Table of Contents
Infiltrating Hyrule Castle
You’ve finally made it to the ominous silhouette of Hyrule Castle, the epicenter of the Calamity. The air is thick with swirling Malice and the distant screech of Guardians on patrol. This is it. There are multiple ways to breach the castle grounds, so choose a path that suits your style (and gear):
Front Gates (Bold Approach): March straight in through the ruined front bridge and gates. You’ll face Guardians head-on – walking sentries and flying Guardians swarm these entrances. Bring your best shields for parrying lasers or plenty of ancient arrows to take them out. It’s a combat-heavy route, but nothing says “Hero of Hyrule” like kicking down the front door!
Moat Waterfalls (Sneaky Zora Approach): Slip around to the waterfalls cascading down the castle’s sides (especially on the north). With the Zora Armor, you can swim up these falls and bypass many ground enemies. This approach lets you emerge at higher castle terraces. Watch for a few Lizalfos snipers, but it’s a relatively stealthy way in.
Glide from Above (Revali’s Gale Approach): If you’ve got Revali’s Gale (or can climb a nearby peak or pillar), catch an updraft and paraglide onto a castle wall or even right onto a rampart. From Woodland Tower to the northeast or other high ground, you can soar over certain defenses. It feels awesome to drop in from the sky like a Rito champion, but be ready to land fighting if a Guardian turret spots you mid-glide.
Secret Underground Docks (Scenic Route): For a quieter entry, seek out the cave-like entrance on the northwest side that leads to the old castle docks. You might find a mine cart track leading into the cliffside. This path avoids many Guardians up top. Head through the docks and climb up into the castle from below – you’ll still encounter some enemies (and a surprise Moblin or two unloading crates), but it’s an offbeat path many overlook.
No matter how you enter, the castle interior itself is a labyrinth crawling with danger and history. Malice (that gross pulsing purple and black sludge) infests many corridors – look for eyeball-like cores embedded in it and shoot them with an arrow to clear the goo. The moment you step inside, you’ll likely hear the eerie piano notes of the castle’s theme, reminding you this is enemy territory. Guardian Scouts scuttle through some hallways, and Guardian Turrets are mounted in corners high above – keep your eyes open (and maybe keep that Ancient Shield handy to auto-deflect lasers or do some well-timed parries). If you’re following the main path to the Sanctum (the central throne room where Ganon waits), you’ll pass through large halls and spiral staircases that have stood since the kingdom’s glory days, now in ruins.
About halfway up, you might stumble into a massive chamber like the Gatehouses. Crash! – a Lynel might drop in from above with a roar to challenge you (there are notoriously two Lynels in Hyrule Castle’s outer defenses, often a blue-maned one in the first gatehouse and a white-maned in the second). These Lynels are tough mini-bosses, wielding Savage Crusher weapons and shock arrows. If you’re low on supplies or not looking for a brawl, you can actually avoid these fights by sneaking around the edges or taking alternative routes (the Lynels only trigger if you go right through those central halls). But if you do take one on, remember your dodge timing – a well-executed Flurry Rush can make even a Lynel kneel. Defeating them can snag you powerful Lynel weapons and shields, which might come in handy for the final battle.
As you navigate the crumbling halls, keep an eye out for provisions and gear. The castle is filled with the remnants of the Royal Guard’s armory – you can find Royal Guard swords, bows, and claymores stuck in stone or lying on tables. These have high attack power (though they’re a bit fragile). There’s even a fully functional Cooking Pot in the Dining Hall (the grand banquet room) amid fallen tables – perfect for brewing one last hearty meal or elixir. (Tip: Take a moment to cook a mighty elixir or hearty meal here – a good attack boost or some extra temporary hearts can make the upcoming fights much easier.) The Dining Hall also has roast foods on the tables and shelves (grab that durian or prime meat skewer to top off your health). You’re going to want to be as prepared as possible before you confront the Calamity itself.
