The Blood Moon was one of the most perplexing events in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The requirements for triggering the eerie event were complex and confusing, leaving players stumped on how to most effectively utilize it. Thankfully, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has simplified what triggers the mechanic, making it much easier for players to wrap their heads around. Here's everything there is to know about the Blood Moon in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
Updated on June 2, 2023: We've learned that during the Blood Moon in TotK, players can receive cooking buffs for their meals and recipes. This Blood Moon explained guide has been updated to provide players with additional information.
How Does the Blood Moon Work in Tears of the Kingdom?
In The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, the Blood Moon occurs every seven in-game days. After seven days, a cutscene will trigger, signaling the beginning of the Blood Moon, and the night will be bathed in an eerie red light until morning.
How To Skip Time to Trigger the Blood Moon
Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a quick way to skip time to trigger the Blood Moon. Resting by a campfire or at a stable will not skip the time between Blood Moons. Players that want to farm using the Blood Moon will have to wait the 168 real minutes in between Blood Moons, either idling in houses and towns or spending time in other ways.
Effects of the Blood Moon in Tears of the Kingdom
The Blood Moon is responsible for resetting the game every seven in-game days, including:
Resets Dropped Weapons, Materials, and Ore
The Blood Moon resets most things in the game, meaning players can exploit it in any number of ways. If a player is after a specific weapon or material, returning to the spot where it was first acquired after every Blood Moon is a reliable way to stock up. It also resets ore deposits, meaning Link can return to these areas for an easy rupee farm.
Revives Slain Monsters
The Blood Moon's most useful effect is that it revives all of the monsters Link has defeated since the last Blood Moon (or the start of the game). This includes boss monsters like Lynels, Talus', and Constructs. Players may want to exploit the Blood Moon to spawn Talus' over and over, as they drop valuable gems and can be a great way to farm Rupees.
Cooking Buffs During the Blood Moon
Cooking during the Blood Moon - sometimes known as Critical Cooking - grants additional buffs like more health restored, more temporary heart containers, and longer buff durations. To make the most of this, players need to cook during the hours of 11:30 PM and 12:30 AM on Blood Moon nights.
Players will be able to tell if the Blood Moon is active by the red embers that fill the air during the optimal cooking period. On Blood Moon nights, the Moon will turn red from 11:30 PM - before the Blood Moon cutscene at midnight. To get the most out of cooking, save ingredients and head to a stable or nearby Cooking Pot when those red embers appear.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is available on the Nintendo Switch.