Agahnim is the powerful evil wizard who serves as the secondary antagonist of A Link to the Past.[2][name references needed] Agahnim goes unnamed in A Link Between Worlds. He kidnaps the Seven Maidens to break the seal to the Dark World and achieve his goal. While many believe him to be an apprentice of Ganon, he is revealed to be actually the villain's alter-ego.
When Hyrule became besieged by an onslaught of terrible misfortunes, the King of Hyrule offered a reward to anyone who could put an end to these disasters. A mysterious stranger named Agahnim came and put an end to these troubles with a previously unknown magic.[3][4] He was declared a hero and given the prestigious positions of chief advisor to the King and heir to the Seven Sages.[5] Agahnim used this position and his mysterious magic to brainwash all of Hyrule's Soldiers,[6] depose the King of Hyrule,[7] and make six of the Maidens, descendant of the Seven Sages, disappear to the Dark World.[8][9]
After being rescued by Link, Zelda, the remaining last of the descendants, hides in the Sanctuary until Agahnim's troops find her and take her to the tower at the top of Hyrule Castle. There, Agahnim sends her to the Dark World before Link could stop him, thus breaking the Seal of the Seven Sages. He gloats that nothing can stop him now, because the Tribe of Evil is armed with the Triforce, and that evil and darkness will soon overrun the Light World.[10] With this, he seemingly vanishes, but Link is able to quickly discover his whereabouts by slicing open a curtain and revealing a hidden chamber where he duels the Dark Wizard, turning his own magic against him. But before Link can soundly defeat him, Agahnim draws him into the Dark World. During his quest to rescue the Seven Maidens, Link learns that Agahnim is a servant, or perhaps a pawn, of Ganon.[11]
When Link defeats Agahnim a second time at the top of Ganon's Tower, he collapses dead, and from his body a faint image of Ganon himself appears. The image turns into a bat and flees to the Pyramid of Power. At the start of the final battle, Ganon reveals that Agahnim was actually his alter ego.[12]
Characteristics
Link deflecting Agahnim's magic with the Master Sword
Even with the Master Sword, Link is unable to harm Agahnim directly. He must use the magical blade to turn his own magic attack against him to damage the evil wizard.[13]
When attacking, Agahnim hurls magical beams against Link. The first of them, a magic ball, can be hit with the Master Sword to reflect it, so that it hits Agahnim himself and wounds him. The second one, which homes at Link, can also be hit with the sword, but it splits up and flings fireballs throughout the room. The third one is a lightning attack which Link can only avoid by standing at Agahnim's side (in the first fight). He only does this when facing south from the north center of the room, and it cannot be reflected. If Link attempts to strike Agahnim's body with the Master Sword, he receives a violent electrical shock in consequence, even in Golden form.
While he fights alone in Hyrule Castle, in Ganon's Tower he creates two additional clones of himself to confuse Link. This can work to Link's advantage, as the clones are nearly transparent and only produce magic balls that can be bounced back with the sword and into the real Agahnim.
In Link's Awakening, Agahnim makes an appearance as Agahnim's Shadow, one of the forms taken by the Shadow Nightmares. This appearance is very similar to how he was in A Link to the Past, as is the method of defeating him. This Agahnim is simply a Nightmare, rather than the real Dark Wizard. He uses the main fireball spell, as well as the four-orbed decoy spell.
A Link Between Worlds
Though Agahnim himself does not appear in A Link Between Worlds, Sahasrahla mentions a "deceitful wizard" who attempted to revive Ganon during the days of his alleged six-fold great-grandfather,[14] referring to the events of A Link to the Past.
The following section is not part of the Zelda canon and should not be taken as such.
Agahnim appears in chapter 4 of Super Mario-kun volume 4. Mario and Yoshi jump into a lake that takes them to the other SNES games' worlds, the first of which is Hyrule from A Link to the Past. After surviving a Spear Throwing Soldier, many Octoroks, some Zoras and an Armos, Mario (armed with the Mushroom Sword) and Yoshi (in shield form) are attacked by Agahnim. Mario succumbs to his attacks, while Yoshi manages to hurt him by eating his magic bolts and spewing back at him, just barely tearing his robe. Mario gives up, but Luigi tosses in the lake many Super Mushrooms that power-up the Mushroom Sword into the Master Mushroom Sword. With one blow, Agahnim is defeated, and Mario and Yoshi dive back into the lake hoping to come back to their game, ending up instead in F-Zero.
The following section is not part of the Zelda canon and should not be taken as such.
Agahnim, as seen in the comic
Agahnim appears in the A Link to the Past comic by Shotaro Ishinomori. Like most adaptations of the game, Agahnim is a separate entity from Ganon, rather than his alter ego.
Agahnim first makes an appearance when Link witnesses his uncle being defeated at the hands of the wizard. After the young hero rescues Princess Zelda and takes her to the Sanctuary, Agahnim easily takes her back again to the top floor of Hyrule Castle where, on a full moon, he will cast the final incantation on the princess to open the way to the Dark World and release Ganon.
