One of the mechanics that makes Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild so exciting is that just about every weapon and item is breakable. This makes every combat encounter more intense and really forces players to decide when they should use their most valuable weapons. When it comes to an iconic, one-of-a-kind weapon like the Master Sword, Breath of the Wild players have naturally been a bit nervous about how much abuse the mighty sword will be able to take.

Once players obtain the master sword, which requires a pretty impressive feat, they are then able to use it in combat. Just like any other weapon, the Master Sword takes damage each time it makes contact with an object or an enemy. Unlike the vast majority of other weapons, the Master Sword becomes depleted of energy instead of breaking. At this point, players are unable to use the Master Sword until they give it enough time to recharge.

Luckily, the recharge time is not very long at all. It only takes ten minutes in real time for the sword to regain its charge and be ready to start slaying guardians again. This means that, as long as they don't mind a short wait, players are able to freely battle with the Master Sword without any worry about destroying the precious artifact.

In addition to the Master Sword, there are a few other items that Link can obtain that can be used safely throughout the rest of the game. Like most other broken weapons or shields, the Hylian Shield will appear in the inventory for purchase in Tarrey Town after it is destroyed. This does mean that players have to shell out the rupees for it every time the iconic shield breaks, but it's worth it for the style points, right?

Have you picked up the Master Sword yet? What other weapons are your favorite so far? Let us know in the comments.

Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is available now for the Nintendo Switch and Wii U.