The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom includes a surprisingly large number of hints about the game's plot, easter eggs, as well as some secrets. Read on to learn what we've discovered so far!
List of Contents
- TotK Easter Eggs and Secrets
- Tears of the Kingdom Related News
TotK Easter Eggs and Secrets
| Secrets and Discoveries | |
|---|---|
| Mysterious Murals | Dragon Motifs |
| The Sky Islands | Ganondorf's Role |
| Link Humming Past Songs | Lightroots and Shrine Names |
| Avatars Wearing Divine Beast Helms | Penn's Little Birdies Are His Sources |
| Decayed Guardian at Hateno Tech Lab | - |
Mysterious Murals
Murals from the ancient Zonai civilization were prominently featured during the prologue of Tears of the Kingdom.
These murals have a distinct spiral motif similar to the stone statues and engravings in the Zonai Ruins located in the Faron Region and are very distinct from the Sheikah's art which have wave-like patterns.
The events and figures depicted in these murals are confirmed to be referencing past events, as Zelda discovered in the prologue.
Who are the Zonai?
The Calamity Engraved
A depiction of the Calamity is showing hordes of Bokoblin and Moblin ravaging Hyrule and fighting against knights.
This particular mural is in fact the depiction of the First Great Calamity which occurred 10,000 years before the events of Breath of the Wild. This was the pivotal moment where Ganondorf relinquishes his endless cycle of reincarnation to manifest as Calamity Ganon, a being of pure malice and hatred.
A Mural of the Goddess Hylia
The murals also show what appears to be a depiction of Hylia, the patron Goddess of Hyrule. Depictions of the ancient Goddess are not uncommon in Hyrule, and her stylized appearance may be how the ancient Zonai depicted her.
Sacred Beads
The Goddess Mural depicts the central figure surrounded by 7 mysterious bead-like gems, which appear similar to the spiral crests found in Lurelin Village.
It's currently unknown what these truly are, though they appear to hold some importance as a later mural of the Princess shows what appears to be two of the beads fused together radiating light.
Zelda's Fate
The mural also depicts the Princess suspended in midair near the Goddess. This may hint at Zelda's role in the story and may in fact reference the event that happens shortly after.
Dragon Motifs
A giant door adorned with a Twin Dragon is similar to the draconic statues scattered throughout the Zonai Ruins in the Faron Region, with the Zonai civilization said to have worshipped a water dragon.
Dragons and Courage
According to the The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Creating a Champion book, the Zonai Civilization depicted aspects of the Triforce through certain animals with the Dragon representing courage.
This is reinforced in Breath of the Wild, with the Dragon Farosh inhabiting the area where the Zonai Ruins are located. Farosh and the Faron region are in turn named after Farore, the Goddess of Courage and one of the creators of the Triforce.
The Spring of Courage in Breath of the Wild also requires Link to offer Farosh's Scale, further reinforcing the connection of dragons and courage.
Fused Dragon Head Weapon
One of the new weapons Link is seen wielding in the trailers is a Dragon Head Weapon fused with a shield. The dragon head resembles the dragon stone statues in the Zonai Ruins in Breath of the Wild.
Four New Abilities Introduced
Tears of the Kingdom Logo
The logo for Tears of the Kingdom prominently features the Twin Dragon motifs encircled similar to an Ouroboros. This may hint at the game focusing more on Link as the hero embodying courage.
The Sky Islands
The Sky Islands were prominently shown in most promotional materials as this is one of the new features introduced in the game.
Cities or islands in the sky are not new to the series, with the City in the Sky in Twilight Princess and Skyloft in Skyward Sword being prominent locations.
Sky Islands Explored
Fly Across Hyrule
The scene where Link lands on on a Stone Bird which he then uses to fly across Hyrule is very reminiscent of how Link in Skyward Sword flew on the Loftwing.
Ganondorf's Role
Ganondorf has a bigger role in Tears of the Kingdom, as hinted during the scene showing a desiccated corpse of a large warrior wearing clothing and jewelry similar to those worn by the Gerudo Tribe.
