Breaking Calamity Ganon’s Shield: A Comprehensive Guide

Taking down Calamity Ganon in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the ultimate test of skill and strategy. A crucial part of that challenge is understanding how to break through his formidable shield. Directly, there are two primary methods: perfectly parrying his ranged attacks and using the updraft created by axe attacks to launch a critical ranged attack at his face. Let’s delve into each of these methods in detail.

Parry His Ranged Attacks

The most reliable method for breaking Calamity Ganon’s shield is by parrying his Guardian-like blasts. During his second phase, Ganon will frequently fire energy beams similar to those of a Guardian. These blasts can be reflected back at him if you time your shield activation correctly, which is known as a perfect parry.

Executing a Perfect Parry

To execute a perfect parry, raise your shield (ZL) just before the beam hits you. If timed correctly, you will hear a distinct sound effect and see a visual flare indicating a successful parry. This parried blast will hit Ganon, immediately shattering his shield and leaving him vulnerable for follow-up attacks.

Tips for Consistent Parries

• Practice: The timing for parrying can be tricky at first. Practice on Guardian Scouts in Shrines or around Hyrule Field to get the timing down.
• Use a Reliable Shield: Use a shield with high durability. While the Hylian Shield is ideal, any durable shield should work, particularly in early attempts.
• Watch the Beam: Focus on the movement of the blast. The visual cue of the beam getting very close to you is your trigger to press ZL. Don’t try to anticipate too far ahead; react to the beam as it approaches.
• Stay Calm: Panicking will lead to mistimed parries. Remain calm and focused; with practice, it will become second nature.

Axe-Powered Aerial Assaults

Another, slightly more complex method, is using the updraft from certain axe attacks to glide up and land a critical headshot. This strategy requires a specific setup and precise execution.

The Technique

1. Use a Two-Handed Axe: Equip a two-handed axe, such as a Giant Ancient Axe or a Royal Guard’s Claymore fused with an axe material.
2. Execute a Charge Attack: Perform a charge attack (Hold Y) with the axe near Ganon. This attack generates a temporary updraft of flames.
3. Glide Up: Immediately after initiating the charge attack, jump (X) and deploy your paraglider (X).
4. Aim for the Face: While gliding, aim your bow at Ganon’s face. If you glide to the right height and distance you’ll see a target on his face that is his weak spot. A well-aimed shot to the face will break the shield.
5. Release a Power Shot: Release the arrow with a fully charged draw if possible, to maximize damage.

Tips for Successful Aerial Attacks

• Positioning: Start with some distance, since the updraft’s height won’t reach very high, and you need room to glide and aim. Experiment with placement of where you begin the charge attack.
• Timing: You have to glide quickly after initiating the charge attack to catch the updraft. If you hesitate, you’ll miss the opportunity.
• Bow Choice: Using a bow that shoots multiple arrows at once, such as a Lynel Bow, can make it easier to hit the weak spot during the very small window of time that you have.
• Practice the Setup: Like parrying, this method requires practice. Try it outside Hyrule Castle with a dummy to get comfortable with the attack and glide mechanics.

Additional Notes on Shield Breaking

• First Phase Vulnerability: During the first phase of the fight, Ganon’s shield is not up all the time. He is vulnerable to regular weapon attacks when his shield is down.
• Divine Beasts: The Divine Beasts can reduce Ganon’s initial health pool and help clear the way to the Castle’s boss room, making it a bit more straightforward.
• Ancient Arrows: While ancient arrows are powerful, they can completely obliterate enemies like Lynels with no drops, but against Ganon they will do regular damage, not an insta-kill. They are still very useful, but they do not break his shield.
• Master Sword: The Master Sword is a powerful weapon that does bonus damage, but it does not break Calamity Ganon’s shield on its own. However, it’s an excellent option for follow-up attacks after breaking his shield.
• Flurry Rush: Successfully executing a perfect dodge of one of Ganon’s melee attacks allows you to use the Flurry Rush. This will not break his shield, but is extremely useful for doing significant damage when his shield is down.

Breaking Calamity Ganon’s shield requires a combination of skillful timing and strategic planning. Whether you master the perfect parry or use the updraft from axe attacks, understanding these methods is crucial to claiming victory.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can you parry all of Calamity Ganon’s attacks?

No, you can only parry the Guardian-like energy blasts that Ganon fires in his second phase. You cannot parry his melee attacks.

2. Does the Hylian Shield break when parrying Calamity Ganon?

Yes, the Hylian Shield does have durability, even though it’s the best overall shield in the game. However, it can be reclaimed if it breaks, although not easily or cheaply.

3. What happens if I don’t parry correctly?

If you do not parry correctly, the beam will either hit your shield (taking damage) or hit you directly, causing you to take significant damage.

4. How often does Calamity Ganon use the Guardian blasts?

Calamity Ganon uses Guardian blasts frequently during the second phase of the fight. The more aggressive he gets, the more he will use these blasts.

5. Do any special shields help with parrying?

While a sturdy shield is essential, no specific shield has a particular advantage for parrying over others, besides the Hylian Shield being the most durable. Focus on your parrying technique rather than seeking out a special shield.

6. Can I use the axe updraft trick in the first phase?

Yes, you can use the axe updraft trick any time Ganon’s shield is up. This method works in both the first and second phases, whenever he has his shield deployed.

7. Is the axe updraft trick the only way to get a critical hit on Ganon’s face?

No. Once Ganon’s shield is broken via any method, the player has a window to hit him in his face with any kind of weapon, though ranged bows, especially one that shoots multiple arrows, are more effective to land that hit.

8. Do I need a specific axe for the updraft trick?

While any two-handed axe should work, some are better than others. Giant Ancient Axe or a Royal Guard’s Claymore fused with an axe material work best because they have higher attack power and can be obtained from Lynels or the Royal Guard’s armor area in Hyrule Castle.

9. Can I use a one-handed weapon with the axe updraft trick?

No, one-handed weapons will not generate the needed updraft, which means you will not be able to take advantage of the method to break his shield.

10. What happens after I break Calamity Ganon’s shield?

Once broken, Ganon is vulnerable to attacks for a limited time. This is your opportunity to unleash your most powerful melee and ranged attacks, using the Master Sword, Lynel Weapons, and Ancient Arrows, etc.

11. Can I defeat Calamity Ganon without breaking his shield?

It is incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to defeat Calamity Ganon without breaking his shield during the second phase of the battle. He will consistently regenerate it to protect his vulnerable areas, especially his face.

12. Do Urbosa’s Fury or other Champion abilities help with breaking the shield?

Urbosa’s Fury is helpful for dealing damage to Ganon when his shield is down, but it does not directly break his shield. Other champion abilities have a similar function, making Ganon vulnerable but not immediately breaking his shield.

13. Can I use bomb arrows to break the shield?

No, bomb arrows do not break Calamity Ganon’s shield. They do, however, deal regular damage. Use bomb arrows to do large area damage during his vulnerable phases once his shield is down.

14. Is there an easier Ganon to fight than Calamity Ganon?

Yes, Dark Beast Ganon, the final form of the final boss, is considered easier than Calamity Ganon. He is defeated using light arrows aimed at glowing targets.

15. Does the Blood Moon make Calamity Ganon harder?

The Blood Moon does not directly make Calamity Ganon more difficult, but it will respawn all defeated monsters around the map. If you choose to fight Ganon after a Blood Moon you will have more monsters to deal with on the way. However, his power level is not directly increased by a Blood Moon.