History VideoGame / HyruleWarriorsAgeOfCalamity

** There's a few bits of foreshadowing that intentionally or not foreshadows several plot elements used in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTearsOfTheKingdom''.
*** [[spoiler: Yunobo]] seems like an AdaptationalBadass at first, what with being a complete non-combatant in ''Breath of the Wild''. ''Tears of the Kingdom'' would show that he TookALevelInBadass between the two games, meaning he's not an adaptational badass, but was simply recruited in the middle of training himself to become stronger.
*** The Diminutive Guardian's ability to time travel in the intro is, seemingly spontaneously, triggered by Zelda awakening her light-aspected magic in ''Breath of the Wild'', and ends up being a massive case of this. [[spoiler: It turns out that Zelda's natural abilities actually leans towards time manipulation, with her light magic being secondary, and both are a result of her ancestors being the Sages of Light and Time. Zelda's sacred power is a mix of both magics, hence the light magic waking Terrako up and the time magic letting him open the portal.]]

** The ending of the "Searching Hyrule Forest" [=DLC=] mission has [[spoiler:Tulin]] mimic Revali's arrogant attitude and [[spoiler:the fact he can make up gusts of wind outside CutscenePowerToTheMax.]] Come ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTearsOfTheKingdom'', [[spoiler:Tulin became a Rito warrior prodigy at a young age being able to create his own gusts of wind...and kept a bit of arrogance to boot.]]

* ForWantOfANail: The arrival of the diminutive Guardian made changes to the timeline that go beyond its initial objective.
** Due to the Sheikah Slate's runes and the Sheikah Towers being unlocked early, Zelda cuts short her archeological research and [[TookALevelInBadass spends more time training herself to fight with the Sheikah Slate]]. Additionally, with the conclusive proof that the Calamity will happen soon, the more peaceful opportunities of levity that Zelda would have had with Link according to the Memories in ''Breath of the Wild'' never took place.
** With the surprising appearance of the Sheikah Tower in Hyrule Field, King Rhoam appoints Link to be its protector while they try to figure out the tower's purpose. The sudden appointment is likely why Link didn't get the Master Sword as early as he did in the original timeline. The towers being unearthed also makes it much easier for Hyrule's army to transport and travel across Hyrule. [[spoiler:This, along with Terrako summoning the New Champions from the future, is a key reason on how the Champions were able to avoid falling against the Blight Ganons.]]
** Link, due to chasing the diminutive Guardian, ends up encountering Zelda much earlier and he soon accompanies her to the Royal Ancient Lab as her personal escort, delaying his journey to obtain the Master Sword even further. His non-Champion presence with Zelda allows her to appreciate him as a person, especially when he saves her from a Guardian's laser blast, rather than see him as a reminder of her burden.
** Malice that has been chasing the diminutive Guardian through time ends up infecting another diminutive Guardian and subsequently, that Guardian begins [[MakeWrongWhatOnceWentRight altering events to ensure an even greater victory for Calamity Ganon]]. Monster attacks and Yiga assassination attempts become more frequent and organized, with every settlement and race under siege, forcing Link and Impa to accompany Zelda as she tries to recruit the Champions. The growing threat also necessitates the Champions to stick together and use the Divine Beasts more often than usual.
** With the Champions sticking together for protection, Zelda gets more advice and support from friends like Impa and Urbosa that she lacks in the original timeline. This in turn allows her to get over her feeling of inadequacy when seeing Link with the Master Sword and subsequently, she forms a better relationship with her appointed knight. It also helps that Link pulls the Master Sword out of necessity to protect Zelda from Astor, rather doing it [[BecauseDestinySaysSo because of the prophecy]].
** Because of the diminutive guardian warning everyone of when Calamity Ganon will attack, the latter decides to strike ''before'' Zelda's birthday instead. As a result, Zelda, Link and Impa are still in Hyrule Castle when Calamity Ganon awakens. This allows Zelda to [[spoiler:bear witness King Rhoam's apparent death, which gives her a stronger catalyst to unlock her Sacred Powers ''before'' Link is mortally wounded later. In the cutscene before Zelda also builds up the courage to confront Rhoam over their relationship and give him as a piece of guardian tech as a plea to him. This ends up being a guardian shield that deflects the lasers that would have killed Rhoam, allowing him to survive and escape]].
** Being able to know that the Calamity is looming sooner than expected and [[spoiler:eventually confirming its exact date to be on Zelda's birthday]], King Rhoam orders mass evacuations of the Hyrule Town and Field areas. As a result, the implied utter massacre of soldiers and innocents is averted. It also means that [[spoiler:Fort Hateno and Akkala Citadel have more manpower, allowing them to hold out until the Divine Beasts and Link's party arrive to turn the tide, ultimately stopping the fall of Hyrule's last defense.]]
** Thanks to having more warning and a Guardian's attempt to kill Zelda in Mission 2, [[spoiler:Purah sets up an ultimate failsafe: a Sheikah device that will completely short out and destroy every Guardian in range. Once the heroes manage to get this up and running, it fries every Guardian outside of Fort Hateno -- the bulk of the army that razed Hyrule originally -- leaving Ganon deprived of all but a handful of them and forcing him to instead rely on his other minions. This also marks the point where Hyrule begins its full counterattack that leads to Ganon's defeat, as his forces are far more manageable with Guardians down to rare keystone threats.]]
** Astor, motivated by visions of the future from Harbinger Ganon, personally attacks Zelda and her allies several times over the course of the game, with far-reaching consequences. The first leads to Link drawing the Master Sword in an effort to protect Zelda. This blunts much of the animosity she felt toward him in the original timeline, when she assumed Link hated her for failing to live up to her own destiny while he achieved his so easily. The second attempt sees Link planning a HeroicSacrifice to buy Zelda time to escape, only for her to [[spoiler:unexpectedly awaken her power when she turns back to save him. This prevents Link from being mortally wounded and elevates Zelda into a powerful ally for the flagging Hylian forces]], shifting the tide of the entire battle. And finally, Astor's careless sacrifice of their members to revive the Blights alienates the Yiga Clan, leading them to [[spoiler:defect to Zelda's side for the final battle]].

