Universe of ''The Legend of Zelda''

Hyrulean geography

A map of Hyrule depicted in The Legend of Zelda Collector's Puzzle.

• Death Mountain (デスマウンテン, Desu Maunten) is a recurring area that first appeared in the original The Legend of Zelda. It is the largest mountain in Hyrule, associated with the Eldin region in Northern Hyrule and in many games part of an active volcano. In all its appearances, Death Mountain has many caves and dungeons. A race of rock eating giants known as Gorons inhabit the mountain.
• Spectacle Rock (メガネイワ Megane Iwa) is two large rock formations next to each other. It is usually associated with Death Mountain and has been a series staple since its debut in the original game. In Breath of the Wild, it is located in the Gerudo Highlands instead of Death Mountain.
• Ganon's Castle (ガノン城, Ganon-jō) has acted as the final dungeon and battleground between Link and Ganon in several games.
• The Great Sea (大海原, Ōunabara) is formed in The Wind Waker and Phantom Hourglass after Hyrule was flooded by a deluge. Only a few mountaintops are still visible above the water, and these form the 65 islands and archipelagos of the Great Sea. Due to the relatively small size of the many islands, the large expanses of ocean between each island require charts to navigate. On the islands of the Great Sea, local commerce is quite advanced. Most food is gathered from fishing and small farms, though there are also active merchant, salvage, and shipbuilding businesses. Tetra reestablished Hyrule on a new continent, which is where Spirit Tracks takes place; this is sometimes referred to as "New Hyrule" (although such terminology is never used in-game) to distinguish it from the original Hyrule destroyed at the end of The Wind Waker^[5].
• Hyrule Castle (ハイラル城, Hairaru-jō) is the home of Hyrule’s royal family. The castle's first appearance was in A Link to the Past, the third game in the series. It is often a central area that Link must enter during his quest.
• Kakariko Village (カカリコ村, Kakariko-mura) is a village that first appears in A Link to the Past and has since reappeared in Ocarina of Time, Four Swords Adventures, Twilight Princess, A Link Between Worlds and Breath of the Wild. Kakariko is often portrayed as a small, prosperous town, but in Twilight Princess, Shadow Beasts have kidnapped most of the villagers, making the town resemble a ghost town. The Hidden Village, another location in Twilight Princess, has signs that say "Welcome to Old Kakariko" in the Anglian language.
• Lake Hylia (ハイリア湖, Hairia-ko) is a large lake located in Hyrule. In most games, it is fed by a river coming from "Zora's Domain", the Zora race’s home. In Ocarina of Time, a shortcut to Lake Hylia is found in Zora's Domain.
• The Lost Woods (迷いの森, Mayoi no Mori) is a large, forest that appears in various titles. Its maze-like structure leads travels in circles unless they take the correct path through the forest. Those who become lost in the forest are said to eventually turn into monsters. It's rumored that fairies live in the deepest parts of the forest under the watch of their guardian the Great Deku Tree. In several games, the Master Sword can be found in a shrine here.
• Temple of Time (時の神殿, Toki no Shinden) is the temple that houses the Master Sword in Ocarina of Time. The Master Sword is used to gain access to some areas, like the temple itself. Another temple, also known as the Temple of Time, is visited in Lanayru Desert during Skyward Sword.^[6]
• Skyloft (スカイロフト Sukai Rofuto) is a collection of large islands floating above the clouds in Skyward Sword. The Goddess Hylia used the last of her power to raise what was left of the surviving Hylians along with a plot of land that was still free during the Great War with Demise. Below the clouds lies "the Surface". Found on the Surface are several locations visited in games that take place after the events of Skyward Sword: "Faron Woods" (Twilight Princess and Breath of the Wild), "Lake Floria" (Breath of the Wild), "Eldin" (Twilight Princess and Breath of the Wild), "Eldin Volcano" (Implied to be the series staple "Death Mountain"), and the arid "Lanayru Desert", which is seen as a fecund region in Twilight Princess and Breath of the Wild. The "Lanayru Mining Facility" has blue Time-Shift Stones that the Hyrule Historia ties to the titular blue ocarina from Ocarina of Time.

Master Sword

Artwork of the Master Sword in its pedestal from The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

The Master Sword (マスターソード, Masutā Sōdo), also known as "The Blade of Evil's Bane", the "Sword of Resurrection",^[7] and the "sword that seals the darkness" is a magic sword that often acts as the ultimate weapon for Link as the chosen hero to defeat Ganon and a key to the Sacred Realm. First introduced in A Link To The Past, it has the power to "repel evil", which enables it to overcome powerful dark magic and evil beings and keep them from using the sword. In The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, the blade originally began as the Goddess Sword, which has a sentient female avatar named Fi integrated into it. Eventually, the Goddess Sword transforms into its current state after being infused with the Three Sacred Flames with Fi's spirit form ceasing to be once the Master Sword absorbed Demise's remains.^[8]

The sword traditionally rests in sacrosanct locations indigenous to Hyrule, such as the Temple of Time or the Lost Woods. Similar to Arthurian legend, the Master Sword is often first obtained by pulling it from a stone pedestal. The sword is often not at full power, leading it to need to be "recharged" in some way, or have its power increased beyond its standard level to fight Ganon. There are some situations when the blade, already at full power, can be further improved; in A Link to the Past, it was tempered to the Tempered Sword. It can later be upgraded to the Golden Sword. Similarly, in Twilight Princess, the sword's power is increased by the two Sols in the Palace of Twilight. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker establishes that the sword needs the power of two sages praying to the gods to keep its powers, or else it will no longer be able to prevent an evil person from gaining the Triforce.^[9] In The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild the Master Sword is the only unbreakable weapon in the game, though if it is used too often the sword's power needs to be recharged becoming temporarily unusable until it fully recharges. The sword is located in the Korok Forest, which Link can only access by going through the Lost Woods, and the game is notable as the first time in the series to explain why it came to be located there. Zelda moved it there to be guarded by the Great Deku Tree and to protect knowledge of its location from Calamity Ganon, while Link sleeps within the Shrine of Resurrection for 100 years. Link can travel to the Korok Forest at any point after receiving the Paraglider, though he can only remove the sword after obtaining 13 or more Heart Containers (temporary Yellow Hearts do not count) as removing it drains Link's hearts as a way to test his strength. In addition to its unbreakability, Link can also fire Sword Beams. It has a base damage of 30 but its true power glows when in the presence of pools of Calamity Ganon's Malice, Cursed Enemies, and all of Calamity Ganon's various forms and almost never runs out of energy.

Once removed, Link sees a vision of Zelda entrusting the Master Sword to the protection of the Great Deku Tree 100 years ago. During her conversation with him, Princess Zelda reveals that the sword spoke to her (which is implied to be the sword's spirit, Fi, whose consciousness apparently still exists within the sword though unable to manifest her spirit form) and told her that her destiny was not finished and that she still had something she must do, leading to Princess Zelda's sealing Calamity Ganon in Hyrule Castle for 100 years while Link slept. The weapon's in-game description reveals that the sword is delighted to be in Link's possession, echoing Fi's words at the end of Skyward Sword. 100 years after Calamity Ganon was sealed in Hyrule Castle the sword became known across Hyrule as the Sword that Seals the Darkness and is sought by several travelers Link encounters despite the fact that only the chosen hero can wield its power. After obtaining the sword he can show it to these people. There is also a side-quest where Link must show it to a Hylian woman to prove he is the legendary Hero.

