In Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, patience matters more than aggression during the opening hours. A weapon without a fusion breaks quickly, and wasting a rare arrow on an isolated Bokoblin can leave you exposed. Find higher ground, study the group and keep an escape route before attacking.
Carry a fast weapon, a bow and several common materials. Nintendo confirms that Fuse works with weapons, shields and arrows, improving damage, durability or adding a useful effect.
Learn the dodge before the attack
Against a lone enemy, raise your shield and hold ZL. Wait for the attack to begin clearly. Jump sideways against a horizontal strike and backwards against a vertical one. A perfectly timed dodge opens a brief Flurry Rush.
- Lock onto the target with ZL.
- Watch one complete attack without striking.
- Jump at the last moment.
- Use Flurry Rush if it appears.
- Raise your shield again when the opening ends.
Flurry Rush is optional: avoiding the hit is already the main benefit. Return to your guard and wait for the enemy to attack again. Shield parries demand stricter timing, so side and back dodges are safer during the first few hours. Against several enemies, release target lock and look for a narrow passage.
Fuse materials that match the situation
Fuse can make a weak weapon useful for several fights. Nintendo specifically recommends rocks and monster horns. After clearing a camp, collect the horns and attach them first to common melee weapons.
Do not spend your best material on equipment that is nearly broken. Use a common component on a fragile weapon and save powerful parts for equipment whose range or attack pattern suits you. A one-handed weapon keeps your shield available, while a spear helps maintain distance.
| Situation | Useful fusion | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Bokoblin camp | Horn on a common weapon | You strengthen your stock without using a rare material. |
| Breakable wall | Rock on a weapon | You open the way with a single tool. |
| Distant target | Keese Eyeball on an arrow | The shot becomes homing. |
| Tight group | Bomb Flower thrown from a distance | You avoid a dangerous point-blank shot. |
The equipment menu lets you destroy an attached material, but the component does not return to your inventory. Save valuable materials for equipment you intend to use immediately.
Use the bow to thin out a camp
From a vantage point, identify the lookout, archer and isolated enemy. A clean shot can reduce the number of active opponents. If you miss, do not empty your quiver: change your angle and fire from cover.
Reserve special arrows for situations where their effect matters. Nintendo confirms that Keese Eyeballs home in on moving, flying or distant targets. Fire Fruit can ignite suitable elements. Bomb Flowers remain effective, but their explosion can also hit Link.
Keep simple equipment in reserve
Weapons, bows and shields are meant to be used. Even so, keep a basic weapon for crates, roots and small enemies. Save your strongest fusions for camps, mini-bosses and passages that genuinely block your progress.
Pots and crates may contain arrows, food or other useful items. Search the camp after securing the area, then cook before setting out again. Meals restore more hearts than raw ingredients.
- Sort resources into healing items, common fusions and special arrows.
- Use Y to sort materials when the list becomes long.
- Collect horns after every fight.
- Open chests and break crates before leaving a camp.
- Equip your least useful weapon before freeing an inventory slot.
Korok Seeds expand weapon, shield and bow slots through Hestu. The official guide first places him near the Lookout Tower in Lanayru Wetlands, then at Lookout Landing. Adding one or two weapon slots early gives you more combat options.
Move when the terrain turns against you
Combat begins when you choose your angle, not when the enemy spots you. Climb onto a rock, approach from behind and identify useful objects. Nintendo advises observing from a high point to locate enemies, chests, materials and terrain.
If the fight becomes chaotic, change position. Ultrahand can reveal a movable object, Ascend can provide an upward escape and Recall can restore an object's movement or send back a projectile. These abilities are especially useful when the available space is limited.
Our video game articles cover major releases and mechanics. You can also find the latest news and our News features. To check a specific mechanic, Nintendo details Link's four abilities and maintains an official game guide.
Frequently asked questions
Which dodge should you learn first?
Start with a side jump against a horizontal strike while holding ZL with your shield raised. Move backwards against a vertical attack.
Why does a fused weapon still break?
Fuse improves a weapon without making it indestructible. Attach common materials to weapons you are about to use.
When should you use a Keese Eyeball on an arrow?
Use it against a moving, flying or distant target. Nintendo confirms that it provides a homing effect.
Are Bomb Flowers safe with a bow?
Fire them from a distance with a clear trajectory. At close range, the explosion can hit Link and expose your position.
How do you get more weapon slots?
Give Korok Seeds to Hestu. He is first found near the Lanayru Wetlands Tower, then at Lookout Landing.
To keep following the topic, also read our article on [Guide] Best Palworld Pals in the early game: and our article on [Guide] Best Zelda shrine order: get. The official pages also cover Link's abilities, the progression guide, Link’s abilities and the official game guide.
Verified sources
These links allow readers to verify the key information used in this guide.
- nintendo.com: Official Nintendo guide covering basic ZL combat, cooking, material sorting, fusions, Hestu's initial location and inventory management.
- nintendo.com: Nintendo Canada, 2023-05-23: confirms fusions on weapons, shields and arrows, homing Keese Eyeballs, horns and uses for Recall.
- nintendo.com: Nintendo US, 2023-05-05: recommends surveying the terrain from a high point and preparing fusions before combat.
- nintendo.com: Official Nintendo listing confirming that Fuse improves durability, damage or effects, and that the game is available on Nintendo Switch.
