One of the most prolific foes in more recentLegend of Zeldaentries has been the Lynel. The centaur/lion creature is one of the most powerful enemies in Hyrule, but they haven’t always been roaming the kingdom inZeldacanon. Only found in a selection of games, the biggest causes of “Game Over” screens inBreath of the Wildhave a storied but spotty history.Lynels have been part-time members of the monster roster since the originalLegend of Zeldacame out, making them among the oldest monsters that can be fought.
With the release ofZelda:Echoes of Wisdom,there are a lot of questions about how the timeline has changed. One theory is that the events ofEchoes of Wisdomare thesubstance of the legend inSkyward Sword, as the rifts and pools of darkness across Hyrule fit into the narrative and effectively create the legend that follows Zelda. However,the connection to Lynels in the timeline’s placement goes beyond just a coincidence in eventssurrounding the main characters, serving as a way to finally shift the way the canon looks at the “Fallen Hero” timeline presented by Nintendo.
Most Monsters Appear In Every Game, Why Not Lynels
An Enemy That Recurs Under Specific Conditions
Lynels are one of the oldest monsters in theZeldaportfolio, as they were first introduced in the originalThe Legend of Zeldain 1986. At the time, they came in two variants, with blue Lynels proving more powerful than red ones. This colorful pairing returned in theOracleduology, while Lynels with more natural coats showed up inA Link to the PastandA Link Between Worlds.For decades, Lynels only appeared in games that followed the traditional top-down style, failing to debut in the full 3D games untilBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdom.
Zelda: TOTK - Where To Find Wild Lynels (& How To Beat Them)
Lynels are infamously difficult enemies in Zelda: TOTK, found on both the surface and the Depths. Fighting them requires careful preparation.
While it may seem silly to look at a monster for help with determining where games fall in the overarchingZeldatimeline, it could be worth looking at frequent appearances. Octoroks appear in every game exceptTwilight Princess, drawing players to look at the clear evolutionary concept of the annoying rock-spitting creatures and apply it to other monsters.Lynels, however, only show up in the games classified as part of the “Fallen Hero Timeline"and thetimeline-adjacentBOTWandTOTK.Lynels could be an after-effect of the dissolution of the Tri-Force and Ganondorf’s might or simply an evolutionary mystery.
What Does The Multi-Colored Lynel In Echoes Of Wisdom Mean
A Theory Of Zelda Evolution
The newest Lynel variant is a multicolored versionthat haunts the Eternal Forest. InEchoes of Wisdom,the Echo description says that the Lynel is the most fearsome monster in all of Hyrule, whereas theBOTWcompendium entry states that they’ve lived in Hyrule since ancient times. With a mixture of blue, brown, and red accents, this Lynel is one of the strongest echoes that Zelda can acquire within the game, and notable designs fromBOTW/TOTKplaceEchoes of Wisdom’s model firmly into the timeline before the Great Calamity.
The “New” Zelda Timeline For TOTK & BOTW Might Not Be What It Seems
The newer version of the Legends of Zelda timeline has separated TOTK and BOTW into their own section, but this may not be what it seems.
Given a connection to be made from the convergence of all the timelines, it can be assumed that theLynels had to evolve and proliferate from that point, as there is only oneLynel that can be found inEchoes of Wisdomand around twenty-two that can be found inBOTW. The singular multicolor Lynel might be the key to understanding how several different kinds of Lynels could evolve.
One notable example of evolution inZeldagames lies inThe Wind Waker’s bird-like Rito, which canonically descend from the fish-like Zora.
When treatingBOTWandTOTKas games that take place after the Fallen Hero timeline, there are slow increases in the number of Lynels that Link comes in contact with over time.OnlyEchoes of Wisdomfeatures a sole Lynel, and the emphasis on both blue and red in its coloration asserts thatEchoes of Wisdomis the genetic origin of the Lynel.
Zelda’s Fallen Hero Timeline Is More Important Than It Seems
The Key To Understanding The Franchise
Although it’s fun to play around with different theories,placingEchoes of Wisdomearly in the Fallen Hero Timeline is backed up by the most evidencein the sequence of events that allowsBOTW/TOTKto happen. Lynels aren’t the only point of connection, and the similarity between theEchoes of Wisdommap andA Link to the Past’s Hyrule is another strong argument. The idea of starting the Fallen Hero timeline with Zelda as the protagonist is also appealing, showing her taking up the mantle after the hero failed to protect Hyrule.
Complete Legend of Zelda Franchise Timeline Explained
New incarnations of Link and Ganon make Nintendo’s Legend of Zelda games seem unrelated to one another, but the series has a complex timeline.
Since Zelda also claims therole of Sheik inOcarina of Time, this idea that this is Zelda’s timeline instead doesn’t seem farfetched, as she takes on a more involved role with Link throughout his time as an adult. With the addition ofEchoes of Wisdom,there’s a good chance that the Fallen Hero timeline now starts withEchoes of Wisdomrather thanA Link to the Past.The Lynel might not seem like the most important part ofEchoes of Wisdom, but it could be the key to figuring out the timeline forThe Legend of Zelda.
