Summary
InThe Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, the dying Demon King Demise cursed the first Link that appeared in the veryconvolutedZeldatimeline. Demise’s distaste for the hero was so powerful that he swore their battle would never end; every reincarnation was destined to fight in every lifetime. He cursed not only Link, but also anyone who carried the blood of the Goddess Hylia. Because of this, Link, Zelda, and Ganon are seen in nearly all the main title games, with the hero and the princess always opposing the antagonist Ganon. While Link, Zelda, and Ganon are the most popular repeated characters in the franchise by far, there is another recurring character that is just as integral toThe Legend of Zeldaas the trio.
Impa has made an appearance in nine mainLegend of Zeldagames. She is typically depicted as an elderly Sheikah woman with gray hair. It is theorized that these Impas are not reincarnations of each other, but rather that Impa is a popular name passed down through the family lineage. While Impa’s role varies from game to game, she is always a symbol of support to Princess Zelda and a trustworthy guide to Link, whether she’s wielding blue magic or simply pointing the way to the enemy.
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S Tier
Skyward Sword: Handpicked by the Goddess Hylia, Impa shines brilliantly as Zelda’s brave and loyal bodyguard. When Zelda, bearing the Spirit of Hylia, falls from Skyloft to the previously forbidden surface and is hunted by dark forces, Impa proves herself to be more than capable of defending Zelda. She faces the flamboyant Demon Lord Ghirahim, summoning powerful force fields and blasts of blue light in order to protect the reborn goddess. While safely escorting Zelda between the past and present, the two form a tight bond, proving to be one of the most touchingrelationships withinThe Legend of Zelda.
Simultaneously, the elder version of Impa acts as a voice of guidance to Link as he prepares to battle Demise. After advising him how to strengthen theGoddess Sword, later known as the Master Sword, and preparing him to defeat Ghirahim, Impa watches over the status of the Sealed Grounds. Impa inSkyward Swordis undoubtedly an anchor and her calculated efforts definitely made things harder for Ghirahim and the Demon King Demise.
Ocarina of Time: Released in 1998,The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Timewas the first game to situate Impa in a powerful, unmistakably important role. She was not just Princess Zelda’s nursemaid, as she always appeared to be in previous games. Similar toSkyward Sword, Impa was instead Zelda’s fierce protector.
When Ganondorf set aflame the Hyrule Kingdom, Impa was the one who guarded Princess Zelda and led her to safety. In the seven years that Link slept, Impa taught Zelda the ways of the Sheikah, resulting inSheik, Princess Zelda’s disguised identityduring Ganondorf’s reign. Impa was also instrumental in defeating Ganondorf. As the Sage of Shadows, she was one of seven sages who gathered to successfully seal him away. Notably, Impa was also the one to teach Link the iconic Zelda’s Lullaby.
A Tier
Tears of the Kingdom:Impa was no longer the stationary leader of Kakariko Village seen inThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. After trusting her granddaughter Paya to lead, Impa is seen in several locations throughout Hyrule, spearheading research on the mysteriousgeoglyphs inTears of the Kingdom. Because of her investigation, Link is able to uncover what happened to Princess Zelda after she fell into the Depths, the origins of the first king of Hyrule, and the exact events of the Imprisoning War.
Breath of the Wild: After awakening to a changed world with no memory, Link finally stumbles across an elderly Impa, who is happy to see an old friend. Given Link’s failed recollection of her, Impa here acts as an expository vehicle to explain what had happened while Link was in the Shrine of Resurrection.
While she may not be as adventurous as she is in the sequel or a physical means of reckoning as she was inSkyward Sword, Impa’s determination and intelligence level her as a trustworthy source of knowledge for the duration of Link’s quest. It’s also noteworthy to remember Impa was alive and on the front lines of the battle whenCalamity Ganonfirst awakened. She lived long enough to see Link reawaken after one hundred years and, in the meantime, maintained the title of chief of Kakariko Villiage.
B Tier
Oracle Of Seasons/Oracle Of Ages:Like many other games, this version of Impa is Princess Zelda’s nursemaid. InSeasons, she goes on the offense, not the defense, by disguising herself as a cook for the Troupe of Performers in order to stay close to Din (a dancer, not to be confused withDin, one of the Golden Goddesses). Unluckily, Din is captured despite Impa’s efforts.
InAges,after Link rescues her from Octoroks, one of the manyenemies within theZeldafranchise,Impa tells him she was sent by Princess Zelda to find a kidnapped Nayru and bring her back to Hyrule. It is later revealed the sinister Sorceress of Shadows, Veran, was controlling Impa to find Nayru for herself. Once Impa regains control, she gifts Link a sword and tells him he is the hero who will save Hyrule.
This Impa may not always be successful in her endeavors, but she deserves some credit for her attempts. She doesn’t leave all the action to Link and is determined to help in any way she can to bring peace to the land.
C Tier
A Link Between Worlds:With long purple hair, this Impa stands out among other silver or blonde-haired renditions of the character. Although Impa is recognized once again as one of manypowerful sages withinZelda, she, unfortunately, has very little agency to showcase her powers. She spends most of the game imprisoned in a piece of art by the evil sorcerer Yuga.
After being freed, Impa and the other Sages summon the Triforce of Courage, allowing Link to win against Yuga Ganon. While Impa’s actions ensure Link’s victory, Impa simply does not shine as valiantly in this game compared to her depictions in other games.
The Legend of Zelda:Because the 1986 game was released before cutscenes were utilized within games, Impa is only found in the game’s manual. The only visuals of this version of Impa are seen in the official artwork. Regardless, she plays a significant role here by alerting Link of Ganon’s attack on Hyrule after Princess Zelda ordered Impa to flee and seek aid. Impa is eventually captured by Ganon’s forces, but after Link saves her, she informs him of the evil at hand and sets him on his journey to retrieve theTriforce of Wisdomto take down Ganon.
The Adventure Of Link:Again, Impa prepares Link for his quest to save Princess Zelda. After a Triforce appears on Link’s hand on his sixteenth birthday, he seeks Impa, Princess Zelda’s nursemaid, for help. Recognizing the symbol, she urges Link to fetch the Triforce of Courage to awaken Princess Zelda, who is currently under a sleeping spell after refusing to give up information about the Triforce to a magician once close to the lateking of Hyrule. It’s unfortunate Impa is not utilized within the actual game, only the manual, given the knowledge she seems to possess about the history of the royal family and the all-powerful Triforce seen so frequently inThe Legend of Zelda.
