Demon

are a recurring race of monstrous beings that are usually of evil alignment in . Although demons are inherently evil and they exude a dark aura that attracts monsters and radically changes the behavior of Animals, very few exceptions exist. They desire to have control over the world and thus constitute a significant threat to Hyrule and its people. Usually within the series, Ganon is known as the master of demons as the Princes of Darkness. However, some games have different lead antagonists who are also demons themselves. Often, Link and sometimes Princess Zelda fight and destroy these creatures in order to save Hyrule or other lands.
The terms "demon" and "monster" are sometimes used interchangeably, but generally demons are born from the source of evil while monsters are creatures corrupted by dark magic. Demons command and create evil, while monsters do its bidding.
==Characteristics==
===History===
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During the Era of the Goddess Hylia, the Demon race emerged from the earth, desiring the Triforce, originating from their leader Demise. Demise desired to rule the world with the enormous power that the Triforce would grant. Hylia protected the Triforce and took the surviving people to the sky, hiding the Triforce there as well. Hylia and the remaining tribes on the surface fought against Demise and managed to seal him away; however, the goddess knew the seal would not last, so she decided to extinguish Demise with the power of the Triforce. However, gods cannot use the power of the Triforce, so she abandoned her status as god to be reborn as a human.
When Hylia was eventually reincarnated as a human girl named Princess Zelda, Demise's servant Ghirahim made himself the Demon Lord and set his plans to revive the Demon King in motion. Ghirahim sent demon hordes on the surface to locate Hylia's mortal incarnation. Eventually Ghirahim succeeded in reviving Demise; however, Link defeated Demise and the demon race disappeared from the earth.
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During the Force Era, demons returned and almost covered the world in darkness. However, the Hero of Men used the Light Force and the Picori Blade to seal all the demons in a treasure chest, restoring peace. Years later, seeking the Light Force, Vaati opened the treasure chest, accidentally unleashing the demons upon Hyrule once more.
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In the Era of the Hero of Time, Ganondorf successfully infiltrated the Sacred Realm and took the Triforce of Power. As the Sacred Realm reflects the heart of the one who takes the Triforce, it became a dark world infested by demons, known as the Evil Realm.
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In the Era of Light and Dark, Agahnim used his powers to send people, including the Maidens, to the Dark World. Anyone sent there became a demon based on their heart, except Link, who possessed the qualities of a hero and instead became a pink bunny (until he found the Moon Pearl, which allowed him to remain in human form in the Dark World), and the Maidens became trapped in crystals. 
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At some point after the defeat of Agahnim, demons infested Labrynna, and attacked Impa shortly before Link awoke to help her. 
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Demons also appeared in the Wind Fish's dream, and attempted to prevent Link from ending the dream by waking the Wind Fish.
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In the Era of Decline, following his resurrection, Ganon attacked the kingdom of Hyrule with his demon army and stole the Triforce of Power. 
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Although Link managed to destroy Ganon, his followers remained in the area planning to resurrect their master by sacrificing Link and sprinkling his blood over the ashes of the Demon King.
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In the Twilight Era, Zant was given magical powers by Ganondorf, which he used to transform the Twili, the inhabitants of the Twilight Realm, into demons. He used this army of demons to attack Hyrule.
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In the Shadow Era, a reincarnation of Ganondorf used the Dark Mirror to create demonic copies of Link, known as Shadow Links. If this mirror is used by an evil person, it reflects their heart and creates demons. This new Ganondorf used the power of the Trident to turn the Knights of Hyrule into demons. With the knights now demons and the Royal Jewels turned into gates to the Dark World, demons returned to Hyrule again.
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In the Era of the Great Sea, the Forsaken Fortress (known as the Demonic Beast Island in Japanese) served as Ganondorf's base, and was inhabited by demons.
==Abilities==
===Transformation===
It is possible for demons to turn into humans. In , Gratitude Crystals can be used to turn Batreaux into a human.
Likewise, humans can turn into demons. Ganondorf, originally a Gerudo, became the Demon King Ganon - his true form, after claiming the Triforce of Power during the events of . 
Anyone Agahnim sent to the Dark World became a demon, except Link, who possessed the qualities of a hero and instead became a pink bunny (until he found the Moon Pearl, which allowed him to remain in human form in the Dark World).
The reincarnation of Ganondorf in Four Swords Adventures, also originally a Gerudo, became the Demon King after claiming the Trident, similar to the original. This Ganondorf then turned the Knights of Hyrule into demons with the Trident's power.
Other races can also become demons. Vaati, who was originally a Minish, became a demon after draining the Light Force. 
