You’ve probably spent hundreds of hours in Hyrule by now. You know the exact curve of the Hylian Shield and the way the grass rustles just before a Guardian spots you. But honestly, if you haven’t fully conquered the champions ballad breath of the wild, you’re missing the actual soul of the game.
It isn’t just "more content." It’s a gut-punch of nostalgia and a test of everything you think you know about survival.
Starting The Trial Of A Lifetime
Getting started is actually pretty simple, though it feels momentous. You have to have freed all four Divine Beasts first. Once that's done, Zelda’s voice rings out in your head, guiding you back to where everything began: the Shrine of Resurrection on the Great Plateau.
When you slot the Sheikah Slate back into its original terminal, things get weird. You’re handed the One-Hit Obliterator. It sounds like a power trip, right? It kills anything in one swing. The catch is that it drains your health down to a quarter heart.
One scratch? You’re dead. One bee sting? Game over. It forces you to play Breath of the Wild like a stealth-horror game. You’ll find yourself crouched in the brush for ten minutes just to time a single arrow shot on a Bokoblin. It's stressful. It's frustrating. It is absolutely brilliant.
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Walking In The Footsteps Of Legends
After the Plateau trial, the weapon shatters into four pieces, marking four monuments across the map. This is where the narrative heavy lifting happens. You aren't just doing chores; you’re reconstructing the memories of Mipha, Revali, Daruk, and Urbosa.
Kass, everyone’s favorite accordion-playing Rito, is waiting at these monuments. He’s trying to finish his teacher’s "unfinished song." To help him, you have to complete three specific trials for each Champion. These aren't just "go here, kill that" quests. You’re shield-surfing down icy peaks, racing through rings in the Zora domain, and hunting down the Yiga Clan in their own backyard.
Each set of trials culminates in an "Illusory Realm" boss fight. You have to fight the Blight Ganons again, but there is a major twist: you only get the gear that specific Champion had when they died. No more relying on your hoard of 99 Ancient Arrows or your maxed-out Savage Lynel Sword. If you’re fighting Waterblight Ganon, you’re stuck with Mipha’s Lightscale Trident and a handful of arrows. It makes the fights feel personal and, frankly, way harder than the original encounters.
The Real Story Details
What most people love about this DLC are the diaries. You can find new journals in the homes of the Champions—like Mipha’s diary in Zora’s Domain or Urbosa’s in Riju’s palace. They give these characters a level of depth the base game lacked. You realize Revali wasn't just a jerk for the sake of it; he was obsessed with perfection because he felt he had everything to prove.
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The Final Dungeon And The Greatest Boss In Zelda History
Once you’ve finished the four songs, you head back to the Shrine of Resurrection for the final dungeon. It’s essentially a fifth Divine Beast, built like a massive, intricate clockwork puzzle. It requires a lot of Magnesis and Stasis work to shift gears and manipulate the environment.
But the real reward isn't the puzzle. It’s the boss at the end: Monk Maz Koshia.
For years, we’d seen these mummified Sheikah Monks sitting still at the end of every shrine. In the champions ballad breath of the wild, one of them actually stands up.
The fight is a masterpiece of game design. Maz Koshia uses every trick in the book. He teleports like a Yiga member, uses elemental arrows, and even clones himself into a dozen copies. In the final phase, he grows to the size of a house and starts throwing metallic spiked balls at you. It is arguably the most difficult and rewarding fight in the entire game, far outclassing the final battle with Calamity Ganon.
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Pro tip: If the clone phase is driving you crazy, drop a bunch of Mighty Bananas on the floor. Just like the Yiga, the Monk can't resist them. He’ll get distracted for a few seconds, giving you a window for a massive combo.
The Ultimate Prize: The Master Cycle Zero
After you beat the Monk, you get the Master Cycle Zero. Yes, Link gets a motorcycle.
It feels totally ridiculous at first. A bike in a high-fantasy world? But it works. It’s fueled by literally anything in your inventory—Apples, Monster Parts, Rock Salt—and it makes traversing the late-game map a joy. It’s faster than a horse, you can summon it anywhere (except the desert), and it can even jump.
It isn't just a gimmick. It’s a tool for the completionists. If you’re still hunting for those last few hundred Korok seeds, the bike is your best friend.
Actionable Next Steps For Your Playthrough
If you’re ready to dive back in, here is how you should approach the DLC to get the most out of it:
- Stock up on Ancient Arrows before starting the Great Plateau trial. The One-Hit Obliterator is melee only, and having a range option for the Guardians will save your sanity.
- Read the Diaries immediately after completing each Champion's song. It makes the final cutscene much more emotional when you understand their inner thoughts.
- Save your Urbosa’s Fury for Maz Koshia’s clone phase. One blast will reveal the real Monk instantly.
- Check the Deya Village Ruins and Riverside Stable for rumors of "EX" chests. These contain the Ancient Horse Gear and the Royal Guard set, which are separate from the main ballad quest but very useful.
The Champions Ballad is the definitive ending to the Breath of the Wild experience. It turns the game from a lonely survival story into a tribute to the friends Link lost along the way. If you own the Expansion Pass, go to the Shrine of Resurrection tonight. It's time to finish the song.