(As well as some MC: Story Mode things)
!WARNING!
THE FOLLOWING CONTAINS HEAVY SPOILERS TO MINECRAFT DUNGEONS AND MINECRAFT STORY MODE. IF YOU HAVEN'T PLAYED/WATCHED THEM, I'LL GIVE YOU TIME TO DO SO.
(As well as some MC: Story Mode things)
Hello, Internet! Welcome to Game Theory!
1. A Multiverse Exists
In Minecraft: Story Mode episodes 5 - 8, we discover that the Nether and End aren't the only dimensions; but a wide plethora of Overworld-like dimensions exist in the Portal Hall. Keep this in mind, since I'd be using this as a foundation to my theories.
2. The End Has a Deeper Meaning
In Minecraft: Story Mode, we see that the Wither Storm has some purple color-scheming. Surprisingly, that color scheme returns in the form of the Heart of Ender from Minecraft Dungeons. The Ender Dragon herself has that color scheme!
Throughout the Minecraft games, we see that The End seems to be signifying corruption. Purple itself resembles power and ambition, which sounds eerily familiar to the Orb of Dominance itself!
3. The Nameless Kingdom
Speaking of the desert, I have a theory that the Nameless Kingdom was once a part of the Ancient Builders.
Why do I have this thought? Well, take the American Revolution for an example. The Brits that lived in the 'New World' decide to rebel against the British Empire, although they are technically still British. Then, they made their nation separate from Britain, turning to the now USA.
This could be the same thing to the Nameless Kingdom. If we put the Wither Theory at play, we know that the Ancient Builders likely learned necromancy. Maybe due to some conflicts, an Ancient Builder sparked revolution, and became the now Nameless One. With their army of necromancers and control of the infectious Undead, it sparked both a war and a zombie plague, further dwindling the Ancient Builders' population and empowering the Nameless Kingdom with an ever-growing army of Undead. Even after centuries, they managed to preserve their life by turning them to Undead that can still think.
4. Old Builders
In Minecraft: Story Mode's last Season 1 episode, we encounter the Old Builders. Although they are a bit crazy and violent, it begs the question whether they are the Ancient Builders, or just direct descendants of them that can still build like crazy.
5. The Ancient Builders Created the Orb of Dominance
This is kind of explained in the opening for the Echoing Void DLC. In the cutscene, we see two Endermen searching the ruins of Highblock Castle in search of the last shard of the Orb. The shard was the biggest, and they brought it to The End. Looks like the Builders still have a mind, eh? If the Ancient Builders were the Endermen, then the Orb's origin probably traces back to the Builders. The question is: Why? However, I have another theory...
6. The Ancient Builders were Keeping It
Number 6 doesn't explain the arrival of the benevolent embodiment of the Orb: the Heart of Ender, as well as the Builders' motive for creating it. So, there could be a possibility that the Ancient Builders found it and noticed its power, so kept it somewhere.
The area where the Orb is located has deactivated Redstone Golems. In the prequel novel, Rise of the Arch-Illager, the Orb said that it "owned" the Golems. Due to the destructive strength of the Redstone Golems, the Builders might have put it there as guards, but after centuries without power, they deactivated.
The Orb itself is put on a high ledge with a bottomless pit! The question is: If they knew its power and tried to store it in a place that is hard to reach, then why do they need it to re-summon the Heart of Ender? I'll leave 5 and 6 on your own.
7. The Obsidian Monstrosity
Upon playing the Obsidian Pinnacle in Minecraft Dungeons, there is a chance for the Obsidian Monstrosity to appear. No, it's not a mob, but it still seems to be under construction. It is similar to the Redstone variant but with gold and obsidian materials. It is only missing an arm, too, with scaffolding holding the monstrosity.
It could be that when the Arch-Illager noticed the defeat of the Redstone Monstrosity from the Fiery Forge, he tried to construct a new, powerful one.
However, the heroes (players) arrived in his lair too early, stopping construction.
8. Minecraft Dungeons Arcade is in an Entirely Separate Universe
Remember when I said about a multiverse? Well, Mojang's newest and first arcade game, Minecraft Dungeons arcade, is in an ENTIRELY different universe.
You see, other than new bosses, the Obsidian Monstrosity isn't under construction: It IS activated, just after the defeat of the Redstone Monstrosity. The Obsidian Monstrosity ended up being the final boss for McD Arcade, instead of the Heart of Ender.
This means that in the McD Arcade universe, the Arch-Illager ended up succeeding in creating the Obsidian variant. The Corrupted Cauldron doesn't exist in Soggy Swamp, but replaced by an Evoker boss. This makes it clear that in this universe, the Witches never ended up creating the Cauldron.
Also, there are missions from the regular McD DLCs in the Arcade version: the Dingy Jungle and Frosted Fjord. And guess what? The respective bosses, Jungle Abomination and Wretched Wraith are there, despite the Orb not shattered yet, since we ONLY defeated the Monstrosity in Arcade, NOT the Arch-Illager and the Orb. We see that the Arch-Illager has the power to corrupt more creatures in the Arcade. This could mean that the Arch-Illager himself is the Orb of Dominance in the Arcade universe. If McD Arcade decides to add new levels, I'm sure that we'll see the other DLC bosses despite no shard.
