The Master Mode is the highest difficulty level in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and is part of the first DLC pack “The Legendary Trials”. Instead of just increasing the damage of opponents, it changes numerous rules of the entire adventure. Most monsters start one level stronger, enemies regenerate health in battle, Link is discovered more quickly and new platforms with additional enemies and Treasure Chests float all over Hyrule. There are also the exclusive golden Bokoblins, Moblins, Lizalfos and Lynels. Even the Great Plateau is considerably more dangerous: a white Lynel with 4,000 life points is already roaming between the first shrines. If you play the master mode like a normal second round and attack every opponent head-on, you will use more weapons than you get back, especially at the beginning. With the right play style, however, the mode offers access to exceptionally good equipment early on and fundamentally changes many well-known fights.
Unlock master mode and start
Master Mode is part of DLC Pack 1 “The Legendary Trials” of the Expansion Pass. After installation you can start it directly from the main menu. An existing normal score will not be overwritten. Master Mode has a completely separate save area and always begins with a new game in the Chamber of Awakening. You can then return to the title screen at any time and switch between normal and master mode. You can find an overview of all expansions on our DLC content page for Breath of the Wild.
All differences between normal and master mode
| Normal mode | master mode |
|---|---|
| Normal enemy levels | Most enemies start one level higher |
| Silver is the highest level for several types of monsters | Additional gold enemies above silver level |
| Enemies do not regenerate health | Enemies and numerous bosses regenerate lost health |
| Normal attention of opponents | Enemies discover link more easily |
| No flying monster platforms | Flying Octoroks carry platforms with enemies and Treasure Chests |
| No Lynel on the Great Plateau | White Lynel already in the starting area |
| Multiple auto saves | Only one automatic save in addition to the manual save |
| Protection against many fatal single hits | This protection is disabled |
| Normal test of the sword | Significantly more difficult test with higher level and regenerating opponents |
Master mode, on the other hand, does not change the world map or the basic plot. Shrines, Titans, Commemorative Photos, Side Quests and Koroks are basically in the same locations. The cooking system, the Locations of most armor and the requirements for drawing the Master Sword are also retained. Our normal Breath of the Wild Walkthrough can therefore also be used for a run in master mode; You only have to proceed differently for fights and some additional enemy placements.
Most enemies are one level stronger
You will notice the most noticeable change just a few minutes after the game starts. Most enemies are boosted one rank in Master Mode by . For example, where a red Bokoblin is waiting in normal mode, you will often already encounter a blue Bokoblin. Blue enemies become black, black become silver, and enemies of the highest normal level can finally become gold variants. In addition to Bokoblins, the same principle also applies to Moblins, Lizalfos and Lynels. Other groups of monsters are also set to their stronger existing variant. For example, a weaker Pyromagus can be replaced with the stronger version of its element.
| Normal level | Typical level in master mode |
|---|---|
| Red Bokoblin | Blue Bokoblin |
| Blue Bokoblin | Black Bokoblin |
| Black Bokoblin | Silver Bokoblin |
| Silver Bokoblin | Gold Bokoblin |
| Red Lynel | Blue Lynel |
| Blue Lynel | White Lynel |
| White Lynel | Silver Lynel |
| Silver Lynel | Golden Lynel |
This does not mean that every enemy in Hyrule follows this table exactly. Breath of the Wild uses a hidden progression system for many enemies while also having some well-defined exceptions. Certain weaker monsters are retained so that, for example, the corresponding entries for the Hyrule Handbook can continue to be included. Other fixed enemies do not develop at all. The famous Lynel on the Ploymus Mountain, for example, remains a special feature. Basically, in master mode you should always expect to encounter black, silver and later gold opponents much earlier.
Golden enemies – the strongest monsters in Master Mode
Golden monsters only exist in Master Mode. They form the additional level above the silver variants and appear at Bokoblins, Moblins, Lizalfos and Lynels. In addition to significantly more life points, they have high resistance to status effects. For example, electricity takes them out of action for a much shorter time, frozen golden enemies thaw more quickly and fire also keeps them busy for less time. However, their drops are among the most valuable normal enemy rewards in the game. In addition to monster parts, gold enemies can drop gemstones such as topaz, rhodonite, sapphire and even diamonds.
| Golden opponent | Life Points | Typical loot |
|---|---|---|
| Gold Bokoblin | 1.080 | Bokoblin parts, amber, opal, topaz, rhodonite, sapphire, diamond |
| Gold Moblin | 1.620 | Moblin Parts, Amber, Opal, Topaz, Rhodonite, Sapphire, Diamond |
| Golden Lizalfos | 1.296 | Lizalfos parts, amber, opal, topaz, rhodonite, sapphire, diamond |
| Golden Lynel | 7.500 | Lynel Horn, Lynel Hoof, Lynel Heart, Gems, Star Shards, Chimera Weapons |
When do golden enemies appear?
