Daruk

is a recurring character in.

Daruk was the warrior Goron Champion, one of the appointed members tasked with piloting the Divine Beasts in the war against Calamity Ganon 100 years ago. He was the pilot of the BotW:. He was described as being generally calm, but becomes wildly excitable in battle. He possessed the ability known as Daruk's Protection, a red crystal polyhedric barrier that can deflect any attack or incoming damage to the user. Daruk was ultimately killed when Calamity Ganon corrupted and seized control of the Divine Beasts, pitting him against a monstrosity known as Fireblight Ganon. His legacy is kept alive by the Goron people, who have a stone statue in his likeness overlooking Goron City.

In life, Daruk was a friend to Link. In Link's earliest Memory, Daruk and the other Champions were gathered as Princess Zelda led a ceremony in appointing Link as her knight. Daruk remarks how discouraging the presentation sounds, prompting a quip from Revali that the ceremony was Daruk's idea.

In another Memory, Daruk and Link were aboard the Divine Beast Vah Rudania as Daruk drove it over the mountains. Together they survey the mountains, which Daruk swears to protect with his life. A rock slide then suddenly interrupts them, and Daruk shields Link by using Daruk's Protection. The event causes some concern for Daruk about the state of Death Mountain.

Daruk was also present with the other Champions at the base of Mount Lanayru, as they waited for Zelda's and Link's return. Daruk asks Zelda if she had any luck with praying at the Spring there, but is visibly disappointed to hear there were no answers. The group is then suddenly interrupted by the re-emergence of Calamity Ganon. Daruk then takes command as he tells the other Champions to return to their Divine Beasts, and for Link to head to Hyrule Castle. Unfortunately, Daruk met his end at the hands of Fireblight Ganon and his spirit becomes trapped for the next hundred years while the monster took control of Vah Rudania.

100 years later in the present, Link boards the Divine Beast Vah Rudania to free it from Ganon's influence, which he was able to reach with the help of Yunobo, the descendant of Daruk. As Link activates the first Guidance Stone there, he hears the voice of Daruk's spirit guiding him to the next Terminal that will give him a Map of the Divine Beast. Upon activating it, Daruk then instructs the hero to find the remaining five Terminals inside and on the Divine Beast, before finally guiding him to its Main Control Unit. As Link approaches the Unit, he engages with Fireblight Ganon, and Daruk helps guide him through the resulting battle.

After Link defeats Fireblight Ganon and regains control of Vah Rudania, Daruk appears before him as a spirit. He thanks the hero for setting his spirit free, but apologizes as he feels responsible for Hyrule falling in ruin. Daruk, however, is confident that with Vah Rudania under their control, they can finally resume their plan to defeat Calamity Ganon. Daruk also gives Link the ability to use Daruk's Protection, before bidding him farewell as Link is warped out. Daruk then drives Vah Rudania to the top of Death Mountain, where he takes aim at Hyrule Castle in preparation to attack Calamity Ganon. There he surveys Hyrule and wonders how the Gorons have fared since the Great Calamity. It is then that he notices Yunobo staring back at him, reassuring him of the well-being of his people. The two Gorons then wave to each other.

Daruk's spirit again appears whenever Link uses Daruk's Protection, blocking any attack while active. His voice will also inform Link when the ability has finished recharging.

Daruk once wielded a heavy sword called the Boulder Breaker in life. This sword is now with Bludo, who entrusts it to Link in gratitude for stopping Vah Rudania's attack.

During the battle against Calamity Ganon in Hyrule Castle, Daruk unleashes his Divine Beast's attack upon Calamity Ganon, provided the Divine Beast Vah Rudania has been freed. On its own, the attack inflicts 12.5% of damage upon Calamity Ganon. When combined with the other freed Divine Beasts' attack, the assault inflicts 50% of damage total.

Following Dark Beast Ganon's defeat, as Link and Princess Zelda leave the ruined Hyrule Castle behind, Daruk's spirit along with the other Champions' and King Rhoam's spirits watch them from the sky before quietly disappearing.

In the "Champion Daruk's Song" EX Recovered Memory, it is revealed that Daruk has a fear of Dogs after saving a Hylian Retriever that was being attacked by a group of Bokoblins. He admits to Zelda that Dogs always chased him when he was younger and that he still panics when he sees one. Zelda is surprised by the revelation that Daruk has a weakness. Daruk then seeks assurance from Zelda the Calamity Ganon is not a Dog monster.

An amiibo based on Daruk released on November 10th. This amiibo is compatible with 's DLC packs.

In, Daruk appears as a Spirit with the ability, Weight 🠅, which makes a Fighter weigh more so it is harder for them to be launched, but at the same time reduces their jump height and movement speed.

