The Secrets of the Yiga & Sheikah’s Combat 

You forgot to mention the Yiga's obsession with bananas, which also connects to their name. Matsuo Basho, the famous haiku master, spent some time living in the ninja village of Iga (which still exists and has ninja performances with well-trained actors), which is the namesake of the Yiga clan. His house there had a number of banana trees, which he valued greatly. These facts connect "Yiga" to "bananas" (but ultimately, it's for comedic effect). It's worth mentioning bananas were *not* endemic to japan. They were a very rare exotic plant, imported by sailing traders. This further explains their perceived value and the literal banana treasure in the Yiga hideout.

"Rin, Pyo, Toh, Sha, Kai, Jin, Restu, Zai, Zen!" *"Evil Spirit, be Exorcised!"*

You’re the thing that’s keeping me going while we wait for BOTW2... I’m so impatient for this game

HOLD ON A MINUTE! I can't be the only one that noticed how throughout all of the main Breath of the Wild trailers there was a major theme around the line "open your eyes". And now the first thing that we see in it's much darker squeal's trailer is Ganondorf, the (assumed) main antagonist of the game, opening his eyes towards our heroes Link and Zelda. Huh. Great parallel Nintendo!

Yayyyyyy!!!! The Yiga and Sheikah are so interesting, I love the lore and culture behind them

I really hope the Yiga turn up in BOTW2, they were one of my favorite parts of the first game and I wpuld love to see more of them as well as the Sheikah clan.

The Latin characters for the table for the kuji in starting at 7:49 should be labeled "Zen Zai Retsu Jin Kai Sha Toh Pyo Rin". Japanese, when vertical, like in the table, is read right to left instead of left to right. So they are currently labeled backwards (except Kai since it's the middle).

BoTW content is still being made, and I thought I was late to the party by starting my game this month. This is the greatest! Edit: Thanks for the huge amount of positive responses on this comment! I love reading all your personal stories. Edit 2: Still an overwhelming amount of positive responses! I hope you are all staying safe and enjoying BoTW during this ‘unprecedented vacation’.

The first time I ran into a Yiga clan member, I was terrified because I had yet to learn any background on them. It was a huge jump scare! I just thought I would help a random traveler out and instead I got attacked by shapeshifting teleporters with scythes

They are whoopin my ass every single time when I fight a Guardian but never asked myself what those symbols are...and this game is out since 2017

Glad more people are talking about this!

7:14 Ah, that might be the reason why the Mongols died in a tornado!

If memory serves, Skyward Sword did mention how the Shiekah are close to the goddess Hylia, so perhaps all of the shiekah's spells were originally granted to them by Hylia herself.

The blue energy being from celestial Power would make sense because think of nayru's love from Ocarina of Time I have the same blue glow as the shields that the Sheika use

1:27 the malevolent, enigmatic *bowser’s kingdom*

I think that Shiekah like Kogah actually use their technologies rather than magic,but they intergrate them in their bodies in such a way that it is indistinguishable from magic

I really hope the Yiga play as big a part in botw 2 as the divine beasts did in botw 1. We've never had a group of people so dedicated to allowing Ganon complete his goal. They're so cool and have such an interesting story.

Loved the bowsers castle music that started playing when he started talking about the yiga clan, that was a nice surprise 😂

8:13 this graph should be read from right to left. The rightist is rin, seconded by pro. I think ofuda were not spawned from Sheikah and Yiga performing magic, but Sheikah and Yiga using them to perform magic. Ofuda is like pre-made one time use rune stone.

The Yiga footman can actually run faster than a horse, even when the horse has a head start. I learned that on mety333's channel. EDIT: This is the most likes i've ever gotten on a comment. Thanks for all the likes!

The paper talismans are most likely ofuda as there is already an example of an omamori in the game. Bolson (of Bolson's Construction) wears a red and yellow omamori around his neck. Thank you for your videos!

your intro give me goosebumps everytime.

This is an interesting hot take. I wasn't aware of the cultural Japanese nine seals tidbit, so I definitely learned some good insight from that. I've already previously conjectured that the Sheikah's technological achievements were rooted from Hylia, based on the grounds that Impa states in Skyward Sword they were specifically chosen and selected as her guardians in an era where humans were not yet exposed to magic, as well as the fact that Dorian specifically mentions that the technology of the Sheikah had once been revered as "the technology of the gods". Its actually a pretty stern parallel to how A Link to the Past posits that the Hylian's connection to the gods merits them the ability to use magic. This distinguished the Hylians as a prosperous race that propagated the foundation of Hyrule to much the same magnitude as to how Breath of the Wild discloses Sheikah history. One last thing I'd like to add about Sheikah magic in relation to this topic is that the Hover Boots found in the Shadow Temple are likely a product of their abilities as well. In the first two phases of the battle against Maz Koshia, leading him off of the battle arena will result in him walking on thin air with projected visible contact per each step, which is similar to the functional effects of the Hover Boots especially when they are also described as "sacred feet" in Ocarina of Time. The ability isn't exclusive to the Sheikah however as Wizzrobes are capable of performing this too, but it does seem all the more plausible that the boots are of Sheikah invention given their location.

