Zelda Breath of the Wild Lockdown Explained

“Zelda Breath of the Wild lockdown� usually refers to the game’s Master Mode trial, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s “Lockdown� challenge, or the community term for the “Lockdown� glitch that locks Link’s movement. The most common meaning is the “Lockdown� challenge in the game’s Master Trials DLC, where players must survive a series of rooms with limited resources. This article explains what the lockdown is, how it works, how to beat it, and common mistakes players make.

What Is the Lockdown in Breath of the Wild?

The “Lockdown� is the community name for the Final Trial of the Master Trials DLC, a 12-room gauntlet that tests combat, resource management, and strategy. It is called “lockdown� because the doors lock behind you once you enter each room—you cannot retreat or leave until every enemy is defeated. The trial is part of the Master Trials DLC, which adds a new dungeon called the “Trial of the Sword.� The Final Trial is the third and hardest segment, following the Beginner and Middle trials.

In the Final Trial, you start with a specific loadout (weapons, shields, and food) and must fight through rooms that include Lynels, Guardians, and multiple elemental enemies. The challenge is that you cannot use your normal inventory—only what you find in the trial. The “lockdown� name also appears in some guides as a synonym for the entire Trial of the Sword, but the Final Trial is the most intense.

How the Lockdown Works

When you enter the Final Trial, you are stripped of your gear and given a set of starting items. Each room has a door that locks behind you, and you must defeat all enemies to unlock the next door. You can pick up weapons, shields, and food from defeated enemies or treasure chests, but you cannot leave the room until it is cleared. The trial has 12 rooms, with a rest area at room 6 and room 12 (the final room).

Key mechanics:

• Rest areas (rooms 6 and 12) have a cooking pot and a chest with a bonus item.
• Enemy variety includes Bokoblins, Lizalfos, Moblin, Lynels, and Guardians.
• Elemental weaknesses matter—using the right weapon or arrow can one-shot many enemies.
• No saving—if you die, you restart from the beginning of the Final Trial (not the whole Trial of the Sword, but the Final Trial only).

The trial is designed to be a pure skill check, so preparation before starting (like eating a 30-minute attack boost) is crucial.

How to Prepare for the Lockdown

Before you even enter the Trial of the Sword, you should prepare Link’s stats and inventory. The game allows you to eat food that grants temporary buffs before starting the trial, and those buffs carry over into the trial (except for the “hearty� effect that gives extra hearts—those do not carry over).

Recommended preparation:

• Max out your hearts and stamina—use shrines or the Horned Statue in Hateno Village to balance them.
• Eat a 30-minute attack boost (e.g., a dish with 4 Mighty Bananas and a Dragon Horn) before entering.
• Upgrade your Sheikah Sensor to find treasure chests in the trial.
• Practice parrying against Guardians—you’ll face them in the final rooms.

Also, note that you can use the “bed� in the rest areas to save your progress, but only if you have a “Wooden Bed� in your inventory (found in the trial). Actually, the rest areas have a campfire and a cooking pot, but no bed—you can save by using the “Save� option in the menu, but only when you are not in combat. The game auto-saves at the start of each room, so you can quit and resume from the last room you entered.

Step-by-Step Walkthrough of the Lockdown

Here’s a room-by-room breakdown of the Final Trial. Note that the exact enemies and items can vary slightly depending on your game version, but this is the standard layout.

