Zelda: Breath of the Wild (BotW)

EX Trial of the Sword Walkthrough: How to Upgrade the Master Sword

Breath of the Wild - EX Trial of the Sword Walkthrough: How to Upgrade the Master Sword

The EX Trial of the Sword is a DLC Side Quest in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (BotW) where you can complete challenging Trials and upgrade the Master Sword! Here are tips on how to prepare for the Trials and strategies to get you through each floor!

All Trial of the Sword Guides
EX Trial of the Sword
The Beginning Trials The Middle Trials The Final Trials

How to Upgrade the Master Sword

Complete All the Master Sword Trials

BOTW - Upgraded Master Sword

The Master Sword will be upgraded to its full potential after completing the Beginning Trials, Middle Trials, and Final Trials. After completing all 54 floors, the Master Sword will permanently have 60 base power, not just when near Guardians or areas with the Ganon's presence (Divine Beasts and Hyrule Castle).

How to Start the Trial of the Sword

Place the Master Sword Back in Its Pedestal

BOTW - Trial of the Sword Location

Link can access the trial at any time after finishing The Hero's Sword main quest. Simply place the Master Sword back in its pedestal to start the trial.

Preparing for the Trial of the Sword

Trial of the Sword Prep Checklist
CheckmarkGet as much stamina and hearts as possible

CheckmarkExpand your inventory space

CheckmarkEat Hearty Dishes before starting a trial

CheckmarkEat Mighty Dishes before starting a trial

CheckmarkUpgrade the Sheikah Runes

CheckmarkPractice your parries

CheckmarkMaster evading

Get as Much Stamina and Hearts as Possible

BOTW - Increasing Health and Stamina

Link will fight through the trials with the current health he has, and while it's possible to complete all three trials with just 13 Heart Containers, every extra heart container helps—especially when you reach the tougher levels!

Boosting Link's stamina is also a good idea as some levels require Link to climb, swim, and even paraglide across environmental hazards.

Check out our shrine list below to learn how to solve each shrine and get enough Spirit Orbs to boost Link's hearts and stamina.

Shrines Map and All Shrine Locations

Expand Your Inventory Space

BOTW - Expanding Inventory

Although Link can't bring any weapons and armor during the trials, he can gain a lot of weapons as he progresses throughout each level.

Link needs all the spare weapons he can get to succeed each trial, so expanding your inventory is a must! You don't need to find all Korok Seeds though. just enough that you can store five or more weapons, bows, and shields.

Eat Hearty Dishes Before Starting a Trial

BOTW - Eating Hearty Food Before the Trial

Since Link starts each trial with the amount of health he currently has, it's a good idea to boost it before actually starting the challenge.

The best dishes to eat are meals made from Hearty ingredients, such as Hearty Radishes, Hearty Truffles, and Hearty Durians. These dishes also provide Golden Temporary Hearts, which is very useful especially if you don't have maximum hearts.

Eat Mighty Dishes Before Starting a Trial

BOTW - Attack Boost Food

If you have enough hearts and are confident in your combat skills, you can also eat Mighty Dishes before starting a trial. These provide a temporary attack boost that can help Link quickly dispatch enemies throughout the levels.

The best food to eat is Mighty Simmered Fruit made with five Mighty Bananas. This fruit is very easy to farm as Yiga Footsoldiers and Yiga Blademasters that ambush Link frequently drop it. It's also easy to find in the forests in the Faron Region.

Upgrade the Sheikah Runes

BOTW - Upgraded Runes

It's also a good idea to upgrade Link's runes by finishing the Slated for Upgrades quest given by Purah in the Hateno Ancient Tech Lab.

The damage boost to the Remote Bombs, as well as the duration boost for the Stasis rune, can help Linkin certain levels where weapons are scarce or have tough enemies.

Practice Your Parries

BOTW - Parrying a Lynel

Since there are a limited amount of shields in the trials, it's important to master parrying attacks to conserve the durability of each shield you get.

