Demise is a character that new Zelda fans might not know very well. However, this ancient calamity is one of the primary antagonists of the Zelda universe. In fact, we might see the appearance of Demise in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom.
This ancient deity is the polar opposite of the Goddess Hylia, and Link has faced off against him in many previous titles. Today we will be looking at all the evidence pointing towards the revival and role of Demise in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom!
If you’re interested in other powerful enemies and bosses we will be facing, check our guides on Ganondorf, Gleeok and all the other confirmed enemies in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom.
Who is Demise?
Demise is known as the father of all monsters in the Zelda universe. He is one of the first antagonists in the Zelda universe and is considered a sworn enemy of the Goddess Hylia. One day, Demise and his followers rose from the underground to try and steal the Triforce. Therefore, Hylia and the five tribes had to unite to seal him.
The plot of Skyward Sword revolves around Demise breaking this seal and Link facing off in a climactic battle resulting in Demise being sealed inside the Master Sword. However, before being sealed, Demise declares vengeance against the blood of the Goddess and the Hero, swearing an incarnation of his hatred will hunt them down. This refers to Ganon/Ganondorf, who is considered an incarnation of Demise.
Will Demise be in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom?
While not confirmed, strong indicators point towards Demise's return in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom. The most prominent one is the glowing red-haired figure appearing briefly in the Tears of the Kingdom trailer. His face is purposefully obscured, and the scales on his arms resemble the ones that Demise has.
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+ 3We know that Demise is sealed in the Master Sword. However, the Master Sword is broken during the events of Tears of the Kingdom. It might be possible that Demise is released or Ganondorf can harness the released energy to merge with Demise.
Another thing to consider is that Skyward Sword got its HD remaster recently. We suspect that Nintendo did this as a reminder for the Demise storyline. Skyward Sword is canon in this timeline, which gives even more credibility to this theory.
Role of Demise in Tears of the Kingdom
click to enlarge + 3The final boss in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom will most probably be Demise. There is a theory floating around that the characters we see in the tapestry in Breath of the Wild facing Calamity Ganon are a red-herring. Instead of Link and Zelda facing Calamity Ganon, the Goddess Hylia and Ganondorf are fighting Demise. This theory is given even more credibility considering we see a figure similar to Hylia in the Tears of the Kingdom trailer.
click to enlarge + 3We may all be in for a treat as we witness a final showdown between the Goddess Hylia and Demise in Tears of the Kingdom. This battle may once and for all put rest to the cycle of reincarnation and conflict that Link, Princess Zelda and Ganondorf have been participating in.
That’s all we know about the history and lore of Demise in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom. If you’re interested in more Zelda content, be sure to check our guides on the new weapons and fusions.
For more articles like this, take a look at our Guides and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom page.