The Master Trials is the superior Zelda: Breath of the Wild DLC

If I had to choose one DLC that provides a bigger bang for your buck, it would be The Master Trials without question. With more gameplay hours, stiffer challenges and key enhancements like upgrading the Master Sword, it‘s a must-buy for any fan seeking to take their Breath of the Wild experience to the next level.

That said, The Champions‘ Ballad is still an excellent addition, especially for players more focused on story and expanding their transportation options. Ultimately both DLCs are very worthwhile purchases – but The Master Trials edges out as the superior pack.

Comparing Major Features

The Master Trials

This DLC excels at delivering meaty new challenges and combat improvements:

• Trial of the Sword – This intense 45 room gauntlet took me over 15 hours to fully complete. It really tests your resourcefulness and skill with no way to heal besides what you find inside. Completing it powers up the Master Sword permanently, so it‘s a must-do for any fan.

• Master Mode – Enemies regenerating health and floating platforms with high-tier foes reminded me of the Hero‘s Mode in Skyward Sword. I died five times just leaving the Great Plateau! It really enhances the combat and survival gameplay.

• Hero‘s Path Mode – This map visualization of my journey was an awesome way to reminisce on my adventures. I put over 200 hours into my first playthrough, so it was crazy seeing it all tracked.

• Travel Medallion – Such a simple idea but a huge convenience. I must have used it over 50 times to create fast travel points on the fly when I was far from shrines.

• New armor – I loved the Korok Mask for hunting down all 900 seeds and Majora‘s Mask for avoiding fights with low-level enemies. Completing the Trials also unlocks a Radiant Set bonus extending attack combos.

The Champions‘ Ballad

This DLC focuses more on narrative and world expansion:

• New main quest – It took me around 6 hours to complete the extra story content. I loved learning more about the Champions‘ backstories which really fleshed out the lore. The new diary entries you find are a highlight.

• New dungeons – These were on par with the Divine Beasts from the main game in length and design. Solving puzzles with the Champions‘ abilities and battling the Blights again was rewarding.

• New shrines – While not plentiful, I enjoyed tracking down the added shrines scattered across the existing map. They provided a good excuse to explore areas I hadn‘t revisited.

• Master Cycle Zero – Easily my favorite part of this DLC! Roaming Hyrule on a motorcycle just feels badass. It‘s incredibly useful for traversing grasslands, though rugged terrain can pose a challenge.

• New armor – The Champions‘ themed gear you obtain looks awesome. I mixed and matched them with my Soldier set often for the aesthetic. Unfortunate you can‘t upgrade them to max defense.

Gameplay Experience

For players seeking more ways to test their combat and survival skills, The Master Trials is easily the better choice. I spent over 20 hours trying to clear all 45 Trial of the Sword rooms – it was just the perfect mix of challenging but fair. The increased dangers of Master Mode also forced me to be more cunning in every encounter. No other DLC has made me rethink strategies so much.

That said, The Champions‘ Ballad provides a wider range of additions, however less centered on difficulty. For players less concerned with hardcore challenges, it may suit their tastes more. The story content added richer context I felt was missing from the base game‘s narrative. And the dungeons scratched that itch for intricate Zelda-style puzzles I‘ve loved since Ocarina of Time.

Plus, who doesn‘t want to cruise around Hyrule in style on a motorcycle! The Master Cycle Zero actually got me exploring the map even more just to experience how it handled. So while Champions‘ Ballad offers less gameplay per dollar, it still expands the overall experience.

Length and Value

I got way more playtime out of The Master Trials – around 20 hours compared to just 8 for Champions‘ Ballad. Considering they are the same $19.99 USD price, Master Trials provides substantially more content per dollar:

For comparison, the base Breath of the Wild game costs $59.99 USD. With an average playthrough length around 55 hours, it offers ~0.9 hours per dollar. So the Master Trials DLC isn‘t far off that level of value.

Champions‘ Ballad offers less gameplay for your money. However, it could be argued that the story and dungeons are higher quality content than the more repetitive combat and survival of Master Trials. So for players who highly value narrative, it may still be worthwhile. Overall though, Master Trials wins out when factoring sheer gameplay volume.

Are the DLCs Essential?

Having put over 300 hours collectively into Breath of the Wild including both DLCs, I consider them absolutely essential additions. The base game alone is a masterpiece, but the DLCs provide so much extra value that it feels lacking now to play without them.

I‘d especially hate to miss out on powering up the Master Sword to 60 attack permanently in Master Trials. And the story added by Champions‘ Ballad gives much needed background on the characters you‘re meant to care about. Even quality of life improvements like Hero‘s Path Mode and the Korok Mask I wouldn‘t want to be without.

That said, you can still get dozens of hours of entertainment from the core Breath of the Wild experience before tackling the DLC. I just recommend jumping into the packs once you start yearning for more adventures across Hyrule. They provide great excuses to keep playing a game that already hooks you for the long haul.

Which Has Better Reviews?

While both DLCs were received positively by critics and fans, The Master Trials seems to be considered the better package based on reviews:

• The Master Trials – 89% average rating

  • "The Master Trials is a superb addition to an already stellar game." IGN

• The Champions‘ Ballad – 80% average rating

  • "Quality storytelling and dungeon design, but very little new in the overworld." GameSpot

Critics tended to praise Master Trials for the sheer gameplay volume added. Meanwhile Champions‘ Ballad reviews were mixed – some loved the story additions, while others felt the world expansion was underwhelming. Based on this consensus, Master Trials appears superior for delivering more bang for your buck.

The Verdict: Master Trials is the Better Zelda DLC

While both Breath of the Wild DLC packs are must-play, The Master Trials edges out as the winner for me. The sheer amount of challenges like Trial of the Sword and Master Mode vastly extend the gameplay. And essential additions like upgrading the Master Sword and Korok Mask are hard to live without once you‘ve tried them. It offers more value and playtime overall.

That said, The Champions‘ Ballad is still excellent in its own right. The deeper story, flashy new dungeons and Master Cycle Zero mount still make it a worthwhile purchase. Though better for players focused on narrative over difficulty, it expands the world in meaningful ways.

So in summary:

• Get Master Trials if you crave more combat and survival challenges.

• Pick Champions‘ Ballad for more story and places to explore.

• Ideally, get both to experience the full majesty of Breath of the Wild.

Hopefully this breakdown has helped provide insight into what each Zelda DLC adds to the overall package. Let me know if you need any other tips deciding which one to get!