Character Sheet: Wild Impa

WILD IMPA

Today, we begin the third (and probably last) big character haul of the Zelda series, assuming the Tingle and CDi games, the remakes, the animated series, and the comics don't add in anything too drastic. Our list covers twenty-eight familiar faces, and they are:

1. Linkle

2. The Youth

3. Wild Zelda

4. Wild Impa

5. Twili Midna

6. Lana

7. Darmani

8. Yunobo

9. Mikau

10. Sidon

11. Teba

12. Riju

13. Hestu

14. Epona

15. Tingle

16. Agitha

17. Purah & Robbie

18. Yves

19. Terrako

20. King Rhoam

21. Wild Fairies

22. Monk Maz Koshia

23. Cia

24. Astor

25. Volga

26. Wizzro

27. Manhandla

28. Sooga

My favorite version of my favorite Zelda character. Let's do this. Impa only appears as an old woman in the original Breath of the Wild game, telling you the story of what happened a hundred years before, and yet, frustratingly, never even showing up in any of the flashbacks. Age of Calamity remedied all of that though, introducing us to the young version of Impa, best friend and bodyguard to the princess, who has a moveset far more akin to the ninjas of Naruto than the more real world-based moveset of her regular series counterpart.

Among her various moves, she can throw her hat as a projectile, disappear and teleport, unleash a series of quick cuts, lay down explosive seals, create a number of shadow clones of herself, light off fireworks, fly around with a glider, stun foes with the Sheikah eye, and ride around on a giant toad, all of which have their roots mostly in the folklore surrounding ninjas, just like Naruto, so I imagine it's more of a "pulling from the same place" sort of thing rather than banking on the anime's popularity. Or both. Both is good.

Here's what we've got so far:

Standard B: Shadow Clones

She will cause two shadow clones of herself to appear and follow her around, mimicking her movements. They will last for as long as they survive, though they are incredibly weak to attack.

Side B: Quick Cuts

One of my favorite moves of hers, she will dash forward super-fast, leaving her hat behind still floating in the air, fire off a bunch of quick cuts, and then return to her starting position in time to catch her hat again.

Up B: Sheikah Teleportation

She will disappear in a burst of papers with katakana on them, and then reappear much higher in the air.

Down B: Fireworks

She will set three fireworks that will then fire off in different directions and explode upon impact.

Final Smash: Giant Toad

Like the great sage Jiraiya and the hero he was based on, Impa will summon up her giant toad that will hop around across the stage and squish the various opponents.

Entrance: She will float down with her full-body glider.

Taunts: Up, she will hold herself in a meditative position and perform hand symbols. Side, she will switch her hat from her head to her back and vice versa (this will remain in place until you press it again). Down, she will kneel down in the ninja-style way.

Thanks for reading! Next up, the tall, humanoid original version of Midna.