The Legend Of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom answered some questions and raised many more.
HIGHLIGHTS
- There are many remaining mysteries in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
- The Gerudo Sage's opposition to Ganondorf's transformation raises questions about how the Gerudo reacted and if she worked closely with him.
- Kass' disappearance in Tears of the Kingdom is unexplained, leaving fans wondering where he is and if he is safe.
As with every new The Legend of Zelda game, Tears of the Kingdom introduced more mysteries for fans to speculate over. Tears of the Kingdom’s expansive world is full of new details that raise questions about Hyrule’s history and the people who lived there.
Although it offers glimpses of information, the game doesn’t explain everything, leaving it up to you to piece together what it does offer. Some of these mysteries are more intriguing than others, making you think about their implications and what more there is to uncover. These mysteries will keep fans mulling over them until the next Zelda game.
There are lots of mysteries yet to be solved in Tears of the Kingdom's lore, but the ones we've selected raise the most questions, and have the most impact on the wider story and world. Updated October 27, 2023 by Casey Foot: Tears of the Kingdom is filled with mysteries for you to think about. Whether they’re presented through the game’s detailed environment, various side quests, or main storyline, there’s lots to uncover, so we’ve added a couple more mysteries for you to consider until the next Zelda game.
The Eighth Heroine’s True Identity
One of the mysteries in Breath of the Wild was the identity of the Eighth Heroine. Unlike the Seven Heroines, the Eighth’s statue is carved into a mountain in the Gerudo Highlands, not in the Gerudo Desert. Though there are rumors about the Eighth Heroine among the Gerudo, who they were has been shrouded by history.
Tears of the Kingdom sheds some light on who this Eighth Heroine was, but still doesn’t give an exact answer. Through the The Mysterious Eighth side quest, you learn that the Eighth Heroine was a man who helped the Seven Heroines to protect Gerudo Town, guiding them to combine their strengths.
Because of the Gerudo people’s woman-only culture, the man’s identity has been lost to history. It’s possible that the Eighth Heroine could have been a Link from the past because of the wordplay of “link” used to describe the events. Still, with no other clues, his identity remains a mystery.
Ganondorf’s Connection To The Gerudo Sage
Through Tears of the Kingdom’s Dragon’s Tear memories, you’re shown some of Ganondorf’s backstory; however, not many details are revealed, which leads to many questions. Ganondorf is the chief of the Gerudo, but not much is divulged about the Gerudo’s reaction to his transformation.
The Gerudo Sage directly opposes Ganondorf’s desire to take over Hyrule, and after Link and Riju defeat the Queen Gibdo, she mentions how Ganondorf became power hungry. How did the Gerudo react to this change? Since the Gerudo Sage was a warrior, did she work closely with Ganondorf? It would have been interesting to see the Gerudo Sage’s response to her chief becoming the Demon King.
Where Is Kass?
In Breath of the Wild, Kass is a friendly blue Rito who can be found across Hyrule playing his late teacher’s old songs. Kass’ Ancient Songs help Link to solve various Shrine quests, and he assists him in the Champions Ballad DLC.
With Tears of the Kingdom’s story taking place sometime after Breath of the Wild, fans expected to meet him again in the sequel; however, Kass is strangely absent. Kass’ family offers no explanation for his disappearance, but they don’t seem to be concerned for him, so he is, hopefully, safe.
What Happened To The Divine Beasts?
Part of Link’s mission in Breath of the Wild is taming the Divine Beasts, wresting them from the Blights that killed the four Champions and corrupted the colossal machines. It’s unsurprising that Tears of the Kingdom took a different approach to dungeons, but it’s unexpected for almost every trace of the Divine Beasts and the rest of the Sheikah technology to have been wiped from Hyrule.
In an interview with The Telegraph, Tears of the Kingdom's director, Hidemaro Fujibayashi, said that Sheikah technology simply "disappeared" after Link and Zelda defeated Calamity Ganon because "their role had been fulfilled". This in itself is mysterious — how did they vanish, and where did they go? One Guardian remains on the roof of the Hateno Ancient Tech Lab, so not every remnant of the Sheikah technology has vanished from Hyrule, which makes this explanation even stranger.