For adventurers who love exploration and lore, Hyrule Castle is a treasure trove of optional areas that flesh out the story (and reward you with useful loot):
Library (Optional Detour): The castle’s library is a multi-level chamber full of dusty bookshelves and lurking Lizalfos. In one corner, a metal bookshelf conceals a secret passage – you can move it with Magnesis to reveal King Rhoam’s hidden study. Inside, you’ll find the King’s personal diary, a heartfelt record of his worries about Zelda and the kingdom before the fall. It’s a touching bit of lore if you take the time to read it. (There’s also a sturdy Royal Guard’s Shield tucked in here – don’t miss that!) From the library’s lower level, you can also continue down to the docks we mentioned, where a special secret awaits…
Saas Ko’sah Shrine (Optional): Hidden deep in the castle’s docks is the one and only Shrine within Hyrule Castle. To unveil it, light the giant torch/ brazier in the darkest corner of the docks and the shrine will reveal itself. Solving (or rather proving yourself in) this shrine gives you a fast travel point inside the castle. Extremely handy if you want to leave to restock and warp right back to the sanctum later! Activating the shrine is optional, but highly recommended for convenience.
Princess Zelda’s Room & Study (Optional Lore): High in the castle (accessible by scaling exterior walls near the upper levels or navigating to the upper west side), you can find Princess Zelda’s private room and study. It’s an intimate space containing her diary and research notes. Reading Zelda’s diary gives you insight into her thoughts and struggles in the days leading up to the Calamity – a somber and inspiring read, knowing you’re about to finish what she and Link started 100 years ago. The study also holds some high-level royal gear (often a powerful bow or golden rupee) as a bonus for explorers. Just watch out for a Guardian or two that patrol these high terraces.
Lockup Prison (Optional Challenge): In the bowels of the castle, there’s a grim prison block known as the Lockup. If you find it (one entrance is via a passage from the west side or through a cracked wall you can bomb near the docks), you’ll come face-to-bony-face with a Stalnox (a gigantic skeletal Hinox) in a dark cell. This spooky mini-boss guards one of the best treasures in the game: the Hylian Shield. Yes, the indestructible iconic shield of legend is here! Beating the Stalnox will make a chest appear containing this shield. The fight isn’t too bad – shoot the Stalnox in the eye to stun it and wail on it until it collapses (just be ready for when it lobs its own ribs at you… eek!). This detour is well worth the effort if your current shield collection needs an upgrade for the final battle. (Tip: The Hylian Shield has incredibly high durability and defense, perfect for tanking Guardian lasers or Ganon’s blows. If you snag it here, you’ll be in great shape for the fights ahead.)
Take your time exploring as much (or as little) as you want – the castle is packed with secrets, powerful weapons, and insights into Hyrule’s past. When you’re ready, make your way up towards the throne room in the center. It’s usually easiest to spot from outside by the huge spire and glowing Malice surrounding it. Climb up or find the stairs that lead to a pair of massive ornate doors. Beyond those doors lies Calamity Ganon – you might hear Zelda’s voice in your memory, urging you onward. Heal up, buff up, and prepare for the showdown of the century.
Defeating Calamity Ganon
Heart pounding, you push open the doors to the Sanctum. Inside, the air crackles with ancient evil. Dark Malice floods the room, and at its center a grotesque cocoon of glowing hatred hangs suspended from the ceiling. This is Calamity Ganon in his sealed form – or what’s left of him after a century of containment. The instant you step forward, the cocoon splits open with a shriek. Ganon emerges with a roar, an abomination of Guardian parts and Malice-fueled fury. He’s a horrific sight: a gigantic spider-like beast, bristling with stolen Guardian weapons and writhing tentacles of Malice. This is the same evil that destroyed Hyrule a hundred years ago… but now, you are here to return the favor.
