The Secret Identity of Twilight Princess's Scariest Boss... (Zelda Theory)

[@Zeltik]

Thanks for watching! Couple things to clear up: 1:22 I meant Twilight Realm, not Sacred :p And yeah, there are Phantom Riders during the final fight, I completely forgot about them! Doesn't disprove the theory though - Death Sword could be an older Phantom, forgotten and sealed in his sword.

[@vedred33]

My theory is that the sword was used as an execution sword originally in the Arbiters Ground. That's why its symbols match the symbols around arbiters ground. Eventually somehow the evil of the monsters it executed soaked into the sword, and it became death sword. Or possibly, some prisoner who enchanted it, so he could live on.

[@revilostraight7236]

i also think its worth noting that red is also a color associated with Din, and therefore the tri-force of power

[@JustQuibbs]

Aren't we also forgetting Phantom Zelda? Who has all the trademark battle tactics from any Ganon Phantom? There might be something there. Like, what is a Ganon Phantom? Is it something created from Ganon, or something corrupted by Ganon? Who could have been all the Phantoms? The Holy Knights from Four Swords Adventure maybe? So many questions!! I don't discredit your theory though, I believe this sword and boss could just as well be a Ganon Phantom. An older one. One much more vile in nature...who knows what Ganondorf's relationship to the Arbeiter grounds were prior to him invading Hyrule. So much hidden lore, so much to speculate~ Have a goodday!

[@lorian7101]

Ganon uses phantom ganon in the last horse fight. those phantoms are him

[@geoffolson8177]

Zeltik Great video Zeltik! I like the theory. I tried finding something in the Hystoria that describes that being a weapon used by Ganondorf. No luck it would appear. It would be nice if Nintendo could weigh in their thoughts on this. It does bare a resemblance to Phantom Ganon's sword in Wind Waker, so even if it isn't confirming that Death Sword is Phantom Ganon, in the very least they could have used the sword in TP as inspiration for Death Sword. Unofficially making it Phantom Ganon.

[@EvilExcalibur]

I always thought that it was an executioners' blade and the phantom was the manifestation of ire from its victims. I like this theory more though.

[@Lost_idiot223]

That's a good theory! Pretty dark and it has no connection to the games villains. Being it's own entity gives off a creepier vibe.

[@bikkiikun]

I think, it is more likely, that the sword used to be that of the arbiter ground's chief executioner, with the spirit being the executioner himself or an amalgament of the spirits of the condemned. Why? 1) ALL of the swords, that Ganondorf wielded so far are double edged (this one has a single edge and a broad blunt side, which would also plays into the case of an executioner's sword). On top of that is has no pointy end, so it can only be used for slicing and cutting... this is clearly not a sword for battle. But a heavy, single edged sword with a broad blunt side for additional weight is a proper "tool" for beheadings. 2) There really is no TriForce (there might be some triagular shape, but it is barely visible. A TriForce (even an inverted one) would be much more prominent. 3) The room seems to be purpose built to house the sword. Thus, it had to have been there before Ganondorf's "visit". A connection to the Gerudo is not impossible, but not very likely as their weapons aesthetic is very different. ...also the name is clearly not Gerudo.

[@Lardman678]

@@bikkiikun Not that I agree or disagree with you, but Ganondorf in Windwaker uses 2 single edged Chinese Dao style swords.

[@alexanderg.larsson1456]

thats almost an as good theory as zeltiks theory Im not sure wich one i want to belive

[@AntasmaTheBatKing]

@@Lardman678 That's confirmed to be another timeline.

[@RelativelyBest]

I think we need to consider the perspective of Japanese folklore a bit here. Though styled as a western-type fantasy story, Legend of Zelda is actually very Japanese when you look closely. Case in point, the sword is bound with ofuda, which is a distinctly Shinto thing to do. Now, Shinto is an animistic religion that essentially holds that anything can possess a spirit, including inanimate objects like swords. Their concept of a "holy sword", notably, is not so much a sword that has been blessed by or in the name of a deity but rather a sword that has been offered as a "body" for a kami. But an object can also acquire spiritual qualities all on its own. There is in fact an entire class of "demon" - the tsukomogami - that are created from old, everyday objects that just amass spiritual energy over time. Another important concept in Shinto is _kegare,_ loosely translated as "impurity" - a form of spiritual pollution that must be cleansed or in extreme cases sealed away. The basic idea is that things can get "spiritually dirty" - for example, strong negative emotions could attach themselves to a person, animal, place or object and begin to accumulate. This could in turn have a direct negative influence on anyone who comes in contact with the tainted item. In other words, in Japanese folklore an "evil sword" doesn't necessary have to have been actively possessed by a demonic entity or cursed with black magic, which is how it's typically viewed in the west. It is regarded as something that could occur naturally, for lack of a better word. Compare the swords forged by Sengo Muramasa, which were highly praised but also had a reputation for possessing an inordinate degree of "bloodlust," to the point where they demanded blood whenever drawn and could even force the wielder to kill himself if left unsatisfied. As far as I can tell, the reason for all of this was simply that Muramasa himself was considered a dangerously volatile and unhinged individual. See, there was no dark magic or infernal pacts involved, the man had simply passed some of his own bad qualities on to his creations. Now, it's perfectly possible that the Death Sword did indeed belong to Ganon or was otherwise strongly associated with him. I even agree that this was probably the intended implication. It certainly looks like something he would have owned. What I'm saying is, perhaps the impression they were going for was that the sword is so evil simply because Ganon owned it and probably killed a lot of people with it, to the point where his evil just rubbed off on it. If so, asking who or what that demon phantom thing was supposed to be is sorta beside the point. The creature itself may be irrelevant, merely a manifestation of the sword's dark nature. Consider that it's actually the sword itself that is sealed away. It's clearly the _sword_ that is the focus here, not the phantom monster wielding it. And again, this is pretty blatant Shintoist imagery, and I can't imagine that wasn't deliberate. I think it was probably presented that way so that most Japanese playing the game would immediately get the basic gist - that this is a sword with some seriously bad mojo and if it didn't belong to Ganon, it definitely belonged to someone just as bad. Then again, it's also possible that you're on to something here. Maybe they originally intended to include a version of Ganon's phantom but for whatever decided not to, and the reworked the concept so they could have a memorable enemy encounter? Anyway, I've rambled for long enough. Just some stuff I wanted to mention for added context.

[@morpheel]

This is very interesting. I didn't really believe this theory because of how little evidence there is, but your explanation of the Japanese culture thing makes a lot more sense. If they wanted to make the spirit of the sword the main focus, they would of named the spirit and not the sword right? And the Japanese name of the mini boss might of just meant it was owned by whoever gobera is. I don't really see how that relates to ganondorf. But this is still an interesting theory.

[@RelativelyBest]

@@morpheel "Gobera" could also be the name of the smith who forged it, similarly to Muramasa. It's standard for notable Japanese swords to be referred to by the name of the creator. Again, this might be something that would be more obvious to a Japanese than to a western person. Note that the boss is named Gobera no Ken in Japanese. As in, the boss isn't named Gobera, his name is literally "The Sword of Gobera", implying the phantom _is_ the sword.

[@beckyritter7983]

@@RelativelyBest I think there is also a Shinto belief that an object that has been neglected or mistreated can take on a mischievous, or even an evil, kami or spirit. So if that sword was owned by someone evil, or simply abandoned and left someplace where it could accumulate negative energy or a bad spirit, that could also explain it.

[@RelativelyBest]

@@beckyritter7983 Pretty much what I was going for with my original reply, I think. That's sort of what _kegare_ is, as far as I understand the concept: Basically bad mojo in general.

