Conquering the Trial of the Sword (DLC 1)
The Trial of the Sword is a challenging gauntlet introduced in the first DLC pack for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. It tests Link's combat skills, resourcefulness, and endurance across three distinct sets of trials: Beginning, Middle, and Final. Each trial consists of multiple floors, with enemies and resources that scale in difficulty.
Upon entering the Trial of the Sword, Link's inventory is reset, meaning you must rely on the weapons, shields, and food found within the trials themselves. This forces players to adapt their strategies on the fly, making the most of every item they discover. Success in each set of trials culminates in a sificant upgrade to the Master Sword, making it permanently powered up.
Trial Structure and Progression:
- Beginning Trials: The first 12 floors, desed to ease players into the trial's mechanics. Enemies are relatively weak, and resources are plentiful.
- Middle Trials: Floors 13 through 23, presenting a sificant step up in difficulty. Enemies are tougher, and resource management becomes more critical.
- Final Trials: Floors 24 through 36, the ultimate test of skill. These floors feature the most challenging enemies and require expert combat and strategic planning.
Key Strategies for Success:
Resource management is paramount. Always aim for headshots with your bow to conserve arrows and deal critical damage. Use bombs strategically to conserve weapon durability. Cook any food you find to maximize its healing potential and consider cooking meals that grant temporary buffs like attack or defense boosts. Learn enemy attack patterns to master flurry rushes and parries, which are essential for dealing with stronger foes.
Environmental awareness is also key. Utilize explosive barrels, drop objects on enemies, or lure them into traps whenever possible. Stealth can be used to get the drop on enemies or to bypass certain encounters. Don't be afraid to retreat and regroup if a situation looks too dangerous.
Rewards:
The primary reward for completing each set of trials is an upgrade to the Master Sword:
- Completing the Beginning Trials powers up the Master Sword to 40 damage.
- Completing the Middle Trials powers up the Master Sword to 50 damage.
- Completing the Final Trials permanently powers up the Master Sword to 60 damage, and it will glow continuously.
Additionally, completing the Final Trials unlocks the "True Master Sword" ability, which allows the Master Sword to unleash its full power when Link is at full health.