How Link is Related to Darknuts (Zelda Theory)

[@BanditGames]

Check out part 2, covering Iron Knuckles! kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5qzaZqGnsSpe5o What enemies should make reappearances in the Sequel to Breath of the Wild? I'm thinking... Darknut! Lol

[@dragonpops3988]

MaskedNintendoBandit Darknut or something strong like them. Lynel were perfect, but def would like to see something new.

[@ryanmac1228]

MaskedNintendoBandit yeah, with the jackal head darknuts it good to keep in mind that hylians corrupted by malice tend to turn into monsters like said in A Link To The Past. Which it is inferred in some games that ganons armies are the corrupted and evil humans turned monsters.

[@SchneeflockeMonsoon]

MaskedNintendoBandit I think the jackal heads are just stylized chain-mail masks.

[@stanstanstan2597]

I mean to me lynels seem kinda like a mix of darknuts and monsters, because they have clear fighting techniques, (a trait not typically seen in normal “animals” if you haven’t noticed) and also powerful weapons and attacks.

[@commonviewer2488]

Those frog mini-bosses from Majora's Mask

[@telecoustic000]

Keep in mind when adult Link wakes up in the Temple of Sages in OoT, he's basically been in a coma for 7 years and had no exercise. I'd say it would be odd if the Hero's Shade weren't taller than OoT Adult Link lol

[@MrMonk-ph8dr]

Puts in perspective why BOTW Link starts out so weak in comparison to every other Link. If you sleep for 100 years, I don’t care how good your rejuvenation tech is, you’re going to have some serious bed lag.

[@codyfinchum890]

Well honestly that more of a design choice really but the fact it OOT link makes it great I was always curious about the guy the first time I saw him but figured out who it was once link said his final dialogue

[@JustCozItsMe]

I think OoT Link was 8 and 'adult' Link is only like 15, another reason why the shade was taller. Forgot to say that some ppl grow until they are like 24... That was what I meant to add to the convo.

[@Mr.Foxhat]

Exercise doesn't have an influence on your height. Sure it might make you more massive, but your height should be practically the same. As for why he is so "short." Actually, the Master Sword appears smaller in Ocarina of Time than in any other game (in which the sword blade usually appears to be about 4 feet in length, meanwhile in Ocarina it look like it's a little more than half Link's height.) It is possible that OoT Adult Link is actually already full sized and close to the Hero's Shade's height. If you take the Master Sword in Twilight Princess and compare with it the Hero's Shade, it appear to be of a similar size to how it appears in Ocarina. Also consider that OoT Adult Link is the same height, if not taller, than other Adults in OoT. As Link is usually shorter than other Hylians, it is possible that OoT Link is actually just really huge and that the measurements fans have made where he is supposedly 5'3 aren't really accurate (especially considering Hyrule could use a different measurement system than our world.) It's all in the genetics though. Exercise isn't really the main factor.

[@decimation9780]

Super Ninja Playz Games In many ancient cultures, the age of manhood started at 14 and ended at 16, because at that point you could work a job or join an army and work to feed your family or serve your nation. So Link wouldn’t need to be 18 or 21, he could be as young as 16 and be eligible to wield the Master Sword.

[@free20104]

Actually the Jackals are canine as well, the hero of twilight and the hero of time both have wolf forms in TLZTP. If they are cursed maybe the turn in to a man wolf hybrid, for TLZWW.

[@diegod7936]

free20104 sick point

[@manietemadi3989]

free20104 the correct word here is lupine, not canine, but it's still a pretty good point

[@mikethehunter5212]

@@manietemadi3989 *Canis lupus familiaris

[@manietemadi3989]

@@mikethehunter5212 thank you

[@MikeFox__FoxMan2099]

Brilliant connection, I can't believe I didn't think of the wolf forms until I read this 👍

[@Joe-ik1ph]

That might explain why we didn't face any Darknuts in Breath of the Wild. The corrupted Guardians killed all of the knights and soldiers.

[@voidlooksback]

To be honest, it would have been cool if deep inside Hyrule castle you find a mini boss of a Stal version of the Darknut.

[@Joe-ik1ph]

@@voidlooksback Yeah. Maybe fight the Stal-Darknut instead of the Stalnox to get the Hylian Shield. Also, the Stal-Darknut could have been Link's father whose spirit is cursed/bound to the castle, and defeating him would set him free. That could have a touching scene between father and son, and maybe get a memory of Link in his childhood with his family.

[@voidlooksback]

@@Joe-ik1ph I could see that if the Stal-Darknut was Link's father it would have more subtle hints like many other things in Breath of The Wild.

[@tgatt5759]

Or they're underground. And we'll see them in botw 2.