After Link obtains the Master Sword, Agahnim's preparations to cast the final incantation are complete, but he is soon interrupted by Ganon.[15] He warns the wizard that a "being with intense emotional energy" is approaching the castle,[16] much to Agahnim's surprise.[17] Knowing this, Agahnim decides to wait on casting the incantation until Link arrives so that he can send Zelda into the Dark World right in front of the young hero.[18] Just then, Link lands on the castle's highest tower and rushes to find Agahnim in the middle of his spell. Although Link tries to harm the wizard with the Master Sword, the weapon passes right through Agahnim,[19] which causes him to turn around and paralyze Link by only looking at him.[20] Agahnim then casts Zelda into the Dark World,[21] triumphantly mocking Link that not even the legendary hero could stop them from obtaining the Triforce.[22]
As Agahnim continues to ridicule Link,[23] the Master Sword begins to shine while Link is still frozen. Link's rage towards Agahnim begins to channel through the Master Sword, which causes for the castle to begin to crumble down.[24] Agahnim and Link begin to battle, and Link uses the sword to turn back Agahnim's magic against him and successfully defeat him.[25] Bested by Link, Agahnim reveals that him being killed will not restore the Wise Men's seal, and with his final breath transports Link to the Dark World as Hyrule Castle crumbles to reveal the Pyramid of Power.[26]
Towards the end of the comic, when Link, Princess Zelda, and Roam reach Ganon's Tower, an illusion of Agahnim approaches Zelda. Although Roam successfully interferes and saves the princess's life, he is killed by Agahnim, and Ganon himself soon rises from the defeated illusion.
The following section is not part of the Zelda canon and should not be taken as such.
Young Agahnim
In the A Link to the Past manga by Akira Himekawa, Agahnim is given a backstory as a friend to Link's Father. He studied to become a magician while his friend trained to become a Knight of Hyrule.[27] When Link's father told him the story of the Imprisoning War and the Triforce, Agahnim became intrigued and researched for ways to break the ancient seal.[28] When Link's father confronted him about his investigations, he used his magic to trap Link's parents in the Dark World. He then struck a bargain with Ganon: he would undo the seal of the Sages and Ganon would grant him powerful magic.[29]
Agahnim also exhibits some attraction to Princess Zelda, as he tells her just as he is about to send her into the Dark World.[30] Eventually, he succeeds in reviving Ganon, but quickly learns the hard way that Ganon was unwilling to share any power, being struck down as Ganon denounces him as a mere mortal.
The following section is not part of the Zelda canon and should not be taken as such.
Agahnim also appears in the earlier A Link to the Past manga by Ataru Cagiva. His portrayal is similar to that of the game, but the manga shows him doing good deeds with his magic so that the people will not suspect his treachery, such as reviving a puppy that was run over by his carriage.[31] Agahnim later kidnaps Zelda by sneaking in through the Sanctuary, and later tries to kill the King of Hyrule, though unlike the game, the King survives. Later, he and Blind the Thief plot to unleash Ganon upon Link and his allies.
The Magician from The Adventure of Link shares many similarities to Agahnim: both were close to the Royal Family of Hyrule but tricked them in order to serve Ganon. The Magician may have served as a prototype or concept for Agahnim.
On a similar note, the Hyrule Historia implies that the Magician was an alter ego to Ganon, much like how Agahnim was revealed to be Ganon's alter-ego in the climax to A Link to the Past.
The battle against Agahnim is one of the first examples of Dead Man's Volley in the series.
Strangely enough, Agahnim's fireballs can be reflected back at him by hitting them with the Bug Catching Net. This may be referenced in later games by the fact that the player can reflect Ganon's attacks by swinging an Empty Bottle.
The Blue Stalfos of Ancient Tomb attacks in a quite similar manner to Agahnim, except that he cannot create lightning, but instead turns Link into a baby.
The Eye Symbol that Agahnim has on the front of his robes in the official artwork, as well as a design throughout Hyrule Castle when on the way to confront him, somewhat resembles the Crest of the Sheikah, though mirrored about the horizontal.
In the official artwork, Agahnim is depicted with red robes, whereas in-game they are green.
Agahnim closely resembles the common Wizzrobe, albeit larger and with more detailed robes. They also share a similar attack pattern that involve shooting orbs of magic at Link. Since Agahnim, like the Wizzrobes, is a dark sorcerer, he may be somehow related to them.
In the Japanese version of A Link to the Past, the "tribe of evil" that Agahnim was referring to, was called the Demon Tribe, making Ganon the current ruler of the Demon Tribe.[citation needed]
Like Agahnim, Zant appears to be the primary antagonist of the game Twilight Princess until the plot takes an unexpected turn, revealing Ganon to be the Final Boss.
