Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Master Sword damage stats, explained

Quite a few trends in Hyrule have changed with Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’s release, but the iconic Master Sword isn’t one of them. Link’s evil-repelling weapon returns to the latest Zelda game, remaining just as glamorous and powerful as before. And while there’s no way to know the Master Sword’s exact damage stats in Tears of the Kingdom, you can take a fair guess by wielding it.    

Despite featuring new mechanics, Tears of the Kingdom doesn’t fail to preserve iconic Zelda elements popularized by its predecessors, including the Master Sword, which is a godly blade tied to Link’s identity and can ward off all kinds of evil with its power. It’s also the only unbreakable weapon in the game, although it may run out of energy if used uncontrollably.

It’s natural for you to want to know the strengths of the sacred Master Sword if you are considering taking on your foes in the Tears of the Kingdom. Worry not, as below, we have explained everything we know about the weapon’s damage stats.

Tears of the Kingdom Master Sword damage stats, explained

Just like Breath of the Wild, the fabled Master Sword in Tears of the Kingdom deals a base attack damage of 30. Note this is only after Link retrieves the weapon from the clutches of the Light Dragon and not in its withered original state at the beginning. You can confirm the blade’s damage stat by testing it out for yourself on some enemies. The Master Sword’s inventory page doesn’t feature the answer to your query—at least for now.

Related: How to get the Master Sword in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

How TotK damage calculation works

Thanks to the efforts of data miners and Redditors, TOTK’s weapon data and damage calculations are now available online. According to Redditor u/Echo_BotW, the game uses a TrueDamage = BaseAttack formula for determing weapon’s base stats. Several modifiers exist that can change this formula, such as AdditionalDamage and Modifier. AdditionalDamage means fuse damage and Modifier refers to attack up buffs. Here is the full formula that one-handed weapons like the master sword follow: ShownDamage = BaseAttack + AdditionalDamage + Modifier.

Of course, there are additional effects, such as unique attributes like “Demolisher” and “Breaking Point,” which also modifies a weapon’s strength. The Master Sword also gets an additional 15 attack power (total of 45 attack power) when it glows. This only happens when you’re around Gloom, usually in the Depths.

How Master Sword fusions work

You may remember, in Breath of the Wild, the only way for Link to boost his main weapon’s attack stat was by completing the Trail of the Sword challenge mode, which was added via the Master Trials DLC. In Tears of the Kingdom, however, Nintendo chose to slightly simplify the process to upgrade the blade.

You can now “fuse” items with the Master Sword to multiply its power—how exciting is that? But first, you’ll also need to unlock Link’s Fuse ability by completing the In-isa Shrine. 

You can fuse various power-up items with the Master Sword to increase the damage it can inflict and uplift its style. When you fuse an object with the Master Sword, the blade inherits the object’s damage stat and elemental properties. You will not only get to own a powerful Master Sword, but also a beautiful weapon—if you fuse the right material. 

When Link is in full health, his Master Sword can be used to deploy disc-shaped light beams to deter enemies—there’s no need to fuse any item for this ability. If you manage to equip the Champion’s Leather armor as well, the fabled blade will be able to shoot those projectiles even when Link is down a few hearts.

Master Sword durability stats in Tears of the Kingdom

In TotK, most items fused will give your weapon a flat +25 to durability. However, there are exceptions. As Reddit user u/AtomicSlumber points out, some weaker items like tree branches and torches only give +10 durability, while Bokoblin and Moblin arms only give +3. Single-use items also do not add any durability.

The Master Sword can do 40 hits per full charge. However, most fusions give the sword an extra 25 free hits, increasing the durability to 65 hits. There’s a recharge time of 10 minutes between Master Sword uses.

Keep in mind, the strongest of the fused Master Swords will collapse when used continuously. So, make sure to let the legendary blade have some idle time to recharge every once in a while, and don’t wield it unnecessarily to keep it restored for the more important fights.

Best items to fuse with the Master Sword in Tears of the Kingdom

While you can fuse almost anything with the Master Sword (even Mushrooms), try looking for potent items like Diamonds and Blue-Maned Lynel Saber Horns to create a powerful fusion. If you aren’t sure of what’s the best item to fuse, you can choose to sort the items in your inventory according to their attack fuse power. Just pick the one with the highest attack stat and fuse it—and your upgraded Master Sword should be good to go.

To take an example, fusing Diamonds will up the Master Sword’s base damage by 25, taking the total attack damage stat of the blade to 55. While this may be a huge damage buff, Diamonds will not infuse any extra elemental power into the sword. Make sure to refer to the table of contents above for fusion attack power.

Some items may not increase the blade’s attack stat by much, but they do offer battle-worthy elemental powers. The second table above is filled with some items to consider that can amplify the Master Sword’s abilities for your upcoming fights in Tears of the Kingdom.

Now that you know how to boost your Master Sword to the fullest in Tears of the Kingdom, make sure to carry it recharged when dealing with the mighty Ganondorf and his allies.