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Do the Divine Beasts help you fight Ganon?

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Do the Divine Beasts Help You Fight Ganon in Breath of the Wild?

Absolutely! The Divine Beasts are a significant asset in the final battle against Calamity Ganon in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Taming these ancient machines not only weakens Ganon considerably but also grants you invaluable abilities that can dramatically alter the course of the fight. Ignoring them makes the final encounter significantly more challenging, while mastering them offers a distinct advantage. Let’s delve into how they help and answer some burning questions about the Divine Beasts and the Ganon fight.

How the Divine Beasts Turn the Tide

The influence of the Divine Beasts in the final battle is twofold: health reduction and champion abilities.

Health Reduction

Each Divine Beast you liberate from Ganon’s control fires a powerful laser beam at the start of the final battle. Each beam removes one-eighth of Ganon’s total health, effectively halving his health bar if all four beasts are freed. This head start significantly reduces the duration of the first phase of the fight, saving you precious resources and lessening the risk of taking damage.

Champion Abilities

Beyond the health reduction, each Divine Beast grants Link a unique Champion Ability, usable multiple times during the Ganon fight:

  • Vah Ruta (Mipha’s Grace): Automatically grants you extra hearts and a full heal upon taking fatal damage, essentially giving you extra lives. It has a cooldown period, but it can be the difference between victory and defeat.

  • Vah Rudania (Daruk’s Protection): Creates a magical barrier around Link, automatically deflecting attacks. This ability is incredibly useful for deflecting Guardian laser beams or blocking powerful blows from Ganon. Again, this ability goes on cooldown after a certain number of uses.

  • Vah Medoh (Revali’s Gale): Creates an updraft that launches Link high into the air, allowing for easy paragliding and bullet time archery attacks. This is strategically vital, letting you reposition, evade attacks, and target Ganon’s weak points from above.

  • Vah Naboris (Urbosa’s Fury): Summons a powerful lightning strike that damages and stuns enemies in a wide area. Urbosa’s Fury is exceptional at interrupting Ganon’s attacks, stunning him out of “immortal” phases, and dealing significant damage. Using this ability skillfully can quickly turn the tables in a tough situation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Divine Beasts and the Ganon Fight

1. Do I need to complete the Divine Beasts to beat Ganon?

No, you absolutely do not need to complete the Divine Beasts. The beauty of Breath of the Wild is its open-ended nature. You can walk straight to Hyrule Castle from the start of the game and fight Ganon with nothing but the starting equipment. However, be prepared for a much more challenging fight. If you skip the Divine Beasts, you’ll face all the Blight Ganons consecutively before the final battle.

2. What happens if I skip the Divine Beasts?

If you skip the Divine Beasts, you’ll encounter the four Blight Ganons (Waterblight Ganon, Fireblight Ganon, Windblight Ganon, and Thunderblight Ganon) within Hyrule Castle before facing Calamity Ganon himself. You will not receive the health reduction or the Champion Abilities, making the fight significantly harder.

3. What is the easiest Divine Beast to complete first?

Generally, Vah Ruta in Zora’s Domain is considered the easiest. The puzzles are relatively straightforward, the combat is manageable, and Mipha’s Grace is incredibly useful early in the game. The route to Zora’s Domain is also fairly easy to navigate.

4. What is the hardest Divine Beast to complete?

Many players find Vah Naboris in the Gerudo Desert to be the most challenging. The puzzles are more complex, Thunderblight Ganon is a notoriously difficult boss, and the desert environment itself presents unique challenges.

5. What happens if I beat Ganon without the Master Sword?

The Master Sword certainly helps, dealing bonus damage against Ganon and the Blights. However, you can definitely beat Ganon without it. Many players and speedrunners use powerful weapons found within Hyrule Castle or crafted using Ancient proficiency for a challenging but entirely viable approach.

6. What items should I bring to the Ganon fight?

  • Powerful Bows: Lynel Bows or Forest Dweller’s Bows are excellent for their multi-shot capabilities.
  • Bomb Arrows: Bring a LOT of Bomb Arrows. They deal massive damage to Ganon’s weak points.
  • Ancient Arrows: These deal significant damage and instantly defeat most enemies (except bosses and Guardians corrupted by Malice).
  • Healing Items: Stock up on food that heals a lot of hearts (like hearty meals), and consider meals with temporary buffs like attack up or defense up.
  • Armor: The best armor set to fight Ganon depends on your playstyle. The Hylian Shield is a must-have. The Ancient Armor provides a defense boost and damage increase with Ancient Weapons, and The Champion’s Tunic allows you to see enemy health bars.

7. How many hearts should I have before fighting Ganon?

While it depends on your skill level, aiming for at least 13-15 hearts is a good starting point. With Mipha’s Grace, you gain added protection from death. More hearts provide greater survivability.

8. Is Ganon stronger during a Blood Moon?

The Blood Moon does not directly affect Ganon’s strength in the final battle. However, it respawns all defeated enemies in the overworld, so you might encounter stronger enemies like Lynels on your way to Hyrule Castle if a Blood Moon occurs.

9. What is Thunderblight Ganon’s weakness?

Thunderblight Ganon is weak to physical attacks after being stunned. Use Urbosa’s Fury to stun him, or use your sword to cut the electric rods he summons. Shield reflecting his attacks is also effective.

10. Does the Yiga Clan work for Ganon?

Yes, the Yiga Clan are former Sheikah who abandoned the Royal Family and swore allegiance to Calamity Ganon.

11. Are there other ways to weaken Ganon besides the Divine Beasts?

Not in terms of health reduction. However, completing side quests and shrines can grant you better equipment and more heart containers, making you stronger overall.

12. Do the Divine Beasts have names that symbolize their purpose?

The names of the Divine Beasts incorporate the names of the Champions: Vah Ruta (Mipha), Vah Rudania (Daruk), Vah Medoh (Revali), and Vah Naboris (Urbosa). This underscores their connection to the Champions who originally piloted them.

13. What is the hardest part about fighting Ganon?

Many players find the final phase, Dark Beast Ganon, the most challenging because it requires precise aiming and skillful use of the Light Bow. It’s also a battle against a massive, intimidating creature. Some struggle with the Blights as well.

14. Can I replay the Ganon fight after beating him?

No, Breath of the Wild does not allow you to replay the Ganon fight directly. After beating Ganon, the game loads you back to just before the final boss battle, with a star on your save file indicating completion. You can then go fight him again with any improvements or additional Divine Beasts you may have completed.

15. Does Tears of the Kingdom also have Divine Beasts?

Tears of the Kingdom does not feature the same Divine Beasts as Breath of the Wild. However, it introduces new mechanical constructs and challenges. These constructs are reminiscent of the Divine Beasts in their functionality and impact on the gameplay, offering Link similar benefits in his quest to defeat Ganondorf.

The Strategic Advantage of the Divine Beasts

Ultimately, taming the Divine Beasts provides a significant strategic advantage in the fight against Ganon. The health reduction is invaluable, and the Champion Abilities offer versatile tools for both offense and defense. While not mandatory, these ancient machines make the final battle far more manageable and enjoyable, allowing you to experience the full scope of Breath of the Wild’s gameplay.

So, should you bother with the Divine Beasts? Absolutely! They’re not just a side quest; they’re an integral part of Link’s journey to save Hyrule. Plus, completing them provides a deeper understanding of the game’s lore and characters.

If you’re interested in learning more about the educational aspects of gaming, consider exploring the resources available at the Games Learning Society website: https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/ or GamesLearningSociety.org. Gaming can be a fantastic way to develop problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and creativity.

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