Hyrule is big. Like, "I've been walking for forty minutes and I'm still in a field" big. When The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild first dropped, the internet was flooded with people trying to figure out how to navigate a world that basically tells you to go away the moment you step off the Great Plateau. Most people look for a breath of the wild game guide because they’re stuck on a specific Shrine or can't find that last Korok seed, but honestly, the biggest hurdle isn't the puzzles. It's the mindset.
You're probably treating it like a checklist. Don't.
Nintendo designed this game to be broken. If you aren't cheesing the physics or using a metal box to bludgeon a Guardian to death, you’re missing out on the actual soul of the experience. It’s a chemistry set disguised as an adventure game.
Stop Following the Map
The Sheikah Slate is a trap.
Well, not a literal trap, but the way most players use it is counterproductive. You see a tower, you climb it, you download the map, and then you stare at the icons. This is the fastest way to burn out. Instead of looking at the map, look at the horizon. See that weirdly shaped mountain? Go there.
The game uses "triangular design." This is a concept discussed by Nintendo developers at GDC 2017. They intentionally place large triangular structures (mountains, hills, ruins) to obscure what's behind them. This triggers a specific psychological response: you want to see what’s on the other side. If you're constantly staring at your mini-map, you’re bypassing the very curiosity the developers spent years baking into the terrain.
The Great Plateau is your only real tutorial
Everything you need to know is taught in those first two hours. You learn that cold kills you, fire creates updrafts, and metal attracts lightning. If you're struggling later in the game, it’s usually because you’ve forgotten one of these basic environmental rules.
The Combat Secret: It’s Not About the Sword
Weapon durability is the most controversial part of any breath of the wild game guide. People hate it. They find a Royal Broadsword and they're terrified to use it.
Here’s the truth: weapons are ammunition.
Stop thinking of your sword as a permanent part of your kit and start thinking of it like a clip in a gun. You use it, it empties, you throw it at a Moblin’s head for double damage, and you pick up whatever they were holding. If you’re hoarding "good" weapons, you’re making the game harder for yourself. The game scales with you. As you kill more enemies, the world "levels up," and enemies start carrying better gear. You literally cannot run out of high-end weapons because the world is a giant vending machine.
- Lightning is a weapon. If it’s raining and a group of enemies is standing in a puddle, throw a metallic weapon at them.
- Physics > Friction. Use Stasis+ on an enemy, hit them three times, and watch them fly into the stratosphere.
- The environment is your friend. See a boulder above a camp? Use it. See some dry grass? Burn it.
Actually, let's talk about Lynels. They are the "real" bosses of the game. If you're trying to parry and dodge every hit, you better have perfect timing. Or, you could just shoot them in the face with an arrow, jump on their back, and hit them with your highest-damage weapon. Fun fact: hitting a Lynel while mounted doesn't use any weapon durability. None. Zero.
Cooking is the Game’s Difficulty Slider
Most people don't realize that cooking is basically the "Easy Mode" button. If you're struggling with a boss, you don't need better armor; you need better snacks.
Five Hearty Durians cooked together will give you "Full Recovery" plus 20 yellow hearts. You can find these easily near the Faron Woods Sharia Tower. Just glide off the tower onto the plateau with the two Lizalfos. It’s a gold mine.
But it’s not just about health. Speed boosts are arguably more important. In a game this big, moving 30% faster makes everything feel better. Cook four Fleet-Lotus Seeds with a dragon horn (if you’re feeling fancy) for a 30-minute level three speed boost. It changes the game.
Don't sleep on the "Hearty" ingredient rule
Any single item with "Hearty" in the name, when cooked alone, will fully heal Link and give at least one extra heart. Don't waste five Hearty Truffles in one dish. Cook them one by one. You’ll end up with five full-heal items instead of one slightly better one.
🔗 Read more: The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild Collector's Edition: Why People Are Still Paying Hundreds for It
The Truth About the Master Sword
Everyone wants it immediately. You need 13 red hearts to pull it. No, yellow hearts from food don't count.
Is it worth it? Yes and no. It’s the only weapon that doesn't "break" in the traditional sense, but it still runs out of energy and needs to recharge. It’s most useful in Divine Beasts and around Hyrule Castle, where it glows blue and its power jumps from 30 to 60. Outside of those areas, it’s just a decent one-handed sword.
The real value of the Master Sword is the beam attack. If you have full health, hold the throw button. Link flings a beam of light. It’s perfect for hunting animals or clearing out weak Keese swarms without wasting your "real" weapons.