[@DavidCousens]

Thanks so much for taking the time to share this information. It's lovely to stumble across some intriguing mythology/folklore that I didn't know about. I'm going to google more about this now! Hope you have a great day @Fervidor

[@RiskyStrats]

My theory was always that death sword is just another prisoner of the arbiters grounds. His head is weirdly cocked to the side which suggest that he was hung and sealed away. But it being ganondorf's sword is an interesting idea as well

[@Random-yg1fi]

RiskyStrats it could be both, a prisoner so wicked he was hanged and his spirit was lured to the sword wielded by the king of evil. However he could never touch it until link broke the seal

[@MunkyDrag0n]

Random 11 That is very convincing. The fact that the spirit can wield the sword so proficiently after immediately picking it up may also indicate the prisoner was hanged for allying with Ganondorf. The temple is filled with evil spirits, who are more than likely all condemned there for allying with Ganondorf during his failed invasion of Hyrule. It is an evil spirit that wears robes. Who else do we know that fits that description? The poes of that temple and wizzrobes, common Zelda enemies allied with Ganondorf.

[@zugzug733]

But the fact that his head is cocked to the side could be even more of an indication that it is Gannon’s sword because at the end of twilight princess, Zant (or his spirit or whatever) breaks gannondorf’s neck after he is defeated by link.

[@chaotictoast8199]

LeoIsDripping5 then that wouldnt make any sense because that’s after the fight

[@zugzug733]

That has no coorelation. A red herring is perfect for this type of story, where fate is a big part in a story like this.

[@FMHikari]

The fact that they turned a temple into an execution site just scares me.

[@nevets2371]

M P tomato potato for the aztecs

[@kadenockwig3970]

They didn’t repurpose it the hylians built it after the defeat of the gerunds that’s why the goddess of sands statue serpent doesn’t rest on her head instead it has its jaw and fangs showing meaning this is most likely to mock the gerudo however the gerudo may have gone into the prison to carve all of the language after the hylians abandoned the prison. It is seen in breath of the wild that the arbiters ground are but small ruins and this could be due to decay or the gerudo destroying the long time symbol of hatred towards them.

[@TheWither129]

Except they didn’t, the arbiter’s grounds were likely once a coliseum-style building used for gladiatorial combat, not a temple.

[@matthewdoherty803]

The turned the temple into abriters ground to mock the geruedo no?

[@NaomiAlicia4242564]

Arbiters ground seems to always have been a jail it is not a temple transformed into an execution grounds... Ocarina of time though....

[@adrii6925]

Arbiter's grounds is my favorite dungeon in the game and the miniboss sure adds to the freaking GREAT atmosphere the dungeon has

[@sageofanys3476]

While not my favorite (that's Snowpeak), it's definitely my 2nd favorite and one of the best dungeons in the franchise!

[@Espartanica]

No one gets how creepy this game gets. Everyone says Majora’s Mask is the creepiest but this boss literally looks like Satan, not to mention the other terrors of the game.

[@AquaDavie]

@@Espartanica I agree. thats why i loved this game so much.

[@AquaDavie]

I remember playing it while all the rest of my family was asleep. I got scared and went to bed. I loved this dungeon but it was scary as hell to little 11 or something year old me

[@Espartanica]

Aqua Davie I got up a few hours before school started to play. The final counter of time when I finished was over 500, either minutes or hours I never knew

[@MagesGuild]

Red isn't associated with evil in the Zelda series, it's associated with Din, and the power of DIn, including the Triforce of Power.

[@Vipadra]

Well, until BoTW with Yiga and Blood moon. But that doesnt count.

[@Vipadra]

@Ties de Jong true ig

[@kurisu-2385]

That would be purple malice

[@egyptiangodanubis6831]

Neeeerrrrd

[@field5758]

@@Vipadra That's because they're both conected to Calamity Ganon, which are themself conected to Demise, and his malice and the triforce, and more specifically the triforce of power, just as Zelda is conected to the triforce of wisdom, and Link is conected to the triforce of courage. So red is not just conected to evil

[@Skylicity]

from what i've noticed in zelda, they seem to have the 4th temple as the "death" type (shadow, arbiter's, stone tower, etc.), so seeing this miniboss and sword is fitting really. you made a lot of really good points in this

[@d.dementedengineerc99isurf26]

In traditional Chinese, the character for number 4 and the character for "death" are one and the same. The same held true in Japan. To this day, there are hotels and apartments in China that have no fourth floor!

[@cosmicsilhouette3858]

@@d.dementedengineerc99isurf26 Well the do have a fourth floor. It just doesn't have the number 4 on it.

[@귤귤-t5l]

@@d.dementedengineerc99isurf26 don't spout nonsense idiot, bet you don't even know anything about Chinese The traditional writing for death is '死' while the traditional writing for four is '肆', not so smart now huh

[@nillynush4899]

@@d.dementedengineerc99isurf26 Some western hotels do that with the Number 13.

[@d.dementedengineerc99isurf26]

@@nillynush4899 Certain hotels and apartments only have twelve floors. I've heard that before. Triscadecaphobia in action.

[@AgnusCavichioliPereira]

Good thinking, but Phantom Ganon does appear in Twilight Princess. In fact, a lot of them appear. At the final battle against Ganondorf, in the horse riding part, Ganondorf summons like, 6 phantom ganons on phantom horses, all of them having looks that are very resembling with the Ocarina of Time one.

[@Tosmasta00]

Minor error Ganondorf wasn't banished to the sacred realm. He was banished to the twilight realm with the mirror of twilight.

[@Zeltik]

Oh shoot, that's annoying. Yeah, I meant Twilight Realm! :p

[@davidchapman9742]

Another milestone for the channel!! Thanks to you all for your continued support! I hope you all have a great weekend. =)

[@sabinemoller6783]

Could it be possible that the demon that yeilds the sword be the corrupted soul of the sage? Since it's where the sage died and it seems to be related to the sage in colour.

[@nonoctoro4933]

The Sage of Water, the one killed by Ganondorf ? Well, why would he turn into a Demon ?

[@sabinemoller6783]

@@nonoctoro4933 possibly because of the circumstances of his death? It was just a theory my boyfriend and I thought of given the location and the fact that it was clearly a powerful entity.

[@FabBrigade]

Maybe the sword was powerful enough to corrupt the sage and turn him into a demon.

[@sabinemoller6783]

@@FabBrigade that is a good mix of the two theories! I was thinking something similar!

[@Damiardo]

Not likely, as Ganon killed him with his bare hands and there was no remaining sword for a spirit to be sealed/trapped in once he was sucked into the twilight mirror. I doubt he'd kill a sage and a completely unexplained blade would show up containing its corrupted soul, sounds more like an anime plot device than a Zelda one.

[@enanan4]

Twilight Princess Is perfect material for lots of epic or dark theories!

[@LazyGyro]

It almost looks like a non-cartoon version of WW Phantom Ganon's sword

[@way2spooky4u50]

With the Arbiter's Ground being an execution site, I would have thought that the sealed sword was a means of preventing the ghosts of victims from haunting the area and that the Death Sword Phantom was an amalgamation of vengeful spirits. But with how similar that thing is to Demise's sword, I can see this being valid.

[@ColmK83]

Really hope they bring back ganondorf in the next Zelda. Hopefully they'll give him much more screen time and some sort of backstory that players can sympathize with

[@max_rn5465]

Ganondorf in a Open World would be amazing! The Story of the next Zelda can be soooo good! DAMN

[@gungaloscrungalo8925]

I do agree we need more Ganondorf, but I disagree that we should be able to sympathise with him. He's the king of evil. His back story should serve to make him more badass.

[@Jack-rk7jc]

@@gungaloscrungalo8925 Well, Ganondorf is usually his own person, much like Link is. They're reincarnations, but the only thing they really have in common with their previous incarnations are power and courage. That's why some link's are lazy (skyward sword) and some ganondorf's are honorable (wind waker). It wouldn't be a stretch to have a sympathetic backstory for a new Ganondorf, that involved being excommunicated for being the only Gerudo male.

