After the disappointing performance of the Wii U, it was clear that Nintendo needed to hit the ground running with the Nintendo Switch. This entailed having a good launch lineup that would compel people to purchase the console, and Nintendo definitely managed to knock it out of the park in this regard with the release of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
After numerous delays, the latest Zelda title ended up blowing everyone out of the water when it was released — something that was very much required given the numerous delays the title had faced. Link's latest adventures in the world of Hyrule ended up being revolutionary when it came to revamping the open-world formula and allowing people to enjoy what is easily one of the most innovative open-world games ever made.
For people who wish to get into this sublime title, here are ten common mistakes that most people make — and one should avoid — in Breath of the Wild.
Updated on January 16, 2022 by Ritwik Mitra: Breath of the Wild is arguably the greatest Nintendo Switch game of all time and is a fitting candidate for being one of the best open-world titles ever made as well. The game takes a really hands-off approach and lets players do whatever they want from the very moment they're dropped into the meat of the campaign. Breath of the Wild can also be a really challenging experience, and there are certain mistakes that new players generally commit. A few more BOTW mistakes to avoid have been added to this article.
15 Delaying A Visit To Korok Forest
Players should make it a priority to get as many hearts as possible early on so that they can take the Master Sword out of its pedestal in Korok Forest. It's a great and reliable weapon that can absolutely destroy Ancient enemies with ease.
However, some players might get so invested in the act of exploring Breath of the Wild's open-world that they'd forget about the importance of Korok Forest. This would be a shame since the benefits of the Master Sword should be utilized sooner rather than later.
14 Ignoring The Loot Dropped By Enemies
There are many enemies present in the world of Breath of the Wild, and players will have to deal with them sooner or later. Once these enemies are defeated, looting their drops is an important part of the adventure.
However, some people might tire of having to face the same enemies over and over again. While certain basic foes can be ignored later in a playthrough, players should go out of their way to defeat the tougher enemies in BOTW due to how rare and useful their loot is.
13 Failing To Keep Items, Weapons, And Armor That Provide Temperature Resistances
Breath of the Wild dabbles in survival mechanics a bit, with Link's temperature resistances governing whether he can stay in an area without losing health. For a mechanic that should be annoying, managing Link's temperature is actually a ton of fun.
However, some players might find this aspect of the game to be somewhat challenging due to a lack of preparedness. So, it's important to keep some equipment on Link that can help him deal with the extreme temperatures of Breath of the Wild's world.
12 Not Unlocking Great Fairy Fountains All Over The Map
The Great Fairy Fountains present all across the map of Breath of the Wild are vital to Link's quest. After all, these Fairies have the power to upgrade Link's equipment, which is integral to surviving the harsh landscape of the game.
Players need to prioritize finding these Great Fairy Fountains as soon as possible. Failing to do so means that they'll soon become mincemeat at the hands of most enemies in the game after a point.
11 Avoiding The Dragons Instead Of Trying To Hit Them For Loot
The dragons are another striking visual element of Breath of the Wild. Removing the corruption on Naydra and uncovering the secrets of the other dragons is surprisingly engaging.
However, some players might just gaze at these dragons and not really interact with them. This is a mistake since players can hit different body parts of the dragon to get a valuable drop every day.
10 Trying To Fight Lynels Early On
Taking on a Lynel is easily one of the hardest challenges in Breath of the Wild, given the fact that they're one of the hardest normal enemies to fight in the game.
Trying to fell one of these foes early on when Link can barely take a few blows from a Bokoblin is not recommended in the slightest, and will definitely send the player to the Game Over screen in record time.
9 Barely Saving Up On Arrows
Ranged combat is definitely one of the best and easiest ways to dispatch most foes in Breath of the Wild... but keep in mind that arrows aren't as plentiful in the game as one might've been led to believe.
This applies even more for special arrows, with some of the elemental arrows being critical in certain shrines and the like when it comes to achieving a solution in a simpler and faster manner.
8 Saving The Best Equipment For Later
The integration of weapon durability in Breath of the Wild was mainly done to encourage experimentation with different weapons and not have players stick to the same powerful weapon over and over again.
Given the fact that Link will get powerful weapons over time as he progresses in the game, it would be wise of the player to not hoard weapons and shields but freely use them in battle without a care in the world.
7 Picking Up Every Weapon Possible
The player should be wary of the fact that not all weapons in Breath of the Wild are worth picking up, especially after a point in the game when the scaled weapons themselves are way better than anything else that the player might get in their travels.
The arms dropped by the skeleton enemies are a great example of this — while fairly useful early on, these weapons end up being nothing more than a nuisance as Link ends up finding better (and definitely more durable) weapons over time.
6 Not Using Runes In Battle
The runes that Link uses in Breath of the Wild aren't just used for solving puzzles — they can also help out in a pinch during combat as well.
Magnesis can be used to manipulate objects and disarm enemies with metallic weapons. Meanwhile, upgrading the Statis rune can even allow the play to freeze enemies in their tracks as well, which can definitely allow for some breathing room while simultaneously allowing for a few extra hits as well.
5 Wearing Metal Equipment In A Thunderstorm
The world of Breath of the Wild is a very reactive one, and this can certainly lead to a ton of interesting interactions between the elements of Hyrule's world. However, not all of these interactions are beneficial... in fact, some of them can prove to be quite painful indeed.
Players who want a great example of a detrimental reaction need to just equip a metallic weapon or shield and wait in a thunderstorm for a while, before a giant bolt of lightning shoots them down in one of the most shocking moments in the game... quite literally.
4 Ignoring The Beams Of Light At Night
Star fragments are one of the rarest items that one can find in Breath of the Wild, so the player should jump on every opportunity possible to get these highly valuable items in the game.
That being said, one has to keep in mind that most of these fragments can only be found sometimes at night. A beam of light will be the only indication during this time, and players need to be wary and go to these points of interest as soon as possible in order to obtain the star fragments.
3 Trying To Take On The Enemies In The Yiga Clan Hideout
The Yiga Clan Hideout serves as a rather important area that the player must get through during the quest to free Vah Naboris... but doing so is easier said than done.
Players are pretty much forced into going through this entire area in a stealthy manner, and trying to take on these enemies ends up being an exercise in futility since a single hit from the Blademaster will one-shot Link with zero hope of revival.
2 Heading To Hyrule Castle From The Get-Go
After getting the glider and flying off of the Great Plateau, the player might be tempted to go all the way to Hyrule Castle and take on Ganon. However, doing so will be nothing more than a complete waste of time.
The path to Hyrule Castle is full of Guardian Stalkers, Skywatchers, and everything else along the same lines. So, it goes without saying that any person who wishes to tackle Hyrule Castle should only do so after due consideration and preparation.
1 Not Liberating All The Divine Beasts Before Fighting Ganon
The final fight with Calamity Ganon is extremely challenging... but players who ignored some or all of the Divine Beast questlines will be particularly frustrated due to the mechanics of this fight.
Without the help of the Divine Beasts, Link will have to face Calamity Ganon at full strength. What makes this even worse is the fact that each of the Blights that Link never faced up until now will appear one by one before the ultimate fight with Ganon.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is available on the Nintendo Switch and Wii U.