[@marcosgalvis3498]

I can't wait. They better put a good fight!

[@CloverBell13]

Also like to point out that Link is technically not human; he's hylian. So you could argue that it could be common for hylian males to continue growing even into adulthood. (could explain why Link always seems so short...)

[@maoskung259]

Hylians are the same as any other race in Zelda, created in the image of their goddess, humans aren’t actually the same in the Zelda universe as they are in real life.

[@maoskung259]

Also, he probably calls them humanlike to compare them to humans.

[@HappyBeezerStudios]

But we see quite a few adults in BotW that aren't massively towering of that games Link. And he had all the time of his life to eat and train well to fully grow. Sure the situation in the land might mean they don't have the resources, but even then there should be the odd one who does well, especially in the more secluded and protected villages. It does support my idea for hylian age tho. That they get way older than humans, explaining the rather old age of the Kings with their young daughter.

[@ivanmunoz9055]

I will like to point out that while hylians have pointy ears most if not all inhabitants of Ordon (twilight princess) have rounded ears so they could be actual humans

[@graendread1704]

This. Link is kept short for gameplay purposes and in japanese fashion, even 'adult' Link is probably more like a teenager.

[@ezekielmcclure5673]

Hell yeah you should talk about iron knuckles!

[@chasethemaster3440]

Ezekiel McClure agreed

[@Magneekic]

Totally agree

[@waltergrey2285]

Why do people always leave iron knuckles out of videos like this? In fact iron knuckle sounds better than dark nut. But they are the same or am I wrong?

[@Cretaceous158]

@@waltergrey2285 They are different. The Iron Knuckles are smarter and more agile than the Darknuts in the original 2 games. In Zelda 1, you have to get behind an Iron Knuckle to defeat it, while in Zelda 2, you have to duck and attack and hope your sword hits it before it moves its shield, and hope it doesn't hit where your shield isn't. Also Darknuts work for Ganon while the OG Iron Knuckles were made by an ancient king to protect the Triforce of Courage.

[@shyla7722]

Darknuts have and always will be my favorite Zelda enemy. Just stalwart knights protecting dungeons from an over powering hero. I'm so glad a mis-translation gave them such a unique, if somewhat funny with modern wording, name

[@TheOneTrueHazard]

Another thing to think about: When Link is cursed by darkness-infused twilight magic, he transforms into a wolf. This is because of his connection to the sacred beast, I guess. What is the possibility that the WW and Minish Cap take on their doggy features because of the curses of their respective masters, and the bloodline of the knights only partly protects them?

[@IsaqueReynaLuar]

If I remember correctly, the Twili have a legend where the hero turns into a sacred beast for one reason or another (either the spirit of the hero or the triforce)

[@petery6432]

"The Darknuts are only found in the Temple of time and Hyrule Castle" Cave of ordeals: is my Triple Darknut room a joke to you?

[@gkeller1031]

That's what I came down here to comment haha

[@BanditGames]

Ooooopssss forgot about the cave, lol. Thanks for the note!!

[@dragonpops3988]

@@BanditGames To be fair. that is just extra content...

[@elitegamer9310]

@@BanditGames Darknut trio: Allow us to introduce ourselves.

[@hussyweissshutup1275]

or that duo in hyrule castle tp. One of them has a club i think?

[@soulangel57]

We're Iron knuckles, unlike Darknuts we don't chuckle

[@chasethemaster3440]

soulangel57 great comment😅👍💯

[@jacksone8282]

We're tough as nails, it ain't hard to tell, we break 'em down wether they're solid or frail!

[@tgatt5759]

Grrrrrrrrrrr

[@Halomanx540]

Jokes on you, the Twilight Princess Darknuts are a breed of Pugs so their noses are always squished!

[@Bsdel]

I think jackal headed darknuts was just Nintendo trying not to have link straight up kill humans in an otherwise cartoony game

[@samwiselemon6420]

My thought too!

[@hokton8555]

or they are just another creatures created by ganon

[@ScripulousFingore6133]

The implication that all iron knuckles were hypnotized Gerudo was troubling enough already

[@nousername191]

My guy, have you not seen the ending of Wind Waker?

[@Bsdel]

@@nousername191 LOL fair point, but in my defense Ganondorf DOES chuckle and speak after being stabbed in the forehead, implying that he’s been sealed and not outright murdered.

[@DrZalmat]

The size can also be explained as a side effect of the "evil energy" used to corrupt the Darknuts. In the whole series there is a correlation between evilness and size and every time someone gets corrupted he also becomes bigger, like the size difference between Ganondorf and Ganon or Darbus and Fyrus or a ton of minibosses who are bigger versions of normal enemies.

