Yiga Clan Guide — Hideout, Disguise & Rewards

The Yiga Clan is a recurring faction of Ganondorf's ninja-style servants who ambush Link throughout Hyrule. In TotK, they've established The Depths as their primary base of operations and have hidden schematics (Zonai blueprints) in their Depths outposts. This guide covers everything — encounters, the disguise mechanic, and the schematic reward chain.

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Who Are the Yiga Clan?

The Yiga Clan are humans who defected from Hyrule and pledged loyalty to Ganondorf. They disguise themselves as ordinary NPCs to ambush Link. In TotK, they've expanded significantly — establishing bases in The Depths, constructing Zonai-powered weapons, and posing a structured threat rather than just random encounters.

Yiga enemy types: | Enemy | Threat Level | Notes | |-------|-------------|-------| | Yiga Footsoldier | Low | Spawns randomly in world as disguised NPC | | Yiga Blademaster | Medium | Teleports behind Link, stronger sword | | Yiga Elite | High | Appears in Depths bases; uses Zonai weapons | | Master Kohga | Boss (4 phases) | Main Yiga questline boss |

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Random Yiga Ambushes

Yiga Clan members disguise themselves as travelers and common NPCs throughout the surface world. When you approach, they reveal themselves and attack.

How to spot them:

• Suspiciously placed lone travelers in dangerous areas
• NPCs who don't respond normally to conversation
• Characters wearing travel clothes in odd locations (mountain peaks, cliff edges)
• Gives away quickly — they leap into attack when you're close

When triggered: Random Yiga ambushes increase in frequency if you've been making progress in the main quest. Later in the game, ambush frequency is higher.

Drops: Yiga Footsoldiers drop Arrows, Bombs, and occasionally Mighty Bananas (Yiga's preferred food). Blademasters drop better weapons.

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The Yiga Clan Mask (Disguise)

How to get it: The Yiga Clan Mask is obtained from one of the Depths Yiga Clan bases (see Schematics section). Once obtained, wearing it causes Yiga enemies to treat you as one of their own temporarily.

What it does:

• Yiga Footsoldiers and Blademasters won't initiate attacks
• Allows you to walk through Yiga camps without combat
• Breaks if you perform any hostile action or get too close to a Blademaster for too long
• Does NOT fool Yiga Elite fighters in base interiors
• Useful for passing through surface ambush areas quickly

Tip: Equip Yiga Mask when crossing areas with high random-ambush frequency to travel uninterrupted.

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Master Kohga — Boss Questline

Master Kohga is the bumbling but persistent leader of the Yiga Clan. He appears across 4 boss fights, each in a different Depths location as he retreats deeper into The Depths.

Fight 1 — Abandoned Kohga Base (Near Eldin)

Mechanic: Kohga uses a large spiked ball suspended overhead. Use Ultrahand to move the ball and drop it on him when he floats over the center platform.

Location: First Depths region after entering via Hyrule Castle area Depths access.

Reward: Schematic → Vehicle blueprint (basic wheeled machine)

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Fight 2 — Second Kohga Base

Mechanic: Kohga now has TWO spiked balls. He tosses them at platforms — use Ultrahand to catch and redirect them at him. Timing is slightly harder.

Location: Deeper Depths region, accessible after finding the second base entrance.

Reward: Schematic → More advanced vehicle blueprint

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Fight 3 — Third Kohga Base

Mechanic: THREE balls now, plus Kohga has a water-jet attack. Use Ultrahand to manage all three and land a hit. He moves more erratically.

Location: Far Depths, requiring significant exploration or hoverbike travel to reach.

Reward: Schematic → Advanced Zonai device blueprint

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Fight 4 — Final Kohga Base

Mechanic: Kohga's most complex fight. Uses a combination of previous mechanics plus new arena hazards. The arena has moving platforms over a gloom pit.

Location: Deepest Depths region near the Gerudo Depths underground.

Reward: Final schematic + Kohga is defeated

Post-fight: Master Kohga falls dramatically. The Yiga Clan questline concludes.

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Yiga Clan Depths Bases

Throughout The Depths, there are ~10+ Yiga Clan outposts marked by their distinctive red banners and Yiga Clan iconography. Each contains:

• Yiga Elite fighters (harder than surface ambush types)
• A schematic reward (Zonai device blueprint) in the central chest
• Yiga combat training arena (optional challenge)
• Mighty Banana stockpiles

How to find them: Look for red banners visible from hoverbike altitude. They're concentrated in accessible corridors between major Depths regions.

Stealth vs. Combat:

• Full stealth clear (Sheikah set equivalent gear + crouch movement) avoids most encounters
• Combat clear with Riju lightning + charged two-hander handles groups fastest
• The Yiga Clan Mask does NOT fully work inside the bases — Elites will still attack

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Zonai Schematics — What You Get

Each Yiga base and Kohga fight rewards a Schematic — a Zonai device blueprint that teaches the Autobuild ability a new saved design:

| Source | Schematic Type | |--------|---------------| | Kohga Fight 1 | Wheeled cart design | | Kohga Fight 2 | Fan-powered platform | | Kohga Fight 3 | Rocket sled | | Kohga Fight 4 | Advanced combat vehicle | | Depths bases (×6+) | Various: mine cart, steering rig, hoverbike variants |

Autobuild integration: After collecting schematics, open Autobuild (R + A) to find the new blueprints available in your saved designs. These give you instant one-button construction of complex vehicles.

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Strategy Tips

For random ambushes:

• Don't panic — Yiga Footsoldiers have very low HP. A single flurry rush kills them.
• Collect the Mighty Banana drops — useful for Stamina recovery and selling.
• The Yiga Clan Mask (once acquired) ends most surface ambush problems.

For Depths bases:

• Enter from above if possible — hoverbike landing on the outpost roof skips exterior guards.
• Clear archers first — they're the most dangerous at range.
• The central chest with the schematic is always in the main structure.

For Master Kohga fights:

• Each Kohga fight requires Ultrahand — if you forget this mechanic, the fight is frustrating. Think of it as a Ultrahand puzzle, not a combat challenge.
• Kohga takes exactly 1 ball-hit per health phase. No need to burst DPS.
• The arena over gloom pits means a mistimed Ultrahand grab can cost you — take your time.

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Rewards Summary

| Item | Source | Benefit | |------|--------|---------| | Yiga Clan Mask | Depths base | Disguise from surface Yiga | | Zonai Schematics (4) | Kohga fights | Autobuild blueprints | | Zonai Schematics (6+) | Depths bases | More Autobuild blueprints | | Mighty Bananas | All Yiga drops | Stamina recovery food | | Yiga weapons | Blademaster drops | Functional combat weapons |

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See also: Depths Survival Guide | Zonai Builds Guide | Sage Abilities Guide