The world of Hyrule has faced countless threats over the ages, from the Calamity Ganon to the ancient Demon King himself. Yet among the many memorable antagonists of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, one figure stands out — not for his raw power or ancient malice, but for his sheer absurdity. Master Kohga, the rotund and theatrical leader of the Yiga Clan, was last seen rocketing out of the Depths with a declaration of revenge echoing in the darkness. With no further DLC planned for Tears of the Kingdom, fans have been left wondering: could this comical villain actually become the central threat of a future Zelda title? The pieces are all in place, and the answer may be both hilarious and surprisingly menacing.

The Yiga Clan has always been a source of comic relief in the Breath of the Wild saga. These banana-obsessed, red-clad ninjas concoct ridiculous schemes, from disguising themselves as fortune-telling Cuccos to hiding in plain sight on roadside posts. Master Kohga himself is the pinnacle of this ludicrousness — an egotistical man who throws tantrums when his plans go awry and yet commands absolute loyalty from his followers. But beneath the slapstick lies a surprisingly competent organization. They stole the Thunder Helm from the Gerudo, engineered the Lightning Helm in Tears of the Kingdom, and mastered the use of Zonai devices to build a fleet of war machines in the Depths. Could it be that this bumbling clan is actually capable of something far more dangerous?

One cannot help but ask: what if Kohga’s exit was not a punchline, but a setup? His rocket-propelled departure from the final encounter feels like classic foreshadowing, the kind that typically heralds a grand return. Given the long lifespans of Hylians and Sheikah, it is entirely plausible that Kohga could menace a future generation of heroes. Even more intriguing is the possibility of his bodyguard Sooga finally appearing in the main timeline. Sooga’s presence in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity established him as a formidable and fiercely loyal warrior, yet he remains absent from Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. A reintroduction of Sooga alongside Kohga would add a layer of genuine danger to the Yiga, transforming them from punchlines into serious antagonists.

For a Yiga-centric threat to sustain an entire game, however, Kohga alone may not suffice. He is, after all, more buffoon than mastermind. But what if his role is not to serve as the final boss, but to trigger the arrival of a far greater evil? The Yiga are fanatical devotees of Ganon, and Kohga has already demonstrated an obsession with resurrecting his fallen master. Imagine a plot where Kohga, through a mix of accidental genius and sheer persistence, succeeds where others have failed. He could unwittingly follow instructions left behind by Twinrova — the Gerudo witches briefly glimpsed in a Dragon Tear memory — and initiate a ritual that drags Hyrule back into conflict with the Demon King. The comedy of Kohga fumbling his way toward an apocalyptic disaster writes itself, and the whiplash between his buffoonery and the horror of Ganon’s return would be unforgettable.

This kind of narrative twist would not be unprecedented. The Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons duology already featured Ganon’s resurrection by Koume and Kotake, and the series has always toyed with the idea that even incompetent followers can trigger world-ending events. Kohga’s over-the-top personality, combined with his cult’s unwavering loyalty, makes him a perfect vessel for such a story. He is arguably the most persistent and entertaining minor antagonist the series has produced in decades, and leaving his revenge arc unresolved would be a missed opportunity.

Of course, one might argue that the Legend of Zelda franchise does not need to elevate a gag character to the role of main villain. But this is precisely what makes the idea so compelling. Kohga subverts expectations. He is not another ancient curse or power-hungry sorcerer; he is a man-child with a rocket and a dream. The juxtaposition of his comedic lunacy against the grim reality of Ganon’s resurrection could heighten both the humor and the drama. Picture a final confrontation where Ganon, upon being revived, regards Kohga with utter contempt — perhaps even obliterating the Yiga leader as an afterthought — forcing Link to confront the true evil while the source of his troubles lies smoldering in the corner. It would be a moment that perfectly balances light and dark, a hallmark of the best Zelda stories.

As of 2026, with no new mainline Zelda game announced yet, speculation runs rampant. Nintendo has a golden chance to turn a fan-favorite walking punchline into something far more significant. Master Kohga’s rocket may have carried him out of Tears of the Kingdom, but it could just as well propel him straight into the role of the next unforgettable instigator of chaos. So here is the question every Hylian should be asking: is the real danger the Demon King, or the fool who wakes him up? In Kohga’s case, it may very well be both.