Breath Of The Wild, Ranked

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a really fun game with a huge open world to explore. There’s so much to do and so many enemies to take on that it can suck the player in. It’s easy to put a ton of time into the game, collecting all the armor and discovering all the secrets. One thing that irritates some players is the fact that the weapons break so quickly. Luckily, there are a ton of other weapons in the game that players can choose from.

Some of these weapons are powerful and awesome, and players will enjoy whacking enemies and bosses with numerous powerful weapons in Breath of the Wild, which are truly in a class of their own. The game’s combat shines when players use a powerful weapon to wreak havoc and take out some of the toughest enemies in this massive open world, and there’s nothing more satisfying than watching these tough enemies be knocked back after a perfect combo. Since the durability, damage, and usefulness of a weapon’s special traits differ quite a bit in Breath of the Wild, it’s only a given that some of these armaments in the game fare better than others in combat.

Updated on December 13, 2023, by Ritwik Mitra: As players make progress in the world of Breath of the Wild, they’ll slowly uncover more powerful weaponry that Link can use to lay waste to his enemies. This is a boon for players who’ve been beaten and bruised by the game’s many enemies, finally letting them even the playing field and bringing the fight to these tough foes who need a lesson in humility. Players who spend enough time in Breath of the Wild will be rewarded with powerful swords, axes, and everything else along the same lines that will strike fear in the hearts of any enemy unlucky enough to face off against the legendary Link.

19 Forest Dweller’s Sword

A Decently Powerful Sword Forged By Koroks

Unlike most of the other weapons that players can find in Hyrule, the Forest Dweller’s Sword isn’t a weapon that can be found anywhere in the game world. Despite the sword looking wooden, the durability is on par with most other mid-range weapons that Link can find in the game.

The sword is a reliable damage dealer that players can rely on against tougher enemies. However, by the endgame, the Forest Dweller’s Sword does become rather obsolete, which is a shame.

18 Knight’s Broadsword

The Second-Highest Tier Of Weaponry Link Can Get His Hands On

Once players become powerful enough to challenge most of the enemies in Hyrule without worrying too much about their chances for survival, they’ll find the Knight’s Broadsword to be a perfect weapon to take out most of the pesky enemies in the game. It’s pretty powerful and worth hoarding for Link to use against the toughest enemies he can encounter up till that point.

While some people may feel like the Knight’s Broadsword outlives its usefulness after a point, this is only achieved after players reach the endgame. This takes quite some time, and this weapon will prove to be quite reliable until then.

17 Meteor Rod

Unleashes Three Balls Of Fire

The Meteor Rod is an upgraded version of the Fire Rod that shoots out three balls of fire that hit for serious damage. What makes this weapon really good is its spread effect and the fact that most enemies end up freaking out whenever they catch fire.

This means that players can use the Meteor Rod to set enemies ablaze before hitting them with a flurry of attacks without expecting any serious retaliation. It’s a pretty simple weapon, but an effective one regardless that players will have a great time with.

16 Great Thunderblade

A Heavy Thunder-Infused Blade

The elemental weapons in Breath of the Wild are pretty useful and can help the player in a myriad of situations. Not only can players use the raw damage of these weapons to strike for some serious damage, but their elemental properties mean that players can wield these weapons in the appropriate conditions to accomplish some great things.

The Great Thunderblade is one such heavy weapon that hits for some serious damage, with its effectiveness enhanced when players use the weapon during rainy conditions. The fact that this weapon shocks enemies and forces them to drop their weapons makes this Thunderblade a blast to use. Annihilating waves of enemies with this weapon becomes a cinch.

15 Great Flameblade

A Massive Blade Imbued With Flame

Another elemental blade that players can use to great effect in Breath of the Wild is the Great Flameblade. It’s a massive blade wreathed in fire that can set enemies ablaze while also keeping Link toasty if he’s exploring the colder areas of the map. Of course, most people love this weapon for the sheer carnage it can cause the moment players swing their weapon and absolutely annihilate most of the enemies in the game.

