One ofThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’s biggest mysteries is the appearance of a fourth dragon - a white-colored dragon with a golden mane that flies around the regions of Hyrule. The Light Dragon is first seen after you’ve completed the Great Sky Islands and sent the Master Sword back in time to Princess Zelda.
It emerges from the cloud barrier below the islands and disperses the clouds, allowing Link to jump down to the surface of Hyrule. From this point on, the Light Dragon is a constant figure in the sky alongside Dinraal, Farosh, and Naydra. Before the dragon’s identity is revealed, there are hints that highlight its significance to the game’s story.
Updated July 02, 2025 by Casey Foot:The Light Dragon is pivotal to Tears of the Kingdom’s narrative, which bridges the gap between Hyrule in the era of the Zonai and Hyrule in the present. You may have had questions about where the Light Dragon could have been duringBreath of the Wild’s story, so we’ve added a section answering this.
Spoiler warning for Tears of the Kingdom
The Origin Of The Light Dragon
At the start of Tears of the Kingdom, Link and Zelda encountera skeletal corpse - Ganondorf- with a disembodied arm holding it in place.
When Link and Zelda approach Ganondorf, the disembodied arm falls, anda tear-shaped stone tumbles toward Zelda. Zelda picks up the stone, and it begins toemit a golden light, which causes Ganondorf to react.
When Ganondorf uses his powers to raise Hyrule Castle, Zelda begins to fall into a chasm. Though she is just out of Link’s reach, she issaved by the stone she picked up earlier, which sends herback in time. A similar magic later allows Link to send the broken Master Sword back in time to Zelda.
In the past, Zelda discovers that the stone isa Secret Stone capable of amplifying someone’s innate gifts.
She also learns of aforbidden act called draconification, where someone can become animmortaldragon by swallowing their Secret Stone. However, the process results in the personlosing their previous memories and sense of self.
Unable to find another solution to reach the future and give Link the Master Sword,Zelda swallows her Secret Stone and becomes the Light Dragon.
Why Does Zelda Choose To Become A Dragon?
In possession ofthe decayed Master Sword, Zelda begins to think ofways to restore its power and return it to Link.
She reflects on her conversation with the Deku Tree prior to visiting the underground of Hyrule Castle, where he tells her that the Master Sword will “continue to gain strength if bathed in sacred power.” Knowing this, Zelda plans toimbue the Master Sword with enough strength to fell the Demon King.
This process wouldtake hundreds of years to be effective, giving Zeldano choice but to unnaturally lengthen her lifespan by becoming the immortal Light Dragon. The Light Dragon’s immortality wouldensure that Link can reunite with the Master Sword, which is safely entangled within her hair.
Although Zelda has to sacrifice her being by doing so,she enables Link to potentially defeat the Demon King, which the Sages failed to do in the past.
Did Zelda Lose All Her Memories As A Dragon?
After Zelda decides to commit to draconification, she speaks to Mineru, who warns her that the process would mean“throwing yourself away.”
Becoming an immortal dragon supposedly meanslosing all sense of self, including her memories. This is confirmed by Zelda herself in the post-credits cutscene, where she tells Riju that she“doesn’t really remember” flying around the skies of Hyruleas a dragon.
Although the process of draconification does cause the person to lose most of the qualities that make them who they are,some personal aspects linger. If you take a picture of the Light Dragon with the camera, its description in the Hyrule Compendium saysits presence is “comforting somehow,”reflectingLink and Zelda’s close relationship.
If you fuse Light Dragon parts - its scale, talon, fang, horn, or spike - to Link’s weapon, using the weapon will heal Link, yet again indicating Zelda’s innate care for Link.
Some hints show that Zelda still hassome memories in her subconscious as a dragon. After transforming into the Light Dragon,tears fall from her eyes, most likelymourning the life she can’t return to.
During Link’s final confrontation with Ganondorf as a dragon,the Light Dragon instinctively helps Link, catching him if he starts to fall. Even as a dragon, Zelda still feelsa sense of duty to defeat Ganondorf and save Hyrule by assisting Link.
Does Zelda Turn Back Into A Human?
While Mineru does tell Zelda that the act of draconification is irreversible, she’s able tobecome human again after Link defeats Ganondorf.
Rauru and Sonia’s spirits appear, placing their hands on top of Link’s. This appears toamplify the power of his Zonai arm. Combined withRauru’s Light and Sonia’s Time powers, which bathe the Light Dragon in golden light,this transforms her back into a Hylian.
It takes animmense amount of power to reverse the act of draconification, with onlyLink, Rauru, and Sonia’s powers used togetherbeing able to accomplish it.
Where Was The Light Dragon In Breath Of The Wild?
In Tears of the Kingdom, it’s revealed that Zelda spent many years as a dragon after the events of the Imprisoning War, which meansthe Light Dragon must have been present during the events of Breath of the Wilddespite not appearing in the game.
The Zelda developers most likely didn’t have the Light Dragon’s presence in mind when making Breath of the Wild; however, the Light Dragon’s absencecan be explained.
It’s possible that the Light Dragon washidden above the cloud barrierthat surrounds the Great Sky Islands at the beginning of Tears of the Kingdom.
In Breath of the Wild,Dinraal, Farosh, and Naydra are seen entering ‘portals’ in the skyand disappearing, so it’s likely this is where the Light Dragon would also be, hidden from view for hundreds of years.
Next:The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom - Every Dragon, Ranked
