Weapons

Each warrior in Age of Imprisonment uses one of four weapon types, and most can swap between many weapons of that type. The strongest regular weapons are the Mighty Zonaite Sword, Longsword and Spear (base power 23), earned through Lenalia’s Sketches, while the Forbidden Blade and the Longsword of Light (base power 30 each) are the strongest weapons overall. You make any weapon stronger at the Weapons Research Base by spending Zonaite Steel, and you can add seals that grant extra effects.

Weapon types and who uses them

One-Handed weapons

One-Handed swords can be used by the Knight Construct, Typhan, Lago, Vence and Sholani. Each of the four warriors starts with a signature weapon of this type: Typhan has the Soldier’s Broadsword, Lago the Zora Sword, Vence the Feathered Edge and Sholani the Gerudo Scimitar. The Knight Construct begins with the Zonaite Sword. Zelda, Mineru, Calamo and Ardi also fight with one-handed weapons, but only with their own unique one.

Two-Handed weapons

Two-Handed weapons can be used by the Knight Construct, Quino, Ronza and Pastos. Quino starts with the Soldier’s Claymore, Ronza with the Gerudo Claymore and Pastos with the Cobble Crusher. Agraston is also Two-Handed but is limited to his Boulder Breaker.

Spears

Spears can be used by the Knight Construct, Pinnec, Cadlan and Braton. Pinnec starts with the Feathered Spear, Cadlan with the Zora Spear and Braton with the Sledge. Rauru (Spear of Light) and Qia (Lightscale Trident) use spear-type weapons that they cannot swap.

Bows

Raphica is the only archer, and the Great Eagle Bow (base power 15) is the only bow in the game, so there is nothing to choose between. Her power grows only through enhancement and seals.

Unique weapons

Eight warriors cannot change weapon: Zelda carries the Blade of Light, Mineru the Royal Mace, Ardi the Scimitar of the Seven, Calamo the Wanderer’s Sword, Agraston the Boulder Breaker, Rauru the Spear of Light, Qia the Lightscale Trident and Raphica the Great Eagle Bow. All start at base power 15. See the warrior list for their skills.

Best weapons

Best One-Handed weapon

The Mighty Zonaite Sword (base power 23) is the best regular one-handed weapon, followed by the Elite Guard’s Sword and Forest Dweller’s Blade (22 each) and the Moonlight Scimitar (21). The Forbidden Blade is stronger still at 30.

Best Two-Handed weapon

The Mighty Zonaite Longsword (23) leads, then the Elite Guard’s Claymore (22) and the Stone Smasher (21). The Longsword of Light (30) is the stronger special weapon.

Best Spear

The Mighty Zonaite Spear (23) is the strongest, followed by the Elite Guard’s Spear and High Guard’s Spear (22 each) and the Silverscale Spear (21).

Where the best weapons come from

The Mighty Zonaite weapons are rewards of Lenalia’s Sketches quests, so they arrive late. The Elite Guard weapons come from the same quests and can also turn up as a small random chance at the end of a battle. The Forest Dweller’s Blade comes from a Calamo Aside Quest, and the Moonlight Scimitar, Stone Smasher and Silverscale Spear come from Aside Quests and Lenalia’s Sketches. The three Gnarled sticks (base power 20) are Aside Quest rewards, one for each weapon type: Ardi’s quests give the one-handed Gnarled Wooden Stick, Pastos’s give the two-handed Gnarled Thick Stick, and Braton’s give the Gnarled Long Stick, a spear.

Special weapons

Save data weapons

Having Tears of the Kingdom save data on your system gives you the one-handed High Guard’s Sword, and Age of Calamity save data gives you the two-handed High Guard’s Claymore. Both are granted once you are back on the Hyrule map after finishing The Howling Tempests. You only need the save data, not the games installed, and both weapons start at base power 12.

High Guard’s Spear

The High Guard’s Spear (base power 22) was added in update 1.0.2 as the reward for the challenge “The Stolen Spear”. Any spear user can wield it.

