In the Legend of Zelda series, Dampé is a recurring figure often found near Hyrule's graveyards. Despite his unnerving appearance, he often proves beneficial to Link in his various journeys. His roles vary from gravekeeper to treasure hunter to unfortunate ghost.
First appearing in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Dampé has remained a mainstay in the series since. Most recently his appearance in the remake of Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening sees him overseeing dungeons as opposed to graves. Despite having multiple versions across multiple games, several similarities remain consistent throughout.
Just as there are many versions of Link, Zelda, and Gannon in the Legend of Zelda series, as well as Zora Princesses always in love with Link, so too are there multiple Dampés. Though each shares some common traits, such as being linked to the local graveyard and a generally unsettling visage, there are variations in his exact role during the games. Some games see him as a simple gravekeeper, while others see him delving into the graves to find a lost treasure or even becoming a part of the graveyard he once tended.
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Offers The First Look At Dampé
The Dampé in Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time tends the Kakariko Village graveyard. During the childhood section of the game, he will offer to give a guided tour of the graveyard and even dig up treasures for Link to aid in his quest. In Link's adulthood, Dampé has unfortunately ed on, but his spirit possesses an invaluable treasure. By digging up his grave and beating his spirit in a race, Link can claim one of the most useful items in Ocarina of Time: the Hookshot.
In Majora's Mask, Dampé Doesn't Let His Fear Of Ghosts Stop Him
In Termina during the events of Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, Dampé can be found at the Ikana Graveyard. While his fear of ghosts makes his job difficult, this doesn't stop Link from finding him beneath the graveyard on the final day, hunting for the treasure of the Ikana Royal Family. He lost his lantern in the process and asks Link and his companion fairy to guide him to the treasure. His bravery only goes so far, however, as a particularly big spirit sends him scuttling back to his house.
Dampé In Other Legend of Zelda Games
In Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures, Dampé lives northwest of the graveyard in The Swamp. After dispatching several spirits surrounding his house, this Dampé will bemoan his inability to do his job with the rampaging creatures outside. He then soon calms down. He will then treat the Links to a story of a magical mirror lost somewhere in the Forest of Light, and how the Forest of Light is now covered in darkness. This makes it sound like a perfect job for the magic power of the light arrows. Then, during the end credits, Dampé can be seen walking in a peaceful graveyard, happily doing his job.
When Link encounters Dampé in Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, he is in charge of the Royal Valley Cemetery. It is rumored that he communicates with the spirits interred in the cemetery and that he can fuse Kinstones with them. After Link informs him of his summons by the ghost of a king, Dampé muses that he has also seen such a spirit before letting Link into the cemetery. Once Link's business in the cemetery is concluded, he can fuse Kinstones with Dampé to unlock various locations and rewards throughout Hyrule.
While Dampé doesn't appear in every Legend of Zelda game, like how Zelda doesn't appear in Majora's Mask, his many versions share a good number of similarities - and each has a unique spin on his character that makes encountering him in each game a treat. His varied personality helps make up for his static role as gravekeeper. Whether Link helps him attempt to rob a royal tomb or goes on a graveyard tour, Dampé is a familiar, if unsettling, mainstay in the series.
