Summary
AfterThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, there is a good argument for the Yiga clan to become recurring villains in the franchise. While their time in the series thus far has been brief, their role in the past two titles has given them enough foundation to provide something interesting in future games. While far from the only evil minions that have appeared in the series, the Yiga Clan’s uniqueness gives them an edge that could work to their advantage. AfterThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, the series can still find more purpose for the Yiga clan.
The appearance ofGanondorf’s incarnation inTears of the KingdombroughtThe Legend of Zelda’s most iconic villain back to the franchise. Although the last game featured Calamity Ganon, Ganondorf is by far the most recognizable version ofThe Legend of Zelda’s evil king. Along with Ganondorf comes his usual band of minions. Classic foes like Bokoblins and Moblins once again roam the lands of Hyrule, although Link’s improved slate of abilities gives him more ways to fight back against them than ever. Among these foes, the Yiga clan are the newest villains to emerge, and they could grow into one of the most persistent.
The Legend of Zelda Could Give the Yiga Clan a Promotion
The Yiga Clan are Ninjas in Ganon’s Service
Debuting inBreath of the Wild,The Legend of Zelda’s Yiga Clanare a group of ninjas who swear loyalty to Ganon. Originally members of the Sheikah tribe, their logo is the Sheikah eye turned upside down, representing their treacherous and antagonistic nature. ThroughoutBreath of the Wild, many people that Link encounters across Hyrule are Yiga in disguise, seeking to catch him off-guard and cut him down. Under the orders of their leader, Master Kohga, the Yiga act as a more organized form of Ganon’s forces. They’re better trained than typical monsters, making them intimidating despite their personality quirks.
The Yiga Have More Character than Ganon’s Usual Minions
The Yiga Clan could become enemies on par with some ofThe Legend of Zelda’s classic bossesif they become recurring foes. They already have intimidating outfits and a strong theme, and future games can expand on that. For example, future appearances by the Yiga could give them more ways to ambush Link, or give them more tech similar to what was seen from the Sheikah. Not to mention, since they have more personality than Ganon’s typical monsters, they could be used to further stories in their own right, adding more complexity to the characters and plans that Link will have to thwart during his adventure.
The Clash Between Yiga and Sheikah Deserves More Attention
The continued presence of the Yiga would be a virtual necessity for the series ifThe Legend of Zelda’s Sheikah revivalcontinues afterTears of the Kingdom. The clash between the Sheikah and Yiga is still fresh ground, and there are plenty of stories left to be told regarding it. There are enough breadcrumbs for an entire subplot about a battle between the Sheikah and Yiga if the developers see fit. Since lore has always been a strong suit for the series, the next game could certainly raise the stakes for such a battle, and position the Yiga as a serious threat for Link to overcome once again.
The Yiga Clan could become enemies on par with some ofThe Legend of Zelda’s classic bosses if they become recurring foes.
The Yiga are far too intriguing a faction to be left behind afterTears of the Kingdom’s conclusion. Adeeper dive intoZelda’s Yiga clancould lead to an enthralling campaign, as well as some new dynamics to explore. Even if they don’t get major story focus, featuring the Yiga as a scarily human force supporting Ganon would add plenty of tension to the next game.Tears of the Kingdomshouldn’t be the last players see of the Yiga Clan.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
WHERE TO PLAY
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is the sequel to the beloved open-world adventure, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. This installment once again sees Link and Zelda battling to protect Hyrule from falling to Ganondorf. This new adventure takes place in the same land of Hyrule as Breath of the Wild but sees something called the Upheaval, which allows link to travel to Sky Islands, as well as deep into the Depths beneath Hyrule. Players can use special abilities to fuse together weapons, and build items to help them progress through the release.
