The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a vast, immersive experience that offers players a sprawling open world filled with adventure, secrets, and challenges. Whether you’re a newcomer to Hyrule or a seasoned adventurer, this guide will help you navigate the kingdom, conquer its challenges, and unlock its secrets.
1. Exploring Hyrule: A Land of Endless Possibilities
Hyrule is a massive world teeming with life, landscapes, and mysteries waiting to be discovered. To make the most of your journey, here are some key exploration tips:
Get the Lay of the Land
One of the first things you should do is climb a tower. These structures are scattered across Hyrule and serve as vantage points to unlock portions of the map. From atop these towers, you can use your Sheikah Slate to mark interesting locations and plan your route.
Traverse with Versatility
Link’s ability to traverse the world is central to the gameplay. You can climb nearly anything, glide from heights using the paraglider, or even use shield surfing to quickly descend mountains. Mastering these traversal methods will make exploring much easier and more enjoyable.
Use the Sheikah Slate
The Sheikah Slate is your most valuable tool. Not only does it serve as your map and binoculars, but it also provides you with essential abilities such as Magnesis, Cryonis, and Stasis. Learn to switch between these quickly to solve puzzles and navigate the environment effectively.
2. Surviving in the Wild: Gathering, Cooking, and Combat
Hyrule is not just a land of beauty; it’s also a land of danger. Survival is key, and knowing how to gather resources, cook meals, and fight enemies will keep you alive and thriving.
Gathering Resources
From wild berries to ancient screws, Hyrule is filled with materials you can gather. These resources are crucial for crafting elixirs, cooking meals, and upgrading armor. Explore forests, fields, and mountains to find a variety of items, and don’t forget to search defeated enemies for valuable materials.
Cooking and Crafting
Cooking is an essential survival skill in Breath of the Wild. Collect ingredients like meat, mushrooms, and herbs, and combine them at a cooking pot to create meals that restore health or provide buffs. Experiment with different combinations to discover dishes that increase stamina, grant resistance to cold, or boost your attack power.
Combat Strategies
Combat in Breath of the Wild is dynamic and can be approached in multiple ways. Whether you prefer to go in sword swinging, use stealth, or leverage environmental hazards, the game rewards creativity. Keep an eye on your weapons’ durability, and always be prepared to switch tactics mid-battle.
3. Conquering the Divine Beasts: Major Story Milestones
The Divine Beasts are massive mechanical creatures corrupted by Ganon’s influence. Conquering them is a major part of the game’s story, and each one offers unique challenges.
Vah Ruta (Zora’s Domain)
Vah Ruta, the Divine Beast of water, is located in the Zora region. This beast’s challenge involves manipulating water levels and solving puzzles inside the beast itself. Use Cryonis to create ice blocks and navigate the water-based puzzles efficiently.
Vah Medoh (Rito Village)
Vah Medoh, the bird-like Divine Beast, soars high above Rito Village. To conquer Medoh, you’ll need to master aerial combat and wind-based puzzles. Use the paraglider to your advantage, and time your shots with the bow to hit targets from the air.
Vah Rudania (Goron City)
Vah Rudania is found in the fiery region of Death Mountain. The challenges here revolve around navigating lava and using Magnesis to manipulate metal objects. Be sure to equip fireproof armor before taking on this beast.
Vah Naboris (Gerudo Desert)
Vah Naboris, the camel-like Divine Beast, roams the Gerudo Desert. Its puzzles involve electricity and rotation, requiring precise timing and strategic thinking. Equip the Thunder Helm to mitigate damage from the frequent lightning strikes during the battle.
4. Shrines and Korok Seeds: Maximizing Link’s Potential
To enhance Link’s abilities, you’ll need to seek out Shrines and Korok Seeds, both of which are scattered throughout Hyrule.
Shrine Challenges
Shrines serve as mini-dungeons, offering puzzles and combat trials. Completing a shrine rewards you with Spirit Orbs, which can be exchanged for heart containers or stamina vessels. Some shrines require clever use of your abilities, while others test your combat skills. Always be on the lookout for hidden shrines—some are tucked away in caves, others require completing specific tasks to reveal.
Korok Seeds
Korok Seeds are hidden by Korok spirits all over Hyrule. Finding them often involves solving small environmental puzzles or performing specific actions like placing rocks in patterns or racing to a specific spot. These seeds are used to expand your inventory, allowing you to carry more weapons, shields, and bows. The more seeds you find, the better equipped you’ll be for the challenges ahead.
5. Armor and Upgrades: Preparing for Battle
Link’s journey through Hyrule will bring him face to face with many dangers, so having the right armor and upgrades is crucial.
Finding and Upgrading Armor
Throughout Hyrule, you’ll find various armor sets that offer different benefits, such as increased stealth, resistance to certain elements, or boosted attack power. Once you find a Great Fairy, you can upgrade your armor using materials gathered from around the world. Upgrading armor not only improves its defense but can also unlock set bonuses that provide additional benefits.
Elemental Resistance
Different regions of Hyrule pose different environmental hazards. The Gerudo Desert is scorching hot during the day, while Death Mountain is constantly ablaze with heat. Equip the appropriate armor to resist these elements, or cook specific meals and elixirs to temporarily grant resistance.
6. Defeating Calamity Ganon: The Final Battle
The ultimate goal in Breath of the Wild is to defeat Calamity Ganon and free Princess Zelda. This battle is the culmination of all your efforts, and preparation is key.
Preparation is Everything
Before confronting Ganon, make sure you have plenty of powerful weapons, a full inventory of healing items, and the Master Sword. Completing the Divine Beasts will weaken Ganon, making the final fight easier. If you’ve upgraded your armor and expanded your stamina, you’ll have a better chance of surviving the battle.
The Final Showdown
The battle against Ganon takes place in Hyrule Castle, which is heavily guarded by powerful enemies and traps. Use the skills and strategies you’ve developed throughout the game to navigate the castle and confront Ganon in his lair. The battle has multiple phases, each requiring different tactics, so be ready to adapt.
7. Beyond the Main Story: Post-Game Content and Exploration
After defeating Ganon, there’s still plenty to do in Hyrule. The world remains open for exploration, and there are additional challenges and secrets to uncover.
DLC and Additional Content
Breath of the Wild offers downloadable content that adds new challenges, story elements, and equipment. The Master Trials and The Champions’ Ballad are two major DLC packs that provide extended gameplay and deeper insight into the world of Hyrule.
Hyrule Compendium
If you’re a completionist, filling out the Hyrule Compendium is a rewarding challenge. This in-game encyclopedia tracks all the creatures, weapons, and items you encounter. You can take photos using the Sheikah Slate and fill out the compendium as you explore.
Continued Exploration
Even after completing the main story, Hyrule is filled with locations to discover, enemies to battle, and puzzles to solve. Whether it’s hunting down the last few Korok Seeds or taking on the game’s toughest enemies in the wilderness, there’s always something to do.