The Master Sword is a double-edged one-handed sword. The blade cross-section is hexagonal with no fuller. On the flats of the blade near the hilt is a Triforce symbol, etched into the steel or emblazoned in gold. It has a blue or purple curved crossguard in the shape of a pair of wings with a small yellow jewel where it meets the hilt. The hilt is often padded red with a non-ornate blue pommel. Since The Wind Waker, the Master Sword's blade glows white when it is revived by the sages in the mid-game. In Breath of the Wild, this glow represents the True Master Sword's power. Breath of the Wild is the first game to depict the blade showing signs of wear and rust, when Zelda places it in its pedestal in Korok Forest, though 100 years later the Master Sword is shown to have been restored to its undamaged state, indicating that it can repair itself over time or that its physical condition is somehow tied to Link's as he had been heavily injured at that time and was placed in the Shrine of Resurrection to heal for 100 years. It may have also used Link's life force to repair itself explaining why it drains his heart containers while he is trying to remove it.

Nintendo Power listed the Master Sword as one of the best weapons in gaming: citing that it is more than just a powerful sword, but also integral to Link's adventures and development as a character.^[10]

Triforce

The Triforce is represented throughout the series as three conjoined golden triangles, with one triangle placed above the other two

The Triforce (トライフォース, Toraifōsu), also called "Power of the Gods" (神の力, Kami no Chikara) and the "Golden Triangle" (黄金の大三角, Ōgon no Dai-Sankaku) in Twilight Princess, is a triangular sacred relic that represents the essences of the Golden Goddesses. It is made up of three smaller triangles known as the Triforce of Power (力のトライフォース, Chikara no Toraifōsu), the Triforce of Wisdom (知恵のトライフォース, Chie no Toraifōsu), and the Triforce of Courage (勇気のトライフォース, Yūki no Toraifōsu). These embody the essences of their respective goddesses, and bestow certain boons on their bearers. In most of its appearances, the Triforce or its pieces manifest as a marking on the hands of their bearers. These markings resonate when near each other, and the Triforce pieces can emerge from their bearers.

When united, the Triforce allows one who touches it to make a wish that usually lasts until he dies or the wish is fulfilled. If the one who finds it does not possess a balance of the three virtues it represents, however, the pieces split into its three components and the finder is left with the one that represents the characteristic he values most; the other two pieces do likewise with two other characters "chosen by destiny". Ganon makes it his goal to obtain the Triforce in various games, often having a single piece himself (the Triforce of Power) that he uses to further his goals.

The Triforce of Power, which is positioned as the topmost of the three, holds the presence of Din, the goddess of Power, and radiates the physical and magical power of its bearer. It is associated with Ganon, who is power-hungry. The Triforce of Wisdom, positioned on the lower left, embodies the essence of Nayru, the goddess of Wisdom, and amplifies the wisdom and mystical powers of its bearer. It is associated with Princess Zelda, whose great wisdom brings peace and prosperity to Hyrule. The Triforce of Courage, positioned on the lower right, embodies the essence of Farore, the goddess of Courage, and seems to amplify the courage and adventuring skills of its bearer. It is associated with Link, the main protagonist of the series, who bravely defends Hyrule from Ganon and other malevolent forces.

Termina

Termina (タルミナ, Tarumina) is the name of a parallel world, or alternate reality, to Hyrule in Majora's Mask. The land has very similar geography to that of Hyrule and many of the characters are identical to the characters in Ocarina of Time. Notably, the Lost Woods appears in both games. The differences are the names of the locations and in Termina, there are four distinct regions, one in every compass direction, and the main town, Clock Town, in the center. Death Mountain and Woodfall are a pair, Ikana Canyon and the Gerudo Desert are a pair, the Great Bay and Lake Hylia, and Snowhead Mountain corresponds to Zora's Domain.

Lorule

Lorule (ロウラル, Rouraru) is a parallel world, or alternate reality, to Hyrule in A Link Between Worlds. It is similar to Hyrule in both geography, features Lorulean counterparts of many people found in Hyrule, and is ruled by Princess Zelda’s Lorulean counterpart, Princess Hilda. Like Hyrule, Lorule originally had its own Triforce (which appears as an upside down Triforce) and was the source of various conflicts. However unlike Hyrule, the Royal Family of Lorule decided to destroy the Triforce in an attempt to put an end to conflict, only to bring calamity to their world as a result. Desperate to save the kingdom and her people, Princess Hilda conspired with her servant Yuga to steal Hyrule's Triforce, unaware that her actions were exactly the reason that her ancestors had destroyed Lorule's Triforce and that Yuga wanted the Triforce for himself. Eventually Yuga is defeated by Link and Hilda's former servant, Ravio, manages to show her the error of her ways. Ultimately Link and Zelda decide to forgive Hilda for her misguided actions and use the Triforce to restore the Lorulean Triforce, which in turn restores the land of Lorule.

Others

Several other parallel worlds to Hyrule exist, such as the Twilight Realm, the World of the Ocean King, and the Dark World from Twilight Princess, The Phantom Hourglass, and A Link to the Past, respectively. Several other lands also exist beyond the kingdom. In Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons, Link travels to Labrynna and Holodrum. Triforce Heroes is set in Hytopia, a kingdom connected to Hyrule.^[11]

Anouki

Anouki (ユキワロシ, Yukiwaroshi) are an Inuit-like race that appear to be a cross between a reindeer and penguins. There are different variations of them with purple, red, blue, and yellow shirts and facial hair or small or big antlers. They are found on the Isle of Frost in the World of Ocean King and in Anouki Village in New Hyrule. In Spirit Tracks, the Anouki are the only race in the snow realm.

Bokoblin

Bokoblins are a race of human-sized Goblin-like creatures, that first appeared in The Wind Waker. Bokoblins come in a variety of colors such as red, blue, and green. They often appear as standard enemies and wield Boko Sticks, machetes, and clubs. Though their appearance varies from game to game, the one thing that remains consistent is they wear loincloths with a single skull. In Twilight Princess, they are less common and their role as standard enemies is largely taken over by the more prevalent Bulblins. In Skyward Sword, Bokoblins are revealed to have been around since ancient times and are common monsters that serve the Demon Tribe, under Demon Lord Ghirahim and his master, the Demon King Demise. The game also introduces different varieties of Bokoblin such as Technoblins, which lived in Lanayru Desert in the distant past and wield ancient technology and Cursed Bokoblins, undead Bokoblins that can curse Link. The game introduces the bow wielding Bokoblin Archers and Bokoblin Leaders that can summon other Bokoblins using the Monster Horns they carry. Red Bokoblins are most commonly encountered on the game's overworld, while green Bokoblins are encountered in dungeons. Blue Bokoblins appear in later stages of the game and effectively replace red Bokoblins. In Breath of the Wild, Bokoblin are revealed to have an omnivorous diet that consists of fruits, vegetables, fish, and meat. They also can occasionally be seen eating food and hunting wild animals for their meat, which they will consume after a successful kill. Bokoblins can wield a variety of weapons, bows, and shields though tend to favor their own crafted clubs, bats, spears, and bows, the strongest of which are made from Dragonbone. Like in The Wind Waker, Link can keep their weapons. The game also introduces another undead variant of Bokoblin called Stalkoblin, which raise from the ground at night and will continuously regenerate unless all Stalkoblin skulls in the area are destroyed, because a single skull can reanimate its headless comrades. Link can pick up and wield Bokoblin Arms left behind by defeated Stalkoblins. The game also introduces stronger Black Bokoblins and Silver Bokoblins. Cursed Bokoblins return but are depicted in Breath of the Wild as floating Stalkoblin skulls corrupted by Calamity Ganon's malice and are spawned from mouths located in pools of Malice.

Red Bokoblins and Stalkoblins drop Bokoblin Horns and Bokoblin Fangs, while Blue, Black, and Silver Bokoblins drop those parts along with Bokoblin Guts. These monster parts can be sold to shops and merchants for Rupees or to Kilton for Mon at the Fang and Bone shop, though Link can also cook them with bugs to make Elixirs or use them as materials by one of the four Great Fairies to upgrade Link's armor. Link can also buy a Bokoblin Mask from Kilton at Fang and Bone, which allows him to disguise himself as a Bokoblin and blend in with them.

