The Legend of Zelda series has introduced fans to a variety of notable races, factions, and tribes. When The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom releases next month, it is likely to include returning Hyrulean races and factions, like the Hylians, Gorons, Zora, Rito, and Koroks. However, fans who explored The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild's Hyrule learned of another faction, the Zonai tribe, who existed long before the title's events. Evidence of the Zonai can be found throughout Breath of the Wild, and recent footage from Tears of the Kingdom confirms a larger presence in the sequel. Given their growing importance, the Zonai deserve to become a permanent faction moving forward, escaping the one-and-done fate of other recent introductions to the Zelda series.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is shrouded in mystery, despite releasing in just over a month. Much of what is known about the title stems from a recently released gameplay trailer, focusing on Link's new Ultrahand abilities. These abilities allow him to combine various materials from the environment and traverse Hyrule's open world more easily. Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the trailer regards the game's narrative, as an overt reference to the mysterious Zonai tribe indicates that they play a significant role in Tears of the Kingdom's newest features.
The Zonai Tribe's Presence in Breath of the Wild
The Zonai tribe doesn't appear in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, but their legacy can be observed through various structures and items. The Zonai were an ancient race of barbarians from the Faron region of Hyrule. They get their name from the Zonai Ruins, found within the Faron Woods. Players can find other structures belonging to the Zonai tribe, such as North Lomei Labyrinth, South Lomei Labyrinth, and Lomei Labyrinth Island, which feature their unique sigil and dragon iconography.
Players can find pieces of Breath of the WIld's Barbarian armor set at the heart of each Zonai labyrinth. The description for each armor piece mentions, "an ancient warlike tribe from the Faron region", and each increases Link's overall attack power. The Zonai ruins also feature unique Triforce iconography, hinting at the tribe's strong connection to both animals and the Triforce itself. In some Zonai depictions, each piece of the Triforce is associated with a certain animal - Dragons represent courage, owls represent wisdom, and boars represent power.
The Zonai Tribe's Legacy as a Major Faction in Tears of the Kingdom
Though little has been revealed about the title, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has been referencing the Zonai since its first trailer, which prominently features statues and glyphs tied to the Zonai tribe. The green restraints on the trailer’s corpse-like figure are also believed to be remnants of Zonai magic, an element that subsequent footage has confirmed to be a major part of the title. The Zonai tribe was undoubtedly one of the most advanced races in Ancient Hyrule, playing a significant role in the conflict with past incarnations of Ganon. Therefore, their place among the major factions of Hyrule should be cemented moving forward, regardless of their physical presence.
Due to their prevalence in early marketing materials, some fans believed that The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom's title may actually refer to the Zonai. Last month's gameplay trailer all but confirmed the theory, as Link wielded green magic of his own, in place of the Sheikah slate. He uses that magic, called Ultrahand, to defeat one of the title's new enemies, a construct, who drops a never-before-seen item - the Zonai charge. The relationship between these elements implies that Tears of the Kingdom will directly address the Zonai's legacy and the reason for their absence in modern Hyrule. With no further reveals scheduled to arrive before the game's release date, fans will have the opportunity to discover the Zonai's secrets for themselves when Tears of the Kingdom launches next month.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom releases on May 12, 2023, on the Switch.
