Rauru

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 and later appointed himself and five other leaders—the Zora, Rito, Goron, Gerudo, and his sister Mineru—as sages to protect the realm. When Ganondorf murdered Sonia and seized a secret stone to become the Demon King, Rauru led the ancient sages in battle against him. Though they fought valiantly, Rauru ultimately sacrificed himself to seal Ganondorf away, ending the threat temporarily but costing his own life. 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 loses his right arm to Ganondorf's attack. This spectral form replaces Link's damaged limb, allowing him to traverse the Great Sky Island before returning to the surface. Rauru's story underscores the cyclical nature of Hyrule's conflicts and the enduring legacy of those who stood against darkness.

In Their Own Story

Link awakens on the Great Sky Island after being rescued by a mysterious disembodied arm that has replaced his wounded right limb. There, he meets the spirit of Rauru, a Zonai figure who reveals himself as the source of the new arm and a guide through the floating islands. As Link explores the sky and uncovers murals depicting Hyrule's founding, fragments of memory emerge showing Rauru alongside Queen Sonia and other ancient sages preparing for war against Ganondorf. Through these visions, it is revealed that after Sonia was killed by Ganondorf, Rauru appointed his sister Mineru, Zelda, and the leaders of various races as sages to combat the Demon King. In a final act of sacrifice, Rauru sealed Ganondorf away at great personal cost. Centuries later, when Link confronts the revived Ganondorf beneath Hyrule Castle, the spirits of both Rauru and Sonia appear once more to help restore Zelda to her human form and return Link's arm before fading away forever.

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. Understanding Rauru requires piecing together environmental storytelling rather than following a traditional quest line.

Did You Know?

• Rauru is explicitly identified as a member of the Zonai race, an ancient people connected to floating islands and advanced technology.
• In Tears of the Kingdom, Rauru's spirit replaces Link's wounded right arm after Ganondorf attacks them beneath Hyrule Castle.
• Rauru sacrificed himself to seal away Ganondorf during the Imprisoning War, a conflict depicted in murals found under Hyrule Castle.
• The spirits of both Rauru and his wife Sonia appear together at the end of Tears of the Kingdom to restore Zelda and return Link's arm before fading away.