The Koroks are a race in The Legend of Zelda series.[1][2] They are small, wooden people who wear leaf masks over their faces. Their personalities may differ greatly, and are often reflected in their masks.[1] They are spirits who are watched over by the Great Deku Tree.[3] They are protectors of the forest they live in.[1]
The Koroks appear as little wooden people whose bodies resemble trees, and whose faces are concealed by leaf masks. The masks they wear take on various different shapes based on types of leaves, and have holes in them resembling eyes and a mouth, and occasionally a hole for their noses to fit through. Their bodies make a jingling sound whenever they move. Koroks are also able to fly through the use of propeller Deku Leaves that sprout from their bodies.[6]
The Koroks in The Wind Waker are watched over by the Great Deku Tree in the Forest Haven. According to him, the Koroks originally took on human forms as Kokiri before changing their shape following the Great Flood.[4] The Koroks are very shy, and do not normally appear to humans.[7]
Korok Ceremony
The Korok Ceremony is an important event for the Koroks and Great Deku Tree in The Wind Waker.[8] Once a year,[9] the Great Deku Tree sprouts Forest Tree seeds which are then taken by the Koroks to plant throughout the Great Sea and watch over their growth, in the hopes that new forests will grow and more land will cover the Sea.[10] It is the Great Deku Tree's hope that the islands will join as one land by planting these forests.[11] A mysterious power dwells within the seeds, and they must all be planted simultaneously or they will wither.[12] The Ceremony can only commence once the Korok Makar has played his Violin for the Great Deku Tree.[13]
History
The Wind Waker
In The Wind Waker, the Kokiri had transformed into the Koroks following the Great Flood. They continue to live with the Great Deku Tree, on an island called the Forest Haven. Once every year, the Koroks hold the annual Korok Ceremony so that the Great Deku Tree can produce seeds that can be planted throughout the Great Sea, with the hope and dream of uniting the islands into one vast land by growing forests. A Korok named Makar plays his violin so the Great Deku Tree can produce his seeds. It appears, however, that the Great Deku Tree's and Koroks' efforts have been unsuccessful over the years as they do not seem to have made much progress.
Link encounters the Koroks after saving the Great Deku Tree from a swarm of ChuChus. By his reassurance, the Koroks emerge from their hiding to meet Link. The Great Deku Tree welcomes Link to the Ceremony they are about to hold, but is interrupted when Linder arrives in a panic saying that Makar had fallen into the Forbidden Forest.[14] The Great Deku asks Link to go into the Forest to rescue Makar, giving him a Deku Leaf so he may reach the place.
After Link finds and rescues Makar from Kalle Demos, they return to the Forest Haven where the Koroks commence the annual Korok Ceremony. The Great Deku Tree produces several seeds that eight of the Koroks take and leave to plant throughout the Great Sea. Makar and Hollo, a Korok Potion-maker, stay behind in the Forest Haven.
Link can find the other Koroks in several isles across the Great Sea, having planted their seeds in their respective islands. Each of them, however, are in despair that the sprouts they have planted are withering, and will not be able to grow into forests.[15] They ask that Link bring back some Forest Water from the Forest Haven and sprinkle it onto the trees so they may be revived.[16] If Link manages to water every sprout before the Forest Water loses its potency, the Forest Trees will grow healthy and the Great Deku Tree's dream will finally be realized.
Later during his quest, Link encounters the spirit of Fado, the deceased Kokiri Sage of Wind. Fado was killed by Ganondorf's forces, causing the Master Sword to lose its power. Fado requests that Link finds the one destined to become the next Sage of Wind, who carries the same violin as he.[17] Link locates Makar and, after playing the "Wind God's Aria", awakens him as the new Sage of Wind. Together they travel to the Wind Temple where after Link defeats its evil, Makar prays so that the Master Sword regains some of its power.