Bulblin

Bulblins (ブルブリン, Buruburin) are a green, horned race that resemble the orcs of classic fantasy. They are led by King Bulblin (キングブルブリン, Kingu Buruburin),^[12] who unlike the rest has the ability to talk.^[13] Bulblins usually fight with heavy clubs or flaming arrows and commonly ride on boars. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. King Bulblin appears as an obstacle in the Bridge of Eldin stage in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Cobble

The Cobble are a race that appear in Phantom Hourglass. The Cobble once inhabited a prosperous land called the Cobble Kingdom. By the time the game takes place, the only Cobble that remain are the ghosts of the soldiers and King Mutoh, who dress in ancient Egyptian-like clothes and live in pyramid-like temples. The Isle of Ruins in the Northeastern Sea is all that remains of the once-mighty kingdom, and Link must visit there to retrieve the Aquanine, a pure metal entrusted to the Cobble by the Ocean King. There, he delves beneath Mutoh's Temple and destroys a corrupt Cobble war machine that is disrupting the king's eternal rest. Astrid, the fortune-teller living on the Isle of Ember, tells Link that she and her deceased assistant, Kayo, are part of the Cobble race.

Deku

The Deku (デクナッツ, Dekunattsu) are a race of plant-like creatures introduced in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time that appear mostly in the overworld and dungeons. Deku are small creatures with leaves sprouting out from their heads. They often have red glowing eyes and tube-like mouths that can shoot Deku Nuts. Their bodies consist of wood and leaves and perish quickly if set on fire. They can fly by using large leaves to glide, and some can use the leaves on their head to fly indefinitely after taking off from a "Deku Flower." There are four types of Deku depicted in the series: Deku Scrubs, Mad Scrubs, Business Scrubs, and Royal Scrubs. Deku Scrubs are the most common type, which have green leaves and often give information when caught. Mad Scrubs are violent, have red and yellow leaves, and do not talk. Business Scrubs are traders who offer to sell their wares and services. Royal Scrubs have larger heads, bigger eyes, smaller mouths, and extra leaves covering their body. In The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, Link can inhabit the body of an unknown deceased Deku Scrub who is heavily implied to be the son of the Deku King's butler. In this form, Link can temporarily fly using a Deku Flower, shoot bubbles, and hop on deep water five times before sinking.

Dragon

Dragons are a recurring race that appears in several titles. Dragons usually appear as benevolent guardians or powerful enemies. In Ocarina of Time, after becoming the King of Evil, Ganondorf resurrects the evil Goron-eating dragon Volvagia, who had terrorized the Goron people in the distant past before being defeated by Darunia’s ancestor, who wielded the Megaton Hammer. When Ganondorf orders his minions to capture and feed the Gorons to Volvagia as a warning to his enemies, Darunia journeys to the Fire Temple to rescue his people and defeat Volvagia, but he is defeated because he was unable to locate the Megaton Hammer. However, Link manages to free the Gorons, find the Megaton Hammer, slay Volvagia, and awaken Darunia as the Sage of Fire. In The Wind Waker, the Sky Spirit Valoo acts as the protector and patron deity of the Rito tribe, providing them with his scales that allow them to grow wings. When Link arrives on Dragon Roost Island, he discovers that Gohma was tormenting Valoo. He defeats Gohma to obtain Din's Pearl, which had been entrusted to Valoo; he later entrusted it to the Rito. Valoo and the Rito later repay their debt to Link by rescuing him and Tetra from Ganondorf during their encounter with him in Forsaken Fortress. In Twilight Princess, Link encounters a species of malevolent draconic warriors called Aeralfos and the massive Twilit dragon Argorok, who is the boss of the City in the Sky. In Skyward Sword, Link is aided by the Three Dragons that guard the three regions of the Surface. Faron the Water Dragon rules over the Parella and protector of Faron Woods, Lake Floria, and the Ancient Cistern that holds Farore's Flame. Eldin the Fire Dragon guards Eldin Volcano. Lanayru the Thunder Dragon created the Ancient Robots and protects Lanayru Desert. Each dragon was entrusted with part of the Song of the Hero, which provides clues on the location of the Triforce. During his quest for Farore's Flame, Link aids Faron, who had been injured while fighting Ghirahim; she leads him to the Ancient Cistern. During his quest for the Song of the Hero, Link encounters Eldin after he is captured and imprisoned by Bokoblins during an eruption. Link learns that the Fire Dragon had caused the eruption, and the dragon apologizes to Link for all the trouble it caused him. Unlike the other two dragons who are alive in the present, Lanayru is shown to have died from an illness in the past, forcing Link to go back in time, cure him of his illness, and prevent his death. After curing him and learning his part of the song, Lanayru will allow Link to take part in the Lightning Round, which allows him to face a boss battle challenge and a Silent Realm challenge for various prizes. If Link completes eight boss battles, Lanayru will reward him with the unbreakable Hylian Shield, the strongest shield in the game.

In The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the three incarnations of Din, Farore, and Nayru are large dragons named Dinraal, Farosh, and Naydra respectively.

Fairy

Representation of a fairy

Fairies (妖精, Yōsei) are a magical and benevolent race that aid Link during his quest in several games in the series. Fairies appear as small, winged humanoids who are often obscured by light. They can be found in many places, but usually reside in a Fairy Fountain or Fairy Spring, sometimes under the protection of a Great Fairy (大妖精, Dai-yōsei), which are the size of humans or even larger. These Fairies from the fountains will heal Link when he approaches, and if he catches one in a bottle, Link can release the fairy to have it heal him, or it will automatically resurrect him if he dies. In Ocarina of Time, Guardian Fairies travel with the Kokiri and give them advice. One of these is Navi, who serves as Link's guardian fairy, or Tatl in Majora's Mask. In Phantom Hourglass, Link's guardian fairy is Ciela, who is eventually joined by two more fairies, Leaf and Neri. In some of the games, such as The Minish Cap, players will be tested of their honesty and if they are, fairies give them gifts and upgrades.

In The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, fairies can be found around the springs of the four great fairies. There is a fifth fairy named Malayna, but she is not a Great Fairy. She is the Horse God who will revive dead horses. Fairies can be used to cook potions and other food. If they are used in making a dish, they will help you cook and increase the amount of hearts the food heals before disappearing from your inventory.

Gerudo

The Gerudo (ゲルド) are a tribe of humanoid thieves who mainly live in the desert. Physical Gerudo traits typically include bronzed skin, scarlet hair, aquiline noses, gold eyes and round ears. Evil Gerudo like Ganondorf and the Twinrova Sisters possess an olive skin color. Apart from a single Gerudo male who is born every century, the race consists entirely of women. By Gerudo law, this man must become king of the tribe.^[14] Ganondorf, the main antagonist of the series, is king of the Gerudo in Ocarina of Time and the surrogate son of the Gerudo witches Kotake and Koume. Gerudo appear as pirates in Majora's Mask, where they live in the ocean at Great Bay, and are ruled by a woman instead of a man, presumably because there are not any male Gerudo alive at the present moment, one that is alive is still a child, or the law itself does not exist among Termina's Gerudo population. These Gerudo are enemies of the Zoras. They search for treasures in the sea and assault Zora and fishermen but do not approach Clock Town. In The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, only "vai" or women are permitted in the town. "Voe" or men are forbidden entry to Gerudo Town. Link has to dress up as a female in order to enter the town. After gaining entrance to Gerudo Town, Link has to speak with the Gerudo chief Riju. Link must retrieve a thunder-resistant helmet known as the Thunder Helm from a clan of thieves called the Yiga, a traitorous formation who broke away from the Sheikah tribe. The helm is used to board the Divine Beast of thunder, Vah Naboris, named after the Sage of Spirit, Nabooru, as stated by the spirit of former Gerudo Champion Urbosa, who was killed by one of Ganon's creations aboard the Divine Beast.

