A user on Reddit recently asked who created the first 50 headsets:
- Reddit question.
- reddit_heads_question.png (68.52 KiB) Viewed 161 times
The first 50 headsets were actually divided into two categories:
- Game-character headsets – built-in archetypal characters included with the game
- Player headsets – custom heads created for players to wear
A significant portion of early Zelda Online and Graal-era headsets were not entirely original illustrations, but recolors, edits, or slight modifications of existing heads. This was common practice during the era due to the collaborative and iterative nature of the early sprite community.
Because of this, many of the earliest “new” headsets were actually derived from earlier bases through palette swaps, hairstyle changes, eye edits, accessory additions, or minor structural modifications. To better preserve historical accuracy, recolors and derivative variants have been separated into their own categories where possible.
The game-character headsets were originally intended to function as selectable “archetypes.” The image below shows the final incarnation of these game characters, spanning v1.1 through v1.2—from the official Gold release of heads 0–22 to the final full archetypal set of heads 0–29.
- Heads 0 - 29 Character Names (final classic official headsconfig.txt).
- head0_to_29_chars.png (587.45 KiB) Viewed 114 times
- The first influx of "custom player headsets".
- graal12_headsets.png (421 KiB) Viewed 161 times
Graal 1.1 refers to the first full version of Graal released out of beta. This was also the version in which Graal Gold was released, considered the official “Full Story” mode of the game.
Graal 1.2, however, marked the first major influx of custom player-created content. This version introduced the first pack of what became known as player headsets.
The Original Headsets (0–22)
The original headsets were numbered 0–22 and were contained in a single spritesheet.
- Graal Gold headset spritesheet.
- heads.gif (90.47 KiB) Viewed 161 times
In version 1.2, the first wave of custom headsets appeared. These were numbered beginning at head100 and beyond.
Meanwhile, a small selection of additional headsets numbered 23–29 were added as new generic “archetypal character” heads and appended to the original set.
Importantly, there were no heads numbered 30–99 at this time.
Instead, the newly introduced 100+ series represented what were considered custom player heads, even though many of them were still freely available for anyone to use.
Clocking the First “Headfill Gap”
By sorting version 1.2.8beta headsets in the Graal 1Go/Apps/Clients/Main/v1/graal128beta2/graal128/levels/heads folder, from Viper's extended Mongerz Ultimate Graal Leaks pack — we observe the “archetypal characters” being deprecated.
The experimental gap reserved for “archetypal characters” had been abandoned, and began to become populated. Notice in the following image how headsets begin populating beginning at headset numbered 30, then approaching 99.
The “headfill gap” shift occurred after headset 238. Although the modified dates of compilation preserved in the reference image are shown in version 1.2.8beta2's archive, the actual deprecation of the “headfill gap” began in version 1.2.7.
- Headfill Gap Observed in Archives
- headfillgap_128beta.png (303.37 KiB) Viewed 77 times
Because of the numbering gap, the first 50 headsets are actually split across two ranges:
- Head 0–29 (game-character archetypes)
- Head 100–119 (first player headsets)
However, the goal here is to identify and credit the original artists wherever authorship can be confirmed.
Known Credits (So Far)
First Player Headsets
Head1 – Nick, by Mandi or Nick
Head2 – Mandi, by Mandi or Nick
Head22 – PACHUKA, by PACHUKA • modified from 
Head16
Head100 – Captain USA, by Captain USA • the 16th foundational headset, excluding mods
Head104 – Antago, by Antago • the 20th foundational headset, excluding mods
Head0 – Fung Si Yan, by Unknown
Head3 – Bad Max, by Nintendo (Hyrulean guard from Zelda 3, modified by Stefan)
Head4 – Pachukite, by PACHUKA
Head6 – Dino, based on Yoshi from Mario, likely created by Alexander Yoshi of Yoshi Clan
Head7 – Brendan, by Unknown
Head8 – Athena, by Unknown
Head10 – Zoraas, by Unknown
Head11 – Raven, by Unknown
Head12 – Joe, by Unknown- Head16 – Neo Knight, by Unknown
Head18 – Adventurer, by Unknown
Head19 – Ninji Knight, by Unknown
Head21 – ?, by Unknown
Head23 – Dragoon, by Unknown
Head24 – Lunar, by Unknown
Head26 – Vincent, by Unknown
Head28 – Terra, by Unknown
- PACHUKA claims he created Head4
- pachuka_headset_sms_sm.jpg (75.98 KiB) Viewed 158 times
- Nick claims "Nick & Mandi" credit for Head9, cited on PACHUKA's emucult tripod website archive.
- emucult_nick_head.png (99.58 KiB) Viewed 161 times
Head9 – Bob, modified from Head1 (see hair, side view 
)
Head17 – Thief, modified from Head1, likely by Mandi or Nick (see hair, side view 
)
Head20 – Fire, recolor of Head3 with face modification
Head25 – Judge, heavily modified from Head16 (see side & back views 
)
Head29 – Squall, modified from Head16 (see helmet, side view 
)
Head5 – Blond, recolor of Head1
Head13 – Old Man, recolor of Head1 with a beard
Head14 – Slade, recolor of Head10 with reduced fish-tail
Head15 – Azraelite, recolor of Head4
Head27 – Silver, recolor of Head20 with slight modification
Head101 – recolor of Head27
Head102 – recolor of Head26
Head103 – recolor of Head6
- PACHUKA claims Azrael copied him.
- Screenshot 2026-05-11 at 9.10.09 PM.png (423.85 KiB) Viewed 49 times
- Azrael lies about stealing from PACHUKA 27 years later.
- azrael_lies_about_stealing.png (386.36 KiB) Viewed 49 times