The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom presents a plethora of breathtaking sights, offering even more engaging locations than its predecessor, Breath of the Wild. From the sky islands to the Depths, players will discover intriguing sites such as the Zonai ruins and Leviathan skeletons, often yielding valuable rewards. Furthermore, the game introduces a diverse array of dragons, expanding the boss lineup and highlighting their significant roles within the Zelda universe.
In addition to the three elemental dragons, Dinraal, Farosh, and Naydra, Tears of the Kingdom introduces Gleeoks and King Gleeoks to its overworld boss lineup, along with two story-related dragons tied to light and darkness. While dragons have made appearances in previous Zelda games, Tears of the Kingdom places unprecedented emphasis on these majestic creatures. Despite only a few of the game’s new dragons having major story roles, these colossal flying lizards still stand out as unique within the broader context of the Zelda series.
Delving into the Role of Dragons in Tears of the Kingdom
The primary wandering dragons encountered in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom are neutral, and at times, even friendly towards Link. The most notable dragons in The Legend of Zelda are typically bosses or enemies with distant dragon-like connections, such as the Lizalfos and Aerafols. While Breath of the Wild did feature a battle with Naydra, it was solely to free the dragon from a Malice infestation. In Tears of the Kingdom, Dinraal, Farosh, and Naydra are always a welcome sight, providing Link with beneficial items upon interaction and even serving as mobile transports across Hyrule and its Depths.
While the three dragons exhibit neutral and helpful tendencies, much like Skyward Sword’s Faron, Eldin, and Lanayru, the new Light Dragon bears resemblance to The Wind Waker's Sky Spirit Valoo. Throughout the game, players will discover that the Light Dragon is actually a transformed Princess Zelda, safeguarding the regenerated Master Sword for Link to retrieve when the time is right. Notably, the Light Dragon emerges as one of the most formidable allies in the Zelda franchise, extending assistance to Link in the final battle, akin to Valoo aiding his Link in the confrontation with Ganondorf.
The Abundance of Dragon Boss Fights in Tears of the Kingdom
While Tears of the Kingdom features the highest concentration of friendly dragons in the series, it also incorporates numerous antagonistic portrayals. In the game's final battle, Ganondorf confronts the Light Dragon, unlike the ruler of Wind Waker's Forsaken Fortress, as this iteration of Ganondorf transforms into the Demon Dragon, mirroring Zelda's transformation. Prior to sacrificing his identity for ultimate power, Ganondorf's resurrection revives the draconic Gleeoks from the original Legend of Zelda. As in their previous appearances, the Gleeoks serve as multi-headed dragon boss fights, ranking among the most spectacular encounters in Tears of the Kingdom. Throughout the series' history, there have been several other dragon bosses, including Aquamentus, Barba, Volvagia, Stallord, and Argorok, indicating that Tears of the Kingdom may not be the final showcase of this classic monster archetype in the Zelda franchise.