1. Room 1: Two Blue Bokoblins with a treasure chest containing a Knight’s Claymore.
2. Room 2: Three Fire Lizalfos—use a two-handed weapon to spin attack, or use ice arrows if you have them.
3. Room 3: A White Moblin with a spear—use a shield to block and counter.
4. Room 4: A Guardian Stalker—parry its laser or use a Guardian Sword++ to cut its legs.
5. Room 5: Two Electric Lizalfos and a Thunder Wizzrobe—use a lightning-proof weapon or take out the Wizzrobe first.
6. Room 6 (Rest): Cook food, save, and open the chest for a Royal Claymore.
7. Room 7: Three Bokoblins on horseback—use a bow to shoot them off.
8. Room 8: Two Ice Lizalfos and a Fire Wizzrobe—use fire weapons to melt ice, or use a bow.
9. Room 9: A Lynel—the hardest fight. Use Stasis+ to freeze it, then attack its back.
10. Room 10: Two Guardian Turrets and a Guardian Stalker—use the environment for cover.
11. Room 11: A Silver Moblin and a Silver Lizalfos—use elemental weapons for advantage.
12. Room 12 (Rest): Final rest area, then the last room: a Lynel and two Guardians.

The final room is the real lockdown—you must defeat a Lynel and two Guardian Stalkers with limited resources. Use the pillars for cover, parry the Guardians, and focus on the Lynel first.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Players often fail the lockdown due to a few recurring errors:

• Not using elemental weaknesses—for example, using a fire weapon on an ice Lizalfos deals triple damage.
• Wasting arrows—arrows are scarce, so aim carefully and use melee when possible.
• Ignoring the environment—many rooms have explosive barrels, metal boxes, or water that can be used to your advantage.
• Not cooking in rest areas—combine ingredients to make healing meals with bonus effects.
• Rushing the Lynel—Lynels are fast and hit hard; use Stasis+ and flurry rushes.

Also, a common misconception is that you can use the “Majora’s Mask� to avoid fights—it does not work in the Trial of the Sword because enemies are always hostile.

Rewards and Why It Matters

Completing the Final Trial unlocks the Master Sword’s true power: it becomes permanently upgraded to 60 attack and has increased durability (from 40 to 188 hits). The Master Sword also glows with a blue aura, and its beam attack becomes more powerful. This makes the Master Sword one of the best weapons in the game, and it never breaks permanently—only runs out of energy and needs to recharge.

Beyond the mechanical reward, completing the Trial of the Sword is a badge of honor in the community. It is often considered the hardest challenge in Breath of the Wild, and many players spend hours perfecting it.

Alternatives and Related Challenges

If the lockdown is too hard, there are alternative ways to get a powerful Master Sword:

• Upgrade the Master Sword via the DLC—the Trial of the Sword is the only way to permanently upgrade it.
• Use the Master Sword’s base form—it still has 30 attack and is useful against Guardians.
• Practice in the overworld—fight Lynels and Guardians in the open world to improve your skills.
• Watch video guides—many players find it easier to learn by watching a playthrough.

There is also a “Lockdown� glitch in the game that locks Link’s movement, but that is a separate bug and not the challenge.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I leave the lockdown trial and come back?

No. Once you enter the Trial of the Sword, you cannot leave or save your progress in the middle of a room. You can quit the game and resume from the last room you entered, but you cannot go back to the overworld without restarting the trial from the beginning.

What is the best food to bring into the lockdown?

The best food is a dish that gives a 30-minute attack boost, such as a “Mighty Simmered Fruit� made with 4 Mighty Bananas and a Dragon Horn. Also bring full healing meals like “Hearty Durians� cooked alone to fully restore hearts.

How many rooms are in the Final Trial?

There are 12 rooms in the Final Trial, with rest areas at room 6 and room 12. The final room is room 12, which is a rest area, but the actual combat continues in the same room after you rest—so effectively you have 11 combat rooms.

Do I need the DLC to access the lockdown?

Yes. The Trial of the Sword is part of the “Master Trials� DLC, which is included in the Expansion Pass. Without the DLC, you cannot access the lockdown challenge.

What happens if I die in the lockdown?

If you die, you restart from the beginning of the Final Trial, not the whole Trial of the Sword. You keep any progress up to the room where you died, but you lose all items you collected in that run.

Is the lockdown easier in Master Mode?

No. In Master Mode, enemies regenerate health and are more aggressive, making the lockdown significantly harder. It is recommended to complete the trial in normal mode first.

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