Community:Challenges
This page details common challenges that can be done in the Zelda games.
Three-Heart Challenge
The Three Heart Challenge is one of the most popular challenges in the Zelda series, consisting of completing a game with only three Heart Containers. The two games in which the challenge cannot be done are A Link to the Past and Link's Awakening.
Boss-Heart Challenge
Similar to the three heart challenge, the boss heart challenge is only getting the heart containers from defeating bosses. An excellent entry-level Zelda challenge.
Randomizer
A randomizer is a modified version of a game in which certain aspects of the game are randomized. For example, items in the game may be shuffled and placed randomly, affecting the order in which tasks must be completed. Locations, entrances, cosmetics, features, music, and other various elements of a game may be changed or randomized as well.
The Legend of Zelda series is very popular with randomizers, with one developed for nearly every title. The goal is usually to defeat the game's final boss. Every time a randomized game (differentiated by a "seed") is generated, the placement of items is different, allowing for greater variation in gameplay. In order to ensure that every randomized seed is still beatable, programming known as "logic" is implemented, which determines what locations or items Link will be able to access with the given items he has. When logic is in place, the randomizer can dynamically maximize the possible variation a seed can have, while still allowing the game to be completable. Sometimes, randomizers also include an option to exclude logic, which allows for the most possible variation, but also includes the risk of a playthrough being unbeatable. The logic can also be modified, depending on the given randomizer, to account for the use of glitches or exploits, such as those often used in speedruns, if the player desires.
Randomizers often include "quality of life" changes, which can improve upon the experience for the player, especially if parts of the game are repeated or played through commonly. To allow the randomizer to work in an ideal manner for the player, parts of the game, often the intro or other sections, may also be skipped from the start to allow for a more open world. Other features may also be included, such as being able to start with specified items, shuffling entrances, shuffling background music, or changing the color of Link's clothing.
Randomizers are very popular among casual players and speedrunners alike, and are often featured in races and tournaments.
Bingo
Bingo is an external feature that can be used to enhance a playthrough. For instance, a bingo board can be generated on a site that gives a randomly generated assortment of tasks, in the layout of a bingo board, which the player can perform in the game, the goal being to find the fastest way to complete a full row or a column of tasks. This can involve the use of glitches or exploits, such as those used in speedruns, if the player desires. A player can also choose to complete a "blackout", in which they complete every task on the board entirely.
Bingo is often featured in races and co-op/team races, and is also often combined with randomizers to add even more variation to a playthrough.
Reverse Dungeon Completion Order Challenge
The Reverse Dungeon Completion Order Challenge is defeating the bosses of each dungeon in reverse order, with the exception of the dungeon the final boss is in. This challenge usually requires glitches, with the exception of The Legend of Zelda.
The Legend of Zelda
Status: Entirely possible.
Difficulty: Extremely hard at first, but gradually decreases in difficulty, until level 9.
Glitches Required: None.
A Link to the Past
Status: Entirely possible.
Difficulty: Hard.
Glitches Required: (To be added)
Ocarina of Time
Status: Entirely possible.
Difficulty: Hard.
Glitches Required: Navi dive, reverse bottle adventure, normal bottle adventure, (More glitches to be added)
Majora's Mask
Status: Entirely possible.
Difficulty: Very hard.
Glitches Required: (To be added)
Breath of the Wild
Status: Entirely possible.
Difficulty: Average, there is no set order to the dungeons in BotW.
Glitches Required: None
Zero Deaths Challenge
This challenge simply consists of completing the game without dying once.
The Legend of Zelda
Status: Possible.
Difficulty: Quite difficult.
In-game Rewards: None.
The Adventure of Link
Status: This is entirely possible.
Difficulty: Somewhat difficult. Grinding Link's Magic level will certainly aid in Link's survival since he'll be able to cast the Life spell more liberally. The most difficult areas will be navigating the cavernous maze to get the Hammer from Spectacle Rock, and surviving the Great Palace.
In-game Rewards: None.
Link's Awakening
Status: This is possible to do. It may require constant saving and resetting the game after deaths.
Difficulty: Moderately difficult.
In-game Rewards: Alternate ending.
The Wind Waker
Status: This is entirely possible.
Difficulty: Very easy.
In-game Rewards: None.
Uber Challenge
Ocarina of Time
The Uber Ocarina of Time Challenge is a further rendition of the Three Heart Challenge. It includes beating the game in the hardest possible way, varying in many difficult tricks such as the Gerudo Valley Cucco Jump.