This opens up a wild speculation on how Arcade will end. Maybe the heroes finally caught up to the Arch-Illager and the ending goes similar to the regular version.
9. Mysterious Green Energy
In Creeping Winter's secret level, the Lost Settlement, we know from the lore that a group of miners decide to mine out a mysterious energy from an iceberg. This energy produces green fire, and are seen throughout the Settlement. And dun dun dun the Creepy Crypts also has the same green torches.
AND, most surprisingly, there ARE some of that green energy in the place where the Orb is located. I think that the miners were the Builders themselves, and would make sense if the settlement was lost due to the disaster that struck the Builders and forced them to abandon it.
10. Villagers CAN Build!
If you look closely in the Overgrown Temple and the Abyssal Monument, you can see that Villager statues. This might mean that at one point, the Villagers can build. Now, how come that they lost all their knowledge of building? Well, it could be that the Villagers who built the temple were a part of the Ancient Builders. I'll explain WHY in number 13.
11. All Traces of the Ancient Builders
The Ancient Builders left some traces as to their existence. The first notable one is located in the Creeper Woods. Throughout the mission, we see many giant creeper faces and ruined structures. Since we have a theory that the Builders once again practiced on something using Creepers, it would make sense that the Creeper Woods could have been their base of operations.
The next traces are located in the DLCs. The Overgrown Temple was created as a place of worship (see number 13) with the help of Villagers. The Lost Settlement was a place to mine out the green energy within Creeping Winter's iceberg. The Gale Sanctum might have been created to power and create the Squall Golems and Tempest Golem via wind for protection. The Abyssal Monument is also a place of worship.
The Flames of the Nether DLC reveals many machinery found in the Nether Wastes, mostly made of blackstone and gold. There are even bridges and redstone lamps to guide the path in the other levels! Since we know that the Piglins aren't that advanced yet, it is safe to assume the Builders did it. The Echoing Void's final mission, Broken Citadel, is located in an End City. However, it looks more like an entire complex. Plus, there are some Emerald Pots inside the houses.
12. The Mooshroom Island
This boss is found after collecting runes in past non-DLC levels. This unlocks the... ??? (Which I'll call the Mooshroom Island) secret mission, with the Mooshroom Monstrosity as a boss. Many people thought that the Mooshroom variant was the same as the one we beat in the Fiery Forge (Redstone variant). However, we did bring the head of the Redstone Monstrosity to our camp.
So, why is a deactivated Redstone Monstrosity, now powered by mushroom spores, is left in this island?
Well, the Mooshrooms are HOSTILE in Minecraft Dungeons. My theory is that the Illagers might have used it as a testing ground for their creations. However, the Mooshrooms defended their home by fighting the Illagers. Eventually the Illagers were outnumbered and a Redstone Monstrosity was left forgotten.
13. Purpose of the Temples
The temples (Overgrown Temple, Abyssal Monument) are called that because they have a religion. Based on the patterns in the Overgrown Temple and the fact that the Jungle Abomination is located in the Sun Room makes me believe that the Builders and Villagers worship the Sun God, just like many ancient empires before (e.g. the Egyptians).
The Abyssal Monument also has similar patterns. Although they look like Guardians, they are in fact resembling the sun. This might mean that the Guardians are designed AFTER the sun pattern (the Guardians are basically robots created by the Builders to guard the Abyssal Monument).
14. Lone Fortress Theories
The Lone Fortress has tons of mysteries. It looks similar to the Highblock Halls and even its contents are similar. So, why is it that way? Well, I have two theories:
A) It could be that this was a prototype for the Highblock Castle, hence why the Arch-Illager's portrait, throne, the Illager Empire's banner, the statues, cages filled with Villagers, and a kitchen are present. In front of the Fortress, there are Enchanter statues and rarely, a Necromancer statue. These statues might mean that, during the time, the Illager Empire and Nameless Kingdom were allies. Maybe the Nameless Kingdom helped build the fortress?
Things This Theory Proves: The Enchanter and Necromancer statues, why its contents are similar
Flaws: Doesn't explain why it's abandoned, doesn't explain why the Arch-Illager's portraits are vandalized if it's long forgotten.
B) It could be that the Illagers in the Creeping Winter island like the ideology of the Arch-Illager. And they basically copycat him. Notice that the Illager Empire's banner has a red background, while the banners in the fortress have a blue background. Thus explains why the Arch-Illager's portraits are vandalised with the words "Weak" and "Foe". Because when the Orb shattered, the Arch-Illager became free from the Orb's influence and joined the good side. The Illagers are probably feeling betrayed, which explains why his paintings are vandalised.
Things This Theory Proves: The similarity of the contents, why the Arch-Illager's paintings are vandalised
Flaws: Doesn't explain the Enchanter and Necromancer statues, also doesn't explain why it's in a state of abandonment (either the Illagers are lazy. However, Highblock Castle is in good shape).
I'll leave you to decide which one fits.
15. Citadel Shrine
This one leads me to believe that the Enderman actually built it recently. The Vengeful Heart of Ender spawns here, which means that this was PURPOSEFULLY and recently created and dedicated to the Heart of Ender. Because the Citadel is abandoned, yellow grass overrun the city (the equivalent of our green grass). In the Citadel Shrine, we see NO vegetation or broken areas.
Well, that's all. Feel free if you have any thoughts on this, or your own theory.