Watch out Tony Hawk, Link is coming for your crown. In The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, players have found a way to take shield surfing to the next level and make it more like a skateboarding game. The game just came out on Friday, but players are already shredding Hyrule by grinding rails and crafting unique shields using Link’s Fuse ability.
Link can surf in both shields Breath of the Wild And Tears of the Kingdom. When he does, he rides his shield like a snowboard and speeds down slopes. Now, with Link’s new Fuse ability in it Tears of the Kingdom, players create new types of shields. The Fuse ability allows Link to combine two items to create a new kind of shield using different objects in the world.
For example, players have now discovered that you can combine your shield with a minecart to get a clumsy-looking skateboard.
In addition, the larger world contains new elements in the landscape, such as rails. In general, it’s probably easier to use the rails with a minecart or hooked device. However, players are now using their makeshift skateboards to rail grind and bring Sonic-esque gameplay to Zelda.
Protect surfing in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
If, like me, you wanted to try it out for yourself right away, here’s how to do it using the standard controls. First, you’ll want to get to the top of a hill or a spot with a decent drop because it’s easiest to go downhill.
Hold ZL on your controller to wield your shield. While continuing to hold ZL, jump with X and press A while Link is still in the air. Link will then flip the shield under him and start riding it. Note, this will significantly degrade your shield while riding, so don’t do it if you have a shield that you keep for other reasons.
From there you can experiment with different shields to see what feels best. I can confirm that it feels great to drive around with the Fused minecart and shield. My colleagues have confirmed that mid to late game Zonai assets are also great to use as Fuse material in this regard. The possibilities within Tears of the Kingdom feel endless. If you really wanted to, you could probably even build a skate park for Link to try out his new ride – it only feels like a matter of time before someone actually tries it.