When The Legend of Zelda was released in 1986, it ushered in a new era of video game design. It’s one of Nintendo’s most influential franchises and is known for nonlinear gameplay in a large but unified world.
This latest installment, Breath of the Wild, is no exception. It’s a huge open world, and it can be easy to get lost.
Don’t be afraid to run away
Breath of the Wild is a game that wants you to figure things out on your own. That’s great, but it can also be overwhelming for players who are just starting out.
For example, many players have been tempted to explore the far reaches of Hyrule when they’ve found a shrine. But this can be dangerous because enemies are far more powerful further south.
Save your best weapons for later
Breath of the Wild is challenging, but in a good way. The game’s open-world nature requires players to solve puzzles on their own.
That means that sometimes you’ll face enemies that you simply can’t beat. When this happens, mark them on your map and come back when you have better weapons. Headshots in particular deal a lot of damage. Use this to your advantage whenever you can.
Don’t be afraid to Fuse
Fusing weapons and materials is a great way to make some really cool weapon combinations. For instance, a Keese-imbued shield makes an awesome way to take out annoying one-hit mobs like Chu Chus and Aerocuda wings.
You can also enhance the attack power of bone weapons by fusing monster drops like Silver Lynel Saber Horns. There are many other things you can do with fusion too, including combining objects to create environmental puzzles.
Always keep a wooden weapon on hand
If you’re equipped with a sword, bow or shield in a lightning storm, they’ll start to crackle. Unequip them and swap in wooden weapons right away, or you’ll be toast.
Keeping up your equipment in The Legend of Zelda is crucial to the game’s non-linearity. This is especially true in the large open world of Hyrule. Virtually everything can be reached if you are willing to put in the work.
Don’t be afraid to surf
Shield surfing is one of the coolest new ways to traverse the huge open world in Zelda BOTW. To use it, simply equip your shield, press ZL to put it in guard mode, then jump with X and while in midair, press A.
This will essentially allow you to ride your shield like a surfboard down mountains and slopes without burning your stamina. Players have discovered it can be especially helpful when combined with items, such as a mine cart and a spring, for added speed and maneuverability.
Collect Brightbloom seeds
Brightbloom seeds are one of the best ways to illuminate dark portions of the game’s various cave systems. They can be found sticking out of the walls and ceilings in many of these caves, and are very easy to collect by simply walking close to them.
Once gathered, players can throw them or even attach them to their bow for further illumination. This makes navigating the darker areas of Hyrule much more efficient.
Fuse all your weapons
The Fuse ability is one of the more powerful ones in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. It allows players to meld objects to weapons and shields for various effects.
Series producer Eiji Aonuma walked through the process in a recent video. He started with a stick that was about to break and tacked on a boulder, turning it into a primitive maul.
Collect Sky Island rocks
After a slow introductory walk, players will find themselves in a large chamber that serves as a hub area for the Sky Kingdom. This is where most of the early story will take place.
From time to time, ensorcelled sky rocks will fall from the heavens and land on the ground. These can be mounted by using Recall to rewind their trajectory and climb them back up into the air.
Collect flint
The ability to start a fire is incredibly important in The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild. Campfires allow you to cook food and pass time, but more importantly they can also upgrade certain armor items.
You can find Flint in numerous places throughout Hyrule. Look for Mineral Rocks that have a shimmering illumination, and strike them with any metal weapon to receive flint.