Hyrule Castle Walkthrough: Entry Routes, Hylian Shield and Final Prep
How to get into Hyrule Castle in Breath of the Wild: five entry routes, the Hylian Shield and other loot by room, and what to prepare before the final battle.
Hyrule Castle is the last stop of Breath of the Wild, but it is also a full area worth exploring before the finale. This page covers how to get in, what to pick up in each room, and how to get ready for the fight in the Sanctum. The fight itself is on the Calamity Ganon page.
How do you get into Hyrule Castle?
There is one road in, but the moat, waterfalls and cliffs give you several other ways up.
| Route | How it works | Main hazards |
|---|---|---|
| Front gate | Walk through Hyrule Castle Town Ruins and Central Square to the bridge, then pull the gate open with Magnesis | Guardian Stalkers in the town ruins, Guardian Skywatchers over the bridge and road |
| Docks | Cross the moat on Cryonis blocks and enter the cave on the north side; the path leads up to the Library | Black Lizalfos at the Docks and in the Library |
| West Passage | Look for the Luminous Stone at the entrance near the moat, west of the gate; it leads to the Lockup | A Decayed Guardian at the Lockup entrance, the Stalnox inside |
| Waterfalls | Wear the Zora Armor and swim up the falls beside the main road toward the Sanctum | Decayed Guardians and Guardian Turrets along the road |
| North face | Climb the cliffs to the Sanctum; Revali’s Gale shortens the climb | A long climb, so plan your stamina |
The main road also has walls of Malice sealed by eyeballs, and two gatehouses that trap you with a Lynel. If you are not ready for Lynels, the Docks and West Passage routes keep you off the main road.
How do you get the Hylian Shield?
- Find the West Passage. From the moat west of the front gate, look for the tunnel entrance marked with Luminous Stone and follow it toward the Lockup.
- Get into the Lockup. A Decayed Guardian watches the entrance. Raise the portcullis with a Cryonis block underneath, or slip in through the break in the Lockup wall.
- Defeat the Stalnox. The skeletal Hinox guards the Lockup, and the chest in the back room only appears once it falls.
- Open the chest in the back room. A metal chest appears once the Stalnox is gone. It holds the Hylian Shield.
The Lockup also holds the Royal Guard’s Claymore and a Blizzard Rod, so check the whole room before you leave.
What else is worth picking up in Hyrule Castle?
| Room | Items |
|---|---|
| Lockup | Hylian Shield (after the Stalnox), Royal Guard’s Claymore, Blizzard Rod |
| King’s Study | Royal Guard’s Shield, King Rhoam’s Journal; reach it from the Library by pulling a bookshelf with Magnesis |
| Library | Stone Smasher at the dig site; Great Frostblade in the side room |
| Docks | Great Flameblade |
| Dining Hall | Royal Bow on the chandelier; Royal Guard’s Sword in a hidden room nearby |
| Guards’ Chamber | Royal Claymore, Knight’s Claymore, Knight’s Halberd, Falcon Bow |
| Observation Room | Thunderblade, Royal Bow, 3 Ancient Arrows on the balcony |
| Princess Zelda’s Room | Royal Guard’s Bow, Zelda’s Diary on the desk; the Moblin here carries an Edge of Duality |
| Princess Zelda’s Study | Zelda’s research notes and a Silent Princess |
| First Gatehouse | 10 Bomb Arrows after the Lynel |
| Second Gatehouse | 3 Ancient Arrows after the Lynel |
A recovered memory is on the bridge between Princess Zelda’s Room and her Study. With the Champions’ Ballad DLC, the quest EX Royal Guard Rumors hides the Royal Guard set here: the cap on the second floor of the Sanctum, the uniform behind a bombable wall near the Dining Hall, and the boots on a wooden platform in the Guards’ Chamber. The all-armor list shows how that set compares.
How should you prepare for the final battle?
- Clear the gatehouses for arrows. The portcullises close and a Lynel drops in at each gatehouse. Beating them gives 10 Bomb Arrows and 3 Ancient Arrows, both useful against Ganon.
- Let your Champion abilities recharge. Inside the castle every ability recharges three times faster, so wait outside the Sanctum until they are all ready.
- Pack your best food and weapons. There is no post-game and you cannot save once the fight starts, so bring hearty meals, elixirs and your strongest gear.
- Walk into the Sanctum to start. Entering the first floor of the Sanctum triggers the final battle. Any Blight you have not beaten comes first, one after another, at 2,000 HP each.
- Defeat Calamity Ganon, then Dark Beast Ganon. Calamity Ganon loses one-eighth of his 8,000 HP for each Divine Beast you freed. After him, Zelda gives you the Bow of Light for the horseback fight on Hyrule Field.
| Divine Beasts freed | Calamity Ganon HP | Blights to fight first |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 8,000 | 4 |
| 1 | 7,000 | 3 |
| 2 | 6,000 | 2 |
| 3 | 5,000 | 1 |
| 4 | 4,000 | 0 |
| Champion ability | Recharge outside | Recharge in the castle |
|---|---|---|
| Mipha’s Grace | 24 minutes | 8 minutes |
| Revali’s Gale | 6 minutes | 2 minutes |
| Daruk’s Protection | 18 minutes | 6 minutes |
| Urbosa’s Fury | 12 minutes | 4 minutes |
Freeing every Divine Beast is the most reliable way to shorten this sequence. The four walkthroughs are Vah Ruta, Vah Medoh, Vah Rudania and Vah Naboris. The Master Sword is permanently awakened inside the castle, so the Master Sword guide is worth finishing first too. Blight strategies are on the Blights page.
FAQ
What is the easiest way into Hyrule Castle?
Where is the Hylian Shield in Hyrule Castle?
Can I leave Hyrule Castle before the final boss?
What happens after you beat Ganon?
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