Goron

A Goron, as seen in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

The Goron (ゴロン) are a race of strong and peaceful mountain-dwelling giants who first appeared in Ocarina of Time. Goron culture revolves around brotherhood and strength, usually referring to each other and those they deem strong as "Brother" or "Big Brother". Gorons show high regard for individuals who display great strength and bravery and enjoy matching their strength with others in competition such as sumo wrestling^[15] and racing. While not all Zelda games featuring Gorons include full tribes, the games that do depict tribes depict them as headed by a single patriarch who is aided by one or more elders who assume leadership of the tribe in the event that the patriarch cannot. Darunia (ダルニア) is the patriarch in Ocarina of Time. The Goron elders in Twilight Princess are: Gor Coron (ドン・コローネ, Don Korōne), Gor Amoto (ドン・シーゲル, Don Sīgeru) Gor Ebizo (ドン・エビーゾ, Don Ebīzo), and Gor Liggs (ドン・レゲーヌ, Don Regēnu).

One of the oldest races in Hyrule, Gorons' bodies are resistant to intense heat and lava and they consume rocks and minerals,^[16][17] which they mine from the earth. By adulthood, most Gorons gain rock-like protrusions on their backs and sometimes on their arms and head as well. These stony growths (which may be a side affect of the Goron's diet) act as a natural armor and continue to grow as the Goron ages. Gorons enter the fetal position, similar to an armadillo, when resting, and can also assume this position for self defense or to travel at high speed by rolling. Gorons endowed with magic power can sprout metal spikes from their body while rolling.^[18]

For leisure, Gorons enjoy music and dance, rolling and racing,^[19] games,^[20] sumo wrestling, and bathing in hot springs. Gorons have taken on occupations such as crafting, blacksmithing, sculpting, demolition, and merchantry (usually explosives, which they are experts in producing). Rock sirloin, amber, and metal shields are some Goron delicacies.

Three Gorons appear in Skyward Sword: Gorko, Golo, and Gortram. Gorko and his assistant Golo, are shown working as archaeologists; Gorko travels the land researching ancient artifacts and ruins, while Golo excavates the Lanayru Caves. Unlike the other two, Gortram works as the proprietor of the Rickety Coaster mine cart ride at the abandoned Lanayru Shipyards. All three Gorons are encountered in the Lanayru Desert region at some point and the Lanayru Caves seems to serve as the base of operations for Gorko and Golo as there are signs on the wall that pertain to their research into various regions of the desert.

Gorons are large humanoids with long muscular arms, stout legs, hulking shoulders and necks, and rotund bellies. Their skin is generally beige in color and their hair is typically white. Gorons lack external hearing organs; Goron ears are instead holes on the sides of their heads. Most are as tall as a large human though, though some individuals such as Biggoron (ダイゴロン, Daigoron) can grow as large as a mountain. To date, no female Gorons have been seen in the series, however child and baby Gorons do appear and Darunia even has a son during the events of Ocarina of Time. Due to their great density, Gorons sink to the bottom of bodies of water and are thus helpless in such an environment. However, they do not need to breath to survive, as a Goron child proves by resting underwater and mentioning that he never feels the need to take a breath. Also, in Twilight Princess, a Goron becomes permanently submerged in the main pool in Zora's Domain, but enjoys the cold water rather than drowning.^[21] Gorons are exceptionally resistant to heat and can walk through shallow lava.

In The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, Link can inhabit the body of the deceased Goron hero Darmani and roll and punch as hard as the Megaton Hammer from Ocarina of Time.

In The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the Gorons are encountered all over Hyrule, but mostly appear in the Eldin region. They live around Death Mountain, which Link must use heat-resistant armor or elixirs to enter. The Gorons help the player conquer the Divine Beast Vah Rudania on top of Death Mountain. The Goron Champion Daruk appears as a spirit after regaining control of Vah Rudania, since one of Ganon’s creations killed him one hundred years prior to the events of the game.

Hylian

Hylians (ハイリア族, Hairia-zoku) are an elf-like race that make up the main population of Hyrule, which they established organized civilization on.^[22] They are born with magic-infused blood said to be a gift from the goddesses that grants them psychic powers and magical skill. Their long pointed ears supposedly allow them to hear messages from the goddesses, though this may be simply folklore. Link and Princess Zelda belong to this race in all games of the series. In some games, such as Twilight Princess, Hylians are referred to as "humans". In Skyward Sword, Hylians live on a floating island known as Skyloft and are accompanied by bird-like creatures called Loftwings.

Keaton

Keaton (キータン, Kītan) are a three-tailed fox-like race mostly found in Termina. They normally stay hidden from sight, but reveal themselves to Link and challenge him with a quiz if he wears a Keaton Mask. No known Keaton exist in Hyrule in Ocarina of Time, although at least one of them is a well-known fictional character in Hyrule Castle Town.^[23][24] In The Minish Cap, however, some thuggish Keaton roam the Hyrule countryside, walking on their hindpaws and having only one tail instead of three; if they injure Link, he loses some Rupees.

Kikwi

The Kikwi (キュイ族, Kyui-zoku) are a race in Skyward Sword who inhabit the Faron Woods region. They have the appearance of black-and-white masked wingless birds. Their name is a reference to the kiwi bird and fruit, which they resemble. They can partially bury themselves underground and cause a plant to blossom from their backs for camouflage.

Kokiri and Koroks

The Kokiri (コキリ族, Kokiri-zoku) are a pixie-like race who inhabit the Kokiri Forest. They were created by the Great Deku Tree who considers them to be his children, and each receives a small fairy that is their lifelong friend, guardian, and teacher. Cautious and secretive, the Kokiri believe that they will die if they leave the forest.^[25] This belief seems to be false, as Saria leaves the forest when she becomes the Forest Sage. It is possible that the Deku Tree actually meant that he wouldn't be able to protect the Kokiri if they leave the forest or that the forest actually keeps the Kokiri young and if they will grow old and die if they leave the forest. It is also suggested that if they wander too deep into the forest, they will turn into a Skull Kid, although this has not been proven definitively.

A Kokiri named Saria is the Sage of the Forest. Another Kokiri, Fado, is the first Sage of Wind in The Wind Waker, but he is killed prior to the events of the game, leaving the player to interact with his spirit and locate his successor, the Korok Makar. Link was raised as a Kokiri in Ocarina of Time, but he is actually a Hylian whose mother entrusted the Great Deku Tree with his care when he was an infant.

The Koroks (コログ, Korogu) of The Wind Waker are said to have been transformed from the Kokiri after the Great Flood.^[26] They are small creatures with wood-like bodies and masks made from leaves. They are very light, which allows them to travel by using sprouts as propellers. They leave their home, the "Forest Haven", to plant seeds from the Great Deku Tree all over the world, and return once a year to hold a ceremony and obtain more seeds.

In The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Koroks can be found all over Hyrule. Once the player retrieves Korok Seeds from Koroks, one can trade it with Hestu, a large Korok, for more inventory slots for swords, shields, and bows. However, the player must first retrieve Hestu's maracas from a group of Bokoblins. He will then retreat to the Korok Forest, location of the Great Deku Tree and the Master Sword.

Lokomo

Lokomos (ロコモ, Rokomo) are a humanoid race who first appear in The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks. All but one of the encountered Lokomo are sages who reside in the five realms of New Hyrule and the Tower of Spirits. They are distinguishable by their pointed ears and short legs, the latter of which forces them to use motorized carts for transportation. However, an exceptionally strong Lokomo named Byrne is capable of walking on his legs.

