How to Master The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has become one of the most celebrated games of its generation, known for its expansive open world, intricate mechanics, and rich storytelling. This article will guide you through essential aspects of the game, from starting out to becoming a master. Whether you’re a newcomer or looking to refine your skills, this comprehensive guide will cover everything you need to know to fully enjoy and excel in Hyrule.

Getting Started with Breath of the Wild

Understanding the Basics

When you first step into the world of Breath of the Wild, you’ll find yourself in the Shrine of Resurrection. Here, you’ll get acquainted with the basic controls and mechanics. The game’s open-world design means that there’s no set path you must follow, but understanding the core mechanics is crucial.

Controls: Familiarize yourself with movement, combat, and interaction controls. These include running, climbing, and using your weapons. Mastering these basics will make exploration and combat much easier.
Inventory: Early on, you’ll collect weapons, shields, and food. Keep track of these items and use them wisely. Each has different uses and effects, so experimentation will help you understand their benefits.

The Great Plateau and Its Shrines

The Great Plateau is your introductory area and is essential for learning the game’s mechanics. You’ll need to complete four Shrines to progress.

Owa Daim Shrine: Focus on using your Magnesis ability to move metal objects and solve puzzles.
Keh Namut Shrine: Learn to use Cryonis to create ice pillars and navigate water-based puzzles.
Bosh Kala Shrine: Practice your Stasis ability to freeze objects and manipulate time.
Kema Kosassa Shrine: Refine your use of bombs for both combat and solving puzzles.

Each Shrine teaches you a unique ability that will be essential throughout your adventure.

Exploring Hyrule

Navigating the Open World

Hyrule is vast, with diverse terrains ranging from lush forests to arid deserts. Understanding how to navigate this world will enhance your gameplay experience.

Map and Markers: Use your Sheikah Slate to mark points of interest on your map. This feature is incredibly useful for tracking quests and important locations.
Travel and Exploration: Utilize the game’s fast-travel system to move quickly between discovered locations. Exploration is key to uncovering secrets, finding new quests, and gathering resources.

Finding and Using Resources

Resource gathering is a major part of the game. You’ll need materials for cooking, upgrading gear, and crafting.

Foraging: Collect herbs, fruits, and minerals from the environment. These items can be used to cook meals or create elixirs.
Hunting and Fishing: Hunt wildlife and fish to gain additional resources. This is especially useful for cooking diverse recipes.

Mastering Combat

Basic Combat Techniques

Combat in Breath of the Wild is dynamic and requires both strategy and skill. Here’s how to get started:

Weapon Variety: Experiment with different weapons, such as swords, spears, and bows. Each weapon has its own strengths and weaknesses.
Dodging and Blocking: Learn to time your dodges and blocks effectively. This will help you avoid damage and counter enemy attacks.

Advanced Combat Strategies

As you progress, you’ll encounter tougher enemies and more complex combat scenarios.

Perfect Guard and Flurry Rush: Master the Perfect Guard technique to deflect attacks and initiate a Flurry Rush. This advanced tactic can turn the tide of battle in your favor.
Elemental Attacks: Utilize elemental effects, such as fire, ice, and electricity, to exploit enemy weaknesses and create strategic advantages.

Solving Puzzles and Completing Quests

Shrine Puzzles

Each Shrine in the game features unique puzzles that often require creative thinking and problem-solving.

Magnesis and Stasis Puzzles: Use Magnesis to move metal objects and Stasis to manipulate time for solving complex puzzles.
Combat Trials: Some Shrines feature combat trials that test your battle skills. Prepare accordingly and use your abilities strategically.

Main and Side Quests

Aside from Shrines, Breath of the Wild offers a wealth of quests and side missions.

Main Quests: Follow the storyline to defeat Calamity Ganon and restore peace to Hyrule. Main quests often involve exploring new regions and confronting powerful enemies.
Side Quests: Engage in side quests for additional rewards and to uncover more about Hyrule’s lore. These quests range from simple fetch tasks to complex challenges.

Cooking and Crafting

Cooking Meals

Cooking is a vital aspect of survival in Breath of the Wild. Meals provide health benefits and various buffs.

Ingredients: Gather ingredients from plants, animals, and minerals. Combine them in a pot to create dishes with different effects.
Recipes: Experiment with different combinations to discover new recipes. Some dishes offer temporary boosts to stats, such as increased stamina or resistance to the elements.

Crafting Elixirs

Elixirs offer similar benefits to meals but are created using monster parts and other ingredients.

Brewing: Use a cooking pot and monster parts to brew elixirs that grant temporary abilities, like increased speed or enhanced strength.
Uses: Elixirs can be crucial in tough battles and challenging environments, so keep a stock of various types.
Upgrading Gear and Abilities

Armor Upgrades

Your armor plays a crucial role in your survival and effectiveness in combat.
- Collecting Armor: Find armor sets throughout Hyrule, often as rewards for completing Shrines or side quests.
- Upgrading: Visit Great Fairies to upgrade your armor. This requires specific materials, so gather resources and complete quests to enhance your gear.
Ability Enhancements

Your abilities, gained from Shrines, can be upgraded for improved performance.
- Spirit Orbs: Collect Spirit Orbs from Shrines to increase your maximum health and stamina.
- Ability Upgrades: Enhance your abilities by completing certain challenges or quests. Upgraded abilities will make solving puzzles and combat easier.
Tackling Divine Beasts

Preparing for Divine Beasts

Divine Beasts are colossal structures that play a central role in the game’s main quest.
- Gaining Access: Each Divine Beast requires you to complete a series of quests and challenges. Prepare for these encounters by gathering resources and upgrading your gear.
- Strategic Approach: Each Beast has unique mechanics and puzzles. Study their weaknesses and plan your approach accordingly.
Defeating the Divine Beasts

Defeating the Divine Beasts requires strategy and skill.
- Combat Strategies: Use the environment and your abilities to your advantage. Each Divine Beast has specific weak points that you need to exploit.
- Rewards: Successfully defeating a Divine Beast grants you powerful abilities and rewards, which will aid you in your final battle against Calamity Ganon.

Final Battle with Calamity Ganon

Preparing for the Final Battle

The final battle against Calamity Ganon is the culmination of your journey.

Gear and Inventory: Ensure your gear is fully upgraded and your inventory is stocked with healing items and powerful weapons.
Strategy: Plan your approach by understanding Ganon’s attack patterns and weaknesses. Utilize all your abilities and resources effectively.

Defeating Calamity Ganon

The final confrontation is challenging but rewarding.

Combat Tactics: Use a combination of attack, defense, and strategic positioning. Take advantage of your upgraded gear and abilities to gain the upper hand.
Victory: Once defeated, you’ll witness the resolution of Hyrule’s story and the end of Ganon’s reign of terror.

Conclusion

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild offers an unparalleled gaming experience with its open world, engaging combat, and intricate puzzles. By following this guide, you’ll be well-equipped to explore every corner of Hyrule, master the game’s mechanics, and achieve victory over Calamity Ganon. Whether you’re solving Shrines, battling foes, or uncovering secrets, your journey through Hyrule will be both exciting and rewarding.