Let's be honest. Most villains in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom are actually terrifying. You have Ganondorf, a literal god of malice with abs that could cut glass, and then you have the Gloom Hands that probably gave half the player base a heart attack in their first hour of gameplay. But then there’s Master Kohga. He’s back. He’s round. He’s still obsessed with bananas. And for some reason, despite the fact that he wants to murder us, we can’t help but love the guy.
Master Kohga of the Yiga Clan TOTK isn't just a returning boss; he’s the emotional core of the game’s underworld. After his "death" in Breath of the Wild—where he essentially rolled himself into a bottomless pit like a giant, spandex-clad boulder—nobody really expected him to be the primary driving force behind the Depths. Yet, here he is, surviving a fall that should have liquidated his internal organs, now leading a mechanized revolution beneath the crust of Hyrule. It's ridiculous. It's campy. It's exactly what the game needed to balance out the high-stakes drama of Zelda’s disappearance.
The Glorious Return from the Depths
He didn't die.
If you remember the end of his boss fight in the previous game, Kohga was sent spiraling into a hole in the Yiga Clan Hideout. Most players assumed that was a wrap on his story. But in Tears of the Kingdom, we find out that the hole led straight into the Depths. While Link was busy sleeping for a few years or getting his arm replaced, Kohga was down there building an empire.
He’s not just sitting around eating Mighty Bananas anymore, though he definitely still does that. He’s obsessed with the "Magnificent One." That’s Ganondorf, by the way. Kohga has pivoted the entire Yiga Clan’s mission toward supporting the Demon King’s resurrection by mining Zonaite and reclaiming ancient technology. It’s a fascinating bit of world-building because it shows that while the surface world was struggling to rebuild, a literal shadow government was forming right beneath their feet.
The first time you run into him at the Great Abandoned Central Mine, the vibe is instantly different from the rest of the game. The music shifts. That iconic, sneaky Yiga theme kicks in, but it’s got more industrial weight to it. Kohga is genuinely surprised to see Link, but he’s also incredibly cocky. He’s got cars now. He’s got planes. He has successfully weaponized the very tech Link is trying to master.
Why Master Kohga Works as a Character
Most villains in the Zelda franchise are monolithic. They want power, or they want destruction. Kohga wants... validation? He wants to be seen as the ultimate mastermind, even though he’s prone to temper tantrums and slapstick comedy.
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Think about the contrast.
On one hand, you have the Yiga Blademasters. These guys are actually dangerous. They can teleport, they hit like a freight train, and they take their jobs seriously. Then you have their leader, a man who spends half his boss fights accidentally hitting himself with his own creations. It’s a classic "incompetent leader with competent subordinates" trope, and Nintendo nails it here.
The Cult of Personality
The Yiga Clan doesn't follow Kohga because he’s the strongest. They follow him because they are a cult. Throughout the Depths, you’ll find Yiga notes and diaries (the real ones, found in the game's various outposts) that speak of him with absolute reverence. They genuinely believe his "secret techniques" are the pinnacle of martial arts. It makes the world feel lived-in. It’s not just a game mechanic; it’s a culture.
The Master Kohga Questline: A Tour of the Depths
If you want to see everything Master Kohga of the Yiga Clan TOTK has to offer, you’re going to spend a lot of time in the dark. His questline is basically a guided tour of the Depths' major landmarks.
- The Great Abandoned Central Mine: This is where it kicks off. You get the Autobuild ability—which is arguably the most important utility in the game—and immediately have to fight Kohga and his basic battle car.
- Abandoned Gerudo Mine: He moves west. Now he’s got a boat. It’s a bit more complex, but the strategy remains the same: knock him off the vehicle and whack him while he’s stunned.
- Abandoned Lanayru Mine: This is the flight phase. Kohga takes to the skies, showing off the Yiga’s mastery of the Wing device.
- Abandoned Hebra Mine: The final showdown.
Each of these encounters reveals a bit more about the Yiga's operations. They aren't just mining for fun; they are trying to create "The Ultimate Weapon." They’re scanning Schema Stones. They’re stealing blueprints. It’s a direct parallel to Link’s journey. While you’re using your powers to save the world, Kohga is using the exact same powers to try and ruin it.
