Honestly, the first time you step off the Great Plateau, it feels like a slap in the face. A good one. But a slap nonetheless. Most open-world games hold your hand with a white-knuckle grip, pointing markers at every blade of grass, but Hyrule just... sits there. It waits. And that's exactly why people still find themselves hunting for a The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild guide almost a decade after the game changed everything. You think you know how it works. You think you've seen every shrine. You haven't.
The world is massive. It’s 60 square kilometers of sheer, unadulterated "what the heck is that?"
Most players spend their first twenty hours just trying not to die of hypothermia in the mountains or getting fried by a stray lightning bolt because they forgot they were carrying a metal sword. It’s a game about systems. Chemistry. Physics. It’s less about following a story and more about surviving a playground that actively wants to kill you.
The Great Plateau is Actually a Masterclass in Game Design
Before you even get the Paraglider, the game is teaching you. It’s sneaky. You think you’re just doing chores for an old man, but you’re actually learning the fundamental laws of a digital universe.
Take the cold. You go up the mountain, you start shaking, you lose health. A basic The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild guide would tell you to go cook some peppers. But a real player knows there are at least three ways to bypass that. You can carry a lit torch. You can find the Warm Doublet. You can literally just eat enough apples to out-heal the damage if you're stubborn enough. This is the "Multi-Solution" philosophy that Eiji Aonuma and Hidemaro Fujibayashi baked into the code.
Breaking the "Correct" Way to Play
There is no correct way. That’s the lie. People get obsessed with finding the "right" order for the Divine Beasts. Is it Vah Ruta? Vah Medoh?
Most experts suggest hitting Vah Medoh (the giant bird in the sky) first. Why? Because Revali’s Gale is a literal game-changer. Being able to launch yourself into the air at will makes exploration ten times easier. But if you're a combat-heavy player, you might want Mipha’s Grace from the Zora region first because, let's be real, you're going to die. A lot.
The Chemistry Engine Nobody Talks About
We talk about the graphics. We talk about the music, or the lack of it. But the "Chemistry Engine" is the real hero here. This isn't just a buzzword. It's a set of rules governing how materials interact.
Fire + Wind = Updraft.
Electricity + Metal = Conductivity.
Ice + Water = Platforms.
If you’re stuck on a shrine, stop looking for a key. Look for a way to break the physics. Use Magnesis to swing a metal box like a wrecking ball. Use Stasis to build up kinetic energy in a boulder until it flies like a rocket. I’ve seen people skip entire puzzles by just "bomb-jumping"—using the blast from a remote bomb to propel Link across gaps the developers definitely didn't intend for him to cross yet.
✨ Don't miss: Sex Fallout New Vegas: Why Obsidian’s Writing Still Outshines Modern RPGs
The Truth About Weapon Durability
People hate it. They really do. You find a Royal Broadsword and you're afraid to use it because it’ll shatter after twenty hits.
Here is the secret: weapons are ammunition. Don't treat them like treasures. Treat them like bullets. The game is constantly throwing gear at you. If you’re hoarding your best stuff for a boss, you’re playing at a disadvantage. Use the high-damage spear on the Hinox now. There will be another one in the next camp. The only weapon that stays is the Master Sword, and even that needs a nap every few minutes.
Finding the Shrines Without Losing Your Mind
There are 120 shrines in the base game. 136 if you have the DLC.
Some are hidden behind breakable walls. Some are buried under snow. Others require you to stand naked on a pedestal during a blood moon (looking at you, Kass). If you’re using a The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild guide to find them all, don't just follow a map. Use the Sheikah Sensor+ and actually listen to the pings.
The most common mistake? Ignoring the "Test of Strength" shrines early on. If you walk into a Major Test of Strength with three hearts and a tree branch, you're going to have a bad time. Mark them on your map with a skull icon and come back when you have at least one set of upgraded armor.
The Armor Upgrade Trap
Speaking of armor, let’s talk about the Great Fairies. They are expensive. They want your Rupees and your materials.
Focus on the Soldier’s Set for raw defense, or the Stealth Set from Kakariko Village if you want to actually catch bugs and lizards without them bolting. Upgrading your gear at a Fairy Fountain isn't just about numbers; it unlocks set bonuses. Wearing the full Climbing Gear set makes you climb faster, obviously, but upgrading it twice reduces the stamina cost of jumping while climbing. That changes how you navigate the entire world.
Why 900 Korok Seeds is a Joke (And Why You Only Need 441)
Hestu is the giant broccoli-looking spirit who expands your inventory. He wants Korok seeds. There are 900 of them.
Do not try to find 900.
