If you’ve spent any time wandering the fields of Hyrule after the sun goes down, you know that sound. It’s a rhythmic, metallic clinking mixed with a low-pitched, warbling moan. Suddenly, a lantern flickers into existence. You’ve just run into a Legend of Zelda Poe. Most players treat them as a minor nuisance—something to swat away with a master sword or an arrow—but if you dig into the lore, these guys are actually some of the most consistent, creepy, and mechanically weird enemies in Nintendo's entire catalog.
Poes aren't just ghosts. They’re "concentrations of hatred" according to some in-game flavor text, and honestly, that tracks. They carry lanterns that hold their very souls. If you break the lantern, the flame goes out, and the Poe usually ceases to exist. But depending on which game you’re playing, a Poe can be a shopkeeper, a mini-boss, a collectible currency, or even a guide through the literal underworld.
Where Did the Legend of Zelda Poe Actually Come From?
In the early days, specifically back in A Link to the Past, Poes were pretty basic. They hovered around graveyards. They looked like little cloaked figures with single eyes. Simple. But things got weird when the series made the jump to 3D with Oricana of Time. That’s when we met the Poe Sisters in the Forest Temple: Meg, Joelle, Beth, and Amy.
These weren't just random mobs. They had personalities. They had names. They were essentially the gatekeepers of the temple, and defeating them required more than just mindless slashing. You had to play a game of "hide and seek" with their paintings or figure out which one was the real ghost among a circle of clones. This shifted the Legend of Zelda Poe from a mere environmental hazard to a core part of the puzzle-solving identity of the franchise.
The lore suggests that these spirits are the souls of those who died with some kind of lingering grudge. In Twilight Princess, they took on a much more skeletal, grim-reaper-esque appearance. You couldn't even see them unless you were in Wolf Link's "sense" mode. It added a layer of genuine horror to the game. Seeing a massive, scythe-wielding Poe floating in a dark corner of the Arbiter’s Grounds is a core memory for a lot of us who played that back in 2006.
The Big Poes and the Soul Economy
One of the most famous (and frustrating) quests in Ocarina of Time involves the Big Poes. These aren't your garden-variety ghosts. They only appear when you're riding Epona across Hyrule Field as an adult. Hunting them down is a nightmare because they move fast, they vanish if you get too close, and you have to hit them with arrows while on horseback.
Why do people do it? For the Poe Collector.
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Located in the guardhouse at the entrance to Hyrule Market (which is a ruin by the time you're an adult), this creepy dude sits there surrounded by jars. He pays you for "bottled souls." It’s one of the few times the series leans into the idea of a black market for the undead. If you catch all ten Big Poes, he gives you an empty bottle. In the Zelda world, an empty bottle is worth its weight in gold, so the grind is actually worth it.
Honestly, the Poe Collector himself might be a Poe. He has the same glowing red eyes and weird, floaty movements. He loves the "smell" of the souls. It’s dark stuff for a Nintendo game, but that’s the beauty of the Zelda series—it hides this macabre world-building in plain sight.
Evolution in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom
For a while, it felt like Nintendo forgot about them. Breath of the Wild swapped them out for Wizzrobes and elemental Keese. But then Tears of the Kingdom brought them back in a massive way, though not as enemies you fight.
In the Depths—that massive, pitch-black underground map—you find thousands of tiny, flickering blue flames. These are Poes.
In this iteration, they aren't aggressive. They are just lost spirits. You pick them up like a currency. The scale is totally different here. Instead of hunting one or two "Big Poes," you’re vacuuming up hundreds of them as you traverse the gloom. You trade them at Bargainer Statues—massive, multi-faced stone entities—for armor like the "Dark Series" or the "Depths Series."
This change in the Legend of Zelda Poe mechanics was a bit polarizing. Some fans missed the combat-heavy ghosts of the past. Others loved the "collect-a-thon" vibe that encouraged exploration of the Depths. It turned the Poe from a threat into a resource. It's a different kind of spooky. Instead of being afraid of the ghost, you're now the one hunting thousands of them to buy a cool shirt.
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Different Types of Poes You'll Encounter
It’s easy to think they’re all the same, but there’s actually a lot of variety across the timeline.
- Standard Poe: The classic. Cloak, lantern, scythe or torch. They usually turn invisible when you target them, which is incredibly annoying.
- Big Poe: Faster, tougher, and usually requires a horse or specific items to catch.
- Poe Sisters: Unique boss-level Poes with distinct patterns.
- Imp Poe: Specifically from Twilight Princess. These guys don't have lanterns; they carry their souls in their chests, and you have to physically rip them out.
- Ghost Soldiers: In Tears of the Kingdom, you find stationary spirits on stone pedestals in the Depths holding pristine weapons. While not explicitly called "Poes" in the traditional sense, they share the same spiritual energy and visual design.
The "invisibility" mechanic is the most consistent trait. It forces the player to stop and wait. You can’t just rush a Poe. You have to wait for it to manifest, wait for it to swing, and then strike. It’s a test of patience.
Why the Poe Matters to the Lore
The existence of Poes confirms that Hyrule has a very active "Afterlife" or "Spirit Realm." This isn't just a fantasy land with monsters; it's a land where the dead don't always stay dead. The Bargainer Statues in Tears of the Kingdom claim they are responsible for returning souls to where they belong. This suggests that a Legend of Zelda Poe is essentially a soul that has lost its way or been corrupted by Malice.
Think about the Composer Brothers, Sharp and Flat. They are Poes, yet they retain their memories and their musical talent. They aren't mindless monsters. They are characters with tragic backstories. When you play the "Song of Storms" for them, you aren't just solving a puzzle; you're putting a soul to rest.
How to Handle Poes Like a Pro
If you're jumping into a Zelda game for the first time or revisiting a classic, here is how you deal with these spectral jerks without losing your mind.
In the 3D games (Ocarina, Majora's Mask, Twilight Princess), stop Z-targeting for a second. Often, a Poe will disappear the moment you "lock on." By staying in a neutral stance, you can bait them into attacking. Once they start their swing, they become vulnerable.
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If you’re playing Tears of the Kingdom, don't just spend your Poes on the first thing you see. Save them for the specialized armor sets that offer "Gloom Resistance." It’s the only way to survive the lower levels of the Depths without constantly eating sundelion-based meals.
Also, keep an eye on their lanterns. In almost every game, the lantern is the weak point. If you can knock it out of their hands or hit it with a projectile, the fight is basically over. In The Wind Waker, you can even use the Mirror Shield to reflect light at them, which solidifies their form so you can actually deal damage.
The Future of the Poe
With the way Tears of the Kingdom expanded the "Soul" economy, it's likely we'll see Poes continue to evolve. They have transitioned from spooky graveyard filler to a fundamental part of the world's ecosystem. They represent the darker, more melancholic side of Hyrule that balances out the bright, heroic adventures.
Whether they are guarding a temple or waiting to be traded for a piece of clothing, the Legend of Zelda Poe remains one of the most iconic pieces of imagery in the series. Next time you see that dim glow in the distance, don't just run past it. There's a whole lot of history in that little flickering lantern.
To get the most out of your Poe-hunting sessions, make sure you've upgraded your stealth gear—spirits are jumpy. If you're in the Depths, always carry at least 50 Brightbloom seeds before you start a Poe run. And if you're playing the classics, remember: the Bow is your best friend. Don't try to sword-fight a ghost if you don't have to. It's just common sense.