20x3MetalTurns one arrow into three without using additional arrows.
Savage Lynel Bow32x3MetalTurns one arrow into three without using additional arrows.
Duplex Bow14x2WoodTurns one arrow into two without using additional arrows.
Forest Dweller's Bow15x3MetalTurns one arrow into three without using additional arrows.
Bow of Light100MagicImbued with the power of light.

Arrows

Unlike melee weapons, bows use weapons with different elemental properties. While bows cannot be purchased from shops, arrows can be found with every merchant and at each general shop. You can store hundreds of arrows in your inventory, unlike all other weapons and their limited slots.

Arrow Effect
Arrow A normal wooden and iron arrow. It can be set on fire by placing it next to an open flame.
Fire Arrow An arrow that is set on fire. The arrow will break on impact and set an object or the environment on fire. Effective against ice enemies.
Ice Arrow An arrow with the power of ice. The arrow will break on impact and freeze nearby objects and the environment. Effective against fire enemies.
Shock Arrow An arrow with the power of electricity. The arrow will break on impact and shock anything nearby. Effective against metal or wet objects and environments.
Bomb Arrow An arrow that explodes on impact, dealing massive damage within a small radius. Does not explode in rain, and will instantly explode near lava.
Ancient Arrow An arrow made with ancient technology. Extremely powerful, even against ancient machines, but often negates any loot dropped by the creature.