To throw an item in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, hold R to wind up, then release R to throw.
The part people miss is choosing what gets thrown. While still holding R, press Up on the D-pad to open the Materials menu, then use the right stick to pick.
The Full Input
- Hold R. Link sets himself to throw and the game slows slightly.
- Hold Up on the D-pad while still holding R. The Materials menu opens.
- Select with the right stick.
- Release R to throw it.
If you just hold and release R without the second step, you throw whatever is already selected, which is why players often end up flinging a random mushroom at an enemy.
Why Choosing Matters
Materials are not interchangeable. What you throw decides what happens, and the same input covers throwing a rock, a bomb flower, or an elemental fruit.
That makes the Materials menu the actual combat decision. Picking the right material before release is the difference between chip damage and setting an entire camp on fire.
It Is the Same Muscle as Fusing
Throwing shares its logic with the fuse system: you are attaching an effect to an action rather than using a dedicated item.
Once that clicks, the Materials menu stops being a nuisance and starts being the main way you express yourself in combat. The weapon in your hand matters less than the material you pair with it, thrown or fused.
Tips Most Players Miss
- The menu only opens while R is held. Trying to pick a material first and then throw does not work the same way.
- Throwing is often better than fusing for one-off effects, since fusing consumes the material into a weapon that will eventually break.
- Aim slows time slightly, so there is more room to choose than it feels like in the moment.
Throwing, fusing and Ultrahand all share the same design idea: the world is your inventory. Our full Zelda guides cover the series, and how to get the Master Sword covers the one weapon that does not break on you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you throw items in Tears of the Kingdom? Hold R to aim and release R to throw.
How do you choose which material to throw? While holding R, hold Up on the D-pad to open the Materials menu, then select with the right stick.
Why am I throwing the wrong thing? You released R without opening the Materials menu, so Link threw whatever was already selected.
Is throwing better than fusing? For one-off effects, often yes, since fusing consumes the material into a weapon that will break eventually.