Master Mode Guide: Tips for Beating Master Mode | Zelda: Breath of the Wild (BotW)

This is a guide to getting starting Master Mode in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (BotW) for the Nintendo Switch. This guide covers early game tips such as equipment, cooking, and exploration to get you started on your adventure.

What is Master Mode?

The Master Mode is an additional game mode included in the Master Trials DLC Pack. This is the game's Hard Mode and makes traversing even the early parts of Hyrule extremely challenging!

What's Different in Master Mode?

Separate Save States Stronger and Smarter Enemies Regenerating Enemies Golden Enemies

Separate Save States

Master Mode uses a separate save state from normal difficulty, so you don't have to worry about overwriting your normal game if you played before. However, only one autosave slot is available in Master Mode.

Stronger and Smarter Enemies

All enemies in Master Mode will be upgraded one level. For example, if you would normally encounter Red Bokoblins in an area, Blue Bokoblins replace them in Master Mode.

Additionally, you may encounter tougher enemies in early areas that weren't there before, like a Blue Lynel on the Great Plateau.

Enemies also detect Link faster and generally employ smarter strategies in battle, making even one-on-one engagements challenging!

Regenerating Enemies

Monsters, ranging from the lowly Bokoblin to the powerful Lynels will regenerate health when Link stops attacking them or flees from battle. This makes hit-and-run tactics inadvisable!

Golden Enemies

Master Mode introduces enemies tougher than the Silver enemies you'll find in normal mode - Golden Enemies. These are the strongest enemies in the game and essentially turns some monsters into mini-bosses.

Master Mode Early Game Tips

Unlock the Remote Bombs

It's a good idea to unlock the Remote Bombs as soon as possible. You can obtain these runes from the Ja Baij Shrine, and you'll most likely be directed there by the Old Man once you progress through the first few quest.

With the scarcity of good weapons and increased health of enemies, the bomb is useful as it provides great chip damage and can knock smaller enemies off their feet, without costing weapon durability.

Get the Warm Doublet from the Old Man

It's a good idea to get the Warm Doublet from the Old Man as soon as possible. You can get it by reading his diary and cooking a Spicy Meat and Seafood Fry.

Cook a piece of Raw Meat, a Spicy Pepper, and a Hyrule Bass. All of the ingredients are readily available in the Great Plateau. Present the dish to the Old Man to receive the Warm Doublet.

Master Mode Exploration Tips

Start the EX Treasure Side Quests

As soon as you get the Paraglider, travel to the Outpost Ruins and read Misko's Journal to start the EX Treasure series side quests. This allows you to unlock better armor than your starting ones, helping you throughout your journey.

Avoid Monsters with Majora's Mask

One of the sidequests allows you to unlock the legendary Majora's Mask. Although the mask has very poor defense, wearing it allows Link to approach certain monsters without getting attacked - including Lynels!

Check out our full article below to learn how to get it:

EX Treasure: Ancient Mask Walkthrough

Look Out for Sky Octorocks

In Master Mode, you'll encounter curious Sky Octorocks scattered throughout the overworld. You'll encounter them holding up platforms for Bokoblin Archers and lookouts.

Some Platforms have Treasures

Some of these platforms, however, contain treasure. The contents of these chest range from powerful weapons with extra effects, to crafting materials. You can either glide towards the platform or shoot at least two of the Sky Octorocks so the chest falls to the ground.

Master Mode Combat Tips

Sneak Up on Enemies

The high health coupled with the low durability of early-game weapons mean you can easily break all of your stored weapons on just one enemy.

Instead of directly attacking an enemy, sneak up and hit them with a Sneakstrike. A successful sneakstrike greatly improves the attack of your weapons, allowing you to deal high amounts of damage and stun them, making them a lot easier to finish off.

Other Tips and Tricks

Get More Heart Containers First

You'll want to prioritize getting more Heart Containers as soon as you start getting Spirit Orbs from the Shrines. Even the weakest enemies, such as the Bokoblins, can inflict over 4 Hearts of damage on Link and will often result in a Game Over. Getting more hearts ensures you have enough health to survive an attack.

Upgrade the Remote Bomb Runes

You also want to prioritize upgrading the Remote Bomb runes. You can do this by starting the Slated for Upgrades sidequest that you receive from Purah in Hateno Ancient Tech Lab.

Upgraded Remote Bomb Benefits

The Upgraded Remote Bomb runes have increased damage and a faster recharge rate, and is essential up to the late-game as you'll be using the bombs to supplement your weapons when damaging enemies and bosses.

Upgrade the Stasis Runes

Stasis is another rune you'll want to upgrade as soon as possible. You can do this by starting the Slated for Upgrades sidequest that you receive from Purah in Hateno Ancient Tech Lab.

The Upgraded Stasis rune can freeze enemies in place, on top of a faster recharge rate. This is extremely useful, especially if you find yourself pursued by Guardian Stalkers, giving you time to heal up or run away to a safe place.

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