Yes, you can absolutely play Breath of the Wild without fighting
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild offers an incredible amount of freedom when it comes to how you want to approach its world and challenges. So for those wondering – is it possible to play through BotW without engaging in combat? The answer is yes, absolutely!
While fighting enemies is a core part of Zelda, BotW‘s open-ended design philosophy means you can choose to avoid combat entirely if you wish. I want to provide a detailed guide on the different playstyles available, so you can tailor Breath of the Wild to your personal preferences.
Fleeing from fights lets you control the difficulty
One of my favorite things about BotW is how you can run away or sneak past enemies you don‘t want to fight. I love having this option, as it means I can pick and choose when to engage in combat on my terms.
When I first emerge from the Shrine of Resurrection, I am woefully underpowered. Fighting even a simple Bokoblin feels daunting. But I don‘t have to fight! I can sprint past foes I want to avoid until I gain more hearts, stamina, weapons, and runes.
Having control over when you fight empowers you to adjust the game‘s difficulty. If you are feeling overwhelmed, flee and explore more shrines to upgrade your stats. You can always come back later when you are ready.
All combat is optional – try a pacifist run!
Not only can you avoid fights, but it‘s entirely possible to complete the main story without ever entering active combat. Many players have completed dedicated "pacifist" playthroughs where they avoid all conflicts aside from the final battle against Calamity Ganon.
How is this possible? Stealth is your best friend. Sneak around enemy camps, use distractions, and get very familiar with how to climb and glide undetected! You‘ll also need to stock up on tons of healing items to survive environmental hazards.
Pacifist runs require patience and routing, but give you a wholly unique way to experience BotW‘s world. I recommend trying it if you want a true challenge!
Enjoy the world at your own pace
The joy of Breath of the Wild is how it encourages you to explore Hyrule freely without following a set sequence of events. Unlike past Zeldas, you can wander the world finding shrines and uncovering new areas in whatever order you want.
Don‘t feel rushed by the main story quests – they can wait! If you‘re playing casually, my advice is to let curiosity guide you. Spot an interesting landmark in the distance? Head there and see what you discover along the way! Wander into zones far beyond your current power. BotW is full of secrets off the beaten track.
There are always new shrines and puzzles to strengthen Link at your own pace. Take time to experiment with runes and chemistry. The world is yours to uncover on your terms.
Breath of the Wild is the perfect entry point for new fans
Have you never played a Zelda game before? No worries – Breath of the Wild is designed to be fully accessible for new players. You don‘t need any knowledge of previous Zelda lore or mechanics. Just jump right in!
The story stands completely on its own, and the gameplay systems are introduced very organically as you explore. I‘ll always have a soft spot for Ocarina of Time, but BotW‘s open world freedom makes it the ideal first Zelda.
My advice for new fans is to let curiosity steer you through the world. If you see something interesting off in the distance, investigate! Don‘t feel bound to any set path. Soak in the pure joy of exploration and discovery.
The early game will challenge you – stick with it!
Now I do need to set proper expectations – the first few hours of BotW can be punishing as you learn the new gameplay style. With little hand-holding and greater emphasis on survival, expect to die a fair bit as you get your bearings.
But I promise it gets smoother over time! The initially overwhelming world becomes familiar. You‘ll quickly adapt to exploring, foraging, and combat. Challenges that once felt impossible become manageable with practice.
Here are some early game tips:
- Cook frequently to replenish health
- Pick your fights wisely
- Flee rather than fight if you‘re struggling
- Tackle shrines first to upgrade hearts/stamina
Stick through the early learning phase and you‘ll be richly rewarded. Soon you‘ll feel like a true adventurer, empowered to handle anything Hyrule can throw at you!
Main quest length: 50 hours, 100% completion: 189 hours
According to data aggregated on HowLongToBeat, focusing just on the critical path main story quests will take most players around 50 hours to complete. This includes reaching the four Divine Beasts, freeing the Champions, and defeating Calamity Ganon.
However, there are hundreds of side activities beyond the core story to sink your teeth into. Taking your time to complete all 120 Shrines, find all 900 Korok seeds, and finish every side quest pushes the 100% completion time out to around 189 hours.
The huge world is meant to be savored, not rushed. My first playthrough took over 200 hours! I suggest thoroughly exploring each region before moving onto story quests. There‘s so much to discover off the beaten track.
Trial of the Sword pushes combat to the limit
I need to single out the Trial of the Sword DLC challenge as one of the toughest parts of BotW. Unlocking the Master Sword‘s true potential, it spans 45 rooms packed with enemies in survival gauntlet.
This cranks combat and resource management up to 11 even for experienced players. With no chance to heal in between rooms, it requires mastery of all your runes, weapons, and abilities just to scrape through.
I won‘t sugarcoat it – the Trial of the Sword in Master Mode may lead to some broken controllers! But overcoming the ultimate Zelda combat challenge provides an immense feeling of satisfaction. It‘s the perfect way for battle-hardened fans to test their limits.
Golden Lynels are the mightiest foes
When it comes to individual enemies, the various Lynel types you‘ll encounter are undoubtedly the deadliest. But of all the Lynel varieties, the rare Golden Lynels are agreed to be the overall toughest single fight.
Packing a whopping 8000 HP and devastating ranged/melee attacks, a Gold Lynel hits like a freight train. And with high speed, they can quickly overwhelm you if you‘re not prepared.
To take down a Gold Lynel, you need to have combat completely mastered – perfect dodging and parrying, stasis rifle headshots to stagger, and liberal use of elemental arrows. Come packing mighty 2-handed weapons and mighty elixirs too.
The intense clash of steel is so rewarding…but I don‘t recommend fighting Gold Lynels early on! They are meant as an end-game combat challenge for seasoned players. I advise getting many hours of practice against weaker foes before taking on these lethal centaurs.
In summary…
Breath of the Wild‘s free-form approach to its world and gameplay makes it arguably the most accessible Zelda ever created. While seasoned fans may relish the intense combat challenges, you can just as easily relax and unwind through stress-free exploration.
I hope this guide gives you ideas on the many different ways to play. Maybe try a no-fight pacifist run, or just leisurely wander the world finding shrines. If you hit roadblocks, just pivot and do something else until you have powered up!
The freedom to play how you want is what makes BotW so magical. Now go and savor your own unique adventure across the majestic hills and vistas of Hyrule!