Who's Ready to Rumble in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment? (A Guide to the Roster, Sans Ganon!)
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Polygon's Josh Broadwell has detailed all 19 playable characters in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, revealing that most are unlocked via story progression or related side quests, with Ganondorf notably absent from the roster.
Alright, team, gather 'round! Jeff's here, peeking through the digital curtain at *Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment*. And blimey, have they packed the roster full! We're not just talking your usual suspects here; Polygon's Josh Broadwell (our source for this intel, cheers mate!) has spilled the beans on a proper chunky lineup. We're talking *Tears of the Kingdom* sages, some seriously skilled Hylian parry-masters, Zora warriors, and get this – a character whose combat style is basically a miniature rhythm game! My mind's already trying to figure out if it's more 'Guitar Hero' or 'DDR' in a sword fight. Honestly, what's next? A character who fights by solving Sudoku puzzles?
Now, before anyone gets their Master Sword in a twist, let's address the elephant in the room – or rather, the big, brooding bad guy *not* in the room. If you were hoping to unleash your inner darkness and play as Ganondorf? Well, prepare for a gentle wizardly nudge of disappointment. Polygon's folks couldn't find a way, and frankly, I'm not surprised. Someone's gotta be the big boss to beat, right? Can't have him joining the party for a cuppa and a chinwag.
### So, How Do You Get These Legends on Your Team, Eh?
So, how does one actually gather this motley crew of Hyrulean heroes and, presumably, a few new faces? It's a pretty classic 'Warriors' game setup, by the looks of it. A handful of the gang just rock up as you naturally progress through the main story – like magic, but with more cutscenes and less actual spell-casting, I reckon. The *real* fun, though, seems to be in the side quests. You clear a main story bit, and then *poof* (or, you know, a quest marker appears on the map), a related side quest pops up to let you recruit someone new.
Polygon gives us a neat example: clear 'Lanayru Defiled,' recruit Qia, and then you'll see quests appear to nab some of her Zora mates, like Lago. It's almost like a digital breadcrumb trail to an ever-expanding party! The good news is, these side quests aren't going anywhere. If you're deep in the main story and suddenly remember you forgot to help that Goron find his lost rock collection – no worries, mate. Go back to it later. No penalty for procrastinating your heroics, which is a surprisingly chill move for a game about, well, *warriors*.
### The Full Roster: Who's In (and How to Unlock 'em)!
Right, enough preamble! You want the juice, the digital scrolls outlining who's who and how to get 'em. Big thanks again to Josh Broadwell and Polygon for mapping this out for us. Remember, there are 19 playable characters in total, so get ready for some serious roster management!
Here's the rundown:
* **Zelda:** Playable from the start (as she should be, frankly!) * **Rauru:** Playable in Chapter 1, "Way of the Blade" * **Mineru:** Complete Chapter 1, "Where Ancient Wisdom Sleeps" * **Mysterious Construct:** Complete Chapter 2, "The Howling Tempests" * **Calamo:** Complete Chapter 2, "The Howling Tempests" * **Typhan:** Complete Chapter 2, "The Howling Tempests" * **Quino:** Complete the "For Hyrule" side quest (unlocks after "The Howling Tempests") * **Agraston:** Complete Chapter 3, "Crisis on Death Mountain" * **Qia:** Complete Chapter 3, "Lanayru Defiled" * **Raphica:** Complete Chapter 3, "Shadows in the Snow" * **Vence:** Complete Chapter 3, "Shadows in the Snow" * **Lago:** Complete "A Veteran's Return" side quest (unlocked after clearing "Lanayru Defiled") * **Ardi:** Complete Chapter 4, "Terror of the Sands" * **Pinnec:** Complete "The Unsung Spearman" side quest (unlocks alongside "Terror of the Sands" at the start of Chapter 4) * **Cadlan:** Complete "The Strength to Protect" side quest (unlocks after clearing Chapter 4, "Crimson Omen") * **Sholani:** Complete the "Standing on Principle" side quest (unlocks after clearing Chapter 4, "Crimson Omen") * **Pastos:** Complete "A Lone Wolf's Pride" side quest (unlocks after clearing Chapter 4, "Crimson Omen") * **Ronza:** Complete the "In Search of Power" side quest (unlocks after clearing Chapter 4, "Crimson Omen") * **Braton:** Complete the "Gourmand Goron" side quest (unlocks after clearing Chapter 4, "Crimson Omen")
And there you have it, a proper lineup of Hyrule's finest, ready to hack and slash their way through whatever 'Age of Imprisonment' throws at them. It's a decent mix of old favourites (Zelda and the Sages, obviously) and some intriguing new blood. Who are you most excited to try out, eh? That rhythm-game fighter has my curiosity piqued, I won't lie. Happy battling, legends!
**Source:** Polygon, article by Josh Broadwell.
Tags: Hyrule Warriors, Nintendo, Zelda, Action RPG, Gaming Guide
Original article: Polygon