Freed all four Divine Beasts and wondering what is left? Breath of the Wild’s Expansion Pass adds two DLC packs: The Master Trials, which is all about challenge and gear, and The Champions’ Ballad, which adds a new story, 16 new shrines and a motorcycle you can ride across Hyrule.
Here’s the full breakdown: what each pack contains, how to start them, every Ballad shrine by Champion and the rewards worth chasing.
What’s in Each DLC Pack
Both packs come only with the Expansion Pass, a single purchase on the Nintendo eShop. The Master Trials arrived on June 30, 2017, and The Champions’ Ballad followed on December 7, 2017, the night of its full reveal at The Game Awards.
| Pack | Main content | Unlock condition |
|---|---|---|
| The Master Trials (DLC 1) | Trial of the Sword, Master Mode, Hero’s Path, Travel Medallion, Korok Mask, new armor | Most of it after you leave the Great Plateau; Trial of the Sword needs the Master Sword |
| The Champions’ Ballad (DLC 2) | New main quest, 16 shrines, Champion memories, Final Trial, Master Cycle Zero, new armor | Main quest after all four Divine Beasts are freed; gear quests right away |
Playing the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition? The Expansion Pass is still a separate purchase, and our Zelda Switch 2 updates guide covers how that edition handles your saves and updates.
The Master Trials (DLC 1)
Trial of the Sword
Head to the Korok Forest and place the Master Sword back in its pedestal to enter. The catch: you lose every weapon, shield, bow, armor piece, material and food at the door, then fight floor after floor with whatever you find.
- Three stages: Beginning, Middle and Final Trials. Clear a stage once and you can skip it on later attempts.
- Rest floors: each stage has rest stops with a cooking pot and supplies.
- Your Runes work: Stasis, Magnesis, Cryonis and bombs all come with you. Champion abilities do not.
- The reward: finish all three stages and the Master Sword stays permanently powered up, with 60 attack.
(Pro tip: the Master Sword has to be charged to start the trial. If it is out of energy, wait for it to recharge before you head in.)
Master Mode, Hero’s Path and New Gear
- Master Mode: a harder difficulty selected from the title screen. Enemies are one rank stronger, slowly regenerate health, and some camps float in the sky. It uses its own single save slot.
- Hero’s Path: press X on the map to replay a line of everywhere you have walked. Great for spotting the corners you skipped.
- Travel Medallion: lets you place your own fast travel point anywhere.
- Korok Mask: shakes when a hidden Korok is nearby. A lifesaver for seed hunters.
- Armor sets: Majora’s Mask, Midna’s Helmet, Tingle’s outfit and the Phantom armor.
The rumor journals for these items sit at the Outpost Ruins, Woodland Stable and South Akkala Stable. Read them and the quests pop into your Adventure Log.
The Champions’ Ballad (DLC 2)
Once all four Divine Beasts are calm, reload the world (warp, load a save or leave a shrine) and you will hear Zelda’s voice. That starts EX The Champions’ Ballad.
Step 1: The One-Hit Obliterator
Head to the Shrine of Resurrection on the Great Plateau and place the Sheikah Slate in its pedestal. Monk Maz Koshia hands you the One-Hit Obliterator: it defeats any enemy in one hit, but your health drops to a quarter heart, so anything can defeat you just as fast.
- The task: clear the monsters at four marked locations on the Great Plateau. Each cleared camp raises a shrine.
- The charge: the weapon only works twice before it has to glow again, so time your swings.
- Bailing out: leave the Great Plateau and the weapon returns to its pedestal. You can restart any time.
