The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will feature many of the same elements from BOTW, but one mechanic will be missing due to the events that took place at the first game’s ending. One popular aspect of BOTW was its approach to combat. Enemies could be fought at any angle and with any tool at the player’s disposal. Despite Link’s best efforts to dispel any monsters that would put Hyrule in danger, they always come back. However, with Calamity Ganon’s defeat, this may longer be the case.
Throughout Link’s adventure in BOTW, on certain nights Calamity Ganon’s power will reach its peak. When Ganon’s magic becomes its strongest he can cover the moon with his malice causing a Blood Moon. Ganon's minions reap the benefits of Breath of the Wild's Blood Moon, and every foe bested by Link comes back to life when the moon turns crimson. Since the villain was directly responsible for the creation of the phenomenon, his demise at the end of the BOTW means that the moon would be free from his malice. Although this makes the kingdom of Hyrule a safer place, there are ramifications for the removal of the Blood Moon from a player’s perspective.
Tears Of The Kingdom Not Having BOTW's Blood Moon Is An Issue
Monsters in BOTW don’t just serve as obstacles for Link to overcome on his travels, they’re also a source of valuable materials. Whether it's Bokoblins or Guardians, each enemy has its own unique drops. Monster parts can be used in a variety of ways to aid Link defensively or offensively. Some of these drops can be crafted to make armor, weapons, and various elixirs. Even some of the best dishes in BOTW come from monsters. Since enemies respawn every Blood Moon, players never have to worry about running out of these materials. In Tears of the Kingdom, the Blood Moon should no longer be present because Calamity Ganon is no more. Unless the sequel introduces a new gimmick similar to the Blood Moon, resources that monsters drop may become scarce.
Until it is outright confirmed that Tears of the Kingdom will not have a Blood Moon it may still be kept as a feature. Narratively speaking, its appearance wouldn’t make sense without Calamity Ganon, but its complete removal would be detrimental. In trailers, the new villain in Tears of the Kingdom appears to possess powers similar to Ganon’s malice. If not done with a Blood Moon, this new threat could revive enemies through different means. Even after the release of the BOTW's spinoff, non-canon prequel, Age of Calamity, the Blood Moon's origin is still a mystery, so its resurgence isn't impossible. Without confirmation, players can only speculate how the new antagonist will bring back monsters from the dead, if at all.
With how beloved BOTW was, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has a lot to live up to. The first game introduced a plethora of new mechanics that are worthy of becoming staples to the franchise. The Blood Moon has the potential to fall into that category, but time will tell if it will be included or not in the next installment.