Fujibayashi explains that the people of Hyrule "assumed the reason behind the disappearance" and didn't feel any need to research further. Though, it is strange that Purah never mentions the Sheikah Slate in the context of the new Purah Pad, considering how dedicated she was to researching this technology. Fujibayashi's explanation just invites even more mystery.
Why Are There Only Two Zonai?
One of Breath of the Wild’s bigger mysteries was the identity of the Zonai, and although Tears of the Kingdom answered some questions by introducing the Zonai siblings Rauru and Mineru, others were created.
In Tears of the Kingdom, Rauru and Mineru are the only two Zonai present and are said to be the last of their species, but no explanation is offered about what happened to the other Zonai. In one of the Dragon’s Tear memories, Ganondorf says, “It is unfortunate that the noble Zonai no longer grace this world with their presence.” This calls into question, where did they go? Did they perform draconification, return to where they originally came from, or tragically die out? Or perhaps something else entirely?
Who Are The Ancient Tribe Who Wore The Barbarian Armor?
Before Tears of the Kingdom’s launch, a lot of Zelda fans speculated that the Barbarian Armor set was evidence of what the mysterious Zonai were like. The armor’s description says that it was “worn by the warriors of an ancient warlike tribe” who were “from the Faron region,” which is where many Zonai ruins are found.
Rather than a warrior tribe who wore barbarian-like garb, Tears of the Kingdom presents the Zonai as a peaceful people with a penchant for technological advancements. With the Zonai’s identity now revealed, the ancient barbarian tribe’s origins have become an even bigger mystery.
The Identity Of The Ancient Hero
As a reward for completing Tears of the Kingdom’s 152 Shrines, you receive the Ancient Hero’s Aspect. Its in-game description claims that it harbors the spirit of an ancient hero, which is likely to be the same hero shown on the tapestry defeating Calamity Ganon 10,000 years ago.
When Link wears the Ancient Hero’s Aspect, he’s transformed into the hero’s likeness, and given Zonai characteristics, alongside a tail and red hair that is reminiscent of Ganondorf. Interestingly, the item itself is made up of the faces of an owl, a dragon, and a boar, which are said to represent the Zonai’s version of the Triforce. Unfortunately, this is all we can glean from the ancient hero’s identity, and nothing more is known about him.
Who Are The Voices In The Labyrinths?
Just like in Breath of the Wild, there are three labyrinths in Hyrule; however, they’re now also connected to the sky and the Depths. When you complete the labyrinths on the land, voices at each challenge speak to Link, claiming to be the ruler of owls, boars, and dragons, and allow access to more labyrinths in the sky.
The in-game descriptions for these quests say that the labyrinths were “built” by these mysterious voices to “test the talents of those who entered.” These locations evoke Zonai architecture, particularly as the sky labyrinths can float, most likely due to Zonai technology. Whoever these voices belong to, they seem to represent wisdom, power, and courage, thanks to the creatures they’re linked to.
Were The Three Dragons Originally Zonai?
In Breath of the Wild, there are three dragons that can be seen flying across the sky - Dinraal, Naydra, and Farosh - who are said to attend the Springs of Power, Wisdom, and Courage. Their names are similar to those of the Golden Goddesses, Din, Nayru, and Farore. The dragons return in the sequel and remain a mysterious presence.
With Tears of the Kingdom introducing a process called draconification, where someone can become an immortal dragon by swallowing a Zonai Secret Stone, people began to theorize whether the dragons were a result of this transformation. In terms of appearance, the dragons share similar physical characteristics with the Zonai, including their elongated ears and white hair. However, the game offers scarce information on the dragons, so their origins remain a mystery.
What Are The Bargainer Statues?
Alongside the sky and the surface of Hyrule, you can explore the Depths — a pitch-black underground area filled with gloom-ridden monsters and poes. Linked to the poes are the Bargainer Statues that can be found in the Depths and at Lookout Landing.
You can trade poes to the Bargainer statues so that they can transport the lost souls to the afterlife, and the statues will in turn offer items and clothing, including the Dark Armor set and Depths Armor set, the latter of which has a similar pattern to the statues themselves. Strangely enough, one of the Bargainer Statues even has the ability to speak to Link through the Goddess Hylia Statue in the Temple of Time.
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