[@max_rn5465]

@AccidentalGenius 7 Yes same

[@ColmK83]

@@gungaloscrungalo8925 But how badass would it be if they did make him like thanos? An evil madman still, but a man who has become evil due to his tragic past not just evil for the sake of it.

[@a_creatorsstuff17]

would this make "death sword" twilight prinsess' version of Ghirahim? i know its a streach but think about it

[@lightning-assassin6434]

Then who is fi it the master sword?

[@overland_brew8197]

@@lightning-assassin6434 Fi

[@ruthl1515]

Well, if you look at the handle of the sword in twilight princess, you can see some sort of scales or something. Even if it is leather, it looks very similar to Demise's scales on his skin in skyward sword. Maybe just a coincidence, but still....

[@xGRAFIXZx]

I think it is. It would make sense right? Ganondorf is a reincarnated version of demise so maybe phantom Ganon is the reincarnation of Ghirahim.

[@billystokes3917]

This one makes sense and there's no reason for Fi to be in a different sword because... she'll always be the master sword

[@Dragonnox]

Maybe do a video on areas in BOTW that have significance to the lore, and what they look like now. For example, when I came across Arbiter's Grounds in BOTW, I had this "holy shit, this is where the sages tried to execute Ganondorf..." moment.

[@NazeMayo427]

I strongly agree with this!

[@kingdraco6422]

@@paulconway3041 The southern side of the gerudo desert, it's not much more than pillars in sand, but there is a molduga to fight there

[@paulconway3041]

I thought so but wasn't 100% sure. Thanks for confirmation!

[@balaam_7087]

Andrew James yes, thank god someone else suggested uploading more content based off this excellent game instead of the turgid mess that was skyward sword.

[@catriamflockentanz]

@@balaam_7087 To be fair: Skyward Sword has some amazing dungeons. (And let's be real, they're what most players want from the Zelda games.) Sadly, that's where praise ends. I, for example, will never understand why the Sairen weren't themed after the goddesses they "represent". With Din's Test being about Power, so fighting. Nayru's being a test of Wisdom, so puzzle solving. Both very integral parts of the series to begin with. In all honesty I cannot think of a good test of Courage, the only thing I can think of is facing an enemy you know you cannot best, but that seems rather unsatisfactory for the player.

[@TheAdventGamer]

I didn't think much of the sword but now I got my own theory. What if the sword was a simple executioner's blade that ended the lives of so many it became infused with the malice of it's victims and had to be sealed away within the Arbiter's Grounds? EDIT: and of course as I go through the comments I see someone already came up with the same theory as me.

[@djsmurfling9290]

Ooft

[@jonascarlson5293]

X

[@ShadowSora8491]

Doesn't make the theory any less interesting, though.

[@SamuelTheAdept]

I LOVED how you could hear it's roar when you enter the temple. (I love the foreshadow) Edit: Here are clips to the sounds kzbin.infoUgkxAuyVxPC5pU3sZ0iUQBUxeByaJk0yMgb3 and kzbin.infoUgkx7pgqRgn4dwivAxwxaeVyVfHeJdQBw3fO

[@cooliodoolio5473]

Wait, you could?

[@BlackxExorcistitsyaboi]

I literally just replayed it and i aint even peep

[@pink_phoenix]

That’s a roar? I thought it was a public toilet flushing /j

[@SamuelTheAdept]

Hey guys I added clip links to both the entrance of the temple and death swords roar to clarify

[@rezahydra]

Twilight Princess was my favorite Zelda, and I can say, this is personally a really good theory that may be true.

[@Boko]

2 uploads in under 24 hours? Wow, great job! (The time difference between the two was 23 hours lol)

[@Zeltik]

Man there's been so much support from you guys recently, the least I can do is spam ya with vids!

[@Boko]

You deserve all the support you get, thanks for the extra videos, and keep up the great work!

[@ZachHixsonTutorials]

I think it's more likely that Death Sword was just a prisoner. Due to it being a phantom, there's a possibility that the sages didn't know how to kill it, so instead sealed it away. The phantom has more design similarities with Stallord than it does with Gannon.

[@ianipoo]

*Ganon* come on now

[@uncomfortablyclose8481]

Lmao whenever people call him ganon instead of ganondorf I get triggered af

[@underbossslash9546]

@@uncomfortablyclose8481 lol yeah what a lot of people dont seem to notice is that ganon and ganondorf are not entity. Ganondorf is more ofna vessel for ganons power with gano most likely being a spiritual rencarnat of demise tht is able o manifest itself in to a physical form commonly a massive boar like creature or humanoid with boar like features

[@uncomfortablyclose8481]

Yeah, I usually don’t go as far as to explain it to people beacause then I just sound really petty and flustered. Plus “Ganon” rolls of the tongue way better than “Ganondorf”. Especially in smash bros where basically everything with 3 or more syllables has a nickname like “puff” or “plant” so I understand why it’s said

[@cybersoul2809]

If you Down Taunt then immediatly Down Smash with Ganondorf, he'll say "Hands off my-SWORD!"

[@omegawario7479]

No

[@TheDeepThinker-sq3iy]

OH! maybe he and falco should have a starring contest! or maybe they should go on a do-wet together! then they can sing: if I say "hands off my prey, hands off my prey!" You say "hands off my sword, hands off my sword!". :in some kind of hip hop fashion or something like that....(lol)

[@astolfo11]

TheDeepThinker 2000 its duet, not do-wet just to let you know

[@TheDeepThinker-sq3iy]

@@astolfo11 spell check provided me with some pretty shitty answers.... but after a bit of tinkering and playing around with the spelling and by using my extraordinary brilliant power of deduction I was able to get spell check to confirm for me what the REAL word that I was looking for was.................. Haha, I guess not. . . . (lmao)

[@juice2307]

@@astolfo11 Everything TheDeepThinker 2000 does is wet ;)

[@mr.mighty.m]

7:55 Phantom Ganon is in Twilight Princess! He’s a part of the horse battle in the final battle. The ghosts Ganondorf unleashes in the final fingt are Phantom Ganon

[@MrInternetMan]

The spirit seems to be a sword spirit, similar to Fi and Ghirahim. I don't think it's Phantom Ganon at all. Possibly a sword created for Ganondorf with dark magic, housing the demon inside.

[@gusty7153]

that fight pattern of the phantom ganons you described at 9:10 reminds me of the fights with Agahnim(ganon disguised as a mystic) in link to the past and link's awakening but minus a sword

[@MrSuperbeast92]

Not quite right on the Color red in Zelda. The Triforce of Power is also displayed as being connected to red. The Triforce of Power represents Din. In OoT it showed the 3 Goddesses with them each having a different colored light. Plus Din's Fire is a red light within a crystal. And Which Triforce piece does Ganondorf have? 🤔

[@nonoctoro4933]

@AccidentalGenius 7 And the number four .... OMG Purple Link was Evil all along !

[@linkthewarrior9006]

You don't know which triforce ganendorf has omg power

[@jordanekl5383]

When regarding character design and their glowing auras....yea, red is always bad with that context. Would you like to point out something like "Well the hearts are red and they are good cus thats your health"? No....Just no... (Also if you look at any game with an embodiment of Din, She is definitely has the least amount of care for the people of the land.)

[@nonoctoro4933]

@@jordanekl5383 Red is the color of blood.

[@Shoornloo]

@@linkthewarrior9006 he knows. He wasn't asking because he didn't know he was asking so you realize how the triforce of power connects, you absolute walnut.

