Possible timeline placement for Breath of the Wild

[Mudkip97]

As far as we know he have no confirmation on the timeline placement for Breath of the Wild. Although we have some clues I'll give out my two ideas. But first I'll talk about theories circulating online and why they may be wrong:

Probably wrong:

Taking place many years after Wind Waker and Spirit Tracks:

The theory is that many years after Spirit Tracks the Koroks managed to plant enough trees to absorb the Water and drain Hyrule successfully with Ganon either resurrecting or being reincarnated many years latter.

Problems:
-The Koroks could have existed in any timeline. Unlike what most people think Koroks are not an evolved form of Kokiri. The Kokiri can take on many forms so this doesn't prove much.
-The Master Sword can't be moved so after Ganon destroyed Hyrule Castle in OoT Zelda rebuilt the new castle on top of the Temple of Time.
-We saw no sings of Sheikah in this timeline especially when the Royal Family needed the most

Taking place before the flood in Wind Waker:

Some people think this takes place before Hyrule was flooded.

Problems:
-According to the games no heroes existed in that time
-Hyrule Castle's placement doesn't match at all with the one with OoT and WW

Taking place before or after Zelda I and II:

With no real indicators people think it could be placed during those "empty" like regions of Hyrule.

Problems:
-The Master Sword's Location in ALttP/ALBW indicates that the Temple of Time was completely destroyed

Taking place around the time of the Imprisoning War:

So after Link died he was resurrected 100 years latter to help imprison Ganon.

Problems:
-Link in OoT is left handed and has blond hair.
-Ganon was never sealed in Hyrule Castle he was sealed twice in the Sacred Realm.
-Ganon destroyed Hyrule Castle in OoT so it would have to be shortly built before he was sealed which is impossible
-The Master Sword is not in the Temple of Time which is in the correct spot in ALttP/ALBW

Taking place before Twilight Princess:

Problems:
-Ganon was in Arbiter Grounds














My theories:

Taking place after Twilight Princess:

Basically this would mean it's not the same Link as in TP who was revived, Ganon was resurrected/reincarnated, the Master Sword this Time changed location for once. This seems over complicated.

or

Taking place after Skyward Sword in an alternated fashion:

True Ganon never existed before OoT but what if Ganon time traveled? What if after SS Link was laid to rest for a 100 years. This would explain Link being right handed and having the same hair. The technology would make sense and also why the Temple of Time looks the same as it did in OoT

Plus this would explain Mat Pat's Game Theory video on the Declined Timeline not being a timeline. What if at the end of Zelda II Ganon was sent back in time which created the Adult Timeline.

This is similar to the first part of this theory I made: http://zeldadungeon.net/forum/threads/debunking-the-game-theorists-timeline-theory.56099/

 

[ArgorokX]

Taking place 100 years after OoT in the Decline timeline is the best fit for what we know:
The game stars a Hero who previously went on adventure and we can assume was defeated due to his being placed in a resurrection chamber in a device that has "care unit" written on it in Hylian. We don't need to create another Hero who failed and we have a need to explain the one we already have.
Ganon has obtained an incredible power. He would have the complete triforce following the defeat of the Hero of Time.
The Temple of Time isn't as damaged as the Temple of Time in TP even though this temple also had to deal with a robot attack. It is also surrounded by the ruins of OoT's Castle Town. The general geography of the land very closely matches OoT's.
It contains references to the other two games that take place 100-a few hundred years after OoT (WW and TP) such as Koroks and a possible King Hyrule and The Great Bridge of Hylia. The Decline Timeline would be a good world to unite these references.
Link awakens wearing OoT-era Sheikah underpants.

