The Imprisoned

The Imprisoned is a recurring Boss and character in The Legend of Zelda series.^[1]^{[name reference needed]} It is Demise rendered in beast form due to the seal placed upon him by the goddess Hylia.^[2]

Characteristics

Skyward Sword

The Imprisoned is a massive beast with three rows of teeth and large black scales across its body that have red detailing. It has black flame-like spines across its back, and four large white appendages on each of its feet that resemble toes.

In the present era, Zelda uses the Gate of Time in order to return to the time where Demise was recently sealed. Entering an age-long sleep to sustain her mortal body, she managed to keep the seal intact until, thousands of years later, The Imprisoned grows strong enough to overcome it. He is driven back three times, initially by Link alone and later with Groose's help. In each instance, Link must topple The Imprisoned over and drive the sealing spike back into its forehead, and finally deliver a Skyward Strike to the spike to reset the seal.

Eventually, Link manages to acquire the complete Triforce, and wishes for the eradication of Demise. With Demise gone, Zelda awakes, since the seal she was sustaining was no longer necessary. At this point however, Ghirahim intervenes, capturing Zelda and bringing her to the past, where his master could still be revived. Despite his subsequent defeat by Link's hands, the ritual Ghirahim had begun to perform is completed, restoring Demise to his previous form.

The first time the beast escapes its seal, it only has two legs. The second time it gains arms, which also have white appendages, and tries to climb up to the Sealed Temple. During the third battle, it has a tail and can fly by releasing a large, floating black halo from its back which carries it through the air.

In all three battles, the general strategy for The Imprisoned is to destroy all eight of the appendages on its feet, causing it to fall down, then drive the Sealing Spike into its head. Link can also get a level above The Imprisoned then jump on its head and attack the Sealing Spike. However, The Imprisoned will throw Link off its head if he is too slow, forcing the hero to try once more. Despite this, the spike will retain its current depth. Driving the Sealing Spike into The Imprisoned's head three times will cause the beast to explode and be absorbed into the spike which will plummet back down to the original location. Link must then use a Skyward Strike onto the seal and follow a pattern to complete the seal.

During the second and third battle, Link will be accompanied by Groose who has built a machine, the Groosenator. Link can use the Groosenator to prevent The Imprisoned from climbing up the slopes of the pit, and also to stun him if The Imprisoned gets too far ahead or unapproachable. In the third battle, when The Imprisoned takes flight, a hit from the Groosenator will knock him back down to earth. However, the earthquake blocks Groose's stash of Bombs, so Groose must fling Link onto The Imprisoned's head.

If The Imprisoned manages to reach the Sealed Temple, Link receives a Game Over.^[3]

Other Appearances

Non-Canon Information

Hyrule Warriors

The Imprisoned from Hyrule Warriors

The Imprisoned appears as a giant boss in several Legend Mode Stages and Adventure Mode Battles in Hyrule Warriors. In Legend Mode, it appears as a boss in the Scenarios "Sealed Ambition" and "The Demon Lord".

The Imprisoned appears identical to how it appeared in Skyward Sword, and is fought the same way. The Imprisoned will stomp around the battlefield, and occasionally sends red shock waves pulsating from its feet or as a brief force field that attempts to strike down opponents. Its eight toes must be attacked and destroyed, which will knock The Imprisoned down and expose its Weak Point Gauge. Unlike its previous incarnation from Skyward Sword, its entire body becomes vulnerable in this stage. It eventually regains mobility and slithers around in a rampage before eventually getting back up onto its feet again. At about half health, The Imprisoned's steps gain an electric shock wave, and it will sometimes make a smaller, quicker step after three normal steps. In "Sealed Ambition", The Imprisoned gains an additional strategy when it reaches key Keeps. It will fly up into the air using its black halo and attack the Keep. The Warrior must then activate the Groosenators within these Keeps to knock it down, damaging it and exposing its Weak Point Gauge. Failing to do so will allow The Imprisoned to destroy the Keep.

In Hyrule Warriors Legends, during the Linkle's Tale Scenario, "The Demon Lord's Plan", Ghirahim attempts many times to summon The Imprisoned but, due to the fact that his forces have not completely taken over the Sealed Grounds map, the ritual continues to fail and only summons small, weaker versions of the Imprisoned randomly around the map.