* MagnetismManipulation: The Magnesis Rune can be used to latch onto nearby metallic objects. The Tokyo Game Show gameplay footage shows that when Link uses it, it allows him to grab hold of metal objects to launch as projectiles; while Impa uses it to create [[DropTheHammer a massive hammer]] out of assorted metal scraps.

** Possibly unintended but [[spoiler:the diminutive guardian being able to go through time with Zelda's power awakening makes more sense when you learn the plot of VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTearsOfTheKingdom with Rauru giving her sealing and Sonia giving her time. Only its made clear Zelda's claim to the power is locked to a StableTimeLoop while this game branches.]]

* EnemyMine: [[spoiler:Disgusted with Astor using Yiga clan footsoldiers to empower the Blight Ganons, Kohga and his clan sever their ties with him and team up with the Hyrulean Forces to combat the Dark Forces.]]

** Red barrels can be found littered around stages, much like in ''Breath of the Wild'' (though they are significantly bigger here, as not to blend into the hordes of monsters). Blowing them up kills every regular enemy caught in its radius and sets larger ones on fire, which causes their Weak Point gauge to deplete faster. However, they can damage the player just as easily if they're too close. They can also be launched by using Stasis and whacking them a few times.

* EvilIsNotAToy: Astor boasts that he can bring down the world with Calamity Ganon, not-so subtly implying that [[AGodAmI he believes that Ganon would be under his command]]. Sooga finds [[BlasphemousBoast the prophet's statements to be foolish]], retorting that he must be blind since "Ganon is not for mortals to control." [[spoiler:When Astor is beaten at Hyrule Castle alongside Harbinger Ganon, he makes the fatal error of ordering ''Ganon'' to consume the heroes with Malice. Ganon, [[YouHaveFailedMe fed up with Astor's failures]], decides to consume the prophet instead, using his body as the base for its OneWingedAngel form.]] To make it even more obvious, [[spoiler:Astor himself even took part in betraying the Yiga Clan and sacrificing their footsoldiers to power up Ganon, yet he honestly believes [[HorribleJudgeOfCharacter Ganon wouldn't do it to him too]].]] Further adding to this is that [[spoiler:a flashback in "Guardian of Remembrance" shows that the cult that Astor took part of was sacrificed upon seeing the future, with him as the SoleSurvivor. Ganon simply gave him the privilege of being its [[TheHeavy heavy]]; it never implied that Astor was in any position to boss it around.]]

* FireIceLightning: You quickly obtain the Fire, Ice, and Lightning Rods from corresponding Wizzrobes in the first two missions. The button combinations to use them are organized from left to right in this order in the default control scheme. These are also the three elements commonly used by enemies, with Fire, Ice, and Electric versions of lizalfos, moblins, hinox, guardians, and lynels.

* MoneyIsExperiencePoints: As with the previous game, you can level up characters using rupees, but no higher than the highest level character.

** The first battle in the Guardian of Rememberance DLC requires [[spoiler:playing as Terrako]]. Should you not have unlocked that character, the game will temporarily make them available at the battle’s recommended level.

* EvilIsNotAToy: Astor boasts that he can bring down the world with Calamity Ganon, not-so subtly implying that [[AGodAmI he believes that Ganon would be under his command]]. Sooga finds [[BlasphemousBoast the prophet's statements to be foolish]], retorting that he must be blind since "Ganon is not for mortals to control." [[spoiler:When Astor is beaten at Hyrule Castle alongside Harbinger Ganon, he makes the fatal error of ordering ''Ganon'' to consume the heroes with Malice. Ganon, [[YouHaveFailedMe fed up with Astor's failures]], decides to consume the prophet instead, using his body as the base for its OneWingedAngel form.]] To make it even more obvious, [[spoiler:Astor himself even took part in betraying the Yiga Clan and sacrificing their footsoldiers to power up Ganon, yet he honestly believes [[HorribleJudgeOfCharacter Ganon wouldn't do it to him too]].]] Further adding to this is that [[spoiler:a flashback in "Guardian of Remembrance" shows that the cult Astor was sacrificed upon seeing the future, with him as the SoleSurvivor. Ganon simply gave him the privilege of being its [[TheHeavy heavy]]; it never implied that Astor was in any position to boss it around.]]

