The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is out today on Nintendo Switch and Wii U – and it's an absolutely gargantuan game.
With its open world and the complete freedom the game gives you to explore, there's lots left unexplained, instead allowing you to uncover secrets for yourself. Overall, this is a fantastic choice, ensuring every player has their own unique experience. However, it's also potentially overwhelming.
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Luckily, WIRED's Matt Kamen and James Temperton have both been playing the game at great length and have gotten to grip with its nuances, hidden tricks and secrets. Without spoilers, here are our top tips to get a head start in the world of Hyrule.
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Why walk when you can fly?
Need to cross a river but keep running out of stamina? Is there a nearby hill? Try climbing it and drifting across using the Paraglider. There will also be lots of times when you're exploring without a horse, which can be slow. Scaling a nearby mountain, or even a big hill, and gliding to where you want to get to is much quicker and more fun.
The Master Sword, Link's mystical darkness-sealing sword, is an optional extra in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. You'll want to collect it though, both because of its combat benefits (not only is it unbreakable, it also does double damage within Hyrule Castle grounds) and because of its significance to the game's story.
The Master Sword is located in the Lost Woods, the entrance to which is a short float away from the Woodland Tower, southwest of Goron Village. You'll want to enter from the ground, though – try to float in and you'll be smothered by fog.
Enter from the path on your map. Don't worry too much – despite the foreboding appearance of the woods, you're not going to encounter any enemies.
Follow the torches, and make sure you don't spend too much time away from them – that fog will pull you right back to the entrance if you stray.
The Lost Woods are huge, but you don't actually need to travel very far to reach the Korok Forest, where the Master Sword is being kept. Set a marker on your map for where the color of the foliage lightens. Torches can be scarce along the way, but if you sprint you should be fine.
You'll find the Deku Tree here. He's been tasked with guarding the Master Sword for the last 100 years. Run inside the Deku Tree for some stores and a place to sleep, or head to your right to find the Keo Ruug Shrine, which as always can be activated as a warp point.
If you've previously met Hestu outside Kakariko Village (he's on the path leading into the village from the south) and offered him korok seeds, this is where he'll set up shop after leaving. Now that you have a shrine warp, you can come back here to keep expanding your inventory slots as you collect more seeds.
Just finding the Master Sword isn't enough, however – you need to be strong enough to pull it out. The Deku Tree is vague on the specifics, but in fact all you need are 13 hearts to retrieve your sword. If you haven't beaten the Divine Beasts nor completed many Shrines, you may need to return later to pull the sword out, King Arthur style. However, if your issue is that you've focused on stamina over health, there's a way to swap your upgrades.
Head to Hateno Village, and look for the Firly Pond on your map (it's at the outer edge of the village, past the model homes). There's a devilish version of a prayer statue here, which will buy upgrades from you and then sell them back at a very lightly inflated price, effectively meaning that you can swap stamina for hearts and vice versa.
Once you have 13 hearts, you will have no problem pulling the sword from the stone, and the final battle will be just a tad easier.
Once you have 13 hearts, you will have no problem pulling the sword from the stone, and the final battle will be just a tad easier.
Don't miss the rest of our guides to Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Best Weapons and Armor – The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
There is a lot of loot to be found within The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and while a good portion of it is solid equipment, there are very few pieces that stand head and shoulder above the rest. These pieces will be instantly recognizable to fans, as they appear multiple times throughout the Legend of Zelda franchise and are always the best in each game. Let’s get started with the best weapon in the game.
Master Sword
The Best Weapons and Armor in Breath of the Wild
This weapon can actually be seen pretty early on thanks to how open The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is. You can find it in the Korok Forest to the southeast of the Great Hyrule Forest, northeast of Hyrule Castle (a very dangerous area). You’ll have to make your way through the Lost Woods in order to reach it. The entrance to the Lost Woods is near the Woodland Tower, from there follow the lanterns until you reach the trees with creepy faces. From that point on, do your best to follow the direction that creepy-faced trees are pointing.
Eventually you’ll enter the Korok Forest where you’ll find a clearing just ahead and the Master Sword nestled in a stone. Before trying to pull it, though, check to see if you have 13 Hearts. Real Hearts, by the way. Any obtained by food or elixirs don’t count. If you don’t have 13 Hearts, trying to pull what is the absolute best weapon in the game from the stone will instantly kill you for being unworthy (talk about dark).
The Master Sword is definitely worth the amount of Orbs and/or Rupees you need to spend in order to get 13 Hearts, though. It’s unbreakable, does extra damage against certain enemies (including the final boss), and will be thrown with a beam of light if you have full health while throwing it. Pretty cool, huh?
Hylian Shield
The Best Weapons and Armor in Breath of the Wild
This iconic shield has been with Link in several major entries to the series including Twilight Princess and Ocarina of Time. To obtain it The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, you’ll have to venture beneath Hyrule Castle to Hyrule Castle Underground. You can reach this deep dungeon by heading to the back of the castle (the northern side). Venture down into the dungeon until you come across Stalnox, which is a skeletal version of Hinox. This is a powerful boss that can do lots of damage to Link, but it’s actually pretty easy to beat. Shooting its eye will cause it to sit down, letting you get some melee hits in. When it stands, run away and repeat. After its health has been depleted, the one eye in its skull will fall to the ground. Destroy it before the skeleton rebuilds itself and the fight is over.