Mastering the Divine Beasts Without Losing Your Mind
The Divine Beasts are essentially giant 3D puzzles. They are less about combat and more about spatial awareness.
- Vah Ruta (The Elephant): It’s all about the trunk. You can control the angle of the trunk via the map screen. This changes where the water flows inside the beast. If you can't reach a terminal, try moving the trunk.
- Vah Rudania (The Lizard): It’s dark at first, so use blue flames to light the torches. The big gimmick here is tilting the entire beast 90 degrees.
- Vah Medoh (The Bird): This is the easiest one. It’s all about wind currents. If you’re stuck, check if a fan is blocked or if you need to tilt the wings to let a slider move.
- Vah Naboris (The Camel): This is the hardest. The three rotating segments in the middle are a nightmare. Focus on the electrical lines. If the green light isn't connecting, the segments aren't aligned.
Thunderblight Ganon (in Naboris) is the only boss that actually gives players a hard time. Wear the Rubber Armor set or cook an "Electro" dish. If you don't have shock resistance, he will make you drop your shield, and then it’s game over.
Shrines: Think Outside the Box
There are 120 Shrines in the base game. Some are "Test of Strength" (combat), but most are puzzles.
If a puzzle feels impossible, you’re probably overthinking it. Remember that the Sheikah Slate abilities—Magnesis, Stasis, Cryonis, and Bombs—are the only tools you ever need. If you see a floor button, you can put a chest on it. If you see water, you can make an ice block.
One of the most famous "cheats" is the apparatus shrines—the ones where you have to tilt your controller to move a platform. Just flip your controller upside down. The bottom of the platform is usually flat, making the puzzle ten times easier. It’s not cheating; it’s using the tools provided.
Why Movement is the Highest Skill Ceiling
If you watch speedrunners or high-level players, they aren't just running. they're "Windbombing."
A Windbomb (or Bomb Impact Launch) involves jumping, placing a round bomb, entering slow-motion bow aiming, placing a square bomb, and then detonating the round bomb to launch the square one into Link’s back. It sounds insane because it is. But it allows you to fly across half the map in seconds.
💡 You might also like: How to Rotate the Camera on Sims 4 Without Losing Your Mind
You don't need to do this to beat the game. But learning how to parry a Guardian's laser is a non-negotiable skill.
How to parry a Guardian:
Stand a medium distance away. Wait for the eye to glow and for the "beep" sound to change pitch. The moment you see the blue flash of light around the eye, hit the A button. If you’re too far away, wait a split second after the flash. If you’re close, do it instantly. A successful parry reflects the beam back and does massive damage.
The Korok Seed Myth
There are 900 Korok seeds. Do not try to find them all unless you hate yourself.
You only need about 441 to fully max out your inventory slots. Beyond that, the reward for getting all 900 is... well, it’s a golden pile of poop. Literally. Hestu gives you a trophy that does nothing. The seeds are meant to be found organically so that no matter where you go, you’re rewarded for being observant. They aren't meant to be a completionist's nightmare, though they often become one.
Essential Late-Game Tips
- The Ancient Shield: You can buy this at the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab. It automatically reflects Guardian beams without you having to parry. It’s expensive, but it saves lives.
- Dragon Farming: Need money? Go to Riola Spring in the Faron region. Use a campfire to wait until morning. A dragon (Farosh) will spawn from the water immediately. Shoot its horn with an arrow. The horn fragment is worth 300 rupees. Repeat this for an hour and you'll be the richest person in Hyrule.
- Falling is fine: If you're out of stamina while climbing, hit the B button to let go, then quickly hit R to perform a mid-air strike. It cancels your momentum slightly and can save you from a death-loop.
Actionable Next Steps
To truly master this game, stop looking at the quest log.
First, head to the Akkala region in the northeast. It’s the most beautiful part of the map and has some of the best gear. Second, focus on upgrading your Stasis rune at the Hateno Ancient Tech Lab. Stasis+ allows you to freeze enemies, which is a total game-changer for crowd control.
Finally, go find the Kilton's Fang and Bone shop at night. He moves between the outskirts of major towns. His monster masks allow you to walk right into enemy camps without them attacking you. It’s the ultimate way to explore without the constant stress of combat.
Breath of the Wild isn't a game you finish; it's a world you inhabit. Treat every "failure" as a hilarious physics experiment. If you accidentally blow yourself up with a remote bomb, just laugh, eat a Hearty Radish, and try a different angle. That is the only breath of the wild game guide you actually need.