For much of its passionate fanbase, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild shines as a major evolutionary step in the storied Zelda series, but players wanting to conquer the game will need to start by finding some good early-game weapons. When it comes to this enchanting adventure, having an arsenal of reliable weapons at hand is crucial to take down the enemies that litter the vast, unknown wilderness of post-Calamity Hyrule. A durability system that causes weapons to break makes the need for plenty of good equipment even more pressing.

In the beginning parts of the game, particularly when Link is confined to the Great Plateau region, the experience is more akin to a fight for survival than a hero's journey. Little seems to be available to Link, and those playing BOTW before Tears of the Kingdom might be surprised by how many Game Over screens they face early on. Thankfully, there is a slew of weapons that can be collected with relative ease, some of which can even be obtained in the opening hours. The best of these weapons can serve players throughout the whole game, as they may not want to burn through rarer acquisitions for common enemies.

Related: Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - 10 Best Weapons & How To Get Them

10 Double Axe

Link holding the Double Axe in Zelda Breath of the Wild

This trusty axe checks most of the boxes when it comes to ideal weapons to wield early on. It's fairly simple to use, moderate in terms of strength with an 18 base power stat, and is highly durable to boot. Not only this, but it's multifunctional. In addition to killing monsters, players can use it to chop down some of the many trees scattered about Hyrule.

This useful tool is dropped from monsters most commonly in West Necluda and Gerudo Highlands, the former of which can be reached pretty early in the game. Players looking to build up a supply of firewood and dispatch threats efficiently shouldn't forget to prioritize the Double Axe.

9 Eightfold Blade

Link apporaching an Eightfold Blade in a rock in Zelda Breath of the Wild

Located just south of Hyrule Field in West Necluda and Lake Hylia, the Eightfold Blade can be secured with relatively little time invested. Crafted from Breath of the Wild's reliable Sheikah technology, this curved sword is a great option after venturing past the Great Plateau.

Related: Tears Of The Kingdom’s Zonai Are Surprisingly Similar To BOTW’s Sheikah

Though not the powerhouse it was once thought to be among Hyrule inhabitants, it can still get the job done with a base power of 15 and a great durability rating of 26. It's especially useful for players relying on stealth, as its efficacy is boosted when landing a Sneakstrike.

8 Forked Lizal Spear

A Forked Lizal Spear in Zelda Breath of the Wild

As Breath of the Wild adventurers know, Lizalfos are a fairly common enemy from an early stage in the game. These tall, bipedal lizards can cause some problems for Link if players aren't prepared, though they can also yield some potent weapons when slain.

While they more often drop the tepid, fragile Lizal Spears in their basic form, Lizalfos also sometimes yield the more stout forked variants. These are useful in a pinch, as they not only inflict 18 damage but also have decent range, allowing Link to skew foes from a safe distance. They can typically be scavenged in Eldin Canyon, Akkala Highlands, and Rutile Lake.

7 Lizal Boomerang

Link wielding a Lizal Tri Boomberang on a grassy field facing enemy in Zelda Breath of the Wild

Though its base power stands at a meager 10, the Lizal Boomerang is a handy, versatile tool to have at one's disposal. It can, of course, be treated as a ranged weapon and flung at unsuspecting foes. Additionally, it can also be wielded like a curved sword and swung as a single-handed melee weapon.

What's more, this weapon is rather easy to come by. It often drops from the common Lizalfos within the Lanayru Wetlands, which doesn't require much traveling from the starting area of the Great Plateau. Many players will doubtless end up relying on Lizal Boomerangs as a staple of their inventory.

6 Soldier's Bow

Soldier's Bow in the menu screen of Zelda Breath of the Wild

When it comes to ranged weapons, it's hard to beat the sharp-shooting and reliability of a good bow, especially for a practiced archer like Link. The aptly named Soldier's Bow is a good option to shoot for. While there are certainly more potent bows out there, this is one of the better ranged weapons that can be had in Breath of the Wild's early goings.

Its base power is a respectable 14, and it boasts a solid durability of 36. The best part is that it shouldn't take much time or effort to seek out, as these weapons drop from various enemies roaming Hyrule Field as well as the Faron Grasslands.

5 Spiked Moblin Club

A Spiked Moblin Club in a weapon case in Breath of the Wild

Moblins are common foes (and usually pesky ones) that lurk just about everywhere in Hyrule. While they often yield more tepid weapons, they sometimes give up the prickly Spiked Moblin Club. These are really a cut above the default Moblin Clubs. The pointed animal bones affixed to them bump up their damage, granting them a base power of 27 and respectable durability of 18.

The Spiked Moblin Club can make a real impact, especially for a wooden weapon. They can most commonly be had from the Blue Moblins that roam Hyrule Field and the Akkala Highlands, enemies that reappear in Tears of the Kingdom to give up some of the best TOTK fuse materials in that early-game as well.

4 Soldier's Broadsword

Discovering a Soldier's Broadsword from a treasure chest in Zelda Breath of the Wild

Wielded by the brave warriors who once defended Hyrule Castle, there's a degree of legend attached to this blade along with its offensive ability. Of course, this weapon is no Master Sword, but it will get the job done in the early and middle phases of the game.

This steel sword pierces foes with 14 base power, and as an added bonus, players can hurl it at an enemy for 28 damage (at which point it breaks). Like most steel objects, the Soldier's Broadsword also responds to Link's Magnesis Rune and conducts lightning if used in a storm.

3 Knight's Bow

Link acquiring a Knight's Bow from a chest in a shrine in Breath of the Wild

Traveling a moderate distance west of the Great Plateau will present Link with chances to obtain this strong, durable bow. Specifically, enemies residing in Tabantha Frontier and Gerudo Desert will sometimes drop them.

With this stout, ranged weapon, the hero of Hyrule can possess the bow once wielded by the knights of Hyrule Castle. Being crafted from metal, the Knight's Bow is very durable but will attract lightning if Link is caught in a storm. It can convincingly pick off enemies with its 26 base power.

2 Ancient Battle Axe

A Guardian Scout wielding an Ancient Battle Axe in Breath of the Wild.

Early in the game, Link can't do much against Breath of the Wild's Guardians other than stun them and flee. These large, ominous foes can obliterate the hero in one or two blasts, even as the game progresses.

As it happens, though, the smaller, less threatening Guardian Scout II can be met fairly early in the game, and they can produce great weapons to boot. They await Link within the "Minor Test of Strength" Ancient Shrines, some of which can be reached not too long after starting the game. Among the weapons they drop is this luminous axe, which, while not the most durable of weapons, inflicts ample damage with its 30 base strength.

1 Master Sword

Link from the Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild holding the Master Sword

While there are in fact stronger weapons in the game, it's hard to find a weapon that's all-around efficient as Link's iconic Master Sword. The perk of it never breaking gives the blade immense added value on its own, even when factoring in its 10-minute recharge. Add its attack power of 30 (which doubles when facing Calamity foes) and the Master Sword is a surefire pick.

The Master Sword might seem like a strange pick for an early-game weapon, as it can't be easily obtained in the same manner as other options on this list. As it happens, savvy players can start BOTW with the Master Sword. They'll need to exploit a glitch to do so and follow a somewhat convoluted process, but the fact that the most iconic sword in the franchise can be obtained earlier than intended in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild makes it worthy of mention all the same.