Nintendo Details Zelda: Breath Of The Wild First DLC Expansion Pack With ‘Trial Of The Sword’ Challenge

If you're planning to buy (or already bought) a Nintendo Switch, consider The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild an essential purchase to go along with your new console. Sure, the selection of games on the Switch is woefully low right now, but the newest Zelda game would stand out even in a crowded field of titles. It's also a game that will be updated with fresh content, which Nintendo has begun to detail.

You can purchase an Expansion Pass for $19.99, which will give you access to future DLC. The first DLC pack, Trial of the Sword, will roll out this summer. In anticipation of its release, Nintendo shared some screenshots and information about its forthcoming DLC, which will feature around 45 new rooms and an "onslaught of enemies" that come in waves. Link will start the challenge without any equipment or weapons. Once he clears a room of enemies, he'll proceed to the next, all en route to awakening the "true power of the Master Sword."

Trial of the Sword will also introduce a new Hero Path mode in which gamers can see where they've been, where they've spent the most time, and perhaps places that need more exploration.

"This new map feature shows the path Link has walked through Hyrule from the last 200 hours of game play. Use the time tracker bar to see where you've spent the most time and where you have yet to explore. There's bound to be more adventures and maybe a shrine or two on the road less traveled," Nintendo explains.

If Trial of the Sword does not seem challenging enough, users will be able to toggle a Hard mode that sees enemies gradually regain health. All enemies are also powered up by one level in Hard mode, so a Red Bokoblin in Normal mode becomes a Blue Bokoblin in Hard mode. And on top of it all, enemies can have higher levels.


Finally, the forthcoming DLC will introduce more armor scattered among eight additional treasure chests, a hidden Korok mask, and a Travel Medallion that will allow users to register their location anywhere on the map and then fast travel to that point.

There is also a second DLC scheduled for winter. Details are light at the moment, so Nintendo previously said it will contain a new original story, a new dungeon, and additional challenges.