Introduction

Welcome, aspiring hero, to this comprehensive guide for Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity! This guide is designed to help you navigate the tumultuous events leading up to the Great Calamity, master the diverse cast of characters, and conquer every challenge Hyrule throws your way. Whether you're a seasoned warrior or a fresh recruit, this walkthrough will provide you with the strategies and insights needed to emerge victorious.

Getting Started: Your First Steps in Hyrule

Upon starting your journey, you'll be thrust into the thick of battle. Here's what you need to know to hit the ground running:

The Battle of Hyrule Field: This is your introductory mission. Focus on understanding the basic combat mechanics, such as light attacks (Y), heavy attacks (X), and dodging. Pay close attention to the tutorial prompts for using your Sheikah Slate abilities (Magnesis, Stasis, Cryonis, Remote Bombs), as these are crucial for breaking enemy Weak Point Gauges.
Character Selection: While Link is your primary character for the initial missions, you'll soon unlock other iconic heroes. Experiment with their unique movesets to find characters that suit your playstyle. For example, Impa's clones offer incredible crowd control, while Zelda's Sheikah Slate attacks provide powerful ranged options.
Mission Objectives: Always check your mission objectives, displayed on the top left of your screen. These often involve capturing outposts, defeating specific enemies, or protecting allies. Prioritize these objectives to ensure mission success.

Navigating the World Map

The World Map is your central hub for all activities in Age of Calamity. Here, you'll select missions, complete quests, and manage your inventory.

Mission Types

Main Story Missions: These are marked with a distinct icon and progress the primary narrative. Examples include "Road to the Ancient Lab" and "Mipha, the Zora Princess." Completing these unlocks new characters, areas, and abilities.
Side Quests: These appear as smaller icons and offer valuable rewards, such as new weapons, materials, and character upgrades. Don't neglect these, as they are vital for strengthening your roster. Look for quests like "A Royal Recipe" or "The Princess's Request" to gather essential cooking ingredients or unlock new services.
Challenges: These are often timed missions or battles with specific conditions, designed to test your combat prowess. They are excellent for earning rare materials and experience.

The Hylian Encyclopedia and Quests

As you progress, you'll unlock the Hylian Encyclopedia, a valuable resource for tracking materials, enemies, and character information. More importantly, the World Map will populate with various Quests. These are not always combat-focused; many involve delivering specific items to NPCs to unlock new features or services. For instance, early quests might require you to gather Hyrule Herbs or Raw Meat to open up the Training Camp or the Blacksmith. Always keep an eye on the quest markers and gather any glowing items you see on the battlefield – these are often quest-related materials.

Essential Early Game Strategies

Weapon Fusion: As soon as the Blacksmith is available (unlocked via a quest on the World Map), start fusing weapons. This is crucial for increasing your characters' attack power and adding powerful seals. Prioritize fusing weapons with desirable seals like "Attack Speed Up" or "Damage at Full Hearts."
Cooking: Utilize the Cooking Pot (unlocked early on) to prepare meals that grant temporary buffs, such as increased attack, defense, or healing. Always carry a few healing meals like "Energizing Mushroom Skewer" (using Stamella Shrooms) into battle.
Training Camp: Once unlocked, the Training Camp allows you to level up characters who haven't been actively used in missions. This is an efficient way to keep your entire roster combat-ready.
Material Management: Collect everything! Materials are used for quests, cooking, and weapon upgrades. Don't be afraid to replay missions to farm specific items if needed.