"White Wolf" redirects here. For the recurring enemy in The Legend of Zelda series, see White Wolfos.

The Hero's Spirit,[2] also known as the Ancient Hero,[name reference needed] and the Hero's Shade,[3] is a recurring character in The Legend of Zelda series. The Hero's Spirit is a skeletal specter who can assume the form of the White Wolf.[4][note 1]

Biography

Twilight Princess

The Hero's Spirit is the Hero of Time from Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, filled with regrets from being unable to pass on the "lessons of his life to those who came after him" after he was sent back in time to his childhood. He also lamented the fact that he was not remembered as a hero. In order to ease his regrets and finally pass on his knowledge, he teaches the seven Hidden Skills to his descendant, the Link from Twilight Princess.[1][7] In Hyrule, he appears as the White Wolf, who can be summoned by finding a Howling Stone, with the exception of the first time he is encountered, in which he appears to Link directly. Once a Howling Stone is found, the song has to be howled along with the Spirit. He then tells Link to take "sword in hand" and find him,[8] implying that Link had to return to human form before searching for the Wolf. The White Wolf will then appear on Link's Map indicating his current location. When Link confronts the Wolf, it leaps through Link, transporting him into another world.[9] The Wolf then transforms into a ghostly knight, the Hero's Spirit, who then teaches Link one of the seven Hidden Skills.

In the other world, the Hero's Spirit's form has bluish skin and a pallid, decaying appearance, with a skeletal face. His left eye glows red, while his right eye is missing. He carries a rusting Sword and Shield and wears armor, which is covered with leaves in sections. He carries a scabbard belted to his waist. From the back, his armor appears to be filled with a ghostly mist, rather than flesh, and his torso is not connected to his legs. Like the humanoid form of the Hero's Spirit, the White Wolf's left eye glows red, while the right eye is missing.

Other Appearances

My Nintendo Picross: Twilight Princess The Hero's Shade appears as puzzles in both the Picross and Mega Picross series of puzzles in My Nintendo Picross: Twilight Princess. In the Picross series, the Hero's Shade is the 35th puzzle, serving as a 15×15 grid. In the Mega Picross series, the Hero's Shade is the 26th puzzle, also as a 15×15 grid.

Nomenclature

Names in Other Regions Language Name Meaning Japanese 骸骨の戦士 (Gaikotsu no Senshi)

金色の狼 (Kin'iro no Ōkami)

勇者の亡霊 (Yūsha no Bōrei) Skeleton Warrior

Golden Wolf

Hero's Spirit German Goldener Wolf Golden Wolf Italian Eroe

Lupo dorato Hero

Golden wolf Spanish EU El Espíritu del Héroe

Lobo Dorado The Spirit of the Hero

Golden Wolf

Gallery

The Hero's Spirit preparing to fight from Twilight Princess

The White Wolf as seen in-game from Twilight Princess

The Hero's Spirit preparing to teach Link a Hidden Skill from Twilight Princess

The Hero's Spirit's Sword from Twilight Princess

Concept art of the Hero's Spirit from Twilight Princess

The White Wolf as seen in-game from Twilight Princess HD

The White Wolf howling from Twilight Princess HD

The White Wolf in the ghostly ether realm from Twilight Princess HD

Wolf Link brought to a ghostly ether realm by the White Wolf from Twilight Princess HD

The Hero's Shade from My Nintendo Picross: Twilight Princess

Notes