Abstaining from KOS-MOS
Impa
Chance: 14%
Impa is one of the Smash Ballot forerunners for the the 6th Zelda rep, largely gaining popularity due to her roles in Skyward Sword and Hyrule Warriors, as well as the fact most of the other most commonly requested Zelda characters (such as Midna, Ghirahim, and Tingle) have been reduced to Assist Trophies. She is a recurring character throughout the entire Zelda series (which has given her quite the importance, another trait that boosts her chances), and there are many different iterations of her, though when people think of "Smash Bros Impa", the Skyward Sword and the Hyrule Warriors version of her what come to mind.
Why then are her chances low? For starters, many fans think she would be another Sheik clone (since both are Sheikahs), and the very thought of another clone character may not be that convincing for fans. Perhaps her biggest issue is the fact the Zelda series doesn't really have any of its own characters that are leading the Smash Ballot in popularity (in other words, the level of demand for characters like Impa, Tetra, and Beast Ganon aren't as high in ballot popularity as K.Rool, Isaac, Shovel Knight, etc.). This makes another Zelda rep for this iteration less likely at this point, but not entirely impossible as the Zelda series is one of Nintendo's biggest franchises. It we were to get another Zelda rep through DLC, I have confidence that she is one of the strongest candidates.
Want: 85%
I've been interested in seeing Impa in Smash ever since her role in Skyward Sword, and it did increase with Hyrule Warriors release. Being a character who has appeared in practically every Zelda game, who also has an important role in regards to her relationship with Zelda, I think she is one of those characters that deserves to be the next Zelda rep.
I know there are many incarnations of Impa, but I think a design closely resembling the Skyward Sword version fits best since its a newer design, and it definitely captures her fighting spirit the most (at least in my opinion, as I know the same could be said about the Ocarina of Time Impa as well). I'd be OK with a Hyrule Warriors version as well; I mean, that version seems to combine the designs of both the Skyward Sword Impa and the OoT Impa (HW Impa has the gray-colored hair of the Oot Impa and the Japanese-fighter style clothing of the Skyward Sword Impa).
I know many think she could end up becoming another Sheik clone, but I think she still has some unique potential. I can't elaborate on a moveset right now, but you could take a
few (not all) elements from Hyrule Warriors and mix it with what she can do in Skyward Sword. One move I'm interested in seeing her use is one that involves a harp because when Link re-unites with Zelda in Skyward Sword, Zelda holds a harp and is with Impa, so perhaps Impa has some knowledge with that instrument and could use her to her advantage in Smash. Maybe she could use also use that ball of energy for one her specials (the one that she uses before escaping with Zelda in the same game). She could even have treatment similar to Luigi, where she would feel like truly distinct character despite sharing moves with another character already on the roster.
If she won't be in this iteration of Smash, I wouldn't mind. Tetra is also up there for my next Zelda rep pick, so if she gets in over Impa, I'd be OK.
Predictions:
Poke Floats:
4.82%
Mahjong Ti-
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Really? We are actually rating the Mahjong Tile tomorrow?
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Ok then...
Mahjong Tile (Yakuman):
0.00%
Nominations:
Fawful (Mario and Luigi):
x3
Spear Pillar:
x2