The Twili were turned into demons by Zant, using the magical powers bestowed upon him by Ganondorf.
===Possession===
Demons have demonstrated the ability to possess other creatures. Both Ganon and Malladus have possessed Zelda; both have also demonstrated the ability to exist as a disembodied spirit. Bellum also possessed Linebeck; turning him into a giant Phantom.
==Demon Kings==
Demise, who had existed eternally, was the origin of evil and the source of all monsters. The references other demon kings that existed prior to , meaning that there were more alongside Demise, prior to being wiped out during the ancient wars. 
Demise, Ganon, and Malladus have all held the title of demon king. Demon kings are generally depicted as requiring specialized weapons such as Silver Arrows or the Master Sword to kill, as both weapons have holy power. Rather than getting killed, demon kings can be merely imprisoned (which happens most often with Ganon/Ganondorf). Due to the inability to permanently eliminate the demon king (due to the existence of resurrection), the title is seemingly retained after death.
==Notable Demons==
===Demise===
Demise is the imprisoned demon king who was the origin of evil and all monsters. When he was defeated by the Link of Skyward Sword, he casts a powerful curse that whoever carries the bloodline of the Legendary Hero and the Goddess Hylia will battle a reincarnation of his hatred for all eternity, before dying.
=== Ganon ===
Ganon is the main antagonist of The Legend of Zelda series and archnemesis of Link and Princess Zelda. In A Link to the Past and Ocarina of Time, he has two alter-egos named Agahnim and Ganondorf, respectively. In the latter, Ganondorf is the human form of the boar-like beast and also king of the Gerudo, who can turn into his actual Demon King form upon claiming the Triforce of Power and using it during the final battle. features another incarnation of Ganondorf who became a demon king after obtaining a powerful Trident from the Pyramid. Ganon is confirmed to be the manifestation of Demise's hatred. Ganon has met death or been sealed away many times upon defeat but has returned through resurrection or breaking a seal. 
In , the evil wizard Yuga fuses with Ganon, taking on the form of Yuga Ganon.
===Shadow Link===
Shadow Link is a demonic reflection of the Hero created from the Dark Mirror by Ganon.
===Malladus===
Malladus is an ancient demon king that terrorized the land that eventually became New Hyrule, so was locked away beneath the altar atop the Tower of Spirits by the Spirits of Good after a long war.
===Demon Train===
The Demon Train is a form of Malladus in , during a phase of the final battle with him.
===Chancellor Cole===
Chancellor Cole is a demonic servant to Malladus who posed as a human to gain influence in the court of New Hyrule.
===Skeldritch===
Skeldritch is an ancient skeletal Demon that resides in the Sand Temple.
===Ghirahim===
Ghirahim is a Sword Spirit and demon lord who is posing as a human.
===Majora===
Majora's Wrath, the final form of the powerful being that inhabits Majora's Mask, is a Demon.
===Bellum===
Bellum is a squid-like phantom Demon that attempts to drain Life Force.
===Vaati===
Vaati is a Minish that became a Demon after draining the Light Force.
===Batreaux===
Batreaux is a Demon who wishes to be Human so that he does not scare people. With Link's Gratitude Crystals, he is able to turn into a human.
===Vire===
A Vire is a Demon composed of multiple Keese.
==Other Appearances==
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Ganon, Ghirahim, and The Imprisoned are Demons that appear in and .
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Uncle Rupee is a Rupee-shaped Demon that appears in that turns people into Tingles and promises he will allow them into Rupeeland, a supposed paradise, if they gather him enough Rupees.
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Boomerang Demons appear in , dwelling beneath Midoro Palace.
=== (Himekawa)===
In the , many Demons appear, the manga also refers to Stalfos, Moldorms, several dragon creatures, and the Big Poe as Demons.
== Trivia ==
* The term demon, based on real-world Christianity religious beliefs, are supernatural malevolent and grotesque entities technically known as fallen angels, and are the minions of Satan, formerly named Lucifer, in eternal rebellion against God. In the Zelda series, however, most of such wicked creatures do not have wings like the biblical beings, but are likewise vulnerable to holy elements. Ganon and Demise play a similar role to that of Satan as intelligent Demon Kings and have no regard of life.
* Batreuax in Skyward Sword and the hungry red Goriyas in the original The Legend of Zelda are rare examples of demons that are not evil.
* Although the English version of Hyrule Historia clearly states that Ganon is Demise's reincarnation, the Japanese version only suggests a connection between the two beings while leaving it ambiguous as to their precise ties to each other.