There’s something oddly cathartic about many enemies flailing in panic as they realize they’ve been set on fire with a single swing of this weapon. It’s a high-damage elemental blade that can destroy enemies before they have any time to react, making it one of the most effective weapons that players should always have in their arsenal while roaming around the dangerous world of Hyrule.

14 Boulder Breaker

Daruk’s Iconic Weapon That Smashes Enemies To Bits

Daruk is one of the champions in Breath of the Wild who loses his life when Ganon manipulates the Divine Beasts to accomplish his bidding. He’s a jovial man, and seeing his character in the flashbacks makes it pretty saddening that he’s succumbed to such a wasteful demise. Regardless, fans can still interact with him while defeating Fireblight Ganon, and Link gets access to this weapon after placating this particular Divine Beast.

The Boulder Breaker is one of the hardest-hitting weapons in the game, capable of smashing ores and sending enemies flying in one fell swoop. It’s a great weapon that players can always reforge after it’s broken, making it one of the most reliable things that players can pluck out in battle if they’re struggling against a particularly tough enemy.

13 Savage Lynel Sword

A Powerful Weapon Wielded By The Game’s Strongest Foe

The Lynels carry some of the best weapons in BotW. This is especially true for certain high-level Lynels that carry the most powerful variants of the weapons this species wields in Breath of the Wild. The Savage Lynel Sword makes a strong case for being the strongest single-handed sword in the entire game.

It hits for a ton of damage and can easily decimate the strongest enemies around. Sure, getting this weapon can be a huge pain, but this struggle is worthwhile just to see enemies falling left and right after a single blow from this powerful blade.

12 Royal Broadsword

A High-Level Heavy Weapon Obtained Later On In The Game

The Royal set of weapons is the highest-level set of weapons that are wielded by both Silver and Gold variants of enemies in the open world. These weapons look pretty cool and are extremely powerful to boot.

The Royal Broadsword is one such two-handed weapon that can send enemies flying with ease. It might take a while before players get their hands on this weapon, but this wait is more than worth it. Flinging enemies away with this strong weapon is immensely satisfying, even if the drops become more frequent over time.

11 Master Sword

Link’s Iconic Sword That Recharges Periodically

Of all the weapons in Breath of the Wild, the Master Sword is by far the best. This weapon is a special one because it doesn’t actually break, it just needs to be recharged after being used for a while. But this powerful weapon and its special properties don’t come without some sacrifices.

In order to get their hands on this iconic weapon, players must make their way through the Lost Woods. After getting through the Lost Woods, Link will find himself in the Korok Forest. There, the Great Deku Tree will talk to Link and, if players have enough hearts, they can take the Master Sword.

10 Savage Lynel Crusher

A Ridiculously Strong Heavy Weapon Wielded By Lynels

This two-handed weapon is really difficult to obtain, but it’s definitely worth it. This weapon is one of the three Lynel weapons that are available in the game and is the most powerful of the three of them. The Savage Lynel Crusher is dropped by Silver Lynels and White-Maned Lynels, two of the most powerful Lynels in the game.

This weapon has some serious attack power and does quite a bit of damage. If it’s paired with a set of armor like the Barbarian Set, then the damage boost makes it among the best weapons in Breath of the Wild. It’s definitely worth facing off against that White-Maned Lynel to get.

9 Guardian Spear++

Obtained As A Reward For Beating The Strongest Guardian In The Shrine Combat Trials

The Guardian Spear is a pretty tough weapon that hits for serious damage. The highest upgraded variant of this weapon can decimate most enemies with ease while letting Link maintain a healthy distance from his enemies.

Players need to head to tougher combat shrines and battle the enemies there to get this weapon. It’s always a great weapon to have in anyone’s arsenal and hits harder against the many Guardian enemies in the game. The quick flurries enabled by this weapon make it a ton of fun to use in battle, too!

8 Guardian Sword++

A Powerful Sword That Can Slice Up Most Guardian Enemies With Ease

The moveset of a sword in Breath of the Wild is pretty reliable, allowing players to carry a shield around as well. So, it only makes sense that the Guardian Sword is a pretty great weapon to use in the game.

