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This article refers to the location in Twilight Princess. For the desert containing Gerudos in Template:OOT, see Haunted Wasteland and Desert Colossus.

Template:Place The Gerudo Desert is a desert in Hyrule featured in Twilight Princess, Link's Crossbow Training, and Hyrule Warriors. In Twilight Princess, the desert is home to the Arbiter's Grounds, which can be found up north.[1]

Appearances and Features

Twilight Princess

The Gerudo Desert is found in the Desert Province, located in the southwest corner of Hyrule. The Gerudo Desert is completely cut off from the rest of Hyrule after being abandoned years ago. It can first only be reached by being shot out of Fyer's cannon, and can only be left by warping out of it. Even though the game takes place after Ocarina of Time, the Gerudo tribe is nowhere to be seen in this desert. The Gerudo Desert is uninhabited by people and has instead been overrun by Bulblins.

According to Auru, the desert once held a "prison to hold the worst criminals" of Hyrule.[2] The desert covers a vast territory, but most of its surface is a barren wasteland with no signs of life other than some monsters like Moldorms, Shadow Beasts, Bulblins and Leevers. It also has long endless holes within its surface which makes it harder to move faster through the desert. The Gerudo Desert has only two significant locations: Gerudo Mesa and Arbiter's Grounds. On the top of Arbiter's Grounds lies the Mirror Chamber, which houses the Mirror of Twilight- the only way to access the Twilight Realm. The Mirror of Twilight can create a portal inside a gigantic rock to the Palace of Twilight. The mirror was shattered into 4 pieces by Zant but later was recovered by Link and Midna. After the defeat of Ganondorf, Midna (in her true form) departs to the Twilight Palace and completely shatters the mirror.

The Gerudo Mesa is the other important location in the Gerudo Desert. The Cave of Ordeals, a large optional dungeon, is located within the mesa.

Link's Crossbow Training

The Gerudo Desert serves as the backdrop for two fixed stance, enemy slaughtering scenarios (defender mode) in Link's Crossbow Training. Bonus point items are much less common in this barren setting. The first appearance, during Stage 1, Link faces a constant onslaught of Stalfos rising from the sand. The skeletal warriors approach slowly and several Automatic Crossbow upgrades can be obtained by killing enemies glowing green.

The second appearance in Stage 5, seems exactly the same with different enemies. Moldorms will circle Link, mostly underground, jumping occasionally, which is the opportunity to shoot them. Between swarms of Moldorms, a group of Leevers will encircle Link before attacking.

Hyrule Warriors

HW Gerudo Desert

Gerudo Desert in Hyrule Warriors

Gerudo Desert appears as the 14th and 17th stages in Hyrule Warriors. Originally inhabited by the Gerudo, the area is now a wasteland after they were driven out by monsters. It is here that Ganondorf summons Zant and Ghirahim from their worlds and they become his minions. The trio then take out the remaining members of Cia's forces, who are now without a master after her death.

Gerudo Desert is later visited by Link, Zelda, Lana, and Impa after Ganondorf takes over Hyrule Castle. Here, they attempt to defeat Zant and Ghirahim and send them back to their worlds. Although struggling to do so at first, Lana summons Darunia, Ruto, Midna, Agitha, and Fi from their worlds for assistance. After this, they manage to defeat Zant and Ghirahim, and now with them gone, go to Ganon's Castle to defeat Ganondorf and take back Hyrule.

Theory

Theory Warning

There is a strong possibility that the Arbiter's Grounds and the Spirit Temple are the one and same due to their identical locations, the presence of the Gerudo Goddess of the Sand, and the presence of a large round mirror in Ocarina of Time that greatly resembles the Mirror of Twilight (the main mirror that reflects the light Link needs to shatter the statue's face and enter Twinrova's chamber). The presence of this mirror, along with the Spirit Temple's general theme of mirrors seems to indicate a possible connection since the Arbiter's Grounds was most famous for the Mirror of Twilight. It should be noted, however, that in the Gerudo Desert from Twilight Princess, a mesa can be seen far to the south of the "playable" desert area. This mesa resembles the Spirit Temple as seen from the Gerudo Fortress in Ocarina of Time.

It is probable that the Gerudo Desert is the "modern day" version of Lanayru Desert and Lanayru Sand Sea.

Trivia

  • The Hylian Typography on the map of Hyrule lists the Gerudo Desert under the name Great Desert.
  • In Four Swords Adventures, the Gerudo tribe makes another appearance, but instead of being in the Gerudo Desert, they appear in the Desert of Doubt.
  • Gerudo Dragonflies can be found in Lanayru Desert, referencing Gerudo Desert and the Gerudo people. It should be noted that the term Template:Japanese has also been translated as "Geld" when referring to sand-based creatures such as the Geldarm, and has such been in use ever since Template:AOL, long before the Gerudo people appeared in the series.

References

  1. "Tell me, did you find anything of interest at the Arbiter's Grounds in the desert?" — Auru (Twilight Princess)
  2. "The Gerudo Desert once held a prison built to hold the worst criminals this land has ever known... The criminals who were sentenced to death were sent directly to the underworld by a cursed mirror that was kept in the prison...Now that prison is condemned, and even the road leading to the desert is impassable." — Auru (Twilight Princess)


TMC Forest Minish Artwork Names in Other Regions TMC Jabber Nut Sprite
Language Name Meaning
Japan Japanese Template:Japanese Gerudo Desert
French Republic FrenchEU Désert Gerudo
Federal Republic of Germany German Gerudo-Wüste
Kingdom of Spain SpanishEU Desierto Gerudo Gerudo Desert

Hyrule in Twilight Princess
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