I love Zelda. A lot. But let's be honest, the games are pretty easy, and even Botw's Master Mode is more a challenge of endurance. So, I thought, after completing a 3 Hearts run, what else can I do to make things more interesting?

And that's how I came up with the Sheik run.

The background is pretty simple: The Hero dies 100 years ago, and now the princess will save herself.

The rules are what makes it interesting: you play as Sheik, using only Sheikah weapons, and only items that (in a broader sense) make sense in a Ocarina of Time setting. Basically, you end up with a stealth run with very little combat, most of it being archery.

Sounds good? Here's the rules:

- You play in Master Mode. Enemies will be harder, making you more vulnerable. Enemy HP will recover, so if you* d*o fight, you will be challenged more, and sometimes forced to retreat completely, making loss of weapons and arrows all the more dire.

- Sheikah armor only: You'll play the Plateau in your underwear, and after that make a beeline for Kakariko and get the armor. The Sheik mask is encouraged but if you don't have the amiibo, the stealth mask is the second best idea. (The defense is the same, although using the stealth mask will eventually give you a set bonus which you don't get with the Sheik mask. Also the Sheik armor relies on Star Fragments to upgrade, making it harder. Also, who doesn't want to have the Sheik amiibo?) You need to switch the the Gerudo outfit for Gerudo Town obviously, and the Vah Rutah quest needs you to wear the Zora armor to progress. Any other armor is prohibited.

- Sheikah and Sheikah related weapons/shields only: that means on the Plateau, you will only be able to use your runes or avoid combat altogether.

After the Plateau, and after getting the armor, it's recommended that you make another beeline to Gerudo Town and start the Yiga quest. You will need those usually pesky Yiga to survive. (There's one Vicious Sickle wielding Yiga southeast of the Coliseum, he might be your first weapon, and have fun trying to defeat him using bombs only. Personally I allowed myself to pick up the Boomerang in a chest near the Dueling Peaks stable as well -- seeing as it's a OoT weapon.)

Here's a list of allowed weapons:

Sheikah weaponry: Eightfold Blade, Eightfold Longblade, Phrenix Bow, Serpentine Spear, Shield of the Mind's Eye. All of these weapons respawn after a Blood Moon and are scarce, but obtainable.
Yiga weaponry: Vicious Sickle, Demon Carver, Windcleaver, Duplex Bow. The Duplex Bow will probably be your main weapon, seeing it's the most attainable.
All Ancient weapons from the Tech Lab. Being able to buy weapons will help greatly - but you will be always short on supplies, because fighting Guardians is a great risk to your health and meager weapons.
All Ancient weapons from guardians, though you will not meet many.
Fire/Ice/Thunder weapons. I figure Sheik can use magic. There's not a great many of these around anyway.

- Elixirs only, no cooked meals. (Because OoT has no food.) Food like apples and shrooms may be eaten unprocessed.

- No stamina/heart upgrades besides heart containers from Divine Beats, leaving you with seven hearts maximum. Many enemies will be able to one-shot you because of the combination of little defense and little energy. Your stealth will give you the chance to get away. (I walked over a Molduga once without it noticing me.)

- No fast-travel besides Towers & Divine Beats & Tech Labs. The four first shrines are not skippable, but after this, avoid shrines. Having to travel makes you more vulnerable. (In game explanation, if you want one: Zelda wasn't able to interact with the shrines when she tried...) You may decide to visit the Spring of Courage, Wisdom and Power (makes sense) and maybe do the Lomei Labyrinth Island to get the Travel Medaillon, if you have the DLC. You may use any horses you find, but you may not register them. Only expectation would be Zelda's white horse, or maybe Epona.

I started this run a while ago, and found that it was challenging and entertaining, shifting the style greatly. I've avoided most enemy camps completely, and when I did fight, I had to be extremely cautious, going so far as waiting until night to steal (and throw away) every weapon, and then carefully single out one enemy after the next. And even then, a Golden Bokoblin will easily take up three or four of your Duplex Bows, so you'll really have to consider if you want this fight or not. Without any armor to protect you, Death Mountain and the Gerudo desert are tough to get through. I thought everything would become easier once I made it to the Tech Lab and could buy weapons - but turns out that for Ancient Weapons you need to fight Guardians, Stalkers especially, and those, without Ancient Weapons, are a real pain in the ass. You might lose more than you gain, so again, be careful what you do.

I just finished my last Divine Beast in my Sheik Run yesterday, and treated myself to the Hylian Shield. (Remember how Link got his Shield in Minish Cap from Zelda? There's your reason.) I had tremendous problems with Thunderblight Ganon, but Fireblight Ganon was ridiculously easy, and now i'm excited to see how the final fight will be- once I actually survive Hyrule Castle, that is.

I enjoy thischallenge a lot. Enough that I thought I should post it somewhere, see if other people might like it too. I would love to hear what you think!

submitted by /u/fowo__
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What if the Next Zelda Title was set at the height of Hyrule Power

Posted: 14 Jun 2018 02:55 AM PDT

with super advanced tech and everything NOT in ruins

like cyberpunk space travel Hyrule

flying ponies and cazy futuristic stuff

submitted by /u/Splatulated
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Will there be anything planned for Ocarina of Time's 20th anniversary?

Posted: 14 Jun 2018 06:35 AM PDT

I don't dare to hype up a remaster for the Switch or even virtual N64, knowing Nintendo.

Will they do anything at all other than a blog post?

submitted by /u/Never-asked-for-this
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This better be Young Link's final smash.

Posted: 13 Jun 2018 09:13 PM PDT

submitted by /u/AurianTheMan
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Ocarina of Time - Forest Temple (Lounge mix)

Posted: 14 Jun 2018 06:04 AM PDT

submitted by /u/Zubat888
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I made a house out of the Sheikah Eye (and some other eyes) in Terraria!

Posted: 13 Jun 2018 04:53 PM PDT

submitted by /u/mortimermcmirestinks
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Two years ago today, at E3 2016 Reggie gave us the first look at Breath of the Wild

Posted: 14 Jun 2018 09:29 AM PDT

submitted by /u/Nymunariya
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I wanted to make a video on the crazy moments I had in breath of the wild, I really hope you enjoy this video.

Posted: 14 Jun 2018 09:23 AM PDT

submitted by /u/Kameha808
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Does Link have the ToC in BOTW?

Posted: 14 Jun 2018 08:39 AM PDT

I don't remember anywhere in the game the triforce appearing other than with Zelda, did Link even have the ToC and did Ganon have the ToP? Because ganon is just ganon, I don't remember it mentioning him having the triforce at all, and Link was just an appointed knight for Zelda?? Anyone have the answer?

submitted by /u/jdf61
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Shes so happy about everything! EVEN DEATH >:D

Posted: 13 Jun 2018 02:13 PM PDT

submitted by /u/43eyes
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Saw this and thought it should be here also!

Posted: 13 Jun 2018 05:01 PM PDT

submitted by /u/iiMrAlex
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I can't believe we got a Derpy Link on the official SSB Ultimate Website

Posted: 13 Jun 2018 11:27 AM PDT

submitted by /u/FieraDeidad
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This commercial for Link's Awakening is F-ing classic! Link's Awakening is so underrated.

Posted: 13 Jun 2018 11:35 AM PDT