Gerudo

This article is about the Gerudo race. For the province named after them, see Gerudo (Province).

Gerudo

Rhondson, a typical Gerudo in Tears of the Kingdom

Special Characteristics	Nearly all-female
Games	Ocarina of Time Majora's Mask Four Swords Adventures Breath of the Wild Age of Calamity Tears of the Kingdom
Location	Ocarina of Time Gerudo's Fortress Majora's Mask Great Bay Four Swords Adventures Desert of Doubt Breath of the Wild Tears of the Kingdom Gerudo Town Kara Kara Bazaar
Key Characters	Nabooru Ganondorf Twinrova Aveil Riju Urbosa

The Gerudo are a recurring race in The Legend of Zelda series. They are unique amidst the races of Hyrule for the fact that virtually all of them are female. It is only once per century that a Gerudo male is born, the only known examples of which being the various portrayals of Ganondorf. This unusual facet of the Gerudo's biology, along with their desirable status among Hylian males, has produced a very distinct society in which men are simultaneously revered and despised.

Gerudo culture is further shaped by their affinities for both combat and thievery—skills in the former being especially prized, but desirability of the latter having diminished over time. They live predominantly in desert areas usually bearing their namesake and have likewise become adept at traversing them, though they frequently travel elsewhere in search of worthy husbands.

Throughout the Zelda series, the Gerudo are always depicted as a dark-skinned, red-haired race of females that don long, sharp noses.

Ocarina of Time

"Nabooru's gang of thieves stands for cruelty and brutality. She claims to be a chivalrous robber, but...no way!"

Female Gerudo make their debut in Ocarina of Time. They are encountered only within their homeland of Gerudo Valley, in which most occupy the Gerudo's Fortress. They harbor much disdain towards men, though they are said to sometimes venture into Castle Town in search of "boyfriends." They initially extend this resentment to Link, but he is able to earn their respect once he proves to them his impressive thieving skills.

It is also in Ocarina of Time that the Gerudo are first shown to be apt thieves and fighters, quite often using their talents to commit criminal acts. They seem to carry a bad reputation among Hylians, some of whom can even be frightened by the Gerudo Mask if worn in their vicinity. The Gerudo are implicated in the destruction of a bridge that was built by the Carpenters, most of whom they later imprison. Furthermore, it seems that most Gerudo do indeed swear allegiance to their king, Ganondorf. To what lengths their allegiance goes is unknown, however, as their admiration for him is only sparsely alluded to.

Notable Gerudo

Second within the Gerudo chain of command is Nabooru, junior only to Ganondorf himself. While her position may seem indicative of where her loyalties lie, Nabooru is actually a strong opponent of Ganondorf's ambitions. She assists Link during his foray into the Desert Colossus and is later awakened as the Sage of Spirit.

Another prominent, albeit unnamed, individual is the Gerudo Warrior, allegedly put in charge by Nabooru during her leave of absence. She grants Link the Gerudo Token as a show of respect, very much impressed by his successful infiltration of the Gerudo Fortress.

Majora's Mask

Main article: Gerudo Pirate

In Majora's Mask, the term "Gerudo" is rarely used, most of Termina's residents instead opting for the colloquial term of "pirate." These Terminian Gerudo exhibit a malicious and xenophobic nature much the same as their Hyrulean counterparts. They inhabit the Pirate's Fortress located within Great Bay, and are implicated in the theft of Lulu's eggs.

Four Swords Adventures

In Four Swords Adventures, the Gerudo inhabit Gerudo Village within the Desert of Doubt, having left their previous home in the Gerudo Desert around the time that the events of Twilight Princess occurred. They are depicted as having become aware of the suffering they caused in the past—denouncing the actions of their former king, Ganondorf—and now wish to make amends with the Hylians. Furthermore, Ganondorf's own presence has failed to sway them, remaining firm that he has broken the law by embarking on his quest to steal the Trident.

