Who Is Rauru in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom? Lore and Character Guide

If you finished The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, you have probably wondered about Rauru. This rauru zelda tears of the kingdom article is a deep dive into this key character, from who he is and what race he comes from to his role in the story, his link to the mysterious arm Link wields, and his ties to major characters like Zelda and Ganondorf. By the end you will understand the TOTK story much more deeply, and see why Zelda fans care so much about the first King of Hyrule.

Who is Rauru and why fans keep talking about him

Rauru is a major character introduced in Tears of the Kingdom as the first King of the Kingdom of Hyrule. Although he mostly appears through flashbacks and in spirit form, his role shapes the entire game's story, since he founded the kingdom and is central to the fight against Ganondorf. Zelda fans keep talking about him because of his origins, his power, and his connection to Link that makes many want to dig even deeper.

Here are the key facts about Rauru at a glance before the details.

The first King of Hyrule and the mysterious Zonai

Rauru comes from the Zonai, an ancient, powerful and technologically advanced race that the game describes as descending from the sky. This race is tied to the floating islands and ancient mechanisms across the world of TOTK. As the first king, Rauru founded the Kingdom of Hyrule and laid the foundation that carries down to the era of Link and Zelda. Understanding the Zonai helps explain why this game's world is full of ruined civilization and mysterious power.

Does Link's mysterious arm really come from Rauru

The answer is yes. The glowing arm Link receives at the start of the game is Rauru's arm, which holds his power. The key abilities players use throughout the game come from the power tied to this arm. In the past, Rauru sacrificed his own arm to seal Ganondorf away, and when Link awakens in the present with his original arm damaged, Rauru's arm is passed to him to continue the mission of protecting Hyrule. This is exactly what binds Rauru and Link so tightly together.

The sealing war against Ganondorf that changed everything

The heart of Rauru's story is the past conflict known as the Imprisoning War. Back then the Demon King Ganondorf appeared and threatened Hyrule severely. As king, Rauru chose to use the power of a secret stone and sacrifice himself to seal Ganondorf beneath the castle. That seal lasted across ages and is the event that set off the entire TOTK plot. As the seal weakened, the world fell into crisis again, making what Rauru did in the past the foundation of everything players face.

His ties to Sonia and Zelda you should know

Another reason Rauru is so compelling is his relationships. He stood beside Queen Sonia, who held a special power over time, and together they ruled in the founding era of Hyrule. When Zelda travels back into the past and meets Rauru and Sonia, the story weaves the founding royal line together with Zelda in the present. This connection gives Zelda's role in this game more weight and emotion, and makes Rauru's story not just an old legend but something that directly affects the main characters.

Why Rauru is the heart of the TOTK story

Overall, Rauru is the character behind almost every event in Tears of the Kingdom, from founding Hyrule and sealing Ganondorf to the power passed on to Link. Though he is not a character you control, his actions in the past define everything in the present. Once you understand Rauru, it is like holding the key to the whole game's story.

If you just finished and still feel unsure about some scenes, go back and watch Rauru's dialogue and flashbacks again. You will spot small details that tie neatly into the ending and appreciate the game's storytelling even more.