The corpse also possesses the trademark red hair of the Gerudo Tribe and what appears to be Malice seeping out from underneath it.
Ganon Profile and Backstory
The Tapestry Story
Impa's retelling of the Calamity in Breath of the Wild curiously depicts the hero who fought the calamity very differently from Link's usual appearance.
In the tapestry, the hero is depicted as possessing wild red hair similar to Ganondorf's corpse in the trailers. This may be a stylistic choice in Sheikah art style, but the similarities between it and the corpse in Tears of the Kingdom are too obvious to ignore!
The hero also has a boar-like face in the tapestry, which further connects to the Zonai Civilization's depiction of aspects of the Triforce. The Boar, according to the Zonai, represents power which Ganondorf has always been associated with.
Link Humming Past Songs
During Link's cooking sessions, you will often hear him hum different songs that fans of the franchise will easily recognize. These tunes are actually songs featured in the past games! This small detail will definitely give a small sense of nostalgia to fans who played earlier Zelda games.
| List of Songs Link Hums |
|---|
| ・Zelda Main Theme ・ Epona’s Song ・Saria’s Song ・ Zelda’s Lullaby |
Names of the Lightroots are the Shrine Names Spelt Backwards
An interesting detail seen in the Shrine and Lightroot names is that both are the same name but spelt backwards.
| Shrine Name | Lightroot Name |
|---|---|
| Jiosin Shrine | Nisoij Lightroot |
Additionally, each Shrine is also connected to a Lightroot. This means that if you check the Shrine locations on your Surface Map, you can head to the same spots in the Depths to find Lightroots!
All Lightroot Locations and Maps
Avatars Wear Divine Beast Helms When Equipped
Once you clear Temples and get their respective avatars, you will be able to tag them along in your adventure.
If you are able to obtain one of the Divine Beast Helms in the game and equip it, the respective avatar will wear the same headgear that Link is wearing.
| Divine Beast Headgear | Avatar |
|---|---|
| Vah Medoh Divine Helm | Tulin |
| Vah Naboris Divine Helm | Riju |
| Vah Rudania Divine Helm | Yunobo |
| Vah Ruta Divine Helm | Sidon |
List of All Headgear
Penn's Little Birdies Are His Sources
Penn is a journalist hailing from the Rito Village. He's often found in stables gathering information about Potential Princess Sightings after you've talked to Traysi in the Lucky Clover Gazette.
If you talk to him, he will sometimes tell you that a little birdy gave him information regarding Princess Zelda. And guess what? Some of his sources are actual little birdies! Sometimes you'll find him at a stable jotting down notes while talking to these little birds.
Aside from the fact that it's really cute, it's also very helpful in completing your Hyrule Compendium. These little birds were notoriously difficult to find in Breath of the Wild, so having Penn gather them in one stable will make it easier for you to take pictures of them. Just don't get too close to these little birdies or they'll fly away!
Filling Out the Compendium Walkthrough and How to Unlock
Decayed Guardian at Hateno Tech Lab
In Breath of the Wild, Guardians are formidable machines controlled by Calamity Ganon that roam around Hyrule. These enemies are no longer available in Tears of the Kingdom but you can find the remains of a decayed Guardian on top of the Hateno Tech Lab.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of a Kingdom Related News
Latest News and Updates
Related News for Tears of the Kingdom
- Ver. 1.2.0 Update Patch Notes Updated 7/13/2023 Learn about the Ver. 1.2.0 patch notes and if the duplication glitch was patched.
- New Zelda and Ganondorf amiibo Announced Updated 7/18/2023 Check out the designs and rewards you can get from both new amiibo.
- Ver. 1.1.2 Update Patch Notes Updated 5/26/2023 Learn about the Ver. 1.1.2 patch notes and if the duplication glitch was patched.
- Everything We Learned From the Hands-On Previews Updated 5/11/2023 New materials, fused weapons, and more in the hands-on previews of Tears of the Kingdom!