Just when the terror of the moment threatens to overwhelm you, help comes from on high. If you freed the Divine Beasts, the spirits of the four Champions make their grand entrance in a cutscene that will give you goosebumps. In perfect unison, Vah Ruta, Medoh, Rudania, and Naboris fire their laser blasts from the far corners of Hyrule, converging right on the castle. The beams lance through the Sanctum and strike Calamity Ganon, exploding in a burst of light and fury. When the smoke clears, Ganon howls in rage – the Champions have just shaved off half of his health before the fight even begins! (If you skipped any Divine Beasts, you won’t be so lucky – you’d have to face Ganon at full strength, which means a much longer battle. But hey, at least you get this epic assist for your efforts!) As the spirits cheer you on in silence, disappearing, you grip your weapon tighter. It’s time to finish what Zelda and the Champions started.
The battle begins in earnest. Calamity Ganon skitters on his many limbs and charges at you, swinging an array of deadly weapons. He has all the toys: a massive flaming axe (like Fireblight Ganon’s) that he’ll cleave across the ground or slam down to create a fiery shockwave, and a spear (like Waterblight’s) that can thrust forward with surprising reach. He might even swipe with a guardian sword/arm or claw. Stay light on your feet! Dodge his swings at the last second to trigger Flurry Rushes, where you can unleash a rapid combo of your own. Backflips work great for the wide horizontal axe swings, and side-hops can evade the vertical chops – if you see that opening, go for the flurry! It’s one of the safest ways to rack up damage. If you brought the Master Sword, now’s its time to shine – it will be glowing with sacred energy, dealing double damage and never running out of energy here. (Tip: The Master Sword won’t break in Hyrule Castle, so you can rely on it for consistent damage throughout the fight.)
Ganon isn’t just a melee brute; he wields ancient tech too. Watch above him – he has a set of floating Guardian cannons that will start charging up. When you see energy gathering, be ready: he may fire a laser blast just like a Guardian stalker. You can run sideways to avoid these, or if you’re feeling confident, pull up your shield and attempt a Perfect Guard to reflect the beam back at him. A successful parry not only damages and stuns Ganon, but it’s super satisfying to send his own attack back in his face. (Daruk’s Protection can auto-parry one for you if your timing isn’t perfect, so that can be a lifesaver here.) Ganon can also use those guardian arms to swipe at you unpredictably – sometimes he menacingly twirls them before striking. Keep your camera trained on him and be ready to sprint or dodge when you see him wind up an attack.
After you deal enough damage, Ganon howls and changes tactics. He might rear up and slam down, releasing a wave of force – when you see him gather himself, sprint away to avoid the shockwave exploding out from under him. At around 50% health (earlier if the Divine Beasts already nuked him down), Calamity Ganon starts using more of the elemental tricks from the four Blight Ganons. The room becomes a chaotic playground of hazards: he’ll climb the walls and scuttle around the perimeter, trying to keep away from your sword. While on the wall or ceiling, Ganon will unleash ranged attacks: summoning tornados (a nod to Windblight’s wind blasts) and launching clusters of icy blocks at you (like Waterblight’s ice attack). The tornados slowly move across the arena – just steer clear of those swirling winds. For the ice blocks, you can either shatter them with arrows or use Cryonis in a pinch to break them before they hit you. If you see Ganon gather a huge ball of fire above him (Fireblight’s signature move, a giant flaming orb), quickly shoot the fireball with an Ice Arrow or a regular arrow before it can plummet down and erupt into a wall of fire. Meanwhile, Ganon might throw his massive spear at you from afar – keep running and it’ll thankfully miss (no one wants to be a Link-kabob today).
Since Ganon’s taken to clinging on the walls, you’ll need to bring the fight to him. This is a great time to use Revali’s Gale if you have it: shoot up into the air and draw your bow. In slow motion aiming from mid-air, you can snipe Ganon with arrows (aim for that bright core or his eye for extra hurt). Bomb Arrows or Ancient Arrows do significant damage to him – Ancient Arrows especially will make him topple down from the wall in pain, forcing him back to ground level. Alternatively, when he’s crawling around up there, you can wait for him to lunge down or fire his laser and then use that opening to rush in and strike. Don’t worry, he can’t stay glued to the wall forever; once you damage him enough with arrows or he finishes a volley of attacks, he’ll drop down to face you again.
