Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, a story set in the world of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, has been available on the Nintendo Switch since November 2020, and it is, at last, receiving its first significant downloadable content this week. Available as part of the Expansion Pass, the DLC Wave 1 – Pulse of the Ancients will add a host of new features to the game, detailed in the E3 2021 Nintendo Direct.
A new playable character, the Battle-Tested Guardian will allow players to control a time-worn Guardian. The Guardians have normally presented as a major threat in the Breath of the Wild and Age of Calamity, so it will be refreshing to not be on the receiving end of its destructive power for a change. Based on the trailer footage, it seems the playable Guardian will be able to do everything that players have come to expect from these machines: fire deadly lasers and smash everything in its path.
The now iconic Guardian enemy will be playable in the Age of Calamity DLC.
In addition, there are also two new weapon types. Link will now be able to use the Flail, which appears to be a pair of Guardian tentacles modified into a whip-like, ranged weapon. Even more interesting is Zelda’s new weapon, the Master Cycle. The original Master Cycle was featured in Mario Kart 8‘s DLC, alongside Link’s playable appearance in the game. The Master Cycle Zero, which is what Princess Zelda can be seen riding in the trailer, was a part of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s DLC expansion as a reward for completing the Ballad of the Champions.
Link’s new Flail has impressive range. It will definitely diversify his usual play style.
Beyond that, there will be a harder difficulty setting, Apocalyptic Difficulty, and new enemy types. So far, Nintendo has shown us stronger Wizzrobes, giant Chuchus, and explosive-hurling Moblins. Even more enemies than that are likely to be added. There were no specifics about whether these enemies will be inserted into normal gameplay or only under specific circumstances.
There will now be moblins that hurl their own supply of explosive barrels at the player.
Finally, there will also be new Challenges in the Royal Ancient Tech Lab. There do not seem to be details about what those challenges entail, but the wait to find out is not much longer.
Wave 1 releases June 18, 2021. Wave 2 – Guardian of Remembrance, the second half of the Expansion Pass, is set for November. It promises a new playable character, extra episodes and abilities, and additional maps. For those who have purchased the Expansion Pass, the bonus Prototype Ancient Gear costume and Prototype Ancient Sword weapon for Link are available now.
