Should You Play the Breath of the Wild DLC Before Tears of the Kingdom?

With The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom on the horizon, many players are revisiting Breath of the Wild. But should you tackle the DLC before jumping into the sequel? Let’s examine the expansion pass’s offerings to help you decide.

The Master Trials – DLC Pack 1

The first DLC pack, “The Master Trials,” significantly enhances the core Breath of the Wild experience. It introduces Master Mode, a harder difficulty setting that increases enemy strength and spawns tougher foes. Hero’s Path Mode reveals your last 200 hours of gameplay, useful for finding missed Shrines and Korok Seeds. But the real highlight is the Trial of the Sword. This challenging gauntlet of 45 increasingly difficult combat encounters culminates in a fully powered Master Sword, a game-changer in both the base game and Master Mode. Finally, the DLC also provides new outfits, the convenient Travel Medallion for fast travel, and the Korok Mask which helps locate those elusive Korok Seeds. The Master Trials is less story-focused and more about enhancing gameplay mechanics and providing a greater challenge.

The Champion’s Ballad – DLC Pack 2

Unlike “The Master Trials,” “The Champion’s Ballad” focuses heavily on expanding the story. This DLC unlocks after completing the main game, offering a new questline that delves deeper into the lore surrounding the four Champions. You’ll pilot a Master Cycle Zero, traverse Hyrule on an epic journey, and solve puzzles and overcome new challenges. It provides a touching conclusion to the stories of the Champions that might enrich your appreciation of the characters and the world before moving on to Tears of the Kingdom. Beyond the narrative, the DLC also adds new equipment, including the powerful Ancient Horse armor, and provides an opportunity to uncover hidden treasure chests containing new clothes. It is essential to complete the main story before starting the Champion’s Ballad to prevent spoilers.

Where to Buy the Breath of the Wild Expansion Pass

The most efficient way to access both DLC packs is by purchasing the Breath of the Wild Expansion Pass directly from the Nintendo eShop. Priced at $19.99, it provides access to all the additional content detailed above, offering a substantial expansion to the base game. Purchasing the pass ensures you have all the new content readily available without needing separate purchases. This is cost-effective compared to purchasing the individual DLC packs, especially if you plan to complete both. You can access the Nintendo eShop through your Nintendo Switch console or the official Nintendo website.

In Conclusion: Whether or not you play the DLC before Tears of the Kingdom depends on your priorities. If you enjoy challenging gameplay and want to maximize your experience within Breath of the Wild‘s world, playing the DLC first is recommended. “The Master Trials” enhances the core mechanics and adds significant gameplay challenges that might improve your overall skill. If you are more interested in experiencing a rich conclusion to the game’s narrative and gaining better understanding of the Champions, “The Champion’s Ballad” should be played before the next game. Ultimately, playing both DLC packs provides a more complete and rewarding experience in the world of Hyrule before jumping into Tears of the Kingdom.