Darkness

, often also referred to as Shadow, is a pivotal element that has played a vital role in . It has served various purposes, both storyline-wise and gameplay-wise, and usually as a manifestation of evil (but not always).
==Role in the Series==
===Darkness as a symbolic element===
Of all the elemental staples in the series, such as fire, ice or light, darkness has carried over the worst reputation. The reason for this is because this is the signature source of evil in the World of The Legend of Zelda and, most importantly, it is even the origin of the evil beings and creatures that overrun the Light World. Though the line between what is good and what is evil is not always clear, it is known that there has always been a contrast between light and dark, with Link striving in favor of the former. As detailed below, darkness is frequently portrayed through a setting that is more difficult to conquer than the Light World. In some games, Link himself is occasionally forced to fight his dark counterpart as well.
That said, darkness does not always symbolize evil. In , aside from the portrayal originated from and his servants, darkness is canonically represented in the same way the other elements are. That representation, the Shadow Temple, offers several puzzles, obstacles and enemies revolving around it, and is guarded by the Sage of Shadow (by the moment the events of the game take place, Impa fulfills that role, and also guards the Shadow Medallion until she gives it to Link). The Nocturne of Shadow pays homage to the element as well, and instantly transports anyone playing it to the backside of Kakariko Village Graveyard, where the temple is located.
Darkness has been represented by several benign races over the course of the series. One of them is the Sheikah, a near-extinct race who used to protect the land of Hyrule secretly; the Ikana Kingdom, no longer belonging to the world of mortals, overruns a major region of Termina when the Skull Kid invades the Stone Tower Temple in ; the Twili, formerly the Interlopers in Hyrule, was a peaceful race inhabiting the Twilight Realm until 's rise to power; etc.
===Darkness as a setting===
In addition to the shadow dungeons located through Hyrule and several other lands, there are also entire overworld locations that revolve around housing the creatures of darkness. The Dark World, in , is a notable example, as every location from the Light World has a geographically direct counterpart in the other setting, which also shows a more evil vibe (for example, Village of Outcasts when compared to Kakariko Village). This applies, to a lesser extent, to the landmarks of Hyrule in when covered by the influence of by and the de-powering of the Light Spirits who guard the different provinces.
In most cases, when Link stands on a place cursed by a dark force, he is affected in one or another way; in the aforementioned examples, the side effect is shapeshifting. Dark Fog, also located on dark places, affect the young hero the same way. In the Temple of the Ocean King, Link loses Sand of Hours continuously when he is not within a safe zone. There may be a higher population of enemies (and some of them being undead) in these places as well.
===Darkness as a puzzle device===
In some Stealth missions, such as the infiltration in Deku Palace () or in Forsaken Fortress (), it is convenient to remain in the darkness, and some hunt-based sidequests are best taken place at night. Likewise, in , some dark rooms house bombable walls that remain unnoticeable if there are lit candles, and Dark Ore must be transported under as little sunlight as possible.
To date, there has been only one dark weapon usable by Link as an item. This item is the Fierce Deity's Mask, so far exclusive of , which allows the wearer to turn into Fierce Deity Link and become capable of performing unmatched devastating attacks, enough to defeat bosses very quickly. It is hinted that the powers of this mask are as evil as those of Majora's Mask itself, but it can only be used during boss battles without glitches.
In the particular case of , Midna allows Link to make use of dark powers, although only as long as Link is within his wolf form. One of these abilities is creating a field of energy that surrounds enemies, and allows the young hero to attack them all almost instantly. In wolf form, Link can also activate senses that allow him to see otherwise invisible objects, spirits, and scents (but his sight is darkened significantly). Also, Midna can teleport both Link and any big and heavy object from one landmark to another. Finally, when Midna is in possession of the entirety of the Fused Shadow, she is able to transform into a spider-looking entity with deadly powers. Because she is the only one capable of using such dark powers without being corrupted by them, they aim to retrieve both the fragments of the Fused Shadow and the fragments of the Mirror of Twilight, as regular enemies and characters otherwise mutate heavily into evil, dangerous monsters due to them.