Step 2: The Four Champion Songs
After the four Great Plateau shrines, the Obliterator splits apart and a Monument rises in each region. Kass waits at each one with a verse of his teacher’s song, and the Monument’s map marks three new trials. Every trial you beat reveals a shrine.
| Quest | Region | Shrines |
|---|---|---|
| EX The Champions’ Ballad | Great Plateau | Etsu Korima, Rohta Chigah, Ruvo Korbah, Yowaka Ita |
| EX Champion Mipha’s Song | Lanayru | Kee Dafunia, Mah Eliya, Sato Koda |
| EX Champion Revali’s Song | Hebra | Kiah Toza, Noe Rajee, Shira Gomar |
| EX Champion Daruk’s Song | Eldin | Kamia Omuna, Rinu Honika, Sharo Lun |
| EX Champion Urbosa’s Song | Gerudo | Keive Tala, Kihiro Moh, Takama Shiri |
The Great Plateau shrines give Spirit Orbs (enough for one extra Heart Container or Stamina Vessel). The Champion shrines give Divine Beast Emblems instead.
Step 3: Rematch the Blights
Collect all three Emblems for a Champion and you can enter an Illusory Realm inside that Divine Beast to fight its Blight Ganon again. Win, and you unlock a new memory of that Champion plus a faster recharging version of their ability.
Two of the trials are big overworld fights: an Igneo Talus Titan in Lake Darman for Daruk and the Molduking in the Gerudo Desert for Urbosa. Pack fireproof elixirs and plenty of arrows.
Step 4: The Final Trial
With all four Blights down, return the Sheikah Slate to the Shrine of Resurrection one more time. The chamber sinks into the Final Trial, a maze where you activate four terminals to unlock the door at the back. Behind it waits Monk Maz Koshia himself, and he wants a fight.
Beat him and he gives you the Master Cycle Zero. Kass then plays the finished ballad, which unlocks one last memory and a framed Picture of the Champions for your house in Hateno.
Champions’ Ballad Gear Quests
These six side quests do not need the main story at all. Grab the diaries at the Deya Village Ruins and Riverside Stable to start them.
- EX Treasure: Usurper King: Zant’s Helmet.
- EX Treasure: Merchant Hood: Ravio’s Hood.
- EX Treasure: Garb of Winds: the Island Lobster Shirt.
- EX Treasure: Dark Armor: the Phantom Ganon set.
- EX Royal Guard Rumors: the Royal Guard Uniform.
- EX Ancient Horse Rumors: the Ancient Bridle and Ancient Saddle.
Tips Before You Start
- Update first: both packs need the latest game version installed. Breath of the Wild is on version 1.9.0 on Switch.
- Stealth wins the Obliterator trial: one hit ends you, so sneak strikes and arrows from range beat charging in.
- Pack heat and fire gear: Daruk’s trials around Death Mountain and the Gerudo Desert fights get rough fast.
- Save before Maz Koshia: he is the hardest boss in either pack. Bring your best weapons and plenty of healing food (think hearty dishes and fairies).
If you still have Divine Beasts to clear, our Breath of the Wild guides hub has every region and boss, and the BOTW interactive map makes finding those Monuments much easier. Oh, and if you also own the amiibo, our amiibo rewards guide lists the extra gear they unlock.
Breath of the Wild DLC FAQ
How do you start The Champions’ Ballad?
Free all four Divine Beasts, then reload the world. Zelda’s voice sends you to the Shrine of Resurrection, where you place the Sheikah Slate in the pedestal.
Do you need to beat Ganon to play the DLC?
No. The Champions’ Ballad only needs the four Divine Beasts, and most of The Master Trials is available once you leave the Great Plateau.
How many shrines does The Champions’ Ballad add?
Sixteen: four on the Great Plateau and three for each Champion. That brings the game’s total to 136.
How do you get the Master Cycle Zero?
Finish all four Champion songs, clear the Final Trial under the Shrine of Resurrection and defeat Monk Maz Koshia. You fuel it with materials.
Is the Breath of the Wild DLC worth it?
Yes, if you enjoy the shrines and combat. The Trial of the Sword is a great test, and the Ballad adds the best Champion backstory in the game.
Nailed it? Start with the Trial of the Sword if you want a challenge, or jump straight into the Ballad if you miss the Champions. Your call, but either way, the Master Cycle Zero is waiting at the end.