[@anonymousfellow8879]

Anyone else hoping for a Ghirahim connection? I know, I know. TP predates SS, but still. Great theory! I enjoy watching theory/lore videos like these! - (...okay, but Arbiter’s Grounds is horrifying, and NOT because of all the undead monsters inside. More like, there’s blatant genocide of Midna’s people (who may or may not have been the decedents Gerudo, Sheikah, or both), and nothing smacks insult to massive injury like turning your holy space into your demise. Just...that’s more twisted than just about anything any form of Ganondorf/Ganon has done. And TP is pretty blatant about how Gorons and Zoras were treated as second-class at best, with Telma’s Bar becoming a sort of refuge for outcasts (although Shad is still extremely prejudiced, and Ashei wearing the corpse of what we later know are sapient beings, too? YIKES.))

[@dragonbornexpress5650]

@@TheKingmetroid. Except Ganondorf's own plan was not to build an alliance as we can see during the events of Ocarina of Time.

[@59rlmccormack]

Wow, good job! Can you make a video on what happened to Ghirahim after Skyward Sword?

[@MrSuperbeast92]

I believe he died. And I'm not sure, but I believe his soul broke apart upon his master's death.

[@WideMouth]

Yeah, that really is a mystery. From what we see in-game, Ghirahim vanishes into dust while in his sword form after Link slays Demise. We don’t really know whether Ghirahim teleported away from the fight, died, or was sealed away.

[@nonoctoro4933]

It turned into the Dark Trident of Ganon.

[@princessfaust]

@@WideMouth Maybe Vaati from the Minish cap is a decendant from Ghirahim

[@danielvanmaanen4896]

He became Majora's mask

[@SableGear]

One of my favourite little touches to this boss was how it triggers its invisibility. If you wait around while it's visible, it will disappear again. It does this by flipping the shawl it's wearing overtop of its head, hiding its face, and by extension its whole body. When you look at it as a wolf, you can see the fabric shroud draped over its head and across its horns, which flips back after it is attacked to reveals itself.

[@ProdMOXX]

This could actually be true......for real this thing scared the living HELL outta me. I was afraid to fight it. But I like the fact that you brought up Phantom Ganon, as Death Sword COULD POSSIBLY BE TP's Phantom Ganon boss fight. This theory could actually be true and I hope it is because its EXTREMELY accurate

[@nonoctoro4933]

Well, Is he a doppleganger of Ganondorf ? I don't see similarities between the two, Phantom Ganon is a doppelganger of Ganondorf and looks like him in both OOT and TWW. 🤔 I doubt it.

[@WideMouth]

Nonoctoro Maybe after the defeat of Demise, Ghirahim teleported to somewhere in Hyrule and reverted back to a lesser state (similar to how the Goddess Sword is a lesser form of the Master Sword). With his master dead and having no purpose, Ghirahim remained dormant for centuries. Maybe Ganondorf discovered the blade and used it to wage war on Hyrule. The spirit of Ghirahim, now monstrous and insane due to years of festering in his hatred for the hero and the goddess, advises and fights alongside Ganondorf. When Ganondorf was imprisoned, the sword was taken and sealed within the Arbiter’s Grounds. Many years later, a new hero would discover the blade. After thousands of years, Ghirahim would have one final chance to avenge his original master.

[@nonoctoro4933]

@@WideMouth I would rather see that for the Trident of Ganon. セカイ　ガ　ホシイ　カ チカラ　ガ　ホシイ　カ Do you desire the world? Do you desire power? タイクツ　ナ　ヘイワ　ダト ソノ　タマシイ　ガ カワク　ナラバ If you are bored with peace and your soul thirsts... ハカイ　ト　セイフク　ヲト ソノ　タマシイ　ガ サケブ　ナラバ If your soul cries out for destruction and conquest... オマエ　ニ　サズケ　ヨウ セカイ　ヲ　ホロボス ヤミ　ノ　チカラ We grant you the dark power to destroy the world. ヨクボウ　ニ　オボレ スベテ　ヲ　ホシガレ Drown in desire and and desire everything. アンコク　カラ　ウミオトサレシ マ　ノ　ジャキ　トライデント Born from darkness, the evil tool of demons, the trident. オマエ　ハ ヤミ　ノ　オウ You are the King of Darkness.

[@WideMouth]

Nonoctoro But the Trident isn’t a Sword. I don’t really see how it has any connection to Ghirahim. I always thought that Ganon’s trident in FSA is the same one he used in ALttP, but in different timelines.

[@nonoctoro4933]

@@WideMouth A weapon able to destroy the World, born from Darkness and made by the Demons, that was owned by a King of Darkness ? Hmmm ... I don't really see anyone depsite Demise being the owner of that weapon. Ghirahim is a shapeshifter, he could have made himself into a Trident.

[@glenngriffith1464]

7:27 to 9:45 he has a good point about the Phantom Ganon thing Also, I really want to see Ganondorf and Phantom Ganon in just one more game, hopefully proving this

[@timanford6420]

There is one issue with this theory. Ganondorf does use Phantom copies of himself in the Horseback section of the final battle. My theory is Death Sword is a demon of the desert conjured up by Ganondorf's dark magic prior to this war that led to his execution.

[@daevs_]

@3:36 you mention that the sword may have been used by Ganondorf in the war that resulted in his execution. It was my understanding that after Link defeated Ganon in OOT, Zelda sent Link back to his childhood where he told young Zelda the crimes Ganondorf would soon commit against the Kingdom of Hyrule. The king then arrested Ganondorf and sentenced him to death (for crimes he hadn't committed yet, which is weird in its own right) and that's why he was sent to the Arbitors' Grounds for execution by the Sages. The Sages don't take on the form that they did in OOT since those Sages weren't woken at that time (Ruto, Darunia etc.) and that's why they were the Sages of old. When the Sage of Water is killed by Ganondorf, the other Sages panic and send him to the Twilight Realm. So this war you mention, did I miss something? Did Ganondorf escape Hyrule Castle after young Link/Zelda told the king of Ganondorf's plans, with war breaking out between the Kingdom of Hyrule and the Gerudo?

[@soundsofthebanana]

Yeah, but Gandalf's Sword isn't as good as Zelda's Mister Sword.

[@barbarianjk2355]

xD

[@AmataTai]

Or Lonks Smart Sword kzbin.info/www/bejne/qGG3eK2Fe9yrntU

[@juice2307]

I didn't know Zelda had herself a "Mister Sword" ;)

[@moxiecillin1086]

As opposed to Link's Mistress Sword?

[@soundsofthebanana]

@@moxiecillin1086 who the fuck is link?

[@paulyshea5672]

Things like death sword, arbiters grounds, dark link cutscene, the creepy Zelda puppet, the Gannon execution cutscene and Zant’s neck crack are why I love Twilight princess. Game embraced the darkness and delivered.

[@theconductoresplin8092]

Hmm that's a interesting idea But why turn into bugs ....

[@Aytierrez]

seems very appropriate for an ancient mummy-desert theme level

[@theconductoresplin8092]

@@Aytierrez Well that makes sense

[@nonoctoro4933]

_He will return_ Actually, in Link's Crossbow Training, a "sequel" to this game, the Darknut of the Temple of Time is back and can also turn into Dark Insects.

[@jordanekl5383]

I would say that its a reference to Abbadon (You know, like in castlvainya)

[@thecommenter578]

I think it turns into bats... Because of the bats noise it makes

[@qioxqiox316]

3:47 dont know the song but it's a bop.

[@WickedYoda]

Here's a thought: Remember Ghirahim and how he was a sword spirit and called Demise his Master? Could be him after ages of being kept in the sword by Ganondorf, or you never know he might be able to change the swords form as well as his own depending on the wielder.

[@WickedYoda]

@@kazekamishira2551 ?

[@trueblade444]

I gotta say, your fan theories are some of my favorites. They're pretty well thought out, and since a lot of the time they're not really anything shattering to the story, so they're not really easily disproved and therefore easier to apply to head canon. A thought I had while watching this, the Death Sword fight really reminds me of Gomess from MM. Both are fought in temples of death, both are spirits that are tied to an enormous weapon of death in some way that really define the boss. Death Sword is bound in the middle of the room upon entering, and Gomess' scythe is all that remains after you kill him. So I feel at the very least, Death Sword was somewhat inspired by Gomess.