Not all monsters Hyrule’s turn gold immediately after leaving the Chamber of Awakening. Breath of the Wild has a hidden enemy progression system in the background. If you defeat stronger monsters and bosses over the course of the adventure, this internal progress increases and numerous scalable opponents are gradually converted to higher variants. In master mode, the starting position begins one level higher, which means that the golden variants become accessible earlier or even at all. Opponent positions where silver variants are already provided in normal mode can also immediately use the gold level in master mode.
This means that the monster population changes significantly during a long game. At the beginning you will see many blue and black enemies. Later, large parts of the scaling Bokoblins, Moblins and Lizalfos will become silver or gold. This effect is particularly noticeable with the Lynels: towards the end of a very advanced master game, many of their normal Locations gold Lynels can be found.
Life regeneration – the most important change in combat
Probably the most crucial new mechanic is not the higher enemy level, but the automatic life regeneration. If you have dealt damage to an enemy and then stop attacking for a few seconds, their life bar will begin to flash and refill. In this way, normal enemies can regain up to approximately 30 percent of their maximum health since their last low point. In shrines, regeneration is slower and has a lower limit. The decisive factor is always the lowest life level that you have achieved in the current fight.
For example, if you bring an opponent from full health to half and then retreat, he can regain a significant portion of that lost health. If you then only cause a small hit without bringing it below its previous low, this will hardly change the maximum regeneration. Only if you reduce his life bar further will the limit shift downwards. Master mode therefore rewards concentrated attack phases and punishes fights in which you repeatedly cause short damage and then flee for a long time.
Bosses can also regenerate health
Regeneration is not limited to Bokoblins and other common monsters. Numerous intermediate opponents and bosses also benefit from this. You notice this particularly clearly in Ganon’s four curses in Titans and later in Calamity Ganon. If you miss an opportunity to attack for a long time, the boss can compensate for some of the damage previously caused. This becomes particularly problematic in phases of combat in which an opponent is difficult to reach or is temporarily protected.
You should therefore take enough arrows, strong weapons and suitable meals with you before important boss fights. A single arrow can be enough to interrupt regeneration again, even if you don’t currently have the option for a full melee combo. Urbosa’s Fury also becomes particularly valuable in Master Mode because the ability stuns enemies and gives you a large window of opportunity for consistent damage.
No more protection against fatal single hits
Breath of the Wild has an invisible protection mechanism on normal difficulty that protects Link from being taken directly from high health to zero hearts during many particularly strong attacks. Instead, there is often a quarter of a heart left. In master mode, this protection is disabled. An attack whose damage exceeds your current health can therefore actually kill you in a single hit.
This is particularly noticeable on the Great Plateau. Black Bokoblins, strong bows and the additional white Lynel can instantly defeat Link with the initial outfit and three hearts. Additional Heart Container and improved armor are therefore significantly more valuable than in the normal passage. As soon as you can reach the first Great Fairies, you should regularly upgrade your preferred equipment. Locations and bonuses for all sets can be found in our armor in Breath of the Wild.
Enemies discover link more easily
Monsters in Master Mode are more sensitive to their surroundings and can detect Link more easily. Simply running past a camp or moving a short distance behind an enemy therefore works less reliably. This makes stealth bonuses much more useful. Ninja armor, stealth dishes and a careful approach still allow you to infiltrate many camps almost as effectively as in normal mode.
Sneak attacks are also one of the best answers to the additional life points. An enemy who is still sleeping or has their back to you can take significant damage with a sneak attack without having to use up multiple weapons for a long open fight. In groups, you should also take out archers and enemies with elemental arrows first. Once the entire camp is alerted, the health regeneration of individual enemies becomes much more difficult to control.