Breath of the Wild

In Breath of the Wild, the identity of the Gerudo has been expanded upon significantly. Their name is lent to the province of Gerudo as well as its principal community, Gerudo Town, in which lives the highest concentration of Gerudo in Hyrule. Since last appearing in the series, the nomadic nature that is characteristic to the race has seemingly developed even further. Gerudo women are found to be wandering in all parts of Hyrule, many times with the aim of selling their wares to, or trading with, distant customers. Due to the lack of Gerudo males, however, it is more typically the case that they are on quests in search of the perfect mate. This will often take a significant portion of the Gerudo's life, and some are never able to find their true love.

It is by this time that the Gerudo's status as that of a band of thieves seems to have greatly diminished. They are held in good economic and social affluence among the other races of Hyrule, including the Hylians, who once feared them. Proficiency in combat is still seen as a very valuable trait, as is tradition, but seems to now hold a similar value to that of worldliness and entrepreneurship.

Physiology

The Gerudo take on a very physically imposing appearance in Breath of the Wild. While individuals in previous depictions are shown to be of an average height and build when compared to the other human races, Gerudo in Breath of the Wild are much larger all-around. Adults regularly grow to heights of over eight feet, and even those that are not fighters by trade are remarkably muscular. These attributes do tend to fade with age, however, much like one would expect. Their ears appear to have become more pointed over time, resembling those of a Hylian. Most attest this to the many generations of intermingling between the two races. However, others perceive it to be a gift from the gods—the Gerudo's ears having been supposedly opened to hearing divine messages.

Breath of the Wild further marks the debut of Gerudo young, whom feature very noticeably different proportions from that of their adult counterparts. The Gerudo, usually striking for their distinctive noses and shapely midriffs, seem to take many years before fully developing into them. Riju, a Gerudo adolescent, sports a much smaller nose than those of the adults around her.

The Gerudo are known to possess an innate tolerance of extreme temperatures, hot or cold, likely due to their storied history of living in deserts. The volcanic heat of Eldin Province, however, is too much to bear, requiring the use of Elixirs.

Culture and Customs

Gerudo females of varying ages

The Gerudo are known for their pride and exuberance, leading to a somewhat stubborn nature towards other Hyrulean races—though they are on more amicable terms with said peoples than as depicted previously. In terms of romantic prospects, they have only ever been shown in pairings with Hylians, and it is unknown as to whether the Gerudo are compatible with Rito, Zora, or Goron partners. Gorons in particular may not be suitable mates, as suggested by their toleration within Gerudo Town, where men are typically denied entry. One Goron, Strade, remarks that he is unsure of why he is allowed admittance.

Desert survival is an aspect in which the Gerudo excel. They are quite comfortable in the heat, and display advanced methods of traversing over sand. This is primarily demonstrated through their use of domesticated Sand Seals, which also provide a means of entertainment in the form of Sand Seal Racing. The Gerudo in Breath of the Wild are also known to derive pleasure from lounging about at The Noble Canteen, a bar famous for its signature drink.

In terms of dress, typical Gerudo wear bright colors and intricate patterns. Their clothing is fashioned to be light and minimal, often leaving the midriff and shoulders uncovered, so as to be better suited for desert living. Those whose livelihood is as fighters may sport shin guards and facemasks, and elders commonly wear shortcoats. Jewelry is popular among all walks of life, the many varieties of which includes earrings and hair dressings.

The Gerudo chiefdom follows a matrilineal hereditary succession system with no male influence, and it is not known what status, if any, the Chief's husband holds, though it is assumed to be completely negligible. The current Chief of the Gerudo as of Breath of the Wild is Makeela Riju.

Language

Though the Gerudo speak to visitors in Hylian, they often intersperse words from their own language when speaking. It is recommended that travelers learn a few phrases before their visit to Gerudo Town:

• Vasaaq: welcome
• Sav'otta: Good morning
• Sav'aaq: Good day
• Sav'orq: Good-bye
• Sarqso: Thank you
• Vai: Woman
• Voe: Wan

The Great Fairy Tera, who dwells in the Gerudo Great Skeleton sometimes welcomes Link to her fountain while using these expressions.

