Redefining the elements of adventure isn’t an easy task to do, but The Legend of Zelda series has proven time and time again why it is a cut above the rest.
While the game features a near-unlimited scope of action, you’d eventually want to find more avenues and areas to explore rather than being confined to a select few lands.
The Legends of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Expansion Pass essentially allows you to unlock more content and regions. It generally includes a total of three DLCs and accounts for a great purchase value – given you’re deep into the rabbit hole of the Zelda series.
Needless to say, you should do your homework before deciding on a purchase. Rightfully so, there’s a lot of content kept elusive to a regular Zelda series player.
Therefore, we will be counting down the contents of the Expansion Pass while weighing down the pros and cons, so you can decide whether it’s for you or not. With that said, let’s jump in and get started!
What Is The Expansion Pass?
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild: Expansion Pass
An expansion pass is a way for a game developer to introduce new content to the game as a form of in-game purchase. Since today’s gaming trends have shifted more towards microtransactions rather than a single downpayment, the passes are often used to reinvigorate old games with new content.
You get more in-game stories and environments to enjoy while the developers get paid for the newly added content. For The Legends of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the Expansion Pass is aimed to target three new DLCs that focus on the Nintendo Switch and Wii UTM platforms specifically.
DLC Pack 1
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild: DLC 1
This DLC Pack focuses on adding a couple of new missions to the game. While you will also be getting a travel medallion along with new armor, the main attraction is the Master Mode.
Having said that, let’s see what the entire attraction of this DLC is all about:
Master Mode
This mode allows players to one-up the pre-existing difficulty level of the game. A troll that was relatively easy to defeat will take a considerable amount of effort compared to before.
While this bump in difficulty isn’t Dark Souls level, it can still provide a new incentive for players to grind The Legends of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild: Master Mode
Any progress made in this mode is stored separately. Therefore, you won’t have to worry about starting once again just to get stuck at a level you can’t beat. Consequently, this also means that your device will be working extra hard to ensure smoothness during your gaming session.
With that said, here’s what will change in master mode on a more general level:
- Enemies will rank up – so some of the enemies will have altered appearances or skin colors.
- Level differences will start to blur – thereby making the game feel more skill-based than ever. This also applies to low-level locations where monsters are generally optimized according to player level.
- Certain boss-level enemies will be popping up much more often than usual. Plus, you might encounter some scary new faces that you’ve never seen before in normal play.
- You’re not the only one with health regen now – your enemies can do the same and can be the ones to preemptively attack you instead.
- Saving is no longer automatic; you will have to make good use of your limited number of auto and manual saves.
- Enemies will be hand-delivered to you on floating rafts. While they will be annoying to deal with, the reward compensation will make it more than worth it.
Playing this mode is not generally recommended for newbies since it is tuned to target veteran audiences. Nonetheless, there’s no harm in giving it a go if you’re someone that’s up for challenges.
Trial of The Sword
Similar to the Cave of Ordeals or Savage Labyrinth in previous The Legend of Zelda titles, the Trial of The Sword (commonly referred to as the Cave of Trials) is a unique location that makes you test your skills to the limit.
The main idea is to give a dedicated reward to the worthy. Therefore, it won’t be wrong if you consider it a special trial. However, you won’t be able to bring your special items to the mix. Instead, you will be stripped bare while being expected to defeat the oncoming waves of enemy onslaught.
Trial Of The Sword | Source: IGN
Once you’ve defeated them all, the final reward will unlock. Since you won’t be using your weapons and armor, the trial can become a nightmare to finish. It’s essentially a war of attrition that will sweep you away if you’re not careful.
With that said, the final reward contains a major buff to your Master Sword that will make it rank up to level 60 – thereby allowing it to reach the awakened form.
You need to note the following before heading to challenge the Trial of The Sword:
- The Trial of The Sword won’t begin unless you have Master Sword in your arsenal.
- Your health and stamina will remain intact, so we recommend you invest in that instead of your items (which will be stripped off anyways).
- The Trial of the Sword can take hours to beat. Therefore, it’s best if you come prepared.
- There are a total of 45 floors – with only two optional breaks in between. You can consider them as checkpoints.
Hero’s Path
This tracker highlights a path of the map that stretches through all the map locations you’ve pathed through so far. It essentially allows you to backtrack and replay some of the most beloved moments of your gameplay.
Hero’s Path | Source: Polygon
Since this tracker is pre-initiated from the start of the game, the date of the DLC purchase won’t really matter. You can essentially think of it as a hidden element that’s there – but only surfaces after you’ve purchased the DLC.
It’s generally used to re-identify locations that you’ve had the memory of exploring – but they aren’t on the map. Perhaps, there was that once tall peak with a really great view or that one hidden location where you found a really cool weapon and so on; the possibilities are limitless!
