Spoiler Warning:
The rest of this article contains significant spoilers for Tears of the Kingdom about the story, gameplay mechanics, etc. that you might not wish to see. Continue reading at your own risk.
As an ancient evil plagues Hyrule’s every corner, it’s both a dreadful and disgusting feeling to return to Zora’s Domain in Tears of the Kingdom, Nintendo’s newly-released sequel to Breath of the Wild. With a broken rendition of the Domain’s theme echoing across the Zora River, Link trudges though muddy riverbanks and sludge-polluted paths on his way to the once-pristine sanctuary of the Zora. His goal – the player’s goal – is to mobilize the different races of Hyrule to search for the lost Princess Zelda. As with every region across the continent, the province of Lanayru has been infected, seemingly in order to inhibit Hyrule’s citizens from doing just that.
For Zora’s Domain, the problem is pretty straightforward: sludge. This entire area is covered in straight-up muck. Brown, slimy, and thick, the stuff makes certain parts of the region impossible to swim through, even for a Zora. And, weirder – that sludge is falling straight from the sky.
However, what’s more startling than all of that? The apparent replacement of Mipha’s Statue, which used to sit right in the center of the Domain! What happened to it?
Luckily, the statue hasn’t mysteriously vanished, unlike most of the Sheikah technology from Breath of the Wild, but it’s definitely not where it used to be. For those who remember reviving Divine Beast Vah Ruta in Breath of the Wild alongside fan-favorite Prince Sidon, a statue commemorating the adventure (titled “The Turning Tide”) has been sculpted to sit in what’s effectively the Domain’s town square. The replacement isn’t immediately obvious, since the statue is covered in sludge by the time Link arrives. After he washes it off with some Splash Fruit, the artwork is revealed rather unceremoniously.
The contrast to Breath of the Wild’s Zora’s Domain is obvious in this moment. Mipha’s Statue had previously stood to represent the Zora’s continuous grief over their princess’ death, as an endless, dreary rainfall flooded the region. The deluge spouted from the corrupted Divine Beast, within which Mipha’s spirit remained imprisoned. Once her spirit was freed, thanks to Link’s and Sidon’s efforts, the rainfall ceased, which was cause for celebration for the Zora. Under clear blue skies, Prince Sidon vowed to be a lifelong ally to Link, and with this, the Zora could finally move forward.
Now, in Tears of the Kingdom, Prince Sidon is mysteriously absent when Link first enters the Domain. Among the Zora, most of whom held resentment towards Link for failing his duty a century ago, Sidon was a much-needed friendly face who trusted Link immediately. It’s a stark difference, as Sidon’s excitable demeanor is why he is adored by many fans of Breath of the Wild. Additionally, it seems that when the Zora need rain the most, it hardly falls at all. The sludge can’t be cleaned out fast enough and it is rapidly polluting the surrounding rivers and lakes. Most importantly, Mipha’s Statue! Where the heck is it?
As explained by Yona, Sidon’s new fiancée (who, yes, is a bit of a jumpscare for Sidon fans), the Zora prince is busy trying to cleanse the waters surrounding the Domain by starting at the source: the top of the nearby Ploymus Mountain, which has since become known as Mipha Court.
This is where Mipha’s Statue has been relocated. With the mountain being the source for the region’s water, her statue has been moved to its peak, Shatterback Point. The sculpture now rests over a pool of water, surrounded by decorative slabs of that signature blue Zora marble. It’s the same material that makes up the heart of Zora’s Domain, which is implied to be derived from Luminous Stones. Because of this, the entire area emits an aquamarine glow at night. Instead of what once was a rocky surface with a pitched sign stating “JUMP AT YOUR OWN RISK!”, Shatterback Point is looked upon by the statue’s calming presence. What’s more, a platform now extends beyond the sharp drop of the cliff and is now a purposeful place to take the leap. Presumably the Zora have really gotten into cliff diving since the events of the previous game.
From Mipha’s Statue, water ripples along a steep set of stairs, winding down to a more open area. Where a Lynel used to roam an otherwise uninhabited clearing at the top of Ploymus Mountain in Breath of the Wild, the Zora have since constructed a plaza of sorts. That same marble now adorns the large clearing. It contains a fountain that feeds several Zora-made pools of clean water, whilst preserving the vibrant flora local to the region. It’s a truly marvelous addition to the mountain, not to mention a breath of fresh air…because finally, we see that friendly face we were looking for.
You see, Sidon’s newly-developed magic is uniquely qualified to handle the pollution. He’s been stationed at Mipha Court, working overtime to cleanse the surrounding waters. Unfortunately, the biggest column of sky sludge seems to have plopped itself right in the middle of the otherwise peaceful mountaintop. Sidon has been stuck here for a while, trying to lessen the damage to the rest of the province. When he sees Link, he is overjoyed – not just because Link has been reported missing for a while now, but because, hopefully, Link can help solve the current sludge problem.
Mipha Court serves as a decent access-point to the key locations of the Zora’s regional-phenomenon questline. Link is sent all over to collect information and key items, such as to Floating Scales Island in the southeast, and Toto Lake to the north. The high vantage point allows the player to make an even glide to anywhere in the Domain, and if the player has already received the Zora armor, they can access nearby floating islands by swimming up waterfalls.
Before Link and Sidon can make the journey to reach Lanayru’s uppermost sky island (it can be assumed that’s where the sludge is falling from), Mipha Court is suddenly ambushed by a Sludge Like. During the ensuing battle, the player learns how to use Sidon’s Sage ability, which surrounds Link in a watery shell that can block an oncoming blow. If the player swings their weapon, the shell will be charged instead into a long-range water attack. Certainly useful against the thick sludge that covers the battlefield, which Link can barely walk through. This ability becomes very useful when later facing the Mucktorok, the Scourge of the Water Temple.
Breath of the Wild held Mipha in a very high regard as she supported everyone she loved with her innate powers of kindness, optimism, and healing. In one of her final lines of dialogue, she laments that she regretted leaving Sidon all alone to fight a battle he couldn’t have understood at his age. She mourns her own loss, wishing she could see her family once again. Her love for Link was a key aspect of her character that Nintendo handled very well – it never overwhelmed the theme of Mipha’s story. It remained a secondary, though forever fierce, part of her motivation. The story in Tears of the Kingdom continues to emphasize Mipha’s protective presence over Zora’s Domain. Now that the Zora have learned to live on with their grief, they honor Mipha’s legacy by holding on to hope instead of despair. A more refreshing and detailed version of Mipha’s Theme plays as Link explores the mountaintop. It gives the air around her Court a light, airy feeling, even when the sludge is slinking down from the Lanayru sky.
Mipha Court stands to symbolize the Zora’s power over tragedy. Once the Water Temple is restored and the sludge is cleared away, the Domain returns to its rightful state of being a sparkling azure wonder of the world. Mipha’s Statue now reflects the moonlight as brilliantly as she once did, imbuing a sense of spiritual relief. It encourages the player to continue on, to not allow the events plaguing Hyrule to distract from the ultimate goal of finding Zelda and freeing her people. After all, Zelda and Link, more than anyone, deserve a life of peace.
