The excitement for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is growing now that fans know the release date and title, but understanding the working of Breath of the Wild will likely still be great for getting accustomed to this open-world formula. This exciting new format presents longtime series fans with new challenges, especially since Breath of the Wild revolutionized the open-world game design in general.
Naturally, though, this means that newcomers will be making some early mistakes in their ventures. From managing stamina to minding Hyrule's volatile weather patterns, there are several things players should be aware of to make their quest as smooth as possible.
Putting Off The Great Fairy Fountains
Players should stumble upon their first Great Fairy Fountain soon enough into the game, but it's incredibly important to follow up on unlocking each of them. They're rare to find in the continuity of Breath of the Wild, but -- for a price -- will upgrade Link's armor along with the necessary materials.
Given how much freedom the game provides in exploring Hyrule, and the fact that it doesn't make features like this a requirement to progress the story, it's easy to put off finding the Great Fairies. This could come back to haunt players, as they can find themselves in late-game encounters where their armor can't take much of a punch.
Not Managing Stamina
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is arguably one of the most immersive open-world games available. It takes so much realism into account that helps add to the high-fantasy experience, with stamina management being one of them. The vast land of Hyrule allows Link an incredible amount of freedom in how and where he travels, but players should know their limits when it comes to things like mountain climbing.
There have been countless times that players have died falling off of mountainsides or drowning in rivers because Link's current stamina wheel doesn't let him travel that far. Being mindful of Link's surroundings and how much stamina he depletes to run, climb, or swim is key to exploration.
Not Completing All The Divine Beast Dungeons
The best Legend of Zelda games incorporate dungeon exploration to some extent, and while Breath of the Wild's use of this mechanic was unconventional, the Divine Beast dungeons are what most fill this mold. They're all major parts of the story but, like with the game's naturally freeform gameplay loop, are not strictly required.
These dungeons have their own challenges to them, so glossing over them or doing the bare minimum might sound appealing for those looking for the easiest path to the end possible. However, this inadvertently makes the game harder, as Calamity Ganon will be at full power if not all of the Divine Beasts are liberated. Freeing all of them cuts Ganon's health down by an astonishing 1/2.
Putting Off The Master Sword
Every game in The Legend of Zelda series has the iconic moment where Link is bestowed with the legendary Master Sword. But since so much of Breath of the Wild's experience is left up to the player, some might miss or put off the process of getting this iteration of the weapon in Korok Forest.
If new players want to avoid as many headaches as possible, getting Master Sword is essential. To do so, players should prioritize unlocking 13 Heart Pieces to give Link enough strength to pull the sword out. It's part of why this can be easy to miss since players can technically get through the end of the game with less health than that.
Attempting To Fight Ganon Too Early
Breath of the Wild's stunning sense of scale, exploration, and liberating gameplay approach might make it tempting to try and march on to Hyrule Castle -- where Calamity Ganon resides -- as soon as possible. It is technically possible, and it's inspired some of the most exhilarating gameplay moments from daring fans online, but this is far from advisable for beginning players.
Ganon has made for some of the most memorable boss fights in the Zelda series, but aside from the fact that Calamity Ganon will be at or close to full power (depending on how many Divine beasts have been freed, if at all), merely getting to him is a daunting exercise. Hyrule Castle is a massive locale that's guarded by some of the game's most punishing enemies.
Not Taking The Weather Into Account
Part of the aforementioned realism that Breath of the Wild does so well integrating into the experience is the weather. It's something that's, at most, a visual touch in other open-world games, but the changing weather has real effects on gameplay.
That means negative effects on Link as well, with rain and thunderstorms making it more likely to take a hit from a lightning bolt, and the rain making it harder to climb. This can be used to the player's advantage, but this naturally means some might carelessly wear metal armor in a storm, equipment burning in scorching climates, and more.
Running Out Of Weapons To Use
It's one of the more controversial talking points among the Zelda fandom online, but weapon durability is nonetheless a vital mechanic that players will have to manage. Not only do weapons have a set durability value in the game, but once they break, they're gone for good.
The Master Sword is an exception to this, but because of how strict this specific mechanic is, it's easy for beginners to fall into the trap of losing track of their equipment and running out of competent weapons to use in combat. Keeping Link stocked up with primary and backup weapons is a must throughout the game.
Wasting The Best Weapons Early
Going hand-in-hand with managing Link's weapons inventory, taking into account the best weapons available is just as important. For some players, it's tempting to use that shiny and powerful new elemental sword right away, but this costs them in the long run.
Using those imposing weapons found via chests or monster drops on generic enemies in the overworld is a major waste considering the challenges that lie ahead. There's nothing worse than coming up against Lynel, Guardian, or any of the boss fights with only the most basic of weapons left on hand.
Taking On The Lynels Too Early
The Lynels are famously some of Breath of the Wild's toughest foes. As such, some players would be forgiven to be intimidated by them and avoid them altogether for a good portion of the early game. However, another novice mistake is going guns blazing to take them on too early.
These beasts are incredibly agile and deal massive damage, so it'd be a fool's errand for Link to go one-on-one against any of the game's Lynels if he's still having trouble with Hyrule's more common overworld enemies. Players should wait until they've unlocked a higher max HP, better stamina, and have access to some of the stronger weapons/armor.
Missing Out On Dragon Loot
Something else that players tend to miss out on while exploring Breath of the Wild's world is getting the full benefits of the roaming dragons. They're beautiful sights to behold when stumbled upon, and the fact that the game does so little to explain their roles in the world makes them enticing pieces of worldbuilding as well.
However, players should know that these three dragons drop valuable loot. They appear at specific times of the day, but if players manage to land hits on them, they drop rare fangs, scales, and horns that can upgrade gear and boost the duration of stat buffs from meals.