Oocca

The Oocca (天空人, Tenkū-jin, lit. "sky people") are a race of birds with long necks and human-like faces that appear in Twilight Princess. They live in the "City in the Sky" (天空都市, Tenkū Toshi),^[27] an airborne city that acts as the seventh dungeon in Twilight Princess. A female Oocca named Ooccoo (おばちゃん, Oba-chan) can warp the player back to the entrance of the game’s dungeons. Ooccoo's son, Ooccoo Jr (ぼくちゃん, Boku-chan), warps the player to Ooccoo’s location. They bear a striking resemblance to the statue in M.C. Escher painting, Another World. In Twilight Princess, these creatures are mentioned to be closer to the gods than the Hylians. It is supposed that they created Hylians and created a city in the sky for them to live in. In Twilight Princess, Link reaches this city by launching himself out of an enormous ancient cannon.

Minish

Minish, also referred to as Picori (ピッコル, Pikkoru, inspired by the Koropokkuru), are small humanoid creatures that tend to be helpful, although Vaati (グフー, Gufū) was an evil Picori. They are only visible to children and tend to live in forests, but also appear inside of buildings and holes in and around various spots of Hyrule. There are three variations of the Minish, which can be distinguished by their attire: Forest Minish, Town Minish and Mountain Minish. They first appear in The Minish Cap.

Mogma

The Mogma (モグマ族, Moguma-zoku) are a mole-like race from Skyward Sword who live in the Eldin Volcano region. They appear to be anthropmorphic rodents with long arms and distinctive hairstyles. The Mogma hide underground by burrowing with their claws. They are demolition experts who like digging for treasure and are known to never go anywhere without their bomb bag. Mogmas are found in Eldin Volcano and play major parts in the plot of the Volcano Summit, Eldin Volcano, the Fire Sanctuary, and the Earth Temple.

Parella

The Parella (パラゲ族, Parage-zoku) are an aquatic race from Skyward Sword who live in the underwater spiraling caverns of Lake Floria. They are a squid-like race who resemble the aquatic Octoroks from Ocarina of Time. Conical spirals appear as their central body and the shape of their dwellings.

Rito

The Rito (リト) are a race of bird-like humanoids who debuted in The Wind Waker. In that game, they lived on Dragon Roost Island, an island on the Great Sea. They have a tribal elder and elaborately dressed guards. No Rito is born with wings, and instead, must visit their guardian, the Sky Spirit, Valoo, in a coming-of-age ceremony to receive one of his scales, which enables them to grow wings. Wingless Rito children are called Fledglings.

Rito are viewed upon by outsiders somewhat dubiously. Some have an inexplicable bigotry directed towards them, perhaps out of jealousy. Still, Rito are widely accepted as mail carriers because they can quickly traverse the seas. Rito are capable of flying quickly, and full-grown members can carry humans for a short time.

Rito appear to be covered by dark shaded skin or feathers. Most Rito have red eyes, but the Rito Chieftain has yellow eyes. They have pointed ears, bird-like feet, and a beak whose shape and size varies from Rito to Rito. Unlike real-life birds, his beak appears to only be used for smelling, and cannot be used as a mouth. However, the Rito have a mouth below this beak.

Throughout a young Rito's childhood, he or she is called a Fledgling and is flightless without any wings. After a child reaches a certain age they can receive their wings after they retrieve a scale from the dragon Valoo. Their wings are unique in that they protrude from their forearms, similar to where a Zora's fins would be. These appear similar to the sleeves of a cloak when the Rito is not in flight. While not in use, Rito wings are mostly white with black colored plumage along the ends. When in flight the top of a Rito's wings are colored brown with black along the edges while the bottoms of the wings contain white colored plumage along the wings interior. However Medli has pure white colored wings, possibly suggesting that female Rito have white wings or that her wings are not fully grown yet. Most Rito can fly over a great distance and hover in place, but some have trouble flying for long periods of time, likely due to inexperience.

In The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the Rito reside in the Tabantha region in Northwest Hyrule. The Rito can't fly at a preferred height because the Divine Beast Vah Medoh, named after Medli, the Sage of Earth, shoots down Rito who fly at its height. The Rito warrior Teba helps you board Vah Medoh, but is severely injured by Medoh's cannons. The Rito Champion Revali appears as a spirit because he was killed by one of Ganon's creations. He regains control of Vah Medoh and prepares to blast Ganon when Link fights Ganon. Notably, Revali resents Link, stating that he has many skills as an archer, and that he was only called to assist Link because Link has the Master Sword.

Ancient Robots

The Ancient Robots (RS-301) are a mechanical race from Skyward Sword. They were created by the Thunder Dragon Lanayru, but their land eventually became a barren desert while they rusted away. By using a Timeshift Stone they can be revived and serve three purposes. Some of them mine for Timeshift Stones, one group protected one of the Sacred Flames, and a small number act as Lanayru’s servants. In addition there is a band of Ancient Robot Pirates, though only two of them are seen throughout the entire game: LD-002S Scervo on the Sandship, and LD-003D Dreadfuse in the Sky Keep. During Link's quest for Nayru's Flame, Link is aided by a robot named Skipper, who is captain of the Sandship and its crew that lost his ship to the Pirate Scervo. Like most Ancient Robots, Link can only interact with Skipper in the Timeshifted past. Skipper aids Link in traversing the Lanayru Sand Sea using his Timeshift Stone powered motorboat, which can transform the impassible sea of sand into the ancient sea of water that once existed in the past. Also, Gondo, one of the citizens of Skyloft, owns an Ancient Robot that he inherited from his grandfather; at one point in the game this robot, named Scrapper, is restored to full functionality, and assists Link by carrying cumbersome items up to Skyloft from the surface. Gondo reveals that the Ancient Robots require the oil produced by Ancient Flowers to function. As these flowers can no longer be found in the present day Lanayru Desert, it is implied that the flowers disappearance resulted in the decline of the LD-301 Series Ancient Robots, though Link is able to obtain an Ancient Flower from the timeshifted past and Gondo is able to use its oil to repair Scrapper. Most ancient robots are part of the mass-produced LD-301 Series, including LD-301S Scrapper and LD-301N Skipper, while Servo and Dreadfuse are part of the LD-002 and LD-003 series, which unlike the LD-301 Series remain functional in the present.

In Breath of the Wild, similar robots exist called Guardians and Divine Beasts. Divine Beast Vah Ruta represented Ruto and the Zora. Divine Beast Vah Rudania represents Darunia and the Gorons. Divine Beast Vah Naboris represents Nabooru and the Gerudo. Divine Beast Vah Medoh represents Medli and the Rito. The Guardians are ancient mechanisms with powerful sniper blasts. The robots were intended to be used to defeat Ganon, but Ganon used his power to turn the robots against Hyrule. Mipha, the Zora Princess and Champion, Urbosa, the Gerudo Champion, Daruk, the Goron Champion, and Revali, the Rito Champion, were killed by the Blight Ganons in the Divine Beasts. The Blight Ganons were Ganon's creations, representing the element of the Divine Beast i.e. Thunderblight Ganon for Vah Naboris of the Gerudo.

Sheikah

The Sheikah (シーカー, Shīkā) are an ancient clan of mysterious ninja-like warriors who are often referred to as the "shadows" of the Hylians and protect the Hylian Royal Family.^[28] As revealed in Skyward Sword, the Sheikah are servants of the goddess Hylia, whose reincarnation is Zelda. The Sheikah have long life spans compared to Hylians. The Sheikah crying eye symbol is commonly seen in the series, even in games where the Sheikah are not present. It is alluded that the tear was added after the Hyrule Civil War, which took place some time before the events of Ocarina of Time. By the events of Ocarina of Time, the Sheikah are referred to as an extinct race with Impa among the last few members. The Sheikah also built the Shadow Temple for unknown reasons. It is said that the Sheikah people were fascinated by a search for truth as they created the Mask of Truth (sold by the Happy Mask Salesmen of Hyrule Castle Town in Ocarina of Time). In Skyward Sword, Ocarina of Time, and Majora's Mask, Sheikah Stones or Gossip Stones created by the Sheikah give Link information on where to go and what to do.

