Why Does Link Sleep for 100 Years in Breath of the Wild? To Heal from Fatal Injuries Sustained Battling Calamity Ganon

As a hardcore Legend of Zelda gamer and content creator who has sunk over 200 hours into Breath of the Wild, one of its biggest mysteries that long had me puzzling was: why did Link sleep for an entire century before his awakening? After painstaking research and reflection, I believe I‘ve cracked the case.

Link‘s Brush with Death During Hyrule‘s Darkest Hour

Hyrule historians (and Zelda wiki walkthroughs) document that 100 years before the events of Breath of the Wild, the kingdom faced its gravest threat: the return of Calamity Ganon. Princess Zelda and her appointed knight Link fought alongside the four Champions in an attempt to defeat Ganon before his power grew too great.

However, during this climatic battle, Link suffered grievous injuries protecting Zelda from a devastating blow, nearly dying in the process. In-game memories show Zelda cradling an unconscious, mortally wounded Link in her arms amidst the burning Hyrule Castle town, his final breaths seemingly drawn.

Zelda‘s Race to the Shrine of Resurrection to Save Her Hero

With her committed Champion having given his life for her, Zelda refused to let the spirit of the hero die. Recalling legends of healing and restoration from a forgotten time, she raced Link‘s body to the ancient Shrine of Resurrection built by the Sheikah tribe in preparation for this fated encounter.

The Slumber That Lasts a Century… But Rebuilds A Broken Body

Zelda herself says in Link‘s recovered memories that the Shrine of Resurrection can "surely save his life." And it did – but by putting Link in stasis for 100 years.

"You are the light – our light – that must shine upon Hyrule once again. Now go…" — Zelda

The Shrine of Resurrection used an advanced regeneration process powered by Sheikah tech called the Slumber of Restoration. By placing Link in stasis inside this glowing pod filled with a luminous liquid, his fatal injuries could slowly heal over the course of a century, while Link himself remained completely asleep.

How the Slumber‘s Healing Process Led to Link‘s Amnesia

According to the Zelda Encyclopedia, the Slumber of Restoration allowed "even the most gravely wounded to recover," albeit at the cost of the subject‘s memories due to being in powered down stasis for so long. So after his 100-year long slumber, Link awoke amnesiac about his life before Calamity Ganon‘s return.

All he retained were innate abilities—his combat techniques,horseback riding skills, and even knowledge of recipes for tasty dishes! But he has zero recollection about his past with Zelda or his destiny as Hyrule‘s Champion. Only when he leaves the Shrine does he hear a mysterious voice…

"Link… Link, you are the light – our light – that must shine upon Hyrule once again."

And so his epic adventure begins again…from square one.

The Legends of Heroic Slumbers to Regain Strength

While a 100-year long healing sleep may seem outrageous, legends throughout the Zelda series tell of epic heroes slumbering for years or even centuries in order to regain their vitality for the trials ahead.

Fans will surely recall Link‘s spiritual predecessor, the Hero of Time, sleeping for 7 long years in the Temple of Light in Ocarina of Time, only to emerge as the prophesied Hero of legend.

In Oracle of Ages, Link himself sleeps in a Mystical Forest for over 400 years in a deep slumber that, "renews both power and memory" before taking up the Master Sword that defeats evil.

So in retrospect, Link catching some Zzzs for a century or two shouldn‘t shock longterm fans!

Here‘s a breakdown of some epic Zelda slumber sessions across games:

So the century long duration of Link‘s beauty sleep in Breath of Wilds, while extreme, fits perfectly into series lore!

Meanwhile…Zelda Holds Back Ganon Alone for 100 Years

Fans also long wondered whether Zelda remained in stasis too or aged over 100 years during Link‘s healing process. The common theory I subscribe to based on Zelda‘s enduring young appearance in late game memories is that her magic seal holding back Ganon also suspended her aging.

By using her inherited Goddess-blood powers fueled by spirit orbs from slain Guardians, Zelda herself seems fixed in time, fighting an endless mind-battle against a ravenous Ganon for 100 years while waiting for her Champion to Awaken. Once Link arises healed, her aging likely resumes as her spell appears broken.

While hardly an easy 100 years for either hero or princess, at long last this time of calamity ends and balance returns with their foretold victory!

So in summary, Link‘s unexpectedly long beauty sleep allowed him to shake off otherwise mortal blows taken battling nightmare Ganon himself. He naturally had bedhead after 100 years – so don‘t judge his hat hair when he wakes up! Once the fog of amnesia lifted, Link shows he remains the peerless warrior and champion Zelda remembered. And together their enduring bond leads to Calamity Ganon‘s downfall!

For true Zelda devotees like myself who relish the small story details as much as igniting bomb barrels, I hope this sheds some light on Link‘s century of recovery! Let me know what other theories, insights or loose ends you‘ve uncovered about Link‘s resurrection! May the goddess smile upon us both!