The Champions' Ballad
The Champions' Ballad is the second downloadable content pack for Breath of the Wild,[1] released on December 7, 2017 following a full reveal of the pack at The Game Awards. It is available only as part of the game's Expansion Pass.
Overview
The Champions' Ballad introduces a new Main Quest, as well as several Side Quests to obtain new Items. After freeing the four Divine Beasts and speaking to the four leaders of each respective tribe, Link is telepathically contacted by Zelda who tells him to return to the Shrine of Resurrection on the Great Plateau. After inserting the Sheikah Slate in the pedestal there, a Monk known as Maz Koshia speaks to him. He promises Link that if he can prove his worth, he may tame a Divine Beast of his own. Maz Koshia presents Link with the One-Hit Obliterator and instructs him to use it to defeat the Enemies present in four different Monster Strongholds. Once each Encampment has been cleared, an Ancient Shrine appears. Once Link has spoken to the Monks in each Shrine, the Weapon splits into four orbs and spread across Hyrule, causing large Monuments to rise from the ground.
The Monuments activate in Link's presence, displaying maps revealing the locations of further trials. Link encounters Kass at each of the Monuments, who sings for him verses of his master's "Unfinished Song" about the Champions of Hyrule. In each of the Ancient Shrines, Link receives an Emblem specific to a Divine Beast. After obtaining three of each, he is able to enter the Illusory Realm and battle once again against the corresponding Phantom Ganon afflicting the Beast. After besting the monster, Link experiences a vision of each Champion's memory of the moment when Zelda requested them to pilot a Divine Beast.
After defeating the four Phantom Ganons, Link is instructed to return to the Shrine of Resurrection and place the Sheikah Slate once again into the pedestal. The chamber seals itself and descends deep into a labyrinth; a Final Trial. Maz Koshia instructs Link to navigate the labyrinth and activate four Terminals that control a lock on a large stone door at the rear of the Dungeon. Once the four locks are disengaged, Link proceeds through the opened door to find Maz Koshia himself meditating on his pedestal. Before Link can report his completion of the Trial, Maz Koshia rises and reveals there is to be one final trial. He transports the two of them to a floating platform in the sky and announces that Link must battle and defeat the Monk himself.
Once defeated, Monk Maz Koshia alters the layout of the floating platform to present Link with the Master Cycle Zero, a Divine Beast. He allows Link to acquire the Rune to summon it before transporting him outside the Shrine of Resurrection. Link encounters Kass once again, who reveals that he has finished the verses of his master's Song and plays to Link the finished ballad. While listening to the Song, Link experiences one final Recovered Memory of the day he and his fellow Champions were officially inaugurated at Hyrule Castle by King Rhoam. The Memory culminates with Purah taking a photograph of them and Zelda with the Sheikah Slate. Kass announces that he finally understands the true power of music, and gives Link the photo which he found amongst his teacher's belongings. Zelda's voice speaks to Link once again, congratulating him on conquering all of the trials. She informs him that he is now truly powerful enough to finally defeat Calamity Ganon.
New Content
Quests
- Five Main Quests, encompassing a new storyline. Completing each Quest unlocks an EX Recovered Memory associated with each of the Champions and reduces the cooldown period for their respective ability.
- "EX The Champions' Ballad" is the overarching Quest, and unlocks Link's Memory after completion.
- "EX Champion Revali's Song" — Link is rewarded with Revali's Gale +
- "EX Champion Mipha's Song" — Link is rewarded with Mipha's Grace +
- "EX Champion Daruk's Song" — Link is rewarded with Daruk's Protection +
- "EX Champion Urbosa's Song" — Link is rewarded with Urbosa's Fury +
- Six Side Quests to acquire new Items. Diaries listing the locations for these Items have been added to the Deya Village Ruins and Riverside Stable.
Items
- A Rune can be obtained upon completing the Main Quest that spawns a new type of mount; the Master Cycle Zero. The Master Cycle Zero is considered a Divine Beast by Monk Maz Koshia, and can be spawned almost anywhere. It must be fueled with Materials.
- A new Weapon; the One-Hit Obliterator. It will kill anything with one hit but also causes Link to be killed with one hit from any enemy or hazard. It can only be used during the Divine Beast Tamer's Trial during the Main Quest.
