weapon degradation
/ˈwɛpən ˌdɛɡrəˈdeɪʃən/
CommonWhen weapons lose effectiveness or break after repeated use in a game.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | weapon degradation in this game is brutal. my sword broke in 3 fights | The weapon broke far too quickly, making the mechanic feel punishing. | reddit, 2024 |
| 02 | I don't use good weapons in this game because of weapon degradation. not worth it | The mechanic discourages using valuable items, the opposite of its intended effect. | x, 2023 |
| 03 | weapon degradation would be fine if repairs weren't so expensive. just saying | The mechanic itself is tolerable but the cost to maintain weapons is the real problem. | reddit, 2023 |
| 04 | finally found a weapon but weapon degradation means it'll last maybe 10 minutes | The rarity of the find is immediately undercut by how quickly it will break. | tiktok, 2024 |
Use it when
- Describing the process of a weapon losing condition through use.
- Criticizing or defending the mechanic in a specific game.
- Warning someone that their weapon is close to breaking.
Do not use it when
- You mean the entire game system, not just the degradation process.Use “durability-system” instead.
Origin and context
A long-standing RPG design element that became widely discussed online after games like Breath of the Wild and Dark Souls brought it to large mainstream audiences.
- First seen
- 2000s
- Confidence
- medium
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/weapon-degradationUpdated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0