Maz Koshia is such a fun boss fight, I think the first half where he’s a small boi is the best in the game. Basically every other boss is huge and you just lay into them, but Maz Koshia is fast and his clones take up hits. He has so many moves, I’m glad they give you the option to fight him as much as you want if you got back to the shrine of resurrection.

2:11 but what about the cloaked “garo” enemies in majoras mask. It seems they share a similar battle moveset to the yiga clan as well, disappearing and reappearing to surprise attack you along with dashing at you. Wielding small blades and wearing a cloak. Being found in the Ikana Canyon, similar to the ancient gerudo ruins where the yiga live. Their faces obscured by shadow and their skinny stature. Looming in random spots around the land similar to the yiga disguised as normal citizens around hyrule. Could this be the beginning of the sheikah rebellion? The beginning of the “Yiga” clan?

Now this is an interesting topic.

6:02 Ibuki giving us a prime example of the classic flying squirrel kite thing Impa does later in Age of Calamity

I’ve been playing this game for more then 2 years but I still get shivers whenever I here this games music Anyone else?

I had no idea about the symbols and connections and holy cow this was a great video! I would love to see a Yiga leader that was more serious, even though it kind of sounds terrifying. (I loved Master Koga in his own way though lol)

The Yiga have so many secrets.

As soon as I saw nine symbols my sailor Moon loving ass knew what was up

Just imagining a Sheikah warrior Stasis-ing an opponent with their own magic, is frightening.

I would love to see a fight scene between a shiekah and yiga. That'd be dope

Magic and martial arts are some of the coolest things you can combine, right next to peanut butter and jelly

Outstanding work. Fantastic how you find such interesting new topics so long after the game's release.

That moment when you realize that the hero’s charm gives the same effect as the champions tunic

Kohga reminds me of a typical firestarter - A person less involved in actually DOING, but inspiring others to DO. It makes a lot of sense in the sense that the Yiga are a split from the Sheikah. His fight was underwhelming, but honestly, this guy must have been charismatic and really believed in his cause. He mastered things that wouldnt befit a slouching warrior in ties to his kin. That's impressive in a way. Imagine if he had stayed fit and combat-ready... that fight might have been legendary.

Great job man. Perhaps there'll be a future episode on the "blood moon", and the reawakening of all evil through the incredible power of Ganon? :)

*I only take a windclever from a blade master* That’s mine now!!!!

master koga: kill the hero of time footsoldier: i dont want to also koga: i'll give you a banana also footsoldier: IT'S CRUSADE TIME!!!!

Love the Odyssey music 👌🏼

17:36 “did you know about the sheikah’s Japanese connections?” Me, a Japanese: *laughs in Japanese

So... my mom was sleeping by my side when I watched this video and even with the sound in a low volume (no earphones) I still could hear everything clearly. The sound of your videos are always good, Zeltik! Technically amazing! Thank you! 💕

Awesome that you shouted out GG! I sub to you both, and it's great to see this kind of positive interaction among content creators! (also, though unrelated, was great to see you collab with Shesez some time ago)

Another Masterpiece! Keep it going man!

Something interesting about Monk Maz Koshia is that he doesn’t use all of the runes, only Magnesis and an assortment of magical abilities that we can’t use. As Cryonis doesn’t have much use in battle it’s probably safe to assume this is a magical ability he possesses or one of the easiest abilities to learn, but he doesn’t use stasis. Could be maybe see an incredibly powerful Sheika sorcerer in the next game who has access to all of these abilities, maybe even some sort of leader of the Sheika

Great video. Your quality never sizes to amaze.

Just got round to watching this one, really interesting video. Loved it mate! :D

Just imagine an enemy using Stasis+ against Link: a foe that can freeze us in time would be both terrifying and difficult.

The only time we see more and seen shieka fight and it’s against us....

OMG this video was incredibly tops! Might be my fav one you have ever made. You have given me so much to think about and have offered a LOT of inspiration for my writing. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Zeltik, you make some absolutely fantastic content. Your channel is like a Zelda version of one of my other favorites, Fudgemuppet, a place where I can learn damn near anything there is to know about the lore of an IP. I’ve been a Zelda fan since I started playing video games, and your videos fill in so many gaps and answer so many questions for me. Keep up the great work man!

Thank Hylia Zeltik is still making mind-blowing, original theories for us, three years after the game came out!

I just can’t wait till botw2

This was BRILLIANT. These kinds of questions are the one I love hearing answered!

Love your videos keep up the great work!