Breath of the Wild
In Breath of the Wild, Koroks can be found all over Hyrule hidden throughout the land.[18] Link must solve a wide array of puzzles in order to make a Korok appear.[19] The first time Link finds a Korok, it will be surprised that Link can see him.[20] Their arrival is followed by the gift of a Korok Seed, which can then be traded to Hestu,[21] a very large Korok first encountered on the path to Kakariko Village. Trading Korok Seeds expands Link's equipment slots, allowing him to carry more weapons, shields and bows. The price of expansion increases after every trade. After a few trades, Hestu will strike out for his home in Korok Forest. He can be encountered one final time at the Woodland Stable, Riverside Stable, or Wetland Stable, where one can upgrade Link's Inventory again. After a few more trades, Hestu will once again go on his way back home.
Koroks are by far the most varied race in this game, with over 913 different Koroks overall. This includes the 900 hidden Koroks, the 13 NPCs, all of whom can be found in or around the Korok forest at some point, and other Koroks in the forest who hide when Link approaches; these last ones can't be interacted with and are purely cosmetic, but they show just how many exist.
In the center of the Lost Woods, the Great Deku Tree resides over the Korok Forest, the home of the Koroks. Many Koroks can be found here, though most will hide when Link gets close. A few, such as Chio, will converse with Link. After collecting all 900 Korok Seeds, Hestu will tell Link that all the Koroks have returned to the Korok Forest,[22] though the Koroks can still be found in their original locations.
It is stated that most people cannot see Koroks, which is why some are confused as to how Link can see them. It is implied though that Link is not the only one, as the Hateno-born merchant Agus says he was spooked by a big tree ghost by Lake Siela; this is where the oversized Korok Hestu can originally be found, meaning that is likely what Agus saw. He didn't interact with the "tree ghost" though, meaning Link was the first; this caused Hestu to be taken aback when Link talks to him as he did not expect it.
Tears of the Kingdom
In Tears of the Kingdom, Koroks can be found throughout Hyrule, similarly as in Breath of the Wild, and are located throughout the Surface and the Sky. Upon completing various small puzzles, Link will receive a Korok Seed from them, which he can then bring to Hestu, who can increase his Inventory space in exchange for the seeds.
Some Koroks can be found traveling with another fellow Korok, but unable to move and struggling to keep up with them, requiring that Link use his various abilities in order to reunite the Korok with its partner, which will earn him two Korok Seeds.
The following section is not part of the Zelda canon and should not be taken as such.
In Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, Koroks are hidden in various locations in the Story Missions, just like in Breath of the Wild.
They usually take the shape of a pinwheel, but can appear as Leaves with Fairy Dust and Races as well. These can simply be interacted with using the Y button to reveal the Korok, which will then give a Korok Seed. Balloons may also hide some Koroks, some of which cannot be hit with attacks normally and require the player to use Stasis before popping the balloon.
Hestu can summon Koroks as part of his attacks. These summoned Koroks will contribute to most of his attacks, including through use of Sheikah Runes.