[@thebatmary5954]

Full Title= Link: the Hero of Time, Knight of Hyrule, ancestor to the Hero of Twilight and the Darknuts, Tall Person

[@Silverflame-1]

Yeah, it looks like it's very possible. It would also be kind of sad, since that means Link is fighting his own family/kin (in the games where he's descended from the knights, at least.) I'd love to hear about the Iron Knuckles as well!

[@Daxavoga]

In the Twilight Princess manga Link was training to be a knight before moving to Ordon village. I know the manga isn't really canon but it kinda helps this theory even more.

[@brendandoherty256]

Link also gets his arm cut off in that so I wouldn’t go too solidly by it.

[@mbii7667]

​@@brendandoherty256 oh wow that's pretty dope

[@schawangus]

Remember when Arin Hanson from Game Grumps said that Darknuts and Iron Knuckles were the exact same thing? Yeah I wanted to reach them rough the screen too.

[@oliviergagnon8719]

do you have anger issues

[@stevemanart]

Arin doesn't give a shit about stories, and in gameplay Iron Knights and Dark Knights fill the exact same role. Heavy-hitting damage sponges that change the pacing of normal fights. There's a lot and I mean A LOT to to criticize Arin over, but him not caring about the lore differences enough to count them as different isn't one.

[@SuperGamefreak18]

@@stevemanart which is the very role lynels take up in the games neither enemy types are in

[@joshkirkman6975]

They are very similar and you can't blame him for forgetting one detail of a game when his job is to play a bunch of different games all day.

[@flame666wolfspark3]

After you pointed out that in wind waker they had “Anubis like jackal heads” I noticed that in twilight princess they had a certain symbol on their chest armor very reminiscent of the scarab beetle which is also, like Anubis, part of ancient Egyptian beliefs

[@trebmaster]

I would like for you to talk about the knuckles.

[@albaneedge]

And have the title say "& knuckles" at the end

[@MrSuperbeast92]

@@albaneedge Came here to say that! x,D

[@sonadowfangirl30869]

Don't the Darknuts also use the Shield Attack in TP? A.K.A one of the Hidden Skills that the Hero's Shade teaches Link that he says cannot leave their bloodline? Their possibly knightly bloodline?

[@dafilmqueen556]

The power of their bloodline clearly isn't sacred no longer..

[@BlazeBlade]

honestly i didn’t even know that mnb looked like that until he put it on screen

[@Varunic219]

You mean sexy?

[@tsogobauggi8721]

Where is his mask...? ;)

[@BlazeBlade]

yup

[@nekochiyu5060]

That honestly makes fighting them a lot more personal. Using Link's extended family and ancestors, warped and cursed to fight by their sworn enemy, as elite soldiers... Oh, now I have even more reason to whoop Ganon's rear!

[@hiddendesire3076]

Weren’t the Jackal forms due to the corruption of ganon? I mean the Dark World or realm (whichever it is) did turn people into beasts.

[@goldbeard1996]

Fun Fact: In the german Game Version the Darknut is called "Schattengarde" wich you could translate into "Shadow Guard".

[@HyruleGamer]

I completely missed this video somehow, my bad! Must have got busy after the update video but great work as always man! Another cool detail on this topic is that the Knight Statue at 7:00 strongly resembles the stripped down Darknut from TP body wise :D

[@doctorhappy3609]

My cousin didn't stop growing till he was 25 hes like 6ft 5 inches and looks like a foot ball player.

[@Werewolf914]

Bruh I'm jealous I'm only 5 foot 6 inches actually something really funny the Doctors said I'm 66.6 inches tall. But yeah I think I was around 16 when I stopped growing. But hey I'm not 25 for 2 more years maybe I'll magically grow tall too?

[@H2BH4U]

I was 6'2 at 13 year of aaaaage

[@HylianLuke]

I liked this theory! Good thoughts and interesting connections I had never really thought of. As for the height thing, I kind of feel like their height doesn't necessarily have anything to do with their natural cycles of life and instead it has to do with their corruptions. Darknuts being sworn into Ganon's desires and wishes makes me think that Ganon's magic could have altered their height. I say this because if you notice, practically in almost every Zelda game Link is shorter or smaller than the Darknuts and Iron Knuckles present in the games. I do feel that Link is not short, he is actually a rather average height in the games. If compared to other normal people like villagers or townsfolk of Hyrule Castle Town, Link's height fits right in. When Link is up against a Darknut however, he suddenly feels so small compared to the size of a Darknut. I feel once again this is because of Ganon's magic altering their height which in turn alters their speed, strength, etc. into some sort of super-inhuman knight of darkness. I also believe you mentioned that the suits of armor sitting in Hyrule Castle were the same size as a Darknut or even Ganondorf? If Ganon's magic caused them to morph and change their height I would like to think that their height matches that of Ganondorf's for that sake of Ganon using his magic on the Darknuts. From a design standpoint, I think the reason Darknuts are just overall bigger than Link is because it is supposed to make you feel truly threatened when you have to take on your first one. This knight of darkness towers above you, the hero, but with your courage you take on this knight in cladded armor and prove yourself worthy of the hero's title. Anyways, great theory overall! Just wanted to spew out my thoughts on these things. Great video! :)

