Link’s Counterfeit Crime: TOTK Switch 2 Dupe Glitch

The Switch 2 edition of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (TOTK) has brought enhanced performance and visuals, but it also unveiled a game-changing item duplication glitch. This exploit allows players to infinitely multiply valuable resources, turning resource scarcity into abundance.

Why This Glitch Changes Everything in Hyrule

In TOTK, rare materials like diamonds, zonaite, and lynel gears are essential for upgrades, fusions, and crafting. Normally, farming them requires hours of grinding shrines, mining, or battling tough enemies. The new duplication glitch simplifies this, letting players double or triple stacks effortlessly.

Community excitement is palpable, with YouTubers calling it the “easiest” method yet. It works across multiple patches, including 1.4.0 to 1.4.3 on both Switch 1 and Switch 2 hardware, bypassing many previous patches.

Core Mechanics Behind the Duplication Exploit

This glitch exploits inventory management, mid-air actions, and the Fuse ability. By manipulating item stacks during jumps and menu pauses, the game creates underflow errors that duplicate items upon pickup.

• Inventory Overflow Trick: Filling and emptying slots mid-action confuses the game’s stack counter.
• Midair Throw Duplication (MTD): Throwing items from ledges while holding buttons duplicates drops.
• Bow Fuse Method: The most popular, using arrows to split stacks.

These aren’t random bugs; they stem from unpatched interactions in the Ultrahand and Fuse systems, amplified in the Switch 2’s optimized code.

Step-by-Step Guide: Easiest Bow Fuse Dupe (1.4.1+)

This method, highlighted in multiple guides, requires minimal setup and works anywhere.

1. Prepare Items: Have at least 3 of the target item (e.g., diamonds) and 1 sacrificial food (e.g., apple or hydromelon). Equip any bow.
2. Fuse and Split: Press Up on D-pad, select target item, fuse to an arrow. Shoot to split the stack into two smaller ones.
3. Jump and Pause: Jump high, pause game, eat the sacrificial item to free a slot, unequip bow.
4. Mid-Air Sort: Jump again, enter inventory mid-air, hold desired quantity (e.g., 10 diamonds), sort inventory by type.
5. Drop and Collect: Unpause, drop held items, pick up all diamonds on ground. You’ve doubled them!

Repeat for exponential growth. A single run takes under 20 seconds, yielding 4+ extras per cycle.

Alternative Methods for Different Scenarios

Midair Throw Dupe (MTD) – No Bow Needed

Ideal for single items or early-game.

• Hold R near a ledge with 1 item.
• Press Up D-pad briefly, then X to drop.
• Pick up both the thrown and dropped versions. Instant double!

Works on all versions except 1.0.0 and 1.1.2.

Inventory Slot Underflow Dupe

Discovered by glitch hunter ‘s0ft’, adapted for 1.4.1.

1. Empty slot ready, 1+ food item.
2. Perform actions to fill/underflow slot temporarily.
3. Result: Permanent duplication of fusable items.

Version Compatibility and Patch History

Not all patches are equal. Here’s a breakdown:

Switch 2 enhancements made some older dupes viable again, but expect future patches.

What Can You Duplicate? Limitations Exposed

Most stackable items work, but caveats apply:

• Yes: Diamonds, zonaite, lynel parts, arrows, food.
• No: Live creatures (fairies, frogs) – can’t fuse to arrows.
• Tricky: Unique weapons/armor may despawn if over-duplicated.

Pro Tip: Pair with Split Item Duplication (SID) for bows/arrows, or Dispenser Storage to bypass stack limits.

Game Impact: From Grinding to God Mode

Duplication obsoletes farming:

• Purah Pad Upgrades: Infinite zonaite = max batteries instantly.
• Fusion Mayhem: Unlimited diamonds for OP weapons.
• Skorup Discounts: Flood shops with duped gems.

Speedrunners and builders thrive, creating absurd machines without material worries.

Community Discoveries and Credit

Glitch hunters like ‘s0ft’, Teltik, and Gaming Reinvented pioneered these.

• YouTube guides exploded post-Switch 2 launch.
• Forums discuss permanence amid patches.

Ethical Play and Patch Risks

Single-player safe, but online shares risk bans (if implemented). Nintendo may hotfix in 1.4.4+.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does this work offline only?

Yes, fully local exploit.

Can I dupe weapons?

Stackables yes; uniques risk glitches.

Switch 1 vs. Switch 2?

Both supported in recent patches.

How to avoid patches?

Avoid updates; backup saves.

Best item to start with?

Zonaite or cheap food for quick scaling.