Enthusiastic speedrunners and rule-breaking players have a penchant for pushing the boundaries set by game developers. “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” provides the perfect playground for their rebellious endeavors, thanks to its expansive landscapes and innovative building and fusing mechanics. This game is a treasure trove of glorious glitches and exploits.
Interestingly, “Tears of the Kingdom” is so intertwined with glitches that some of its fundamental mechanics originated from internal bug hunting. During an interview with Polygon, game developer Hidemaro Fujibayashi disclosed that the Ascend ability was actually born out of a debug feature within the game. Essentially, the developers had so much fun with their own exploit that they decided to incorporate it into the game.
Nintendo faced a considerable challenge in terms of debugging for “Tears of the Kingdom.” Soon after its release, players started sharing various exploits through platforms like Discord, Reddit, and other social media channels. Nintendo acted swiftly and addressed numerous glitches in Patch 1.1.2. However, many glitches still remain, and new ones are being discovered on a weekly basis.
Given the ever-evolving nature of glitches, this article will specify which ones work on specific game versions. If you haven’t updated your copy of “Tears of the Kingdom” recently, chances are you’ll be able to perform many of these tricks.
Midair Sorting Duplication
v(1.0.0. – 1.1.1)
In the initial weeks following the launch of “Tears of the Kingdom,” a plethora of item duplication techniques emerged. These early exploits, which were patched out in version 1.1.2, primarily revolved around manipulating the game’s menu and inventory systems in various ways.
One of the simpler methods, known as Midair Sort Duplication, necessitates the player being airborne while performing a shield jump or using the paraglider. Once in the air, the player must pause the game, access the inventory menu, and hold the item they wish to duplicate. By simultaneously pressing the Y and + buttons, a peculiar game state is triggered, causing the held items to be sorted back into the player’s inventory while simultaneously dropping to the ground.
Essentially, this action creates a rift in the Hyrulian time-space continuum due to the overload of menu inputs, resulting in item duplication. This particular menu sorting duplication technique is particularly useful for creating copies of Zonai items, which are more challenging to acquire compared to weapons.
Infinite Durability Master Sword
v(1.0.0 – 1.1.1)
Being one of the most sought-after and formidable weapons in “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom,” the Master Sword naturally became a target for glitch hunters. The game’s weapon degradation system, inherited from “Breath of the Wild,” imposes a vital cost on the usage of Link’s ultra-powerful weapons: their durability. Employing powerful weapons such as the Master Sword excessively will eventually lead to their breakage.
Or so the game intends. However, for those yearning for an indestructible Master Sword, there exists a complex series of methods for item duplication. Through a technique called Save Load Duping, players can deceive the game into duplicating items, including the Master Sword, across various save files. Save Load Duping represents one of the more intricate glitches, demanding multiple precise inputs to execute successfully.
Fortunately, YouTubers like Abahbob have generously provided step-by-step walkthroughs (shown above) illustrating how players can perform Save Load Duping to transfer the Master Sword into a save file from the game’s prologue. In this duplicated state, the Master Sword takes on the name “Msg Not Found.” With this method, players can effortlessly wield an indestructible Master Sword with 30 damage right from the beginning of the game.
Food Buff Swapping
v(1.0.0. – 1.1.1.)
The delightful cooking mechanics introduced in “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” have undergone a significant expansion in “Tears of the Kingdom.” With a vast collection of over 200 recipes to experiment with, players are bound to create dishes with desired effects that they’ll want to replicate consistently. Whether it’s hearty meals for extra health or stamina-replenishing treats, the advantages of having the right food for every situation are immense. However, there is a way to obtain an infinite supply of any desired food buff by gathering the necessary ingredients just once.
Enter the Food Buff Swapping glitch, which allows players to achieve exactly that. By cooking a dish with the desired food effect next to a food vendor, the glitch triggers, causing the vendor to sell their food with the player’s desired buff already attached to it. This means that players can cook powerful dishes using rare ingredients just once and then purchase inexpensive copies of those dishes with the rare and potent effects. In terms of controller inputs, this glitch is perhaps the easiest one to replicate among those listed.
Zuggling
v(1.0.0. – 1.1.2.)
Among the intricate glitches showcased here, the Zuggling glitch stands as the most complex and comprehensive. It involves a series of inputs that enable Link to stack and equip an unlimited number of copies of any weapon simultaneously. Many videos exhibiting the swift defeat of “Tears of the Kingdom” bosses employ variations of this glitch. While the original versions, Map Zuggling and Save Load Zuggling, were rectified in patch 1.1.2, new and more intricate iterations have emerged for version 1.1.2, still allowing for infinite damage stacking. Zuggling has become an integral aspect of Any% speedruns in “Tears of the Kingdom,” facilitating the instantaneous takedown of high-level bosses.
Both Map Zuggling and Save Load Zuggling involve manipulating the rune menu, quick menu, and game map within split seconds to deceive the game state into permitting Link to hold multiple weapons simultaneously.
In the post-1.1.2 era, Zuggling has merged established Zuggle techniques with another glitch called Equipment Smuggling, which permits Link to equip an item without removing it from his inventory. This is accomplished by holding equipment, pausing the game just before experiencing an electric shock, swiftly dropping the currently held equipment, and promptly exiting the inventory screen.
Rock Octorok Duplication
v(1.0.0. – 1.1.2)
Glitches come in various forms, each with its own unique characteristics. While some glitches can be replicated anywhere in the game world, others require specific story-locked areas or a combination of progression-locked mechanics. Among these glitches, there are a few that can only be performed under specific circumstances, such as the Rock Octorok Duplication.