[@uncreativename2979]

What’s interesting too about the darknuts is they have ranks, in twilight princess the last darknut you fight in hyrule castle is tinted in gold, no other darknuts are that color. Same with wind waker, there are red darknuts and they’re stronger than the silver variant.

[@jasonwolf3591]

The jackal headed knights could possibly be suffering from similar effects to going into the Dark World in a Link to the Past.

[@PruBen66]

Could you imagine if they were in BOTW? They could have been placed around the castle and castle town. That would have been awesome honestly.

[@Ironcabbit]

I always believed that the humanoid-looking Darknuts were haunted, possessed suits of Hylian armor formerly belonging to slain soldiers and knights.

[@movespammerguyteam7colors]

I appreciate that you included that in most of the games is a teenaged boy. Also the thickness of the armor and the internal padding for the knights could add a little to the wearer’s height or size.

[@ryanmac1228]

The iron knuckles have connects to majoras mask, please cover them I need to know more about Majora lore.

[@walls_of_skulls6061]

What connections???

[@houseofskulltulips]

2:32 You just blew my mind.. that's pretty dark, Link killed people.

[@lapersianaperta]

Moblins too are people, you monster 😂😂😂

[@lapersianaperta]

@@houseofskulltulips well yes, they are ugly non human people, but people. They craft their own weapons and jewelery, animals don't do that. Imagine all the moblin orphan kids we made. Those guts probably had a family 🤔

[@IzzySarru]

As far as I know, all the knights that you fight in A Link to the Past are just regular Hylian knights that got mind controlled. So he killed a LOT of people. Innocent people at that.

[@pliskenx51mm83]

He killed alot of Yiga in BOTW. I don't believe that they teleport away after you beat them. I simply believe that is the last few seconds of their brain taking control to teleport the corpse away so Link doesn't steal any clan secrets!

[@houseofskulltulips]

@@pliskenx51mm83 But it's the same effect as when they teleport. And it's E10+. They survive outside of that one cutscene.

[@Lanosrep]

I know it is entirely unrelated ti the video but the talking about ears got me remembering something. After a lot of browsing and research, I found out that there are 2 species of human in Zelda. I don't know if this is me being slow and only just finding this out, but canonically, there is the Hylian species that we see 90% of the time, and then the Human species, which are seen in small settlements often such as in Ordon Village. The only difference between these peoples is that Humans have round ears and that Hylians have pointed ears. I'm not much of a theorist, but these are intentionally made artistic choices. Because in Twilight Princess, both hylians and humans appear, so there definitely seems to be something deeper at play here

[@glitchville]

That's cool, I didn't know that humans were actually canon in Zelda and was wondering where the people with round ears came from lol

[@jamesgosling8491]

3 Views,3 comments,3 likes. Nice

[@tsogobauggi8721]

So this video is just half infernal... ;)

[@rangedweevil6150]

I was just watching one of your other videos when I got the notification lol

[@bed22455]

Gotta say, as your channel has grown your theories and general explanations and thoughts behind your videos has just gotten better and better! Keep up the good work my man and I'll be looking forward to seeing more from you!

[@noahpfeiffelman7682]

All that armor is probably to protect their natural weak spot that their named after, lol.

[@dannyg4835]

Fun fact Most the knights seem to have a similar guard with shield and sword like the hero's shade Not like the link we play You can see that by looking at the way they hold the shield and the sword I think they had the same or similar training

[@davidmartin5483]

I want to see also a video on the iron knuckles please. Also who says that the more human head looking darknuts are per say alive....they could also be corrupted spirits of knights after all it wouldn't make sence for the knights to just be corrupted when evryone else is turned into a spirit in twilight princess....also we have seen that the castle was invaded so there would be plenty of spirits of dead knights to corrupt there and maby even posess some armor that is on display. Another thing we don't know is if the Darknuts are completly corrupted. Since we don't see someone else other than link traversing those regions and normally there are no other enemys other than the darknuts in those locations, we could assume that the darknuts attck evrything that comes near as a corrupt and twisted way of theyr former mission to protect the royal family and objekts they had to protect. So it could be possible that Ganon/Ganondorf just simply left them there because they where such good guardians and never personally interacted with them. After all we never see him walk around the castle(exept for ocarima of time and the horse chasing sequence) or other locations do we? And even so he has multiple ways of interacting with things outside without leaving his place with his phantoms and other magic.

