The Imprisoned

The Imprisoned is a black beast featured in Skyward Sword. It is the soulless shell of Demise, having been sealed away in the ancient past, first by Hylia and then by Link (at the conclusion of the game). This monster is imprisoned in the Sealed Grounds, and haunts Link's dreams in the opening of the game. It is the boss of the aforementioned location, and is fought three times throughout the game. 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.

Interestingly, the seal upon The Imprisoned - which Link is forced to renew three times - appears to be the result of Link defeating Demise at the end of the game (this also explains why a Skyward Strike is needed to reset the seal). In this sense, the 'final' destruction of Demise does not take place at the conclusion of the game, but shortly before it, when the Triforce is used to vanquish The Imprisoned in the present era. The final battle with Demise himself has, technically, already occurred the very first time Link faces the Imprisoned and must renew the seal.

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

The first time it appears, 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 black ring 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, and then driving the spike into it head. Doing this three times will cause it to be absorbed into the spike, which Link will seal into the ground.

During the second and third battle, Link will be accompanied by Groose who has built a machine, the Groosenator, which is a rail around the pit with a cart that has a catapult which he uses to fling large bombs at The Imprisoned, temporarily stunning him. 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, or if The Imprisoned takes flight it will knock him back down to earth. During the third battle, Groose's stash of bomb flowers will be blocked off, and he will have to fling Link onto The Imprisoned's head.

Another tactic during the second and third battle is for Link to get a level above The Imprisoned and have Groose stun him with a bomb, then jump on The Imprisoned's head and attack the spike. Doing this quickly will result in The Imprisoned beginning its next wave of attacks. However, if Link is too slow, The Imprisoned will throw him off his head and Link will have to try again, although the spike will remain in its depth. This tactic can be essential during Lanayru's Boss Challenge as Link can receive little to no damage using this tactic, and get the battle over quickly.