[@nonoctoro4933]

Gobela the Demon of the Death Sword being Phantom Ganon and the Weapon of the Demon Thief Ganondorf ? Sealed by the Ancient Sages after Ganon's execution ? I like the idea ... I love it. I remember Ganon's Steed being a Demonic horse with red eyes and a strange black armor. However I disagree, I think Death Sword would be related to the Dark Tribe and part of the Dark Interloper Conflict during the Era of Chaos. He looks similar to Stallord. Stallord is depicted as a massive Demon wielding a Trident on mural carvings. And in FSA, another game where we heard of the Dark Tribe, the Dark Trident was used by an ancient King of Darkness. So, Stallord would be a Demon King that existed prior to Ganon. Death Sword and the Dark Trident share similarities, they are black with Red motifs. Just like the Dark Master sword of Demise ! I believe that Ganon's Dark Trident is Demise's Sword, Ghirahim, ressurected. Ghirahim was able to summon Dark weapons, so the Death Sword could have been made by the previous wielder of the Trident, which would be Stallord. So, what would be the connection between the Dark Tribe and Stallord ? Maybe he was their leader, that they were an evil sect or something, following the Demon King. Maybe he used them as Pawn to get the Triforce, and when they were banished, he shown himself and fought the hyruleans. In Link's Crossbow training, Stallord is ressurected, and so is the Darknut from the Temple of Time, but with insect like properties, something Gobela had. And the question would be, what ressurected Stallord ? It would be Gobela, yes, the Death Sword is destroyed and he lost his body and turned into a swarm of Dark Insects, but the Dark Insects survived and could be the reason of all of this. But maybe, maybe Ganon was its second master. 🤔 I don't know for Phantom Ganon, he has nothing to do with Ganon in apparence and Phantom Ganon is normally a doppelganger of Ganondorf. Have you ever noticed that Gobela/Death Sword turns invisible only when he puts his hood on ? Meaning he's not truly a Phantom.

[@Wanten-the-stormtrooper]

A very interesting idea... Demise, then Stallord, leader of the Dark Tribe, and finally Ganon himself... Perhaps Demise's blade was passed down to his successors over the years while they waged the Long War (if you'll excuse the 40K terminology) against the people chosen by Hylia. That would be amazing if it was canon!

[@TheAnomaly00]

@@Wanten-the-stormtrooper Stallord is nothing more than a giant monster, likely used as a method of execution within the Arbiter's Grounds. In fact, you could even hypothesize that prisoners would be given weapons and armor, being told that if they win, they would go free...Only to be thrown into the pit with Stallord where they would be slaughtered.

[@Wanten-the-stormtrooper]

@@TheAnomaly00 He's certainly nothing more than a giant monster used for executions... now that he's dead, lacking the initiative, cunning and power to command monsters that he may have had when he was alive - before his remains were held within the Arbiter's Grounds. In all seriousness though, I think both theories are pretty convincing - I personally like the first one more, but yours is also great!

[@nonoctoro4933]

@@Wanten-the-stormtrooper image.noelshack.com/fichiers/2018/37/3/1536782194-demon-king-snake.png On the right.

[@Spvrtacus]

Nonoctoro I think that sword is involved with the dead/twilight realm or another goddess tht has never been mentioned. The Zelda has a very dark side that is well hidden I just know if that sword was apart of the dark tales then Zelda would be rated T-M and only then would the true dark secrets of Zelda be revealed

[@Incrementium]

1:20 first mistake, they banished him to the Twilight Realm. Not the sacred realm.

[@19TheFallen]

Funny....Just before it got to the part where you theorized that the spirit in Death Sword was Phantom Ganon, I thought "Maybe it's Phantom Ganon......" However, my thought of how the sword could have come to be possessed by this spirit, assuming it's Ganondorf's former sword, is that maybe Ganondorf purposefully cursed the sword with the spirit himself shortly before, or even during his capture, so as to give the Sages a little trouble, forcing them to seal it away the way it was because they couldn't fight the spirit themselves......

[@Zeltik]

I like that idea!

[@yahboys869]

Pause at 6:25, I translated the Gerudo language and for some odd reason it says "Subscribe"

[@alexkuhn5188]

Hey Zeltik could you please make a theory about the Spinner and why there are tracks for something that was hidden in Arbiter’s Ground all over Hyrule? It just doesn’t make much sense from a lore standpoint and I would like to hear your theory about the origin of the Spinner Tracks all over Hyrule!

[@WideMouth]

alex kuhn since Link finds the spinner in the Arbiter’s Grounds, and a lot of the mechanisms in the Arbiter’s Grounds work in conjunction with the spinner, it’s probably a Gerudo invention. There was also a conflict between the Gerudo and the Hylians between the events of Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess. The Gerudo could have used spinner tracks to travel across Hyrule by secret routes without being followed by Hylians. They could have also used these tracks to hide and access hidden loot and supplies.

[@ganonpork301]

Maybe they were used for travel by the oku(I forgot the name of the chicken people in twilight princes)

[@nonoctoro4933]

It's from the Oocca's Ancestors. In ancient Hyrule, the Wind People and the Royal Familly were in good allies. The Wind People built the Temple of Time with Rauru and also made the Dominion Rod, the Scepter of the Messenger of the Heavens. On the Temple's Walls, there is a mural carving where the seven Ancient Sages are depicted, the one in the middle is holding that Rod, I think he is Rauru. The Spinner is said to be an ancient vehicule. I guess it was used by the Wind People before that they mutated into their actual Chicken-like form. The Clawshots are also said to be from them and one of them is found in the Zora's Lakebed Temple. There was surely a deep relationship between the people of the Sky and of the Surface during the Era of Prosperity. The Zelda Lore is full of blank holes, and we, theorists, love that.

[@TheWeedIsland]

@@nonoctoro4933 I refuse to believe that those ugly alien chickens existed during OoT.

[@JeremySmith-ve2ur]

Tracks are just left over design features from things the oocca built(except the ones in the arbiters grounds) what purpose they served originally who knows but the spiner is probably less ancient and designed to be used as an exploit on the already existsing tracks.

[@Zeldamaster0999]

1:49 it actually happened, in botw/totk you can visit the arbiters grounds ruins, it is been consumed by the desert.

[@artofjoe7458]

Thought you were going to say Ghirahim, lol.

[@DrSteamCS]

Same here tbh

[@shadesoul4247]

Ghirahim is too busy being Majora to be a sword again.

[@deskrazenia8206]

ShadowVanish 42 how would he be majora

[@shadesoul4247]

@@deskrazenia8206 It's a reference to a separate theory that Ghirahim was forced into a mask by the Sheikah and went even more insane from the isolation of being sealed away.

[@HeroOfLight13]

This actually makes a whole lot of sense and only serves to make this game even better.

[@Ninjaananas]

Zant's final form is the scariest enemy.

[@J4keJ]

Ninjaananas Even as a kid it made me laugh uncontrollably. It was terrifying up until as soon as you hear his voice.

[@ethancash8912]

Zant the raving chicken boy

[@wolfgodfenrir]

I don't think a being driven to insanity is quite as scary as an actual demon, but for the sake of the humor he does fight like a maniac I'll give him that.

[@TheWeedIsland]

Zant was dissapointingly easy.

[@Cyclamenz]

Zant is at his creepiest when he corners you in Lanayru's spring and hold Midna captive. "I need you." Just ugh. And then they gave his personality the old switcheroo.

[@PurpleMapleLeaf]

"malicious magenta" has me cackling, that's gonna be my supervillain alter ego now

[@dafilmqueen556]

No fair, I want that name too!