Flying platforms and flying octoroks
One of the most visible changes to Master Mode are the new floating wooden platforms. You can find them in practically all regions Hyrule’s, especially common near bridges, towers, waterfalls and high rock formations. They are carried by so-called flying octoroks. Bokoblins or Moblins are often waiting on the platforms with bows and elemental arrows. Next to it there is often a Treasure Chest with unusually good equipment.
The platforms are not only additional dangers, but also an excellent source of weapons, especially at the beginning. If you shoot down the supporting flying octoroks, the structure sinks or falls. If there is only a metal chest on the platform, you can also take it down with the magnetic module, depending on its position. Some platforms are easier to reach by Paraglider landing on them from a tower or cliff. The Treasure Chests contained therein can provide knight’s weapons and other equipment very early on that would normally not be conveniently available until much later.
White Lynel on the Great Plateau
The game’s clearest warning is already in the starting area. In master mode, a White Lynel roams southeast of the Temple of Time or in the area between the Citadel and the Old Man’s Hut. He has 4,000 life points and already carries high-quality Lynel equipment. In normal mode, there is no Lynels at all on the Great Plateau.
You don’t have to defeat him to complete the plateau. For a normal Master Mode run, it makes much more sense to give it a wide berth and complete the four shrines first. Our route through the Great Plateau and its four shrines also works in Master Mode. Just pay attention to the Lynels and the new flying platforms in the southern area.
Experienced players can theoretically defeat the Lynels before receiving the Paraglider. His equipment would then provide you with extremely powerful weapons for the start of the game. To do this, however, you need numerous precise headshots, consistent dodging and a good understanding of Lynel mechanics. Such a fight provides no necessary advantage for normal progress.
Stronger opponents don’t mean you should fight every battle
In normal mode, it is often worth clearing out smaller camps just for their materials or weapons. In master mode, the same approach can be a losing proposition, especially at the beginning. If you destroy two viable weapons to defeat a single black Bokoblin who then only drops a weak club, you have lost resources despite winning the encounter. Therefore, before a fight, assess what you can actually win. If a camp guards a valuable Treasure Chest or an opponent carries a high-quality weapon, the confrontation is more worthwhile. If there are several strong opponents just on the side of the road, you can often avoid them completely.
Weapon management is crucial in Master Mode
The higher health of the opponents means that the limited durability of the weapons is much more important. So don’t use your strongest weapons on just any opponent. Bombs are still great for weak monsters, blowing up barrels, and knocking enemies down. Bombs alone are hardly enough against very resistant opponents because their damage can be compensated for by life regeneration. Combinations of headshots, sneak attacks, perfect dodging and strong melee weapons save significantly more durability.
Also tries to view enemy weapons as a resource themselves. An electric arrow or weapon can knock equipment out of an armed opponent’s hands. Then pick up the weapon yourself or remove it from his reach using the magnetic module. During a camp, it may be more effective to disarm all enemies first rather than immediately knocking down their large health bars.
Sneak attacks become significantly more valuable
A clean sneak attack deals multiple times the normal weapon damage, making it one of the most efficient techniques in Master Mode. Especially at night, many Bokoblins and Moblins sleep in their camps. Sneak up from behind with low-noise equipment and open the fight with a sneak attack. If the opponent survives, you remain immediately aggressive so that his health does not increase again.
With Majora’s Mask from DLC 1 you can also defuse many encounters. Bokoblins, Moblins and Lizalfos do not initially treat Link as an enemy as long as you do not provoke them. This allows you to investigate camps, collect weapons or take a more advantageous position. You can also find the Location of the mask and the rest of the DLC clothing in our armor guide.
Fight aggressively as soon as you choose an opponent
Regeneration changes the rhythm of battles. As soon as you seriously attack an opponent, you should, if possible, prevent several seconds from passing without any damage. Hits in the head with a bow are an excellent way to interrupt a regeneration phase. Even a weak quick attack can be more valuable than a long retreat if it prevents an opponent from regaining several hundred life points.
This doesn’t mean you should attack mindlessly. Continue to dodge dangerous attacks and retreat when necessary. The only crucial thing is to consciously bridge breaks in fighting. An arrow, bomb, or warrior ability can stop regeneration while you wait for a better melee position.
Headshot and exploit slow motion
The bow becomes significantly more important in master mode. A hit to the head causes additional damage and temporarily stuns many enemies. If you jump from an elevated position and draw your bow in the air, time slows down. This means that even moving targets can be reliably hit in the head. The new floating platforms simultaneously provide additional bows and elemental arrows, making an offensive style of bow play possible sooner than in normal mode.