The best monsters to practice against are Guardian Stalkers and Silver Lynels. Guardian Stalkers have a countdown that can help you get the timing right, while Lynels use a plethora of attacks and different weapons that require different timings.

How to Parry

Master Evading

BOTW - Flurry Rush After a Perfect Evade

Evading is another skill to master when progressing through the trials. Evading at the right moment allows Link to unleash a flurry of attacks that can quickly dispatch enemies.

How to Perfect Dodge and Flurry Rush

EX Trial of the Sword Walkthrough

The Beginning Trials Walkthrough

The Beginning Trials has a total of 13 floors with one Resting Spot. Completing the Beginning Trials leads you to the room where you can boost the Master Sword's power from 30 to 40.

The Beginning Trials Walkthrough

Beginning Trials Floor Summaries

1 Equipment Enemies
Tree Branch (3)
Boko Club (1)
Woodcutter's Axe (1)
Boko Spear (1)
Boko Shield (1)
Bokoblin (3)
Food & Materials
Seared Steak (1)
・Various Food (Multiple)
2 Equipment Enemies
Traveler's Sword (1)
Boko Bat (1)
Boko Bow (2)
Arrow (Multiple)
Traveler's Shield (1)
Bokoblin (4)
Fire Chuchu (1)
Food & Materials
・Various Food (Multiple)
3 Equipment Enemies
Boomerang (1)
Fire Arrow (5)
Fire Chuchu (4)
Chuchu (4)
Food & Materials
None
4 Equipment Enemies
Soldier's Broadsword (1)
Boko Club (1)
Spiked Boko Bat (1)
Traveler's Spear (1)
Boko Spear (1)
Traveler's Bow (1)
Spiked Boko Bow (1)
Arrow (Multiple)
Fire Arrow (Multiple)
Soldier's Shield (1)
Blue Bokoblin (2)
Bokoblin (5)
Food & Materials
Bird Egg (2)
5 Equipment Enemies
Spiked Boko Club (1)
Spiked Boko Bat (1)
Moblin Club (1)
Spiked Boko Spear (1)
Moblin Spear (1)
Arrow (Multiple)
Spiked Boko Shield (1)
Moblin (2)
Blue Bokoblin (3)
Food & Materials
・Various Food (Multiple)
6 Equipment Enemies
None Stone Talus (1)
Food & Materials
None
7 Equipment Enemies
Torch (1)
Eightfold Blade (1)
Serpentine Spear (1)
Arrow (Multiple)
Fire Arrow (Multiple)
Shield of the Mind's Eye (1)
None
Food & Materials
Apple (2)
Armored Carp (3)
Fairy (1)
Ironshroom (2)
Razorshroom (2)
・Various Food (Multiple)
8 Equipment Enemies
Lizal Boomerang (1)
Throwing Spear (1)
Boko Spear (4)
Lizal Bow (1)
Arrow (10)
Blue Lizalfos (2)
Lizalfos (2)
Electric Chuchu (1)
Food & Materials
Roasted Bass (3)
・Various Food (Multiple)
9 Equipment Enemies
Lightning Rod (1)
Arrow (10)
Electric Wizzrobe (1)
Water Octorok (2)
Food & Materials
None
10 Equipment Enemies
Lizal Boomerang (1)
Lizal Spear (1)
Lizal Bow (1)
Arrow (Multiple)
Lizal Shield (1)
Black Lizalfos (2)
Blue Lizalfos (1)
Food & Materials
・Various Food (Multiple)
11 Equipment Enemies
Soldier's Broadsword (1)
Dragonbone Boko Club (1)
Spiked Boko Bat (1)
Soldier's Spear (1)
Spiked Boko Spear (1)
Spiked Boko Bow (4)
Arrow (Multiple)
Fire Arrow (10)
Shock Arrow (10)
Dragonbone Boko Shield (1)
Black Moblin (1)
Black Bokoblin (1)
Blue Bokoblin (1)
Bokoblin (6)
Food & Materials
・Various Food (Multiple)
12 Equipment Enemies
Knight's Broadsword (1)
Knight's Bow (1)
Knight's Shield (1)
Blue Hinox (1)
Food & Materials
Palm Fruit (Multiple)

The Middle Trials Walkthrough

The Middle Trials has a total of 17 floors with two Resting Spots. Completing the Middle Trials leads you to the room where you can boost the Master Sword's power from 40 to 50.