14:07 Who's responsible for the advanced tech that used to be in Lanayru though...? It's hard to know, considering that's the beginning of the timeline. But yes when I noticed the similarities you mentioned, I figured that Sheikah tech actually uses their abilities. That may also be how the Blight Ganons were made. The Yiga contributed their magic to Calamity Ganon to make him more powerful, especially when you consider that theory about the prophecy & Zelda's mother

i love how you colored the shiekah clothes to look like a yiga

I love these videos. Great knowledge and really gets a person thinking and definitely makes me want part II soooo much more!!!

Genuinely fascinating. Great video Zeltik!

i’ve never been on one of your videos this early wow

The wind cleaver and duplex bow are both favorites of mine.

Now I love all your videos but this was really interesting! Great work man!

Man, this is an awesome video. I thought it was just covering the Letters used during battling Yiga but I found the ending, which linked Sheikah Tech/Magic seen in previous games and tying them with BOTW.

17:07 This man predicted Sooga before Age of Calamity was even being developed.

Zeltik has mastered the ninja art of story telling.

Positively wonderful, Love the effort up into the video

Every episode of yours is brilliant. Keep up the great work

I would NEVER have guessed that those symbols correspond with the 9-syllable seals! Your videos always make me love the Zelda series even more! Just a VERY small mistake though, I hope you won't mind >< The order of the Japanese chart is in right-to-left order, so the alphabet correspondence should be: Z前 　Z在　 R裂　J陳 　K皆　 S者　 T闘　 P兵　 R臨

for non native japanese those weren't too off, Restu was the only one thats distinctly off since most of the time the u is half silent.

Zeltik I love your theory videos, they're very well analyzed and never boring. Really appreciate your work keep doing what you're doin'!

dude, your videos are so cool and deep into Zelda´s history! Top notch!

I’m sorry I’m commenting before I finished, but I noticed in the Kakariko village there is no sheikah technology. Most likely because they had seen what their creations were capable of and the mass genocide of the hylians. Possibly because of the guilt, they banned the weapons and kept it traditional

Don't forget you can use ancient arrows in place of the bow of light, so it would make sense if they're from the same source.

I just discovered your channel today and it is awesome! Keep up the good work!

Great video my friend and excellent quality soon you will get to one million subs

Mas Kohshia has "The will of Fire!" props to anyone who guesses from where those words are from. XDDD

Man I wish Master Kohga was less silly and a bit harder to fight

Do you remember the Dominion Rod in Twilight Princess, when you conjure it, it glows green and gives life to statues? Farore, the Goddess of Courage, was the one who gave life to the Hylians and other races, and her symbolic color is also green. There's also the theory of the green we see in BOTW that symbolizes spirit, which you could see with the spirits of the King and the Champions, that they had green flames surrounding them, along with the Luminous Stones we see in the BOTW 2 trailer deep underneath Hyrule Castle, which could also symbolize the lives of the innocent victims of the Great Calamity, burrowed in the caves for the past 100 years

Great video! You provide a great in-depth look and understanding!

I heavily agrre with everything you had said

I think your theory about the finger symbols is enforced by the fact that Impa uses finger symbols when she uses her special attack in Age of Calamity.

This was a fantastic video, well researched and put together

Thanks for another great video, Zeltik!

Just realized your intro card song is from "tale of a hero" in zelda.

Remember to thumbs up this type of high effort, scripted youtube content 😃

Really enjoy your content keep it up 🙌

This makes me appreciate Shieka tech even more! Thank you for yet another amazing video!

I learned this new moves from Monk Maz Koshia!!!! *A ring of nine symbols appears me and disappeared then reappear with talisman behind me and I preform a down thrust and does it again to create shadow clones* Also Impa *I only uses create a barrier and use a blue bomb*

I wonder if they'll be in BOTW2

Amazing video as always!

Great video! Enjoyed it immensely.

Will there be a dark link fight in the sequel due to its gritty tone

My theory: Master kohga was originally like Ganondorf, cunning and smart, so he volunteered to become a monk in the shrines, his was to guard the hole in which the orb is thrown into, and did so so when Gannon was brought back in the future, he could fight the hero and stop him, this would explain why he and his clan know how to do the runes.

Another banger lore video. God, I love this channel so much.

I love how you mention your other videos in every video. Tying them all together so naturally. You could teach a master course on Zelda I stg

*explains hand symbol meditation thing* Me: oh I see, cool... that reminds me of something.... *says ninjutsu* Me: *naruto hand signs intensifies*

I find it odd how the Yiga Clan uses Shiekah symbols, yet most of the yiga clan are not even shiekah. There is Hylians, Shekiah, and other races inside the group.

lmao i havent watched one of your videos since janurary and seeing the intro and hearing your voice brings back memories of binging late at night, tryna watch all your vids

This video was fascinating, my dude