Breath of the Wild: How to Beat Calamity Ganon (2024)

It is well known that, compared to many of the previous games in the series, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild takes a unique approach to nearly all of its mechanics. From its open world design, to the infamous weapon durability system, this game takes great pains to stand apart from its predecessors. Because Nintendo chose this approach with Breath of the Wild, the game's main missions can be approached and completed in any order. This even applies to the final boss, Calamity Ganon, and how that fight can be approached.

The fight with Calamity Ganon is approached like everything else in the game: at the player's leisure. Though many players won't experience this, if only because they are trained to expect boss fights to only be available at the end of a game, but Calamity Ganon can be fought the minute Link glides off the Great Plateau. While many players use this fact as a means to show off their incredible prowess, most of the fan base will benefit from taking the scenic route to the end.

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How to Reach Calamity Ganon in Hyrule Castle

Reaching Hyrule Castle:

No matter when Link decides to face his nemesis, the fight will take place in the same location: Hyrule Castle. From the moment he leaves the Great Plateau, Link can make his way directly to Hyrule Castle. This, however, is inadvisable. Not only is Ganon considerably harder at this point, but the player will also be skipping the bulk of the experience. It seems, canonically speaking, that Link is supposed to free the spirits of the four Champions before facing down the Darkness that is Calamity Ganon.

There are multiple towers in the general vicinity of Hyrule Castle, which will allow Link to fast-travel fairly close to the castle. There is a moat that surrounds the entire castle structure, making travel by glider the easiest option.

Link can either look for a high point, such as the massive pillars that go up around the castle, or find one of the few narrow points in the moat and use Revali's Gale to cross. Another option is using the Cryonis function of the Sheikah Slate to cross the moat, but this can be dangerous with the moat's fast current and high winds.

Reaching the Sanctum:

As players cross the moat into Hyrule Castle, they will notice that a visual representation of the castle appears in the bottom right corner of the screen. This will mark the moment that the player has entered the castle structure in earnest, with a larger version of the schematic also replacing the normal map of Hyrule. Once this happens, the player will no longer have access to the fast-travel capabilities of the Sheikah Slate, and must exit the castle grounds before this function returns. Players can do this quickly by choosing the 'Leave Area' option (press X from the map screen).

Upon examining the castle schematic, Link will notice a large orange ball at the top. This is the Sanctum, Link's ultimate goal. Along with this point, the schematic will also highlight the major paths and tunnel entrances and exits. It is important to note, players visiting the castle for the first time may want to follow the path, experiencing the full challenge on offer. But just like the rest of the game, Link has the choice to bypass nearly all of it, and make his way directly to Calamity Ganon. This makes the assumption that players will have access to Link's full range of abilities, having bested each of the lesser, blighted forms of Ganon. On top of that, players who have completed The Champions' Ballad DLC will have access to upgraded versions of these abilities, making it even easier to reach the Sanctum. While advanced players will likely find ways to reach the Sanctum without any upgrades whatsoever, most players greatly benefit from increases to hearts, stamina, and from having all of Link's abilities.

Preparing to Fight Calamity Ganon in Breath of the Wild

How do the Champions Help?

One of the best ways to prepare for the fight with Calamity Ganon is to free the spirit of each Champion, giving them access to the Divine Beasts. When first freeing a champion, the player will notice the cutscene that plays, which shows them aim their sites on Hyrule Castle. When entering the Sanctum, each champion will make good on this threat, taking out 1/8 of Ganon's overall health. If all four are freed, this will result in Ganon losing 1/2 of his health before the fight even starts.

What are the Best Weapons and Armor for Fighting Ganon?

Without a doubt, the best weapon for facing both Hyrule Castle and Calamity Ganon, is the legendary Sword that Seals the Darkness. Of course, when in the presence of its ultimate enemy, the Master Sword will have no equal. While at the castle, the Master Sword's normal durability is thrown out the window. There is still a limit, but it is far higher than it would be while exploring Hyrule.