In The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the ancient Sheikah invented the Divine Beasts, Guardian Stalkers, Guardian Turrets, Guardian Skywatchers and Guardian Sentries 10,000 years before the Great Calamity to fight Ganon. The Sheikah reside primarily in Kakariko Village. Link also possesses a Sheikah Slate, a piece of ancient technology that can be upgraded with various runes. The four primary Runes are Magnesis, which can move metallic objects; Remote Bombs, circular or cube-shaped bombs that can remotely detonate once thrown or dropped; Stasis, which can freeze objects and temporarily freeze monsters when upgraded; and Cryonis, which can create icy blocks on watery surfaces.

Additionally in Breath of the Wild, a group of Sheikah led by Master Kohga swore allegiance to Ganon and formed the Yiga Clan after the Great Calamity, vowing to destroy Ganon’s enemies. Their hideout is located in Karusa Valley in the Gerudo Highlands. They spawn throughout the world and sometimes appear as lost travelers or merchants who will attack Link if he talks to them. There are three types of Yiga: Yiga Footsoldiers, who commonly carry a bow or sword; Yiga Blademasters, who carry around a Windcleaver, and Master Kogha, who is referenced by almost every disguised Yiga.

Light Spirits

There are four Light Spirits (光の精霊, Hikari no Seirei) throughout Hyrule in Twilight Princess.

The first light spirit is Ordona (ラトアーヌ, Ratoānu), who resembles an Ordon Goat. Ordona has an orb between her antlers and first appears at Ordon Spring when Link has defeated the first Shadow Beast.

The second light spirit, Faron (フィローネ, Firōne), resembles a monkey or ape. He holds his golden orb with his tail over his head. He appears in Faron Spring when Link has completed the first collection of twilight bugs.

The third light spirit, Eldin (オルディン, Orudin), resembles an eagle with his orb between his feet. He appears in the lake near the shaman's house in Kakariko Village once Link has completed the second collection of twilight bugs.

The fourth and last light spirit, Lanayru (ラネール, Ranēru), resembles a serpent with his orb inside his mouth. He appears in the cave at Lake Hylia when Link has completed the third and final collection of twilight bugs. But after Lanayru tells Link the story of the three goddesses and the three Fused Shadows, Zant appears and embeds the Shadow Crystal in Link's skull that later allows him to transform between his human and wolf form. He also exposes Midna to Lanayru’s light causing her to become very ill and sends Link on the quest for the Master Sword.

Subrosian

Subrosians (ウーラ, Ūra) are a mysterious race that live in the subterranean world of Subrosia in Oracle of Seasons. They have large glowing eyes and are always seen wearing either green, blue or red hooded cloaks. There are two exceptions: Rosa, who wears a yellow cloak with a ribbon, and another unnamed yellow-clothed Subrosian who gives Link a Secret to use in Oracle of Ages. They are shy when around people of other races and prefer to be rarely seen. They can survive in lava and use a currency made of metal rocks found in the ground called Ore Chunks.

Tokay

Tokay (トカゲ人, Tokage-jin, lit. "lizard people") are a race of green-scaled lizards who reside on Crescent Island in Labrynna in Oracle of Ages. They are known to search for valuable items and be deceitful. They are also expert gardeners which are able to grow scent seeds from seedlings over a course of four hundred years. They have never seen anyone from other races so when they see Link, they think he is a Tokay without a tail and call him "Strange Tokay".

Twili

Twili (トワイライトの民, Towairaito no Tami) are a race that come from the Twilight Realm. They are the descendants of the Dark Interlopers, who were sent to the Twilight Realm by the Golden Goddesses (三柱の女神, Mihashira no Megami Three Goddesses) after trying to seize control of the Sacred Realm. Eventually, they abandoned their plans to rule the Sacred Realm and Hyrule and became peacefully adapted to the Twilight Realm. One member of their race is Midna (ミドナ, Midona). They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Zant (ザント, Zanto) was also part of this race. He overthrew Midna with Ganon’s help and helped Ganon take over Hyrule.

The skin tone of the Twili is mostly black while their faces, necks, and chest tend to be gray. The Twili have long limbs, necks, and heads, and great variances in appearance.

Wizzrobes

Wizzrobes (ウィズローブ, Wizurōbu) are magician creatures that wear wizard robes (hence their name) and often use fire and ice magic. In The Wind Waker they can also summon other enemies and wear toucan-like or bird-like masks and headdresses. They first appeared in the first The Legend of Zelda game.

Breath of the Wild introduced Electric Wizzrobes, who use Lighting or Thunderstorm Rods. They can teleport and shoot electricity. The other Wizzrobes can also teleport and shoot fire and ice respectively.

Yeti

Yeta (マトーニャ, Matōnya) and Yeto (ドサンコフ, Dosankofu) in Snowpeak Ruins in the game Twilight Princess were Yetis (雪男, yukiotoko).^[29] Yeto helps Link by giving him soup that heals up to eight hearts of his health. Male yetis look like the 'real-life' Yeti only they have large, beaver tails, have saddles for hats and speak with poor grammar. The females, however, are smaller than the males and wear an armless sweater, showing no arms or tail.

Zora

The Zora (ゾーラ, Zōra}{ZOR-ah) are a race of aquatic piscine humanoids that appear in nearly every game of the series. In the original game and Link to the Past, Zoras were an enemy race that attacked Link from the water with projectiles, though the giant Zora King sells Link a pair of flippers in A Link to the Past, allowing him to swim and to use the network of whirlpools that link far corners of Hyrule. By Ocarina of Time, their role in most stories had changed to a neutral or friendly race. Zoras rely heavily on water, in fact they can only live on land "for limited time periods,"^[30] and reflect this dependency in their culture. Zoras are mostly seen gracefully swimming about and frolicking in water. Besides routine swimming and sports, Zoras also enjoy music.^[31]

Most Zoras do not wear clothing, and they are generally covered in silver scales, which give them a pale blue sheen from a distance. Where humans sometimes have long hair, average Zoras have rear-hanging caudal extensions that resemble tails. These tails undulate periodically, which gives a Zora's head the unique semblance of a fish. They are sometimes depicted as having webbed feet (except for Queen Rutela from Twilight Princess who appears to have two flat mermaid-like fins that fall down like a skirt) and hands. They lack ears in the traditional sense, but do have pronounced noses and gills on their abdomen. Their fins can be used to fight by extending out to serve as sharp-edged weapons. Zoras lay eggs to reproduce. Zora eggs need to be kept in cold, clean water to develop healthily, and every egg from the same clutch must be kept together for them to hatch. Newborn Zoras are tadpole-like with a circular body and a long, skinny tail ending in a fluke.

Zora government is apparently monarchical, either ruled by a king, King Zora (キングゾーラ, Kinguzōra), or queen, such as Queen Rutela (ルテラ, Rutera) from Twilight Princess. Two different tribes exist, "river Zora" are more violent and are able to shoot fire, while "sea Zora" make up the friendly Zoras. The Zora Royal Family is responsible for maintaining order among their people, overseeing care for Jabu Jabu (ジャブジャブ), whom they worship as a guardian god,^[32] and assuring that the waters upon which he and all creatures rely are clean and pure.

The Zora appear to be an extinct race in The Wind Waker; a sage named Laruto (ラルト, Raruto) is encountered in spirit. They may be linked to the Rito (リト) race of bird people, along with the Princess Ruto (ルト). The Zora of Hyrule typically inhabit fresh water such as Zora River and Lake Hylia, while sea-dwelling Zora are known to appear in Termina (Majora's Mask) and Labrynna (Oracle of Ages)

In The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, Link is able to inhabit the body of the Zora Mikau, who was killed by Gerudo pirates, and can use his fins in the same manner as the boomerang.

