Cheats & Secrets

Cheats & Secrets: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has no traditional cheat codes, debug menus, or unlock codes. However, it is packed with developer-intended hidden content, Easter eggs, and exploit-safe secrets. This guide covers all official hidden features and secrets that do not rely on glitches or modifications.

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Amiibo Unlocks (Official Developer-Intended Content)

Amiibo figures unlock exclusive items when scanned using the Nintendo Switch NFC reader (or Wii U GamePad). Each amiibo can be scanned once per day. Compatible amiibo and their rewards:

Note: All amiibo rewards are also obtainable in-game through normal exploration, but amiibo give early or exclusive access (e.g., Epona, Twilight Bow).

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Secret Tricks and Exploit-Safe Secrets

These are intended mechanics that function as hidden secrets:

• Pull the Master Sword Early: The Master Sword in the Korok Forest requires 13 full heart containers. If you have only 12 hearts, you can cook a dish that grants temporary hearts (e.g., Hearty Durian + Hearty Radish = Hearty Meal) to reach 13 temporarily. The game counts current hearts including temporaries, allowing you to pull the sword even without permanent 13 hearts. This works but consumes the temporary hearts instantly.



• Hylian Shield Acquisition: The Hylian Shield is hidden in Hyrule Castle's Lockup. To reach it, complete the side quest "The Stolen Heirloom" to get the Royal Guard's Uniform (optional), then proceed to the lockup via the docks under the castle. The shield is inside a metal chest. It has high durability but can be replaced at Tarrey Town's vendor if lost.



• True Ending: To see the full ending credits scene, you must collect all 18 memories (including the final memory at Hyrule Castle) before defeating Calamity Ganon. The memories are obtained via the Captured Memories main quest. Without all memories, the ending is slightly truncated.



• Secret Final Memory: The 18th memory is located in Hyrule Castle's Sanctum (the room where you fight Ganon). It triggers after the boss battle if you have all other memories. It shows Link and Zelda before the Great Calamity.



• Blood Moon Reset: The Blood Moon occurs periodically every 2–3 in-game hours. It resets enemy camps and resource spawns. If you want to force a Blood Moon to respawn specific loot, you can fast travel repeatedly or wait. There is no exploit to avoid it, but you can use it to farm.



• Shield Surfing Anywhere: Shield surfing is not limited to snow or sand. You can shield surf on grass, stone, or even water (briefly) by holding ZL and pressing A while in the air. Shield surfing on grass is slower but works. Use a shield with high durability (e.g., Ancient Shield) to avoid breaking.



• Cooking Secret Recipes: Cooking certain ingredient combinations yields special effects or dialogue hints. For example:

- Dubious Food (any critter + monster part + fruit) – sells for low price but can be used to troll NPCs.
- Tough Meat & Mushroom Skewer – combines two same-effect ingredients for stronger buff.
- Rock-Hard Food (using Flint + anything) – inedible, but used in a side quest.


• The Lord of the Mountain: A glowing secret horse with high stats appears on Satori Mountain only when the mountain glimmers (random intervals). You must sneak and tame it with stamina. It cannot be registered at stables because it is a spirit.



• Giant Horse & White Horse: Hidden horses:

- Giant Horse appears in the Hateno Tower region woods (near Oseria Plain). It requires nearly full stamina to tame and cannot wear bridles.
- White Horse is part of the side quest "The Royal White Stallion" near Outset Stable. It has high stats and can be registered.


• Hinox on Great Plateau: A Stalnox (skeletal Hinox) spawns on the Great Plateau at night after you leave the Shrine of Resurrection. It drops valuable loot (Royal Weapons). You can return to the plateau at any time to fight it.


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Easter Eggs and Developer References



Breath of the Wild contains many nods to past Zelda games:


• Temple of Time Statue: The massive statue in the Temple of Time depicts the Hero of Time from Ocarina of Time. Its design matches the original statue from that game.


• Goddess Hylia Statue: Statues of Hylia appear in various locations, referencing Skyward Sword.


• The Forgotten Temple: The temple holds a giant statue of the Goddess Hylia and a hidden area with a Hylia reference.


• Misko's Treasure: A series of side quests referencing the treasure of the pirate Misko, which includes items like the Phantom Ganon armor (DLC), but in base game it's just treasure maps.


