Back in Breath of the Wild, Link had the ability to create and detonate bombs using the powers given to him by the Sheikah Slate. Remote Bomb detonation was an ability that many players loved to use as it was helpful when fighting large enemies or a big crowd of enemies, and even fishing.

corrupted hand link zelda tears of the kingdom powers
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In Tears of the Kingdom, the Bomb ability and the Sheikah Slate are gone, replaced by Link's new hand and the abilities that it gives him. While Ultrahand, Fuse, Recall, Autobuild, and Ascend are amazing abilities and helpful in several situations, there's no "bomb" ability anymore. However, that isn't to say that there aren't any bombs in the games. These are the best bombs or ways to make explosions.

Updated on October 6, 2023, by Alexandra O'Leary: Tears of the Kingdom is packed full of creative and unique items that can be used to achieve an explosion, so much so that players can unknowingly encounter these items without even realizing their potential. There are even more options available for explosives if players to utilize the world around them or seek out rare and impressive materials. Additionally, these items are located all around Hyrule, some of them more difficult to find than others. Therefore, extra options for explosives have been added, as well as some locations and easiest methods to obtain each item.

7 Bomb Barrels

Tears of the Kingdom Bomb Barrel
  • Bomb barrels are typically found near monster camps with Moblins, although occasionally at camps with only Bokoblins. There is a Bokoblin camp in southeast Central Hyrule by Owlan Bridge, directly north of Riverside Stable which spawns bomb barrels.

Players who've taken down their fair share of monster camps will likely be familiar with the not-so-friendly bomb barrels that tend to be around. Moblins will hurl these explosive barrels at players if they are spotted, causing some serious damage and throwing Link back.

However, bomb barrels can be used by the players to get a free hit on a group of monsters. If players shoot a fire fruit, or some other fire/explosive item at a bomb barrel then it will blow up. This will send enemies flying and will take out a few of the weaker ones. Furthermore, bomb barrels can be fused to weapons - specifically spears - and thrown at enemies to cause an explosion. It can be perfect to split up a group of enemies running after Link or to cause some damage to an enemy that's a bit out of reach. The only downside is that they cannot be obtained in Link's inventory, so they need to be used or fused on-site.

6 Bomb Flowers

New item in Tears of the Kingdom, they explode near heat, electricity or when thrown.
  • Bomb flowers can be found naturally all over Hyrule, mostly inside caves and tunnels. Bomb flowers can also be purchased from the Tarrey Town General Store for 40 rupees each and Bargainer Statues in the Depths (in exchange for 16 Poes per bomb, instead of rupees).

Bomb Flowers are a new type of plant that can be found in Tears of the Kingdom. Players will get their first Bomb Flowers in a temple on the Great Sky Islands. They can also be found in the wild in the many different caves of Hyrule, and in the Depths growing on the floor and even on the walls. There are a few vendors that will also sell Bomb Flowers to Link, though they can cost up to 40 Rupees per Bomb Flower.

Bomb Flowers can be thrown as they are, or they can be attached to arrows to turn them into Bomb Arrows, which will explode with the first thing they make contact with. Bomb Flowers make the most obvious choice when a player needs something to go 'boom', but they aren't the only items that can cause explosions.

5 Time Bombs

One of many Zonai Devices, it has a delayed reaction and can activate other Zonai devices.
  • Time Bombs can be found in the various Zonai Device Dispensers around Hyrule, mostly in the sky. Three of the main locations are South Hyrule Sky (teleport to Jinodok Shrine), Hebra Sky (teleport to Ijo-o Shrine), and Akkala Sky (teleport to Gikaku Shrine).

As players progress into the game they will discover many different Zonai Devices that they'll be able to use it in as many ways as they can imagine. One of those devices is a Time Bomb. A Time Bomb is a Zonai device that can be activated for a timed explosion. Just like with the other devices, players have to have Link hit it for it to turn on. Time Bombs will give players a chance to get away from the area of impact to avoid damage.

zelda tears of the kingdom zonai device dispenser feature
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The explosions of Tomb Bombs will also set off other Time Bombs, giving players the option to create a continuous wave of explosions or just one giant one. Time Bombs can be obtained through the Zonai Device Dispensers that can be found around the Sky Islands. They can only be found in certain ones, but players can check what devices the Dispensers have by hovering over its icon on the map after they've used it.

