The Legend of Zelda: 7 New Tools Tears Of The Kingdom Needs That Weren’t In BOTW

 The Legend of Zelda: 7 New Tools Tears Of The Kingdom Needs That Weren’t In BOTW

One of the ways in which Tears of the Kingdom could improve on Breath of the Wild is through the implementation of several tools that BOTW lacked.

There are several tools that The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom could include that Breath of the Wild did not fully provide the player with. Link collects a wide variety of tools throughout the Zelda franchise, used for everything from transportation to manipulating his environment. But although BOTW featured a wide variety of weapons, some of which had secondary uses, it was curiously lacking in more permanent tools.

Tears of the Kingdom has already been shown to build upon the world created in BOTW in numerous ways. Although much of the main plot line is being kept under wraps, trailers for TOTK have shown new vehicles and weapons being used by Link to explore both the land of Hyrule and the sky above it. BOTW placed great emphasis on foraging for equipment, as well as utilizing a durability system. Consequently, there were few permanent additions to Link’s inventory. TOTK could change this by adding some useful tools which would never need replacing, thereby removing one of the main sources of frustration in BOTW’s gameplay.

7) Pickaxe

Ore Deposits across BOTW’s Hyrule allow the player to gather everything from Rock Salt to Gemstones. However, mining these deposits comes with a cost. Breaking the rocks generally means sacrificing some of a weapon’s durability, which in BOTW is of course a precious resource itself. On the other hand, it is also possible to break open Deposits with bombs, but this often leads to the contents being flung far wildly. In a worst-case scenario, this can even lead to some items being lost, especially if mining along cliffs. A pickaxe or similar item, perhaps an unbreakable version of BOTW’s Iron Sledgehammer, would solve both of these issues with mining.

6) Unbreakable Surf Board

 Shield surfing is a fast and fun way to traverse Hyrule’s hills and mountains, but as with mining it comes with a price. Like weapons, shields also come with their own durability, and shield surfing in Breath of the Wild is an activity that will damage them. A dedicated Surf Board in Tears of the Kingdom would allow players to shred the slopes without fear of leaving themselves undefended in the event of a monster attack. It would also remove the possibility of a shield breaking mid-surf. If players ignore the warnings when durability runs low, this can even prove deadly for Link as he is thrown to the ground.

5) Bug Net

Catching insects, lizards and other small critters in Breath of the Wild is a matter of careful movements and quick reflexes, as stealth is a key factor in not scaring the small animals away. Meanwhile, the Bug Net is a familiar Zelda tool that nevertheless failed to make it into BOTW. Infamously a Zelda item capable of reflecting magic, its intended use is naturally to help Link capture small creatures, typically insects, for a variety of purposes. If the Bug Net is included in Tears of the Kingdom, it will make doing so much easier, and as a result, the player would have a greater supply of useful elixir ingredients.
 

4) Fishing Rod

Another classic Zelda tool missing from Breath of the Wild, the Fishing Rod, would give much easier access to another category of Hyrule’s wildlife in Tears of the Kingdom. In BOTW, catching fish, much like other creatures, is achieved with careful timing. That being said, though, bombs are a viable option for expediting the process. Nevertheless, including the Fishing Rod in Breath of the Wild’s sequel would doubtlessly make catching fish a much more relaxing and enjoyable experience. Notably, it opens the possibility for a minigame that could be playable at any major body of water in the game world.

3) Non-Weapon Woodcutter’s Axe

The Woodcutter’s Axe is one of the weapons in BOTW which has a dedicated secondary purpose. As the name implies, it deals extra damage against trees, making the axe an excellent choice of weapon for collecting wood as it can chop them down expeditiously. As an actual weapon, however, it is remarkably cumbersome to wield, and forces Link to attack with slow, sweeping blows. Should the item come back in Tears of the Kingdom, though, it would make more sense for the axe to become a proper tool. With little value as a weapon, a permanent inventory addition for resource collection fits the Woodcutter’s Axe much better.

2) Permanent Torch

Another item in Breath of the Wild that should become a proper tool is the Torch. Used to light Link’s way and set fires, it is even weaker as a weapon than the Woodcutter’s Axe. In practical terms, it is simply a utility item, and one with limited durability at that. Changing this would not only free up an inventory space, but also ensure that Link never needs to go searching for a light source with a proper tool on hand in the BOTW sequel. Of course, it is possible that the Torch could still run on a limited resource; perhaps it could use oil, similar to Twilight Princess’ Lantern.

1) Improved Korok Leaf

The Korok Leaf is, like the Torch, an item based more around utility than being the weapon BOTW classifies it as. Able to create strong gusts of wind, the Korok Leaf is most often used to propel the many sailing rafts found around Hyrule. By the same token, it can also be used to force enemies backward. Now, with the most recent trailer revealing the existence of new vehicles, it seems more likely than ever that Tears of the Kingdom will improve ocean exploration and sailing. A new version of the Korok Leaf as a tool could easily contribute to this by allowing for the continuous use of sails.

The addition of new tools in TOTK clearly has the potential to provide many quality-of-life improvements to the game when compared to BOTW. In some cases, there are tools that could greatly improve resource collection methods from BOTW should they be implemented. In others, Breath of the Wild’s ubiquitous durability system means that what could be useful tools are instead weak weapons that come with limited uses in the open-world game. By making such items a permanent addition to Link’s toolkit, Tears of the Kingdom can solve several problems with its predecessor’s gameplay experience.