After you’ve achieved victory, a chest will appear where Stalnox died. Inside is the Hylian Shield. While it’s not unbreakable, it has a very high durability (90 points), so it will take ages before it’s broken, unless you just stand somewhere and let enemies attack you unpunished. It’s the very best shield in the entire game, and well worth the fight with Stalnox.
Bow of Light
Botw Hyrule Castle Kitchen
The Best Weapons and Armor in Breath of the Wild
The Bow of Light is Zelda’s bow, and it’s the most powerful ranged weapon in the game. Gaining access to this weapon in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a bit more difficult than the other items we’ve covered so far. This is because it’s only obtainable during the final boss fight.
SPOILERS AHEAD!
Ganon, which is the final boss in many of the Zelda games, has two forms in Breath of the Wild. After defeating his first form, which is a mix of ancient artifacts and evil, you’ll face the true, beastly form. At this point, Zelda’s spirit will entrust you the Bow of Light, as it’s the only weapon capable of sealing away Ganon’s evil for good.
Epona
The Best Weapons and Armor in Breath of the Wild
Your collection of the best gear in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild just isn’t complete without having the best possible horse in the game as well. Of course, the best horse is none other than Epona, who can’t be found out in the wild.
In order to obtain Epona you must use a Super Smash Bros. Link figure to summon her into the game world, at which point you can take her to a stable and make her yours. The stable worker will recognize Epona as the horse of legend and marvel at her presence, and her stats:
- Max Bond
- Max Strength
- Max Stamina
- Max Speed
- Gentle Temperament
You will never move as fast as you do while riding this legendary steed, and she’s strong enough to go into even the most dangerous areas.
For more on The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, check out our wiki.
Go back to Kakariko Village and go see Impa. She notices the Master Sword and understands that you calmed down the four Divine Beasts as she can feel the presence of the Champions. She says that you must now go to Hyrule Castle where Calamity Ganon is lurking. Warp to the Bosh Kala Shrine next to the Proxim Bridge (east of the Great Plateau) and cross the bridge. Then cross the river and go north. Cross the Owlan Bridge to the west, then keep going north. On top of a hill, there is a tree stump. You can climb on it then shoot some arrows at the three moving targets to make a Korok appear. Keep going north a little and you find a new stable.
Riverside Stable
There is a Wooden Mop and a Woodcutter's Axe outside. Talk to Gotter who asks you to go fetch a cookbook at Hyrule Castle, as well as to Parcy in the tent looking for some royal guard's weapons. You may also meet a traveling horseman, who gives you advice for fishing. And you meet again the painter Pikango and the merchant Beedle. More to the north a shrine can be found.
Wagoh Katta Shrine - Metal Connections
Climb on the cages on the right and open the chest containing some Amber. Notice the plate on the right and the monk in front, then jump down and move the crates next to the plate. Climb to the top and use Magnesis to place the plate down. Then move the crates next to the monk (not awfully close to), then place the plate between the crates and the monk's platform. Finally climb on the crates, and walk on the plate to go to the monk. Look at the Sheikah symbol and receive another Spirit Orb.
Keep going northeast, avoid the traveler next to a tree (it's a Yiga) and cross the Horwell Bridge towards east. Avoid the injured woman as well, then go east, cross the Eagus Bridge and keep following the path going north to reach the..
Wetland Stable
Talk to Kass, the Rito musician, who sings to you an old song about what happened a hundred years ago (that you may have already heard). Talk to little Ami who tells you about a secret route, the East Passage, leading to Hyrule Castle. Quince tells you a long story about the dog Satty that saved his life and a shiny beast on a strange mountain, Satori Mountain. You meet again the painter Pikango and Beedle, who gives you an Ancient Arrow, useful against the Guardians. There is a Woodcutter's Axe if you're interested. A little more to the west is another shrine.
Kaya Wan Shrine - Shields from Water
Use Cryonis to create an ice pillar next to the edge on the other side, then climb it. Then create an ice block on the running water to climb and reach the following room. Shoot an arrow at the Guardian to make it fall into the water, then create an ice pillar under the chest. Climb it and pick up an Ancient Core from the chest. Create another pillar further, then pick up the Ancient Screws that fell into the water, climb the pillar and jump. Shoot an arrow at the Guardian to get rid of it, then jump on a raft, get rid of the second Guardian, then when the raft is falling down, fly to the monk.
Since a long way is awaiting you, you can go back to the stable to bring a horse along. Go north following the road, then after going by Crenel Peak, keep going northeast and cross the Thims Bridge. Read the signs on the other side and keep going north towards Hyrule Ridge. Once you're at the Woodland Stable, keep going west until you see a headland to the south on your map. Get off your horse, then get close to the castle. Go down until you reach the sand, a bit west of the headland, then notice a pier on the other side of the river. Put on your Zora outfit and swim to this pier.
To tackle the castle, I recommand having at least 15 hearts, 5 stamina gauges, a few Ancient Arrows, the Hylian outfit boosted to the max, the Zora outfit, maybe a few pieces of the Barbarian and Ancient outfits, some meals to refill all your hearts, and meals to boost your attack.