Undegraded, or pristine, weapons are found underground in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom: this is how you get them and why they’re different.
Weapon degradation was one of the most divisive mechanics in Zelda Breath of the Wildand in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom not only returns, it is even more noticeable and even justified by the story.
Many of the weapons you find on the surface of Hyrule they are worn out, and last much less. The solution? Take advantage of the new power of fusion to create more powerful, bigger and creative weapons.
But if they’re too small for you, a visit to the Underworld will allow you to find much more powerful weapons: you’ll recognize them because they have a glow symbol in the menu.
What are the pristine weapons in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom
You can tell if a weapon is “pristine” when it has a glow symbol next to its name. This means that this weapon will be stronger and more durable than the normal ones.
What is the logic of these weapons? It is assumed that the weapons that are in the underground were saved from the corruption that corrupted the rest of the weapons in Hyrule.
Technically, they are the same weapons that are on the surface, practically uncountable: swords, spears, axes, hammers, greatswords, sabers… of the Gerudo, Orni, Goron, Zora, Guard, Forest…
How to get the pristine weapons
On the surface, these weapons can be found in any chest in a shrine, in a cave, hidden across the map… but underground the pristine weapons appear in “dark silhouettes”.
Don’t worry: these “dark statues” will not attack you, you can take the weapon they “offer” you without fear, and after some time they reappear. But they do have a peculiarity: for them to appear pristine, you first have to have found them, in their degraded version, on the surface of Hyrule and have used it until it breaks, in order to find them with the glow icon on the surface.
If you want to know where to find these statues with weapons, you can use this interactive map, but you won’t need to: there are hundreds of them, and as soon as you take a few steps in the underground world you will find them. And of course, you can combine them with the fusion ability like any other weapon, multiplying their power and durability.
Other The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom guides
For more on Zelda Tears of the Kingdom, here’s our review along with 10 tips we wish we’d known before starting the game and the best route to complete the main story.
In addition, we have already revealed the best order to get all the memories in the game, how to get the Hylian shield, get the new robe of the chosen one, how to get Ghost emblems, how to get many rupees fast.
We also explain all the sage’s wills, the secret of the temple of time, better methods to farm rupees or how to get outfits like the Fierce Deity.
