Ganondorf Lore Guide — Complete Backstory

Ganondorf in Tears of the Kingdom is not a reincarnation or curse — he is the original source. The Ganon that plagued Hyrule throughout the series traces back to this single individual: a Gerudo king who lived thousands of years ago, stole a Secret Stone, and refused to stay dead.

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Who Is This Ganondorf?

TotK's Ganondorf is distinct from previous games' portrayals:

• Not a reincarnation — He is the original Demon King, the first villain
• A Gerudo king — He was born a Gerudo male (the rare male born every 100 years), making him king of his people by Gerudo tradition
• A contemporary of Rauru — He lived during Hyrule's founding era
• The source of Ganon — His corrupted energy is the origin of every Ganon/Ganondorf that would follow

When the memories in the Dragon's Tears are unlocked, you witness his entire story from beginning to the moment Link finds his sealed body beneath Hyrule Castle.

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Dragon's Tears — Memory Summary

The 12 Dragon's Tears memories (found at tear-shaped wells in glowing locations across Hyrule) reveal Ganondorf's history chronologically:

Memory 1 — Tears of the Kingdom

Rauru and Sonia meet Ganondorf, who kneels in apparent submission to the new kingdom of Hyrule. Ganondorf presents himself as willing to pledge allegiance to the king, but his eyes show nothing of the sort. His presence under Hyrule Castle was already established — he was there from the start.

Memory 2-4 — The Sworn Vow

The five sages — Tulin, Sidon, Riju, Yunobo, and Mineru — pledge their abilities to Rauru. Ganondorf watches these events with calculating patience. He recognizes the power of the Secret Stones and begins working toward obtaining one.

Memory 5-6 — The Traitors

Ganondorf reveals his true nature when he corrupts and recruits the ancient equivalents of Marbled Gohma, Colgera, Queen Gibdo, and Mucktorok as his four "Phantom Ganons." These corrupted entities are sent to undermine the sages and destabilize Hyrule.

Memory 7-9 — Sonia's Murder

In the most devastating memory, Ganondorf ambushes Queen Sonia. He uses Gloom manifestation — a dark power that is revealed to be his true nature — to weaken and then kill her. He steals her Secret Stone in the process. This is the act that transforms him from ambitious traitor to Demon King.

Rauru witnesses this through a vision and rushes to confront Ganondorf, but the damage is done. Sonia is dead. Ganondorf now possesses the power to fully manifest his Demon King abilities.

Memory 10-11 — The Battle of Hyrule

Ganondorf, empowered by the stolen Secret Stone, leads his army against Hyrule Castle. The sages battle his forces in a desperate defense. Rauru makes the choice to sacrifice himself — using the full force of his Zonai power to physically restrain Ganondorf and seal him beneath the castle, binding him with his own arm.

Rauru's arm becomes the prison. For thousands of years, Rauru's energy holds Ganondorf dormant, slowly weakening as the ages pass.

Memory 12 — The Secret Stone Swallowed

In the final memory, Ganondorf — weakened but freed when Rauru's arm fails — speaks to his followers' mummified husks. He swallows Sonia's stolen Secret Stone. The Draconification begins. He begins his transformation into the Demon Dragon.

This is the moment Link first sees the falling golden dragon at the game's opening — the Light Dragon (Zelda) and Demon Dragon (Ganondorf) in the sky are the endgame set in motion from this ancient moment.

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Ganondorf's Powers

Gloom

Gloom is not a separate entity — it is Ganondorf's corrupted power made manifest. When his body was sealed beneath the castle, his malice seeped into the Depths and spread upward through the soil. The Gloom that appears in TotK:

• Spreads from Ganondorf's location
• Corrupts Hyrule's underground
• Drains hearts permanently (only restored at Lightroots or by consuming Sundelions)
• Empowers his Phantom Ganon constructs on the surface

Phantom Ganon Army

Ganondorf used his Secret Stone's power to create copies of himself: Phantom Ganons. These copies were distributed to corrupt Hyrule's temples and block the sages. Each dungeon boss (Colgera, Marbled Gohma, Queen Gibdo, Mucktorok) is a Phantom Ganon-corrupted ancient creature, and the Phantom Ganon fought in each dungeon wears Ganondorf's likeness.

