The Deku Scrubs are one of the types of creatures inhabiting the world of Zelda that can range from being hostile enemies to endearing and quirky allies. They are sentient, plantlike creatures that are often found in the forests of Hyrule and related lands, and they serve many different roles both within their own cultures and the kingdoms in general.
Despite their often primitive behavior, Deku Scrubs are known to be intelligent creatures that can thrive in a civilized society. Many of them operate their own businesses, for example. And while most Scrubs are typically shy and rarely interact with outsiders, they have always managed to be a major influence on the other species and races found in Hyrule.
Ocarina of Time
The Deku Scrubs first appeared in Ocarina of Time. They were primarily antagonistic, though some of them took on more irregular and amusing roles. Link first encountered the Deku Scrubs in the game’s first dungeon, Inside the Great Deku Tree. These regular Deku Scrubs hid in small pits in the ground and would emerge only when Link was a safe distance away. Then, they would spit Deku Seeds at him in an attempt to attack him. To defeat the Scrubs, Link needed to use his shield to reflect the seeds back at them, which would cause them to pop out of their hiding spots. Once Link approached and cornered them, the Deku Scrubs would surrender, offer him some helpful advice in exchange for forgiveness, and then run away.
Aside from the normal Scrubs, Link also encountered a handful of Deku Scrubs who weren’t set on battling him. Business Deku Scrubs would at first attack Link in the same way as the others, but once Link reflected the seeds and approached them, they would try to make amends by selling him various items such as Deku Seeds and Deku Nuts. Link also met a number of peaceful Deku Scrubs when taking part in two different minigames found within the Lost Woods. These Scrubs would give him prizes if they approved of his performance in the games.
Majora’s Mask
The Deku Scrubs took on a much more prominent and important role in Majora’s Mask. At the start of the game, Skull Kid used the Majora’s Mask to curse Link and transform him into a Deku Scrub. Later, Link learned the “Song of Healing” and is able to break the curse. Doing so allowed him to obtain the Deku Scrub Mask, which he could use to transform back into his Deku Scrub form at any time.
The game’s first region, The Southern Swamp, and first dungeon, Woodfall Temple, also featured heavy use of the Deku Scrubs. In the swamp, the land was controlled by the Scrubs and their king. The Deku Kingdom had the duty of protecting Woodfall Temple, and in order to access the temple, Link needed to infiltrate the Deku Palace so he could find a way to learn the “Sonata of Awakening,” which was the key to accessing the temple.
Oracle of Ages/Seasons
In the Oracle games, the Deku Scrubs behaved similarly to their 3D counterparts from the previous two games. They were found sporadically throughout both Labrynna and Holodrum, with the majority of them being Business Scrubs. These Scrubs would not attack Link, so Link was free to simply approach and purchase items from them. The items they sold include the likes of shields, Mystical Seeds, and bombs.
A few Scrubs were also involved in two sidequests. The first one was part of the main trading quest in Oracle of Seasons and taught Link where the final item in the quest, a new sword, was located. The second quest could only be completed when playing a linked game between both Oracle games. To complete the quest, one Scrub in Oracle of Ages needed to teach Link a song so he could teach it to another Scrub in Oracle of Seasons to earn a bigger Seed Satchel.
Four Swords Adventures
The Deku Scrubs were a surprise appearance of sorts for Four Swords Adventures. They did not appear till about halfway through the game, and it was them that revealed the true, sinister origins of the evil monsters that had overrun Hyrule.
When the Links met the Scrubs for the first time, the Scrubs revealed that it was actually Ganon who was responsible for the attack on Hyrule and that his return had awakened the Scrubs from some sort of hibernation. The Scrubs never attacked the Links, as they were unaware that the heroes were Ganon’s adversaries. The Scrubs instead behaved the same as other NPCs and provided clues for how to clear the game’s levels by way of conversations with them.
Tri Force Heroes
Currently the last canonical version of the species, the Deku Scrubs in Tri Force Heroes behaved like regular Scrubs, albeit with the added trait of using the Totem mechanic the same as many other enemies did. Found in the Drablands, these Scrubs would spring their segmented bodies out of the ground at various heights and attack Link. Only their heads could be damaged, so the Links would need to use the Totem mechanic to reach the same height to attack them. Almost any weapon could be used to defeat them, with the only issue being how close the Links were to the Scrubs.
Despite their often indignant behavior, there is a unique charm about the Deku Scrubs that has helped them persist as a popular and iconic species in the Zelda games. They are able to play a wide variety of roles, and their distinct physical traits and often comedic attitudes add a lot of depth to any game they appear in. It has been more than 20 years since they were featured in what are considered by many fans to be any of the “core” Zelda games, but the chance for their return always remains a strong possibility.