To address your issues with this:
-The handedness and appearance of Link are not important plot details. Aonuma was asked about Link's handedness at E3 and he said it was purely a gameplay decision. As we know, details like this change depending on who is telling the legend (IE the director). OoT and BotW use different art styles. For example, according to Wind Waker, this is what the Hero of Time looked like: http://zeldawiki.org/images/e/ee/Hero_of_Time_Statue.png . Note the epic sideburns and different proportions due to the art style.
According to Nintendo these are the same people:
http://img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20131115053501/random-ness/images/2/25/ALBW_Link.png
http://i.imgur.com/tIbM4wQ.jpg
-Hyrule Historia does not say that Ganon was not sealed in the Castle for 100 years before he was fully sealed away, so I do not see how this is a problem. Adding details to the timeline is easy. It would make sense for there to be an epic struggle since Zelda's power should not be a match for a triforce-powered Ganon. Zelda needed Link to stab Ganon in the head before she could seal him in OoT when Ganon only had 1 piece of the triforce, so why should she be able to seal him without Link's help when he has the whole thing?
-We have no details on how events transpired in the Decline version of the events of OoT. All Hyrule Historia says about it is that Link and Ganon fought and Ganon got the triforce pieces from Link and Zelda. Ganon became all-powerful and Zelda sealed him in the Sacred Realm. We do not know if this happened in the past before Ganon built his castle. We do not know how or if Ganon built a castle in this timeline. Ganon's Castle could be a transformed Hyrule Castle. In the timeline we do know about, Ganon's castle isn't actually where Hyrule Castle was; it's in Hyrule Castle's front yard, so the castle could still exist behind the hills surrounding Ganon's Castle. So many possibilities and it would be easy to explain away just like Twilight Princess having the Arbiter's Grounds in a cutscene that took place in OoT's era or not explain at all like having the Temple of Time in Faron Woods. This is a good opportunity to explain how this timeline works since we already know how the other 2 splits work.
-The Master Sword does not have to be in the Temple of Time at the beginning of BotW. Assuming the temple mentioned in Hyrule Historia is the Temple of Time, then the Master Sword just needs to end up there some time between the end of BotW and the Imprisoning War to line up with Hyrule Historia.

For yours:

After TP would not explain why this is a Link who already went on an adventure and failed or why the ruins of the Temple of Time are less destroyed and surrounded by the ruins of castle town. You would have to explain how Ganon came back.

Time traveling Ganon. This one is way too complex. Creating another split in the timeline is not what Zelda needs. Why introduce this kind of story when you can do the same thing with the Decline timeline?

 

[Mudkip97]

Taking place 100 years after OoT in the Decline timeline is the best fit for what we know:
The game stars a Hero who previously went on adventure and we can assume was defeated due to his being placed in a resurrection chamber in a device that has "care unit" written on it in Hylian. We don't need to create another Hero who failed and we have a need to explain the one we already have.
Ganon has obtained an incredible power. He would have the complete triforce following the defeat of the Hero of Time.
The Temple of Time isn't as damaged as the Temple of Time in TP even though this temple also had to deal with a robot attack. It is also surrounded by the ruins of OoT's Castle Town. The general geography of the land very closely matches OoT's.
It contains references to the other two games that take place 100-a few hundred years after OoT (WW and TP) such as Koroks and a possible King Hyrule and The Great Bridge of Hylia. The Decline Timeline would be a good world to unite these references.
Link awakens wearing OoT-era Sheikah underpants.

To address your issues with this:
-The handedness and appearance of Link are not important plot details. Aonuma was asked about Link's handedness at E3 and he said it was purely a gameplay decision. As we know, details like this change depending on who is telling the legend (IE the director). OoT and BotW use different art styles. For example, according to Wind Waker, this is what the Hero of Time looked like: http://zeldawiki.org/images/e/ee/Hero_of_Time_Statue.png . Note the epic sideburns and different proportions due to the art style.
According to Nintendo these are the same people:
http://img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20131115053501/random-ness/images/2/25/ALBW_Link.png
http://i.imgur.com/tIbM4wQ.jpg
-Hyrule Historia does not say that Ganon was not sealed in the Castle for 100 years before he was fully sealed away, so I do not see how this is a problem. Adding details to the timeline is easy. It would make sense for there to be an epic struggle since Zelda's power should not be a match for a triforce-powered Ganon. Zelda needed Link to stab Ganon in the head before she could seal him in OoT when Ganon only had 1 piece of the triforce, so why should she be able to seal him without Link's help when he has the whole thing?
-We have no details on how events transpired in the Decline version of the events of OoT. All Hyrule Historia says about it is that Link and Ganon fought and Ganon got the triforce pieces from Link and Zelda. Ganon became all-powerful and Zelda sealed him in the Sacred Realm. We do not know if this happened in the past before Ganon built his castle. We do not know how or if Ganon built a castle in this timeline. Ganon's Castle could be a transformed Hyrule Castle. In the timeline we do know about, Ganon's castle isn't actually where Hyrule Castle was; it's in Hyrule Castle's front yard, so the castle could still exist behind the hills surrounding Ganon's Castle. So many possibilities and it would be easy to explain away just like Twilight Princess having the Arbiter's Grounds in a cutscene that took place in OoT's era or not explain at all like having the Temple of Time in Faron Woods. This is a good opportunity to explain how this timeline works since we already know how the other 2 splits work.
-The Master Sword does not have to be in the Temple of Time at the beginning of BotW. Assuming the temple mentioned in Hyrule Historia is the Temple of Time, then the Master Sword just needs to end up there some time between the end of BotW and the Imprisoning War to line up with Hyrule Historia.