Trivia
Being plant-based creatures, Koroks fear vegetarians.[23]
Nomenclature
The Koroks in The Wind Waker are named after types of trees. The name "Korok" is derived from Koropokkuru, little creatures that hide in Butterbur plants in Japanese folklore.[citation needed]
Koroks singing during the Korok Ceremony in The Wind Waker
A cluster of Koroks from Breath of the Wild
Korok concept art from Breath of the Wild
The visual effect that marks the location of certain hidden Koroks in Breath of the Wild
Artwork thanking attendees of The Art of The Legend of Zelda Series Masterclass featuring Koroks
A Korok from Tears of the Kingdom
A promotional screenshot of a Korok from Tears of the Kingdom
A Korok from Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity
A promotional screenshot of a Korok from Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity
A promotional screenshot of a Korok from Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity
Promotional artwork for "The Legend of Zelda Korok" merchandise series from Nintendo TOKYO featuring Koroks from Breath of the Wild and Makar from The Wind Waker
↑Well, then, Link... These are the Koroks -- the spirits of the forest. [...] Now they fear people...but to me, they will ever be my cherished little children. — Great Deku Tree (The Wind Waker)
↑ 4.04.1Once upon a time, long ago, the Koroks took on human forms, but when they came to live on the sea, they took these shapes. — Great Deku Tree (The Wind Waker)
↑Aonuma: We created the Rito as the evolved form of the Zora that appeared in "Ocarina of Time" and the Koroks as what the Kokiri became once they left the forest. They appear different, but they have inherited their blood. (Zelda Box, Enterbrain, pg. 29)
↑We Koroks can fly through the sky using our own Deku Leaves. — Korok (The Wind Waker)
↑Koroks! Little children of the woods! This traveler is not your enemy. Let your hearts be at ease, and show yourselves! — Great Deku Tree (The Wind Waker)
↑Even after the Korok ceremony, Hollo remains in the Forest Haven researching potion-making. — Figurine (The Wind Waker)
↑As it happens, you have come just in time for a ceremony that the Koroks hold but once every year. It is about to begin. — Great Deku Tree (The Wind Waker)
↑Every year after the Koroks perform this ceremony, they fly off to the distant islands on the sea and plant my seeds in the hopes that new forests will grow. — Great Deku Tree (The Wind Waker)
↑Forests hold great power: they can change one tiny island into a much larger island. Soon, a day will come when all the islands are one, connected by earth and grove. And the people who live on that great island will be able to join hands and, together, create a better world. Such is my dream. — Great Deku Tree (The Wind Waker)
↑A mysterious power dwells within the Great Deku's seeds created during their annual ceremnony, and they must all be planted simultaneously or they will wither. (Encyclopedia, Dark Horse Books, pg. 51)
↑Makar is in charge of the musical performance at the ceremony held each year by the Koroks in the Forest Haven. — Figurine (The Wind Waker)
↑N-No! It is not that, O Great Deku Tree! Makar...fell into the Forbidden Woods! — Linder (The Wind Waker)
↑I've come here to plant the Great Deku Tree's seed... But look! Usually, the forest trees sprout quite vigorously wherever you plant them, but for some reason, this one has withered... ...I'd be willing to bet that the trees my fellow Koroks have planted are withering, as well. It seems that when one tree fails to grow from its seed, all the forest trees from that year's seeds wither and fail to grow tall and mighty. — Korok (The Wind Waker)
↑Maybe if we could sprinkle the water from the Forest Haven on the tree... Maybe then this sapling would be saved. — Korok (The Wind Waker)
↑You wish to return the power to your blade, don't you? In that case, look for the one who has the same instrument that I hold, and teach him the song you just played. Once you do, I'm certain the holder of the instrument will feel the blood of the sages awaken within his veins. — Fado (The Wind Waker)
↑Oh, and my friends are hiding in lots of different places too! Don't be shy about poking your nose into suspicious places! — Korok (Breath of the Wild)
↑Hey! Guess what! All of the forest children returned to the Korok Forest! You must have had an army of people searching for them, huh? — Hestu (Breath of the Wild)
↑Zzz... No. Vegetarians everywhere! STOP! THAT'S MY FACE! Ahhh! Sorry about that. I must have dozed off for a bit... — Pepp (Breath of the Wild)
↑Peuple Korogu! Enfants de la Forêt! Ecoutez-moi bien. Ce jeune garçon n'est pas votre ennemi. Vous pouvez vous montrer! — Great Deku Tree (The Wind Waker)
↑Krogs! Kinder des Waldes! Dieser Junge ist nicht euer Feind. Seid unbesorgt und zeigt euch! — Great Deku Tree (The Wind Waker)
↑Dime, ¿cuál es tu nombre? ¿LinkAppears in-game as the player's chosen name.? Bien, LinkAppears in-game as the player's chosen name.... Éstos son los Kolog, guardianes del bosque. — Great Deku Tree (The Wind Waker)
