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From Dawn to Dusk: The Twili

Giratina’s story did not end with their banishment. Upon being exiled, they found themself in the Twilight Realm: a place of shadow between worlds.

But even here, there was life: a wide variety of pokémon, unlike any known in the Realm of Light. And ruling over this shadowy kingdom was a being of pure light: the divine pokémon Necrozma.

Necrozma took pity on Giratina; welcoming them, comforting them, and eventually, even making them co-ruler of the Twilight Realm.

In time, Giratina would pay this kindness forward.

Back in the Realm of Light, a tribe of powerful sorcerers rose up against the kingdom of Hyrule, seeking to claim the Triforce for themselves. The exact identity and motives of these “interlopers” remains unknown, and has long been the subject of intense speculation among historians. What is known is that the sorcerers were defeated, and the entire tribe exile to the Twilight Realm.

Giratina, their own pain at being betrayed and banished unchanged by the eons, took the new arrivals under their wing. With the aid of Giratina, Necrozma, and the other native pokémon; whom they dubbed “Twilight Beasts”, the Twili people managed to turn their prison into a home.

What the Hylians had intended to be the interlopers end, became a new beginning.

A House Divided: The Sheikah and the Yiga

Thousands of years ago, the Ancient Sheikah created a technological utopia. Their miraculous achievements included the revival of extinct pokémon species, and the creation of thinking machines.

This golden age was brutally ended by a Hylian king. Fearful and envious of the Sheikah and their works; he ordered them to destroy their creations, or be killed. Some complied, becoming the ancestors of the modern Sheikah Tribe. Others refused, and fled into hiding; becoming the ancestors of the modern Yiga Clan.

Since then, the Sheikah have often served the Hylian royal family as bodyguards, advisors, and assassins; aided by dark-type pokémon. The Yiga, meanwhile, turned to banditry, mercenary work, and other criminal activities in order to survive; often employing fighting-type pokémon.

The Ancient Sheikah worshiped a dragon-type divine pokémon, whose name was erased from history. Legend says that when the tribe split, their divine pokémon did as well: creating Zekrom, who stayed with the Sheikah; and Reshiram, who went with the Yiga.

Steel Yourself

In recent times, the Hylians have finally begun to atone for the atrocities committed by their ancestors. Shortly after the start of her reign, the current queen formally apologized for the royal family’s crimes against the Sheikah. With her support, many Sheikah have started unearthing the technology that their ancestors were forced to bury. This work is often assisted by steel-type pokémon, which have gained considerable popularity among Sheikah tech researchers.

The Yiga, however, are suspicious of the queen’s motives; and have only escalated their attacks on the Hylian royal family and their allies.

In Stable Condition: Pokémon Stables

Hyrule’s various regions are connected by a system of carefully-maintained roads, which are dotted with a network of stables. These stables receive government funding so that any trainer can have their pokémon healed there for free. Stables additionally function as inns, where travelers can pay a modest fee to rest for the night.

All stables are built out of brick or stone, since a wooden structure would be at risk of burning down anytime a fire-type pokémon gets scared, angry, or excited. While the exact layout of each stable varies depending on local topography and preference, most display some variation of the following:

A ground floor with a check-in counter, and seating area. Stables permit guild-licensed merchants to set up shop here; allowing visitors to stock up on pokéballs, potions, and other necessities.

A second story with beds for stable employees and paying guests.

A basem*nt for storage.

A surrounding, fenced-in yard where larger pokémon can reside. Most stable yards include a pond for water-type pokémon, a mud or dust wallow for ground-type pokémon, and a shelter where pokémon of all types can find refuge from the weather.

A domed, tiled roof designed to resemble a pokéball. Each of Hyrule’s stables has a roof modeled after a different type.

The food situation at stables varies depending on the amount of traffic they get, and their proximity to the nearest town or city. Some stables have designated chefs on staff, some allow independent vendors to sell food on site, and still others expect guests to prepare their own meals.

Sands of Time: The Lanayru Sand Sea

Long, long ago, much of the Gerudo Desert was underwater. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the Lanayru Sand Sea: a vast region of shifting sand wast of Gerudo City. The sand in this region is both fine and deep, making it all too easy for even the strong and swift to sink beneath the surface. The safest way to traverse the Lanayru Sand Sea is, appropriately enough, by boat.

Though many of the region’s pokémon went extinct when the waters dried up, some species managed to adapt to the drier conditions; evolving into the wide variety of ground-type pokémon that call the Lanayru Sand Sea home. While sailing across the sand; one might spot Hippowdon grazing on tough desert grasses, young Sandile riding on the backs of their Krookodile parents, and Garchomp soaring through the hot air in search of their next meal.

Before the “sand” part was added to its name, the Lanayru Sea was a vital mining and manufacturing center for ancient peoples. The ruins they left behind have long attracted treasure hunters and archaeologists alike. But those who come to the Lanayru Sand Sea in search of wealth or knowledge must stay on their guard. As if the quicksand, extreme temperatures, and aggressive pokémon weren’t enough to worry about; rumor has it that not all of the ancient machines were shut down…

Getting the Ball Rolling: Hyrulean Pokéballs

The various peoples of Hyrule have developed a wide variety of pokéballs to suit their various needs. Some of the most common types are outlined below.

