The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom encourages players to get creative and experiment with its sandbox, but using a glitch to duplicate items probably isn't quite what the developers had in mind. Players have discovered a convenient exploit that involves switching in-game menus to create duplicates of Link's weapons and shields.
The item duplication glitch is particularly useful for anyone frustrated by Tears of the Kingdom's weapon durability mechanic. This causes Link's items to break after extensive use. As long as the glitch isn't patched out, players can double up on any new items they find.
Before trying to use the item duplication glitch, players should be aware that it only works under specific conditions.
For example, players can only duplicate a shield if Link hasn't yet discovered that shield item before and that shield has better stats than any other shield in Link's inventory. However, once players have found an item that fits the conditions, they can use the glitch to create a duplicate.
First discovered by Twitter user Modoki_returns, players should unequip all of Link's items before picking up the item they want to copy. As the item is new, a pop-up window will appear, detailing its stats and providing a bit of extra lore.
Press + to open Link's inventory, and then press Y to sort all items by stat strength. This will move the new item to the leftmost slot in Link's inventory. Next, equip the item in the rightmost slot and exit the inventory.
Players should ensure they are willing to give up the item in the rightmost slot, as the duplication glitch will replace it with a new item.
Players should then open Link's inventory again and drop the equipped item. When picked back up, players should find that it's an exact copy of the item they first picked up.
Players can use the glitch to grab copies of any new and powerful items they come across on their journeys in Hyrule. It's highly recommended that players track down Hestu and trade Korok Seeds for extra inventory space to store all of their new items. Having a duplicate means players can spend a bit more time with their favorite items before Tears of the Kingdom's weapon degradation sets in.
Source: Twitter/Modoki_returns