Is The Expansion Pass (DLC) Worth It? | Zelda: Breath of the Wild (BotW)｜Game8 (2024)

The Expansion Pass for Breath of the Wild comes with additional content to make your adventure in Hyrule more fun! Learn more about the contents of both DLC packs, how to buy them, and whether or not the Expansion Pass is worth buying!

How to Buy the Expansion Pass

Purchase for $19.99 on the eShop

The Expansion Pass for Breath of the Wild is available to purchase on the Nintendo eShop and in the following retailers below for the price of $19.99. Both DLC Packs 1 and 2 are included in the Expansion Pass and they cannot be purchased separately.

• Nintendo eShop
• Amazon
• GameStop
• BestBuy

The Master Trials DLC Pack

The first Expansion Pass for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild brings several new features to the BotW, with arguably some of the most important additions to the game: Trial of the Sword and Master Mode.

Trial of the Sword

The Trial of the Sword is an arena style section composed of several levels, and completing them all will grant the Master Sword additional power. Similar to the Savage Labyrinth or Cave of Ordeals, which is a multi-layer challenges filled with hordes of enemies, the Trials are very difficult. It will test the skill of any hero looking to restore the Master Sword to its glory.

EX Trial of the Sword Walkthrough: How to Upgrade the Master Sword

Master Mode

How to Unlock Master Mode

Master Mode is one of the main reasons that the Expansion is worth getting. Master Mode adds both extra difficulty and replayability to Breath of the Wild. Master Mode is first unlocked by completing the game normally, after which, Master Mode can be selected from the main menu.

What Changes in Master Mode

First, all enemies will be one level higher than they were in Normal mode. There is also a new gold level of almost every enemy, bringing with them the new biggest threat, The Gold Lynel. Enemies also regenerate Health over time, meaning it is important to finish them quickly.

In the sky, you will be able to find a new enemy, the Sky Octorok, which will be flying in the sky carrying enemies with high level weapons and treasure chests. In Normal Mode, Link is protected by a game mechanic that prevents OHKOs from enemies, but In Master Mode this is gone, meaning that just eating food to regain health after every hit from a strong enemy will not be enough to save you.

Master Mode Guide: Tips for Beating Master Mode

The Travel Medallion

The Travel Medallion is a new item that is added via the Expansion that can be found somewhere in the world of Breath of the Wild. The Travel Medallion will allow you to register your current location so that you can then use it as a fast travel location.

EX Teleportation Rumors Walkthrough | How to Get the Travel Medallion

Hero's Path Mode

Although called a Mode, Hero's Path Mode just adds the ability to view where you have traveled throughout Hyrule by means of a path that is drawn on your map, showing the progress of your adventure up to where you have been.

New Armor

The Master Trials also adds two complete outfits with Head, Chest, and Leg pieces and 3 new head pieces that can be found in chests located somewhere in Hyrule.

The Korok Mask will shake to let you know that there is a Korok seed nearby. This can be very useful if you are trying to collect more (or all) of the Korok Seeds in the game. Additionally, Majora's Mask will cause most enemies to avoid attacking you, unless you strike first, allowing you to walk right past hordes of minor enemies.

Korok Seeds Map and All Korok Seed Locations

The Champions' Ballad DLC Pack

The 2nd DLC Expansion to Breath of the Wild brings a few new things to the game including outfits, a new bridle and saddle for your horse, a series of new quests, and the Master Cycle, A motorcycle Link can use to quickly cross the world.

EX The Champion's Ballad Walkthrough

One-Hit Obliterator

The One-Hit Obliterator is a weapon you can hold temporarily while completing the Champions' Ballad DLC Quests. It has the power to, as the name suggests, one-hit any enemy in the game. However, holding the One-Hit Obliterator also reduces your health to 1/4 hearts, meaning that you will also be one-hit by any enemy.

Master Cycle Zero

The Master Cycle is a reward that you can obtain from completing the Champions' Ballad DLC Quest. It can transport Link quickly throughout Hyrule, however it requires fuel to keep it going.

New Quests

The following quests are a part of The Champions' Ballad DLC Pack:

Main Quests

Side Quests

New Armor

The Champions Ballad DLC brings 9 new armor items that can be found through treasure chests throughout Hyrule.

Ancient Bridle and Saddle

This equippable bridle and sadle will allow your horse to teleport directly to you whenever you whistle for it! Forget about going back to find your horse, as you can have it come to you in an instant.

Additionally, the bridle adds an extra two spurs to your horse's endurance. Just note that it cannot be equipped to Epona or the Giant Horse!

It is recommended to get one of the best horses in Hyrule and equip these on it to get the most out of the effects!

How to Get the Best Horses

Expansion Pass Bonus

Both DLC Packs and Three Chests

If you decide to buy the Expansion Pass, which is the equivalent of a Season Pass in many other games, you will receive both of the DLC Packs in Breath of the Wild, and you will also get 3 bonus chests that can be found on The Great Plateau.

The Chests contain a Nintendo Switch shirt, a single Ruby, and 5 bomb arrows. While not that useful it is a nice addition and can help slightly at the beginning of the game.

Is The Expansion Pass (DLC) Worth It?

It is Definitely Worth Buying!

If you are a completionist, a fan of the Zelda series, or just a huge fan of Breath of the Wild, The Expansion Pass is a must-buy. Until Tears of the Kingdom releases, this is one way that you can get even more out of this game. If you seek a new challenge, the difficulty of Master Mode, and the Trial of the Sword should be enough to keep you satisfied!

Much like the amiibos, which allow Link to don classic costumes from other Zelda games and unlock Zelda series-based weapons, the Expansion Pass allows you to collect even more unique Zelda series-themed costumes. While most of them just look cool and will please a lover of the series, some of them like the Majora's Mask and the Korok Mask, are actually very useful to have!

On top of that, who wouldn't want to ride around an open-world Hyrule on a motorcycle? Even if you are just starting to play BotW for the first time, we highly recommend buying the Expansion Pass right away!

Product Information

Note that DLC Packs 1 and 2 cannnot be bought individually.

Zelda: BotW Related Guides

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