Breath of the Wild is one of the greatest video games ever made, with Nintendo pulling out all the big guns in a bid to modernize this franchise for a new generation. Suffice it to say, their efforts were a massive success, with players loving the idea of exploring the ruined land of Hyrule and interacting with the game's systems while slowly getting strong enough to take out Ganon and save Zelda once and for all.

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The systems of this game are truly impressive, and many players have Breath of the Wild to thank for helping them fall in love with gaming all over again. The title prioritized fun above everything else, with combat being pretty challenging but easy to master once players upgraded their equipment and came to grips with the combat system. New players who are getting into this title will be well-serviced by the wealth of tips they can keep in mind before getting into this one-of-a-kind open-world game.

Updated on July 8th, 2023, by Ritwik Mitra: There aren't many games that are as impressive as Breath of the Wild. The game needs no introduction, with the Nintendo Switch getting off to a massive start courtesy of the brilliance of this game. Watching the adventures of Link be translated to an open-world format is pretty great, and the incredible world design of Breath of the Wild is truly impressive and goes a long way in showing just how much Nintendo has learned from its previous failures with the series.

It's no surprise that Breath of the Wild is the reason why so many people got into the series, with this game being the first Zelda title for many players. While this game is pretty easy to get into, there are still some things that players should keep in mind before getting into this magical experience.

18 Perfect Shield Parries Can Send Guardian Beams Back

A Guardian charging a laser blast in Breath of the Wild

Parrying with a shield is one of the many combat tactics that players should definitely master in Breath of the Wild. While dodging is good enough, there are some moves that players should try parrying instead to make their opponent stumble and get some much-needed breathing room as they wail at their opponent time and time again.

However, one thing that perfect shield parries can help out a lot in is during a fight against the imposing Guardian enemies. These mechanical monstrosities are a pain to deal with, and players need to avoid their powerful beams if they want to survive an encounter against these tough foes. However, if players are being targeted with a beam, then a great course of action to take is to repel a Guardian's beam with a shield parry to decimate these foes with ease!

17 The Game Can Be Completed From The Moment Players Get The Glider

zelda-breath-of-the-wild-link-riding-paraglider

One thing that is prioritized quite a bit in Breath of the Wild is player freedom. The Great Plateau is more of a tutorial area than anything else, with players having to learn the ropes before they're deemed worthy enough to get the glider and finally start their journey across Breath of the Wild.

From the very moment players get access to this glider, they can gun it to Hyrule Castle and try to attempt the final dungeon from the get-go! This task is easier said than done, however, with the area surrounding Hyrule Castle being littered with some of the toughest enemies in the entire game... and that's not even mentioning the wealth of tough encounters present in the dungeon itself!

16 There's A Master Mode That Players Can Try Out For An Added Challenge

Breath Of The Wild's Master Mode

The Master Trials was the first DLC pack released for Breath of the Wild. This pack was meant to up the ante when it came to the challenge in this game, with players going through the incredibly tough Trial of the Sword that forced players to start from nothing once again and get through a total of 45 levels, with a single death booting them back to the start or a checkpoint.

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Another thing added by this DLC is Master Mode, a more difficult version of the base game that features limited saves, a higher tier of enemies, and tougher placements of foes that can throw players in for a loop. While this is recommended for repeated playthroughs, players who want to play through the game with an added sense of challenge can definitely check this game out for themselves.

15 It's An Open-World Game

The open world of Breath of the Wild

Players should forget what they know about the past worlds of The Legend of Zelda. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the most massive open-world game we've seen in a while.

Remember that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is set in an open world and that they'll be doing a significant amount of traveling on foot. Those looking for focused level designs may be left in the dark. That's not to say that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is not fun because it is excellent, to say the least.

14 Weapons Are Fragile

Link's weapons in Breath of the Wild

Weapons in The Legend of Zelda: The Breath of the Wild aren't very durable, as we've seen in previous Zelda games. They are somewhat fragile, so players will want to save their best weapons for critical moments in the game.

Shrines in the game may require players to beat tough bosses. Boss fights are an excellent time to use Link's best swords. It's also worth noting that weapons cannot be repaired in the game. Wasting Link's best arms on lesser enemies throughout the game is not advisable.

13 The Game's Mechanics Are Flexible And Interact Well With Each Other

Gliding over the volcano in Breath of the Wild

Breath of the Wild has an extremely reactive open world. The elements of this game interact nicely with each other, allowing for some rather unique and interesting results.

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Opposing elements interact uniquely with each other, and the game allows the player to manipulate the physics of the world to great effect. The sheer number of ways in which the player can use the environment to their advantage in Breath of the Wild is quite extensive and entertaining.

12 The Lucky Bonus For Cooking Activates During A Blood Moon

Link Cooking in BotW

People who cook frequently in Breath of the Wild will notice a unique sound effect and animation that occasionally plays out when the player is cooking. This is a lucky bonus that ends up adding extra bonuses to the dish that Link was cooking.

What most people might not know is that this lucky bonus can actually be triggered whenever the player decides to cook right before and after a Blood Moon. During this time, Link should try and cook as much as possible in order to reap the benefits of this bonus.

11 The Game Has A Steep Learning Curve

A Hinox in Breath of the Wild

Trying to beat The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild in a day is impossible unless players are gifted speedrunners. Players can't help but make comparisons to Breath of the Wild and Skyrim because of the countless similarities between the two games.

