Most people remember Ravio as that weird guy in the purple bunny suit who squatts in Link's house during The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds. He’s quirky. He’s greedy. He basically forces you to rent your own equipment. But honestly, if you look past the Rupees and the rental shop, Ravio is arguably the most complex character Nintendo has written in the last two decades of the franchise.
He’s not just a merchant. He is the Lorulean counterpart to Link, and his existence flips the entire "courage" trope on its head.
The Cowardly Hero of Lorule
In the Zelda mythos, we’re used to Link being the brave one. He wakes up, grabs a sword, and runs toward the nearest giant spider without a second thought. Ravio? He’s the opposite. He’s terrified. When his world, Lorule, started falling into ruin because of Princess Hilda and Yuga’s desperate plan to steal Hyrule’s Triforce, Ravio didn't pick up a Master Sword. He didn't have one.
Instead, he ran.
That sounds bad, right? It’s easy to label him a coward. But think about the context for a second. Ravio knew he couldn't stop Hilda or Yuga by force. He lacked the innate warrior spirit that defines the Hyrulean Link. So, he made the incredibly difficult choice to desert his post, travel to a parallel dimension, and find someone who could fight. That takes a specific kind of bravery—the bravery to admit you aren't the hero the world needs, and then doing the legwork to find the person who is.
How the Ravio Rental System Changed Zelda Forever
Before 2013, Zelda games followed a very strict "dungeon item" formula. You go into a forest, you find a bow, you kill the boss with the bow. Rinse and repeat. Ravio changed that. By setting up shop in Link's house, he gave players access to almost every major item—the Hammer, the Fire Rod, the Hookshot—right at the start.
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It was a massive gamble by Nintendo.
By letting you rent items, the game became non-linear. You could do the dungeons in almost any order. This was the precursor to the absolute freedom we eventually saw in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. Ravio was the mechanical bridge between "Old Zelda" and "New Zelda."
The rental system also added a layer of consequence. If you died, Ravio’s bird pal, Sheerow, would swoop down and take all your rented gear back. You’d wake up at your house, wallet empty, feeling like a total loser. It made the stakes feel personal. You weren't just losing progress; you were losing your deposit.
The Lore Behind the Bunny Hood
Why a rabbit? It’s a deep-cut reference to A Link to the Past. In that game, when Link enters the Dark World without the Moon Pearl, he transforms into a pink rabbit. It represents his inner state—harmless and vulnerable.
Ravio wears the hood constantly to hide his face, but also to signal his identity. He knows he’s the "rabbit" version of the hero. It’s a visual meta-joke that doubles as a tragic character detail. He hides behind the mask because he’s ashamed he couldn't save his own kingdom.
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That Ending Twist (Spoilers, Obviously)
When Ravio finally removes his hood at the end of the game, the reveal is a gut-punch. He looks exactly like Link, just with black hair and a paler complexion. This is the moment where the "Link Between Worlds" title actually makes sense.
He’s the one who steps in when Link and Zelda are about to leave Lorule to its fate. He stands up to Princess Hilda. He’s the one who convinces her that stealing Hyrule's Triforce is wrong, even if it means their own world continues to fade away.
That conversation is the peak of his character arc. He goes from a guy hiding in a house charging 50 Rupees for a bomb, to the moral compass of an entire dimension. He didn't need a sword to save Lorule; he needed to be a friend to a princess who had lost her way.
Why Ravio Hasn't Returned (And Why That's Okay)
Fans have been begging for Ravio to show up in Hyrule Warriors or as a costume in other games. While he did make a cameo in the original Hyrule Warriors as a DLC character, he’s mostly been absent from the main series since 2013.
Some people think it's because Lorule is "fixed" now, so there's no reason for the worlds to connect. Others think Nintendo just treats A Link Between Worlds as a standalone experiment. Honestly? Ravio’s story feels complete. He started as a deserter and ended as a counselor to a queen.
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Common Misconceptions About Ravio
- Is he evil? No. Some players initially thought he was a spy for Yuga because he takes your money. He’s actually just pragmatic. He needed those Rupees to stay alive and potentially fund his escape/efforts.
- Is he related to Link? Sorta. He is Link’s Lorulean counterpart. They aren't brothers, but they share the same soul-space in their respective universes.
- Can he fight? In Hyrule Warriors, he uses the Hammer and various tools. In the actual Zelda canon, he’s a lover, not a fighter. He relies entirely on his gadgets.
Maximizing Your Ravio Experience in 2026
If you're replaying A Link Between Worlds on a 3DS (or an emulator, let's be real), there are a few things you should do to appreciate Ravio more:
- Read his diary. There’s a hidden diary in the Lorule version of Link's house (the Empty Shack). It details his inner turmoil before leaving for Hyrule. It’s heartbreaking and adds so much weight to his "greedy" merchant persona.
- Buy, don't rent. Eventually, you can buy items permanently. It’s expensive, but it unlocks the ability to upgrade them via Mother Maiamai.
- Talk to him after every dungeon. His dialogue changes subtly as the game progresses. He’s cheering for you, but there’s always a hint of "I wish I could do what you’re doing."
Ravio represents a side of the "Hero" archetype we rarely see: the person who wants to help but doesn't have the strength to do it traditionally. He’s the most "human" character in the series. He’s scared, he’s motivated by money (at first), and he’s just trying to survive.
But when the world was literally falling apart at the seams, he was the only one with enough common sense to go ask for help. That’s a legacy worth more than all the Rupees in Hyrule.
To truly master the mechanics Ravio introduces, focus on the "Big Bomb Flower" quest in Lorule as soon as possible. It’s the ultimate test of the item-management skills the game tries to teach you through Ravio's shop. Once you've cleared the game, go back and read the dialogue in the final throne room scene again; knowing Ravio's identity from the start makes his plea to Hilda feel entirely different.