Deku Scrub

Deku Scrubs (デクナッツ, Dekunattsu) are small creatures that have the ability to spit Deku Nuts at their enemies. They look as if they are made of wood, hinting that they evolved from plants. They played a small role in Ocarina of Time in which they were both enemies and salesmen. If you defeated a salesman type Deku Scrub, known as a Business Scrub, they would try to sell you an item that was always overpriced.

Majora's Mask explored a different side of this species, as there was a functioning society composed entirely of Deku Scrubs. They were situated in the swamp of Termina and had a monarchy. Their royal family was composed of a King and a Princess, which were served by guards, yes-men, and a butler whose son had mysteriously disappeared prior to the game. Skull Kid also turned Link to a Deku Scrub. When Link was healed, he received the Deku Mask.

Four Swords Adventures featured a group of friendly Hyrulean Deku Scrubs. These Deku Scrubs served Ganon because he promised to increase the size of the woods. This would allow the Deku Scrubs to travel/live all over Hyrule because they need shadow. As such, they thought of Ganon as a good-guy and did not attack Link.

Deku Status
In Majora's Mask, we learn much about Dekus and how they work and/or function. In some games, Deku Scrubs refer to child Dekus while an adult is simply called a Deku. Most Dekus speak Hylian (although this depends on where one lives), and they can be very kind at times. If an unknown stranger ever goes near a Deku, it will attack, and walking close to them makes them sink into a Deku Flower.

Deku Flowers are like shells to turtles. Some Dekus get very personal with theirs, and if other Dekus try to enter without permission, they are usually enraged. While some Dekus use propeller-like flowers to glide, some have parts on their heads which can lift them off too. Dekus also have different methods of handling problems as written below.


 * Dekus can deal with water, but if they happen to venture in deep areas they will hop on the water to survive drowning. Like plants, too much water can hurt them.


 * Dekus are also flammable. If they get too close to an open flame, their wooden skin could make the fire travel faster than a human which makes them burn much worse than a Zora.

Variants

 * Deku Scrub, the ordinary green leaf-covered enemies from Ocarina of Time that appeared in the Deku Tree and in the Lost Woods, as well as the Swamp Spider House in Majora's Mask.
 * Mad Scrub, the autumn-colored variant of the Deku Scrub that appeared as more-powerful versions of scrubs in Ocarina of Time in the Sacred Forest Meadow and Kokiri Forest. They took on the Deku Scrub's behavior, however, as the only Deku enemies in Majora's Mask, appearing in the Deku Palace and Woodfall.
 * Deku, autumn-colored Deku Scrubs that lack the leafy hood that Ocarina of Time's Deku Scrubs had. Though they appeared in a grotto in Ocarina of Time, they're major appearance were as the guards of the Deku Palace in Majora's Mask and as Ganon's followers in Four Swords Adventures.  Elite Dekus have mustaches and appear older.
 * Business Scrub, the entrepreneur Deku Scrubs that appeared in Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, and the Oracle series.