[@nayruofthezoras1458]

Amazing content. Literary just finish watching your Saddest Zelda Moment when the notification popped up. I believe this makes perfect sense and can see this being possible. Honestly, Death Sword is quite possibly the most terrifying creature I've seen in Twilight Princess, and one of the most scariest in the Zelda series. It looks so diabolical and horrifying and I'm surprise people forget about it so easily. I wish people would actually pay more attention to different bosses like this in other Zelda games instead of parroting the same overdone topics over and over again from the N64 Zeldas. I swear if I hear one more video ranting about the terrors of Dead Hand....

[@sayonarasth6442]

This theory is viable considering Ganon didn't favor the Sword of Six Sages, but I'm going to assume Ganondorf wasn't being picky here, He just made do with what he already had, This is true because we see that Ganondorf has a sheathe for the Sword of Six Sages. It's not like Ganondorf could have gotten his old sword back, considering Link already finished Death Sword off in the Arbiter's Grounds, as Zeltik said in this video.

[@IAmMugel]

Well, while most of your theories I love to believe, this one I can’t get behind. I more saw Death Sword as a vengeful demon which was the result of being wrongly accused and later executed. As another comment mentioned, its head is cocked very unnaturally to the side, which leads me to believe that when it was a living person, it was either hung, or its neck was snapped. Also, when it dies, it disperses in a swarm of locusts. I just can’t see a creation of Ganondorf’s dying in such a way.

[@gavros9636]

I don't see this thing being Phantom Ganon, the sword seems more important than the thing wielding it, if anything the similarities to Demises sword points to something different. the "phantom" is possibly a sword spirit, like Fi or Ghirahim, perhaps an attempt at reforging Ghirahim by Ganondorf.

[@omegawario7479]

Wow I completely forgot this boss even existed

[@zechsmarquis]

Death Sword, is twightlight princess's incarnation of Blue Stalfos, I can guess that it may have once served as executioner of the arbiters grounds, but went mad and was sealed by the sages. In western releases it's named Death Blade, but in Japanese releases it's named Death Stalfos

[@ultracolin1999]

They both share the same name in German

[@ultracolin1999]

@@zechsmarquis probably, maybe the executioner became corrupted with malice after taking so many lifes

[@samuelbedsole5089]

While Death Sword could be Ganondorf's sword from his invasion of Hyrule, what if its origins are much older than that? What if Death Sword was a product of the Interlopers who tried to take over the Sacred Realm. My thinking this comes from the several symbols located on the walls of the room Death Sword is housed. In the center panels there seems to be a large eye symbol, somewhat reminiscent of the Shiekah symbol minus the tear drop. Then, looking at the map of the room itself you can see it bearing a stronger resemblance to the Shiekah eye. Now, what does the presence of a Shiekah symbol have to do with the Interlopers? Well, it is theorized to have been an offshoot of the Shiekah who wanted the Triforce, something seen in shared symbols with their descendant the Twili. What if Death Sword was a weapon created by the Dark Interlopers during the Interloper War, as they were masters of dark magic. Perhaps the black material the blade is made of could be similar to that of the Fused Shadow. This link is also strengthened with Death Sword's magic sharing a similar hue to Zant's magic balls during his boss fight. The reason Death Sword is in Arbiter's Ground is it was sealed there as the Interlopers were banished via the Mirror of Twilight. But instead of banishing the sword spirit to the Twilight Realm with its masters, those who sealed it, possibly the ancient Shiekah, repurposed the sword to act as a guard to the Mirror of Twilight. The presence of Shiekah symbols, along with talismans that I believe the Shiekah used in Breath of the Wild, are remnants of the Shiekah banishing their fallen kin away and the imprisonment of one of their dark creations. Still, I like your theory better and I am probably jumping to conclusions over eye shaped runes in an ancient temple/execution ground.

[@nonoctoro4933]

I would disagree for the relation between the Sheikah and the Dark Tribe, but I like the idea.

[@JakevanHalen01]

that's such a cool take on one of the most iconic minibosses from the Zelda universe, I never connected this boss to Phantom Ganon at all when I played TP as a kid. I just thought it looked terrifying and fit well with the whole dark Arbiter's Ground setting, but it makes all the more sense now

[@blukuro]

Dang this is a solid theory, props to you for you thinking of this! More theories on Ganondorf would be really interesting, like maybe a theory about Ganondorf's upbringing in OOT. I've always wondered how he got to the point he did, and what led him on that path. I know he was Demise's reincarnation from the very start of his life, so it's very likely that he never had any good intentions, but there were probably influences that guided him in that negative direction as well, like Koume and Koutake. I don't know if there's enough evidence to make a video about his childhood to adulthood and whether he was always as evil as he was, but maybe there're details that we missed!

[@RavenclawFtW3295]

Maybe the sword is Ganondorf's and he had it imbued with powerful dark magic. Then, when it was taken from him the sages realized that if it got into the hands of Death Sword, it would let the spirit, possibly a personification of death itself, wreak havoc upon Hyrule. So, to keep Death Sword from wielding this weapon, they had it tied down with enough protective talismans that Death Sword himself could not even come near unless they were broken.

[@puredemon6349]

Generally I agree with your theory about the sword belonging to Ganondorf King of Gerudo. But I don't agree that Death Sword is Phantom Ganon. If his projectiles *could* be reflected then I would agree, as that is the only criteria for a Phantom Ganon boss fight. I think Death Sword, like you said, is just ment to be a Wraith or Grim Reaper. Because Ganondorf caused a lot of Death, even before being gifted the Triforce of Power. Such that Death himself was tied to the blade. Think of it like this, if you are the Grim Reaper, and everytime someone dies you, or something like you, has to go down and collect the soul of the dead, and you see Ganondorf being singlehandedly responsible for the deaths of Hundreds maybe thousands, why wouldnt you follow him around or bound yourself to his weapon? The Monster/Phantom that inhabits the Death Sword is an evil being that feeds off of Death in some form or fashion. Thats why, dispite causeing the death of hundreds of warriors, the demon or shinigami didn't stand a chance against the "Blade of Evil's Bane"

[@eleviathan4621]

The only thing is that he was immediately apprehended after link went back to warn zelda and the royal family so he wouldn't have time to wage a war or get a new sword, but death sword being phantom Ganon is compelling.

[@dragonbornexpress5650]

There's actually no evidence to suggest that he was immediately sent to Arbiter's Grounds; In fact, it's stated that he waged war against the kingdom of Hyrule for a long while, so he most likely fled Hyrule Castle before the events of Majora's Mask after the Hero of Time warned the King of Hyrule and Zelda about what Ganondorf does in the future. This, in turn, leads to what some have referred to as the Gerudo-Hyrulean War, which is possibly the conflict that finally killed the Hero of Time.

[@nekochiyu5060]

I always figured it was the sword of the executioner's sword that was possessed by the hatred of the countless lives it had ended. That's my two rupees

[@nillynush4899]

Death Sword's.... "Death" is arguably the coolest in the series. He screams like a Demonic Lawnmower and bursts apart into flying beetles who fly away into the ceiling.

[@Art-zp1qg]

Do you know about Hyrule Conquest, previously known as Hyrule Total War. I think it would make a great video and I was reminded of them since after watching this I watched another one of your videos and it had Hyrule Total War footage. I liked the video btw, Death Sword was my favourite thing from all zelda(i never played any of the games but im a fan either way lol)

[@ganonpork301]

Me to

[@griley8530]

Undying nephilim abandoned the total war mod last I checked

[@Art-zp1qg]

G Riley he turned it into hyrule conquest

[@dankotocigl8671]

When you talked about the upside down triforce symbol drawn in the swords hilt, i had an idea coming to mind. What if the symbol is nit supposed to be an upside down triforce but the blade itself is supposed to be pointing to the ground as oppose to the master sword which points towards the heaven as if demises sword and the sword of gorbera were an omen that goddess hylia would fall.

