In Breath of the Wild, players can cook their own meals to restore health, gain buffs, or restore stamina. However, there will be times when Link will only need a buff instead of hearts. For those special cases, players should consider crafting Elixirs. These will give Link the boost he needs without wasting a meal.

During their Breath of the Wild gameplay, players will find various critters and defeat countless monsters. They'll want to make a habit of farming anything they see. Monster parts and creatures aren't just for upgrading armor; they're the key ingredients for any Elixir.

Updated on September 11, 2023 by Renri Seong: Just like meals, Link can cook together Elixirs by mixing Monster Parts and Critters in Breath of the Wild. An Elixir can protect Link from the harsh cold or the sweltering heat. However, it won't do for BotW players to just throw the rarest Monster Part into the cooking pot. Each category of Critters and Monster Parts have their own "strength." Choosing the correct ones can potentially extend the duration of an Elixir or enhance its effect. The following guide has been updated to include a detailed section on Monster Parts and Critters.

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Understanding Elixirs

Creating Elixirs is done through the same method as cooking food. Drop the desired ingredients into any cooking pot with a fire, but unlike food, Elixirs need (at most) two ingredients:

1. Any Monster or Guardian part.
2. A critter (ex: Restless Crickets, Tireless Frogs, etc)

Elixir buffs cannot be stacked. This means if Link wants to increase his Attack Power while also having Heat Resistance, he'll need to choose between the two. Trying to apply two different Elixirs at the same time will override the first Elixir's effects. Cooking two ingredients with Elixir effects will cause them to cancel each other out.

Each Elixir has a duration that can be expanded by adding more ingredients or using "stronger" monster parts. For example, crafting a Spicy Elixir with four Warm Darners instead of one Warm Darner will generate a Spicy Elixir with a duration of 11minutes, 50 seconds. Using Dragon Parts will greatly expand the timer, but keep in mind that Dragon Parts are not considered Monster Parts. Players will still need a Monster Part and a Critter to cook up an Elixir.

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Every Critter and Monster Part in BotW

Most critters can be farmed 09from cutting down the grass in Hyrule, but some species only live in specific habitats. For example, critters that will add cold resistance are normally found in areas like the Eldin province. These are harder to find, and it's recommended to use them for upgrades before making Elixirs.

Critters

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Monsters

As for monsters, Link will defeat too many to count, but it's important to pick up whatever parts they may drop upon defeat. Remember: Elixirs require at least one monster part.

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How to Make Every Elixir in BotW

The critter and monster part will determine the buff duration. Some critters can be used interchangeably, but depending on what monster part is used and how many critters are added, the duration can be increased. There are a total of 11 types of Elixirs in Breath of the Wild:

Understanding Elixir Ingredients (How to Increase Elixir Effects)

Critters are split into "invisible" tiers, and as such, they are responsible for the strength of an Elixir. Players can determine the Elixir's strength by checking the icons in its description. A level 1 Mighty Elixir will have one "sword" icon, while a level 3 will have three "swords." Strength is also influenced by whether the Elixir was a "Critical Success." This is when Link is cooking, and a five-note chime will play before the ingredients "jump" back into the pot.

There isn't anything to indicate one critter's rarity over another. However, players may notice that cooking a Darner + A Monster Part will generate a stronger effect than a Butterfly + A Monster Part. This is because Darners are "rarer" than Butterflies. The Darners will generate a "stronger level" than their Butterfly counterparts. For example: Players can put together x4 Warm Darner + x1 Monster Part for a strong Spicy Elixir, or they can get a weak Spicy Elixir by using x4 Summerwing Butterfly + x1 Monster Part.

On the other hand, Monster Parts will extend the duration of the Elixir. Using a Horn will give the Elixir a shorter lasting effect than an Elixir with Guts. However, the duration isn't influenced by the type of Monster, but rather the part. Cooking an Elixir with Bokoblin Guts will have the same effect as using Molduga Guts, even though the Molduga is tougher than the Bokoblin. What it will effect is the sales price. The Elixir that used Molduga Guts will be valued more than the Bokoblin one by Merchants. Players will also want to refrain from mixing in a ton of Monster Parts with Critters; they only need one.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is available for Nintendo Switch.

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