Upon learning of Hyrule's dark future from the Diminutive Guardian Terrako, she travels to the four corners of Hyrule for potential Champions who will pilot the Divine Beasts in their respective regions. Among one of them is Daruk, who lives in Goron City with the rest of his fellow kin. When asked to pilot Divine Beast Vah Rudania, Daruk assures them that he will always be willing to support his allies in any way he can especially to a sincere one. He does bring up a problem with Rudania being located in a difficult spot at the moment, Death Mountain's crater and insists that they must climb the mountain to reach it and rallies them as he heads there. However, the path is full of monsters that are disrupting the work at the Goron Southern Mines, so they had to secure the area first and make sure they don't try to attack it again. After the defeat of the Igneo Talus, Daruk takes a liking to Link for his strength as well as his appetite for various foods, which Daruk also has those traits and dubs him a sworn brother of the Gorons. The group arrives at the top of the mountain with the Divine Beast at the crator, Daruk gets excited at getting Vah Rudania up and running again as he boards it to launch a counterstrike against the monsters that are attacking the mines; despite having some difficulty controlling it, Daruk eventually got the hang of it. Once the dusts settled, Daruk states that they've pulled through despite that they did a battle they did not expect to take part in, and he brings up the subject about him piloting Rudania, he eagerly accepts his role and wishes to pummel Calamity Ganon to ensure Hyrule remains peaceful. Daruk notes that they might be starving after what they've gone through and gives Link his favorite meal: Prime Rock Roast. Link bites into it and Impa and Princess Zelda are shocked at what he just did, which Daruk thought he forgot to give them some Rock Roast when it reality its not part of the Hylian diet at all, yet he promises to bring some next time.

After the Champions are gathered, Daruk travels with the soldiers through Castle Town as Princess Zelda calibrate the Divine Beasts to make it easier for the Champions to control. During their travels, he bonds with the Zora Princess, Mipha when she asked him if he wants to train with her since she desired to be better prepared to handle stronger foes and fend for herself. Daruk accepts her request and adds that they still haven't found a knight who wields the darkness sealing sword who can stand against Calamity Ganon and looks over at Link and saw potential in him in fulfilling this role and his chuckle implies that he possibly knew of her crush on Link but doesn't say anything about it. Soon, they are ambushed by the Yiga Clan led by Sooga who sought to take Zelda's life as Mipha, Daruk, and the rest of the soldiers take on a fighting stance. Princess Zelda and Link withdraw for safety as the Champions and other soldiers engage in battle with the cult that worships Ganon, but it turned out to be a diversion bent on separating everyone from the princess and a fire forced Link and Zelda into the open. Sooga throws three kunai at Zelda when she was left seemingly defenseless, only for Link to block the sharp projectiles. Sooga then calls for a retreat and he and the Yiga Clan leave the area.

Daruk joins the Champions as they head to Korok Forest which was overrun by monsters. Revali is honored to take on the important task of defending Hyrule, but he soon decides to have a little fun poking at Link and questioning his leadership and Daruk defends the Hylian and reminds him that they're dealing with the threat together, but Revali dismisses him before he goes back to hurling insults at Link until Urbosa scolds him. Revali stops as he decides to prove his worth as he summons Divine Beast Vah Medoh and destroys the monsters as well as their outposts that surround the area before allowing them to go into the forest. During their expedition, Mipha notes on the forest's foggy state which Revali makes a complaint about their progress and soon argues with Daruk after he insisted that he should fly and scout the area. They soon meet Hestu, who is happy to lend them a hand, but he grew afraid of dealing with the monsters that infest the woods. Revali makes a remark that he can get around safely if he didn't have his maracas with him and Urbosa tells Hestu to pay no heed to him and offers to protect him from the monsters in exchange for his help in reaching the forest clearing. Hestu happily complies as he leads the way. They notice odd appearances of Malice and four evil doppelgangers of the Champions including Daruk called Hollows created by the mysterious seer, Astor. With the Champions separated from Link and Zelda, Astor has the duo overwhelmed and orders them to kill the princess, but Link pulls the Master Sword and its light dispels the Hollows before they can reach her and Astor is forced into withdrawl as he knew he wouldn't stand a chance at this point. Daruk and the Champions arrive at the clearing to listen to the Great Deku Tree's words of wisdom. It was there that Princess Zelda starts feeling anxious about her unfulfilled duty to unlock her power needed to defeat Calamity Ganon. On their journey back to Hyrule Castle, everyone including Daruk stops as Zelda voices her doubts about awakening her power, but she is calmed when Terrako plays her lullaby which she recalls, but they are interrupted by the monsters that surround the castle. After that, Daruk can be seen cheering Link on with the Hylian Soldiers as he was eating various foods as Urbosa was giving the princess a pep talk. Eventually, Daruk and the Champions are promoted and bestowed blue cloths that signify their status; Daruk replaces his left Goron chain for the new blue sash with Divine Beast Vah Rudania embedded on it. After the inauguration ceremony, Daruk and the others hang out outside and as Impa and Terrako begin arguing, Mipha reminds Daruk about their earlier conversation, and he happily decides to get down to it. Mipha is grateful, but finds herself in an embarrassing situation when she noticed Link listening to her reasons why she wants to get stronger, and Revali is caught in the fight that does not want to be involved in and becomes aggravated by their behavior enough for him to leave the area in disgust. After that, Daruk and the Champions head home to prepare for the inevitable.

Gallery
Daruk Daruk Daruk 達爾克爾