This is a guide on how to use rods in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity. Read on to learn how to get the ice rod, fire rod, and lightning rod, and when to use them!

What are Elemental Rods?

Elemental Rods form a combat mechanic in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity that allows characters to inflict elemental damage to enemies. This is an essential combat skill to master if you want to effectively kill off those monsters!

Unlike in Breath of the Wild, where these were essentially equippable weapons that took the same place of a sword, Elemental Rods are held by all party members, regardless of the weapon chosen before battle. Likewise, the mana for elemental rods is shared by all members of a party.

How to Get Elemental Rods

To earn the ability to use Elemental Rods, you have to defeat your first Fire Wizzrobe, Ice Wizzrobe, and Electric Wizzrobes.

These enemies can be encountered earliest in these battles:

Story Walkthrough: List of Chapters

How to Use Elemental Rods

Rod Controls

To use elemental rods while in battle, take note of the following controls:

Fire Rod	+ Can be used to light grass and deal damage to enemies.
Ice Rod	+ Can freeze enemies.
Lightning Rod	+ Electrifies metal boxes. Enemies hit are stunned.

Ammo System

Elemental Rods work with an ammo system that gets replenished using pickups dropped by enemies or boxes on the battlefield. These look like orbs so keep on a lookout! In particular the fire rod mana looks similar to apples, so if you are having trouble picking them up, you likely already have a full stock.

If you are running low on ammo for your rods, look for the rod icon of the color you need, indicated by the map. Defeating the Wizzrobe found there will always allow you to get a refill on rod mana!

Use Rods to Cause Damage to the Weak-Point Gauge

Aside from performing a Flurry Rush and using Sheikah Runes, elemental rods are an effective way to stun and open up the enemy's Weak-Point Gauge to attacks.

Use them wisely, especially on more powerful enemies like Lynels and Hinoxes.

Know Elemental Resistances and Weaknesses

Using elemental rods on enemies with the same elemental affinity will only cause them to resist it. As a rule, never use elemental rods against enemies with the same elemental affinity!

You can however, exploit the elemental weaknesses of elemental enemies:

This causes the enemy to have a more fragile Weak-Point Gauge (indicated by cracks on the gauge) and be stunned for a lot longer!

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