Zant: Difference between revisions

{{Spoiler}}

{{Character

| name    = Zant

| image   = [[File:Zant.png|200px]]

| title   = Usurper King

| game     = ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess|Twilight Princess]]''

| location = [[Twilight Realm]]

'''Zant''' is the secondary antagonist of ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess|Twilight Princess]]'', although for most of the game he will in fact appear to be the main villain. Zant is a part of the [[Twili]] race, who were banished to the [[Twilight Realm]] as a result of their ancestors attempting to seek domain over the [[Sacred Realm]]. Zant claims himself to be the King of Twilight but his power is a false power, as [[Midna]] is the true leader. Zant during the start of the game seems to be a steady figure, barley showing any emotion nor weakness. However, during the boss fight he unravels, showing his true personality.  

[[File:Interlopers.jpg|left|thumb|Dark Interlopers]]Zant is a descendent of a group of sorcerers named the [[Interlopers|Dark Interlopers]]. This tribe excelled in shadow magic and intended to use the power of the [[Fused Shadow]] to seek domain over the Sacred Realm.{{Ref|TP|1449|[[Lanayru (Light Spirit)|Lanayru]]}}{{Ref|TP|1450|[[Lanayru (Light Spirit)|Lanayru]]}} However the Light Spirits intervened and took the Fused Shadows and broke them into four separate piece's.{{Ref|TP|1451|[[Lanayru (Light Spirit)|Lanayru]]}} With the power of the Fused Shadows gone from their grasp, the tribe were left powerless, thus they were banished to the realm of darkness. Over time due to the appearance of the [[Sol]]s the Dark Interlopers eventually evolved of what become to be known as the Twili.

The Twili race where known to be very peaceful and a monarchy was established in order to lead the Twili. Zant had been a loyal servant to the monarchy of the [[Palace of Twilight|Palace]] for many years. Zant was meant to be next in line to ascend to the throne. However it was Midna who was chosen as the true leader, she was known as the Twilight Princess. Zant, distraught by this news, looked to the heavens for an answer. He was gifted a mysterious foreign power by his supposed God.

This power was gifted to Zant by [[Ganon|Ganondorf]]. Ganondorf had previously escaped his imprisonment in [[Arbiter's Grounds]]. Due to his failed execution, the remaining sages decided the only option now was to seal Ganondorf into the banished Twilight Relam. Ganondorf housed his power into Zant at one request, that he merge light with shadow, therefore creating complete darkness. Zant took this power and falsely usurped the throne of the Twilight Realm. With this false power, Zant turned its habitants into mindless [[Shadow Beast]]s and Minda into an imp. Zant invaded [[Hyrule Castle]] and forced [[Princess Zelda]] to give up the throne of Hyrule. Zant sent out Shadow Beasts to steal the light from the provinces across Hyrule, thus suspending Hyrule in Twilight.  

[[Link]] got caught up in Zant's evil plot during the end of the prologue. [[King Bulblin]] and his army of [[Bulblin]]s invaded the safety of the [[Ordona Province]] and attack Link and its inhabitants. Link woke up after being left unconscious and he realized that both [[Colin]] and [[Ilia]] have been taken. Link then came up against a wall of Twilight, a Shadow Beast then dragged him into the Twilight Realm, thus starting the events of the main plot.

[[File:Zant Invading.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Zant invading Hyrule Castle]]Link first heard about the whereabouts of Zant when escaping his imprisonment in Hyrule Castle. Midna assisted him in reaching the tower where Princess Zelda resided. She tells Link about how Zant, and how the King of Twilight invaded the Castle where she was forced to give up the throne. Zelda also explains to Link how Hyrule is covered in perpetual Twilight, and all of its inhabitants have turned into spirits, who know only fear.{{Ref|TP|2178|[[Princess Zelda]]}}{{Ref|TP|2179|[[Princess Zelda]]}}{{Ref|TP|2180|[[Princess Zelda]]}} Later on in the game, after restoring the light to [[Faron Province]], the Light Spirit, [[Faron (Light Spirit)|Faron]], tells Link about a dark power that lies in the [[Forest Temple (Twilight Princess)|Forest Temple]].{{Ref|TP|1339|[[Faron (Light Spirit)|Faron]]}}{{Ref|TP|1340|[[Faron (Light Spirit)|Faron]]}} This is a piece of the Fused Shadows, and Faron tells Link that he must use this power to defeat the King of the Shadows, Zant.{{Ref|TP|1341|[[Faron (Light Spirit)|Faron]]}}{{Ref|TP|1342|[[Faron (Light Spirit)|Faron]]}}

Link first encounters Zant after collecting the third and final piece of the Fused Shadows, from the [[Lakebed Temple]].{{Ref|TP|2183|[[Princess Zelda]]}} Zant will halt Link and Midna as they exit. The Light Spirit, [[Lanayru (Light Spirit)|Lanayru]], will try to intervene, but Zant once again steals the light, thus restoring Twilight to the province. Zant also takes the Fused Shadows from Midna, calling them an old and withered power. He then proclaims that his power is new and was granted to him by his God. Wolf Link tries to attack Zant. However in the process, Zant uses his dark powers to curse Link, meaning he is now suspended in beast form. Zant then goes onto tell Midna of his desires, and that darkness and light will meet at last. He then asks Midna to aid him. After Midna refuses to aid Zant, he manipulates Lanayru to return Midna to the Light World, leaving Midna to a near inch of death.

