Your Zelda Walkthrough for Breath of the Wild

The world of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is expansive and full of challenges, making it a game that requires skill, strategy, and exploration. Whether you're new to the game or revisiting Hyrule, this walkthrough will guide you through the key elements, tips, and strategies to master puzzles, combat, and exploration.

Starting Your Adventure: The Great Plateau

Your journey begins on the Great Plateau, where you’ll receive critical tools, including the Sheikah Slate and its essential runes like Magnesis, Stasis, Cryonis, and Bombs. These runes are vital for solving puzzles and progressing in the game.

Your first goal is to complete the four Shrines scattered across the Plateau, each teaching you the basics of using your runes. After completing all four Shrines, you will receive the Paraglider from the Old Man, allowing you to venture beyond the Great Plateau and into the rest of Hyrule.

Pro Tip: Collect as many ingredients as possible from the environment—mushrooms, apples, and herbs—to cook meals that will heal and boost your stamina or health.

Exploration: Open-World Freedom

After leaving the Great Plateau, Breath of the Wild offers you the freedom to explore wherever you wish. However, certain locations are more beneficial early on:

1. Kakariko Village: Here, you will meet Impa and receive vital information about the Divine Beasts and Calamity Ganon. You can also find the first Great Fairy Fountain to upgrade your armor.

2. Hateno Village: This village contains the Hateno Ancient Tech Lab, where you can upgrade your Sheikah Slate with new abilities, like the Sensor+ to track hidden Shrines.

3. Shrines and Towers: As you explore, activate the towers in each region to unlock sections of your map. Completing Shrines gives you Spirit Orbs, which can be exchanged for extra heart containers or stamina wheels. Fast-travel between activated Shrines saves you time as you roam the vast landscape.

Divine Beasts: Choosing Your Path

There are four Divine Beasts in Hyrule, each corresponding to one of the main races: Zora, Goron, Rito, and Gerudo. You can tackle them in any order, but a popular choice for beginners is to start with Vah Ruta, the Divine Beast of the Zora.

Divine Beast Vah Ruta: This beast provides Mipha’s Grace, an ability that automatically revives you if you fall in battle, making it a great asset for tougher fights later in the game.

Pro Tip: When entering Divine Beast battles, stock up on weapons, arrows, and meals that increase your attack and defense.

Combat: Mastering the Battle System

Breath of the Wild features a dynamic combat system, requiring you to manage weapons, shields, and bows, all of which degrade with use. Knowing when to parry and dodge is essential to defeating tougher enemies like Lynels and Guardians.

1. Flurry Rush: Perfecting the dodge at the right moment can trigger a Flurry Rush, allowing you to unleash multiple attacks on your opponent.

2. Guardians: These robotic foes can be daunting, but you can reflect their laser attacks by using a shield at the precise moment. Ancient Arrows are also a quick way to defeat them.

Tips for Solving Puzzles

Many Shrines contain intricate puzzles that test your understanding of physics and runes. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Magnesis: Use this rune to move metal objects and uncover hidden treasure chests or unlock pathways.
• Stasis: This rune can freeze objects in time, allowing you to create solutions to moving puzzles.
• Cryonis: Ideal for crossing bodies of water, this rune can create ice pillars that help you reach distant places or interact with hidden mechanisms.

Final Battle Preparation

As you progress, it’s crucial to prepare for the final confrontation with Calamity Ganon at Hyrule Castle. Upgrading your armor, collecting powerful weapons, and completing side quests will make the final battle more manageable.

• Cook powerful meals that boost your attack and defense stats.
• Collect Korok Seeds to increase your inventory space.
• Complete as many Shrines as possible to increase your health and stamina, giving you an edge in the fight against Ganon.

Conclusion

This guide provides the basics to get started, but the beauty of Breath of the Wild is its freedom. Whether you’re solving puzzles, engaging in combat, or exploring the world, every choice is up to you. With the right preparation and strategy, you can conquer the challenges that Hyrule throws at you and bring peace to the kingdom once again.

Now, it’s time to start your adventure—Hyrule awaits!

Breath of the Wild Walkthrough - FAQ

Q1: How do I upgrade my inventory in Breath of the Wild?
A: To upgrade your inventory, you need to find Korok Seeds scattered throughout Hyrule. These seeds can be given to Hestu, who will increase your weapon, bow, or shield inventory slots. Hestu can initially be found near Kakariko Village, then moves to the Korok Forest.

Q2: What are the Divine Beasts, and how do I defeat them?
A: Divine Beasts are large mechanical creatures that you must free from Ganon’s control. There are four in total—Vah Ruta (Zora), Vah Rudania (Goron), Vah Medoh (Rito), and Vah Naboris (Gerudo). Each Divine Beast has its own puzzle-solving section followed by a boss battle. Completing them weakens Calamity Ganon and grants you unique abilities.

Q3: How can I easily defeat Guardians?
A: To defeat Guardians, you can either reflect their laser attacks using a shield with a perfectly timed parry or use Ancient Arrows to destroy them instantly. The Shield parry can be practiced, while Ancient Arrows are crafted at the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab.

Q4: What should I prioritize when spending Spirit Orbs?
A: It's a good idea to balance between increasing hearts and stamina. Early on, getting a few extra hearts can help with combat survival, but stamina becomes essential for climbing, running, and gliding, especially as you explore more challenging terrain.

Q5: How do I find all the Shrines in Breath of the Wild?
A: Activate Sheikah Towers in each region to reveal sections of your map and use the Shrine Sensor+ upgrade from the Hateno Tech Lab to track down Shrines nearby. Many Shrines are hidden and require solving environmental puzzles or completing side quests.

Q6: What is the most recommended Divine Beast to tackle first?
A: Many players recommend starting with Vah Ruta, the Divine Beast of the Zora. Completing this Beast gives you Mipha’s Grace, an ability that revives you when you die, making it easier for the rest of your journey.

Q7: How do I cook meals in Breath of the Wild?
A: To cook meals, gather ingredients like meat, vegetables, and herbs. Go to a cooking pot and combine ingredients to create dishes that restore health or provide bonuses such as increased attack power, defense, or resistance to the elements.

Q8: How do I get the Master Sword?
A: The Master Sword is located in the Korok Forest, and you need a minimum of 13 heart containers to pull it from the pedestal. You can't use temporary heart boosts for this; only permanent heart upgrades from Spirit Orbs count.

Q9: Can I fast travel in Breath of the Wild?
A: Yes, you can fast travel to any activated Shrine or Tower. This makes traveling around Hyrule much easier, especially once you have unlocked several locations.

Q10: What happens if I defeat all four Divine Beasts?
A: Once you defeat all four Divine Beasts, the final battle with Calamity Ganon becomes significantly easier. The Beasts will attack Ganon during the final battle, removing half of his health before you engage him directly.