* EvilIsNotAToy: Astor boasts that he can bring down the world with Calamity Ganon, not-so subtly implying that [[AGodAmI he believes that Ganon would be under his command]]. Sooga finds [[BlasphemousBoast the prophet's statements to be foolish]], retorting that he must be blind since "Ganon is not for mortals to control." [[spoiler:When Astor is beaten at Hyrule Castle alongside Harbinger Ganon, he makes the fatal error of ordering ''Ganon'' to consume the heroes with Malice. Ganon, [[YouHaveFailedMe fed up with Astor's failures]], decides to consume the prophet instead, using his body as the base for its OneWingedAngel form.]] To make it even more obvious, [[spoiler:Astor himself even took part in betraying the Yiga Clan and sacrificing their footsoldiers to power up Ganon, yet he honestly believes [[HorribleJudgeOfCharacter Ganon wouldn't do it to him too]].]]

* DoubleEdgedBuff: Four of the meals that you can create before a level will temporarily increase your stats but also lower your health for the duration of the level.

---> '''Sooga:''' You are blind, "seer". Calamity Ganon… [[EvilIsNotAToy is not for mortals to control]].

* GameplayProtagonistStoryProtaonist: Downplayed. The story's main focus is on Princess Zelda, who is trying to [[spoiler:prevent the events of ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' from taking place.]] In, cutscenes, Link barely has any impact other than the standard wielder of the Divine Blade business, as opposed to ''Breath of the Wild'' where he is still the focal character of the present. The downplayedness comes from the fact that Zelda is playable, but Link is the first playable character and has more weapons and costumes than any other character.

* GameplayProtagonistStoryProtaonist: Downplayed. The story's main focus is on Princess Zelda, who is trying to [[spoiler: prevent the events of ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' from taking place.]] In, cutscenes, Link barely has any impact other than the standard wielder of the Divine Blade business, as opposed to ''Breath of the Wild'' where he is still the focal character of the present. The downplayedness comes from the fact that Zelda is playable, but Link is the first playable character and has more weapons and costumes than any other character.

** Due to the Sheikah Slate's runes and the Sheikah Towers being unlocked early, Zelda cuts short of her archeological research and [[TookALevelInBadass spends more time training herself to fight with the Sheikah Slate]]. Additionally, with the conclusive proof that the Calamity will happen soon, the more peaceful opportunities of levity that Zelda would have had with Link according to the Memories in ''Breath of the Wild'' never took place.

** Finishing the main story lets you choose between the Champions wearing their royal blue scarves or not, and also gives Zelda the option of her casual clothes, ceremonial dress, and winter coat. Before finishing the story you can't decide what they wear, it's based on story progression. Zelda's royal dress is also programmed in, but DummiedOut, though it can be made usable by hacking.

* KickingAssInAllHerFinery: Zig-zagged by Zelda. Her initial playable chapters feature her in her practical travelling outfit. However, about halfway through the main story, she changes into her white prayer dress, which she wears for the rest of the game with no apparent loss in fighting ability. Once outfit customization unlocks after finishing the main story, players can invoke the trope by choosing to have Zelda wear the prayer dress in battle. Her DummiedOut formal gown, which is still present in game files, also qualifies.

* CameraScrew: The game's camera has a habit of getting hung up on walls and corners when you're locked onto an enemy, particularly in narrow corridors.

* ArtificialStupidity: {{exaggerated}}. Characters alongside you will mostly just stand there, and attack ''maybe'' once a minute, while you're busy going OneManArmy on a bunch of fools. The reason this is particularly egregious is because the ManualLeaderAIParty is in effect (often augmented by Zelda and/or Link if neither of them is in your party), and you can switch to any of the other three characters ''in'' your party at any time. So you've ''seen'' all five of them go OneManArmy on a bunch of fools; but now that you're not controlling them, you're seeing them... not do that. (Indeed, basically the only value to these party members is that you can order them to head to specific locations on the Pause menu, to take over them once they've arrived; bringing them with you into boss battles accomplishes little and less.)

* ArtificialStupidity: {{exaggerated}}. Characters alongside you will mostly just stand there, and attack ''maybe'' once a minute, while you're busy being a OneManArmy a bunch of fools. The reason this is particularly egregious is because the ManualLeaderAIParty is in effect (often augmented by Zelda and/or Link if neither of them is in your party), and you can switch to any of the four characters ''in'' your party at any time. So you've ''seen'' them OneManArmy a bunch of fools with ease; but now that you're not controlling them, you're seeing them... not do that. (Indeed, basically the only value to these party members is that you can order them to head to specific locations on the Pause menu, to take over them once they've arrived; bringing them with you into boss battles accomplishes little and less.)