Rock Octoroks possess the ability to suck up the first weapon thrown in front of them and subsequently spit it back at Link, fully repaired and imbued with a random weapon effect after a few seconds. To exploit this mechanic, players need to use the Recall ability on the item just before it is sucked up by the Rock Octorok. When executed correctly, the recalled item remains in its original position, while the Octorok still releases a repaired version of it! This method can also be applied to duplicate non-weapon items by fusing the desired item with a weapon before the Octorok triggers the duplication.
However, it’s important to note that Rock Octoroks can only perform this weapon duplication once per Blood Moon. Consequently, players can mark all the Rock Octoroks on their map as spots for weapon/item duplication and revisit them after each new Blood Moon for additional repairs and duplication opportunities.
Overworld Mist Duplication Method
v(1.0.0. – 1.1.2)
With numerous item duplication methods being patched out in version 1.1.2, players who keep their game up to date have had to rely on fair farming to obtain their desired items—until they uncovered a way to exploit the barrier between the Overworld and The Depths. Known as the Overworld Mist Duplication method, it requires players to have access to Tobio’s Hollow Chasm, a multi-shot bow, and a plentiful supply of arrows.
Located approximately at -158 degrees on the map’s y-axis, Tobio’s Hollow Chasm contains a transitional area where the Overworld meets The Depths. The barrier between the two realms becomes evident as the surrounding mist shifts from green to blue. At this point, players can merge their desired item with an arrow and shoot it towards the horizon of the barrier. If executed correctly, the arrows will become lodged in the border, resulting in the duplication of the fused items, with each shot producing additional duplicates (making a multi-shot bow highly recommended).
As long as this method remains unaltered in the game, it will continue to be one of the most effective ways for players to replicate valuable resources.
Forced Blood Moons
v(1.0.0. – 1.1.2)
In “Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom,” Blood Moons serve as valuable occurrences, acting as a periodic world reset every seven in-game days. During a Blood Moon, defeated monsters reappear, items replenish, and ore deposits regenerate. Additionally, cooking buffs receive a significant boost. Having the ability to trigger a Blood Moon at will can be highly advantageous.
The glitch that enables this trick is based on overwhelming the game with visual information to induce lag. The most reliable method to achieve the necessary lag is relatively straightforward. Players need to locate a substantial collapsible wall and enter Bullet Time using any available means (such as jumping off a wall or falling). Equipped with a multi-shot bow, players must unleash a barrage of arrows into the collapsible wall, focusing on Opal and Topaz-tipped arrows, as they generate sufficient visual noise to induce the required lag. Using a 5x multi-shot bow will amplify the effect even further.
Once the game begins to lag, players can proceed to reload their last main save, triggering a Blood Moon in the process.
Longer Horizontal Jumps
v(1.0.0. – 1.1.2)
Similar to the benefits offered by Infinite Sprinting techniques, players have the opportunity to exploit a glitch that allows for extended horizontal jumps. The best part? These inputs are remarkably straightforward!
To achieve this glitch, players simply need to execute a sideways jump while climbing or perform a sideways crouch-jump from an elevated surface, all while simultaneously initiating an aerial attack. The aerial attack will propel Link’s horizontal jump momentum beyond the distance of a typical jump.
This movement pattern does not necessitate the use of any special items or unlocked locations, making it accessible to players right from the beginning of the game. Moreover, as the sequence concludes with an aerial attack, players can unleash devastating strikes from above, making it particularly useful when confronting enemy camps. Given the frequency with which players must leap off ledges in the game, combined with the ease of performing this glitch, it stands as one of the most universally beneficial exploits available.
Infinite Sprinting
v(1.0.0. – 1.1.2)
The significance of the small green wheel representing Link’s stamina bar in “Tears of the Kingdom” cannot be understated. It governs much of the gameplay, dictating the distance and speed at which Link can traverse the world, as well as his display of strength. Consequently, players are eager to break free from these limitations by completing shrines and upgrading their stamina bar. However, what if players could effortlessly sprint across the world without ever upgrading their stamina?
Various methods exist to achieve infinite sprinting, all built on the same fundamental concept. Each technique for infinite sprinting necessitates initiating a sprint and swiftly inputting another command that halts Link’s sprint but maintains its momentum. For instance, players can commence a sprint and promptly input a Fuse or Ultrahand command. With the momentum seamlessly carried forward, the process repeats automatically, and Link’s stamina remains unaffected.
Among the different types of infinite sprinting discovered thus far, the swiftest iteration is known as Crouch Throw Tap Sprinting. The controls for this particular version may prove a tad more intricate: players must commence a sprint, crouch, and then input a sequence of B –> R –> B. While it may appear demanding to execute so many commands, players are willing to go to great lengths to squeeze out every ounce of additional speed they can attain.
Fall Damage Cancel
v(1.0.0. – 1.1.2)
Transitioning from the simplicity and low stakes of Longer Horizontal Jumps, the Fall Damage Cancel glitch introduces a higher level of input complexity and places immense pressure on players to execute it flawlessly.
To perform the Fall Damage Cancel, also known as Jumpslash Cancel, players must initiate a fall, coming as close to the ground as possible without losing the ability to dive. The first challenging input requires players to open the rune menu while simultaneously queuing an attack. Next, players must switch from keeping the rune menu open to accessing the shield menu. Within the shield menu, players must choose to either unequip or swap their shield. Finally, upon exiting the shield quick-swap menu, players must execute another dive and promptly press the B button to cancel the dive just before reaching the ground.
Effectively, this glitch acts as an animation cancel that “resets” Link’s fall when performed near the ground. When executed correctly, Link suffers no fall damage upon landing, regardless of the height from which he descended. In dire circumstances, this challenging maneuver can potentially save Link from a painful descent.