Honestly, it’s been nearly a decade since Link first woke up in that glowing bathtub in the Shrine of Resurrection, and people are still arguing about the Nintendo Breath of the Wild DLC. You might think that with Tears of the Kingdom out in the wild, the Expansion Pass for the original game would be a relic. It isn't. Not even close. If you’re jumping back into Hyrule or picking it up for the first time, you’re basically looking at two distinct flavors of content: The Master Trials and The Champions' Ballad.
Some folks will tell you it's essential. Others say it's just fluff.
The truth is somewhere in the middle. Most of what makes the DLC special isn't the flashy new story bits or even the weird motorcycle you get at the end. It's the way it fixes some of the core "annoyances" of the base game. It changes the rhythm of exploration.
The Master Trials and the Great Difficulty Spike
The first half of the Nintendo Breath of the Wild DLC dropped in the summer of 2017. It felt like a direct response to players who complained that the game got too easy once you had high-level armor and a stash of "Hearty" radishes.
Trial of the Sword is the centerpiece here. You start with nothing. No clothes, no weapons, just your runes and your wits. It’s 45 rooms of pure, unadulterated stress. If you die on floor 12, you go back to the start of that section. It’s brutal. But the payoff? A Master Sword that glows permanently and deals 60 damage without ever needing to "recharge" in the same way. It makes the weapon feel like the legendary blade it’s supposed to be, rather than a glorified butter knife that breaks after hitting three Guardians.
Master Mode is a Love-Hate Relationship
Then there’s Master Mode. This isn't just "enemies have more health." It fundamentally changes how you play. Enemies regain health if you stop attacking them for a few seconds. That means you can't just peck away with arrows from a distance. You have to be aggressive. You have to commit to the kill.
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Also, there are floating platforms held up by Octoroks. These are actually the best part of the early game because they contain high-level loot that you definitely shouldn't have when you're still wearing a tattered shirt. It breaks the game's progression in a way that feels rewarding for veterans but might feel like a chore for casual players.
The Champions' Ballad: Narrative Glue
If The Master Trials was for the combat junkies, The Champions' Ballad—released in December 2017—was for the people who actually cared about Revali’s ego or Urbosa’s maternal instincts. This second pack adds a significant chunk of "story" content, though calling it a story is a bit of a stretch. It’s more like a series of memories and challenges.
You start with the One-Hit Obliterator. It’s a gimmick weapon that lets you kill anything in one hit, but it also means you die if a stray bee touches you. It’s tense. It’s frustrating. It’s classic Nintendo.
Once you get past that initial hurdle, you dive into a series of shrines that are, frankly, much better than the ones in the base game. They’re more complex. They require more lateral thinking. You’re essentially retracing the steps of the four Champions—Mipha, Daruk, Revali, and Urbosa—to unlock additional cutscenes.
These scenes don't change the ending of the game, but they add layers. You see the Champions as people, not just ghosts. You see Zelda's struggle to lead them. For a game that was often criticized for having a "thin" plot, this DLC does a lot of heavy lifting to make the world feel lived-in.
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The Master Cycle Zero: Why a Bike?
At the very end of the Nintendo Breath of the Wild DLC, you get a motorcycle. The Master Cycle Zero.
It sounds ridiculous. A motorcycle in a fantasy setting? But it works. It runs on "materials," meaning you finally have a use for those 999 apples or salt rocks sitting in your inventory. It changes how you see the landscape. Suddenly, you aren't just climbing mountains; you're looking for jumps and flat stretches of land. It’s the ultimate "victory lap" item.
The Quality of Life Items You Actually Need
We need to talk about the stuff no one mentions in the trailers. The "small" additions.
- Hero’s Path Mode: This shows you exactly where you’ve walked for the last 200 hours of gameplay. It’s a green line on your map. It’s incredible for realizing you completely missed an entire valley in the corner of the map.
- The Travel Medallion: You can place one custom warp point anywhere. Stuck at the top of a mountain but need to go sell some ore? Drop the medallion. It’s a life-saver.
- Korok Mask: If you're one of those completionists trying to find all 900 Korok seeds, this is mandatory. It shakes when a seed is nearby. Without it, you're just stabbing in the dark.
- Majora’s Mask: This is borderline "cheat mode." Most common enemies won't attack you while you're wearing it. It makes traversing the map significantly less annoying if you're just trying to get from point A to point B without fighting every Bokoblin on the road.
Is the Price Tag Justified?
Nintendo rarely does sales. You’re likely looking at $19.99 for the Expansion Pass. You cannot buy the packs separately.
Is it worth twenty bucks?
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If you finished the game and felt "done," maybe not. But if you find yourself wandering around Hyrule just to see the sights, or if you feel like the boss fights were too easy, then the Nintendo Breath of the Wild DLC is a must. It bridges the gap between the original experience and the more "engineered" feel of the sequel.
There's a specific kind of magic in returning to the Great Plateau for the One-Hit Obliterator challenge. It forces you to look at the very first area of the game with fresh eyes. You realize how well-designed the geometry of the world is. You stop relying on your high-level gear and start relying on the environment again. That’s where the game shines brightest.
Common Misconceptions About the Expansion Pass
A lot of people think the DLC adds a new "post-game" area. It doesn't.
Everything happens within the existing map of Hyrule. There is no "New Game Plus" in the traditional sense where you carry over your items to a new save (except for Master Mode, which is a separate save file entirely).
Another misconception is that the DLC is "required" to understand Tears of the Kingdom. It isn't. While there are small nods to the Champions' stories, the sequel stands on its own. The DLC is about deepening your relationship with this version of the world.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Playthrough
If you decide to dive into the Nintendo Breath of the Wild DLC, here is the most efficient way to tackle it without burning out:
- Grab the Majora’s Mask early: It’s hidden in the ruins in North Hyrule Field (check the Kolomo Garrison Ruins). It makes the early-game trek much smoother.
- Don't wait until the end for the Master Trials: Try the "Beginning Trials" as soon as you get the Master Sword. The reward—the increased sword power—is much more useful during the mid-game than it is after you've already beaten Ganon.
- Use Hero’s Path to find Shrines: If you're stuck at 110 shrines, turn on Hero’s Path. Look for the "black holes" on your map where there are no green lines. That’s where your missing shrines are.
- Fuel the Master Cycle with ancient parts: While you can use anything, "Ancient Materials" provide the most fuel. But honestly, just dump your excess flint or wood into it. It’s cheaper.
- Save the Champions' Ballad for last: This content is designed for players who have already defeated the four Divine Beasts. It serves as a perfect narrative bridge before you head to Hyrule Castle for the final confrontation.
The DLC doesn't reinvent the wheel. It just makes the wheel spin faster and gives it some shiny new spokes. It’s a love letter to the systems that made the game a masterpiece in the first place. Whether you're hunting for a golden Lynel in Master Mode or just trying to find that one last Korok, these additions make the world feel just a little bit more complete.