Breath of the Wild is a longer game than Skyrim, and will keep players awake night and day trying to complete the game's most difficult sections. The game doesn't get easy once players get the ball rolling, but it does get easier. Breath of the Wild has a steep learning curve, so expect to face difficulties during the early parts of the game.

10 Flurry Rushes Are Easy To Pull Off And Hit For A Ton Of Damage

Breath of the Wild Flurry Rush Lynel

Breath of the Wild's combat might seem rather challenging at first glance, but that's where the concept of Flurry Rushes comes into the picture. This strategy proves useful against even the most dangerous enemies.

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Pulling off a Flurry Rush is quite easy due to the leniency of the timing required to pull this tactic off. Players who understand the mechanics of this move can use it to great effect in order to dispatch most foes with the greatest of ease.

9 Learn How To Mount A Horse

A horse in Breath of the Wild

Just like riding a bike, mounting a horse can be difficult at first. Players ultimately have to press the A button to mount a horse, but there's a lot that players need to do before they can get to this point.

One has to sneak up behind a horse by walking slowly, then press the A button at the appropriate moment. It doesn't stop there as players must calm the horse before gaining control. Mounting a wild horse will save players a ton of time by allowing them to reach destinations quicker.

8 There's A Way To Bring Back Horses That Have Died

Horse god Malanya in Breath of the Wild

Players can form a rather permanent bond with their horses. This makes it quite emotionally taxing when a lovable equestrian companion ends up getting caught in the crossfire of an enemy ambush, and ends up perishing as a result.

However, there's a way to bring one's boarded horse back from the dead. Head to the Horse God bridge in the Faron Grasslands, and cross over it to head to the Malanya Spring. There'll be a structure that looks like a Great Fairy Fountain, but actually houses the spirit of Malanya, the Horse God. Offer her 1000 Rupees, and she'll resurrect any dead horses that were boarded.

7 Saving Money (Rupees) Will Pay Off In The Long Run

A Purple Rupee in Breath of the Wild

Most people's first instinct would be to buy clothing and accessories as soon as they can afford to. At the beginning of the game, players can get away with using the default clothing that the game provides.

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Link should save his money at first since it will pay off in the long run. Rupees can be hard to come by at first, but by selling items and exploring, players will eventually find all the riches they yearn for.

6 Traveling Becomes Easier As Players Progress

The map in Breath of the Wild

Nintendo's decision to make the beginning of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild a grueling start was a controversial choice. Players have to walk on foot across tremendous distances without any tools to speed up the journey. This part of the game discourages some players.

However, people show know that moving across long distances becomes second nature as they progress in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Link obtains items like the Paraglider, which allows him to glide from high elevations to plains and plateaus.

5 Complete Every Shrine Players Come Across

A shrine in Breath of the Wild

Players are advised to conquer every Shrine in their path. Shrines unlock fast travel, unlock skills with Runes, are the sources of valuable items, and more. Some Shrines might be challenging to complete because they haven't unlocked the skills needed to complete them.

Other than a few exceptions, players should try to solve the puzzles of each Shrine so they can reap the benefits. They are optional, but what do players have to lose?

4 Save The Best Weapons For Later

Guardians in Breath of the Wild

After trial and error, players will eventually realize that the payoff of using the best weapons isn't worth it. Sure, players will save time when defeating enemies with their best weapons, but the game will assuredly beat them down as more and more difficult enemies come into the picture.

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Assuredly, the game will quickly send difficult enemies Link's way, which is why players want to save their best weapons for later. Plus, given the low durability of weapons in The Legend of Zelda: The Breath of the Wild, this is another reason to save Link's weapons.

3 Favor Stamina For The Purpose Of Exploration

Stamina in Breath of the Wild

Using Spirit Orbs at Goddess Statues in The Legend of Zelda: The Breath of the Wild presents players with two options. If the gamer loves open-world exploration (basically everyone), be sure to raise Link's stamina as high as possible. This will make it easier to scale mountains and explore in general. Players will also be able to sprint longer, and this will make the game more manageable.

Without spoiling too much, it's worth noting that a powerful weapon players obtain later in the game requires thirteen hearts. It's advisable to upgrade Link's hearts to thirteen and spend the rest on stamina.

2 Breath Of the Wild Takes A Long Time To Beat

The landscape of Breath of the Wild

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is not for casual gamers as it will take players approximately fifty hours to beat. Nintendo puts a great deal of effort into its exclusives, which is a reason why they rarely go on sale. Before players purchase and check the game out for themselves, it's worth noting that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild takes a long time to beat.

Some players will finish faster, and others more slowly. It's not unheard of for players to beat the game in under forty hours, although if players take their time, it's easy to exceed 100 hours!

1 Completing All Main Missions And Getting All The Memories Nets The True Ending

True ending in Breath of the Wild

The ending of Breath of the Wild might seem rather lackluster for many who end up going through such an epic journey to save the land of Hyrule. However, players who end up completing all the main missions and unlocking all the memories would definitely feel otherwise.

After all, completing all these tasks will allow Link and Zelda to share a special moment that is missing otherwise, making for a rather unique — if brief — touch to the ending of Breath of the Wild.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is available on Nintendo Switch and Wii U.

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