What Happens After Beating Tears of the Kingdom: A Deep Dive
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So, you’ve faced Ganondorf, witnessed the breathtaking finale, and the credits have rolled on The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (TOTK). What’s next? Unlike some games that offer a true “post-game,” picking up exactly where you left off after the final battle, TOTK, like its predecessor Breath of the Wild, essentially resets you to just before the final encounter. You’re back in Hyrule, ready to continue exploring, completing side quests, and generally wreaking havoc with your Zonai devices, but the main story is, from the game’s perspective, yet to be concluded. This allows you to experience the final boss fight again if you wish, but it also lets you complete any unfinished business without the world permanently reflecting your victory.
The Title Screen Reset: Opportunity Knocks
After the final cutscenes, you’ll be returned to the title screen. Reloading your save file will place you just before entering the final boss arena. While some might find this frustrating, consider it an opportunity. All the items, abilities, and map discoveries you made throughout your journey are retained. You can now focus on achieving true 100% completion, knowing you have the skills and equipment necessary to tackle any challenge.
Star on Your Save File: A Mark of Achievement
One subtle but significant change is the addition of a star icon on your save file. This visually confirms that you’ve defeated Ganondorf. While it doesn’t unlock new story content, it serves as a badge of honor and a reminder of your accomplishment.
What Can You Still Do After Beating TOTK?
- Complete Remaining Shrines: Did you skip any of the 152 shrines? Now’s the perfect time to find and conquer them. Completing all shrines grants you the Ancient Hero’s Aspect, a unique armor set.
- Finish Side Quests and Adventures: Hyrule is teeming with optional quests. From helping villagers to investigating mysteries, there’s plenty to keep you occupied.
- Find Korok Seeds: If you’re a completionist, tracking down all 900 Korok seeds is the ultimate challenge. Good luck!
- Upgrade Armor: Visit the Great Fairies to fully upgrade your armor sets, providing increased defense and unique bonuses.
- Experiment with Zonai Devices: The possibilities are endless with Zonai technology. Create bizarre vehicles, automated contraptions, or powerful weapons.
- Explore Uncharted Territories: Did you thoroughly explore every corner of Hyrule, including the Sky Islands and the Depths? There are always secrets to uncover.
- Hunt for Rare Materials: Gather ingredients to cook powerful meals and elixirs, or find rare materials to upgrade your equipment.
- Fight Stronger Enemies: With the world scaling as you progress, stronger enemies will appear more frequently. Test your skills against tougher Bokoblins, Lizalfos, and other creatures.
- Acquire Medals of Honor: After defeating Calamity Ganon, Kilton offers Link the opportunity to receive Medals of Honor. There are three Medals of Honor, and each is obtained after Link defeats every iteration of a specific sub-boss.
- Revisit Areas of Interest: Now that you’ve mastered the game’s mechanics, revisiting earlier areas can be a rewarding experience. You might discover secrets you missed the first time around.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Do enemies get stronger after beating Tears of the Kingdom?
Yes, the enemy scaling system continues to evolve even after defeating Ganondorf. You’ll encounter more silver-tier enemies, which are the toughest versions of each monster type. This provides a constant challenge as you explore Hyrule. The XP threshold varies.
2. Will there be DLC for Tears of the Kingdom?
As of now, Nintendo has not announced any DLC plans for Tears of the Kingdom. However, given the success of Breath of the Wild‘s DLC, it’s not entirely out of the question. Keep an eye on official Nintendo announcements for any future updates.
3. Is Tears of the Kingdom better than Breath of the Wild?
Whether Tears of the Kingdom is “better” is subjective and depends on personal preference. TOTK builds upon BOTW’s foundation with new abilities, a more complex story, and expanded exploration options. However, some players may prefer BOTW’s simpler design and greater sense of discovery. The sequel improves on the flaws of Breath of the Wild, such as the irritating rain, long load times, and limited travel options, while offering a more hopeful and adventurous narrative. The game also introduces more intricate side quests and visually stunning graphics.