- How to Get TOTK Cheaper Updated 5/12/2023 Use the Nintendo Switch Game Vouchers to purchase Tears of the Kingdom and save $30!
- Preload Guide Updated 5/12/2023 Read on to learn how to preload Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom to play the game at midnight release!
- Collector's Edition Features and Differences Updated 5/11/2023 See the differences between the Standard, Digital, and Collector's Editions in this guide.
- All Voice Actors Cast Updated 6/6/2023 See all the English and Japanese voice actors of Tears of the Kingdom, as well as other characters they voiced in other media.
- Is Tears of the Kingdom the Last Zelda Game? Updated 5/11/2023 Tears of the Kingdom is the latest installment of the Zelda franchise. Read on to learn if the game is the final installment.
- Is Demise Returning? Updated 5/11/2023 It is not confirmed whether Demise will return in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (BotW2).
- Final Trailer Updated 5/11/2023 Champions' Successors return, Ganon revived, and the Zonai appear in the Final Trailer!
- Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Release Date News Updated 7/12/2023 Find out when The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will be released!
- DLC Guide Will There Be an Expansion Pass? Updated 7/11/2023 Learn more about the possibility of a DLC for the game!
- Pre-Order Guide Updated 5/13/2023 A list of all pre-order bonuses as well as how to pre-order the game.
- Story Summary and Timeline Placement Updated 5/24/2023 Learn about the game's plot summary and what timeline it takes place in the series!
- Easter Eggs and Secrets Discovered from the Trailer Updated 6/5/2023 Discover all of the game's hidden Easter Eggs and Secrets here!
- New Features Updated 5/22/2023 Learn about all the new features and gameplay changes debuting in the game!
- Will the Champions Make an Appearance? Updated 5/11/2023 See whether the champions of Breath of the Wild are making an appearance or not here!
- Is the Hookshot a Useable Item? Updated 5/11/2023 Learn about the Hookshot and if it is confirmed to appear in the game!
- Will There Be a Demo? Updated 5/13/2023 Find out if there will be a demo before the game releases!
- Will BotW 2 Be Multiplayer? Updated 5/11/2023 Learn about the possibility of a Multiplayer feature in the game!
- List of Official Trailers and Gameplay Footage Updated 5/11/2023 Check out our full list of trailers and gameplay footage here!
- Why Is the Master Sword Broken? Updated 5/11/2023 Find out the theories and speculations why the Master Sword is broken.
- How Long to Beat Updated 6/15/2023 Discover how long it takes to beat the game!
- Everything We Learned from the 3/28 Gameplay Trailer Updated 5/11/2023 We summarize all the new features shown off in Aonuma's presentation of TOTK Gameplay.
- Tears of the Kingdom Edition Switch and Accessories Revealed Updated 5/11/2023 Take a look at the TOTK-themed Nintend Switch OLED, Pro Controller, and Carrying Case.
- Sky Islands Explored Updated 5/11/2023 Check out the new monsters and materials found on Sky Islands.
- Who are the Zonai? Updated 5/11/2023 Learn more about the ancient tribe of the Zonai and their role in the story.
- Where is Daruk's Successor? Updated 5/11/2023 Learn more about Daruk's successor, and his possible role in the story.
- All Voice Actors Cast Updated 6/6/2023 Learn each character's voice actor!
- Is Tears of the Kingdom the Last Zelda Game? Updated 5/11/2023 Find out if the latest Zelda entry will be the final game of the series.
- Where to Pre-Order Guidebook Updated 5/11/2023 Know when the Tears of the Kingdom Guidebook releases.
- Tears of the Kingdom 1.1 Patch Notes Updated 5/23/2023 Read on to know the latest patch updates for Tears of the Kingdom.
- Are Hearty Durians Still in the Game? Updated 5/16/2023 Know if Hearty Durians are still in Tears of the Kingdom.
- What Happened to the Divine Beasts? Updated 5/24/2023 Read on to see what happened to the Divine Beasts and how to get Divine Helmets.
- Where is Kass Updated 6/5/2023 Read on to learn more about what possibly happened to Kass.