Other than the Master Sword, the following gear works extremely well:

Weapons:

• All Ancient Weapons: For both melee and ranged attacks, it's hard to do better than the various ancient weapons. It is possible to stock up on these weapons at the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab. Ancient Arrows in particular can have a devastating effect if used correctly.
• 'Royal' Weapons: While they may not be the most durable of weapons, there is an abundance of them found at the castle. The Royal Claymore, with its high damage output, is particularly good for flurry attacks.
• Guardian Weapons: These weapons are often found in 'Test of Strength' shrines, and perform well against guardians. Given that the castle is overrun by this enemy type, it's not a bad idea to include them in Link's inventory.
• Thunder Weapons/Shock Arrows: Given the mechanical nature of many of the enemies at Hyrule Castle, having electricity on Link's side is a good idea. These weapons can briefly stun guardians, allowing for a couple extra swings.
• Lynel Bows/Forest Dweller's Bow: These extremely powerful bows are very useful against Ganon, as they shoot multiple arrows while only removing one from Link's inventory. Turn one Ancient Arrow into three, or even five, with these priceless weapons.
• Bomb Arrows: Bring Bomb Arrows. Lots and Lots of Bomb Arrows.

Armor:

• Ancient Armor: As Ganon - and many of the enemies at Hyrule Castle - seems to rely on ancient tech to power his attacks, the Ancient Armor is an optimal choice. It can be acquired at the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab.
• Barbarian Armor: A full set of this armor will give link a permanent 'three-sword' attack boost, significantly increasing his damage output. This armor works incredibly well for players who take an aggressive approach and are extremely comfortable dodging attacks.
• Hero of the Wild: This outfit is awarded upon completing all 120 shrines and 'A Gift from the Monks.' With an 84 defense rating and increased Master Sword beam set bonus, this set is the purist's dream. Aside from sets that can only be acquired through Amiibo, this is as Link as Link gets.
• Bespoke Sets: Become the Haberdasher of Hyrule and outfit link in a custom set. One of the best things about Breath of the Wild is the ability to truly make the experience personal. In that spirit, try different combinations with different bonuses. For example, try the Diamond Circlet, Champion's Tunic, and Barbarian Leg Wraps. While there will not be any set bonus, Link will get extra defense from guardians, an attack bonus, and the armor piece with the single highest defense rating (32 when fully upgraded), all in one set.

Shield:

• Hylian Shield: Without a doubt, the player should take the time to acquire the Hylian Shield. Aside from the shield's iconic status, it is also the best in the game. Traversing through Hyrule Castle to acquire the shield is not an easy task, but it is well worth the time when it comes to the best shield to use against Calamity Ganon.
• Ancient Shield: Just as ancient weapons and armor work well, so too does the Ancient Shield. It will protect against the Guardian's laser attacks better than most metal shields.
• Guardian Shields: Though less durable than the ancient shield, Guardian gear, especially the fully-upgraded versions, handles the stress of ancient-tech attacks relatively well. Guardian Gear can be found in shrines.

Related: How The Master Sword Manifests In Every Legend Of Zelda Game

Upgrades and Food:

Though not everything can be upgraded, the following items should be enhanced before facing Calamity Ganon:

Master Sword: Unfortunately, there is no way to upgrade the Master Sword in the base version of Breath of the Wild. But players who own the DLC will be able to upgrade the legendary sword by completing 'The Master Trials'. This enhances both the damage, and the durability, of the Master Sword. While this may not affect the Ganon fight specifically, it will help Link during the preparation stage.

Armor Upgrades: Whoever set the player decides to go with, make sure to take advantage of the Great Fairy Fountains, Breath of the Wild's main armor upgrade mechanic.

Preparing Food: While not an upgrade per se, preparing plenty of food can mean the difference between success and failure. Try to fill Link's inventory with meals with at least the following three enhancements:

• Yellow Hearts: Cool a single Hearty Durian, Big Hearty Radish, Hearty Radish...anything with 'hearty' in the title. This will give Link extra hearts, though only temporarily. Remember, Link can never have more than 30 hearts, so there is no need to overuse ingredients if they end up surpassing that number.
• Attack Boost: Any of the ingredients with 'mighty' in the name will give link an attack boost. Consider stockpiling Mighty Bananas and Mighty Carp/Porgy. Using 5 of each will give Link a three-sword (highest) attack boost for several minutes.
• Defense Boost: There is no single name for this category, so look or ingredients that correspond with defense. Ironshroom, Fortified Pumpkin, Armored Carp/Porgy. These will give Link a boost to his defense rating.

