Silver Darknuts,(TMC)[1] also known as Darknuts,(TWW | TWWHD)[1] and Dark Nuts,(TMC)[2] are recurring Enemies in The Legend of Zelda series.
Characteristics[]
The Wind Waker[]
| Darknut (Figurine from The Wind Waker) | |
|---|---|
 Darknut | Habitat: Tower of the Gods Spoils: Knight's Crest These mighty knights are protected by heavy-duty armor. Rather than attacking from the front, it might be best to slip around behind them and cut their armor off. |
Darknuts wield thick-bladed flamberges and wear strong armor, they are one of the most difficult enemies. The Darknut is also resourceful. If it drops its sword, it can pick up fallen weapons, such as a Moblin's polearm, or engage in hand-to-hand combat. They also tend to perform the Great Spin attack if they see Link charging said attack. Another thing that makes unarmored Darknuts difficult to fight is that they cannot be attacked normally as they can dodge Link's sword and the Grappling Hook. These unarmored Darknuts use counterattacks that can take two full Hearts of health if landed. Their martial arts skills are formidable; unarmed Darknuts attack with either a flurry of quick karate chops or a spinning jump kick that can send Link reeling. Underneath their helmet, they resemble a humanoid Doberman Pinscher but with a more felid snout and nose. Finding a Darknut normally means the presence of the enemy scenario.
Link performing a Parry attack on an armorless Darknut
Its only weak point is its back, where a seam in its armor leaves it vulnerable. The best way to deal with these powerful enemies is the Parry Attack, which avoids the sword and allows easy removal of the helmet or armor.[3] Depending on where the hit landed, either its body armor or helmet falls off, leaving either their head vulnerable to a boomerang, or their body open to sword hits. Darknut armor can also be destroyed by repeated sword strikes, but this strategy is hazardous.
Darknuts in this game have varying armor, which may denote ranks. The armor colors are silver, gold, black and red. Most Darknuts use round bucklers, although there are some that do not. Highly ranked black and red armored Darknuts sometimes wear differently shaped helmets. It will also be revealed that they have a beard and doberman-like features if Link removes the helmet with a parry technique. Darknuts are also the only enemy to carry Knight's Crests with them. Once the main body armor is off, Link can use the Grappling Hook to steal them. Knight's Crests can also be collected from Treasure Spheres that appear after Darknuts are defeated. Collecting ten Crests and taking them to Orca on Outset Island will earn Link the right to learn the Hurricane Spin.
The first Darknut fought in the game serves as a mini-boss in Tower of the Gods, and it guards the Hero's Bow. It should also be mentioned that shooting Light Arrows at a Darknut will instantly kill it, even if it is fully armored. This suggests that Darknuts are followers, or perhaps even creations of, Ganondorf, seeing as regular, fire, and ice arrows will simply bounce off a Darknut's armor.
The Minish Cap[]
| Dark Nut (Figurine from The Minish Cap) | |
|---|---|
 Dark Nut | (North America): Appears in Castor Wilds. These armor-clad soldiers are tough. Use your shield and rolling skills to find an opening in their defenses... (Europe): Appears in Dark Hyrule Castle. These armor-clad soldiers are tough. Use your shield and Roll Attack to find an opening in his defenses... |
Silver Darknuts appear in red-tinged and green-tinged versions in The Minish Cap, though they are otherwise identical in terms of behavior. They are the weakest form of Darknuts in the game. One is found in Castor Wilds, guarding a Chest that contains one of the golden Kinstone Pieces. Another is found in the Fortress of Winds; defeating it reveals a blue Portal. Several are found inside Dark Hyrule Castle, appearing after the first Black Knight is defeated.
Trivia[]
- Purple-tinged Silver Darknuts appear as unused enemies in the code of The Minish Cap, with the same behavior as the Black Knight.[4]
Nomenclature[]
 Names in other regions  | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Language | Name | ||
| This table was generated using translation pages. To request an addition, please contact a staff member with a reference. | |||
Gallery[]
Artwork of the Sword wielded by Darknuts from The Wind Waker
The Sword wielded by Darknuts as seen in-game from The Wind Waker
Two Darknuts from The Wind Waker HD
A green-tinged Silver Darknut from The Minish Cap
An unused sprite of a purple-tinged Silver Darknut, as it would have appeared, from The Minish Cap
See Also[]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Encyclopedia, Dark Horse Books, pg. 173 (TWW | TWWHD | TMC)
- ↑ "Dark Nut" — Figurine (The Minish Cap)
- ↑ "These knights are well-protected by their round bucklers and mighty armor. If you use a parry attack to jump up and knock off their helmets, it'll spell their doom" — Figurine (The Wind Waker)
- ↑ "Golden and purple Darknuts exist within the game's code, but their behavior is very glitchy. Their moveset is the same as the black Darknut's." — The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, The Cutting Room Floor.