The Middle Trials Walkthrough

Middle Trials Floor Summaries

1 Equipment Enemies
Soldier's Broadsword (1)
Boko Club (1)
Spiked Boko Club (1)
Woodcutter's Axe (1)
Boko Spear (1)
Spiked Boko Spear (1)
Soldier's Bow (2)
Boko Bow (1)
Arrow (Multiple)
Fire Arrow (Multiple)
Spiked Boko Shield (1)
Bokoblin (5)
Food & Materials
・Various Food (Multiple)
2 Equipment Enemies
Soldier's Broadsword (1)
Feathered Edge (1)
Fire Rod (1)
Meteor Rod (1)
Soldier's Spear (1)
Spiked Boko Bow (1)
Arrow (Multiple)
Soldier's Shield (1)
Blue Bokoblin (1)
Bokoblin (2)
Meteo Wizzrobe (1)
Fire Wizzrobe (1)
Food & Materials
・Various Food (Multiple)
3 Equipment Enemies
Lizal Forked Boomerang (1)
Feathered Spear (1)
Enhanced Lizal Spear (1)
Phrenic Bow (1)
Boko Bow (1)
Spiked Boko Bow (2)
Arrow (Multiple)
Reinforced Lizal Shield (1)
Blue Bokoblin (2)
Bokoblin (5)
Food & Materials
・Various Food (Multiple)
4 Equipment Enemies
Soldier's Bow (1)
Arrow (Multiple)
Knight's Shield (1)
Decayed Guardian (1)
Food & Materials
None
5 Equipment Enemies
Torch (1)
Knight's Broadsword (1)
Woodcutter's Axe (1)
Falcon Bow (1)
Arrow (Multiple)
Hylian Trousers (1)
None
Food & Materials
Apple (2)
Fairy (1)
Hylian Shroom (2)
Hyrule Bass (3)
Ironshroom (2)
・Various Food (Multiple)
6 Equipment Enemies
None Fire Keese (5)
Electric Chuchu (1)
Food & Materials
None
7 Equipment Enemies
Torch (1)
Flameblade (1)
Forest Dweller's Spear (1)
Enhanced Lizal Spear (1)
Strengthened Lizal Bow (1)
Fire Arrow (Multiple)
Fire-Breath Lizalfos (2)
Blue Lizalfos (2)
Food & Materials
・Various Food (Multiple)
8 Equipment Enemies
Torch (2)
Soldier's Broadsword (1)
Rusty Broadsword (2)
Dragonbone Boko Club (1)
Meteor Rod (1)
Dragonbone Boko Bat (1)
Rusty Halberd (1)
Arrow (Multiple)
Soldier's Shield (1)
Rusty Shield (1)
Black Bokoblin (2)
Blue Bokoblin (1)
Meteo Wizzrobe (1)
Food & Materials
Seared Steak (1)
・Various Food (Multiple)
9 Equipment Enemies
Torch (2)
Rusty Broadsword (1)
Arrow (Multiple)
Rusty Shield (1)
Decayed Guardian (1)
Food & Materials
None
10 Equipment Enemies
Torch (2)
Knight's Broadsword (1)
Thunderstorm Rod (1)
Rusty Claymore (1)
Rusty Halberd (1)
Knight's Bow (1)
Arrow (Multiple)
Black Hinox (1)
Food & Materials
None
11 Equipment Enemies
Forest Dweller's Sword (1)
Forest Dweller's Spear (1)
Arrow (Multiple)
Hylian Tunic (1)
None
Food & Materials
Apple (2)
Endura Shroom (2)
Fairy (2)
Hyrule Bass (3)
Ironshroom (2)
・Various Food (Multiple)
12 Equipment Enemies
Arrow (10)
Guardian Scout I (6)
Food & Materials
None
13 Equipment Enemies
Guardian Sword (1)
Ancient Battle Axe (1)
Guardian Spear (1)
Duplex Bow (1)
Guardian Scout II (3)
Food & Materials
None
14 Equipment Enemies
Guardian Sword (2)
Eightfold Longblade (1)
Guardian Shield (2)
Guardian Scout II (2)
Guardian Scout I (4)
Food & Materials
None
15 Equipment Enemies
Guardian Sword+ (1)
Ancient Battle Axe (1)
Guardian Spear (1)
Guardian Shield+ (1)
Guardian Scout II (2)
Food & Materials
None
16 Equipment Enemies
Guardian Sword+ (1)
Ancient Battle Axe+ (1)
Guardian Spear+ (1)
Guardian Scout IV (1)
Food & Materials
None