[@smashwagon777]

Dark nuts are my absolute FAVORITE enemy

[@riildiilcomments891]

I've always thought about them being related to the Royal Knights. Kinda like the Yiga Clan, who are treacherous Sheikah, the Darknuts could be treacherous Royal Knights. Another thought I've had about them, wich might support the theory even more, is their appereance. I was thinking about Link turning into a wolf in Twilight Princess. The Twili believe that the savior of their world would come in the shape of a wolf, wich obviously is Link. But why a wolf? Could it be that there's been another hero-wolf in the Twilis past that gave origin to this legend? Maybe another Link who saved them from a catastrophe? But then again, why a wolf? I think that the lupine-like appereance of the Darknuts (like in the Wind Waker or Minish Cap) is their dark-side look. And the Twili, who dose'nt really view darkness completely as something bad, could have believed that the wolf is a symbol of heroism. Since Link is related to the Royal Knights, this must be the reason for him turning into a wolf in the Twilight Realm. So there you have it. In Hyrule the Royal Knights are Hylians, while in the Twilight Realm they are seen as wolfs. But that's a theory of my own. What do you think of it?

[@ssjgokuhan]

When I was a kid, the darknuts in the first LoZ looked like cats to me based on their helmet shape, I never considered they looked like people under there.

[@joshuabittar]

Always thought that the Nut un the their names has something to do with a Juggernut, them being sturdy, and big, and all that, but it's just a thought hahaha. Great video ✌️

[@DaniloSantosVieira]

🥜

[@MerkhVision]

The word is “juggernaut,” lol, it’s “-naut,” not “-nut!”

[@projectbeanos3524]

Make a video on iron knuckles please have a nice quarantine

[@MrBlindsight1]

The growth spurt could also have something to do with Hylian genetics whose physiological changes could be different from our real life physiques albeit similar.

[@Chris-gx1ei]

Not every Link has knights as His ancestor. What about the Minish Cap Link? He was the grandson of a Smith, and not of a Knight or something similar.

[@teacherjohn_stoic-dreamven7373]

Mario Link Could always be a blacksmith retired from knighthood, or a knight who specialized in being a smith. Think of the legendary things a Link-Smith could make!

[@Tatokat]

You are aware that people usually have more than one grandparent right? The knight-relation could have come from his grandmother, or his other grandfather, or his other grandmother.

[@tsemiu]

@@Tatokat He doesnt have to have a knight as an ancestor though. It's not a requirement to be Link.

[@Tatokat]

@@tsemiu I didn't say that he has to. I was just pointing out that he has more than one grandparent.

[@dayshallcomeagain]

I honestly wonder who the hero of time's mother was. How did she know about the great deku and how did she even get to Kokiri Forest in the first place without turning into a stalfos?

[@tolkienblack]

DarkAvatar I might just be saying shit but I think they are separated like that just for gameplay purposes. I imagine it’s supposed to be more like botw where the village is in the middle of the lost woods

[@shadoukingu3730]

Do we know if his mother ever made it to the village? She is clearly not a live when the game starts....I would assume it is more along the lines of the Kokiri's finding him in the woods or the Great Deku tree sensing him.

[@russellharrell2747]

I had a theory that an alternate ending of Oracle of Ages would result in Link reduced to a baby and Zelda fleeing with him back to Hyrule, only 400 years in the past of the Oracle games, which just happens to be during the war that preceded Ocarina of Time. Zelda takes Link to the Great Deku Tree since she knows she can’t go to the Castle without drawing too much attention. Unfortunately before she can make it she is mortally wounded by Hyrule’s enemies and dies as she finds the Deku Tree, either telling him the truth or saying she is Link’s mother. Either way, the Deku tree makes the Koroks take the human shapes of the Kokiri and raise Link to become the legendary Hero of Time...which of course is ironic since he already traveled through time and was even de-aged! Anyway, makes as much sense as the downfall timeline.

[@sakurahinata4984]

@@shadoukingu3730 but if you remember a side quest of OOT you have to give Cojiro (blue cuckoo) to a man in Lost Wood and he later became a Stalfos (that creepy kokiri girl said it). Maybe they turn to Stalfos after some time, I don't maybe 1-3 days.

[@Aurora-313]

Given that the Deku Tree could also sense that Link was someone of destiny, it could be that the Tree sent fae to guide her along. Bare in mind, she was also mortally wounded so she likely died before the conversion took place or the Deku Tree intervened to allow her to rest in peace.