Forbidden Blade

The Forbidden Blade is a One-Handed weapon with base power 30, added in update 1.0.3 as the reward for the challenge “Fateful Clash with the Forbidden”. Its in-game description calls it a Zonai sword made of zonaite, corrupted by prolonged exposure to its former wielder’s powerful gloom, and the Knight Construct, Typhan, Lago, Vence and Sholani can use it. The first clear also drops a Gnarled Long Stick.

Every weapon with its power

One-Handed weapons list

Power values are the weapon’s attack power at level 1 and at level 20. Several entries also have a plainer “common” copy that is slightly weaker.

Two-Handed weapons list

These can be used by the Knight Construct, Quino, Ronza and Pastos unless a name is listed in the Wielder column.

Spear list

These can be used by the Knight Construct, Pinnec, Cadlan and Braton unless a name is listed in the Wielder column.

Bow list

Only one bow exists, and only Raphica can use it.

Zonaite Steel and the Weapons Research Base

Unlocking the Weapons Research Base

Play through Chapter 1 until the map offers the quest “Enhancing Our Weapons”. Completing it opens the Weapons Research Base and introduces the first Smithing Construct, who runs it. From then on you can open the base from the menu and between battles.

Zonaite Steel types

Zonaite Steel comes in five kinds: One-Handed, Two-Handed, Spear and Bow, each matching a weapon type, plus the Pristine grade added in update 1.0.2. Reward lists show it as Zonaite Steel (Pristine), and Pure Zonaite Steel (Pristine) and Pure versions of the weapon types turn up in the higher challenge bands. Dangerous Enemies in battles and challenges drop it, and Phantom Ganon, who can appear at random in battles you have cleared since update 1.0.3, drops Pure Zonaite Steel. Unsealed steel you do not need sells for 100 Rupees at the base.

Enhancing a weapon

Open the base, choose the weapon, then choose Zonaite Steel that matches its type. The number of levels the weapon gains depends on how much steel you use. Weapon level limits can also be raised, and since update 1.0.3 you can raise limits and remove seals right at the end of combat when you are carrying the maximum amount of steel.

Base upgrade quests

Several quests improve the base. “With Clear Minds” lets you remove all seals at once. “Supreme Sharpness” raises the weapon level limit by 5. “Smithing Efficiency” gives a 10% discount on the base’s services. Look for them in your quest list.

Seals

How seals work

A seal is an effect attached to a weapon by adding sealed Zonaite Steel at the base. A weapon gains seal slots as it levels up. A full slot blocks attaching another seal, so check for free slots before using valuable steel; plain steel is the way to gain levels and open slots. Unwanted sealed steel can be sold or used as ordinary steel.

Seal effects

The table lists every seal with a known value at its three strengths (base, + and ++).

100-KO seals and price seal

Five more seals work on a different clock: they slightly charge the Special-Attack Gauge, slightly charge the Sync Gauge, recharge the Energy Gauge, or grant EXP for every 100 KOs, and one raises the prices you get when selling.

Removing seals

Removing a single seal needs the quest “A Weapon Reborn”, which opens in Chapter 4, around Terror of the Sands. The quest asks for Flint x10, Wood x50, Diamond x2, Gibdo Trophy x30 and Hinox Trophy x1, and each removal then costs materials and Rupees. Removing a seal frees its slot.

Weapon arts

Unlocking weapon arts

When a weapon reaches level 7 you can unlock a weapon art for it by paying materials instead of Zonaite Steel. Each weapon has only one art, so choose the material cost against the effect you want. The Longsword of Light, for example, has Gain an Additional Special-Attack Gauge.

Changing weapon arts

Late in the post-game the quest “Studying Weapons” becomes available; its reward is the ability to change weapon arts. It asks for Hydromelon x15, Chillshroom x15, Cold Darner x15, Frox Trophy x1 and Hinox Trophy x1. Afterwards you can replace the art on any weapon that is at least level 7 and already has one, for materials and Rupees.