Hyrule is a graveyard. You don’t really feel that when you're busy shield-surfing down the Hebra Mountains or hunting for hidden Koroks, but the reality is baked into every ruin. The biggest tragedy isn't just the crumbled stone; it’s the four people who were supposed to save it and didn't.
We call them the Champions.
Link usually gets the spotlight, but Mipha, Daruk, Revali, and Urbosa are the actual emotional backbone of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. They weren't just "pilots" for giant mechanical animals. They were a princess, a legendary warrior, a proud archer, and a mountain of a man—all of whom walked into their own tombs thinking they were about to win.
The Reality of the Four Champions
When Zelda traveled across the map to recruit these four, she wasn't just looking for muscle. She was desperate.
The strategy was simple: the Divine Beasts would blast Calamity Ganon from a distance while Link and the Master Sword did the dirty work up close. It was a perfect plan on paper. But Ganon wasn't a mindless beast; he was a virus. He infected the tech and trapped the Champions inside their own weapons.
The way they died is actually pretty grim if you think about it.
They weren't just killed; they were ambushed in the dark. In the Champions' Ballad DLC, we learn that when the Calamity hit, the Champions had to scramble. They had to sprint from the base of Mount Lanayru all the way back to their respective regions. Think about that trek. No fast travel. Just panic and a long, exhausting run.
By the time they reached the Divine Beasts, they were likely spent. And then? The Blights were waiting.
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Mipha: The Girl Who Never Said It
Mipha is the one that really gets people. She’s the Zora Princess, sure, but she’s also the one who spent her life literally healing Link. Her diary reveals she made the Zora Armor specifically for him as a marriage proposal.
She died with that armor still in a chest.
Honestly, her spirit is the most heartbreaking to encounter. When you free Vah Ruta, she doesn't complain about her 100-year imprisonment. She just worries about her father and brother. It’s a lot to handle for a character with such a "demure" reputation.
Revali: The Ego That Hid Fear
People love to hate Revali. He’s arrogant, he’s rude to Link, and he’s constantly boasting about "Revali's Gale."
But look closer.
Revali didn't have a "gift" like the others. He wasn't born with the ability to summon lightning or heal wounds. He invented his gale through sheer, grueling practice. His arrogance is a mask for a massive inferiority complex because he’s a bird who had to work twice as hard to stand next to a "chosen" hero with a magic sword.
When you hear his SOS signal in the Vah Medoh music (it’s actually in the soundtrack’s Morse code), he sounds the most panicked. The ego finally broke.
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Why the Divine Beasts Weren't Enough
The Divine Beasts—Vah Ruta, Vah Rudania, Vah Medoh, and Vah Naboris—were supposed to be the ultimate deterrent.
They’re incredible pieces of Sheikah tech, but they became the Champions' prisons. If you've played the game, you know the vibe changes the second you step inside. The music is distorted. The atmosphere is heavy.
- Vah Ruta (Water): Controlled by Mipha, located in Lanayru.
- Vah Rudania (Fire): Controlled by Daruk, sitting on Death Mountain.
- Vah Medoh (Wind): Controlled by Revali, circling the Rito skies.
- Vah Naboris (Thunder): Controlled by Urbosa, roaming the Gerudo Desert.
Each Champion gave Link a specific ability after being freed. Mipha’s Grace saves you from death. Daruk’s Protection blocks everything. Urbosa’s Fury nukes the battlefield with lightning. And Revali’s Gale... well, let’s be real, that’s the one we all use every five minutes to skip climbing.
The DLC Changed Everything
If you haven't played The Champions' Ballad, you’re missing half the story.
The base game gives you fragments, but the DLC gives you the "Unfinished Song." You get to fight the Blights again, but this time, you're stuck with the equipment the Champions actually had when they died.
It’s a wake-up call.
Fighting Waterblight Ganon with only a handful of arrows and a mediocre spear makes you realize why Mipha didn't stand a chance. It wasn't a lack of skill; it was a lack of resources. The DLC rewards you with the Master Cycle Zero, which is basically Link's own Divine Beast (a motorcycle), but the real prize is the photo.
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That final cutscene where the Champions pose for a photo with Zelda and Link? It’s the only time you see them all happy together.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Playthrough
If you’re hopping back into Breath of the Wild before tackling Tears of the Kingdom, do the Champions' quests in a specific order to maximize the story impact.
Start with Vah Medoh. Getting Revali’s Gale early makes the rest of the game a breeze. Save Vah Naboris for last; Thunderblight Ganon is notoriously the hardest boss in the game, and you’ll want the extra hearts and upgraded gear.
Don't skip the diaries. They’re hidden in the main hubs (Zora’s Domain, Goron City, etc.) and they provide the nuance that the cutscenes leave out. You’ll learn that Daruk was terrified of dogs and that Urbosa was basically a second mother to Zelda.
It makes the final march on Hyrule Castle feel personal. When those four red beams finally strike Ganon, it’s not just a gameplay mechanic. It’s a century of regret finally being let go.
To fully experience the weight of their story, make sure you've found all of Link's "Recovered Memories" before entering the Sanctum. This fills in the gaps of the Champions' interactions and makes the final confrontation far more impactful than a simple boss fight.