[@chrishale7480]

You know, it occurred to me that if the ocarina was re-introduced to botw’s sequel the song of storms could be used like Urbosa’s Fury and I would love to see it introduced like: the hero and the princess are cornered. An army of Yiga seeking revenge are bearing down on them when a familiar melody begins playing behind them. Storm clouds close in as a man clad in purple plays a small blue instrument. The storm clouds accumulate and, BOOM, a flash of lightening strikes a group of the ninja. Another strike, one after another rains down on the Yiga until all are dispatched. The mysterious man takes his lips away from the small, blue instrument and says “You’ve met a terrible fate, haven’t you.”

[@danieltopete2572]

I wanted to add really quick (in case someone hasn’t already) that The Hero’s Shade has a similar fighting stance to that of the Darknuts’. Shield directly pointed forward and sword held up high from behind. Only difference is that The Hero’s Shade is left handed and Darknuts are right handed.

[@cupajoe99]

7:05 “whose lineage is passed down through their bloodline” 🤔 hmm this video is made out of video 🤔

[@coolbrotherf127]

In such a magical world, I wouldn't be surprised if there's also something magical about the bloodline that causes the knights to grow larger than average people when they officially become a knight.

[@gabriellockwood2780]

Darknuts in BotW2 *COULD* be either large Bokoblins OR Hylians aligned with Gannondorf. It would be cool to have Darknut Enemies around the open, empty fields of Hyrule- The Akalla Citadel & Barracks, etc. Then it would also make sense for larger (Gerudo?) warriors to use the large swords found throughout BotW/2. Specific Darknut/Dark Knight Weapons for BotW2: - Knight's Claymore - Golden Claymore - Rusty Claymore - Royal Guard's Claymore - Great Flameblade - Great Frostblade - Great Thunderblade - Ancient Battle Axe+++ I mean Lynels are the only enemies who use Elemental Swords, and the only Weapons on display in the castle/ruins happen to be larger than Link? I call Darknut/Dark Knight *SHENANIGANS*

[@BadWolf739]

To be fair, Hero's Shade is probably the same size as the darknut because it uses their base model, and attack sequences. Though it is fun to theorize on what some of the shortcuts the programmers took mean in universe.

[@dylanmcloughlin2187]

Talk about the iron knuckle. (Like for NMB to see this)

[@austinaxley81]

The japanese names of darknuts and iron knuckles, Tatonakku and Aian nakku, suggests at least some similarity between the two, the Zelda team often uses naming conventions to denote characters that are related through lore. Think Moblins and Bokoblins, or how "stal" usually implies a skeletal character type. I think then it's pretty safe to say that they're made in a similar fashion. In OoT we see that Nabooru is almost made into a Iron Knuckle, but when the armor falls off her face is revealed. This doesn't happen with regular iron knuckles so either Nabooru was a special case or the armor is animated by imprisoning people in it. The other knuckles may have once had people in them too their bodies long since decomposed leaving only the armor animated by the trapped spirits of its captives. This is similar to the phantoms in phantom hourglass which gives another clue. The whole idea of preserving soldiers through death to keep defending those they served in life isn't new it was employed in ancient China, Sumeria, Mesoamerica, and perhaps most relevantly Egypt. In Wind Waker we see the first knuckles (Using knuckles for both darknuts and iron knuckles because the part that gets translated to 'knuckle' is in both names) without their helmets revealing a jackal-like face. This is evocative of ancient Egyptian iconography which may sound like a stretch but in phantom hourglass we learn that sometime prior to the game the very Egyptian-esque Cobble Kingdom was destroyed. We also learn that the inhabitants of the Cobble Kingdom like Kayo manifest as ghosts after death, which is another hint towards the possessed armor theory. So the Knuckles in Windwaker and the phantoms in hourglass could be some sort of warrior race from the Cobble Kingdom, and interestingly even on the faces of the knuckles in WW we see their eyes are vacant, as if they're entranced or not alive.

[@sammyvasco6385]

I got early... Nice! But, seriously... DarkNUT will always crack a smile on my face. XD

[@greendolphin333]

Me too🤣

[@Skew0443]

let me guess, you were a middle schooler at the time of writing this comment?

[@HigureHokousha]

Link *was* extremely tall with Fierce Deity's. Might have reflected his natural adult proportions, or influenced them.

[@mo-2179]

Okay you just blew my mind. Awesome channel, can't wait to see what else you got! Don't know if I can handle it, but no turning back now!

