Trial of the Sword: From Nightmare to Nearly Navigable – A Veteran’s Guide
Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.
- Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
- Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
- Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.
- Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
- Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
- Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.
Is there an easy way to beat the Trial of the Sword? Let’s be honest, “easy” is a strong word. The Trial of the Sword is designed to test even the most seasoned Breath of the Wild players. However, with the right strategies, preparation, and a healthy dose of patience, you can significantly increase your chances of success. This guide isn’t about finding a cheat code, it’s about mastering the game’s mechanics to turn a seemingly insurmountable challenge into a manageable one. Think of it less as making it “easy,” and more about making it… less punishing.
Preparing for the Gauntlet: The Pre-Trial Checklist
The key to success lies in preparation. You wouldn’t enter a marathon without training, and the Trial of the Sword is no different. Before even approaching the Master Sword, make sure you’ve ticked off these essential boxes:
Stock Up on Buffs
- Maximum Hearts and Stamina: While you start the Trial stripped of your gear, the temporary buffs you consume beforehand will carry over. Cook a meal with four Hearty Radishes or Hearty Truffles and one apple for maximum temporary hearts. For stamina, use Endura Carrots or Endura Shrooms.
- Triple Attack Up: Cook five Mighty Bananas (or any combination of ingredients with the “Mighty” prefix) for a Triple Attack Up bonus. This dramatically increases your damage output, allowing you to eliminate enemies more quickly. Remember, time is of the essence.
- Triple Defense Up: If you’re struggling with taking damage, a Triple Defense Up is crucial. Use Armored Carp or ingredients with the “Armor” prefix. This helps negate some of the incoming damage and provide more survivability.
Master Your Combat Techniques
- Perfect Dodge and Parry: These are absolutely essential. Practice these moves against Guardians or Lynels until you can reliably execute them. A perfect dodge grants you Flurry Rush, allowing you to unleash a series of rapid attacks. A perfect parry will deflect guardian beams and stagger enemies.
- Headshots: Aiming for headshots with your bow is critical, especially against tougher enemies. A well-placed headshot can stun an enemy, allowing you to follow up with melee attacks.
- Stealth Strikes: The Trial of the Sword has a surprising number of opportunities for stealth. Use the environment to your advantage and sneak up on enemies for powerful stealth strikes, which deal massive damage.
Understand the Environment
- Rest Areas: Each Trial section (Beginning, Middle, and Final) has rest areas. These provide essential resources like food, weapons, and fairies. Take the time to collect everything before proceeding.
- Environmental Exploitation: Use the environment to your advantage. Drop boulders on enemies, set grass on fire to create updrafts, and use metal objects to conduct electricity.
Navigating the Trials: Room-by-Room Strategies
Each Trial section presents unique challenges. Here’s a breakdown of key strategies for each:
Beginning Trials
- Focus on Stealth: These trials emphasize stealth and resource management. Don’t waste weapons; sneak around and perform stealth strikes whenever possible.
- Bombs Are Your Best Friend: Bombs are incredibly effective in the Beginning Trials. Use them to clear groups of enemies and conserve your limited weapon supply.
- Chuchus are Key: Use elemental chuchus to your advantage. You can combine elemental weapons with them to create elemental bombs and further conserve resources.
Middle Trials
- The Lizalfos Gauntlet: This is often the most challenging part of the Middle Trials. Use ice arrows to freeze the Lizalfos, then follow up with melee attacks. Focus on eliminating them one at a time.
- The Hinox Room: The Hinox can be defeated fairly easily by shooting it in the eye and then attacking its legs while it is stunned. Save your better weapons for this fight.
- Don’t Forget to Cook: Take advantage of the cooking pot in the rest area before the Hinox. Cook your meals with the items found in the rest area, to give you maximum buffs.
Final Trials
- The Lynel Room: This is where your Ancient Arrows come into play. One Ancient Arrow to the face will instantly defeat the Lynel. If you’re out of Ancient Arrows, use your best weapons and skills to defeat it. Perfect dodges and parries are essential.
- Stalfos Strategies: Stalfos are weak to explosive damage. Use bombs to quickly eliminate them.
- The Final Stretch: Conserve your resources for the final few rooms. Use your best weapons sparingly and rely on your combat skills to survive.
Don’t Give Up: Persistence Pays Off
The Trial of the Sword is a challenging but rewarding experience. Don’t be discouraged if you fail multiple times. Each attempt is a learning opportunity. Analyze your mistakes, adjust your strategies, and keep trying. With perseverance and the right approach, you will conquer the Trial of the Sword.
Exploring how games can improve learning environments is a fascinating field. The Games Learning Society, found at GamesLearningSociety.org, is an organization dedicated to exploring that very topic, bringing together researchers and educators to understand the profound impact of games on learning. Check them out!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is there a way to save during Trial of the Sword?
No, there is no way to save during the Trial of the Sword. You can only save before entering the trials. If you fail, you’ll be sent back to before you started. The game does auto-save after each series of trials (Beginning, Middle and Final) allowing you to leave and resume at the start of the next series.
2. How long does it take to complete the Trial of the Sword?
The time to complete the Trial of the Sword varies depending on your skill level and preparation. It can take anywhere from 2 to 6 hours for a first-time playthrough.
3. Why is the Master Sword trial so hard?
The Trial of the Sword is challenging because you start with limited resources and face waves of increasingly difficult enemies. It tests your resource management, combat skills, and knowledge of the game’s mechanics.
4. Is there a Lynel in the Trial of the Sword?
Yes, there is a Lynel in the Final Trials. It is one of the toughest enemies you’ll face.
5. Why does the Master Sword go to 60?
The Master Sword has a base attack power of 30, but it jumps to 60 when fighting Calamity-affected enemies. Completing the Trial of the Sword permanently powers up the Master Sword to 60.
6. What is the reward for beating Trial of the Sword?
The reward for beating the Trial of the Sword is a permanently powered-up Master Sword with an attack power of 60 and significantly improved durability.
7. What happens if you fall at the end of Trial of the Sword?
If you fall at the end of the Trial of the Sword, you will be placed back on solid ground with one heart deducted.
8. Do you need 13 hearts for Trial of the Sword?
You need 13 hearts to pull the Master Sword from its pedestal initially. However, this requirement doesn’t apply to the Trial of the Sword.
9. Can you use Wolf Link in Trial of the Sword?
No, you cannot use amiibo, including Wolf Link, within the Trial of the Sword. The game restricts the use of amiibo runes during the trials.
10. How many waves are in Trial of the Sword?
The Trial of the Sword is divided into three sections: Beginning Trials, Middle Trials, and Final Trials. Each trial has multiple floors of combat challenges.
11. Does the Master Sword still break after Trial of the Sword?
No, the Master Sword does not break after Trial of the Sword completion, but it has significantly enhanced durability. It essentially has infinite durability because when it runs out of energy, it recharges in just 10 minutes.
12. Is the Trial of the Sword glitch patched?
Yes, most known glitches related to the Trial of the Sword have been patched in subsequent game updates.
13. Is Trial of the Sword a main quest?
The quest to find and draw the Master Sword is part of the main story. However, the Trial of the Sword itself is a part of the DLC, The Master Trials, and is considered an optional challenge.
14. How many floors are in Trial of the Sword?
There are a total of 54 floors in the Trial of the Sword, divided among the three trials. 45 are combat floors and 9 are rest floors.
15. Are the Master Sword trials worth it?
Absolutely! The Master Sword trials are worth it because they give the Master Sword a deserved boost and make it much more rewarding than being able to use the sword for doing shrines. This helps alleviate durability concerns because the sword’s use time lasts longer after the trial.