Although theLegend of Zeldafranchise has grown and changed immensely over the years, one thing has mostly stayed the same: the existence of fairies. Since the franchise’s beginning, fairies have called Hyrule home. Players would find them as enemy drops inThe Legend of Zelda,Majora’s Maskgave Link a fairy companionin the form of Tati,Phantom Hourglassswapped Tati out for Ciela, and nowZelda: Echoes of Wisdomhas introduced players to the powerful Tri. Although they may share some similarities with fairies of the past, Tri may be the most useful one yet.
Throughout the franchise, fairies have mostly been used as a means to heal Link throughout his adventures. Occasionally, some of the games have given players more useful fairies that have helpedguide them through Hyrule, with them often being vital to the plot. InZelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Tri seems to be all that and more, as without them Princess Zelda may not be the hero the kingdom needs. And because of that, they may quickly become a fan favorite.
Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom’s Tri May Be the Most Useful Fairy Yet
Tri Brings a Lot to Princess Zelda’s Arsenal
At the start ofZelda: Echoes of Wisdom, players watch asLink vanishes into a mysterious riftleaving Princess Zelda alone within Ganon’s lair. After she escapes, she heads to Hyrule Castle where things quickly fall apart, and she is imprisoned by those she thought were her allies. But luckily, she is quickly saved by the fairy Tri, who gifts her the powerful Tri Rod. With Tri and the Tri Rod, Princess Zelda escapes and a fantastic adventure ensues, filled with all the classicLegend of Zeldagoodness fans have come to expect over the years.
Throughout this adventure, Tri serves as a constant ally. They willhelp guide Princess Zelda around Hyruleand use their power to create echoes, which are a core part of the gameplay loop. Additionally, they are the only way for Zelda to actually get into the Still World safely, and alongside their friends, they are vital in closing the rifts and saving Hyrule. All of this makes them far more than just another fairy, and their unique personality makes them even better.
Other Fairies Have Not Really Done What Tri Can Do
Tri is hardly the first useful fairytheLegend of Zeldafranchisehas had, and they likely won’t be the last. For years, the fairies mostly served as a way to heal Link throughout his adventure, with their healing abilities changing depending upon the game. They are not only found as enemy drops or dotting the land within Fairy Fountains, but some of the games have also let players collect them in bottles to be used later. Yet, with the release ofZelda: Ocarina of Time, they became so much more.
Zelda: Ocarina of Timewas the first time that players actually had a fairy companion to aid them in their adventure. This camein the form of the iconic Navi, who simply served as a way to gain insight or discover weak points on enemies.Zelda: Majora’s Maskreplaced Navi with Tati, who served a similar purpose but with a more confrontational personality. It was not untilZelda: Phantom Hourglassthat the fairy companion did more, as Ciela also let Link shoot Sword Beams, utilize the Hammer, and gave him the ability to freeze time near the end of the game. Additionally, there were a few other fairies that tagged along for that journey, with each providing their own special powers.
While that all sounds useful,Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom’s Tri is definitely the most advanced and useful fairy of the franchise thus far. Not only do they provide help, but their powerful Tri Rod forms the entire backbone of the experience. And based on how the series has evolved, perhaps the next fairy companion will be able to do even more.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
WHERE TO PLAY
Save Hyrule—this time with the wisdom of Princess Zelda!The people of Hyrule are being stolen away by strange rifts—and with a certain swordsman among the missing, it’s up to Princess Zelda to save her kingdom in the latest adventure in The Legend of Zelda™ series!Team up with the ethereal creature Tri and use the Tri Rod to create “echoes,” which are imitations of things you find in the environment—then recreate those echoes whenever you like to solve puzzles and defeat enemies. Use echoes like water blocks to reach new heights, make bridges out of old beds, throw rocks at foes, or find your own combination of echoes to do things your way. You can even make echoes of monsters to fight at your side in combat!