In Breath of the Wild, Zoras are a major part of the game. Link must head to Zora's Domain in the Lanayru region to meet with King Dorephan and Prince Sidon. The King called for a Hylian because Zora's Domain was in danger of being washed away by Divine Beast Vah Ruta, who was at the East Reservoir Lake. Prince Sidon brings Link without knowing that Link was the Hylian Champion himself. Muzu, a Zora elder and the King's assistant, resents Link, because him and most Zora elders blame Link for the death of the beloved Zora Champion and Princess, Mipha. After realizing that Link has had a special connection with the princess, he tasks Link with finding 20 shock arrows from Ploymus Mountain. At the top, a strong Lynel waits, guarding Shatterback Point. Link must either defeat the Lynel, and get all the shock arrows, which are jabbed in trees or rocks along the trail to Shatterback Point, on most of the trees in the place, or on the small cliff on the east side of Shatterback Point. After retrieving the arrows, Link heads for the East Reservoir Lake to board Vah Ruta. Once he regains control of the beast, Mipha appears as a spirit and grants you her healing ability. She then moves Vah Ruta to a location that isn't blocked so she can have a direct lock on Hyrule Castle.

Creatures

Note: Some creatures' outlook may vary in different titles of the series. An advanced list of recurring enemies in the series can be found here.