The Final Trials Walkthrough

The Final Trials has a total of 24 floors with three Resting Spots. Completing the Final Trials fully awakens the Master Sword, boosting its base power from 50 to 60.

The Final Trials Walkthrough

Final Trials Floor Summaries

1 Equipment Enemies
Rusty Broadsword (1)
Spiked Boko Club (1)
Bokoblin Arm (4)
Rusty Claymore (1)
Spiked Boko Bat (1)
Rusty Halberd (1)
Spiked Boko Spear (1)
Spiked Boko Bow (1)
Arrow (Multiple)
Rusty Shield (1)
Spiked Boko Shield (1)
Stalkoblin (4)
Food & Materials
None
2 Equipment Enemies
Lizal Forked Boomerang (1)
Lizalfos Arm (3)
Spiked Boko Spear (2)
Arrow (Multiple)
Royal Guard's Shield (1)
Reinforced Lizal Shield (1)
Stalizalfos (3)
Electric Keese (2)
Food & Materials
・Various Food (Multiple)
3 Equipment Enemies
Spiked Moblin Club (1)
Moblin Arm (5)
Spiked Moblin Spear (1)
Knight's Bow (1)
Dragonbone Boko Bow (1)
Arrow (Multiple)
Knight's Shield (1)
Stalmoblin (5)
Electric Chuchu (2)
Food & Materials
None
4 Equipment Enemies
Rusty Broadsword (2)
Dragonbone Boko Club (1)
Bokoblin Arm (8)
Rusty Claymore (1)
Boko Bat (1)
Dragonbone Boko Bat (1)
Rusty Halberd (1)
Boko Spear (2)
Dragonbone Boko Spear (1)
Spiked Boko Bow (2)
Arrow (Multiple)
Shock Arrow (Multiple)
Rusty Shield (1)
Stalkoblin (8)
Food & Materials
None
5 Equipment Enemies
Thunderblade (1)
Great Frostblade (1)
Flamespear (1)
Arrow (Multiple)
Ice Arrow (Multiple)
Stalnox (1)
Food & Materials
None
6 Equipment Enemies
Torch (1)
Double Axe (1)
Knight's Bow (1)
Arrow (Multiple)
Ancient Arrow (3)
Flamebreaker Boots (1)
None
Food & Materials
Apple (2)
Armored Carp (3)
Fairy (1)
Hearty Truffle (2)
Razorshroom (2)
・Various Food (Multiple)
7 Equipment Enemies
Rusty Claymore (1)
Igneo Pebblit (2)
Rock Octorok (1)
Fire Chuchu (1)
Food & Materials
None
8 Equipment Enemies
Strengthened Lizal Bow (3)
Fire Arrow (Multiple)
Fire-Breath Lizalfos (3)
Food & Materials
・Various Food (Multiple)
9 Equipment Enemies
Lizal Forked Boomerang (1)
Meteor Rod (1)
Iron Sledgehammer (1)
Enhanced Lizal Spear (1)
Arrow (Multiple)
Reinforced Lizal Shield (1)
Fire-Breath Lizalfos (2)
Blue Moblin (1)
Meteo Wizzrobe (1)
Food & Materials
・Various Food (Multiple)
10 Equipment Enemies
Knight's Claymore (1)
Royal Guard's Spear (1)
Strengthened Lizal Bow (1)
Steel Lizal Bow (1)
Arrow (Multiple)
Fire Arrow (Multiple)
Ancient Arrow (3)
Fire-Breath Lizalfos (1)
Black Moblin (3)
Food & Materials
・Various Food (Multiple)
11 Equipment Enemies
Arrow (Multiple)
Igneo Talus (1)
Food & Materials
Apple (Multiple)
12 Equipment Enemies
