Malice in The Legend of Zelda is a manifestation of pure evil, but interestingly enough, Breath of the Wild is not the first time that such a concept has appeared in the franchise. In BOTW, the substance is a hazardous obstacle, injuring Link with the slightest contact. However, an earlier Zelda item with similar properties can be put to a far more noble use.
As the name suggests, BOTW’s Malice is an oozing, sludge-like substance formed by Calamity Ganon’s malicious power. It has been seen to form eyes and mouths, and can even spawn monsters. In addition, Malice has also been featured in trailers for the upcoming Tears of the Kingdom, where Ganondorf is shown to attack Link with it. As such, it could be said that Malice is an extension of Ganon’s will in some way, embodying his hatred and bringing dire threats to Hyrule. This would explain why Malice is seen forming the bodies of the Blights, as well as that of Calamity Ganon himself.
Skyward Sword Has Its Own Form Of Malice
In Skyward Sword, Link is able to find items known as Evil Crystals. According to their item description, these crystals are made of “pure, crystallized monster malice.” With the use of the word "malice," which forms a clear connection to BOTW, this description suggests that the Evil Crystals may be a more stable form of the same substance. This similarly implies that Ganondorf, although appearing as a Gerudo in Zelda, has lost any real connection to humanity; even in his humanoid form he now produces vast amounts of Malice, hinting towards his true monstrous nature. Although with that being said, Skyward Sword also shows that monster malice can be used for good.
Zelda’s Evil Crystals Show Malice In A Useful Light
Evil Crystals are a form of treasure in Skyward Sword. But despite the clearly indicated nature of these crystals, this version of a monster’s malice can nevertheless be used to reliably empower the tools of Hyrule’s hero. Link can use Evil Crystals to upgrade some of his items at Gondo’s Scrap Shop, more specifically the Bug Net and Bow, with no ill effects. Of course, items in Tears of the Kingdom are highly unlikely to benefit in the same way, given the corrosive nature of Malice. However, it is interesting to see how Evil Crystals can be likened to BOTW’s dark magic.
Another significant point of comparison is the fact that Evil Crystals are dropped by Cursed Bokoblins and Dark Keese, two enemies which are capable of cursing Link. This prevents him from using his items, including his sword. This is notable, as the source of Malice in BOTW is undoubtedly Ganon, who is himself the product of a curse. Namely, Demise's curse, the origin of which is depicted during the ending of Skyward Sword. This creates an intriguing parallel between the origins of Evil Crystals and Malice, which further raises the possibility of the two being related.
It seems that Skyward Sword’s Evil Crystals are essentially the same material as Malice, although the latter is far more malignant. Perhaps the more potent magic of Ganon is the cause, creating deadly Malice while the maliciousness of lesser monsters (in the form of Evil Crystals) can be safely repurposed, similar to BOTW's own upgrades and elixirs. Although it is only gaining prominence now, it seems that magical malice has always been a physical presence in Hyrule. Malice will undoubtedly continue to be a potent weapon for Ganondorf in Tears of the Kingdom, as in BOTW before it - a far cry from its ancient equivalent in The Legend of Zelda.
Source: Nintendo of America/YouTube