Hero Mode

Hero Mode is a name for a more challenging version of The Legend of Zelda games that began with Skyward Sword. Every Zelda game since then has included the option to make the enemies more difficult to defeat. However, unlike the Second Quest of The Legend of Zelda or Master Quest of Ocarina of Time, the dungeons and story of the game remain the same.

Skyward Sword

Main article: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Hero Mode in Skyward Sword is available once the player finishes the game. After viewing the credits, they are given the option to restart their current file as a Hero Mode file, which, if selected, returns them to the beginning of the game in the more challenging mode. All of Link's treasures and bugs from the previous save state remain. Hero Mode makes things more difficult by removing Recovery Hearts, whether in the form of heart flowers or those found in pots and bushes. The only way to make hearts spawn is by using the Heart Medal. Instead, Link must rely on potions and chairs to heal. Furthermore, all the enemies in Hero Mode deal twice as much damage as they would in normal mode. Skyward Strikes also charge much faster in Hero Mode. The Goddess Sword charges them at the same rate as the True Master Sword in the normal game, and when Link obtains the True Master Sword in Hero Mode, it charges Skyward Strike instantly.

Hero Mode also adds extra levels in the Thunder Dragon's Lightning Round, including Demise, the final boss.

The Wind Waker HD

Main article: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD

Hero Mode in The Wind Waker HD is identical to Skyward Sword, where enemies deal double damage and hearts do not appear normally from grass or pots. However, unlike Skyward Sword's Hero Mode, this version can be toggled on or off by the player at will from the game's main menu.

A Link Between Worlds

Main article: The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

Returning to its roots in Skyward Sword, this Hero Mode also requires the player to first complete the game in order to unlock it. However, instead of enemies dealing double damage, they now deal four times their original amount. Slightly smarter enemy AI is also included, making battles even more difficult. Recovery hearts are present in this mode though. Should the player beat the game in this mode, they are rewarded with an extended ending sequence. In this, after Link returns the Master Sword to the pedestal, he walks towards the area's exited and meets with all of the game's Seven Sages. Additionally, Link can find Ravio's journal in the Vacant House, which is not present in the normal version of the game.

Twilight Princess HD

Main article: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD

Unlike Twilight Princess for the Wii and GameCube, Twilight Princess HD includes a Hero Mode that acts much like the Hero Mode in The Wind Waker HD in which it can be chosen at the beginning of the quest, but cannot be switched once the quest is started. Hero Mode causes Link to take twice the amount of damage as normal, no recovery hearts are dropped, and the game is mirrored as well.

Breath of the Wild

Main article: Master Mode

The Hero Mode in Breath of the Wild (referred to as Master Mode) is slightly different to previous versions, as it is unlocked as a part of the Breath of the Wild Expansion Pass and can be played right from the start. It features many difficulty increases, including leveling every enemy up by one tier, adding an additional difficulty tier (Golden), Sky Platforms occupied by strong enemies, giving enemies the ability to regenerate health, smarter Guardian AI (which will sometimes cause them to pause before they fire, making it difficult to parry their lasers), etc.

However, to balance this, many of the weapons that Link can obtain are also leveled up. For example, Soldier's Bow becomes Knight's Bow, Knight's Broadsword becomes Royal Broadsword, etc.

Link's Awakening (Switch)

Main article: The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening

Newly added in the Switch remake, Hero Mode in Link's Awakening is unlocked after beating the game. Enemies will no longer drop hearts or fairies, and Link will take twice the amount of damage from enemies. A small monster icon will stay on screen in the bottom left during gameplay, and will also be present on your file in file select. Hero Mode must be started from a new file on the file select and cannot be toggled off.

See also

• Second Quest
• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Master Quest
• Master Mode

References

1. ↑ "You got the Goddess Sword! This mysterious sword is bathed in divine light. The memories of violent battles surge within this sword when you raise it to the sky. Your Skyward Strike is now at maximum strength!" — In-game description, Skyward Sword.