The Yiga Clan (イーガ団, Yiga Team) are a group of recurring enemies from The Legend of Zelda series — more specifically the games Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, as well as the spin-off Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity.
A Mii Fighter Costume modelled after the uniform of the Yiga Footsoldiers was made available as a part of the base game for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Character description[]
The crest of the Yiga Clan
The Yiga Clan are a rebellious sect of the Sheikah that have sworn allegiance to Calamity Ganon, which is emphasized by their emblem — an upside down Sheikah crest. Their insurrection was an indirect cause of the first Great Calamity ten thousand years prior, when the King saw the Sheikah's technological advancements as a threat, and thus exiled them; while others ended their research to live normal lives, others formed a militant group due to the grudge they harbored against the King, which would later become the Yiga Clan as they felt that the second Calamity was inevitable. They are lead by the ruthless but lethargic Master Kohga and mainly consist of Footsoldiers and Blademasters, who work to steal supplies and information from the Gerudo Tribe on the whereabouts of the Hero of the Wilds as well as the heirlooms of the Champions that can resurrect Calamity Ganon.
A Yiga Blademaster in Breath of the Wild
After hearing of Link's awakening in Breath of the Wild, the Clan try to kill him at every turn, even going as far as disguising themselves as traveling merchants in the hopes of catching him in a surprise attack. Eventually, Link meets Master Kohga at the Yiga Clan Hideout. He will challenge Link to a duel, but is ultimately defeated; in a last ditch attempt, Master Kohga uses the last of his strength to perform a "secret technique", only for it to backfire and cause him to fall into a pit. Tears of the Kingdom reveals that not only did Master Kohga survive the fall and land in Hyrule's Depths, but he has also been commanding the Clan to explore the underground network to search for ancient Zonai technology in the hopes of creating an ultimate weapon to defeat Link and Zelda as revenge as well as gain favor with the revived Ganondorf. Link battles Kohga and his lackeys four times throughout the game, each in the four abandoned mines, and they will utilize a different weaponized vehicle in each fight. He manages to complete his Zonai Construct by the time of their final confrontation, but Link still easily defeats him and destroys the weapon in the process; however, in yet another last act of desperation, Master Kohga attempts to kill him with his new Kohga Rocket, but it backfires and sends him flying away as he vows to exact his revenge again.
Master Kohga in Breath of the Wild
Master Kohga and the Yiga Clan are also present in the alternate timeline introduced in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, where they attempt to turn the Gerudo against Zelda and the Champions, but are thwarted. Later, Master Kohga's second-in-command Sooga tries to assassinate the princess, but Link is able to defeat him. In Chapter 4, after Link activates the Sheikah Towers, the hideout is exposed, allowing the Hylian forces to attack them and forcing them to flee. In Chapter 5, the prophet Astor is revealed to be harvesting the souls of Clan members to resurrect the Ganon Blights. This ultimately forces Master Kohga to end his hatred against the King and join forces with him to stop Calamity Ganon and to avenge the fallen members.
In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[]
Mii Fighter Costume[]
A costume for the Mii Swordfighter modeled after the Footsoldiers' uniform is available in the base game and must be acquired separately in the Shop; the mask is available for 900G, while the outfit is 1200G. The outfit is also dependent on the Mii's body type.
The sword it uses is the Vicious Sickle, the weapon of choice for Yiga Footsoldiers (alongside the Duplex Bow and Demon Carver). Though great for delivering injuries to the target, it has very low durability. It cannot burn, will sink in water, and can be attracted by the Magnesis Rune, as well as attract lightning during a storm if Link has equipped it.
Spirit[]
A Spirit of Master Kohga was added into the game as part of the "Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity" in-game event. It is a Primary Attack Spirit under the Advanced class. His Spirit Battle uses King K. Rool, who is assisted by a giant Mii Swordfighter in the Yiga Clan costume, who is meant to represent Sooga. Only Banana Peels will spawn, referencing the Clan's obsession with Mighty Bananas. The stage is the Battlefield Form of Suzaku Castle, meant to represent the Yiga Clan Hideout, and the song is "Woodlands - The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes". Only King K. Rool must be defeated to win.
| No. | Spirit | Name | Artwork Origin | Type | Rating | Effect | Slots |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1455 | 
|
Master Kohga | Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity | 
|
★★ | Weight ↑ | 1 |
Trivia[]
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the first game to make a visual distinction between male and female footsoldier uniforms.