Stone Smasher (1)
Arrow (Multiple)
Royal Guard's Shield (1)
Hylian Tunic (1)
None
Food & Materials
Apple (2)
Fairy (2)
Hearty Radish (1)
Silent Shroom (1)
Sizzlefin Trout (3)
Spicy Pepper (6)
Stamella Shroom (2)
・Various Food (Multiple)
13 Equipment Enemies
Lizal Tri-Boomerang (1)
Spiked Boko Spear (1)
Spiked Boko Bow (1)
Bomb Arrow (5)
Steel Lizal Shield (1)
Frost Pebblit (2)
Black Bokoblin (1)
Blue Bokoblin (2)
Ice Chuchu (1)
Food & Materials
・Various Food (Multiple)
14 Equipment Enemies
Dragonbone Boko Club (1)
Dragonbone Boko Bat (1)
Dragonbone Moblin Club (1)
Forked Lizal Spear (1)
Dragonbone Boko Bow (1)
Arrow (Multiple)
Ice Arrow (Multiple)
Ancient Arrow (3)
Dragonbone Boko Shield (1)
Ice-Breath Lizalfos (1)
Silver Moblin (1)
Blue Bokoblin (3)
Ice Chuchu (2)
Food & Materials
None
15 Equipment Enemies
Knight's Broadsword (1)
Blizzard Rod (1)
Knight's Halberd (1)
Knight's Bow (1)
Arrow (Multiple)
Knight's Shield (1)
Black Moblin (1)
Silver Bokoblin (1)
Blue Bokoblin (2)
Blizzrobe (1)
Food & Materials
・Various Food ()
16 Equipment Enemies
None Frost Talus (1)
Food & Materials
None
17 Equipment Enemies
Mighty Lynel Sword (1)
Mighty Lynel Bow (1)
Bomb Arrow (5)
Mighty Lynel Shield (1)
Blue-Maned Lynel (1)
Food & Materials
None
18 Equipment Enemies
Royal Broadsword (1)
Royal Bow (1)
Arrow (Multiple)
Royal Shield (1)
None
Food & Materials
Apple (2)
Fairy (3)
Hearty Bass (3)
Ironshroom (2)
Stamella Shroom (2)
・Various Food (Multiple)
19 Equipment Enemies
Knight's Shield (1)
Decayed Guardian (6)
Food & Materials
None
20 Equipment Enemies
Arrow (Multiple)
Guardian Stalker (1)
Food & Materials
None
21 Equipment Enemies
Arrow (Multiple)
Bomb Arrow (5)
Guardian Skywatcher (1)
Food & Materials
None
22 Equipment Enemies
Royal Bow (1)
Arrow (Multiple)
Royal Shield (1)
Guardian Turret (1)
Guardian Skywatcher (1)
Guardian Stalker (1)
Food & Materials
・Various Food (Multiple)
23 Equipment Enemies
Royal Broadsword (1)
Lizal Tri-Boomerang (2)
Knight's Claymore (1)
Stone Smasher (1)
Dragonbone Moblin Club (1)
Knight's Halberd (1)
Forked Lizal Spear (2)
Savage Lynel Spear (1)
Savage Lynel Bow (1)
Bomb Arrow (5)
Royal Shield (1)
Steel Lizal Shield (1)
Guardian Turret (1)
White-Maned Lynel (1)
Bokoblin (8)
Food & Materials
None

Trial of the Sword Master Mode Tips

Extend Food Buff Effects with Dragon Horns

Link will be spending more time clearing each floor on Master Mode due to the tougher enemies. As a result, normal food buffs will likely run out before you even get a chance to face the first boss!


