The Imprisoned

The Imprisoned is a boss in SS undefined. It is a black beast imprisoned in the Sealed Grounds, and haunts Link's dreams in the opening of the game. Due to the seal placed in the past upon Demise by the goddess Hylia after failing to obtain the Triforce, he assumes this monstrous form throughout most of the game.

History
In the present era, Zelda uses the Gate of Time in order to return to the time where Demise was recently sealed. Entering an age-long sleep to sustain her mortal body, she managed to keep the seal intact until, thousands of years later, The Imprisoned grows strong enough to overcome it. He is driven back three times, initially by Link alone and later with Groose's help. In each instance, Link must topple The Imprisoned over and drive the sealing spike back into its forehead, and finally deliver a Skyward Strike to the spike to reset the seal.

Eventually, Link manages to acquire the complete Triforce, and wishes for the eradication of Demise. With Demise gone, Zelda awakes, since the seal she was sustaining was no longer necessary. At this point however, Ghirahim intervenes, capturing Zelda and bringing her to the past, where his master could still be revived. Despite his subsequent defeat by Link's hands, the ritual Ghirahim had begun to perform is completed, restoring Demise to his previous form.

Characteristics
The Imprisoned is a massive beast with three rows of teeth and large black scales across its body that have red detailing. It has black flame-like spines across its back, and four large white appendages on each of its feet that resemble toes.

The first time the beast escapes its seal, it only has two legs. The second time it gains arms, which also have white appendages, and tries to climb up to the Sealed Temple. During the third battle, it has a tail and can fly by releasing a large, floating black halo from its back which carries it through the air.

Strategy
In all three battles, the general strategy for The Imprisoned is to destroy all eight of the appendages on its feet, causing it to fall down, then drive the Sealing Spike into its head. Link can also get a level above The Imprisoned then jump on its head and attack the Sealing Spike. However, The Imprisoned will throw Link off its head if he is too slow, forcing the hero to try once more. Despite this, the spike will retain its current depth. Driving the Sealing Spike into The Imprisoned's head three times will cause the beast to explode and be absorbed into the spike which will plummet back down to the original location. Link must then use a Skyward Strike onto the seal and follow a pattern to complete the seal.

During the second and third battle, Link will be accompanied by Groose who has built a machine, the Groosenator. Link can use the Groosenator to prevent The Imprisoned from climbing up the slopes of the pit, and also to stun him if The Imprisoned gets too far ahead or unapproachable. In the third battle, when The Imprisoned takes flight, a hit from the Groosenator will knock him back down to earth. However, the earthquake blocks Groose's stash of Bombs, so Groose must fling Link onto The Imprisoned's head.

If The Imprisoned manages to reach the Sealed Temple, Link receives a Game Over.

Hyrule Warriors
In, The Imprisoned appears as a giant boss in several Legend and Adventure Mode's stages. In Legend Mode, it appears as a boss in the Scenarios "Sealed Ambition" and "The Demon Lord."

The Imprisoned appears identical to how it appeared in Skyward Sword, and is fought the same way. The Imprisoned will stomp around the battlefield, and occasionally sends red shock waves pulsating from its feet or as a brief force field that attempts to strike down opponents. Its eight toes must be attacked and destroyed, which will knock The Imprisoned down and expose its Weak Point Gauge. Unlike its previous incarnation from Skyward Sword, its entire body becomes vulnerable in this stage. It eventually regains mobility and slithers around in a rampage before eventually getting back up onto its feet again. At about half health, The Imprisoned's steps gain an electric shock wave, and it will sometimes make a smaller, quicker step after three normal steps. In "Sealed Ambition", the Imprisoned gains an additional strategy when it reaches key Keeps. It will fly up into the air using its black halo and attack the Keep. The Warrior must then activate the Groosenators within these Keeps to knock it down, damaging it and exposing its Weak Point Gauge. Failing to do so will allow The Imprisoned to destroy the Keep.

In, during the Linkle's Tale Scenario, "The Demon Lord's Plan", Ghirahim attempts many times to summon the Imprisoned but, due to the fact that his forces have not completely taken over the Sealed Grounds map, the ritual continues to fail and only summons small, weaker versions of the Imprisoned randomly around the map.

The Imprisoned will occasionally drop The Imprisoned's Scales Silver Material when defeated, and rarely The Imprisoned's Pillar Gold Material.

Smaller, weaker versions also appear in certain Adventure Mode stages that act as Captains. They possess a laser beam attack which exposes their Weak Point Gauge afterwards. They can be attacked normally, and do not drop Materials.

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
In, The Imprisoned appears as a Trophy.