Agahnim

Aganhim in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Agahnim
Species	Hylian (?)
Debut	The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

Agahnim was an evil wizard who appeared as one of the main antagonists of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. However, later in the game he was revealed to be the alter-ego of Ganon.

Background

A Link to the Past

Following a prosperous age, Hyrule began to fall into ruin. Several disasters had began to befall the land, but all this ceased upon the arrival of Agahnim. Using his power he brought Hyrule back into prosperity and was made the Royal Advisor. All was well until he began kidnapping the descendants of the sages one by one. Soon enough the King himself had vanished. The soldiers began acting strangely and it appeared Agahnim was now in control.

This was exactly the truth. He had completely taken over Hyrule Castle and was sending the seven maidens (including Zelda) into the Dark World, one by one. He had nearly completed his task when Link rescued Zelda and hid her away in the Sanctuary. Soon enough, however, Agahnim tracked the princess down and had her brought back. Shortly after sending Zelda away, Link arrived in Agahnim's chambers. The wizard teleported into the room behind him. When Link followed, Agahnim decided to exterminate him. Using the Master Sword, Link repelled Agahnim's attacks at him. Rather than accept defeat, Agahnim drew Link into the Dark World and vanished.

After Link had rescued the seven crystalized maidens, he climbed Ganon's Tower (Agahnim's Tower in the original ALttP) to face the wizard. Although his attack was the same, this time Agahnim created two shadow versions of himself capable of attacking. Link was able to defeat Agahnim. It was revealed at this point that Agahnim was in fact the alter-ego for Ganon, who transformed into a bat and fled to the Pyramid of Power.

Other Games

In Link's Awakening, the second form that Dethl, the Final Nightmare, took was that of Agahnim. He was composed entirely out of shadow and fought identically to his A Link to the Past counterpart.

Agahnim made a small appearance in Oracle of Seasons as a mini-boss in the Dancing Dragon Dungeon. His attack was a bit different, but once again he came with two shadow versions of himself. The only way to tell the difference was to light the lanterns in the room so that the real Agahnim's shadow would become visible. He fired energy balls that could not be repelled, but simple sword attacks were enough to harm him.

Gameplay

A Link to the Past

Agahnim fights by throwing energy balls at his opponent, using a technique that would be repeated by characters like Phantom Ganon and Ganondorf in later games. These energy balls can only be deflected by using the Master Sword, or as an easter egg, the Bug Catching Net.

Agahnim will also sometimes throw a group of four balls that can't be reflected, as well as a concentrated bolt of lightning that effects most of the screen Link is on. In Agahnim's second battle, he creates two transparent clones who cannot be hurt by reflected beams - however any of their energy balls can be deflected back at the real Agahnim.

Link's Awakening

The Final Nightmare takes this form second. He fights identically to his version in A Link the Past, but does not use the lightning attack or his two phantom forms.

Oracle of Seasons

Agahnim fights differently this time and now has three phantom clones of himself. The only way to tell who the real one is to light the torches in the room and look for his shadow. His energy beams this time cannot be deflected, but he is vulnerable to simple sword attacks so long as the real Agahnim is being attacked.

Other Appearances

Video Games

• In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Aagahnim appeared as an Advanced Primary Spirit who also boosted magical attack power. When fought as a Spirit, his Spirit possessed two copies of Robin who mostly utilized magical attacks. However, reflective attacks were also enhanced during the battle, in order to replicate Aganhim being defeated by his own magic blasts being reflected back at him.

Trivia

• Agahnim's attack pattern from A Link to the Past and the method of bouncing his energy balls back at him s the first occurrence of what would later be dubbed 'dead man's volley' in Phantom Hourglass. This type of battle would be repeated by various bosses throughout the series, most commonly by Ganondorf/Ganon and Phantom Ganon.
• In A Link to the Past, his energy balls could be repelled by swinging the Bug-Catching Net, as well as the Master Sword. This also became a running gag in which mundane items such as the Bug-Catching Net, Empty Bottles or fishing rod could be used to help in final battles.