You're standing at the entrance to the Lost Woods. The mist is thick, creepy, and ready to spit you back to the start if you take one wrong step. But you aren't here for the Master Sword this time. No, you’re here for the Test of Wood BOTW, and honestly, it’s one of the most frustratingly specific challenges in all of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Damia is waiting for you. This little Korok has a very simple rule: reach the shrine at the end without breaking or unhooking your equipment. Sounds easy? It’s not. Most people walk into this thinking they can just sprint through. They forget that the Great Hyrule Forest is basically a deathtrap for wooden gear.
What the Test of Wood BOTW Actually Asks of You
Let’s be real. The mechanics of the Test of Wood are pretty unique. Damia hands you a Forest Dweller's Sword, a Forest Dweller's Shield, and a Forest Dweller's Bow. If any of these break, or if you try to switch to your fancy Savage Lynel gear, you fail instantly. "Hey! You can't do that!" Damia will squeal, and you’re back at the starting line.
The path to the Maag Halan Shrine is a gauntlet. It’s a mix of boggy marshes, fire-breathing Octoroks, and those annoying Fire Keese. The irony isn't lost on anyone—the trial forces you to use flammable wooden equipment in an area crawling with things that want to burn it to a crisp. If your shield catches fire and burns away, that counts as it "breaking." Game over. Back to the start.
Dealing With the Fire Threat
The biggest run-killer in the Test of Wood BOTW is the fire. Seriously. Fire Keese are the absolute worst here. If one touches your shield, the durability starts ticking down as it turns into a pile of ash. You have to be proactive.
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Most players make the mistake of trying to block the fire. Don't do that. Use your bow from a distance. If you see a Fire Keese, snipe it before it gets close. If your shield does catch fire, some people think they can just swap it out to save it. Nope. Remember Damia’s rule? You swap, you lose. You have to put the fire out by swinging the sword or just being fast, but usually, once it's lit, you're in trouble.
Cryonis is your best friend. There are sections with deep mud and bogs where you can’t just walk. Flipping up an ice pillar gives you a vantage point and keeps you out of the muck. It also gives you a second to breathe and scan for those hidden Octoroks that love to snipe you from the fog.
The Secret Path and Avoiding Combat
You don't actually have to kill everything. In fact, fighting is usually a bad idea. Every time you hit a Cursed Skull or an Octorok with that Forest Dweller’s Sword, you’re eating away at its durability. If it breaks before you reach the shrine, you’ve wasted your time.
I’ve seen speedrunners just ignore the enemies entirely. They use Stasis+ on the crates blocking the path and just launch them out of the way. If you have the Stealth set (the Sheikah gear from Kakariko Village), wear it. It makes a massive difference. Being able to crouch-walk past a group of enemies without them noticing saves your gear’s durability and your own sanity.
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There is a specific part of the trail with crates and barrels. A lot of players try to blow them up with Remote Bombs. That works, but be careful. The explosion can send your wooden gear flying or, worse, set it on fire if there’s a stray torch nearby. It’s often safer to just use Magnesis to move the metallic crates if there are any, or just climb around the obstacles.
Why the Maag Halan Shrine Is Worth the Headache
Once you finally see that orange glow of the Maag Halan Shrine, the relief is huge. But why do we even do this? Beyond the satisfaction of completion, the Test of Wood BOTW is part of the "The Korok Trials" side quest, which is essential if you’re a completionist looking to clear every shrine.
The shrine itself is a "Blessing" shrine. This means the challenge was getting there, so you don't have to do a puzzle inside. You walk in, grab the chest—which usually contains a Giant Ancient Core—and take your Spirit Orb.
One thing people often overlook is the gear itself. The Forest Dweller's Sword is actually one of the rarer items in the game. Once you finish the trial, you can usually find a respawning version or keep the one you used. It’s not the strongest weapon in Link’s arsenal, but for collectors, it’s a trophy.
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Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
- Panic Swapping: It’s muscle memory. You see a Guardian or a tough enemy and you instinctively hit the D-pad to swap to a better shield. In the Test of Wood, this is a death sentence. You have to consciously keep your thumbs away from the weapon swap buttons.
- Ignoring the Weather: If a thunderstorm rolls in, you’re actually in luck. Rain puts out fires. However, lightning doesn't care about your wooden gear, so just keep an eye on the sky.
- The Bog: Don't try to swim. Link will sink in the mud almost instantly. Use Cryonis or jump across the wooden platforms provided.
- Burning Gear: If your shield is on fire, swing your sword. Sometimes the animation can help, but honestly, the best fix is not getting hit. Use your bow. The trial gives you plenty of arrows.
Breaking the Game (The Easy Way)
If you're really struggling, there’s a bit of a "cheese" strategy. You can actually clear the path before you talk to Damia. Walk the trail, kill all the Octoroks, blow up the crates, and clear the Fire Keese. Then, warp back or walk back to the start and trigger the quest. Since the enemies take a while to respawn (unless there’s a Blood Moon), the path will be significantly clearer. It feels a bit like cheating, but hey, Hylian problems require Hylian solutions.
Another tip: use your map. The Lost Woods are designed to disorient you, but the trial path is relatively linear. If you see the fog starting to close in or the screen fading to white, you’re straying too far. Stick to the lanterns and the obvious clearings.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Attempt
- Prep your Armor: Put on the Stealth Set or the Flamebreaker Armor if you’re worried about heat, though Stealth is generally better for avoiding unwanted fights.
- Clear the Path: If you've failed three times, go through the path once without starting the quest and kill every Octorok you see.
- Abuse Runes: Use Stasis+ to scout for enemies in the tall grass and Cryonis to bypass the swamp sections safely.
- Keep Your Distance: Use the Forest Dweller's Bow for 90% of the encounters. Melee is a last resort.
- Watch the Durability: If you see the "Your weapon is badly damaged" notification, you are likely going to fail. Restarting early is sometimes less frustrating than failing at the finish line.
The Test of Wood BOTW isn't about strength; it's about patience and keeping your cool when things start burning. Treat it like a stealth mission rather than a combat trial, and you'll find yourself at the Maag Halan Shrine in no time.