Soldier's Broadsword
A lightweight one-handed metal sword in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, known for making charged attacks faster and for appearing in both decayed and pristine forms.
Key Takeaways
The Soldier's Broadsword is a practical one-handed metal sword whose defining trait is faster charged attacks rather than a special ranged or elemental effect.
Charged-attack utility
Its unique ability lets it charge attacks more quickly, giving the sword a distinct role among ordinary one-handed blades.
Metal construction
The sword can cut vegetation and break containers, but its metal construction conducts electricity and attracts lightning during thunderstorms.
Common Hyrule availability
Decayed examples can be found in locations including Hyrule Field and the Faron Grasslands, with some compatible amiibo also offering a random acquisition route.
Pristine variant
A pristine version exists in the Depths; its spectral-figure availability is tied to breaking the decayed version first.
Straightforward one-handed option
As a lightweight one-handed metal sword, it emphasizes accessible handling and quicker charged attacks rather than a specialized weapon system.
Overview
Soldier's Broadsword is a one-handed metal sword in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, valued for its light handling and quicker charged attacks. It is a practical general-purpose blade rather than a unique story weapon.
The sword was originally carried by the guards who protected Hyrule Castle before the Great Calamity. In play, its role is straightforward: it gives Link a manageable close-range option for ordinary enemies and utility tasks such as cutting trees or breaking barrels and jars, without requiring a specialised combat setup.
Its defining behaviour is the quicker charged attack. That trait gives the Soldier's Broadsword a more responsive charged-attack option than a comparable sword without the same property, while its one-handed form preserves access to a shield. The weapon is also made of metal, so it conducts electricity and can attract lightning during thunderstorms.
The Soldier's Broadsword can appear in multiple parts of Hyrule, including Hyrule Field and the Faron Grasslands, so it belongs to the broadly available portion of the game's weapon roster rather than a single tightly gated reward. Compatible amiibo can also provide it as a random weapon result, separate from ordinary exploration.
A pristine version exists in the Depths and is not affected by the decayed state applied to surface weapons. Pristine availability is tied to the relevant spectral-figure system and to breaking the decayed version first. The two states should therefore be treated as related variants, not as one interchangeable stat line.
Statistics
Attack and durability are the game’s own published values, not a 0–100 scale. Taken from the project’s verified weapons database, not from generated text.
- Attack6
- Durability17
- ClassOne-Handed
- TraitQuick Charge
- ConditionDecayed
- Compendium#338
Figures verified against Consolidated Game Weapons Database.
Compared to similar melee weapons
| Weapon | Attack | Durability | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soldier's Broadsword | 6 | 17 | One-Handed |
| Zora Sword | 6 | 20 | One-Handed |
| Eightfold Blade | 6 | 16 | One-Handed |
| Forest Dweller's Spear | 6 | 24 | Spear |
| Zora Spear | 6 | 26 | Spear |
Attack and durability are the game’s own published values. From Consolidated Game Weapons Database.
How to Obtain
- The pristine-weapon route requires first breaking the decayed Soldier's Broadsword so the relevant Depths spawn eligibility is established.
- No vendor, mission, boss, DLC, or NG+ requirement is established for the regular weapon; the regional finds are not documented here as one-per-playthrough or missable.
- 01Search chests and weapon locations in the Faron Grasslands and Hyrule Field. The Soldier's Broadsword appears in multiple locations there; these regional appearances are not established as a single guaranteed pickup.
- 02After a decayed Soldier's Broadsword has broken, look for its pristine counterpart held by a spectral figure in the Depths. This provides an alternate repeatable route for the intact variant.
Availability
Requires No separate mode, difficulty, DLC, vendor, price, or proficiency requirement is established.
The standard form appears as part of normal exploration in Hyrule.
Requires The decayed Soldier's Broadsword must have been broken before the pristine version can appear from a spectral figure in the Depths.
The pristine form is a separate condition state, not a DLC or NG+ variant.
Mechanics and Handling
As a one-handed metal sword, the Soldier's Broadsword uses the standard single-handed sword moveset: quick slashes suited to close-range engagements, with enough handling flexibility to keep a shield equipped. Its defining mechanical feature is quicker charged attacks, allowing the charge portion of its spin attack to complete sooner than it would with a weapon lacking that trait. The benefit is most relevant when there is space to commit to a charged attack rather than during rapid ordinary exchanges.
Quick-charge charged attacks
The Soldier's Broadsword's weapon trait shortens the time needed to charge its spin attack. This does not make every swing faster and does not replace the normal stamina and positioning considerations of a charged attack. Use it when enemies are staggered, grouped, or otherwise unable to interrupt the charge; ordinary attacks remain the safer option when an enemy is already in striking range.
Metal construction and Fuse use
The sword's metal construction means it conducts electricity and can attract lightning during thunderstorms, so carrying it outside in that weather creates a situational hazard. It can also be used with Fuse, letting a material add its own damage or effect while the weapon's underlying quick-charge trait remains the relevant weapon-specific property. Durability still decreases through use, and a fused or pristine instance should not be treated as the same durability state as a decayed base instance.
Upgrades and Variants
Strengths, Weaknesses and Best Uses
Strengths
- The one-handed moveset leaves the other hand available for a shield, supporting defensive play and parries.
- Its Quick Charge trait shortens charged-attack preparation, making charged attacks more practical when an opening is already available.
- As a metal sword, it can cut vegetation and break ordinary containers while remaining suitable for general melee use.
Weaknesses
- Its metal construction conducts electricity and can attract lightning during thunderstorms, creating an environmental hazard.
- The decayed version is a routine early-to-midgame sidegrade rather than a specialized solution for a particular enemy or encounter.
- The pristine version requires Depths exploration and the relevant spectral-figure condition, so it is not an immediate upgrade path.
Best uses
- Use it as a flexible one-handed sword when shield access matters more than committing to a two-handed weapon.
- Choose it for openings that allow charged attacks, where its Quick Charge trait can reduce preparation time.
- Keep it as a general-purpose cutting and container-breaking tool, while switching weapons during thunderstorms or for more specialized matchups.
Compared With Similar Weapons
| Class and role | Distinctive mechanic | Use-case difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traveler's Sword | One-handed sword; general-purpose baseline | No named weapon trait | A straightforward alternative when Soldier's Broadsword's charged-attack trait is not important |
| Knight's Broadsword | One-handed sword; conditional-damage option | Desperate Strength activates at low hearts | Better suited to a deliberately low-health risk profile than to routine charged attacks |
| Royal Broadsword | One-handed sword; Flurry Rush-focused option | Improved Flurry Rush | A closer alternative for players who prioritize successful Flurry Rushes over quicker charged attacks |
Lore and Design
The Soldier’s Broadsword is associated with the guards who protected Hyrule Castle before the Great Calamity. Its item history gives it a modest connection to Hyrule’s former castle guard, but it has no documented relationship to a named character or faction beyond that role.
No official design commentary, development history, or documented real-world inspiration is established for this weapon. Its significance is therefore primarily historical within Hyrule rather than central to the story.