The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is, in all aspects, a complete upgrade from its predecessor Breath of the Wild. Whether it's navigating the vast open world of Hyrule, to solving dungeon puzzles and unlocking new abilities, Tears of the Kingdom is the pinnacle of polish. However, many fans will be off-put by the new weapons mechanic in the game.
As a result of Hyrule suffering from the return of Ganondorf, all the weapons in the land have been rusted and decayed. Players will now have to fuse their weapons to objects or monster parts in order to unlock their full potential. Out of all the two-handed weapons that can be found in the overworld, these six are perhaps the best — even when unfused.
6 Moblin Arm
Similar to the one-handed Bokoblin Arms, Moblin Arms can be acquired after slaying a skeletal Moblin. Early on in Tears of the Kingdom, these can be fairly easy weapons to find if Link spends enough time wandering Hyrule at night. However, using this weapon on its own is not using it to the best of its abilities.
What makes Moblin Arms and Bokoblin Arms so useful in Tears of the Kingdom compared to Breath of the Wild is that they can become quite powerful after being fused. Especially when combined with Moblin or Bokoblin Horns, these weapons will pack a much greater punch when used, which is certainly necessary for slower, two-handed weapons.
5 Royal Claymore
The Royal Claymore has a lot of benefits, given its stellar base damage and overall sleek design. It's sadly not a common weapon to be found in Hyrule, though if players spend enough time exploring The Depths below Hyrule, it can be found un-decayed. Fusing aside, what the Royal Claymore really boasts compared to other two-handed weapons is a special skill.
The Royal Claymore Plus, which is even rarer than the standard Royal Claymore, contains an ability that strengthens Flurry Rush attacks. This greatly rewards players who have their dodge timing down enough to catch enemies off-guard. It's especially useful during difficult fights against characters like Phantom Ganon or Lynels.
4 Mighty Zonaite Longsword
Zonaite-powered weapons are a new addition in Tears of the Kingdom, as the ancient remnants of the mysterious Zonai tribe. Although their base damages aren't impressive by any means, these weapons really shine with the Fuse mechanic. Zonaite weapons specifically gain great bonuses when fused with Zonaite material.
When Link has a weapon like the Mighty Zonaite Longsword in his inventory, players should be on the lookout for Soldier Constructs. These mechanical enemies drop materials like Zonai charges or Soldier Construct Horns, which can be fused with Zonaite weapons to increase their power. For this weapon, fusing is what truly makes it earn the name "Mighty."
3 Royal Guard's Claymore
It's no surprise to any Tears of the Kingdom fan that the Royal Guard's weapons are among the best in the entire game. This is even true of decayed or rusted iterations of weapons like the Royal Guard's Claymore, which can be found in numerous spots throughout Hyrule Castle. Even without fusing, this weapon overpowers even the Master Sword.
While they are best not equipped during a lightning storm, the Royal Guard's Claymore when fused will prove to be one of the more useful two-handed weapons in combat. The Royal Guard's Claymore Plus even comes with a passive ability in "Breaking Point," which increases the weapon's damage when it's close to being destroyed.
2 Biggoron's Sword
Biggoron's Sword has had an indelible place in the history of The Legend of Zelda. The sword originally debuted in Ocarina of Time as an incredibly powerful weapon that rivals the Master Sword in strength. It has appeared in many other titles, including Breath of the Wild as an amiibo-exclusive item with the Ocarina of Time-era Link amiibo.
In Tears of the Kingdom, no amiibo are required to obtain the legendary Biggoron's Sword. By venturing into The Depths, players can find Biggoron's Sword in an area under Skull Lake on the overworld. However, unlike its lore in Ocarina of Time, this weapon breaks just like any other weapon, so make sure to use it sparingly.
1 Fierce Deity Sword
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom sees the return of one of the most legendary weapons in the franchise. Previously, the Fierce Deity Sword only appeared as the weapon of Fierce Deity Link at the end of Majora's Mask for Nintendo 64. However, in the 2023 game, it can be obtained along with its respective armor set thanks to a side quest.
The recurring Misko's Treasure side quests often direct Link to caves where he can find unique armor sets and weapons throughout Hyrule. After obtaining the Fierce Deity armor set, players will be directed to where they can claim the respective sword. It boasts some of the best base damage in the game, and that's not even including fusing potential.