What Counts Towards 100% Completion in Breath of the Wild?

Achieving 100% completion in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (BOTW) is a significant undertaking, requiring dedication and exploration. It’s more than just finishing the main storyline; it involves completing a specific set of tasks that are tracked by the game. The game provides a percentage tracker on your world map after you defeat Ganon to reflect this progress. Here’s what you need to accomplish to reach that coveted 100% mark:

• Defeat all four Divine Beasts: This is a core element of the main story, and liberating each Divine Beast is mandatory for full completion. This involves completing the respective dungeon and defeating the boss inside.
• Complete all 120 Ancient Shrines: Scattered across Hyrule, these shrines present various puzzles and challenges. Each completed shrine contributes to your overall completion percentage. It’s not enough to simply enter them; you must clear the challenge within.
• Acquire all 900 Korok Seeds: This is arguably the most time-consuming task. These tiny, hidden Koroks are found throughout the game world, each requiring you to solve a small environmental puzzle. Although they result in a comical reward, collecting all 900 is crucial for hitting 100%.
• Visit every named location on the map: Hyrule is filled with named places, from small ruins to bustling towns. You must discover and explore all of these locations, ensuring that their names are revealed on your map.

It’s important to note that certain elements do not contribute to the 100% completion rate. These include:

• Filling the Hyrule Compendium: This collection of photos of enemies, items, and creatures is not part of the 100% calculation.
• Completing all side quests: While enriching and often very enjoyable, side quests are not tracked as part of the 100% completion requirement.
• Finding treasure chests: Exploring every nook and cranny will certainly help with resources, but these hidden chests will not move the percentage bar.
• Upgrading all armor: Upgrading armor provides valuable defensive benefits, but these upgrades are not counted towards overall completion.
• Acquiring unique weapons and shields: Collecting unique gear is a large part of the experience, but these acquisitions do not influence your completion percentage.

Essentially, 100% in BOTW is about major exploration, solving puzzles, and beating key challenges. It tests your dedication to meticulously uncover every corner of the game’s vast world.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About 100% Completion in Breath of the Wild

To further clarify what constitutes 100% completion, here are some frequently asked questions:

How Long Does It Take to Achieve 100% Completion?

The time required to hit 100% in BOTW varies, depending on your play style and focus. While a playthrough focusing on the main objectives might take around 50 hours, achieving 100% completion often requires around 190 hours. The sheer number of Korok seeds to find is the largest reason for this increased time investment.

Is 100% Completion Worth the Effort?

This is subjective. If you love exploring, solving puzzles, and seeing everything the game has to offer, then yes, 100% completion is rewarding. However, the reward for all 900 Korok seeds, a literal golden turd, is often considered underwhelming, making the process itself the main motivator for some players.

Do You Need the DLC for 100% Completion?

No, the DLC (The Master Trials and The Champions’ Ballad) is not required to achieve 100% completion as it’s tracked by the base game. The DLC adds additional content, challenges, and items, but it doesn’t factor into the core 100% completion calculation. However, the DLC can enhance the game greatly with features like the Korok Mask and new side quests.

How Do I View My Completion Percentage?

Your completion percentage is revealed on the world map after defeating Ganon and completing the main quest. Saved games will also display a star indicating that you have finished the main storyline. The percentage is displayed in the bottom right corner of the map.

Do Korok Seeds Count Towards 100%?

Yes, collecting all 900 Korok Seeds is essential for achieving 100% completion in Breath of the Wild. These seeds, while numerous and sometimes hidden, are a crucial part of the completion calculation.

Is Completing the Hyrule Compendium Necessary for 100%?

No, filling the Hyrule Compendium is not required for 100% completion. The compendium is an additional side activity, but it does not count towards the official completion percentage.

Do Side Quests Count Towards 100%?

No, completing side quests is not necessary for 100% completion. Although they add depth to the game’s lore and characters, side quests are separate from the tracked requirements for overall completion.

Does Visiting Every Location Also Mean Discovering Every Secret?

While you need to visit all named locations for 100% completion, it doesn’t mandate you find every single hidden secret or underground cave. It primarily focuses on registered locations on the map.

What Happens When You Get All 900 Korok Seeds?

When you collect all 900 Korok seeds, you’ll receive “Hestu’s Gift”, which is a golden turd. Despite the humorous and somewhat disappointing nature of the reward, it’s a necessary step to hit the 100% mark.

Is It Worth Getting All the Korok Seeds?

Whether or not it’s worth it is subjective. If you’re a completionist, then finding all Korok seeds is a necessary part of achieving 100%. However, if you’re looking for a useful reward, the golden turd will certainly disappoint. Most players see the challenge and thoroughness of exploration as its own reward.

Can You Play After Beating Ganon?

Yes, after beating Ganon, the game loads you back into your last save before the boss fight, meaning you can continue playing and completing other tasks. The main quest will be marked as completed and you can see the completion percentage.

Should I Wait to Beat Ganon?

It’s advisable to complete many of the side activities and gain stronger equipment before battling Calamity Ganon. Each Divine Beast you haven’t defeated before the final battle will add an additional boss fight to that encounter, making it much harder.

Are There Any Unique Items Related to 100% Completion?

Apart from Hestu’s Gift, there isn’t a unique item tied to 100% completion. The real reward is the sense of accomplishment and the percentage number appearing on your map.

Is Tears of the Kingdom’s Completion System Similar?

The completion system in Tears of the Kingdom is similar but also different from Breath of the Wild. It also features a percentage-based map system after the main quest, however, the requirements are different and more complex.

Is the Compendium Reward in Tears of the Kingdom Better?

While the Hyrule Compendium reward in Tears of the Kingdom is improved over Breath of the Wild’s Classified Envelope, it’s still generally not a main reason for completing the compendium. The Compendium is not part of the percentage of completion in Tears of the Kingdom.

By addressing these points, it should be clear that achieving 100% completion in Breath of the Wild involves a specific, yet expansive set of challenges that require a significant time commitment and a deep appreciation for exploration. While some aspects, such as the reward for 900 Korok seeds, may not be to everyone’s taste, the experience of thoroughly conquering the game’s vast world and intricate puzzles is a reward in itself.