New Gear Locations
Aside from the general features and bonuses, DLC 1 also includes certain pieces of gear and equipment that can be accessed once you complete their relevant quests. With that said, you need to initiate the said quests from the locations mentioned below:
1. Travel Medallion
Travel Medallion | Source: Polygon
This item lets you fast-travel to certain locations on the map. To initiate the relevant quest for this, you would need to head to the northwest of Akkala Tower and reach the Super Rumor Mill V2 in the Ze Kasho Shrine.
Follow the instructions in order to complete the maze and head down to the area containing a Diamond Circlet. In the middle, there will be a chest that contains this medallion. You will be met with some resistance along the way, but your current gear will be strong enough to deal with them.
2. Korok Mask
Korok Mask | Source: IGN
This is a mast that’s purely used for vanity purposes. You’d need to head to the Mirro Shaz Shrine in order to initiate the quest related to obtaining it. This area is located in the eastern direction of the Hyrule castle, so you can also choose to travel fast if you already have it unlocked.
Once you reach the Super Rumor Mill, simply follow through the quest guidelines until you reach the Korok Forest. Once there, just light up a torch and follow the way the wind blows. Upon reaching the large hollow tree, open the chest inside to grab a Korok Mask for yourself.
3. Tingle Outfit, Majora’s Mask, Phantom Outfit, Midna Outfit
Tingle’s Outfit | Source: GameSpot
All of these items can be obtained once you head to Outpost Ruins. Glide your way to the latest building near the Great Plateau Tower and head inside to initiate the quest clues for them.
Since each quest features a different secondary location, you might have to make several stops in order to gather all four. With that said, we generally recommend you do all quests in parallel since some locations aren’t that far off from each other.
DLC Pack 2
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild: DLC 2
The second DLC pack focuses on improving your overall armor. Consequently, you will also get introduced to many goodies that contain items that can help you get past the hardest difficulties with the laxest attitude.
With that said, here’s everything you will be encountering in the DLC 2 of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild:
The Champions’ Ballad
This is the main quest that acts as a cornerstone attraction for the DLC Pack 2. It’s only playable after you’re done with all the Divine Beasts. This includes all the dungeon content and the champion powers.
The storyline of this quest upgrades the said powers along the way, so not having them in the first place would mean no reward. With that said, you’re essentially going to be making your way back to the Divine Beasts in order to ask them for a free upgrade.
One Hit Obliterator | Source: L.O.G
If the negotiations fail (which is extremely likely), you will have to resort to force. So, your previous battle experience will come in extremely handy. Since the general idea is to get a boost in power for the upcoming battle, you must fight these battles as conservatively as possible in order to save your expendables.
After that, you will need to head to the Shrine Of Resurrection (as instructed by Zelda’s ghostly voice). Just follow the marker on the map, and you’ll reach it in no time. Once you’re in, keep following the marker that leads to a special weapon in the shrine.
This One-Hit Obliterator – as the name suggests, deletes any enemy coming in contact with this weapon. However, your health will experience a huge temporary decline as a result.
Now, battle your way through, and you should be able to complete the rest of the quest without difficulty as long as you’re skilled at dodging.
Treasure Quests
Source: USgamer
You will need to complete the following quests in order to obtain valuable armor and vanity items. In total, there are four quests in the first sequence, with each providing varying rewards.
Having said that, here’s what you’ll be looking to complete:
- EX Treasure: Merchant Hood: Grants Ravio’s Hood as a reward for completion.
- EX Treasure: Garb of the Winds: Rewards you with the Island Lobster Shirt as a part of DLC 2.
- EX Treasure: Usurper King: Gives Zant’s Helmet as a reward for completion.
- EX Treasure: Dark Armor: Gives out the Phantom Ganon armor set as a reward.
EX Royal Guard Rumors
You will be able to gain another complete set from the Ex Royal Guard Rumors quest. The general premise is the same as the previous ones, but the locations can vary. Plus, the reward is generous – so there’s no reason to miss out on it.
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild: Royal Guard Outfit | Source: IGN’s Guide
With that said, here’s how the Ex Royal Guard Rumors quest pans out:
- Once you’re inside the Riverside Stable, locate and read the Super Rumore Mill EX from the table in order to initiate the quest.
- Relocate/ Fast Travel to the Woodland Tower in order to move towards the back of the mountain underneath the nearby castle. The best way to reach this area is through gliding.
- It’s time for your Hyule castle infiltration to begin! Simply follow the laid-out pathway while defeating enemies, and you should be able to find all three pieces of the reward.
The enemies present in this quest are extremely deadly. Therefore, we recommend you pack enough refillable to last you through the perilous journey. Luckily, you don’t need to headbutt every critter along your route. Thus, we recommend you outrun most of them until a fight becomes inevitable.
EX Ancient Horse Rumors
This quest can be unlocked by traveling toward the Highland Stable close to the Ka’o Makagh Shrine. You can just walk/glide to the southern region of the lake in order to find the said stable. Once you’re inside, simply read the Super Rumor Mill Ex: Volume 3 to begin.