==Dark-lurking and undead enemies and bosses==
File:TLoZ Stalfos Artwork.png|Stalfos
File:TLoZ Gibdo Artwork.png|Gibdo
File:OoT Blue Bubble Model.png|Blue Bubble
File:FS Ghini Sprite.png|Ghini
File:TAoL Wizzrobe Artwork.png|Wizzrobe
File:TAoL Carock Artwork.png|Carock
File:OoT Dark Link Model.png|Dark Link
File:TAoL Bago-Bago Artwork.png|Bago-Bago
File:ALttP Stal Sprite.png|Stal
File:ALttP Hyu Sprite.png|Hyu
File:ALttP Babusu Sprite.png|Babasu
File:LADX Bone Putter Sprite.png|Bone Putter
File:ALttP&FS Agahnim Artwork.png|Agahnim
File:LADX Boo Buddy Sprite.png|Boo Buddy
File:LADX Giant Ghini Sprite.png|Giant Ghini
File:LADX Zombie Sprite.png|Zombie
File:LADX Master Stalfos Sprite.png|Master Stalfos
File:LADX Giant Zol Sprite.png|Nightmare
File:TP Stalchildren Render.png|Stalchildren
File:OoT Poe Model.png|Poe
File:Poe Sisters.png|Poe Sisters
File:MM Big Poe Model.png|Big Poe
File:OoT Wallmaster Model.png|Wallmaster
File:MM Floormaster Model.png|Floormaster (and its smaller variations)
File:OoT ReDead Artwork.png|ReDead
File:OoT Phantom Ganon Artwork.png|Phantom Ganon
File:OoT Dead Hand Model.png|Dead Hand
File:OoT Bongo Bongo Artwork.png|Bongo Bongo
File:OoT Anubis Model.png|Anubis
File:MM Black Boe Model.png|Black Boe
File:MM They Model.png|Ghost
File:Skullfish.png|Skullfish
File:MM Desbreko Model.png|Desbreko
File:MM Captain Keeta Model.png|Captain Keeta
File:OoT Flat Model.png|Flat
File:OoT Sharp Model.png|Sharp
File:MM Garo Model.png‎|Garo
File:MM Garo Master Model.png|Garo Master
File:MM King's Lackeys Artwork.png|King's Lackeys
File:MM Igos du Ikana Artwork.png|Igos du Ikana
File:Gomess1.png|Gomess
File:MM3D Majora's Mask Render.png|
File:OoA Pumpkin Head Sprite.png|Pumpkin Head
File:Shadow Hag.png|Shadow Hag
File:OoS Vire Artwork.png|Vire
File:Blue Stalfos.png|Blue Stalfos
File:OoA Veran Artwork.png|Veran
File:Medusa Head.png|Medusa Head
File:OoS Onox Artwork.png|General Onox
File:FS Rupee Wraith Artwork.png|Rupee Wraith
File:FS Blue Wisp Sprite.png|Whisp
File:FS Vaati Artwork.png|Vaati
File:TWW Jalhalla Artwork.png|Jalhalla
File:TP Shadow Beast Render.png|Shadow Beast
File:TP Shadow Kargarok Render.png|Twilit Kargarok
File:TP Shadow Insect Render.png|Shadow Insects
File:TP Twilit Bloat Render.png|Twilit Bloat
File:TP Ghoul Rat Model.png|Ghoul Rat
File:TP Stalhound Render.png|Stalhound
File:TP Gibdo Model.png|Gibdo
File:TP Death Sword Render.png|Death Sword
File:TP Stallord Render.png|Stallord
File:TP Phantom Zant Render.png|Phantom Zant
File:TP Zant Render.png|Zant
File:TP Ganondorf Render.png|Ganondorf
File:FPTRR Captain Stalfos Sprite.gif|Captain Stalfos
File:PH Ghost Ship.jpg|
File:PH Phantom Eye Model.png|Phantom Eye
File:PH Reapling Model.png|Reapling
File:PH Cubus Sisters Artwork.png|Cubus Sisters
File:PH Bellum Artwork.png|Bellum
File:ST Key Master Model.png|Key Master
File:ST Nocturn Model.png|Nocturn
File:ST Wrecker Phantom Model.png|Phantom
File:ST Skeldritch Introduction.png|Skeldritch
