Daruk

Daruk is one of the supporting characters who first appeared in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and makes his return in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity. 
==What Makes Him an Ensemble Dark Horse?==
*Even when Daruk doesn't get much characterization outside of just being a jovial easygoing fellow who prefers a simple lifestyle like the other Gorons, whereas the other Champions have more personality, he is still appreciated by fans who still enjoy his presence and how it is affecting certain characters in-universe, which gives him a flat character arc. 
*Daruk is shown to be a genuinely hilarious character who backslaps Link at various points where his strength pushes Link forward and he wasn't aware of it. He also enjoys food and actually thinks everyone eats rocks when it was only exclusive to Gorons to the point where he is confused by Link eating actual food that everyone else eats. To add to it, he gave him a Rock Roast and he notes that Link actually enjoyed it and thinks Hylians can eat rocks too. This is actually shown in a cutscene in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, and it captured the reactions of Princess Zelda and Impa and he thought it was because he forgot to provide Rock Roasts to them. 
*His power, Daruk's Protection, works very well in protecting himself (or Link in Breath of the Wild), all around it helps protect the user from sneak attacks and safeguards them from damage if they fail to parry projectiles like Guardian lasers. 
*Aside from his humorous antics, Daruk's friendship with Link comes across as authentic as he first met him when he was fighting monsters and when he tried to help out, he was almost jumped on by an enemy before Link saved him and hopes he didn't see his dopey look. Later, he saw just how Link was chosen to be Zelda's appointed knight when he used a Pot Lid against a berserk Guardian which King Rhoam took notice of. He decides to dub Link his "sworn brother", which pays homage to Darunia doing the same thing to the Hero of Time incarnation. Additionally, his nicknaming of Link (little guy) and Zelda (tiny princess) is him showing respect. 
**His bond with his grandson is also worth a mention regarding his helping him overcome his cowardice and assures him that he is proud of him regardless of his rough start as a timid child and calls him the Champion of the Future. 
*Daruk's popularity with the fanbase was so big to which the lack of any mention of him, much like with Revali, in Tears of the Kingdom, aside from his mountain monument, has greatly flustered many fans. 
==External Links==
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*Daruk on the Zelda Wiki
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==Navigation==
Category:Male
Category:Heroic Ensemble Dark Horses
Category:Comic Relief
Category:Elderly
Category:Badass
Category:The Legend of Zelda Ensemble Dark Horses
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Category:Funny
Category:Fighters
Category:Nurturing
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Category:Deceased
Category:Fantasy Ensemble Dark Horses
Category:Extraordinary
Category:Sympathetic
Category:Cool
Category:Wise
Category:Leaders
Category:Officials
Category:Flat
Category:Love Exalted
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Category:Status Dependent on Player Choice
Category:Spotlight Stealers