Not to be confused with Agunima, a miniboss in Oracle of Seasons.

Agahnim (pronounced /ˈɑː.ɡəˌniːm/, AH- gə -neem)[citation needed] is the dark wizard who serves as the secondary antagonist of A Link to the Past.[1] He kidnaps the Seven Maidens to break the seal to the corrupted Sacred Realm and achieve his goal. While many believe him to be a pawn of Ganon, he is revealed to be the demon's alter-ego.

Biography

A Link to the Past

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.[2][3] He was declared a hero and given the prestigious positions of chief advisor to the King, priest, and heir to the Seven Sages.[4][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 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, 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 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 in the Dark World, he collapses, and from his body a faint image of Ganon 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 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, and must use the Sword to turn his own magic against him.[13]

When attacking, Agahnim hurls magical attacks 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 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. He only does this when facing south from the north center of the room, and it cannot be reflected. If Link strikes at Agahnim's body with the Master Sword, he receives a violent electrical shock in consequence.

While he fights alone in Hyrule Castle, in Ganon's Tower he creates clones of himself to confuse Link. This can work to Link's advantage, as the clones only produce magic balls that can be bounced back with the Sword.

Link's Awakening

Main article: Shadow Nightmares

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 his appearance 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 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.

Other Appearances

Trivia

Nomenclature

Names in Other Regions Language Name French EU Agahnim[31] This table was generated using translation pages.

To request an addition, please a staff member with a reference.

Gallery

Artwork of Agahnim

Artwork of Agahnim

Artwork of Agahnim

Agahnim banishing Princess Zelda to the Dark World

Agahnim preparing to draw Link into the Dark World

Agahnim in the A Link to the Past comic by Shotaro Ishinomori

Agahnim in the A Link to the Past manga by Akira Himekawa

Agahnim in the A Link to the Past manga by Ataru Cagiva