[@dafilmqueen556]

That seems to have Demise's work written all over it. Ghirahim's return confirmed?

[@animezeldagrl14]

Okay correct me if I’m wrong but I just always thought possessed Zelda was the phantom Ganon version of TP. Anyone else? But besides that I do think the sword could have belonged to Ganondorf maybe.

[@lucascovarrubio2702]

Phantom Ganon is literally a being that was made by Gannondorfs power, where as possessed Zelda is just Gannondorf controlling her body so the difference is a phantom vs. control over ones body. Been a couple years since I've played Twilight Princess, but watching this makes me really want to replay it. Have you played many of the Zelda games??

[@niteshade6628]

I think Zelda counts as Puppet Ganon, which is different, because for example, Windwaker had both.

[@animezeldagrl14]

Lucas Covarrubio I’ve played every Zelda game except Triforce Heroes, Four Swords and Spirit Tracks. I really need to get on those.

[@jriley5476]

I'd hazard to guess that maybe it could be the Ghirahim, having decayed and corrupted over time. After all and I quote the Fandom wiki, "...he is in fact Demise's sword given life. His sword form looks similar to the Master Sword, only black, spiky and a lot bigger, with the Triforce motif pointing downwards." As we have seen, the Master Sword has changed in various ways over the years... Same could have happened to Deminse's sword. This of course does not take away from your theory either, as technically, they could be one in the same.

[@jriley5476]

@Kiss Kitty Possible, but I would suggest that since Fi never had to be reborn to become the Master Sword, I doubt Ghirahim would need to be.

[@jriley5476]

@Kiss Kitty The fact that Fi is the Master Sword was my point. Although, if you remember, it was not called The Master Sword in Skyward.

[@thecommenter578]

Arbiter's grounds is a place for executions and Death Sword is just the executioner, you can tell because the sword isn't pointy, it is flat on the tip with a little curve and a single edge, a sword for decapitation. To me is as simple as that.

[@PrimordialNightmare]

I like the Idea. Though I have to say I'm not fully convinced by the design of the sword. It could still be an actual weapon.

[@auravaury]

Ganondof's "Tech demo Sword" was also flat on the tip, not entirely but somewhat. Ideal for people with great strenght carrying heavy swords that don't need to stab.

[@thecommenter578]

@@auravaury umm yep, but its double edge, and the sword of Death Sword is way too big even for Ganondorf

[@xanious3759]

@@thecommenter578 He does have the triforce of power though, so i doubt he would have trouble swinging it around.

[@juice2307]

@@thecommenter578 "Way too big even for Ganondorf" So you're saying a hunk of metal is "too big" for a dark wizard that had an entire castle collapse on him (he was also able not only to lift the heavy slabs of the castle walls on top of him, but he just freaking breaks right through them like they're nothing)? The dark wizard that, in the child timeline, kills the king and guards, and then goes in pursuit of Zelda before he even has access to the Triforce of Power? Oh sure, Ganondorf can do anything he wants, unless it is a hunk of metal, because clearly he obeys the laws of reality like all mystical warlock type characters do. This character has so many unnatural feats of strength and magical prowess, I'm pretty sure the "reality" argument doesn't come into play. Edit: Besides, you don't seal away something unless it is deadly to everything around it. The top tier form of execution is performed by the sages. There is no reason to have a basement demon that kills everything indiscriminately so close to where the sages could be on any given day if called to execute a dangerous criminal. Given the fact that Ganondorf would likely have a sword of his own enchanted to his specifications and the visual similarities between the sword and his armor, it is very likely that sword was his. He probably made his last stand, the sword was sealed when Ganondorf tried to catch them off-guard with the spirit inside, and then Ganondorf himself was taken to be executed.

[@baconfirre]

In Ocarina Of Time Ganondorf does mention that he is going to banish his Phantom to the gap between dimensions. Which does imply that to Ganondorf, these Phantoms are disposable and he can create more than one; and might even mean he creates duplicates over time with the aim of each one improving on the last. So the possibility of each Phantom Ganon and the Phantom in this theory being similar, but actually different individual entities is entirely possible within canon. Great theory! Really loved this one!

[@SindyxLotus]

This is why I love Twilight Princess and the 3D Zelda games that came before BotW. Their world designs are rich with details and cornerstones that have made the series what it is. The villians and boss fights are memorable and create a sense of legacy forged by their predecessors. This is a trait I feel was was sorely lacking in BotW. I want to see this level of detail when it comes to both the story and gameplay of Zelda games in the future. BotW got the mechanics right, with the exception of breakable weapons, however it fell very short when it came to the story and world development.

[@balaam_7087]

This was extremely well thought out and very convincing. After watching this I have to agree with this theory. Videos of this caliber are why I’ve subbed. Keep up the excellent work!

[@CJusticeHappen21]

0:34. Gonna pump the brakes right there, son. Gerudo are massacred? *W R O N G* Okay, maybe I'm coming off too strong. Gonna pull it back and state that while true that the Gerudo are not seen in "Twilight Princess", this makes it sound as if they were killed off. They weren't. The Gerudo relocated to the Desert of Doubt, and enjoyed a much more positive relationship with the Hylians. This happens as of "The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures", which canonically takes place AFTER "Twilight Princess".

[@kevinr.9733]

One question: When did Ganondorf have time to run around waging war with a giant sword? As far as I could tell, the sequence of events in the Child timeline was as follows: -Link and Zelda, with the help of Link's knowledge of future events, expose Ganondorf's plot. -Ganondorf is arrested, tried, and imprisoned for conspiracy to commit treason or tax evasion or whatever they peg him for. (Probably not actually tax evasion.) -The day of Ganondorf's scheduled execution arrives, which goes horribly wrong and ends with him sealed in the Twilight Realm.

[@ServantofBaal]

You're forgetting the first part of the Sage's exposition which tells of Ganon being a thief King who declared war on Hyrule. He wasn't described as being a traitor or advisor to the king meaning it's not taking place in the Child timeline. Also, despite Link being slightly older in TP, he doesn't know Zelda yet. Lot of inconsistencies occurring for a singular timeline. Likely, this is further in the reincarnation cycle

[@ServantofBaal]

@@burg3rdud33 Then explain why he's described as a thief king, a blind one at that, rather than the advisor to the king? Also, if he was exposed and waged war, that would be a time paradox to him being outright defeated by Link in the timeline. Also, why would it be a surprise to the Sages that Ganondorf has the Triforce of Power if it was the same Ganondorf of whom they should already know has it? OF COURSE he isn't the same Link as the Hero of Time, he's later in the reincarnation cycle, which means OP is incorrect because it's also a different Ganondorf. Had you read my post, I explained it.

[@enforcerridley158]

@@ServantofBaal You're not correct. Although Link in Twilight Princess is a reincarnation of the Hero of Time, Ganondorf in Twilight Princess is in fact the same Ganondorf from OoT. And, no, the Sages wouldn'r know he had the Triforce of Power because… he never obtain it, unlike in OoT. Contrary to belief, Ocarina of Time, even when you play as Child Link, takes place entirely in the Adult Timeline. It's only after Zelda sends Link back to "[his] own time" is Link transported to the Child Timeline, where, ironically, the events of OoT never took place. Link, knowing the events of OoT, warns Zelda of the Child Timeline of all of the evils Ganandorf has committed and will commit in the Adult Timeline in order to obtain the Triforce (assuming with proof), which led to the end of the Hylian-Gerudo Alliance and started the Hylian-Gerudo War. The Hero of Time even participates in this war when he gets back from Termina. So, Ganondorf in the Child Timeline never obtained the Triforce of Power. However, there was one problem: Link still possessed the Triforce of Courage. And because Link possessed the Triforce of Courage, the Triforce of Wisdom went to Zelda, and the Triforce of Power went to Ganondorf, who didn't even know he possessed it himself until his execution by the Sages.

