Thick Stick
The Thick Stick is a two-handed weapon with a base attack power of 5 and durability of 14. Its heavy end can swat shields away, but the weapon is not very sturdy.
Key Takeaways
Two-handed early-game weapon
Thick Stick is a basic two-handed melee weapon made from a large tree, with a heavier end intended for close-range combat.
Shield-swatting strength
Its distinctive combat utility is the ability to knock shields away, giving it a situational advantage against shielded enemies.
Useful Fuse base
Fuse can turn the otherwise modest stick into a more powerful or customized weapon by adding another material and its associated effects.
Limited durability
The standard Thick Stick is not very sturdy, so its usefulness is constrained by its relatively fragile condition compared with sturdier variants.
Variants provide a durability comparison
Sturdy Thick Stick and Gnarled Thick Stick are related variants; the Sturdy Thick Stick is specifically distinguished by improved durability over the standard form.
Overview
Thick Stick is a standard two-handed melee weapon in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, valued mainly as an early improvised option and as a useful base for Fuse.
Cut from a large tree, the Thick Stick is a simple club rather than a unique, quest-linked, or legendary weapon. Its defining feature is the heavier end, which can swat shields away during combat.
The weapon is not very sturdy, so it is better treated as a temporary tool than a long-term unmodified weapon. Fusing it with another material can extend its usefulness by adding damage or a specialized effect.
Its two-handed handling separates it from lighter one-handed sticks and makes it a straightforward choice when the player wants a basic club attack. It belongs to the standard base-game weapon pool rather than a DLC-specific variant.
Sturdy Thick Stick and Gnarled Thick Stick are related alternatives with different properties. Thick Stick is therefore most relevant as a readily found starting weapon, a shield-disruption option, or a disposable platform for experimentation with Fuse.
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.
- Attack5
- Durability14
- ClassTwo-Handed
- ConditionUntouched
- Compendium#398
Figures verified against Consolidated Game Weapons Database.
Compared to similar melee weapons
| Weapon | Attack | Durability | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thick Stick | 5 | 14 | Two-Handed |
| Traveler's Sword | 5 | 16 | One-Handed |
| Rusty Broadsword | 5 | 6 | One-Handed |
| Sturdy Wooden Stick | 5 | 24 | One-Handed |
| Zora Sword | 6 | 20 | One-Handed |
Attack and durability are the game’s own published values. From Consolidated Game Weapons Database.
How to Obtain
- 01Search monster camps throughout Hyrule for enemies carrying a Thick Stick, then defeat those enemies and check the dropped weapons. The weapon is not tied to a named quest, boss, or vendor, and no specific region is required.
- 02Because enemy equipment and ground loot are not guaranteed to include this weapon, check additional camps if the first search does not produce one. Pickups found during ordinary exploration can also provide opportunities to collect it.
Mechanics and Handling
The Thick Stick uses the broad, committed swings typical of a two-handed weapon. Its heavier end makes it more suitable for pressuring shielded enemies than a light one-handed stick, although its low displayed attack and limited durability make it a temporary option rather than a dependable long-term weapon.
Wide swings and shield pressure
Normal attacks cover a broad area in front of Link, while the charged attack commits to a spinning two-handed strike. The weapon’s description specifically highlights its ability to swat shields away, so it is most useful when creating an opening against shield users rather than trading repeated blows. Its handling is less convenient in cramped spaces than a one-handed weapon.
Fuse and break behaviour
Fuse can turn the Thick Stick into a more practical early-game weapon by adding a material’s attack contribution or special effect, while also improving the weapon’s durability. The result still inherits the Thick Stick’s two-handed handling. The unfused weapon has a durability rating of 14, so it should be treated as expendable; attach a useful material before committing it to tougher fights rather than relying on the base stick alone.
Upgrades and Variants
Strengths, Weaknesses and Best Uses
Strengths
- Its heavy end can swat enemy shields away, giving it a specific use against shield-bearing foes.
- As a two-handed weapon, it can serve as a simple heavy-end option when the player does not need an off-hand shield.
- Fuse lets the stick accept materials that add damage or other effects, extending its usefulness beyond its base attack.
Weaknesses
- Its displayed attack of 5 limits its unmodified damage compared with stronger melee weapons.
- Its durability rating of 14 makes the unfused weapon a temporary tool rather than a dependable long-term primary weapon.
- The two-handed classification prevents simultaneous use of a shield, so it gives up defensive flexibility while equipped.
Best uses
- Use it to dislodge enemy shields before switching to a stronger weapon or continuing the fight.
- Use it as an early or disposable Fuse base when a readily available two-handed weapon is more valuable than preserving a better weapon.
- Use it for experimentation with Fuse materials when its low base value makes the opportunity cost of consuming the weapon modest.
Compared With Similar Weapons
| Weapon | Class and role | Durability profile | Distinctive use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thick Stick | Low; the standard version has a durability rating of 14 | Its heavy end can swat shields away; useful as an early Fuse base | — |
| Sturdy Thick Stick | More durable than the Thick Stick | Better when preserving a useful Fuse combination matters more than using the basic version | — |
| Gnarled Thick Stick | Variant-specific durability applies | A stronger family alternative when available; retains the wooden-weapon Fuse role | — |
| Traveler's Claymore | A conventional two-handed alternative rather than a wooden stick variant | Prefer it when a more conventional heavy-weapon moveset is wanted; it does not provide the Thick Stick family's shield-swatting identity | — |
Lore and Design
The Thick Stick’s item description identifies it as a section of a large tree, while stressing that the wood is not especially sturdy. Its heavier end gives the otherwise humble weapon a practical combat quality: it can swat shields away. The text provides the weapon’s main character but does not establish a documented connection to a specific person, faction, historical event, or real-world design tradition.
Trivia
- The Thick Stick’s item description specifically highlights its heavier end as capable of swatting shields away, giving this otherwise basic tree weapon a distinct combat identity beyond simple blunt attacks.