Community:Challenges
This page details various challenges that can be done in the Zelda games, which can increase difficulty, add variation, introduce competition, or enhance a playthrough.
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 the three starting Heart Containers (six in Skyward Sword). Link must never obtain any Pieces of Heart or Heart Containers throughout the game. The two games in which the challenge cannot be "properly" done, due to requiring Link to obtain at least one Heart Container, are A Link to the Past and Link's Awakening.
Boss Heart Challenge
An easier variation of the Three Heart Challenge, the Boss Heart Challenge allows obtaining any Heart Containers rewarded from defeating bosses.
Speedrun
The goal of a speedrun is to complete a game as quickly as possible from start to finish, usually in one sitting. Speedrunning is very popular within the Legend of Zelda series. There are also varying categories for runs, such as simply completing the game (Any%), completing every dungeon (All Dungeons), and completing 100% of the game, for instance. Runs often involve the use glitches or exploits in order to save time, with some categories also disallowing them, known as Glitchless or Bug Limit. Runs are usually recorded or broadcast live, and timing software is often used to determine the exact length of a run, with speedrunners always competing for personal or world records.
Runs or even certain challenges can also be performed in the form of a Tool-Assisted Speedrun (TAS), which uses frame advance, rerecords, and save states to execute perfect gameplay that is otherwise impossible for humans. A TAS can be used to demonstrate a near-perfect run, prove concepts and theories, or showcase entertaining or difficult challenges.
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, changing the color of Link's clothing, or even entirely replacing Link's model.
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 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 Order Challenge
The Reverse Dungeon Order Challenge requires completing each of the game's Dungeons in reversed order, with the exception of the final dungeon. This challenge requires the use of glitches, and is impossible for most titles. The titles that can do this challenge are A Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time, and Majora's Mask, and the challenge does not apply to The Legend of Zelda or Breath of the Wild, as their dungeons can be completed in any order by intentional design.
Zero Death Challenge
The Zero Death Challenge, or a deathless run, simply consists of completing a game without dying once. The rules of this challenge can vary according to the person doing it, and can vary greatly in difficulty as a result. For instance, one can choose to avoid obtaining any Heart Containers, which increases the difficulty of the challenge.
Damageless
Damageless runs involve completing a game without ever taking damage. Although possible most of the time, it is very difficult and requires planning, practice, and extensive knowledge of the game, likely with many attempts. The rules can also vary per player according to discretion, but are often simply to avoid losing any health. Sometimes stricter rules such as disallowing blocking attacks with a shield are applied as well. There are occasional instances where Link is required to take damage in order to progress in the story; According to the discretion of the player and what rules they or an affiliated community want to enforce for the challenge, exceptions to situations such as these can be made, or they can, perhaps, be entirely bypassed using glitches or minor exploits.
Notable Damageless Runs Completed
The Adventure of Link
Slackanater[a] |
A Link to the Past
Slackanater[a] |
Ocarina of Time
MajinPhil[a][b] |
Samura1man[a][b][c] |
Majora's Mask
MajinPhil[a][b] |
Samura1man[a][b][c] |
The Wind Waker
Samura1man[a][b] |
Twilight Princess
Samura1man[a][b] |
Kikearth |
Skyward Sword
Samura1man[a][b] |
Breath of the Wild
Samura1man[a][b] |
SpecsNStats[d][e] |
- Breath of the Wild 100% by JoeDun (using glitches such as moonjump)
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 This run was completed in one sitting.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 This run was completed using a stricter no-hit ruleset.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 This run was completed with a modification of the game to remove most cutscenes for quality of life purposes.
- ↑ This run made use of glitches such as moonjump.
- ↑ This run was nearly completed without sustaining any damage, but the runner was hit by a Stalkoblin at the very end.
Title-Specific Challenges
The Legend of Zelda
Swordless Run
Complete the game without acquiring a Sword of any kind. Any other items and upgrades are allowed.
Wooden Sword Run
Complete the game without obtaining the White Sword or the Magical Sword.
White Sword Run
Complete the game without obtaining the Magical Sword.
The Adventure of Link
Low Stats Challenge
The aim of this challenge is to complete as much of the game as possible with 1-1-1 stats. Finishing the game with these stats is only possible in the Japanese version, so in other versions, the aim is to finish the game with 1-4-1 stats. This requires having prior knowledge of the amounts of Experience dropped by enemies, as Link cannot gain more than 200 Experience if the player wants to proceed without leveling up. As a result of having low stats, players must be able to hit late-game enemies and bosses a large amount of times without being damaged once.
Link's Awakening
Swordless 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. This is required if the player does not want Link's name to be replaced with "THIEF".
Ocarina of Time
Uber Challenge
The Uber Challenge is a further rendition of the Three Heart Challenge. It aims to beat the game in the hardest possible way, utilizing many difficult tricks. The list of rules for the challenge are as follows:
- No Pieces of Heart or Heart Containers
- Buy the Giant's Knife and break it as soon as possible, then use it that way at all times as Adult Link (except while fighting Ganon)
- Obtain all Medallions
- Obtain only one Bottle (the one containing Ruto's Letter), then do not use it aside from showing it to King Zora
- No deaths (death counter at file select must display "000")
- No Iron Boots
- No capacity upgrades (except for the Adult Wallet)
- No Great Fairy rewards except for the Magic Meter and Din's Fire
- No Gold Skulltula family rewards from obtaining 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 except for in the central room of the Water Temple
- Cannot use the Megaton Hammer to attack enemies (except when stunning Volvagia), and cannot use it at all outside the Fire Temple
- Cannot use Deku Sticks to attack enemies
- Cannot use Power Crouch Stab (PCS)
- Cannot learn any songs except for Zelda's Lullaby, the Song of Time, and Minuet of Forest
- Must have the Shadow Medallion before entering the Forest Temple
- Must fight Dark Link
Majora's Mask
Three Day Challenge
Complete all four Dungeons and defeat Majora within the second three-day cycle starting after becoming human and obtaining the Deku Mask. This requires strong knowledge of the game and its dungeons, as well as optimal gameplay and using the Inverted Song of Time for the entirety of the challenge. This challenge is possible without glitches with only a little time to spare. When using glitches, however, even more things can be completed within this time, with the challenge even becoming possible to complete within the very first cycle if Arbitrary Code Execution (ACE) is used to get the Deku Mask and Ocarina of Time early.
Twilight Princess
Cave of Ordeals Challenge
A new file is started and played up to the City in the Sky, while obtaining no Pieces of Heart or Heart Containers. Moreover, no Bottles (aside from the one received from Sera) or Bomb Bag or Quiver upgrades can be obtained. The Cave of Ordeals is then entered with the Wooden or Ordon Shield, the Ordon Sword, and the Zora Armor equipped, and no healing items.
Cave of Ordeals Challenge 2
In this challenge, Link must at least reach the 30th floor of the Cave of Ordeals while not losing a single heart. Any equipment may be used except for the Magic Armor.
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 for to teleport the bridge at Kakariko Gorge and the Sky Cannon, and stay at three hearts.
Twilight Princess HD
Hero Mode amiibo Challenge
Complete the game in Hero Mode while also using the Ganondorf amiibo to increase damage taken even further.
Phantom Hourglass
25:00 Temple of the Ocean King Challenge
Complete the Temple of the Ocean King with 25:00 Sands of Hours remaining.