[@entropic-decay]

some enemies I'd love to see in BotW 2: Darknuts and Iron Knuckles in a partially rebuilt Hyrule Castle Poes (you'd think they'd be everywhere after the calamity honestly) Skulltulas Tektites Like Likes

[@UltravioletNomad]

When you consider that all of the special combat moves you learn from the Hero's Shade culminate for the fight against Darknuts, the height difference is likely more a design decision than a lore based one.

[@boxofsweden4570]

You said they were only found in hyrule castle and temple of time but there also found in the trail of ordeals do u think it could be of some significance

[@iDarkSteven]

Hhann 4d wondering who was gonna say it

[@irreleventmaincharacter4879]

It could be knights who attempted the cave of ordeals but failed and were corrupted.

[@TheSummoner86]

You should take a look at these dark nuts especially the ones with the dog faces and compare them to the snow peak ruins. just a thought but everyone's always hinted that the Lizard armor looks a little off and of a large size.

[@jtrader1999]

Yeah. I'd be interested in seeing your thoughts on Iron knuckles

[@perriwinkleiii5361]

MNB is king of the ZeldaTuber thumbnail game. While the other tubers occasionally pump out a masterpiece, MNB is consistently high-tier

[@jesiahhubbs7216]

Wasn't Fierce Deity Link bigger than normal adult link? Nodding to the fact he'd grow up to be bigger than we saw him in OOT and what not

[@trebmaster]

Thanks for pointing out the hero's shade is a ghost and not a Stalfos. I think someone mistakenly used that point when they were trying to prove Link was dead in Majora's Mask - which was a super dumb argument and Nintendo themselves debunked it.

[@michaelbowers5167]

Another thing that wasnt taken into account is that hylians can live longer than normal humans so it is possible that their growth stage could last into their mid 20s explaining why the late teen links are always shorter than other hylians.

[@gkeller1031]

Wait...that picture was you at ELEVEN?? If I didn't have that context I would have guessed you were somewhere in the 15-17 range in that picture.

[@BanditGames]

It was a real picture indeed! It was this whole thing where my whole life, doctors told me I'd grow to be 6'5"ish because I was just so tall for my age-- but when I hit 11, 6' exact, I just stopped xD Genes are weird!

[@gkeller1031]

@@BanditGames Haha true. I definitely know people who stopped growing at a young age but I'm not sure I've ever seen a 6-foot-tall 11-year-old before!

[@ETHomerin]

Great video. Going off it here's an idea for an adult Link Majora's Mask sequel: Corruption of the knights of Hyrule and the kingdom gets thrown into chaos. Maybe Dark Link could be behind this as the turmoil within the hero of time's mind is quite high after his adventures, and he in turn corrupts the other knight's and messes with Link. In this situation it could be shown how the hero of time became the hero's shade.

[@Einlanzer83]

Nice video, but I didn't like the whole Link growing stuff. You're saying Link will grow another 2 feet and become 8 feet tall? Kind of silly. The height discrepancy is easily explain as a visual choice by the game designers and isn't actually canon.

[@glitchville]

When/if the Hero of Time became a stalfos, it's possible that that could have given him an extra foot or two because Stalfos usually look pretty tall. Also, the Hero's Shade could be just that, A shade of himself, not really the real thing, but a sort of projection or image, a sort of representation of the Hero of Time. And I do have to agree, the growing thing doesn't make sense.

[@SeddyAm]

Its knightly bloodline, they're taller they get older, it be a badass to see an old grumpy link that nearly look like giant and still agile in his age

[@hpspacecraft713]

At least in the decline timeline, Ganon's army was made up of hylians who tried to enter the corrupted sacred realm, so maybe darknuts are Knights of Hyrule who tried to get the Triforce?

[@tharandomizerguy3590]

I know I've said this on your Branching Out video, but You, NintendoBlackCrisis, and Zeltik should do a collaboration on the Zonai or something like that.

[@samsonik5885]

Agreed, the 3 best Zelda theorists discussing the biggest Zelda mystery. I would treat watching a video like that as a movie at the cinema. I'd have sweets and a big glass of coke.

[@johnathanmurray287]

Think your on to something but I'd like to point out potential evidence that you didn't discus. In BOTW there are two sets of knight gear one of them is fairly typical where as the other is a dark theme that is wielded by the very best knights. Knowing how meticulous Nintendo is it may have been a reference to this being true. It always did seem weird that the top knights in Hyrule would have a dark theme to them.

[@TimedRevolver]

Also, keep in mind the Hero's Shade doesn't technically have a physical form in Twilight Princess. He could theoretically be as big as he wanted. As for the Darknuts, it's entirely possible that being turned into monsters just made them bigger.

