Midna

Overview

Midna is a central character and primary companion in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Originating from the Twilight Realm, she is the rightful ruler of her domain who was cursed into a diminutive impish form by the usurper Zant. Upon encountering Link after he is transformed into a wolf, she forms a tactical alliance with him to retrieve lost magical artifacts and liberate her kingdom, serving as both his guide and the key heroine throughout their journey across realms.

Appearance

Midna has a diminutive, child-sized body that continuously hovers in mid-air. She features pointed ears like a Hylian, twilight-colored eyes, purple lips, and a visible snaggletooth. Her skin is divided into a black and white two-tone palette accented by thin, pale blue line patterns. Her left eye is hidden beneath a large stone helmet, while her long, vibrant orange hair is capable of altering its shape into a giant hand.

Personality

Midna possesses a defiant and assertive temperament, frequently expressing herself through harsh, condescending language and a blunt tone. Initially pragmatic and manipulative, she treats Link dismissively while taking command of their journey from within his shadow. Beneath her cynical facade, however, she harbors deep empathy and unwavering resolve. As their shared hardships continue, her bossy exterior gradually softens, revealing a loyal and caring heart.

Abilities

Midna can freely manipulate her hair, morphing it into a giant hand to grab and throw adversaries. In combat, she utilizes her hair as a dark magic weapon and can command shadowy creatures or mount a shadow wolf. She possesses the ability to instantly teleport across distances and can melt into a person's shadow to travel with them. Additionally, she holds extensive knowledge of the Twilight Realm and can utilize ancient magic stored within fused shadow stones.

Background

Originally the sovereign ruler of the Twilight Realm, Midna was usurped and cursed into a weakened imp form by Zant. Seeking to restore her true power and liberate her homeland, she crossed into the light world, where she encountered Link in his beast form. Though she initially aligned with him purely out of self-interest to collect the scattered Fused Shadows, their harrowing shared trials forged a deep mutual dedication, leading her to fight resolutely to save both realms.

Relationships

Her relationship with Link begins as a cold, unequal partnership, but over the course of their quest, it transforms into an indomitable bond of mutual trust and respect. She holds absolute enmity toward Zant, the usurper responsible for stealing her throne and cursing her form. In titles like Hyrule Warriors, she initially clashes with Lana's forces due to a misunderstanding, but subsequently allies with them to combat a common enemy.

Trivia

The name Midna is derived from the English word midnight. When speaking during in-game dialogue, her voice features a distinct scrambled effect resembling reversed English audio. Outside her debut title, she appears across the Super Smash Bros. series as an Assist Trophy and Spirit, utilizing her iconic hair attacks to support fighters in battle.