Shield surfing is easy and fun. Not sure how to do it? Our handy guide will explain and also give you some handy tips.
There are many tricks to travel in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and one of them is shield surfing. There is a bit of complexity to it, so we'll cover its various aspects below.
How to Shield Surf in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
While having a shield equipped, get a running start, press ZL to hold out your shield, then X for jump, then A to ride. Make sure to complete each step while in midair. Once you’ve gained some momentum, you can press Y to make LInk do tricks and spins while surfing.
The effect varies with the type of terrain and the type of shield you have equipped. Slopes are best, of course, as you can't really surf uphill. The more coarse the surface the faster your shield durability wears out.
How To Fuse Weapons & Shields
Before you Fuse anything to your shield, you'll need to unlock the ability. Early in the game, you'll acquire the fuse ability by completing a specific quest. This is a cristical step before making any changes to your weapons.
1. Active The Fuse Ability
Press and hold the L button to bring up the ability wheel. Select the Fuse ability.
2. Choose The Item To Fuse
Once the Fuse ability is active, you'll see some options to fuse items to your weapon or shield.
3. Fuse The Item
Move closer to the item you want to fuse and a prompt will appear showing you what the combination will look like.
4. Switch Fusions
If you want to Fuse something else, you can select a different one by holding down ZL or ZR and pressing Y to unfuse and select a new one.
Shield Surfing Fusion Options
Mine Carts
Fusing a shield with a mine cart allows you to surf on any surface with minimal durability loss. This is great for long-distance surfing across various terrains.
Snowballs or Ice Chunks
Fusing your shield with a snowball or ice chunk can enhance your performance on snowy surfaces, allowing you to maintain higher speeds and reduce durability loss.
Metal Crates or Heavy Objects
Fuse your shield with sturdy materials like metal crates or heavy objects. This increases the shield's overall durability.
Fire
Fusing a shield with a fire-based item, like a Fire Keese wing or a Red Chuchu jelly, can create a fiery trail behind you as you surf. This looks cool and can also ignite grass or enemies you pass by.
Bomb Barrels
Fusing shock-based items or bomb barrels can add an elements of surprise to your surfing. You can create an explosive entrance into combat by surfing into a group of enemies.
Zonai Device
Fusing Zonai devices, such as fans, to your shield can give you extra speed and allow you to glide over surfaces you normally couldn't.
Monster Parts
Some monster parts provide unqiue effects when fused with shields. For example, fusing with a Hinox tooth might not be practical for combat, but it can still be a fun way to customize your shield.
They recommend a few items to fuse, such as a minecart for better riding, a spring for bouncing and repelling enemies, and a bomb for a truly explosive effect.