Despite being a pretty major character inThe Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Null’s identity remains somewhat of a mystery. Likelytaking place on the Zelda timelinesometime before Skyward Sword,Echoes of Wisdomtells a story that, in many ways, subverts typical series tropes. This time, it’s Link who’s in trouble, and Zelda who has to save him with the help of the mysterious, otherworldly being Tri, and a staff that allows her to clone objects throughout the world.
[Warning: This article contains spoilers for theending ofZelda: Echoes of Wisdom.]
In another subversion of the typicalZeldaformula,Echoes of Wisdomdoesn’t feature Ganon or Vaati, but has a unique villain: the mysterious Null. While much of Null’s background is explained in-game, it’s easy to miss the deeper implications of its lore. But with ties to other, more arcane parts of theZeldacanon, Null is worth a deeper look.
Echoes of Wisdom’s Final Boss Is Null
Null’s Role In The Ending
First and foremost,Null serves as thefinal boss ofZelda: Echoes of Wisdom. Once Zelda ha rescued Link, the two learn of Null’s existence, and discover it’s the true source of all the rifts opening up around Hyrule. It acted intentionally in separating Zelda and Link, as it knew the two heroes together would pose the greatest threat to its ongoing plan. Of course, it underestimated Zelda’s strength immensely, which proved its downfall.
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Zelda and Link first face Null together, using the Tri Rod’s power and the Master Sword’s might to tear off its arms. Eventually, Zelda must face Null on her own, using all the echoes and powers she’s gained throughout the game to pursue it through rough waters. Eventually, the two heroes reunite, and fight through hordes of monsters before finally defeating Null itself and collecting the final piece of the Triforce from it.Zelda and Link then reforge the Triforce, sealing Null away.
What follows is a bittersweet ending: everyone returns from the rifts to Hyrule, and Zelda is celebrated for her heroism. She is distraught at having to part with her ally Tri, but
Is Null Really Demise In Echoes Of Wisdom?
Null & Demise Share Similarities
Many have pointed out certain similarities between Null andanother forgottenZeldavillain: Demise, the final boss and main antagonist ofSkyward Sword. The similarities are pretty clear: both Null and Demise are primordial beings who predate the existence of the world as it appears in their respective games. Null predates the very creation of the universe, while Demise is said to exist out of time.
The word “null” in English refers to a kind of nothingness, or a nonexistent entity.
PerEchoes of Wisdom,when the three Golden Goddesses Nayru, Din, and Farore created the world, they did so to seal Null awayso it wouldn’t consume their creation. At the end of the game, Zelda and Link restore the seal, using the Tri Rod and another familiar item - the Triforce, called the Prime Energy inEchoes of Wisdom.
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In much the same manner, Demise staged an uprising against the goddess Hylia, successor to Nayru, Din, and Farore. (The Golden Goddesses are often said to exist in multiple worlds, so sometime after creating the one seen inZelda, they likely departed to do the same elsewhere.) He could only be sealed with the power of the Triforce, a gift from the Golden Goddesses to Hylia. Recall thatLink and Zelda also use the Triforce to seal Demise at the end ofEchoes and Wisdom, and it all starts to make sense.
Demise looks markedly different from Null, but there is a precedent for that in lore. Ganon himself is strongly implied, by the end ofSkyward Sword, to be a manifestation of Demise’s rage. So if Demise could change his form over the years to become Ganon, it’s not too much of a stretch to imagineNull could have done the same beforehand to become Demise.
Everything Known About Null In Zelda Lore
Null Is Introduced In Echoes Of Wisdom
Again,Echoes of Wisdomestablishes that Null predates the known universe, so what was it doing by itself for all that time?As it turns out, nothing- that’s kind of the whole point. Null prefers to do nothing but sleep in a state of absolute nothingness. It only became a threat whenever anything appeared in the void with it, spreading light and noise, and disturbing its slumber.
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So the Golden Goddesses created the world as a prison for Null. But over time, the walls of that prison weakened, with Null opening rifts just as it does duringEchoes of Wisdom.In order to keep their creation stable, the Goddesses created the Tri, whose role in the world would be to seal the rifts Null opened.
Eventually, Null became aware of certain aspects of its prison, and learned of the Triforce in Hylia’s possession. It also discovered that two heroes - Link and Zelda - would one day rise to fight against it. So it enacts a plan, stealing the first piece of the Triforce in order to gain some of Hylia’s power and sending Link into the rift. And that’s precisely howThe Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdombegins: with the first stages of Null’s plot.
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The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
Strange rifts are tearing Hyrule apart, and with Link missing, it’s up to Princess Zelda to save the kingdom. Armed with the Tri Rod and aided by a mysterious fairy, she must solve puzzles, create environmental “echoes,” and battle enemies while navigating new regions and uncovering hidden secrets.