Later on in the plot Link and Midna find the whereabouts of the Mirror of Twilight, hidden within Arbiter's Grounds. This is the only connection to the Twilight Realm but Link has to pass through the grounds to reach the [[Mirror Chamber]]. Upon navigating through the dungeon Link finds the remains of of a skeletal being covered in sand. Zant appears and pulls out the Twilight Sword and thrusts it into the skull of the remains. This brings the seemingly dead being to life and this is the fourth boss of the game, [[Stallord]]. Upon defeating Stallord, Link makes is way up to the Mirror Chamber, he then finds the mirror is broken. The Sages tell Link this was the work of Zant and that it was their fault that Zant was allowed to gain power. The Sages also tell Link that they sealed Ganondorf in the Twilight Realm and that this could be the source of Zant's power.

[[File:800px-Palaceoftwilght.jpg|left|thumb|270px|Palace of Twilight]]After collecting the three [[Mirror Shard]]s, the Mirror of Twilight is now restored. Link and Minda now are able to access the Twilight Realm and confront Zant. Upon entering the realm Link has to restore the two Sols to the plaza. Each Sol is found on the opposing ends of the Palace. Once the Sols have been returned to their original position it powers up Link's Master Sword. The Master Sword now becomes the [[Light Sword]] and it allows Link to clear up the shadows that block the entrance to Zant's Palace. Link now advances to the Palace to confront Zant. Upon entering the throne room, Zant explains his hatred for the Light World, saying they trapped us like insects in a cage and the Twili new desire or hate. He also explain his frustrations with not becoming king and how he was gifted power by his god.  

After Link has defeated Zant, he explains that the curse set up on Midna cannot be broken. It was put on her by his god Ganondorf and now he is reborn in the Light World, Zant proclaims that aslong as he lives, that Ganondorf shall resurrect him. It is at this point that Midna uses her restored Fused Shadows to ultimately kill Zant. However after the defeat of Ganondorf, Zant can be seen snapping his neck upon Ganondorfs death. This could be seen as symbolism of the betrayal.  

[[File:Zant Boss.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Zant boss fight]]Zant is one of the longer boss fights in ''Twilight Princess'' and the battle itself is composed of six stages. Each stage will take place in a past boss room and it will require Link to remember the skills he has learnt on his journey as well as his use of items.  

===First Stage===

The first stage will take place in the [[Boss]] room from The Forest Temple. This battle is very similar to the [[Diababa]] boss battle from earlier on in the game. Zant hovers around the boss room firing dark energy blasts at Link. Link has to block these attacks using his [[Hylian Shield|Shield]] and then he can equip the [[Gale Boomerang]] and target Zant. This brings Zant down to the surface, leaving Zant prone to attack. After a limited time Zant will warp away, thus Link repeating the original process.  

The second stage will take place in the [[Goron Mines]] Mini Boss room and will be very similar to the [[Dangoro]] boss fight. Zant repeatedly stomps the surface which wobbles the platform. Link equips the [[Iron Boots]] in order to stay grounded, this leads Zant to attack with dark energy blasts. Link simply blocks these with his shield, once Zant gets tired, Link unequips the boots and attacks Zant.

===Third Stage===

The next stage, Zant will replicate the [[Morpheel]] boss battle from the [[Lakebed Temple]]. In this area Link equips both the Iron Boots and the [[Zora Armor]], so he can stay grounded underwater. Zant first appears in a giant version of his helmet, once appearing he again uses his blast attack. Link equips the [[Clawshot]] to grab Zant and the attack him when he is close. The next phase Zant appears in several giant masks, once tageted Link uses the clawshot and attack Zant.  

===Forth Stage===

The next stage takes place once again within the Forest Temple, however this time its [[Ook]]'s stage. Much similar to Ook, Zant leaps from platform to platform and he then once again powers up his blast attack. Link then avoids the attack and rolls Into the bottom of the platform to knock Zant down. Zant is now be prone to attack, Link has to repeat this process.

 

The fith stage takes place in the boss room of [[Blizzeta]], seen in [[Snowpeak Ruins]].This time Zant increases in size to replicate a giant version of himself. Link has to use the same tactic that he used against Blizzeta, by looking at the reflection on the ice. Once dodging Zant, Link equips the [[Ball and Chain]] and hits Zant. This causes Zant to repeatedly decrease in size, Link carefully navigates the slippery surface in order to attack the injured Zant.

 

The final stage differs from the others as this time Zant won't replicate a previous boss and the fight itself takes place just outside of the Hyrule Castle. Zant this time draws out two blades from under his arms and attack Link. Zant has two distinct attacks, the first attack Zant comes running at Link. Link has to dodge Zant and attack him from behind. Another one of Zant's attacks is his spin attack, Link uses his shield repeatedly to block Zant's attack. After a while Zant gets tired from spinning, leaving him prone to attack. Zant also warp many times in the duration of this battle, making it harder for Link to attack and evading his attacks. After dealing enough damage, Zant falls to his knees, ending this boss battle.

File:Zant Face.jpg|Zant revealing his face

{{Cat|Twilight Princess Bosses}}