The combination of a head hit and a subsequent melee attack is particularly effective. First stun a strong Bokoblin or Moblin, sprint up and use the short time window for a full weapon combo. This means you keep your opponent under constant pressure and give them little opportunity to regenerate.
Use environment instead of weapons
Breath of the Wild’s physics become even more important in Master Mode. Bokoblins and Moblins cannot swim. If a camp is located on a deep river, lake, or abyss, a single strike can be much more effective than a full melee weapon. Bombs, heavy weapons, wind and certain runes help knock enemies off platforms or cliffs. However, make sure that a platform that has fallen to the ground or an enemy that has been thrown away does not end up out of reach and regenerates its health on the way back.
Elemental effects against golden enemies
Fire, ice and electricity remain useful in master mode, while gold enemies have increased resistance to corresponding status effects. For example, a Gold Bokoblin or Moblin recovers from an electric shock faster than its weaker variants. However, electricity can still release weapons from enemy hands, and ice gives you a short window of opportunity for a strong follow-up attack. Therefore, consider elements more as a way to control a fight rather than as a way to permanently immobilize golden enemies.
Defeat Golden Lynels
The Golden Lynel is one of the most resilient normal enemies in the entire game with 7,500 life points. His attack patterns are basically the same as the others Lynels, However, mistakes are punished particularly harshly due to its high damage and the disabled one-hit safety. The most reliable strategy remains mastering his well-known attack patterns: dodging side blows with a backflip, escaping frontal attacks sideways and perfectly parrying easy-to-read attacks.
A precise arrow hit in the face can do that Lynels stun. Then run to him and get on his back. While link on one Lynels sitting, you can strike multiple times with your equipped melee weapon. These hits do not consume weapon durability, so you can use your strongest weapon available for them. After the release, you draw the bow while still in the air and follow up with further hits. This combination is particularly valuable in Master Mode because you can deal massive damage in a short period of time Lynels There is hardly any opportunity to regenerate.
Guardian in master mode
Guardians do not receive an additional gold variant. However, their lasers and basic stats make them dangerous opponents anyway. Master Mode regeneration can make longer fights against intact Guardians more unpleasant. Perfect parry therefore remains one of the best methods. If you reflect the energy beams reliably, you will cause high damage in quick succession and at the same time prevent long regeneration phases. Alternatively, a correctly placed Ancient Arrow in the eye immediately ends a normal large guardian. All variants, Locations and ancient materials are explained in detail in our guide to the guardians in Breath of the Wild.
Hinox, Stone Talus and other intermediate opponents
Auch verschiedene stärkere Gegner werden vom erhöhten Schwierigkeitsgrad beeinflusst. In enemy groups with several normal development levels, stronger variants can appear earlier. Die Lebensregeneration betrifft zusätzlich zahlreiche dieser Kämpfe. Especially with a Hinox, you should fully use its stun phase for damage after a hit in the eye. With Stone Talus, it is important to hit the ore deposit several times after climbing up the body, instead of taking a long distance after each hit.
Trial of the Sword in master mode
One of the biggest challenges of the entire game is this Testing the sword in master mode. The basic rooms are the same, but many enemies appear in stronger versions and regenerate health. This is particularly problematic because Link begins each stage without his normal equipment and is only allowed to use the weapons, food, and materials found within the trial. A lengthy battle not only uses up time, but also permanently uses up part of your limited weapon inventory.
Before starting, you should fully upgrade the stasis module, have as many hearts and inventory slots as possible, and activate a long attack or defense bonus through a dish. Such effects remain after entering the exam. In the rooms themselves, you should destroy wooden crates, retrieve arrows, manage food carefully and, if possible, fight enemies individually. You can find our complete room-by-room solution at Trial of the Sword.
Why the beginner’s exam in master mode is particularly difficult
The first section of all things can be one of the most frustrating parts of the entire exam in Master mode. Link only has weak weapons there, while some opponents already have very large life bars and can regenerate their energy. As a result, cautious long-range combat tactics only work to a limited extent. In particular, rooms with multiple Lizalfos require you to take out individual enemies quickly instead of spreading the damage caused across multiple targets.