For yours:

After TP would not explain why this is a Link who already went on an adventure and failed or why the ruins of the Temple of Time are less destroyed and surrounded by the ruins of castle town. You would have to explain how Ganon came back.

Time traveling Ganon. This one is way too complex. Creating another split in the timeline is not what Zelda needs. Why introduce this kind of story when you can do the same thing with the Decline timeline?

It's the least likely of places to be 100 years after OoT. First of all sure Link was resurrected but it can't be the same Link. This Link has long brown hair and is right handed while the Link in OoT has shorter blond hair and is left handed. Second Ganon was sealed twice. Once after he got the full Triforce and the a second time after he tried to escape. Neither of those times was he sealed in Hyrule Castle.

That can't be a reference it was merely a statue. Especially since OoT and BotW shared a more similar style than the toonish ones.

No after Link died he got the Triforce of Courage and immediately took the one from Zelda as well and they sealed him in the Sacred Realm where he made his wish. True their was an era of peace afterwards but Ganon was sealed inside the Sacred Realm and when he tried to escape they re-sealed him again. This basically contradicts you argument as sealing him in the castle wouldn't change anything. And no Link was killed in the final battle.

It isn't in the temple of time in that game. But all others it respects the location.

Plus this can't be Link from OoT because in the in game texts it says that he previously succeeded in his adventures.


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Well the land is more clear at some point maybe it was renovated


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Maybe that would explain the timeline split. After all we do need an original timeline. After all the Adult Timeline created the Child Timeline. But what about the Declined Timeline? I mean as Mat Pat said if Link died due his own mistake than that would make it an alternate universe which it is not. Meaning either the Declined Timeline created the Adult Timeline somehow or one of the two other Timelines created the Declined Timeline, through means of Time Travel.

 

[Dio]

It's the least likely of places to be 100 years after OoT. First of all sure Link was resurrected but it can't be the same Link. This Link has long brown hair and is right handed while the Link in OoT has shorter blond hair and is left handed. Second Ganon was sealed twice. Once after he got the full Triforce and the a second time after he tried to escape. Neither of those times was he sealed in Hyrule Castle.

That can't be a reference it was merely a statue. Especially since OoT and BotW shared a more similar style than the toonish ones.

No after Link died he got the Triforce of Courage and immediately took the one from Zelda as well and they sealed him in the Sacred Realm where he made his wish. True their was an era of peace afterwards but Ganon was sealed inside the Sacred Realm and when he tried to escape they re-sealed him again. This basically contradicts you argument as sealing him in the castle wouldn't change anything. And no Link was killed in the final battle.

It isn't in the temple of time in that game. But all others it respects the location.

Plus this can't be Link from OoT because in the in game texts it says that he previously succeeded in his adventures.


-----


Well the land is more clear at some point maybe it was renovated


-----


Maybe that would explain the timeline split. After all we do need an original timeline. After all the Adult Timeline created the Child Timeline. But what about the Declined Timeline? I mean as Mat Pat said if Link died due his own mistake than that would make it an alternate universe which it is not. Meaning either the Declined Timeline created the Adult Timeline somehow or one of the two other Timelines created the Declined Timeline, through means of Time Travel.