• Armos (アモス, Amosu) are animated statues that guard ancient ruins and come to life to attack when disturbed. The Minish Cap features them as guards created by the Wind Tribe. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.
• Beamos (ビーモス, Bīmosu) are laser turret-like devices that continually rotate on a pillar attempting to spot intruders with it's single eye. They first appeared in A Link to the Past.
• Biri and Bari (ゴーリア, Gōria) are electrified jellyfish that can hover in the air. Striking them with a metal weapon causes Link to be electrocuted. They often split into smaller duplicates after being attacked.
• Blade Traps: Indestructible metallic devices armed with spikes. Some sense intruders and fly towards them, while others move in a set pattern. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.
• Bokoblin (ボコブリン, Bokoburin) are demonic goblin-like enemies that wield bladed weapons or clubs. They have red skin, small horns protruding out of their heads, and are very aggressive to intruders. They first appeared in The Wind Waker. Later, they reappear in Skyward Sword as a common enemy. Like Bulblins, they are prone to follow particular evil forces, mainly the Demon Lord Girahim from Skyward Sword.
• Bubbles (バブル, Baburu), also known as Anti-Fairies or Whisps, are dark fairies that take the form of giant flaming skulls. They are capable of placing curses on their victims, the color of their flame denoting the abilities the Bubble possesses. For example, if a Blue Bubble bites Link he will be temporarily unable to draw his sword. In some games Link can use Magic Powder to turn Bubbles into healing fairies. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.
• Buzz Blobs (バズブロブ, Bazuburobu) are electrical tapering creatures made of goo. They are passive, but generate large amounts of static electricity when hit. Buzz Blobs deal damage when struck with metal weapons such as swords, with the exception of the Golden Sword, requiring the use of ranged weapons, which can either defeat them instantly or stun them, leaving them vulnerable to sword strikes. They are skinny down near the ground and widen at the top.
• ChuChus (チュチュ, Chuchu) are jelly-like creatures with squat, translucent bodies, stalk-eyes, and a permanently smiling mouth that have a variety of colors. In The Wind Waker their appearance was changed to upright, opaque bodies and vibrantly colored faces. They first appeared by that name in Majora's Mask, but two similar blob-type enemies were in the original The Legend of Zelda named "Bit" and "Bot", and a Bot became two Bits when Link slashed it, similar to the behavior of ChuChus in newer titles. Modern ChuChus come in Green, Red (the two most common colors), Yellow, Blue and dark Purple. They aggressively attack anything that invades their territory by tackling it, but will hide in puddles on the ground if no one is close. They mostly move by bouncing around, though the Green, Yellow and Blue ChuChus will occasionally melt and turn into small invincible puddles, and proceed to move around in their puddle forms until they can get close to Link, or until Link uses an item such as his Boomerang to stun and coax them out of their puddles. In Twilight Princess, after one is killed, Link can use their puddles as potions or lantern fuel, depending on the type of ChuChu. In Skyward Sword, ChuChus come in a variety of colors: Green, red (fire), blue (underwater), and yellow (electricity). ChuChus' sizes also vary a lot, depending on their color. The smallest can be defeated with one sword strike, the medium-sized need to be hit multiple times, and the largest ones can be split into two smaller ones with a vertical slash. In Breath of the Wild, ChuChus came in four different forms, normal, fire, ice, and electric. They come in a big or small size. They will jump around and sometimes pounce at Link. If they charge at Link, they will lose their element and become dark and faded, but stay their color. They are vulnerable at this point to attack. They will try to regain their elemental power if left for too long without being killed. Once they are defeated, they will drop ChuChu jelly, which will stay in the element they are, unless an elemental arrow or weapon is used on it to change the element.^[33]
• Cuccos (コッコ, Kokko) are a type of Hylian chicken commonly domesticated for their eggs and meat. Although Cuccos strongly resemble real life chickens they differ in several key ways. Most Cuccos can fly short distances and are even strong enough to glide while carrying the weight of an adult man allowing Link to use them to glide to otherwise unreachable areas. Some breeds of Cucco, like blue and gold Cuccos can even outright fly while being held. While normally docile, Cuccos will become angry if attacked repeatedly and crow to summon a flock of Cuccos to attack the aggressor until he or she dies or leaves the area (a behavior commonly known among fans as the "Cucco's Revenge Squad"). Cuccos first appeared in A Link to the Past. They mostly come in white, although The Minish Cap had gold Cuccos and Twilight Princess had black, brown, golden and grey variants as well. In Ocarina of Time, there was a single blue cucco that was used in a trading sequence. On a few occasions, someone will tell Link to "not be such a cucco", a play on the phrase "don't be such a chicken", confirming the fact that Cuccos are the Zelda universe's version of chickens and not separate creatures.
• Darknuts (タートナック, Tātonakku) are large armored knights armed with swords and shields. In The Wind Waker, when their helmets are removed, they are revealed to have jackal-like heads. Some Darknuts also have capes, which must be destroyed before they can be hurt. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda. They reappear in groups at Hyrule Castle. They also appeared in Twilight Princess for the first time in The Temple of Time, and in several other dungeons thereafter.
• Deku Babas (デクババ, Deku Baba) are carnivorous plants, with Venus fly trap-like mouths commonly found in forests. They spend much of their time shrunk down springing from the ground whenever their roots detect the footsteps of potential prey. They first appeared in Ocarina of Time.
• Dodongos (ドドンゴ, Dodongo) are fire breathing reptiles that resemble gigantic iguanas. They move slowly, protected by their thick scales but are incredibly aggressive eating anything that comes within reach of their mouths.^[34] Baby Dodongos are born limbless and spend much of their time buried underground ^[35] when attacked they explode. Big Dodongos, which are larger versions of normal Dodongos. A King Dodongo appears as a boss in Ocarina of Time.^[36] They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.
• Floormasters (フロアマスター, Furoamasutā) and Wallmasters are ghostly or zombified manifestations of giant hands that drag adventurers back to the entrance of a dungeon. Floormasters roam around the room and are visible at all times, while Wallmasters hide on the ceiling out of sight. Also, Floormasters split up into smaller versions when the original is attacked, whereas Wallmasters do not. Wallmasters first appeared in The Legend of Zelda while Floormasters first appeared in Ocarina of Time. Floormasters appeared in The Wind Waker as a spectral arm and hand that will transport Link to a jail-like holding area if he is caught. They do not split up when attacked.
• Gargoyles are statues that appear in The Legend of Zelda and The Adventure of Link. They shoot fireballs at Link in the underground dungeons.
• Gibdos (ギブド, Gibudo) are undead creatures wrapped like mummies. They resemble ReDeads in regards to their slow and zombie-like movement; in some games, setting a Gibdo's bandages alight will reveal a Stalfos or a ReDead underneath. In Majora's Mask, Link can use the Gibdo Mask to communicate with them. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.
• Iron Knuckles (アイアンナック, Aian-nakku) are heavily armored knights with axes. While they are even slower than the Darknuts, they are the most powerful enemies in their games as they can take four hearts from Link with just one hit and because of that they are often used to guard treasures. They first appeared in The Adventure of Link.
• Keese (キース, Kīsu) are bat-like creatures that often lurk in dark places such as caves and dungeons, where they dive bomb unwary travelers attempting to bite off chunks of flesh. Keese have the ability to pick up elements they fly through and there are fire, ice, cursed, and electric variants. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.
• Leevers (リーバー, Rībā) are conical-shaped cactus monsters that primarily live in sandy areas, such as deserts and beaches. They hide beneath the sand, burrowing to the top to attack in ambush when they sense the footsteps of an intruder. Leevers attack by spinning rapidly and slamming their thorny bodies into their target. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.
• Like Likes (ライクライク, Raikuraiku) are yellowish cylindrical monsters that can suck in creatures as large as humans and consume items they carry. They are known for swallowing the shields and tunics that Link uses. Like Likes dissolve into a puddle when killed, leaving the stolen items. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda, where they swallow the magical shield, but do not return it upon being killed.
• Lizalfos (リザルフォス, Rizarufosu) are humanoid lizards that stand upright and wield a shield and either a spear or hammer. Lizalfos in later games are rapid-moving monsters that often attack in pairs or small groups. They first appeared in The Adventure of Link.
• Lynels (ライネル, Raineru) are large, strong creatures with the body of a man and a horse, a head of a lion, and horns. This creature has multiple different variations, consisting of red, blue, white, and silver. The white and silver Lynel only appear in Breath of the Wild. In that game, red and blue Lynel can be found in many places. The white one appears in a lot of places too, but mostly in colder climates. They can be found naturally in Gerudo Highlands and N. Tabantha Snowfield. Every Lynel, except for the one in Shatterback Point northeast of Zora's Domain, will become Silver after being beaten enough. After every Blood Moon, the Lynel's type will change to a stronger variant (i.e. a defeated red Lynel will become a blue Lynel after being defeated). The only initially spawned Silver Lynel is in the Colosseum Ruins in Central Hyrule. Two Lynels also appear in Hyrule Castle in both Gatehouses. A blue one will initially spawn in the first Gatehouse and a white one in the second one. They won't spawn until the player has entered the gatehouse from jumping through a window or entering through the gate, which will be blocked off after the player has entered. The only exit is by climbing up or using Revali's Gale through a window. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.
• Moblins (モリブリン, Moriburin) are humanoid monsters that usually reside in forests. In the original The Legend of Zelda and The Adventure of Link, Moblins resembled bulldogs, but are pig-like in more recent games. They are sometimes accompanied by Pig Warriors, monsters with the same basic form but more porcine characteristics. Both types commonly wield spears, swords, bows, or occasionally massive clubs. They are one of the most common enemies within the games they appear, and are considered "mighty", but also "dumb".^[37][38] They are described as greedy, self-possessed creatures, and the major antagonist will commonly use them as mercenaries or summoned monsters.^[39] Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons feature a larger, senior Moblin known as the Great Moblin, who terrorizes Holodrum and Labrynna. Moblins are common in The Wind Waker, which introduces two additional smaller creatures, impish Bokoblins and Miniblins, rodent-like beasts who carry pitchforks. In Spirit Tracks, Miniblins were pirates usually led by a "Big Blin", a larger, muscled variation that wields a spiked club. In Skyward Sword, they are depicted as fatter and will use their weight in a final attempt to crush Link before dying. In Breath of the Wild, it is revealed that Moblins are carnivorous and require a diet of meat and fish to maintain their bulky frames.
  • Stalmoblin are the animated skeletons of Moblins that appear in Breath of the Wild. Like Stalkoblin, their skeletons continue to reanimate as long as a Stalmoblin skull is present. While just as powerful as their living counterparts, they are much easier to defeat by focusing on destroying their skulls.
• Octoroks (オクタロック, Okutarokku) are rock-spitting octopus monsters that have appeared in almost every Legend of Zelda game (except for Twilight Princess). Some species of Octorok are primarily land-dwelling while others are mostly aquatic. Big Octos are a very large ocean dwelling breed sometimes known to attack ships. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.
• Peahats (ピーハット, Pīhatto}{PEE-hats) are flying plants that soar through the skies on sharp helicopter-like leaves. Some Peahats are small while others can grow to massive size. In Twilight Princess, smaller Peahats were passive creatures rather than enemies and could be used as a transportation method via the Clawshot. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.
• Poes (ポウ, Pou) are lantern-carrying ghosts formed from concentrated hatred toward the living that freely roam graveyards and other haunted locales. They always carry their signature lanterns. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.
• Pols Voice (ポルスボイス, Porusuboisu) are strange ghost-like creatures with large rabbit ears and whiskers that hop about in an erratic pattern. A lamprey like mouth is hidden under their bodies. Pols Voice hate loud noises so explosive weapons are most effective but in some games they can also be damaged by musical instruments. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.
• ReDeads (リーデッド, Rīdeddo) are undead creatures resembling zombies with dark brown skin and flat mask-like faces that can paralyze enemies with a scream, and cling to them to drain health away.^[40] They first appeared in Ocarina of Time.
• Skulltulas (スタルウォール, Sutaruwōru) are giant spiders, named for the protective, white, bony plate in the shape of a human skull that forms their carapace. They are most commonly found in dark places, such as forests, caves, and dungeons but can also sometimes be found in towns at night. Skulltulas and Giant Skulltulas hang from ceiling surfaces, suspended by a strand of silk waiting to drop on unwary prey. Smaller Skulltulas called Skullwalltulas (or Walltulas) are commonly encountered on climbable surfaces and will attempt to bite Link if he doesn't first shoot them down. Rare Golden Skulltulas are associated with the "Curse of Skulltula" and must killed to break the curse.
• Stalchild (スタルベビー, Sutarubebī) are smaller forms of the Stalfos. Like Salfos they are the vengeful spirits of dead soldiers. They only appear on the overworld at night and spawn endlessly, but retreat as soon as the sun rises. Unlike Stalfos, they do not carry any weapons, and instead swipe at their target with long, bloody claws. In Ocarina of Time there is an easter egg where after a certain number are defeated, a larger one appears. They make their debut in Ocarina of Time.
• Stalfos (スタルフォス, Sutarufosu) are animated skeletons mostly from the remains of dead warriors who still have a strong will to fight, and serve evil powers such as Ganon or Vaati. In Ocarina of Time, by using the Mask of Truth, the player learns from a Gossip Stone that humans that die while in the Lost Woods will become monsters (although it's only revealed that said monster is a Stalfos during the Biggoron Sword quest, when Link trades in the Odd Potion for the Poacher's Saw). They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.
• Tektites (テクタイト, Tekutaito) are cycloptic four-legged insectoid creatures who use their powerful legs to leap upon and attack prey. The Blue ones are able to walk on water. And both Blue and Red can jump up cliffs. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.
• Vire (バイア, Baia) are gargoyle-like creatures that split into two Keese when hit with weak attacks. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.
• Wolfos (ウルフォス, Urufosu) are wolf-like creatures equipped with powerful claws. They are usually found in grassy or snowy terrains, where their fur changes according to each. Wolfos are capable of blocking and even dodging oncoming attacks, but if one swipes at Link and misses it will be turned completely around exposing it's vulnerable back. White Wolfos, usually found in snowy terrains, hit harder than the normal Wolfos and are a little larger. They first appeared in Ocarina of Time.
• Zols (ゾル, Zoru) are simple blob-like enemies with two eyes. They often hide between the tiles of dungeon floors, waiting to pop out and attack. In many games, weaker attacks will cause a Zol to split into two smaller versions of itself known as Gels. Both Zols and Gels first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.