Gerudo Weapons and Armor

The Gerudo make many varieties of weapons tailored to their fighting styles. Gerudo weapons and armor available in Breath of the Wild are listed below.

Weapon	Image	Description
Gerudo Scimitar		​A short, curved weapon used by Gerudo for self-defense
Gerudo Spear		An unusually weighted spear most people are not able to use; Gerudo are specially trained in its use
Golden Claymore		A two-handed sword used by only the most talented Gerudo
Moonlight Scimitar		A ceremonial weapon decorated with a variety of carvings
Scimitar of the Seven		The favored weapon of the Gerudo Champion Urbosa
Gerudo Shield		An emblazoned traditional shield of the Gerudo; very common
Radiant Shield		A Gerudo Captain's shield
Daybreaker		The favored shield of the Gerudo Champion Urbosa
Golden Bow		A bow to strike distant targets
Thunder Helm		A precious heirloom of the Gerudo, a lightning-proof helm
Gerudo Set		A customary Gerudo Vai garb
Desert Voe Set		A customary Gerudo Voe garb, seldom seen due to the absence of Gerudo men
Radiant Set		A special garb for members of the Gerudo Secret Club

Trivia

• Although their namesake desert makes an appearance, female Gerudo are not present in Twilight Princess.
• Though marketed as Gerudo customary head wear in Breath of the Wild, the Gerudo Veil is not worn by any Gerudo women.
• The Gerudo's eye color varies between series entries. Whether this is due to their intermingling with other races is not known.
  • In Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, their eyes are yellow; in Four Swords Adventures, they are red; and in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, they are green.

Gallery

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  Artwork of Nabooru from Ocarina of Time

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  Artwork of a Gerudo Guard from Ocarina of Time

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  A Gerudo Thief from Ocarina of Time

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  Gerudo sprite from Four Swords Adventures

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  Concept artwork of Urbosa from Breath of the Wild

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  Artwork of a Gerudo male, Ganondorf, as appearing in Tears of the Kingdom

References

1. ↑ "They say that Gerudo sometimes come to Hyrule Castle Town to look for boyfriends." — Gossip Stone, Ocarina of Time.
2. ↑ "From now on, you're free to come and go as you please through the gate to the desert. You'll find the Spirit Temple, where the exalted Nabooru lives, out there in the desert." — Gerudo Warrior, Ocarina of Time.
3. ↑ "I've seen your fine work. To get past the guards here, you must have good thieving skills. I used to think that all men, besides the great Ganondorf, were useless...but now that I've seen you, I don't think so anymore! The exalted Nabooru, our leader, put me in charge of this fortress. Nabooru is the second-in-command to the great Ganondorf, King of the Gerudo Thieves. Her headquarters are in the Spirit Temple, which is at the end of the desert. Say, you must want to become one of us, eh? All right, then! You're in from now on! Take this. With it, you will have free access to all areas of the fortress!" — Gerudo Warrior, Ocarina of Time.
4. ↑ "When Ganondorf is then executed in Twilight Princess, the Gerudo are driven out of the desert altogether. They find a new home in the Desert of Doubt in Four Swords Adventures, and work to foster a more positive relationship with the Hylians, condemning the actions of their former leader." — page 45, The Legend of Zelda Encyclopaedia
5. ↑ "It is said that, long ago, the ancient Gerudo had rounded ears. The prevailing theory is that the shape of their ears changed gradually after so many generations of partnering with Hylian voes, but a competing narrative is more supernatural in nature. There is a story that the shame that the Gerudo felt over giving birth to the source of Calamity Ganon so long ago opened them up to listening for messages from the goddesses. So, they came to have the same long, pointed ears as the Hylians, which some believe allow them to receive special messages from the divine." — page 401, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Creating a Champion
6. ↑ "I made it to Gerudo Town! But I'm not sure why they let me in...", — Strade, Breath of the Wild