The Boss Fight Mechanics
Let's talk gameplay. The fights aren't "Dark Souls" hard. They aren't meant to be. They are puzzles. How do you stop a man on a shielded hovercraft when you're standing on a tiny platform? You use the environment. You use your own Zonai devices. It’s a playground.
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The final fight in the Hebra Mine is particularly memorable. He’s got a giant construct. It’s shielded. You have to knock him into the electrified wires of the arena. It’s chaotic, it’s loud, and when he finally loses, the payoff is gold. He tries to use a "final secret technique" that—predictably—launches him into the literal stratosphere.
The Lore Connections and Misconceptions
One big thing people get wrong about Master Kohga of the Yiga Clan TOTK is his age. Since he was in Breath of the Wild, which took place 100 years after the Calamity, and he was already the leader then, Kohga is old. Like, really old.
Sheikah (and by extension, Yiga) clearly have long lifespans, but Kohga seems to have found some way to persist beyond the norm. Is it the bananas? Maybe. Is it pure spite? Probably. Unlike Impa or Purah, who have aged or de-aged through various means, Kohga looks exactly the same. He’s a constant.
Another misconception: that the Yiga are just a joke.
Sure, Kohga is funny. But look at the environmental storytelling. The Yiga have infiltrated every level of Hyrule. they have bases in the mountains, they have spies in the woods, and they have successfully occupied the Depths. They are a legitimate threat to the kingdom’s stability. Kohga is the "mask" that makes them feel less threatening until a Blademaster is suddenly behind you.
How to Beat Him (The Practical Stuff)
If you’re struggling with the Master Kohga encounters, you’re probably overthinking it.
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- Arrows are your best friend. Don't try to chase him down in your own vehicle most of the time. Just wait for an opening, shoot him in the face to stun him, and then go in for the melee damage.
- Keese Eyeballs are broken. If he’s flying around and you can’t aim, just fuse a Keese Eyeball to your arrow. It’ll home in on him and knock him off his perch instantly.
- Don't ignore the Schema Stones. After you beat him at each location, make sure you talk to the Construct nearby. You get blueprints for the very vehicles Kohga was using. Some of them, like the "Hovercraft" or the "Bolt Boat," are actually incredibly useful for general exploration.
The Cultural Impact of the Yiga Boss
There’s a reason why the Yiga Clan theme has millions of views on YouTube. There’s a reason why people dress up as Kohga at every major gaming convention. He represents a specific type of Nintendo charm—the kind that doesn't take itself too seriously but still fits perfectly within a grand, epic narrative.
He is the perfect foil to Link. Link is the silent, stoic hero who does everything right. Kohga is the loud, boastful villain who does everything wrong.
Actionable Steps for Your Playthrough
If you haven't finished the "Mystery in the Depths" questline yet, here is exactly what you should do to get the most out of it:
- Unlock the Camera and Sensor first. It makes finding the Yiga outposts much easier when you can track their unique equipment.
- Stock up on Sundelions. Since all your fights with Kohga happen in the Depths, you’re going to take Gloom damage. Cook up some Sunny Fried Wild Greens (Sundelions + any herb/vegetable) to keep your heart containers intact.
- Visit the Yiga Clan Hideout on the surface (Gerudo Highlands). Before or after the Depths quest, go to their main base. If you wear the Yiga Armor set (which you can find in three different locations across Hyrule), they’ll let you in. You can take their training challenges to earn the Earthwake Manual—a move that lets you attack without a weapon. It’s something Kohga uses, and it’s a blast to use yourself.
- Read the notes. Don't just rush the boss. Read the journals left behind at the Yiga camps. They provide a lot of context for why they are down there and how much they actually fear/respect "The Master."
Master Kohga of the Yiga Clan TOTK is a rare example of a character who manages to be a comic relief without losing his status as a legitimate antagonist. He adds flavor to a world that could otherwise feel a bit too lonely and bleak. Whether he’s falling down a hole, launching himself into space, or just yelling at his subordinates, Hyrule is simply better with him in it.
Now, go find him in the Depths. He’s waiting for you. And he probably has a really expensive car he wants to show off before you inevitably blow it up.