How to Beat Calamity Ganon in Breath of the Wild

Once the player is ready to face Ganon, enter the Sanctum at the top of Hyrule Castle. A cutscene will begin as Link enters the open chamber and sees Ganon hanging from the ceiling in a grotesque cocoon.

If the player helped any or all of the Champions, this is where the cutscene related to them will play. As mentioned earlier, each of the Champions will reduce Ganon's health bar by 1/8. This is extremely helpful, especially the first time through.

Related: Breath Of The Wild: How To Activate Akkala Ancient Tech Lab

Calamity Ganon's Moveset:

Calamity Ganon takes the form of a large, spider-esque creature. It almost appears as if each of the blighted versions that took control of the Divine Beasts have formed some sort of horrible amalgamation. This extends to Ganon's attacks as well. Link will have seen most of what Ganon throws at him in the previous fights, albeit in a slightly different fashion. What does not change, is how Link can defend against them.

For all the illustrious imagery and amazing character design, the fight with Ganon can be won by utilizing the same techniques used on most of Hyrule's tougher enemies. While in his 'spider' form, watch for the following attacks:

Horizontal and Vertical Axe Attacks:

These attacks are essentially just upscaled versions of basic Guardian attacks. Think of the tests of strength Link endures in many of the shrines. The Guardian Scout uses the Ancient Battle Axe, which slices in the same way. Here, Link can either step left or right to avoid the vertical slices, or backflip over the horizontal slices. Either way, it will result in a 'flurry strike' opportunity.

This attacks will also have an elemental effect, leaving trails of fire along set lines, which depend on Ganon's choice of

Laser Guided Beam Blast:

Link spends the entire game facing this attack from all Guardian types, so by the time he faces Ganon, he should have perfected the beam parry. In this case, successfully parrying the blast will not only damage Ganon, but cause him to be temporarily stunned.

There is a second version of this attack that occurs when Ganon is crawling along the walls. Instead of one large beam, this attack uses bursts of smaller attacks. These can still be parried, which cause Ganon to fall from the wall.

Arrow Projectiles:

Similar to Waterblight Ganon's attacks, Calamity Ganon will hurl large arrows at Link, which will do significant damage. He does this while stuck to the wall, so the best option is to simply dodge the attacks.

Jumping AOE:

Ganon will jump into the air, smashing into the ground. This will cause a circular AOE that Link must escape or block to avoid damage.

Calamity Ganon Phase 2:

When Ganon is taken down to 1/4 of his health bar remaining, he engages a golden shield that blocks ranged damage when he is crawling along the walls. Knock him down by parrying one of his beam attacks.

To remove Ganon's shield when he is on flat ground, either parry a ranged attack, or use the flames released by an axe attack to glide up and get a critical ranged attack at his face. Repeating this process will deplete Ganon's health very quickly.

Related: Breath Of The Wild: How Long To Beat

How to Defeat Dark Beast Ganon in Breath of the Wild

This segment is more of a set piece than an actual boss fight. That is not to say Link cannot be hurt, but as long as he watches out for the massive blast of energy sent from Ganon's head, he'll be ok. After defeating Calamity Ganon, the essence of darkness known as Malice will gather in the lower Sanctum before heading out into the open world. Link will teleport straight to the location where he must face Malice's true source: Dark Beast Ganon.

Zelda will give Link the Bow of Light, which is essentially impossible to miss. As Link rides around Ganon, golden circles of light will appear that Link must aim for. Each hit will take down a small amount of health.

Finally, when Dark Beast Ganon is down to his last sliver of health, Link will have to aim for the large eye that emerges from the Beast's forehead. The large blast that Ganon shoots from his head will cause the grass in the field to burn. Use the gusts of wind caused by the fire to glide in the air, allowing link to use his slow-motion ranged attacks. Hitting the eye at the right moment will end the fight.

For all intents and purposes, this is the end of Breath of the Wild. After the credits roll, Link will be sent back prior to the Ganon fight. This allows Link to replay the fight as many times as the player wants.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is available now for Nintendo Switch. It's sequel, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will be released on May 12, 2023, for the Nintendo Switch.

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