“Aw, yeah! Check it!” – Purah, Age of Calamity
The young eccentric genius and researcher of ancient Sheikah technology knows how to make an entrance. Gone is the short, cute design known to players in Breath of the Wild as, one hundred years ago in the events of Age of Calamity, Purah was a snazzy and stylistic researcher ready to click and snap her way through the battle against Calamity Ganon. Familiar red glasses sit high on Purah’s whirlwind of white hair, striped with a single pink streak matching the wicked eyeshadow. This is a researcher ready to rock it out and excite everyone with her discoveries.
First introduced in a research facility of her own making, Purah is an excited scientist eager to research the new little Guardian brought to her by Impa, Zelda, and Link. She is able to extract visual data, warning everyone of the devastation in Hyrule’s future and setting up the storyline for Age of Calamity. Later she leads a research expedition to discover the purpose of the Sheikah Towers reaching for the sky. If anyone can figure it out, Purah can, and that’s exactly what she does. Her guidance helps the others activate the towers all across Hyrule.
The research never stops. As Zelda, Urbosa, and Link admire the view of the Sheikah tower, Purah paces, tapping away at her Sheikah Slate. So caught up in her thoughts and investigation, she doesn’t notice Zelda asking her question. It takes a second inquiry for Purah to share her thoughts and express her excitement—an excitement that nearly loses them the Sheikah Slate. One clumsy step and the Sheikah Slate goes flying, fortunately caught just before it falls off the tower. Clumsiness is a trait that seems to run in the family.
The relationship between Impa and Purah is not explored in Age of Calamity, but we do see how the two took on very different lifestyles. Impa is a martial artist who protects the royal family while Purah dedicated herself to Sheikah research. Just because Purah didn’t take the path of a warrior, doesn’t mean she’s not useful. Her calculations discover the location of the Yiga Clan’s Hideout and aid Urbosa’s mission upon Divine Beast Vah Naboris. She even figures out how to teleport with the use of the Sheikah Slate and Towers—without warning to Zelda’s disdain. Who can blame Purah for getting excited about being able to teleport members of the army with a click of the button, a power she expands to great lengths to move whole armies by the end of the war.
In the main game, Purah remains an NPC, appearing in cutscenes to move the story along. The Age of Calamity expansion pack gave Purah a new chance to shine. Partnered with genius eccentric Robbie, Purah is added to the roster of playable characters, showing their worth on the battlefield. Technically, Purah remains an unplayable character, following Robbie around similar to Terrako following the player, but Robbie would not be able to slash through monsters without her.
Robbie and Purah’s weapon of choice is a pair of Sheikah Arms which come in three forms. The Prototype Sheikah Arms, Refined Sheikah Arms, and the Ultimate Sheikah Arms, all making use of Sheikah technology to take down opponents. While Robbie slashes with the physical arms, Purah follows behind, activating special moves to make those arms hit all that much harder. Four of their attacks are based upon the powers of the Divine Beasts. When not activating abilities with a click and a snap, she follows behind, sometimes resting upon a Sheikah ball as Robbie dashes ahead. Purah may not be the martial artist like her sister or a guardian protecting Hyrule, but her brains and her love for Sheikah technology gave her the skills to be a key player in the fight against Calamity Ganon.