The decline timeline is an alternate universe identical to the adult timeline up to the battle with Ganondorf where instead of sealing Ganon with the sages link falls and Ganondorf obtains the full triforce.

 

[Mudkip97]

The decline timeline is an alternate universe identical to the adult timeline up to the battle with Ganondorf where instead of sealing Ganon with the sages link falls and Ganondorf obtains the full triforce.

It's not an Alternate Universe. Nintendo says it's a Timeline. Meaning Mat Pat's Theory can't be right meaning it has to exist somehow. By either it creating the Adult Timeline or it being created by the other two timelines.

 

[el :BeoWolf:]

It's not an Alternate Universe. Nintendo says it's a Timeline. Meaning Mat Pat's Theory can't be right meaning it has to exist somehow. By either it creating the Adult Timeline or it being created by the other two timelines.

The three timelines are alternate universes. They each exist in their own universe with their own timeline.

 

[Dio]

It's not an Alternate Universe. Nintendo says it's a Timeline. Meaning Mat Pat's Theory can't be right meaning it has to exist somehow. By either it creating the Adult Timeline or it being created by the other two timelines.

Every timeline IS an alternate universe. Nintendo can call it what they like. But what they actually mean is different.

If you imagine skyward sword to Ocarina of time taking place in one universe (let's call it universe 1) there is a 7 year period where link sleeps and then emerges to seal Ganon and then leaves that universe to go into one which is at an earlier point in time. Universe 1 continues and the WW happens and then PH and ST. Everything happening in there unaffected by events in other universes.

Link of course appears to have gone back in time. But that is scientifically impossible to send anything that big actually back in time. What he has done is universe hopped. He is now in what we can call (Universe 2) or Timeline 2 you can use the term timeline if you want but in reality its another universe. He then alters the course the universe would take by warning about Ganondorf, MM happens then TP then FSA.

ALTTP has to take place in an alternate universe completely seperate from either U1 or U2. As neither could exist if Link was killed in them.

 

[Mudkip97]

The three timelines are alternate universes. They each exist in their own universe with their own timeline.

No every Universe has their own timelines. But's not the way around. The Zelda universe contains 3 timelines.

 

[Mudkip97]

Every timeline IS an alternate universe. Nintendo can call it what they like. But what they actually mean is different.

If you imagine skyward sword to Ocarina of time taking place in one universe (let's call it universe 1) there is a 7 year period where link sleeps and then emerges to seal Ganon and then leaves that universe to go into one which is at an earlier point in time. Universe 1 continues and the WW happens and then PH and ST. Everything happening in there unaffected by events in other universes.

Link of course appears to have gone back in time. But that is scientifically impossible to send anything that big actually back in time. What he has done is universe hopped. He is now in what we can call (Universe 2) or Timeline 2 you can use the term timeline if you want but in reality its another universe. He then alters the course the universe would take by warning about Ganondorf, MM happens then TP then FSA.

ALTTP has to take place in an alternate universe completely seperate from either U1 or U2. As neither could exist if Link was killed in them.

You don't understand what a Timeline and universe are.

 

[el :BeoWolf:]

They each originate from a single timeline, but the adult timeline, child timeline, and downfall timeline are alternate universes of each other with their own histories that split at the events of Ocarina of Time.

 

[Dio]

You don't understand what a Timeline and universe are.

You don't understand how science works.

 

[Mudkip97]

Every Timeline is part of a Universe. But different Universe's Timeline cannot interact with one another.

 

[Dio]

Every Timeline is part of a Universe. But different Universe's Timeline cannot interact with one another.

There is no such thing as an actual timeline it's a scale along which events are recorded in chronological order. You can't have two timelines in one universe as only one set of events can occur in a single universe.

 

[Mudkip97]

You don't understand how science works.

No you don't

You have one universe with a single linear timeline from SS to OoT. In that Universe you had 3 time splits which created 3 Timelines in that Universe both coexisting.

That is the multiverse theory.

 

[Mudkip97]

There is no such thing as an actual timeline it's a scale along which events are recorded in chronological order. You can't have two timelines in one universe as only one set of events can occur in a single universe.

Everything exited in one Universe and a time split happened in that universe.