File:ST Demon Train Artwork.png|Demon Train
File:ST Cole Artwork.png|Chancellor Cole
File:Malladus.jpg|Malladus
File:SS Ghirahim Artwork.png|Ghirahim
File:SS Cursed Bokoblin Render.png|Cursed Bokoblin
File:SS Koloktos Render.png|Koloktos
File:SS Cursed Spume Model.png|Cursed Spume
File:SS Dark Keese Model.png|Dark Keese
File:SS Dark Lizalfos Model.png|Dark Lizalfos
File:SS The Imprisoned Render.png|The Imprisoned
File:SS Demise Render.png|Demise
File:ALBW Yuga Artwork.png|Yuga
File:ALBW Yuga Ganon Model.png|Yuga Ganon
File:TFH Blue Poe.png|Poe (blue)
File:TFH Green Poe.png|Poe (green)
File:TFH Red Poe.png|Poe (red)
File:TFH White Poe.png|Poe (white)
File:TFH Prankster Poe Model.png|Prankster Poe
File:TFH Key Bandit Poe Model.png|
File:TFH Lantern Poe Model.png|
File:TFH Grim Repoe Model.png|Grim Repoe
File:TFH Prismantus Model.png|Prismantus
File:BotW Stalkoblin Model.png|Stalkoblin
File:BotW Stalmoblin Model.png|Stalmoblin
File:BotW Stalizalfos Model.png|Stalizalfos
File:BotW Cursed Bokoblin Model.png|Cursed Bokoblin
File:BotW Cursed Moblin Model.png|Cursed Moblin
File:BotW Cursed Lizalfos Model.png|Cursed Lizalfos
File:BotW Stalnox Model.png|Stalnox
==Dark World Settings==
File:Darkworldalttp.png|Dark World
File:GreatBridgeOfHyliaTP.png|Hyrule covered by Twilight
File:ST Dark Realm Map.png|Dark Realm
File:ALBW Lorule Field Map.jpg|Lorule
==Dark-themed and somber locations==
File:Ootgraveyard.jpg|Graveyard
File:OoT Ganon's Castle.png|Ganon's Castle
File:Royalfamilytomb.png|Royal Family's Tomb
File:Marketadult.jpg|Hyrule Castle Town (future)
File:OoT Bottom of the Well.png|Bottom of the Well
File:Shadow.jpg|Shadow Temple
File:MM Oceanside Spider House.png|Oceanside Spider House
File:MM Ikana Graveyard.png|Ikana Graveyard
File:MM Ikana Canyon.png|Ikana Canyon
File:MM Beneath the Well.png|Beneath the Well
File:MM Ancient Castle of Ikana.png|Ancient Castle of Ikana
File:Spirit's Grave.png|Spirit's Grave
File:Ancient Tomb.png|Ancient Tomb
File:Black Tower OOA.png|Black Tower
File:Explorer's Crypt Entrance.png|Explorer's Crypt
File:Northern Peak.png|Northern Peak
File:TWW Forsaken Fortress.png|Forsaken Fortress
File:ETME.png|Earth Temple
File:TWW Ghost Ship.jpg|
File:Temple of Darkness FSA2.png|Temple of Darkness
File:TMC Royal Crypt.png|Royal Crypt
File:TMC Dark Hyrule Castle Interior.png|Dark Hyrule Castle
File:ArbitersGroundsDistanceTP.png|
File:palaceoftwilght.jpg|Palace of Twilight
File:PH Temple of the Ocean King.png|Temple of the Ocean King
File:Corruption SS.jpg|Ancient Cistern (lower floors)
File:Dark-Palace.png|Dark Palace
File:Skull-Woods.png|Skull Woods (A Link Between Worlds)
File:Lorule-Castle.png|Lorule Castle
File:TFH Illusory Mansion Stage 2.png|Illusory Mansion
File:TFH Palace Noir Stage 1.png|Palace Noir
File:TFH Lone Labyrinth Stage 1.png|Lone Labyrinth
File:TFH Grim Temple Stage 3.png|Grim Temple
File:BotW Divine Beast Vah Rudania 2.png| (first half)
File:BotW Navigating Thyphlo Ruins.jpg|Thyphlo Ruins