[@ServantofBaal]

@@enforcerridley158 Makes sense to me, but what about Ganon being blind and considered a 'king of thieves' if he was advisor to the king and showed no signs of blindness? Where does that fit in?

[@Elementianhero22]

My personal theory about Deathsword's identity is that he's actually Ghirahim from SS. Over the centuries, Demise's sword decayed and had to be reforged by a dark blacksmith, possibly Gobera, a relative of the Hyrule counterparts of Zubora and Gabora from MM. Hence why it looks more like an over-sized cleaver rather than Demise's double-edged wavy monster in SS. Ghirahim's truest form is that of a sword similar to Fi, aka the Master Sword. And he was sealed away with ofuda and rope famous for sealing DEMONS/evil spirits in Japanese traditions. Demon Lord Ghirahim, who was actually a sword; wielded by Demise, who forever reincarnates in Ganondorf/Ganon/Malladus/Majora/Vaati... etc; It all fits. Your theory that he's TP's version of Phantom Ganon is an interesting one as well, though! Well done, you obviously put a lot of effort and research into making this video.

[@jills9758]

Agreed. My mind immediately went to Ghirahim.

[@jaybling6687]

If Demise is reincarnated as Ganondorf, then one could argue that Ghirahim is reincarnated as Phantom Ganon.

[@LordZiTan]

Both the location, and the blade itself make me think its an executioner sword, turned demonic. There are many legends of demon swords, and they all have one thing in common. These swords have been soaked in bood, and as a result have absorbed some of the essence of those it killed. Generally speaking, the living dont want to die, and when one is killed i imagine the most prominent feelings are hate, anger, and fear. Maybe even despair and the desire for revenge. Given enough negative energy, its said some swords can even manifest and weild itself.

[@Zeltik]

DOUBLE UPLOAD WEEKEND BAYBEEEE (Here's the other if you missed it kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJyln4KJa7qXmrM)

[@Shamefulbird]

3:35 what the song ? (I already searched on the Channel in the description didn’t found)

[@finndriessen5829]

I love how everyone comes up with these (theories). While the game creators just put in these things not actualy caring a thing about a backstory.

[@Kekoapono]

I love all the little details the Zelda series has. It's clear the developers love the series as much as the fans do. I also want to mention that you're quite a good writer; you write with the same quality a novelist would put into his work, and your videos are so much better for it. So yes, I do like your theory! It makes a lot of sense, especially after you put all the small pieces together. Lastly, I want to mention that I end up loving the Zelda series more with each video of yours that I watch. Your love and passion for the series is present in every video you make, and it's infectious in the best way possible.

[@Stonerolog1st]

Maybe its Ghirahim, after each battle it gets stronger along with Ganondorf, similar how Fi is to Link

[@theStridingRebel]

Honestly, I would absolutely love a game featuring the return of Fi and Ghirahim

[@MrRizo23]

Very cool theory, and great editing and use of music. I noticed that upon the creatures defeat though that it doesn't just turn to smoke like other monsters, rather it turned into bats and flew out the hole in the ceiling, suggesting to me that the phantom wasn't completely destroyed, but the blade itself was.

[@The4FamilyGamers]

Could Phantom Ganon be connected to Ghirahim somehow? Whenever you mentioned the spirit of the sword or something I thought of Ghirahim.

[@AlejandroGonzalez-mk5dz]

your lore exposition is super entertaining my dude, cheers

[@krm2095]

Every time we get a new theory video on this channel, I automatically consider it canon. It all always makes too much sense XD

[@Zeltik]

Hahaha thank you!!

[@krm2095]

Zeltik Don’t worry brother. I got you 👌

[@nickstein3129]

Alternate theory: Its the sword used to execute prisoners deemed not important enough to involve the sages. After killing off countless evil criminals, whose crimes undoubtedly included murder, rape, and other savage acts, the sword gained sentience. But because of the nature to of the blade it was absorbing all the evil and hate from the criminals it killed. Leading the people who ran the arbiters grounds to summon the sages to help seal it. The sages then possibly took over execution. Evidence: 1)The sword is clearly an executioners sword. It has a choping blade ment to take off heads. 2) Due to the fact ot lacks a point and fuller it would be impractical to use in battle. Even for someone like ganondorf. Who is clearly accustomed to a diffrent type of blade. Mostly a longsword. Ganondorf was mortal before his exicution. That means no matter how strong he was he would want a blade he could weild effectively. 3) The location we find the sword is very ornate. Why seal a blade like that in such a huge room if it wasn't there to begin with. It would be inpracticle and dangerous. The circular dias on the floor could easily have servered the purpose for a place for prisoners to neal and have their heads chopped off. 4) We know objects can absorb evil from the environment in the zelda universe. Casse of possesd pottery, evil crystals(undead bokublin by extension), and literaly ALL of the shadow temple. 5) Who in the zelda universe specialized in sealing evil? The sheikah of course. What is used to seal the sword? Talismans. Japanese based talismans to be exact. Who do we know from BOTW to have semi-japanese culture. Thats right: The sheikah. So following this line of logic, the sheikah sealed this sword away in the location it first became possessed. Cuz its much easier to lock a door then move an evil demon sword that would killer workers several rooms. 6) My final point is that the timeframe doesn't match up. We know ganondorf was executed in the past. But the arbiters grounds look like they have been abandoned at that point. And we find the Possessed Sword in an even older looking part of the arbiters grounds. The prison has clearly been out of commission for several generation's. Who else in TP has been missing for several generation's? Oh yes, the sheikah. The only people capable of sealing said sword.

[@nickstein3129]

Damn...half a year and not a single like it reply...I thought it was a good theory...

[@slackmartin7610]

u mean banish him to the twilight realm? Not the sacred realm

[@codywilson4938]

The quality of these videos is really amazing. Keep it up!

[@hrannar933]

Who liked before they watch the video

[@Zeltik]

❤❤❤

[@glencraig4154]

You my friend are the VAATI of the zelda universe! Honestly love your videos! Only just come across your channel due to the hype train I've boarded for TOTK. Keep up your amazing work ✌️✌️✌️

[@alexkuhn5188]

Well I guess Ichigo Kurosaki got very very unlucky.

[@Coreisus]

If youtube ads could quit loading their own comment sections, that'd be great! I hate being in the middle of reading a comment, then suddenly be rush scrolled back to the top just see a bunch of idiots talking about Skipthedishes or Raid Shadowlegends or whatever other stupid thing.

[@Ruebell45]

Goddamn there seems to be similarities to the new legend of Zelda trailer

[@gamerchords4526]

I never even considered he might be phantom Ganon for this game! Well done as always Zeltik 👏🏼

[@phacialoveskakashi2119]

Is it possible that this could be Ghirahim from Skyward Sword?

[@theStridingRebel]

Unlinkly, Ghirahim was probably sealed inside Demise's blade, and when Demise's blade vanished, Ghirahim vanished along with it, BUT, maybe Ghirahim could be possessing one of Ganondorf's many swords, just dormant for centuries, like Fi in the Master Sword

[@rockk9753]

At 6:38 that's the best Zelda theme ever in my opinion and I'm sure this guy chose it because he gets just how good that music is

[@mrcliff34]

Given what the arbiters grounds is, and the name it could just be an executioners sword that got cursed.

[@mikeydrago-dt8by]

I love all your theory videos Zeltik. And I think Death Sword was my most favourite mini boss in Twilight Princess.

[@mecurseyoumimikyu4701]

It's a giant poe with a sword has nothing to do with gannondorf.

[@ortherner]

probably lol

[@HeadHunter-mv2ht]

I just love the Dungeon's in Twilgiht Princess, so much lore behind them. (well at least most of them)