Zelda Tears of the Kingdom – Zonai explained

Being such a humongous game, Nintendo’s Switch title The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is full of mysteries, many still unsolved to this day (keeping many a YouTube creator in business). As we hurtle towards the imminent release of BotW’s sequel, one particular mystery is unfolding, so we’re going over everything we know in our Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Zonai explained guide.

Before we magnesis your eyes down to the rest of the guide, be sure to check out our Hyrule compendium of content on The Legend of Zelda games, new and old. We have articles on the best Zelda games, Wind Waker Switch, Twilight Princess Switch, Tears of the Kingdom pre-orders, Zelda Lego, Zelda wallpapers, Breath of the Wild wallpaper, and plenty more Links for you to explore.

Alright, explorers, let’s gallop on the back of Epona into our Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Zonai explained guide.

Who are the Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Zonai?

Alluded to heavily in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the Zonai tribe are an ancient civilisation, already wiped out during the time of Breath of the Wild. Though the people are long gone, evidence of the tribe exists thanks to the Zonai ruins, as well as buildings and ruins based on their notable dragon sigil dotted around the map.

While there’s not much in the way of direct references to the Zonai, several items and locations include descriptions of the ancient race. Players find the three pieces of the Barbarian armour set at the centre of each of the three labyrinths, hinting that the tribe built these giant constructs. The description for each armour piece mentions “an ancient warlike tribe from the Faron region,” while each armour piece also increases attack. From this, it’s likely the Zonai were warriors, kitted out in armour similar to the Barbarian set.

The Zonai crest depicts a water dragon, and many of the Zonai ruins in the Faron region feature a similar water dragon. Etching in the ruins also depict a triforce symbol, suggesting the Zonai have a connection to it, and possibly are able to wield magic. The race also has a strong connection to animals, with each triangle of the triforce associated with an animal. Dragons represent courage, owls for wisdom, and boards for power.

Are the Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Zonai associated with the Shiekah?

Both from their location, as well as text descriptions within The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, it’s likely the Zonai and the Shiekah are two completely different tribes, but they had access to both the triforce and magic, however through different means.

While there isn’t much connecting the two, we know the Shiekah built the shrines, and it’s hinted the Zonai built the three labyrinths to test warrior’s strength. The fact that each labyrinth contains a shrine hints towards the two tribes working together, so it’s entirely possible the two races worked together to fight Calamity Ganon many centuries ago.

Is Link using Zonai technology in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom?

In the trailers released for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, we see Link and Zelda exploring underground caverns with columns and statues matching the style of the Zonai. One trailer shows Link using a shield with a dragon head attacked, similar to the dragon head that symbolises the Zonai tribe.

The most recent Zelda Tears of the Kingdom stream gives fans an extended look at the title, and Link fights an enemy known as a soldier construct. The enemy drops an item called a Zonai charge, which looks similar to some of the later technology we see powering fans, wheels, and other traversal methods. Link’s new fuse ability and the technology he uses to create methods of transport all seem directly tied to the ancient Zonai technology.

When did the Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Zonai exist?

It doesn’t explicitly state within The Legend of the Zelda: Breath of the WIld the era that the Zonai belong to. However, descriptions of the Zonai in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Master Works (Creating a Champion in the West) state that “it’s rumoured that these people disappeared suddenly thousands of years ago.”

Where are the Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Zonai ruins?

The Zonai ruins and many of the statues bearing the Zonai sigil and markings are all located in the Faron region of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. However, it is heavily suggested that the Zonai also built the three labyrinths found throughout the game, suggesting that the Zonai travelled all over Zonai, despite calling the Faron region their home.

Trailers for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom show many underground caverns with statues and wall etchings using Zonai iconography, possibly hinting that the Zonai tribe actually used underground caverns to travel across Hyrule, explaining why they have technology spread across the land, while only seeming to exist within one region. The Barbarian armour hints that they are a fearsome warrior race, so it is believable that they travel underneath the Hyrule we know, tackling large monsters and paving their own roads across the map of Hyrule.

Alright, folks, that’s all we have for our Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Zonai explained guide for now folks, but we are updating this guide as more information becomes available, especially as we approach the Tears of the Kingdom release date. For even more great Zelda content, be sure to read our guides covering the Zelda BotW map and BotW amiibo.