↑I never imagined a boy like you could give me so much trouble. It's unbelievable that you defeated my alteregoshould be: alter ego [sicThis is not an error. This word was misspelled in the original source.], Agahnim the Dark Wizard, twice! But I will never give you the Triforce. I will destroy you and make my wish to conquer both Light and Dark Worlds come true without delay. — Ganon (A Link to the Past)
↑Encyclopedia, Dark Horse Books, pg. 162 (ALttPA Link to the Past), 202 (LALink's Awakening | LADXLink's Awakening DX)
↑Pestilence and drought, uncontrollable even by magic, ravaged the land. The king of Hyrule, after counsel with his sages, ordered an investigation of the Imprisoned Dark World (as the Golden land had come to be known) but the wise men's seal was apparently intact. He offered rewards for anyone who could find the source of these troubles. In answer to these summons a stranger named Agahnim came and quelled the disasters with a previously unseen form of magic. (A Link to the Past manual, pg. 6)
↑However, strange things have been happening in Hyrule since the appearance of Agahnim, a mysterious sorcerer who gained fame for extinguishing a blaze of unknown origin some years ago. (A Link to the Past & Four Swords manual, pg. 15)
↑As a reward, the king gave him a new position as chief advisor and heir to the Seven Wise Men. The masses proclaimed him their hero. (A Link to the Past manual, pg. 6)
↑After Agahnim took over, everyone began to act strangely. I suppose it's only a matter of time before I'm affected, too. — Soldier (A Link to the Past)
↑A mysterious wizard known as Agahnim appeared as from nowhere...and with strange magic powers he eliminated the good king of Hyrule... — N/A (A Link to the Past)
↑The wizard, Agahnim, has done something terrible to the other girls...Now only I remain...Agahnim has seized control of the castle and even now is trying to open the sages' seal. — Princess Zelda (A Link to the Past)
↑Ho ho ho... With this, the seal of the seven sages is at last broken. It is now only a matter of time before evil power covers this land completely...After all, the legendary Hero cannot defeat us, the tribe of evil, when we are armed with the Power of Gold. Ho ho ho... Now, I must go! — Agahnim (A Link to the Past)
↑Thank you! Ganon captured us because he couldn't break the seal of the sages with his power alone. And then, using the wizard Agahnim as his pawn, he drew us to the Dark World. — Maiden (A Link to the Past)
↑It's unbelievable that you defeated my alter ego, Agahnim the Dark Wizard, twice! — Ganon (A Link to the Past)
↑Listen well, Link. Even with the Master Sword, you cannot inflict physical harm on the wizard. You must find a way to return his own evil magic power to him. — Sahasrahla (A Link to the Past)
↑I believe it was in the days of my grandfather's grandfather's grandfather... Yes, surely. A deceitful wizard conspired against all goodness to revive the Demon King Ganon. — Sahasrahla (A Link Between Worlds)
↑Hmmmm... I sense a being approaching the barrier surrounding the castle... A being with intense emotional energy... (A Link to the Past (Ishinomori), VIZ Media, pg. 68)
↑Very well...I will send Princess Zelda into the Dark World before his very eyes! But, if he can make it here... (A Link to the Past (Ishinomori), VIZ Media, pg. 68)
↑I have been awaiting your arrival, foolish hero! Watch now as your precious princess vanishes--before your very eyes! Behold! The last moment of Princess Zelda! NOW! (A Link to the Past (Ishinomori), VIZ Media, pg. 13,14)
↑Ho ho ho... Now, it is only a matter of time before the forces of evil conquer this world! Even the so-called Legendary Hero is helpless against us, the tribe of evil, now that we have the power of Gold--the Triforce!! (A Link to the Past (Ishinomori), VIZ Media, pg. 15)
↑Soon I will send you to join her, Link!! See how helpless my magic has made you! Frozen like a statue! You challenged me only to meet your doom! (A Link to the Past (Ishinomori), VIZ Media, pg. 16)
↑Hummph... The puny fool's rage is somehow being channeled by the Master Sword! He and the sword are as one! (A Link to the Past (Ishinomori), VIZ Media, pg. 2)
↑It can defend as well as attack? I have you now, Agahnim! Your own evil energy will be the end of you! (A Link to the Past (Ishinomori), VIZ Media, pg. 4)
↑It appears you are not such a fool after all... But it makes no difference... My defeat will not restore the wise men's seal, on the contrary... [...] And with my final breath...you will join Zelda in...the Dark World! (A Link to the Past (Ishinomori), VIZ Media, pg. 5,6)
↑I was devoted to studying, aiming to become a magician. My friend who was a left-handed swordsman aimed to become a Knight of the Royal Family. (A Link to the Past (Himekawa), Viz, pg. 162)
↑One day, my friend told me about the Sealing War, and that he was a descendant of the Guardian Knights. The Triforce grants the wishes of the person who touches it, no matter what. I thought it was just an old legend. But I couldn't suppress my fascination and investigated it and...I found out how to break the Sages' seal. (A Link to the Past (Himekawa), Viz, pg. 163)
↑I made a deal with Ganon. He promised that if I could undo the Sages' seal, I would receive powerful magic. I sealed my wicked friend in the Dark World. (A Link to the Past (Himekawa), Viz, pg. 164)
↑Heart and body, pure and beautiful, the Jewel of Hyrule, Princess Zelda. From the moment that I met you, I wanted you for my slave. It is a great pleasure to touch you with my hand. (A Link to the Past (Himekawa), Viz, pg. 113)
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