Hylian-made pokéballs have a relatively low catch rate; but their lack of specialization combined with their ease of manufacture have made them by far the most widely used pokéballs in Hyrule, to the point where they’re commonly referred to as Standard Balls. Great and Ultra Balls are stronger variants of Standard Balls; but are harder to make, and consequently more expensive.

Death Mountain’s rocks are rich in iron, which the Gorons use to make Heavy Balls. As their name might suggest, these are the heaviest pokéballs commonly available in Hyrule; too heavy, in fact, for most non-Gorons to easily use. They are highly effective at capturing large, strong pokémon. Leaden Balls (which, thankfully, contain no actual lead) and Gigaton Balls are stronger, and even heavier, versions of Heavy Balls.

The Zora were the last of Hyrule’s nations to widely adopt the use of pokéballs. Even now, some traditionalist trainers deride their usage as lazy, or even cruel. This hasn’t stopped Zora pokéball makers from developing pokéballs optimized for use underwater, known as Dive Balls.

Rito-made Feather Balls, along with their stronger variants: Wing and Jet Balls, are ideal for catching small, fast pokémon; but struggle to contain heavier specimens.

Gerudo pokéball makers are firm believers in quality over quantity. Their Luxury Balls do not come cheap, but are well worth the price.

Via secret methods, the Koroks make pokéballs capable of instantly recovering all of a pokémon’s health, and simultaneously curing any of their status conditions. Sadly, like all pokéballs, these Heal Balls are single-use only.

Patience is considered a great virtue among the Sheikah, as reflected by their Timer Balls: which increase in effectiveness the longer a battle drags on.

The tried-and-true Yiga strategy has always been “take your opponent by surprise, and finish the job before they have a chance to retaliate”. This strategy extends to their pokéballs, known as Quick Balls, which are most effective when used at the beginning of an encounter.

Any trainer worth their salt knows that pokémon are much easier to catch while they’re sleeping. The go-to strategy among the Deku is to use a sleep-inducing move like Grass Whistle, Sleep Powder, or Spore; before capturing the pokémon with a Dream Ball.

Bokoblins traditionally build their homes in caverns: natural shelters from enemies and extreme weather. Their Dusk Balls are designed for catching pokémon in these dim conditions.

Though raising a low-level pokémon into a high-level one requires a lot of time and effort, these pokémon tend to be significantly better-tempered than those caught at higher levels (not to mention the fact that low-level pokémon are much easier to catch in the first place). Anouki-made Nest Balls are optimized for catching pokémon below level 29.

Similar to Nest Balls, the Level Balls made by the Lizalfos are ideal for capturing low-level pokémon. However, unlike Nest Balls, the effectiveness of Level Balls is contingent upon the user’s own pokémon being at a higher level than the target pokémon.

After being banished to the Twilight Realm, the Twili quickly realized that their pokéballs were poorly suited for catching their new home’s native pokémon. After extensive trial and error, they managed to create Beast Balls capable of capturing even the strongest Twilight Beasts.

The many marvels created by the ancient Sheikah included pokéballs capable of catching any pokémon, regardless of species or strength, without fail. Only a handful of these Master Balls have been unearthed intact; and despite the ongoing efforts of Sheikah scientists, the secret of their creation remains unknown.

Buyer beware! Unscrupulous merchants have been known to paint Standard Balls in order to sell them as a more expensive pokéballs. Trainers are advised to only purchase pokéballs from certified merchants, and report any cases of fraud to the regional authorities.

Here, There Be Dragons: The Lizalfos

Few pokémon inspire the same awe and admiration as dragon-types. The close bond they share with these powerful pokémon has earned the Lizalfos both fear and respect throughout Hyrule’s history.

Lizalfos worship the divine pokémon Eternatus, whom they believe can imbue pokémon with immense power during battle. Ancient legends claim that Eternatus originated on a distant world, and came to ours encased in an asteroid.

Cold as Ice: The Anouki

The Kikwi, the ancestors of the Anouki, lived in Hyrule’s forests until invaders drove them out of their homes. Forced to seek refuge in the frozen north; the Anouki managed to survive, and even thrive, with help from the Hebra Region’s ice-type pokémon.

The Hebra Region experiences a period each winter when the sun does not rise for days on end, and a corresponding period in summer when the sun never sets. This contrast is embodied by the pair of divine pokémon who watch over the tundra: Ho-Oh and Lugia. Each roosts atop a great tower: one of tin in the east, and one of brass in the west. In clear weather, these towers can be seen gleaming from a great distance away.

Pick Your Poison: The Bokoblins

For thousands of years, the Bokoblins fought viciously with the other peoples of Hyrule, utilizing poison-type pokémon to deadly effect. Hyrule is now at peace, and the Bokoblins enjoy good relations with their neighbors; but their preference for poison-types remains.

Bokoblins worship the moon pokémon, Lunala, whom they believe has the power to resurrect the dead. The Moon Temple is located in a deep cave system, lit by the glow of luminous stones and bioluminescent mushrooms.