The Full History of Awesome Deku Scrubs in Zelda

The Zelda franchise has myriad characters, many of whom are not human (or Hylian). One species that has had an interesting journey is the Deku Scrubs. These plantlike beings are made of wood and often grow leaves instead of hair. While not the most popular of Zelda's many creatures, they are unique in their ways. Often spitting seeds or handling business deals, they are more interesting than the average enemy. Let's take a look at their history and what we might see from them next.

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An N64 Introduction

The Deku Scrubs first appeared in Ocarina of Time, 1998's massive hit for the N64. They were known for their presence in the first dungeon and as recurring enemies. They could be found in the Lost Woods, as enemies or minigame encounters. You could also run into Business Scrubs, who would sell you items should you find them. When the N64 received another Zelda game, Majora's Mask, the Deku Scrubs were reused. Notably, at the start of the game, Link is transformed into one. After the game's introduction, he can use the Deku mask to move between forms. The first dungeon was also centered around the Deku Scrubs. This seemed to mark them as a major faction of the franchise.

However, the Deku Scrubs would not be a major recurring feature going forward. They would be relegated to lesser handheld releases, not the main console installments. Seemingly, the Koroks of The Wind Waker took their place as wooden plant creatures. The Koroks would come back in future console installments like Breath of the Wild. The Deku Scrubs were either enemies or minor NPCs in games like the Oracle duo. In The Minish Cap, they were represented only in the form of Business Scrub salespeople. In Tri Force Heroes, they briefly reappeared as a stacking enemy encounter. It seemed the Korok's popularity had completely supplanted them.

The Great Deku Return

Finally, the Deku Scrubs have made their return in the upcoming game Echoes of Wisdom. Seen in a trailer describing the game's many regions, they are confirmed to have made their comeback. This does mean their presence remains relegated to top-down Zelda games, of course. Despite this, they will be in a console entry for the first time since the N64. It remains to be seen what their story is, though they are once again friendly. Perhaps they will be a full kingdom again, like in Majora's Mask. The trailer says they have a sweet tooth, a new aspect not seen before. Players can look forward to meeting them when Echoes of Wisdom launches on September 26th.

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This article was originally written by Alex Dunn.