Gavin Lane, editor
Weapon degradation was a wonderful way to encourage experimentation in BOTW’s Hylian sandbox. I appreciated what it added to your journey through the game, and the weapons were plentiful and varied enough to be worth trying out just to see what they do, from an elemental blade to a wooden spoon. Not once did I walk into a situation without anything on hand; for me, the balance the developers achieved there was masterful.
I only irritation with the mechanics is based on the Master Sword, specifically the maxed level 60 version I got after completing all the DLC trials. I understand why, from a design perspective, he was given his own brand of durability earlier in the game and needed to be ‘recharged’ periodically. But after proving myself, defeating the trials and giving Calamity Ganon a sonic blast, it dulled the edge of my victory by discovering that the Blade of Evil’s Bane more ran out of juice.
So, it would be really cool if the gnarled Master Sword that we saw in TOTK – once sufficiently rejuvenated and tempered and what not – would permanently retain his mastery on the very, very end of the game. Otherwise, bravo degradation.
Kate Gray, Staff Writer
Honestly, I wasn’t worried about weapon durability while playing, but after a while after the game came out, it became this meme everyone struggled for it. But it didn’t really change my mind! I think weapon durability can create those very organic moments where your sword explodes at the worst possible moment during a boss battle, and I think they’re worth something.
However… I still think it could be improved, as I’m pretty sure swords don’t actually explode, so I wouldn’t mind if the stamina system was switched to more Monster hunter a job, where you have to keep your weapons sharp, and finding a sword is rarer than the swords that exist in every corner of the world.
Alana Hagues, staff writer
For starters, I wasn’t happy with the durability of the weapons in Breath of the Wild. I was so used to going to all the enemies and attacking them in almost everything and I thought I could do the same here willy-nilly. In the early hours of BOTW I ran out of weapons. I was often scrambling for resources, making my way through Hyrule using the Sheikah Slate, and throwing rocks or branches at Moblins. Have I always been efficient? Not. But was it fun? That.
I think that’s when I realized the beauty of BOTW’s weapon system. Everything in BOTW is basically an item. Something that can be used, a resource for survival. Weapons were no exception. it didn’t matter if my ax broke or my sword shattered in my hand—something would be waiting for me nearby. And I would have to learn how to deal with it.
For Tears of the Kingdom, I’m almost 100% sure that this mechanic will return, but it will have some adjustments. With everything and their mother needing a crafting mechanic, I can totally see crafting being added to TOTK much to my chagrin, but if Pokémon can do it, then Zelda can probably do it better. Make a new weapon or repair an old one? Sounds okay, doesn’t it…?
Jim Norman, staff writer
I kind of loved the weapon degradation in Breath of the Wild. What started as a frustrating trip with a pocket full of wands soon became a tactical twist on the series format and something I was well organized for. Finding a new weapon brought me great joy and while there was a lot of heartbreak when it broke before I had a chance to say goodbye, the adventure was even more fulfilling.
Of course, there is a certain amount of tweaking that I would like to see in Tears of the Kingdom. Making weapons last a bit longer would obviously be a bonus, but wouldn’t it also be nice to see us get the ability to add some (limited) durability boosts to some of our favorite weapons? This is tricky and should definitely be used in moderation — good job, I’m not a game developer, hey — but it could make the customization feel a little more personal.
It would also prevent idiots like me from taking on the final stage of Ganon with just a branch, but that’s another matter I guess.
Ollie Reynolds, staff writer
Weapon durability has never bothered me. To be honest, maxing out the number of weapons in my inventory and sacrificing one to make room for the Savage Lynel Sword was a lot more annoying (though thankfully it got easier as I found more and more Korok Seeds).
But like everything else, it’s a mechanic that needs some massaging, although I can’t figure out what Nintendo is doing with this right now. I’ve thought about the idea of having a single-use item in the game that would give one weapon unlimited durability, but that’s fraught with potential problems. Why would you even bother using anything else if you have a weapon that does decent damage and doesn’t break, for example?
I think the best thing Nintendo can do with this is simply adjust the time it takes for the weapon to completely break; maybe give us a bit more time with each weapon or allow us to repair them easily. I don’t want Tears of the Kingdom to introduce a crafting mechanic or something equally silly, but it’s definitely there something explore here.
What do you want to happen with TOTK weapons? Maybe they could take a hint from the Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity book and expand the upgrade options for individual weapons? Would you welcome more crafting style mechanics? Fill out the following polls and let us know in the comments.
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