4. Will Tears of the Kingdom have a sequel?
The ending of Tears of the Kingdom provides a definite conclusion to this particular storyline. While the Zelda franchise is known for its recurring characters and themes across different timelines, a direct sequel to TOTK is unlikely. Zelda recreates itself numerous times over on multiple timelines, so this will likely not be the last players see of Link, yet for the BOTW series, the possibility of another game is slim.
5. What do you get for completing all 152 shrines in Tears of the Kingdom?
Completing all 152 shrines unlocks the Ancient Hero’s Aspect, a unique armor piece that combines head, body, and leg gear into one set. It offers excellent defensive stats but cannot be upgraded.
6. How do I get the Master Sword back in Tears of the Kingdom?
The Master Sword breaks at the start of the game, but it can be repaired and reclaimed. There are two primary methods: following the Main Quest: Trail of the Master Sword and Recovering the Hero’s Sword quests, or by collecting all The Dragon’s Tears.
7. Can the Master Sword break permanently?
The Master Sword cannot break due to its unique nature. After a few more hits, the Master Sword will run out of energy. While the weapon technically disappears from Link’s hand it is still in inventory. On the weapons tab, the Master Sword will be faded out.
8. What is the point of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom?
The core objective is to rescue Princess Zelda and defeat the Demon King Ganondorf. However, the game also encourages exploration, experimentation, and problem-solving through its open-world design and unique mechanics. Tears of the Kingdom was conceived after ideas for Breath of the Wild downloadable content (DLC) had exceeded its scope.
9. Does Ganon return in Tears of the Kingdom?
Yes, Ganondorf is the primary antagonist in Tears of the Kingdom. He returns as a powerful and menacing force, posing a significant threat to Hyrule. A few details found in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom reveal that, although he’s the most iconic villain, Ganondorf isn’t the greatest threat to Hyrule.
10. What counts towards 100% completion in Tears of the Kingdom?
The 100% completion rate primarily focuses on map discoveries, including locations, shrines, and other points of interest. It does not include quest completion or activities completed.
11. Will Zelda become human again?
While Mineru does tell Zelda that the act of draconification is irreversible, she’s able to become human again after Link defeats Ganondorf. Rauru and Sonia’s spirits appear, placing their hands on top of Link’s. This appears to amplify the power of his Zonai arm.
12. Is Link In Love With Zelda?
So basically, Link and Zelda aren’t in a canon-confirmed romantic relationship, but Summersett confirms what we’ve been able to see all along: Link and Zelda share a loving, caring relationship. Link has always been one to support Zelda no matter what, and Zelda has always believed in Link.
13. Should I play Breath of the Wild again before Tears of the Kingdom?
The basic controls are the same in the sequel, too, so BOTW veterans will naturally hit the ground running quicker in TOTK. So, no, you don’t have to play Breath of the Wild before Tears of the Kingdom. However, if you’re a video game fan, Breath of the Wild is a brilliant one and you probably should play it sometime.
14. Will Tears of the Kingdom be connected to Skyward Sword?
Nearly every potential connection to Skyward Sword appears accidental or as a simple homage, which is a surprise considering how many there are. Still, that means Tears of the Kingdom stands without its franchise’ help and puts its own spin on Skyward Sword’s ideas, which only speaks to the newer game’s strength.
15. Can the Master Sword be lost?
The Master Sword breaks at the start of the game and remains in Link’s inventory for a while in an unusable state before Zelda comes along in a mysterious dreamlike sequence and takes it away from Link. Fortunately, there are a few different ways to get the Master Sword back and fixed.
The End? Hardly!
While Tears of the Kingdom doesn’t offer a traditional post-game experience, it provides ample opportunities for continued exploration and challenges. The game empowers you to define your own goals and adventures within its vast and dynamic world. So, go forth, explore, and continue to discover the wonders that Hyrule has to offer! And consider how games like Tears of the Kingdom contribute to learning and problem-solving skills, something actively researched and supported by organizations like the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.