4 Red Chuchu Jelly

Made from either killing a Fire Chuchu or exposing regular chuchu jelly to fire.
  • Red Chuchu's can specifically be found in hot areas of Hyrule, in Eldin, and around Death Mountain. However, there are many normal Chuchu's in Hyrule Field that can be spawned by running or riding around, and fire can be applied to the standard Chuchu jelly to make it Red Chuchu Jelly.

The Chuchus from Breath of the Wild makes a return in Tears of the Kingdom. These large jelly blob creatures aren't the toughest, but they can still cause problems if there is a group of them or if they attack with other enemies. Just like in Breath of the Wild, when a player kills a Chuchu the monster parts they get from it will be Chuchu jellies. Chuchu jellies can be used in elixirs, but they can also be used to cool Link down in the Gerudo Desert by hitting them, making them explode, and dousing Link with water. The cool-down doesn't last long, but it's something that can be used in a pinch.

Players can turn regular Chuchu jelly into one of three elemental Chuchu jellies depending on what element it is exposed to. Ice to make White Chuchu jelly, electricity for Yellow, and fire for Red. The only way to get Red, Yellow, and White Chuchu jellies naturally is to kill Fire, Electric, or Ice Chuchus respectively. In the case of Red Chuchu jelly, they can be used to create fire when struck, so they come in handy when a player doesn't have any flint or other ways to make a fire. They also make for pretty good explosions when attached to arrows and shot or thrown at enemies. They'll make even bigger explosions if aimed at the explosives barrels that can be found at different enemy camps.

3 Ruby Arrows

Rubies and other gems can be fused to arrows and weapons to give them elemental effects.
  • Gems are found throughout Hyrule in sparkling ore deposits. These ore deposits are plentiful in the Eldin and Death Mountain areas, a good method is to photograph one and set it as the focus of the Sensor+ tracker.

Gems had a few different uses back in Breath of the Wild. They were often used as materials that NPCs needed in order to craft something special for Link, or they were something that players could sell for a pretty decent price, depending on the gem. They still do those things in Tears of the Kingdom, but with the new fusion mechanic, gems have even more uses. Fusing weapons with gems gives the weapon a certain elemental property; Sapphire makes ice, Opal makes water, Topaz makes lightning and Ruby makes fire.

The Magic Rod weapon mentions the powerful properties that infusing weapons with gems could create. Those same properties extend to fusing arrows with gems as well. If a player attaches a Ruby to an arrow it will cause a massive explosion of fire when it comes into contact with its target. Players should probably think twice about using such an expensive item as fusion material, but in a tough situation, a ruby-fused arrow might be the only thing to keep Link alive.

2 Shard of Dinraal's Spike

Link from Tears of the Kingdom stood beside his inventory, which is showing a Shard of Dinraal's Spike
  • Spike Shards can be found on Dinraal's back, spawned around many of the individual spikes along the entire dragon. An extra one can also be obtained by hitting one of the spikes with a weapon or arrow. Players should equip fireproof armor or drink a fire-resistant elixir before attempting to retrieve them.

For Breath of the Wild players, the various dragons that fly around Hyrule may not be much of a mystery. However, this time they can also be seen delving into the depths and soaring closer to Link than ever before. Hopping atop one of these mighty mythical beasts will allow players to harvest all sorts of rare and cool monster parts that have a variety of uses.

Tears of the Kingdom poster beside Link from the game, who is stood next to a sun pumpkin
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Dinraal is Hyrule's fire dragon, which means that most of its parts are bristling with explosive fire magic. Once players have collected many of the readily available spike shards, they can fuse them to a weapon for fire damage. Or, if it's explosions gamers want, then attaching one to an arrow and shooting it will cause an explosion upon impact.

1 Hylian Pine Cone

Hylian pine cones are small but filled with oil and will cause an explosion when thrown into a fire.
  • Pine Cones can be found throughout Hyrule, but namely in fields and wooded areas. Specific locations include Hyrule Ridge, Tabantha Frontier, and Hyrule Field.

Hylian Pine Cones are material from Breath of the Wild that came back in Tears of the Kingdom. They fall from trees all over Hyrule but are mostly found in cold areas like the Hebra Mountains. A simple and innocuous-looking item, Hylian Pine Cones have oil in them and are very flammable, like insanely flammable.

One pine cone thrown in a fire is enough to cause a small explosion that will increase the intensity of the fire. Doing this makes gusts that players can use to launch themselves into the air using the paraglider. Throwing a pine cone or combining a pine cone with an arrow and shooting it into the fire that's usually set up in the middle of enemy camps is a great way to make an explosion when other explosive materials aren't available.