He isn't just a boat. Honestly, if you played The Wind Waker back on the GameCube in 2003, you probably remember that initial shock of seeing a talking crimson vessel with a dragon's head. It was weird. It was bold. But the King of Red Lions ended up being much more than a fast-travel mechanic or a wooden hull to keep Link’s boots dry. He was the emotional anchor of a game that, at the time, people were honestly pretty skeptical about because of the "Cel-shaded" art style.
Think about it. You're a kid from Outset Island. You've got a wooden sword and a green tunic that's way too hot for the tropics. Suddenly, you're tossed into a Great Sea that feels terrifyingly empty. Without that boat, you're nothing. But the King of Red Lions provides the literal and figurative direction Link needs to survive a flooded Hyrule.
Who Exactly Is the King of Red Lions?
SPOILERS ahead, though the game is over twenty years old now. The King of Red Lions is actually King Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule. He’s the last sovereign of a kingdom that doesn't exist anymore—at least not above the waves. When the Goddesses decided to flood Hyrule to stop Ganondorf, Daphnes stayed behind. Or sort of. He became a spirit bound to this vibrant, red-painted boat to guide the next hero.
It's a heavy burden for a small wooden craft.
He’s bossy. He’s stern. He’s basically the grumpy grandpa of the Zelda franchise. While Navi from Ocarina of Time just yelled "Listen!", the King actually teaches you how to navigate the world. He’s the one who explains the Wind Waker baton. He’s the one who tells you when you're going the wrong way, often with a sharp "Hey!" and a physical turn of the rudder. He has a lot of regret, too. If you read the dialogue closely, especially toward the end of the game under the sea, you realize he feels responsible for Hyrule's fate. He’s a man obsessed with the past until he realizes the future belongs to Link and Tetra.
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Navigating the Great Sea: More Than Just Holding 'A'
Sailing sucked for some people. Let’s be real. In the original version, changing the wind direction every five minutes was a chore. You’d pull out the baton, conduct the Wind’s Requiem, watch the animation, and then finally move.
The King of Red Lions moves at a pace that felt "majestic" to some and "interminable" to others.
- The Swift Sail Change: When Nintendo released The Wind Waker HD on the Wii U, they fixed this. They added the Swift Sail. It doubled the boat's speed and automatically changed the wind direction. It was a game-changer.
- The Grappling Hook: You don't just sail; you scavenge. Using the grappling hook while inside the boat lets you haul up sunken treasure. That "clink-clink-clink" sound when you hit a chest is pure dopamine.
- Sea Combat: The King isn't defenseless. Once you get the Bombs, the boat basically becomes a floating tank. You're taking out Octoroks, Gyorgs, and those annoying golden warships.
It’s about the horizon. That’s the magic. When you’re sitting in the King of Red Lions, and the "Great Sea" theme kicks in with those triumphant strings, the world feels infinite. You see a speck on the horizon. Is it Dragon Roost Island? Is it a lookout platform? The boat is the lens through which you see the most experimental world Nintendo ever built for Zelda.
The Secret Mechanical Brilliance of the Boat
Nintendo EAD, led by Eiji Aonuma and Hidemaro Fujibayashi, had a massive technical hurdle. The GameCube couldn't load a seamless world of that size. The King of Red Lions was the solution.
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While you’re sailing, the game is frantically loading the next "square" of the ocean grid. The boat’s top speed was actually determined by the GameCube’s disc-read speed. If the boat went any faster, you’d sail into an empty void before the islands could pop in. This is why the sailing feels the way it does. It’s a perfectly choreographed dance between hardware limitations and art direction.
He also serves as a gatekeeper. You ever try to sail out of bounds? He literally turns you around. He tells you "We have no business there yet." It’s a clever way to keep the player on track without putting up invisible walls that break immersion. He is the wall, but a wall with a personality and a backstory.
Why He Matters More Than Other Companions
Midna is great. Fi is... polarizing. But the King of Red Lions is unique because he is a physical space you inhabit. You aren't just talking to him; you are inside him. He carries you. When he’s not there—like when you’re exploring the Forsaken Woods or climbing Ganondorf’s tower—you feel vulnerable.
There's a specific moment late in the game where the King speaks to the Triforce. He makes a wish. It’s not a wish for his kingdom to return. He wishes for Link and Tetra to have a future. To have hope.
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"I have scattered the seeds of the future."
That’s his big line. He chooses to drown with his old world so the new generation can live on the surface. It’s one of the most selfless acts in the entire Zelda series. He isn't just a mentor; he's a father figure who knows when it's time to let go.
Actionable Tips for Modern Players
If you're revisiting The Wind Waker or playing it for the first time on an emulator or original hardware, keep these things in mind to get the most out of your time with the King:
- Get the Swift Sail ASAP: If you are on the Wii U version, head to the Auction House on Windfall Island at night. It’s worth every Rupee. It makes exploration 100% more enjoyable.
- Learn the "Salvage" Rhythm: Don't ignore the light rings in the water. Use the King to position yourself directly over them. The treasure maps (Triforce Charts) are tedious, but the King's reaction to finding treasure makes the grind feel a bit more rewarding.
- Talk to the Fish: Use the All-Purpose Bait near the jumping fish (Fishmen). They will fill out your map. The King might be your guide, but these fish are your informants. You need both to survive the Great Sea.
- Watch the King's Ears: This is a tiny detail many miss. The King’s "ears" (the ornaments on his head) actually react to the world. It’s a small touch of animation that makes the wooden boat feel alive.
The King of Red Lions represents a specific era of Nintendo's creativity—a time when they weren't afraid to turn a legendary king into a talking boat just to make a gameplay mechanic work. He remains one of the most iconic "vehicles" in gaming history, right up there with the Epona or the Arwing. He's the soul of the Great Sea.
To truly master the game, focus on completing the Nintendo Gallery sidequest. It requires you to take pictographs of almost everyone, including the King's human form during the final cutscenes. It’s the ultimate test of a completionist and gives you the deepest look into the lore surrounding the man behind the mast.