List of Rules
The list of rules for the challenge are as follows:
- 3 hearts, no Pieces of Heart whatsoever
- Buy Giant's Knife and break it as soon as possible, and use that at all times (except in the Graveyard and while fighting Ganon)
- All Medallions
- 1 Bottle
- No deaths (death counter at file select must say 000)
- No Iron Boots
- No capacity upgrades (except for adult wallet)
- No Great Fairy gifts except Magic Meter and Din's Fire
- No Gold Skulltula family gifts from 20 or more Gold Skulltulas
- No Goron Bracelet
- No Fire Arrows
- No Lens of Truth
- No Longshot
- No Silver Scale
- No Zora Tunic
- No Gerudo Token
- No Maps or Compasses
- No Biggoron's Sword
- Cannot use Action Replay, Gameshark, etc.
- Cannot use Crooked Cartridge
- Cannot use Din's Fire outside the central room of the Water Temple
- Cannot use Megaton Hammer to attack enemies (exception of stunning Volvagia)
- Cannot use Megaton Hammer outside the Fire Temple
- Cannot use Deku Sticks to attack enemies
- Cannot use power crouch stab
- Cannot use bottle except to show Ruto's Letter to King Zora
- Cannot learn any songs except Song of Time, Zelda's Lullaby, and Minuet of Forest
- Must have Shadow Medallion before entering Forest Temple
- Must fight Dark Link
Miscellaneous
The Legend of Zelda
- No sword run
- Complete the game without acquiring a sword of any kind
- All other items and upgrades are allowed
- Wooden sword run
- Complete the game without getting the white sword or the magical sword
- White sword run
- Complete the game without getting the magical sword
The Adventure of Link
Low Stats Challenge: The aim of the challenge is to complete as much of the game as possible with 1-1-1 stats. It is impossible to finish the game with these stats outside of the Japanese version so the overall aim is to finish the game with 1-4-1 stats
Status: This is possible to do with fore knowledge of the experience dropped by enemies. Link cannot gain more than 200 Experience if the player wants to proceed without leveling up
Difficulty: This is quite difficult but far from impossible. Players must be prepared to hit late game enemies and bosses over a 100 times without getting damaged once.
In-game Rewards: None.
Link's Awakening
- No sword run
- Complete the game without the sword
- Buy the bow and arrow
- Save up enough rupees to buy the bow and arrow instead of stealing it
Ocarina of Time
Reach Flying Carpet Challenge: Jump to the Flying Carpet without using the Hover Boots.
Status: This is possible to do.
Difficulty: Not very hard.
In-game rewards: Able to buy Bombchus as Adult Link before entering the Shadow Temple.
Cucco Jump Challenge: Jump over the Gerudo Valley gate as a child using a Cucco to jump off a pike onto the gate.
Status: This is possible to do.
Difficulty: Nearly impossible. Requires a lot skill, patience, and a ridiculous amount of luck.
In-game rewards: Able to get to the Spirit Temple as a child. Also a part of the Uber OoT Challenge.
Majora's Mask
Three-Day Challenge: This is probably the most famous Zelda challenge. It is to complete the four temples in the second three-day cycle. That is the cycle where Link returns to normal.
Status: This is possible to do with extensive planning.
Difficulty: Moderately difficult due to specific time sensitive events, such as retrieving Epona before the night of the First Day.
In-game Rewards: None.
Twilight Princess
Cave of Ordeals Challenge: A new file is started and played up to the City in the Sky. During the time played, no Heart Pieces or Heart Containers can be retrieved. Moreover, no bottles (besides the one received from Sera), bomb bag upgrades, or quiver extensions can be obtained. The Cave of Ordeals is then entered with the Wooden or Ordon Shield, the Ordon Sword, the Zora Armor, and no healing items.
Status: Possible.
Difficulty: Extremely difficult. The Zora Armor is weak to fire and ice, and the Wooden Shield has the possibility of being burned.
In-game Rewards: None.
Cave of Ordeals Challenge 2: In this challenge, Link must not lose a single heart. The Magic Armor cannot be used and at least the 30th floor must be reached. Any equipment may be used.
Status: Possible.
Difficulty: Extremely difficult.
In-game Rewards: None.
Twilight Challenge: Complete the game without dying once; complete the Cave of Ordeals; do not buy the Hylian Shield; do not burn the Ordon Shield; do not warp except to teleport the bridge and the Sky Cannon; and stay at three hearts.
Status: Unknown
Difficulty: Very hard
In-game rewards: None
Phantom Hourglass
25:00 Temple of the Ocean King Challenge: Beat the Temple of the Ocean King with 25:00 Sands of Hours remaining.
Status: It is possible, and mildly challenging.
Difficulty: Moderate after familiarizing oneself with the Temple.
In-game Rewards: None.