Additionally, in Hyrule Warriors Legends, a Warrior can unleash their Focus Spirit Attack on The Imprisoned to expose its Weak Point Gauge when it's rampaging on its stomach instead of waiting for it to stand up. If it's knocked down from a Focus Spirit Attack while still having its toes, destroying the toes will drain the Weak Point Gauge faster. Focus Spirit Attacks do not have this effect in Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition.

The Imprisoned will occasionally drop The Imprisoned's Scales Silver Material when defeated, and rarely The Imprisoned's Pillar Gold Material.

Smaller, weaker versions also appear in certain Adventure Mode stages that act as Captains. They possess a laser beam attack which exposes their Weak Point Gauge afterwards. They can be attacked normally, and do not drop Materials except in Hyrule Warriors Legends.

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, The Imprisoned appears as a Trophy.

#	Trophy	Appears in	Description	How to unlock
#		Appears in	Description	How to unlock
226	N/A	Skyward Sword	Long ago, the demonic king Demise was sealed away by the goddess Hylia, but he awakens once more with the appearance of the Gate of Time. Perhaps because of the incomplete nature of his awakening, he takes this nightmarish form, sprouting more limbs and appendages every time he breaks through the seal that binds him.	Random
226	The Imprisoned	Skyward Sword		Random

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

The Imprisoned appears as an Advanced Primary Spirit in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. The Imprisoned's Spirit Battle involves a fight against a black-colored Giant King K. Rool alongside his hostile Ghirahim Assist Trophies. The conditions of The Imprisoned's Spirit Battle dictate that the enemy Fighter has increased defense at the cost of speed, the Battle is a Timed Stamina Battle, and hostile Assist Trophies will come to Giant King K. Rool's aid.

Nomenclature

Names in other regions
Language		Name	Meaning
	French^EU	Le Banni ^(SS)^[4]	The Banished
	German	Der Verbannte ^{(SS \| HWDE)}^[5]	The Banished
This table was generated using translation pages. To request an addition, please contact a staff member with a reference.

Gallery

The Imprisoned's first form from Skyward Sword
The Imprisoned's second form from Skyward Sword
The Imprisoned's third form without its halo from Skyward Sword
The Imprisoned's third form from Skyward Sword
The Imprisoned during Link's dream from Skyward Sword
The full, original seal on The Imprisoned from Skyward Sword
The emblem of the second seal from Skyward Sword
The emblem of the third seal from Skyward Sword
The emblem of the fourth seal from Skyward Sword
Concept art of The Imprisoned's first form from Skyward Sword
Concept art of The Imprisoned's second form from Skyward Sword
Concept art of The Imprisoned's third form from Skyward Sword
The Imprisoned portrait from Hyrule Warriors
The Dark Imprisoned portrait from Hyrule Warriors
The Dark Imprisoned Mini-Map icon from Hyrule Warriors
The Imprisoned Adventure Mode icon from Hyrule Warriors
The Imprisoned's Spirit Battle selection screen from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

References

↑ Encyclopedia, Dark Horse Books, pg. 186 ^(SS)
↑ "Stripped of his true physical form by the seal that binds him, he takes the shape of an abomination. But even in his hideous state, he's more than capable of devouring this land if we allow him to do what he desires." — Zelda (Skyward Sword)
↑ "It's too late! All... All is lost." — Impa (Skyward Sword)
↑ Hyrule Historia (Les Éditions Soleil) pg. 17 ^(SS)
↑ "Der Verbannte" — Battlefield Info (Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition)

Bosses in The Legend of Zelda series

The Legend of Zelda

Aquamentus · Dodongo · Manhandla · Gleeok · Digdogger · Gohma · Patra · Ganon

Characters	Batreaux · Bellum · Calamity Ganon · Cole · Demise · Devilish Girl · Ganon · Ghirahim · Malladus · Nightmare · Shadow Link · The Imprisoned · Uncle Rupee · Vaati · Veran · Yuga · Yuga Ganon
Bosses	Bellum · Blind the Thief · Calamity Ganon · Cole · Demise · Ganon · Ghirahim · Malladus · Nightmare · Shadow Link · Skeldritch · The Imprisoned · Uncle Rupee · Vaati · Veran · Yuga · Yuga Ganon
Enemies	Acheman · Boomerang Demon · Dark Keese · Shadow Link · Vire
Other	Demon

Zelda Wiki

The Imprisoned

Characteristics

Skyward Sword

Other Appearances

Hyrule Warriors

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Nomenclature

Gallery

See Also

References

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