- Four new Key Items that are obtained during the Main Quest; Medoh's Emblem, Ruta's Emblem, Rudania's Emblem, Naboris's Emblem. These Emblems are used for going into the Illusory Realm to fight the Phantom Ganons again.
- Kass will reward Link with the Picture of the Champions after completing the Main Quest. The Picture can be placed on a wall of Link's House in Hateno Village.
- Four more Spirit Orbs can be obtained from the Ancient Shrines added to the Great Plateau, allowing for one additional Heart Container or Stamina Vessel. The other new Shrines reward Link with Emblems instead of Spirit Orbs.
Locations
- A single Dungeon; the Final Trial. Unlike the other Dungeons in the game, the Final Trial can be revisited at any time after completing the Main Quest.
- 16 Ancient Shrines have been introduced to the world, though all of them are initially hidden until certain tasks are carried out during the Main Quest.
- Etsu Korima, Rohta Chigah, Ruvo Korbah, and Yowaka Ita Shrines are located on the Great Plateau.
- Kiah Toza, Noe Rajee, and Shira Gomar Shrines are in the Hebra Region.
- Kee Dafunia, Mah Eliya, and Sato Koda Shrines are in the Lanayru Region.
- Kamia Omuna, Rinu Honika, and Sharo Lun Shrines are in the Eldin Region.
- Keive Tala, Kihiro Moh, and Takama Shiri Shrines are in the Gerudo Region.
- Four Monuments have been introduced to the world, though they do not appear until the Divine Beast Tamer's Trial is completed during the Main Quest. They contain maps revealing the locations of the new Ancient Shrines. It is not possible to warp to these Monuments.
Enemies
- A Boss for the new Dungeon; Monk Maz Koshia. He can be fought again at any time after the Main Quest by simply returning to him in the Final Trial.
- Two overworld Bosses; Igneo Talus Titan in Lake Darman, and Molduking in the Gerudo Desert. Defeating them both is required during the Main Quest.
- The four Phantom Ganons, Windblight Ganon, Waterblight Ganon, Fireblight Ganon, Thunderblight Ganon must be battled again during the Main Quest, but can now be fought again at any time after the Quest is complete by approaching their respective Divine Beast.
Miscellaenous
- An icon for the Master Cycle Zero will appear on the loading screen alongside the other Divine Beasts once the Main Quest has been completed.
- Four diaries have been added to the world, containing a deep insight into the lives of the Champions; The Diary of Revali can be found in Teba's Home in Rito Village, Mipha's Diary in the Throne Room of Zora's Domain, Daruk's Training Journal in Yunobo's House in Goron City, and Urbosa's Diary in Riju's Bedroom in the Royal Palace of Gerudo Town.
- Many characters have new dialogue and may be found at different locations during the Main Quest.
Trivia
- The Champions' Ballad was the last content ever released by Nintendo for the Wii U, as Miiverse had been closed a month earlier.
Nomenclature
 Names in Other Regions 
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Language | Name | Meaning | |
 |
Japanese | 英傑たちのバラッド (Eiketsu Tachi no Baraddo) 英傑たちの詩 (Eiketsu Tachi no Uta)[note 1] |
Ballad of the Heroes Song of the Heroes |
 |
ChineseSI | 英杰们的诗篇 (Yīngjiémen de Shīpiān) | Psalm of the Champions |
 |
FrenchEU | Ode aux Prodiges | Ode to the Prodigies |
 |
SpanishEU | La balada de los elegidos | The ballad of the chosen ones |
Gallery
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Alternate artwork for The Champions' Ballad
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Alternate artwork for The Champions' Ballad featuring Zelda
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My Nintendo reward landscape wallpaper
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My Nintendo reward portrait wallpaper
Video Gallery
See Also
Notes
- ↑ The Champions' Ballad has two written names, but only one phonetic name. This is because the latter name, 英傑たちの詩, is intended as Furikanji (a means of showing the meaning of its phonetic name) to accompany its primary name, 英傑たちのバラッド, which uses a foreign loanword that is not readily available in everyday Japanese speech. Therefore, 英傑たちの詩 is not truly an official name unto itself as it is a guide to assist in the stylistic use of the English word "ballad" in Katakana.
References
- ↑ The Champions' Ballad is here , Nintendo.