• Lonely Island & the Strange Tree: On a small island south of Lake Hylia (near the Great Plateau), there is a lone tree with a hidden Korok seed. This is a reference to Link's Awakening's lonely tree.


• Sheikah Tech References: The Sheikah Slate is a clear reference to the Sheikah from Ocarina of Time.


• The Champion's Ballad DLC adds many Easter eggs like the Majora's Mask (as a wearable item), Tingle's outfit, and Korok Mask. These are not in the base game but are official content.


• A Hylian Recitation: In Hyrule Castle's library, there is a thin book titled "The Legend of Zelda" that mentions the series' lore. Reading it causes a small cutscene.


• Skull Kid Cameo: In the Lost Woods, you can see a Skull Kid sitting on a stump. He reacts if you approach wearing the Majora's Mask (DLC only).


• Twilight Princess References: The Twilight Bow (from amiibo) and the Mirror Shield (Hero of Time set) reference Twilight Princess.


• Wind Waker Tingle: The Tingle outfit returns in DLC. In base game, the Tingle Island reference is absent.


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Hidden Items and Quests




• The Ancient Armor Set: Found in various labyrinths: Lomei Labyrinth Island, South Lomei Labyrinth, North Lomei Labyrinth. Each piece requires solving the maze and defeating a Scout guardian. The set grants ancient proficiency (weapon damage up for ancient weapons).


• The Diamond Circlet: Found in a hidden chest in Gerudo Town's Secret Club (after joining the club). Gives resistance to guardian lasers.


• The Royal Guard's Sword: Hidden in Hyrule Castle's Docks area, behind a metal door that requires Magnesis. It has high attack but low durability.


• The Forest Dweller's Sword: Found in a hollow tree in the Lost Woods. It is a weak sword but has a hidden property of being effective against creatures weak to nature? No, but it's a collectible.


• The Hylian Shield Duplication: After breaking the Hylian Shield, you can buy a new one from Granté in Tarrey Town for 3,000 Rupees. This is the only way to get it again.


• The Sheikah Sensor+: Upgraded sensor from Purah at Hateno Ancient Tech Lab. It can track any registered item (e.g., apples, treasure chests). This is a key upgrade for finding hidden items.


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The True Ending and Memory Requirements



To unlock the full ending cutscene:

1. Complete the Main Quest: Captured Memories by finding all 18 memories scattered across Hyrule.
2. The final memory is inside Hyrule Castle's Sanctum and becomes available only after locating the other 17.
3. Then defeat Calamity Ganon (and optionally Dark Beast Ganon). The ending will show additional scenes with Zelda and the Champions.

If you miss even one memory, the ending will be shorter. No other conditions affect the ending.

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Miscellaneous Hidden Features




• Photo Gallery: The camera rune can take photos of anything. Photos are stored in the Hyrule Compendium. Taking a photo of a specific object (e.g., a Molduga) completes an entry.


• Time of Day: Resting at a campfire lets you pass time to morning, noon, or night. This is useful for avoiding Blood Moons or triggering specific events.


• Horse Whistle: Hold down the D-pad up to call your horse. The horse must be within earshot and not separated by a gap.


• Sleeping for Full Heal: Sleeping in a bed (any bed) fully restores health and provides temporary yellow hearts if the bed is comfortable (e.g., inns).


• The Sheikah Slate Rune Upgrades: Each rune can be upgraded at the Hateno Ancient Tech Lab:

- Stasis+ – freezes enemies.
- Remote Bomb+ – larger blast radius.
- Cryonis+ – creates multiple ice blocks.
- Magnesis+ – longer range.

These upgrades are essential for advanced exploration.

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Developer Room / Unused Content (No Exploits)

There is no developer room accessible in the final game without glitches. However, unused items like the Hylian Tunic (different color) exist in the game files but cannot be obtained normally. They are considered cut content.

Summary

Breath of the Wild focuses on discovery through exploration rather than cheats. All listed secrets are intentional and safe to use. For cheats (stat boosts, invincibility), players must rely on amiiibo or in-game cooking items (e.g., Hearty food for max hearts, speed potions). The most impactful secrets are the Master Sword early pull, Hylian Shield location, and true ending requirements.