Use sneak attacks, headshots, and the environment as often as possible. Every enemy you can send into the water saves weapon durability. At the same time, you shouldn’t waste strong weapons on weak opponents. The test will be much easier if you view each room as a resource problem and not just a regular battle.
Only two saves in master mode
Master mode has significantly fewer save points than the normal difficulty level. You have a manual save and an automatic save available. The normal mode has several autosaves and is therefore more forgiving of wrong decisions when choosing an earlier save point. In Master Mode, you should consciously save manually before difficult fights, rare events or risky experiments.
Your normal score remains completely separate. This means you can have a well-advanced normal mode save and start a new adventure in master mode at the same time, without the two save areas overwriting each other.
The best first steps on the Great Plateau
First, focus on survival and the four required shrines. Collect every bow and as many arrows as possible along the way. You should use weapons with only a few attack points for weak enemies and boxes, while stronger finds are reserved for black Bokoblins or other dangerous encounters. Use the bombs early and often, as long as the enemy’s health regeneration is not yet a problem. Sneak past unnecessary battles and examine the new flying platforms from a safe distance. Your Treasure Chests may contain equipment that greatly facilitates the difficult beginning.
The white Lynel is not a mandatory opponent at this point. The game deliberately places it there to show you that not every problem has to be solved through an immediate fight. First get the Paraglider, leave the plateau and upgrade Link’s equipment. You can return later with some heart containers, better bows and decent armor.
Get good armor as quickly as possible
Because enemies deal high damage earlier and there is no protection against fatal single hits, defensive equipment is much more worthwhile. The Hylia armor is already a good basis, as it is available cheaply and can be completely improved with the Great Fairies. Those who prefer to avoid opponents will benefit greatly from ninja armor. For offensive players, Barbarian Armor and Grim Deity Set offer great advantages later on, as additional attack means that opponents have less time to regenerate.
Attack bonus or defense bonus?
In normal mode, high defense is often the most convenient solution. In Master Mode, an attack bonus becomes increasingly interesting. The faster an enemy falls, the less weapon durability you use up and the smaller the risk of their regeneration setting in. Dishes with a triple attack bonus are therefore particularly valuable before Golden Lynels, bosses and the Trial of the Sword. If you haven’t yet mastered the attack patterns reliably, you can still drive more safely with additional defense. The optimal bonus therefore depends more on your own playing style than on a single best recipe.
Warrior skills become even more important
All four abilities of the Champions retain their normal functions in master mode, but their strategic value increases significantly. Mipha’s Grace protects against a lost battle and gives additional hearts. Daruk’s Protection intercepts dangerous attacks and helps with parrying. Revali’s Gale instantly gives you height for slow-motion bow shots. The biggest change Urbosa’s Fury has in many fights: The large electrical discharge causes high area damage and stuns numerous enemies long enough for several free hits. This is a particularly good way to prevent groups of stronger monsters from regenerating their health.
Majora’s Mask is particularly strong in Master Mode
Since Master Mode is only available with DLC 1, you can also use its additional equipment. Majora’s Mask is particularly useful for a new playthrough. As long as you behave peacefully, you will not be immediately attacked by Bokoblins, Moblins and Lizalfos. The mask saves enormous amounts of weapons and food, especially when traveling through areas with silver and gold enemies. For a 100% pass that is as direct as possible, it is one of the most useful early DLC finds.
Flying Treasure Chests early loot
The additional platforms compensate for some of the increased difficulty. Early on, your opponents can carry good bows, special arrows, and useful weapons; the guarded Treasure Chests often contain even better items. Therefore, look especially at bridges and high towers for unusual constructions in the sky. You don’t always have to fight all opponents on the platform. Sometimes a precise arrow at a flying Oktorok or the magnetic module is enough to reach the chest.
Is master mode worth it?
Master Mode isn’t a completely new adventure, but it changes Breath of the Wild more than a simple damage multiplier. Regeneration in particular forces you to look at weapon durability, attack options and enemy groups differently. Encounters that require little attention in normal mode can become dangerous again, while the new platforms also open up additional paths to good equipment. Golden opponents also give a more advanced game level stronger goals when silver Bokoblins and Moblins are no longer a challenge.
For a first contact with Breath of the Wild, normal mode is the more balanced option. If you already know Hyrule, can fight Lynels safely and have understood the systems around cooking, armour, dodging and parrying, you will get a pass in master mode in which these mechanics are much more important from the first plateau to the last test.
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