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What Happens If You Beat Ganon Again? A Deep Dive for Zelda Fanatics

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So, you’ve vanquished Ganon, the bane of Hyrule, and saved the princess. Congratulations! But the adventurous spirit in you yearns for more. You wonder: What happens if I beat Ganon again? The simple answer is: nothing tangible changes in the game world itself. Hyrule doesn’t magically transform into a Ganon-free paradise. NPCs won’t suddenly start throwing you parades (though they are internally grateful, of course). That persistent “Defeat Ganon” quest will remain stubbornly unfinished in your adventure log. However, there are some rewarding changes: a subtle mark on your save file and the satisfaction of knowing you are an incredible hero.

Let’s delve into the details of the post-Ganon experience in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, addressing the burning questions that plague every aspiring Hyrulean champion.

The Cycle Continues: Ganon’s Undying Presence

The key thing to understand is the cyclical nature of the Zelda narrative. Ganon is an eternal evil, destined to return. Thus, the game’s structure reflects this. Defeating Ganon doesn’t rewrite the world’s rules. Instead, it acknowledges your victory while allowing you to continue exploring and completing side quests in a pre-Ganon Hyrule. The game essentially reverts to a save state just before the final battle.

This might seem frustrating, but it’s a design choice that prioritizes player freedom and continued gameplay. Imagine if defeating Ganon permanently altered the world, removing all enemies. While initially appealing, it would quickly make the game stale and devoid of challenge. By maintaining the pre-Ganon state, the game allows you to:

Continue hunting for collectibles, like Korok Seeds.
Complete unfinished side quests and shrine challenges.
Experiment with different combat strategies and equipment.
Simply enjoy the vast and beautiful world of Hyrule without the looming threat of Ganon (at least, not in your immediate gameplay session).

Rewards and Recognition: The Silent Acknowledgement

While the world itself remains unchanged, the game does offer subtle recognition for your feat.

A Star on Your Save File: This is the most visible indication that you’ve triumphed over Ganon. A star appears on your save file in the main menu, a badge of honor signifying your completion of the main storyline.
Completion Percentage: In Breath of the Wild, defeating Ganon unlocks the ability to see your completion percentage on the map. This tracks your progress in discovering locations, shrines, and other points of interest. This can be extremely helpful for completionists who want to see everything Hyrule has to offer.
Kilton’s Medals: If you speak to Kilton after defeating Ganon in Breath of the Wild, he will offer you medals for defeating all of the Hinox, Stone Talus and Molduga monsters. This is a very good way to showcase to the world how you can defeat all the monsters, and allows for more gameplay.
Bonus Items: Defeating Ganon will increase the chance to get bonus items when picking them up. This helps the player increase the amount of materials and items they receive.

In essence, these rewards are designed to encourage continued exploration and completion of the game’s many side activities. They are not game-altering changes, but rather subtle nods to your accomplishments.

Tears of the Kingdom: A Similar, Yet Evolved Experience

Tears of the Kingdom largely follows the same principle. Defeating Ganondorf leads to a post-credits scene, a true ending reward, and a return to the game state before the final battle. You retain all your items and progress, allowing you to continue exploring and completing any unfinished tasks. You also get an additional cutscene at the end of the game, which is very well-received by fans.

While there are no specific DLC add-ons, the game incorporates so many additions into this sequel. It really focuses on all the things they wanted to add, and they felt they accomplished this in this final product.

FAQs: Your Burning Ganon Questions Answered

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions, covering the most common inquiries about the post-Ganon experience in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom:

Can you fight Ganon again after beating him? Yes! The game reverts to a save state right before the final battle, allowing you to challenge Ganon (or Ganondorf) as many times as you like.
Does the “Defeat Ganon” quest ever disappear? No. The “Defeat Ganon” quest will forever remain incomplete in your quest log. It serves as a constant reminder of your ongoing mission to protect Hyrule.
Do Blood Moons still happen after defeating Ganon? Absolutely. The Blood Moon is a fundamental game mechanic, responsible for respawning enemies and resources. It will continue to occur regardless of how many times you defeat Ganon.
Does Hyrule Castle change after defeating Ganon? No. Hyrule Castle remains in its pre-Ganon state, allowing you to continue exploring its secrets and battling its guardians.
Do Lynels come back after a Blood Moon, even after I beat Ganon? Yes, Lynels will continue to respawn after a Blood Moon, providing you with a challenging combat experience and valuable resources.
What unlocks after beating Ganon in Breath of the Wild? You unlock the completion percentage counter on your map and the option to earn medals from Kilton.
Can I keep playing Tears of the Kingdom after defeating Ganondorf? Yes! The game returns you to the state before the final battle, allowing you to continue exploring and completing quests.
Is there a secret ending in Tears of the Kingdom? Yes, there is a true ending in the form of a post-credits scene that unlocks by completing certain optional objectives.
Does anything story-wise change after beating Ganon a second time? No, there are no story changes or new dialogue after subsequent victories. The story remains consistent.
Does the game get easier after defeating Ganon? Not necessarily. While you retain your equipment and abilities, the enemies and challenges in the world remain the same. Your skill and knowledge will improve, though, making you more efficient in combat.
What is the hardest Ganon to fight? Thunderblight Ganon, from Breath of the Wild, is widely considered the most challenging due to his speed and electric attacks. The final fight is also a challenge, and can be tough to go against.
Can I upgrade all my armor before fighting Ganon again? Yes, you can continue upgrading your armor to maximize your defense against Ganon’s attacks.
Does completing all Divine Beasts affect the Ganon fight? Yes. Completing all Divine Beasts weakens Ganon at the start of the final battle, making him easier to defeat.
Does beating Ganon affect the difficulty level? No, beating Ganon doesn’t change the difficulty. Master Mode is still a choice you’ll need to make at the start of the game.
Are there any new enemies that appear after defeating Ganon? No, no new enemies will appear after you have defeated Ganon.

The Enduring Appeal of the Zelda Cycle

Ultimately, the post-Ganon experience in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom is about embracing the journey. The game rewards your dedication with subtle acknowledgements and the freedom to continue exploring its rich world. While Ganon’s presence may be eternal, so too is the player’s ability to overcome challenges, discover secrets, and forge their own legend in Hyrule. The cyclical nature of the game is a reflection of the game’s story, and continues to allow you to continue playing without breaking the game.

These games allow us to continue to explore and test ourselves, and perhaps, find some new educational elements in the game. You can find additional research and learning about education at the Games Learning Society on their website at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. Embrace your hero duties!