[@BirdieSenpai]

I feel you, my brother. I peaked at 5'10'' around the same age and never got any taller. Most people would say that's pretty normal, but it's a little out there considering I am *by far* the smallest male on my dad's side of the family, since my dad is 6'4'', my grandpa and uncle were 6'2'', my granduncle was 6'6'', my great granduncle was 6'8'', and my great grandpa was 6'10''. Also, *this* is an innovative and creative video that is a testament to just how far Mask has come, how much hes learned, and great a content creator he's become. I could not possibly be more proud!!

[@chrishandsome6542]

The only weird part I have and haven't seen in discussions is if nut is just a borrowed word, then why is the word also used when describing a Deku nut. Because the word truly represents parallel as a nut in real life and on the game. Perhaps it's called a Darknut because it's armor is like that of a shell?

[@icethebatpony6371]

3:16 you also find them in the Cave of Ordeals where on the last sections of floors you have to fight a Darknut with 2 flying Lizards (I can’t spell their name), another floor you fight 2 Darknuts at the same time, and interestingly on the last floor you fight 3 at once all with a different armor color, a red, blue, and black, where as the one in front of the boss door in the Castle is coated in a gold tinted armor

[@kyetaaffe515]

it could just be that the non-Jackal Darknuts hight is also attributed to some kind of transfiguration magic placed upon them when they were cursed to be Darknuts too, at least that's what I think could have happened since we rarely see may actual Hylians that are as huge as the Darknuts in game if any exist at all.

[@corruptedplayer]

i would love to see a video about your iron knuckle theory

[@collaborisgaming2190]

7:50 also in a cannon comic for Oot that was only released in germany it's explicitly stated that the father was slain in the Hyrule Civil war before the game too

[@i.pfreely6450]

I always though the minish cap/ windwaker dark Knights looked like doberman dogs so they got turned into these dark dogs because dogs are loyal to there master in this case the person who turned them into the dark Knight

[@MikeFox__FoxMan2099]

This is an underrated comment, Dobermans were literally developed to be loyal, capable guard dogs. Good connection 👍

[@generallyscorchedtoast]

Anybody else just notice that every instance that link speaks (i.e. CD games, cartoon, etc.)is not canon. I just noticed that link does infact canonically speak, and that is, as the Hero's Shade.

[@morrigankasa570]

I've only played Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, and Link's Awakening. So never faced a Darknut but Iron Knuckles are pretty tough.

[@darkyledarknut7432]

Woaw, a video about me ! 😂

[@chasethemaster3440]

Darky le Darknut ha

[@eavyroman7449]

I would love to see a theory on the iron knuckle and I can’t wait for reviews

[@jacquesford4095]

4:28 "And a lighter sword for colse quarters combat" meaning the bigger one is long range?

[@pliskenx51mm83]

The Darknuts are a pain in the ass in TP. They get even worse once their armor has been knocked off cause with the shorter sword they get faster with their sword strikes.

[@neomp5]

fitting a jackal headed darknut face into the twilight princess darknut helmet would require a significantly less drastic change in head shape than we've seen from, say, moblins, or bokoblins

[@blackattack1840]

Fierce Deity was pretty tall too...

[@xenomorph6599]

I wonder if they're connected in any way with the Yiga. Combatitive humans that sided with Ganon, that cover their faces (the yiga with masks or other identities)

[@jomilielooney6168]

maskedNintendoBandit:on with the content. ad starts playing

[@novacrystal6008]

It's a pleasure to support you! Your content is great ^-^ ❤

[@GamerTroll911]

I can imagine what the guy was thinking when naming them. “Okay, we gotta name these big bois, they’re evil/bad or they have dark coloured armour so Dark something, they’re covered in full heavy duty armour which has layers like a nut... *DARK NUT* “

[@cato3277]

The closest thing we really got to a Darknut in BoTW were the Yiga, particularly the blade masters. Definitely with a more ninja aesthetic, but if your theory is true they could be seen as ninja Darknuts.

[@m-is-toast]

I’ve always called the Darknuts batmen solely because of their design in Wind Waker.

[@DynomitePunch]

i dunno why but i like the idea that theirs a height requirement to join the hylian knights, and that's why all the other knight warrior guard in the game you see at the tavern are all short, skinny, or fat lmao, they didn't meet the height requirement for the speicial forces unit of the hylian military, something about that makes me chuckle, the idea of fantasy world having a very realistic requirement for a specific job in the game lol good video it makes a lot of sense

[@iciclecold2991]

Totally spot on theory. Good stuff bro.

[@TobiHReact]

The darknut from twilight princess is defnently handsdown the most badass darknut in the entire Zelda franchise!

[@swizzamane8775]

Fierce Deity? He seems tall enough to be a Darknut... Could Link be pulling from some ancient ancestry ?