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild: Ancient Saddle & Bridle
With that said, here’s a general idea of how the quest will pan out:
- Upon reading the contents, you will be presented with a clue that points to the Malanya Spring and the Satori Mountain.
- On the top of Satori Mountain, try to scurry your way through the scenery in order to find pink petals.
- At the leading end of these petals, you will find a chest located inside the ground. You can use Magnesis to pull it out and claim the contents inside.
- Head to the Malanya Spring, and try to look for a giant flower bud.
- On its back, you will find a buried chest that can also be pulled out with the help of Magnesis.
- Claim the contents inside and be on your way!
You don’t have to clear certain quests or slay certain enemies in order to enjoy this quest. Rather, you can think of it as an exploration duty that gives out massive returns – depending on your build path.
Master Cycle Zero
This is a literal motorbike that’s unlocked once all the contents of the second DLC have been completed. In terms of speed, it’s fairly on par with gliding – if not faster. After obtaining the Master Cycle Zero, simply press Up in order to equip the rune for it.
Once done, you just have to press the L button in order to summon it. Now, get in the riding vicinity and press A to get on with it.
While it’s not the fastest vehicle in the game, it’s certainly more agile – and can prove to be a great source of ease – given you’re not into the concept of walking around while wasting time.
Master Cycle Zero
Unfortunately, the bike doesn’t run on air alone; you need fuel to power it. Luckily though, the bike accepts almost any consumable as fuel. Therefore, you will be good to go if you have a thick stack of useless goods.
The Legend Of Zelda: Expansion Pass Bonus
The Breath of the Wild Expansion Pass not only features the complete pair of DLCs – but adds more value with the help of a small bonus, intended as a form of gratitude for supporting the creators.
Having said that, the bonus is rather limited to the Great Plateau area of the map. Therefore, you’d have to make a personal trip there if you want to enjoy three new treasure chests. Since these rewards are intended for fanfare, you won’t be receiving a broken weapon or anything of that sort.
Instead, you can expect some mildly useful in-game items to pop up along with a shirt containing the Nintendo Switch logo.
Is The Expansion Pass Worth Buying?
While that’s largely dependent on what you want to do with it, the pass is generally a good deal to consider – both in terms of value for money and for extra content.
You are not only getting extra side missions but are also unlocking fast travel along with new armor sets, vehicles, and weapon upgrades.
Link & Zelda | Source: GamesRadar
Plus, the new difficulty level would have you hooked on in no time. However, you should only purchase it if you genuinely enjoy the game. There’s no point in it if you’re looking for something new. It’s the same experience in the same flavors – but in different quantities.
Thus, it’s not really the way to go if you’re only getting started with the Zelda-verse. Instead, we would recommend you to give it time, play more games, and be certain whether you like what you’re playing or not.
Once you’re done deciding, you just need to hit the purchase option, and it will be in your inventory in no time! And since it is intended for players that have actually completed The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, you’re not really going to be missing out on anything.
How To Purchase The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Expansion Pass?
The Expansion Pass can either be purchased directly from the Official website (if you’re on Nintendo Switch), or you can use one of the following ways to make a safe purchase. Before proceeding, do note that these methods can be subject to change.
Therefore, we recommend you only follow these in order to avoid paying money to sketchy phishing sites offering cheaper rates – just to scam you.
The Legend Of Zelda: Breath of the Wild: Expansion Pass
Consequently, you also need to ensure that you have the required space available in your console of choice. For the Wii U platform, you’d need around 2.5 GBs worth of additional space to store both DLCs in the Expansion Pack.
As for the Nintendo Switch, it can take around 2.4 GB for the same data to be viable for downloading. Moreover, the pass is only available in regions where you have the Nintendo eshop available, so make sure to verify that beforehand.
With that out of the way, let’s analyze each purchasing method below:
- Main Menu: You will need to head to the in-game main menu in order to select the Downloadable Content option. From there, just navigate to the Expansion Pass and pay the purchasing cost.
- Nintendo Shop: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has a product page in the Nintendo Shop. Head there and select the Expansion Pass to purchase it.
- Download Codes: These codes can be bought from verified retailers. However, this is often considered the riskiest option. Therefore, make sure to verify their authenticity before making a purchase – especially online.
Once you’ve purchased the Expansion Pass, the in-game content will automatically begin to pop up. You just need to sit back and relax while the content downloads over your internet. After the process has been completed, just play the game like you usually do.
Conclusion
All in all, the Expansion Pass is just another way to max out on your The Legend of Zelda experiences. In terms of raw value for money, it’s something to grab at a moment’s notice. However, for the practicality part – let’s just say it’s dependent on your wallet and willingness.
You don’t really have to delve into all the new content and items from the very start. Just take your time to enjoy the game for what it really is. And, if it works out for you, then go for the Expansion Pass, as it’s really just an add-on that serves to add to your adventures.