The toughest variant of this weapon hits like a truck while allowing players to block enemy attacks too. It’s a great weapon that players should whip out if they’re caught in a tough fight. Fighting against a tough Guardian Sentry can be hard, but this task is worthwhile just for the weapons that players get after besting this tough foe.

7 Ancient Battle Axe++

A Massive Ancient Weapon That Hits For Supreme Damage

The Ancient Battle Axe++ is the strongest of the Ancient Battle Axes that can be found in the game. All the weapons that were made by Guardian Scouts are pretty powerful, but the Ancient Battle Axe++ is by far one of the best.

This is the weapon that is used by the strongest Guardian Scouts. Anyone who has faced off against them in Major Test of Strength shrines in Breath of the Wild will know that Guardian Scouts are no joke. The Ancient Battle Axe++ has a base damage of 60 which can be increased through armor sets and dishes.

6 Royal Guard’s Claymore

One Of The Best Weapons In The Game That’s Obtained In Hyrule Castle

The Royal Guard’s Claymore is a version of the Royal Claymore that can only be found at Hyrule Castle. Because of the number of Guardians that are roaming the grounds and are at the castle, ready to take out anyone that comes too close, it can be pretty dangerous to try to get this weapon.

Even though it has lower durability than the Royal Claymore, the Royal Guard’s Claymore that is dropped by enemies in Hyrule Castle is still a pretty great weapon. It has a base attack power of 72, higher than the 52 that the regular Royal Claymore has.

5 Demon Carver

A Powerful Yiga Weapon Used By Tougher Enemies

For the most part, the Yiga Footsoldiers end up carrying bows that end up getting rather obsolete as the player ends up getting better quality bows over the course of their game’s progression.

However, after a while, these Footsoldiers will start carrying Demon Carvers instead, which are excellent one-handed weapons that can deal quite some damage. Just make sure that Link doesn’t end up on the receiving end of this weapon’s blows one too many times.

4 Ancient Short Sword

Can Be Obtained By Using Ancient Materials

The Ancient weapons that players can forge in the game are extremely sturdy and deal immense damage. To make things even better, these weapons deal extra damage to Guardians too.

This makes the Ancient Short Sword a great weapon to use in any situation. Bonus points are awarded to players who pair this weapon with the Ancient Shield, which is one of the best shields in the game. Even the toughest Guardians around will be unable to deal with Link’s relentless assault when he brings this sword into battle.

3 Ancient Bladesaw

One Of The Most Powerful Weapons To Use Against Guardians

The Ancient Bladesaw is easily one of the coolest-looking weapons in the game. It helps that this massive two-handed blade also hits like a truck and takes down most Guardians with ease.

Players can forge this weapon and save it in the event of a tough battle. The blade is immensely powerful and takes no prisoners, decimating most foes unlucky enough to come in Link’s way. It helps that the blade looks extremely cool in battle too, really lending to the allure of it being an endgame blade that Link can whip out to show Guardians what’s what.

2 Edge Of Duality

An Excellent Shiekah Blade That Hits Like A Truck

The Edge of Duality is easily one of the best two-handed swords in the game, allowing Link to use this Sheikah blade to great effect in battle and decimate most foes with the greatest of ease.

While finding this weapon can be a pain at times due to its inherent rarity, players who end up attaining this weapon should definitely treasure it and use the blade in only the direst combat situation around. The sheer damage of this weapon itself is immense and goes to show why players treasure this weapon for the game’s toughest encounters.

1 Savage Lynel Bow

The Best Bow In The Game That Becomes Even More Powerful With Modifiers

Lynels have some of the best equipment in the entire game, with the Savage Lynel Bow being one such item that is a must-have for anyone who wants to stock up on the best bows in the game.

The Savage Lynel Bow hits like a truck, with the 5-shot variant easily serving as one of the most powerful ranged weapons in the entirety of Breath of the Wild. When Link gets his hands on this bow, he’ll be able to take out the strongest threats in the game without breaking a sweat.