After the disappointing performance of the Wii U, it was clear that Nintendo needed to hit the ground running with the Nintendo Switch. This entailed having a good launch lineup that would compel people to purchase the console, and Nintendo definitely managed to knock it out of the park in this regard with the release of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
After numerous delays, the latest Zelda title ended up blowing everyone out of the water when it was released — something that was very much required given the numerous delays the title had faced. Link's latest adventures in the world of Hyrule ended up being revolutionary when it came to revamping the open-world formula and allowing people to enjoy what is easily one of the most innovative open-world games ever made.
For people who wish to get into this sublime title, here are ten common mistakes that most people make — and one should avoid — in Breath of the Wild.
Updated on January 16, 2022 by Ritwik Mitra: Breath of the Wild is arguably the greatest Nintendo Switch game of all time and is a fitting candidate for being one of the best open-world titles ever made as well. The game takes a really hands-off approach and lets players do whatever they want from the very moment they're dropped into the meat of the campaign. Breath of the Wild can also be a really challenging experience, and there are certain mistakes that new players generally commit. A few more BOTW mistakes to avoid have been added to this article.
15 Delaying A Visit To Korok Forest
Players should make it a priority to get as many hearts as possible early on so that they can take the Master Sword out of its pedestal in Korok Forest. It's a great and reliable weapon that can absolutely destroy Ancient enemies with ease.
However, some players might get so invested in the act of exploring Breath of the Wild's open-world that they'd forget about the importance of Korok Forest. This would be a shame since the benefits of the Master Sword should be utilized sooner rather than later.
14 Ignoring The Loot Dropped By Enemies
There are many enemies present in the world of Breath of the Wild, and players will have to deal with them sooner or later. Once these enemies are defeated, looting their drops is an important part of the adventure.
However, some people might tire of having to face the same enemies over and over again. While certain basic foes can be ignored later in a playthrough, players should go out of their way to defeat the tougher enemies in BOTW due to how rare and useful their loot is.
13 Failing To Keep Items, Weapons, And Armor That Provide Temperature Resistances
Breath of the Wild dabbles in survival mechanics a bit, with Link's temperature resistances governing whether he can stay in an area without losing health. For a mechanic that should be annoying, managing Link's temperature is actually a ton of fun.
However, some players might find this aspect of the game to be somewhat challenging due to a lack of preparedness. So, it's important to keep some equipment on Link that can help him deal with the extreme temperatures of Breath of the Wild's world.
12 Not Unlocking Great Fairy Fountains All Over The Map
The Great Fairy Fountains present all across the map of Breath of the Wild are vital to Link's quest. After all, these Fairies have the power to upgrade Link's equipment, which is integral to surviving the harsh landscape of the game.
Players need to prioritize finding these Great Fairy Fountains as soon as possible. Failing to do so means that they'll soon become mincemeat at the hands of most enemies in the game after a point.
11 Avoiding The Dragons Instead Of Trying To Hit Them For Loot
The dragons are another striking visual element of Breath of the Wild. Removing the corruption on Naydra and uncovering the secrets of the other dragons is surprisingly engaging.
However, some players might just gaze at these dragons and not really interact with them. This is a mistake since players can hit different body parts of the dragon to get a valuable drop every day.
10 Trying To Fight Lynels Early On
Taking on a Lynel is easily one of the hardest challenges in Breath of the Wild, given the fact that they're one of the hardest normal enemies to fight in the game.
Trying to fell one of these foes early on when Link can barely take a few blows from a Bokoblin is not recommended in the slightest, and will definitely send the player to the Game Over screen in record time.
9 Barely Saving Up On Arrows
Ranged combat is definitely one of the best and easiest ways to dispatch most foes in Breath of the Wild... But keep in mind that arrows aren't as plentiful in the game as one might've been led to believe.
This applies even more for special arrows, with some of the elemental arrows being critical in certain shrines and the like when it comes to achieving a solution in a simpler and faster manner.
8 Saving The Best Equipment For Later
The integration of weapon durability in Breath of the Wild was mainly done to encourage experimentation with different weapons and not have players stick to the same powerful weapon over and over again.
Given the fact that Link will get powerful weapons over time as he progresses in the game, it would be wise of the player to not hoard weapons and shields but freely use them in battle without a care in the world.
7 Picking Up Every Weapon Possible
The player should be wary of the fact that not all weapons in Breath of the Wild are worth picking up, especially after a point in the game when the scaled weapons themselves are way better than anything else that the player might get in their travels.
The arms dropped by the skeleton enemies are a great example of this — while fairly useful early on, these weapons end up being nothing more than a nuisance as Link ends up finding better (and definitely more durable) weapons over time.
6 Not Using Runes In Battle
The runes that Link uses in Breath of the Wild aren't just used for solving puzzles — they can also help out in a pinch during combat as well.
Magnesis can be used to manipulate objects and disarm enemies with metallic weapons. Meanwhile, upgrading the Statis rune can even allow the play to freeze enemies in their tracks as well, which can definitely allow for some breathing room while simultaneously allowing for a few extra hits as well.