Demon Dragon Form

Upon swallowing the Secret Stone, Ganondorf achieves his ultimate Draconification: the Demon Dragon. Unlike the Light Dragon (Zelda), who retains inherent goodness, the Demon Dragon is pure malice — scales of gloom, flame breath, and the single glowing eye of the Secret Stone embedded in his skull.

The Demon Dragon cannot be reasoned with. Memories are gone. Only destruction remains.

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Ganondorf's Relationship to the Gerudo

In Gerudo culture, a male is born every century and is declared their king by birthright. Ganondorf used this status to unite the Gerudo behind him. The Gerudo of his era followed him willingly into war against Hyrule.

By the modern era of TotK, the Gerudo have no knowledge of this history. Riju leads her people against the Gibdo invasion without understanding that her ancient king was responsible for the Gibdo themselves — Queen Gibdo is a Phantom Ganon construct.

The Yiga Clan, by contrast, actively worship Ganondorf. They seek to resurrect him by recovering his mummified body beneath the castle, which is why they attack Link throughout the game.

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Connection to the Demon King Legacy

Ganondorf swore he would never stop — that every time he died, he would return. This vow, combined with the power of the swallowed Secret Stone, is the in-universe explanation for why Ganon/Ganondorf appears across every era in the Zelda timeline:

• His Gloom-tainted power persists
• Echoes of his malice reincarnate
• The cycle of hero, princess, and demon king is self-perpetuating

TotK doesn't break the cycle — it reveals its origin.

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Fighting Ganondorf — Final Boss Overview

The final encounter with Ganondorf is a three-phase fight:

Phase 1 — Demon King Ganondorf (Humanoid)

Fought atop the depths arena beneath Hyrule Castle after defeating all four temples. Ganondorf fights with a sword and Gloom-infused attacks. His patterns are readable — parrying his thrust and flurry-rushing openings is key.

Tip: Bring fully fused weapons with 50+ attack. Light Dragon scale fused weapons are ideal. Stock Sundelions to heal Gloom damage.

Phase 2 — Phantom Ganon Multiplied

Ganondorf splits into multiple Phantom Ganon copies. The sages assist — each sage ability can damage the copies. Activate all five sage abilities and coordinate attacks to clear copies quickly.

Phase 3 — Demon Dragon vs. Light Dragon

Ganondorf swallows his Secret Stone and becomes the Demon Dragon. Zelda (as the Light Dragon) arrives. You fight from dragonback — riding the Light Dragon against the Demon Dragon.

• Gloom tumors on the Demon Dragon are weak points
• Land on the Dragon and destroy tumor clusters with melee attacks
• Dodge breath attacks by steering the Light Dragon
• The final blow targets the Secret Stone embedded in the Demon Dragon's skull

After the final strike, Zelda reverses Draconification — sacrificing the Source of Power to restore herself. The Demon Dragon's Secret Stone is destroyed and Ganondorf is defeated permanently.

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Post-Game Implications

With Ganondorf fully defeated and his Secret Stone destroyed, the cycle that defined Hyrule's history should be broken. The Gloom recedes. Rauru's sacrifice is honored.

However, Zelda's statement that "as long as Hyrule stands, we will meet again" implies new adventures. The Zonai bloodline continues through Hyrule's royal family, and new threats will always find their way.

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Summary Timeline

| Era | Event | |-----|-------| | Ancient Hyrule founding | Ganondorf meets Rauru, pledges false allegiance | | Shortly after | Ganondorf murders Sonia, steals her Secret Stone | | The Great Battle | Rauru seals Ganondorf beneath Hyrule Castle | | Thousands of years | Ganondorf's Gloom spreads from his prison | | TotK opening | Rauru's arm fails; Ganondorf breaks free | | TotK main story | Ganondorf swallows Secret Stone, becomes Demon Dragon | | TotK finale | Link and Zelda destroy the Demon Dragon; cycle ends |