In The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, players are free to do almost anything they desire, but some choices can lead to regrets further down the line. Careful consideration should be given to certain actions in the game to avoid feeling the consequences of them later, especially since they may not be obvious at first. There might be no way for players to completely avoid doing things that will come back to haunt them in BOTW, but there are certain things they can keep in mind to stay away from most mistakes.

In BOTW, players control Link, a Hylian champion of legend who has been asleep for 100 years. In order to save the world from the evil Calamity Ganon, he must conquer the four Divine Beasts and rescue Princess Zelda from Hyrule Castle. Along the way, Link will contend with powerful enemies like BOTW's Sheikah-made Guardians, which failed to resist Ganon's influence and were twisted to his will, serving as some of the most difficult foes in the game. There are a few main goals, but Breath of the Wild generally lets players go at their own pace, even if that means rushing straight to Ganon armed with nothing more than a stick. However, that much freedom combined with the many things to do and unlock means that there are a few ways that players can inadvertently make things harder for themselves.

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Legend of Zelda games are known for their classic cucco attack, where if players attack one of their chicken-like cuccos, a swarm of them will immediately descend upon Link and retaliate. Breath of the Wild also contains this feature, but most of its regrettable actions relate more to its crafting and upgrade systems than the longtime Zelda clichés that BOTW repeats. Though few choices will actually ruin a play through if players make the wrong one, there are some that may have them wishing they could go back and do things differently.

Players Might Regret Selling Some Items In Breath Of The Wild

Link can get more Diamonds by visiting Ledo in Breath of the Wild.

Possibly the easiest mistake to make in Breath of the Wild is selling too many items. Over the course of his adventure, Link can find many different things that will help him upgrade his gear. These range from the body parts of the region's hostile Bokoblins and Lizalfos, to glittering gemstones that can be found in ore deposits throughout Hyrule. Most of them can be sold for Rupees, the currency of Zelda games. Gems especially sell for a great deal, which is handy since some of the armor and clothing sets in BOTW come at a high price. Some of the best items at Kilton's monster shop in BOTW are also only available if players trade him monster parts for a currency he calls Mon, making selling the items that Link finds a necessity.

Although selling some of the Lizalfos Tails and Hinox Teeth that Link picks up can give a quick cash injection, players should think carefully about whether they'll need them in the future. Monster parts and gemstones are necessary for upgrading the various armor pieces available in Breath of the Wild. It may be tempting for players to sell some high-value items so that they can afford a nice new piece of armor, but they might regret it once they realize that they're needed to improve that same gear. Even less valuable ones like Bokoblin Horns, which can be lucrative if sold in large quantities, are used for upgrades that players may need to take on their next foe. Of all the embarassing ways Link can die in BOTW, getting beaten by a Lynel because his armor was too weak to protect him is fairly high on the list.

Players Should Balance Health & Stamina In Breath Of The Wild

A Stamina Vessel in BOTW superimposed over a quiet village

In Breath of the Wild, players have a Stamina Wheel along with a certain amount of hearts that represent their total life. Additional hearts will help players take more hits from the various enemies in the game, and are especially helpful when facing powerful foes like the Lynel or Calamity Ganon himself. Extra stamina will help Link climb, run, swim, and use the paraglider for longer, and since many of BOTW's areas involve climbing and gliding, stamina is a fairly important aspect of the game. Both it and hearts start out pretty scarce, but players can increase them with the Spirit Orbs that Link obtains when he clears Ancient Shrines. Link's stamina can be raised high in BOTW, to a maximum of two additional wheels, and his hearts can be increased by 27 to a maximum of 30. Four Spirit Orbs are necessary for one upgrade, which will give the player's choice of one additional heart or an extension on the Stamina Wheel.

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Although both health and stamina are necessary for Link's adventures, players should be wary of putting too many upgrades into one or the other. If they gain too much health and neglect their stamina, they may find that they can't climb up walls or cliffs very far. Conversely, if they get too much stamina and not enough health, they might struggle to survive as they explore Hyrule and take on BOTW's powerful non-boss enemies. Thankfully, there is a way to respec health and stamina if they find that they've put too much into one and not enough into the other; there is a statue - called the Horned Statue or the Granter of Boons - in Hateno Village that will buy either one heart or stamina container from Link for 100 Rupees, and then sell him one of either for 120, allowing players to increase or decrease both of them in Breath of the Wild as much as they need.

Players Should Explore As They Enjoy Breath Of The Wild

Link overlooks a valley in Breath of the Wild

Breath of the Wild is a big game, one that has become famous for its sprawling landscapes and the immense amount of things that players can do while they're questing to free Hyrule from the grasp of Calamity Ganon. Counting the DLC, there are a total of 90 separate side quests to complete, along with a multitude of hidden details, Easter eggs, and secrets still being discovered in BOTW 5 years after its initial release date. Exploring the region and discovering everything it has to offer is a great way to pass the time and enjoy BOTW, not just because the player may uncover something new, but also because it can lead to rare and valuable items. Weapons like the Great Flameblade can be found in the oddest places, and caches of plants and gems are everywhere.

It may be tempting to try to complete the main quest as quickly as possible, and many speedrunners take great pleasure in doing just that, but players who want to see and do everything that BOTW has to offer will need to do no small amount of exploration. Even if they're not awed by the visuals or hidden secrets, exploring is often necessary for finding the Koroks that players will need to get more weapon, bow, and shield slots, as well as ingredients for making BOTW's most powerful food recipes. Players may regret not exploring when they find themselves running out of places to put new weapons, or short on ingredients for meals that can take The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild from a slog to a cakewalk.

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