Normal Mighty Simmered Fruit

Mighty Simmered Fruit with Dragon Horn

When cooking up a dish with a buff, such as Migthy Dishes, add any Dragon Horn (Naydra's / Farosh's / Dinraal's Horn) to the mix to extend the duration of its effects to 30 minutes!

Maximize the Use of Stasis and Two-Handed Charged Attacks

Master Mode enemies regenerate lost health after not being attacked for a short while, so you don't want them getting flung away by your combos. Try using Stasis to hold enemies in place, especially fast ones like Lizalfos, before performing a combo.

Using Charged Attacks while wielding a Two-Handed weapon dishes out higher damage than a normal combo, so make use of this against a frozen enemy to maximize the rune's duration.

What is the Trial of the Sword?

Part of The Master Trials DLC

The Trial of the Sword is a mini-dungeon added in the game as part of The Master Trials DLC.

Also known as the Sword Monk's Shrine, it is widely considered the toughest challenge in the game and is designed to test the limits of Link's strength and willpower by pitting him against waves of enemies across 54 floors.

A Champion's Challenge

BOTW - Fighting a Bokoblin With a Woodcutter Axe

Once Link starts a trial, he is unable to use any of his weapons, armor, shields, food, and materials. Runes are still useable and are often instrumental in progressing through certain floors.

Additionally, Link can't use any of his Champion Abilities and must rely instead on his wits and cunning to defeat all enemies in each floor.

Upgrade the Master Sword

BOTW - Fully Powered Master Sword

Clearing a set of trials boosts the power of the Master Sword by 10, eventually reaching a base power of 60 after completing all three sets.

A fully awakened Master Sword will always glow with energy and using the Sword Beam when at full health no longer drains its durability. It will still eventually lose energy and will need to recharge, but the boost in power makes it the most reliable weapon in the game.

Three Sets of Combat Trials

The Trial of the Sword is composed of three sets of trials - 13 Beginning Trials, 16 Middle Trials, and 23 Final Trials for a total of 54 floors.

Link needs to defeat all enemies in each floor to progress to the next one. While this may seem like a daunting task, the trials have floors that act as Resting Spots where Link can recuperate and cook food, acquire armor and weapons, and even catch fairies!

Zelda: BotW Related Guides

BOTW - DLC Quests

List of DLC Quests

Trial of the Sword Guides

All Trial of the Sword Guides
EX Trial of the Sword
The Beginning Trials The Middle Trials The Final Trials

Other DLC Quests

EX Treasure: Phantasma EX Treasure: Twilight Relic EX Treasure: Fairy Clothes
EX Treasure: Ancient Mask EX Teleportation Rumors EX Strange Mask Rumors
EX Treasure: Dark Armor EX Treasure: Usurper King EX Treasure: Garb of Winds
EX Treasure: Merchant Hood EX Royal Guard Rumors EX Ancient Horse Rumors
EX Champion Mipha's Song EX Champion Daruk's Song EX Champion Urbosa's Song
EX Champion Revali's Song EX The Champions' Ballad

Author

    Walkthrough Menu

    Please participate in our
    site improvement survey 11/2024
    Would you assist in
    improving Game8's site?
    ×
    This survey will take about 1 minute.
    Your answers will help us to improve our website.
    We are listening to our users' valuable opinions and discussing how to act on them.
    The information collected through this survey will be used for the purpose of improving our services. In addition, the information will only be disclosed a part of a statistic in a format that will not allow identification of personal information.
    Begin Survey

    All rights reserved