As the battle rages on, Calamity Ganon gets more and more desperate. When his health is almost gone, he’ll unleash a last-ditch defense: an invulnerable golden shield surrounds him, making your normal attacks useless. You’ll notice your weapons just ping off harmlessly against this glowing barrier. Don’t waste your durability hitting it directly. Instead, you need a big shock to break his guard. This is where the power of the Champions truly comes in handy. Urbosa’s Fury (if you have it) is incredible here – get close and unleash the lightning strike; it will shatter Ganon’s shield and stun him, leaving him wide open. Three charges of Urbosa’s Fury can essentially trivialize this phase if you use them back-to-back. If you’re out of Urbosa charges, there are other ways: a perfect guard with your shield or a well-timed hit during one of his attacks can stagger him briefly, as can letting Daruk’s Protection auto-block a strong attack which also momentarily stuns him. Essentially, you need to create an opening. When that shield breaks even for a second, seize the moment to lay into Ganon with your strongest attacks or an Ancient Arrow shot for massive damage. Time to finish this abomination. One or two rounds of breaking his shield and striking should bring Calamity Ganon’s health all the way down. With a final furious flurry, you strike true and Calamity Ganon collapses in defeat, emitting an unearthly roar. The dark form crumples… but we’re not done yet!
In a burst of Malice, Ganon’s twisted body dissolves into pure shadow and hatred. You’ve defeated his physical form, but now the ultimate phase of this battle is about to begin – a confrontation with the true essence of Ganon’s malice incarnate. Catch your breath during the cutscene (and say hi to Princess Zelda, who finally speaks directly to you after all this time, her spirit having been watching and aiding you). The battlefield is about to dramatically change, and you’ll soon find yourself outside under the red, stormy skies of Hyrule Field for the final showdown.
Destroying Dark Beast Ganon
Link is transported (or perhaps blown) out of the castle as the Malice explodes outward. Dark Beast Ganon emerges, towering and terrifying, in the fields surrounding the castle. This giant beast is unlike any enemy you’ve faced: an enormous, boar-like monstrosity made of pure darkness, stomping on all fours. He is colossal – as tall as the castle walls – with glowing fiery manes and covered in swirling Malice. The very earth shakes under his weight. Night has fallen unnaturally, and a dark red glow fills the sky. It feels like Hyrule Field itself has become an arena for a battle of legends. Despite his fearsome appearance, this final battle is more about cinematic spectacle and the culmination of your journey than sheer difficulty. Dark Beast Ganon is so massive and imbued with malice that ordinary weapons can’t even scratch him. But don’t worry – the goddess Hylia (and Princess Zelda) have a plan.
As you stand ready, you hear Zelda’s voice from the heavens, resonating with power and encouragement. She’s been keeping Ganon in check all this time and now helps you directly. Zelda calls upon the bow of light and suddenly, in a radiant burst, the Bow of Light appears in your hands (if you look closely, it’s the very bow Zelda used 100 years ago). This mystical bow comes with infinite Light Arrows, the only thing that can pierce the darkness shrouding the beast. And conveniently, your trusty horse (whatever steed you last had or a magical steed of light) is now by your side, ready to ride. Climb into the saddle; it’s time to ride into battle one last time. (Tip: If you don’t have a horse handy, the game will spawn one for you here – you won’t be stuck on foot against a giant monster! Mount up and charge forward.)
