No Weapon Degradation
I loved The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, but if there was one thing that detracted from just exploring its rendition of Hyrule and taking on the various Moblins, Guardians and Lizalfos, it was the weapon degradation system. Everything you picked up, with the exception of the Master Sword, would shatter after what felt like a just a handful of hits.
While some will argue that weapon degradation adds to the immersive feeling of existing in a world and encourages further exploration before taking on main quests, others — myself included — simply find it infuriating. I’ve just found an awesome weapon, let me enjoy it without worrying when I should and shouldn’t be using it. I overthink enough as it is. I don’t need the possibility of my sword shattering into a bazillion pieces to add to the pile.
Breath of the Wild isn’t the only game to have ever used a weapon degradation system, but given the other similarities between it and Elden Ring, it’s an obvious example to use here.
Elden Ring once again forgoes this pitfall. That Twinblade you’ve found will be just as strong and durable 100 hours into your adventure after the blood of 20 bosses coats its silver blades as it was when you first picked it up. An enemy’s flaming projectiles won’t incinerate your shield on contact. They’ll just bounce right off (and sending you flailing backwards).
The lack of weapon degradation is yet another example of FromSoftware avoiding all obstacles that would impede you from enjoying exploring The Lands Between. It doesn’t matter if you accidentally wander into an enormous dungeon teeming with enemies with just one weapon in your inventory, it’ll be able to competently take them all on.
