Rauru

First King and Sage of Light who used his life force to seal the Demon King in Hyrule's ancient past.

Rauru is a pivotal figure in the history of Hyrule, serving as both its first king and the Sage of Light. In the events of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, he exists primarily as a spirit who guides Link after the latter's arm is lost during an encounter with Ganondorf. Rauru's presence is central to understanding the ancient conflict that led to Ganondorf's sealing, where he fought alongside other sages against the Demon King. His role bridges the distant past and the present, offering crucial context about Zonai origins and the fate of Princess Zelda.

Quick Facts

Role: First King of Hyrule; Sage of Light
Element: Light

Lore & Background

Rauru was a member of the Zonai race and served as Hyrule's first king. Along with his wife, Queen Sonia, he established the kingdom. Rauru personally bestowed secret stones upon the five ancient sages, selecting them himself: the sage of fire (a Goron), the sage of water (a Zora), the sage of lightning (a Gerudo), the sage of wind (a Rito), and the sage of earth (a Goron). His sister Mineru was a separate sage of spirit, not one of these five.

When Ganondorf murdered Sonia and seized a secret stone to become the Demon King, Rauru led these sages in battle against him. Though they fought valiantly, Rauru ultimately used his own life force to create a seal that imprisoned Ganondorf, ending the threat temporarily but costing his own life. This sealing event is the same as the Imprisoning War depicted in the murals beneath Hyrule Castle. In Tears of the Kingdom, this ancient history is revealed through murals found beneath Hyrule Castle and memories triggered by Dragon's Tears scattered across the land.

Rauru's spirit survives as a disembodied consciousness that aids Link after the hero's right arm is corrupted by Gloom emanating from Ganondorf's mummified form. Rauru's arm fuses with Link's corrupted arm to heal and empower it, allowing him to traverse the Great Sky Island before returning to the surface.

Reader's Guide

To learn about Rauru's role in Tears of the Kingdom, players must explore murals beneath Hyrule Castle early in the game, which depict the Imprisoning War. Collecting Dragon's Tears scattered across Hyrule triggers memories showing Rauru's life with Queen Sonia and his battle against Ganondorf. These sequences reveal how Rauru appointed the ancient sages and sacrificed himself to seal the Demon King. Rauru appears physically only as a spirit on the Great Sky Island, where he guides Link after the hero loses his right arm. He provides no direct combat assistance but serves as a narrative anchor, explaining Zonai history and the significance of secret stones. Later in the story, during the final confrontation with Ganondorf, Rauru's spirit reappears alongside Sonia to restore Zelda and return Link's arm before vanishing permanently.