The strategy for Dark Beast Ganon is straightforward but oh-so-satisfying. This hulking creature slowly turns and stomps around the field, attempting to face you, but he can’t move very fast. His main attack is a fearsome red laser beam from his mouth – but as long as you stay mobile and don’t ride directly in front of him, you’ll be safe. Pull back on the reins and circle around Ganon at a gallop. Zelda will guide you with calm urgency: she’ll create glowing golden targets on the beast’s body using her power, and call out to you to shoot them. These glowing areas are like weak points where Ganon’s Malice is exposed. Most of them appear on his sides – easy shots as you ride by. Keep your distance at first to avoid any surprise stomp, and fire Light Arrows at each glowing target you see. The Bow of Light is extremely powerful and has a straight trajectory, so you don’t need to arc your shots. One hit on a glowing spot will burst it in a flash of light. Each time you destroy a target, Dark Beast Ganon groans and black smoke billows – you’re purging the evil from him bit by bit.
The first few targets are along his flanks. Spur your horse onward, keeping a wide circle. You might have to maneuver between his legs or under his massive belly for some that appear on his underside – don’t worry, he’s so large that there’s plenty of space (just avoid any lingering pools of Malice on the ground). As you destroy more spots, Ganon will thrash and might fire off that Malice laser. If you see him gathering energy at his mouth or hear Zelda warn you, be ready to dash spur your horse and move laterally to dodge the beam (it fires in a straight line where you were, so a quick change of direction avoids it easily). If you keep circling him, he often can’t lock on to you effectively. (Just be mindful of trees or ruins in the field – crashing into obstacles at full gallop can send you flying off your horse at the worst moment. Steer clear of the thicker forested patches during the fight.)
Eventually, you’ll have hit all the obvious targets, and Dark Beast Ganon weakens further, stumbling in pain. That’s when Zelda reveals the final weak point: Ganon’s eye, hidden within the beast’s enormous head. This last target is tricky – it only presents itself sometimes, and it’s not reachable from the ground. The beast’s forehead will start to glow with malice, and an eye opens, crackling with dark energy, but it’s high up out of normal arrow range. Here’s how to land the final blow in style: When you notice Dark Beast Ganon charging up for another laser (or after he completes one), an updraft of energy will sweep around him (it’s generated by the intensity of Ganon’s own malice and the light energy clashing). Ride in front of Ganon, but off to the side to avoid a direct hit, and when you see that updraft, leap off your horse into the air. The updraft will carry you upward, triggering your paraglider. Draw your Bow of Light as you glide and time will slow, giving you a clear shot at the eye on Ganon’s forehead. Aim carefully – this is the big moment – and fire a Light Arrow straight into that eye!
The arrow of pure light pierces Dark Beast Ganon’s eye, and the colossal monster lets out a final, earth-shaking groan. You’ve done it – the arrow triggers a brilliant explosion of light from within, and Ganon’s malice is finally purged. In a stunning cinematic, Princess Zelda’s power bursts forth and she seals Calamity Ganon away for good, doing what she’d been holding onto for a century. The hulking Dark Beast disintegrates, and the skies begin to clear. Zelda, glowing with the power of the Triforce, is at last free from her duty and appears before you, grateful and at peace. The nightmare known as Calamity Ganon is no more, and Hyrule is saved.
Take a deep breath and enjoy the heartfelt ending that follows. You’ve just conquered one of the most epic battles in Legend of Zelda history! Congratulations, hero – you’ve confronted the Calamity and won. As the dust settles, you can almost feel the spirits of the Champions and King Rhoam smiling in approval. This journey comes to a close with hope on the horizon: Zelda is free and eager to rebuild Hyrule with you by her side.
(Optional: If you recovered all of Link’s lost memories before this showdown, you’ll get an extra special ending scene after the credits – a touching reward for fully piecing together the past.)
With Ganon defeated, your adventure in Breath of the Wild is complete… or is it? Hyrule is now open for you to continue exploring, cleaning up any remaining shrines, side-quests, or simply wandering the peaceful fields you fought so hard to protect. But for now, sit back and savor the victory. You’ve earned it, Champion!