🔗 Read more: Why the Disney Infinity Star Wars Starter Pack Still Matters for Collectors in 2026
You only need 441 to max out your weapon, bow, and shield slots. Anything after that is purely for "completionist" bragging rights, and the reward you get for finding all 900 is... well, it’s literally a golden piece of poop. The developers are trolling you. It’s a reminder that the journey is the point, not the destination.
Look for patterns in the environment. Three apple trees with uneven fruit? Pick them so they match. A circle of stones with one missing? Find the stray rock. A pinwheel spinning in the wind? Stand near it and look for targets. They are everywhere.
Cooking is the Real Cheat Code
Forget potions. Cook food.
A single "Hearty" ingredient (like a Hearty Durian or Hearty Truffle) cooked alone will fully restore your health and give you extra yellow hearts. It’s broken. It makes the game significantly easier. If you’re struggling, go to the Faron region, find the trees with the big spiky yellow fruits, and cook them one by one. You’ll be invincible.
Also, don't ignore "Enduring" foods. Having a second bar of stamina can be the difference between reaching the top of a cliff or falling to your death and losing ten minutes of progress.
Dealing with the Guardians
Those piano notes. You know the ones. The frantic, high-pitched staccato that means a laser is currently aimed at your forehead.
Early game, Guardians are terrifying. Late game, they are your best source of Ancient Parts. You can parry their lasers with any shield—even a pot lid—if your timing is perfect. Press A right when you see the blue flash around the Guardian's eye. If you're too scared to parry, use an Ancient Arrow. One shot to the eye and they're done.
But Ancient Arrows are expensive. Buy them at the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab. You’ll need screws, springs, and shafts. Don't sell your ancient materials to merchants for quick cash unless you really have to. You'll regret it when you're trying to craft the Ancient Armor set.
The DLC Paradox
If you're playing in 2026, you likely have the "Master Trials" and "The Champions' Ballad."
💡 You might also like: Grand Theft Auto Games Timeline: Why the Chronology is a Beautiful Mess
The Master Sword Trials are the hardest content in the game. You start with nothing. No clothes, no food, no weapons. It forces you to use every single mechanic you've learned. If you can beat the Final Trials, your Master Sword stays powered up permanently. It's worth it, but wait until you have at least 15-20 hearts.
The Champions' Ballad gives you more backstory on the four pilots, but more importantly, it gives you the Master Cycle Zero. Yes, a motorcycle. In a fantasy game. It runs on garbage. Literally, you can put apples or monster parts in the fuel tank.
Mastery of the Map
Hyrule is divided into 15 regions, each with its own tower.
Don't just rush the towers. Look at the terrain. The game uses "triangles" in its landscape design—a concept discussed by the developers at GDC. Large mountains or structures are shaped like triangles to hide what's behind them. This creates a loop of "I see a thing, I go to the thing, I see a new thing from the top of that thing."
If you feel overwhelmed, pick a direction and stick to it. The game is designed to reward curiosity. See a weirdly shaped ruins? There's probably a chest there. See a bird circling a specific spot? There’s probably a shrine.
Combat Nuance for the Non-Pro
You don't need to be a "pro gamer" to handle Lynels.
- Flurry Rush: Dodge a horizontal swing by jumping backward, or a vertical swing by jumping sideways. Time it right, and the world slows down.
- Mounting: If you hit a Lynel in the face with an arrow, it gets stunned. Run up to it and press A to mount it. You can whack it five times without using any weapon durability.
- Stasis+: Upgrade your Stasis rune at the Hateno Lab. It lets you freeze enemies. This is the ultimate "get out of jail free" card.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Session
If you’re feeling stuck or bored, change your approach. The magic of a The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild guide isn't in telling you exactly where to go, but in reminding you what’s possible.
- Go to the Faron Woods: Farm Hearty Durians near the Faron Tower. It makes you nearly unkillable.
- Upgrade Stasis First: Visit Purah in Hateno Village. The ability to freeze enemies is more valuable than any weapon.
- Find the Climbing Gear: It’s hidden in shrines in the Necluda and Hateno regions. It makes exploration 50% less frustrating.
- Stop Fast Traveling: You miss 90% of the Koroks and hidden chests when you teleport everywhere. Ride a horse. Walk. Climb.
- Talk to Everyone: NPCs in stables often give you side quests that lead to the best gear, like the Rubber Armor (which makes you immune to lightning).
Hyrule isn't a checklist. It's an ecosystem. The moment you stop trying to "beat" it and start trying to live in it, the game opens up in ways you didn't think were possible in a piece of software from 2017. Go find a mountain. Climb it. See what's on the other side. That's the only guide you really need.