List of The Legend of Zelda characters

Promotional artwork depicting several characters from The Legend of Zelda series and its spin-offs. Left to right: Fi, Impa, Darunia, Princess Zelda, Midna, Link, Ganondorf, Ghirahim, Lana, Zant, Sheik, Ruto and Agitha.

The Legend of Zelda is a high-fantasy video game series created by Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is primarily developed and published by Nintendo, although some portable installments have been outsourced to Capcom, Vanpool and Grezzo; as well, Monolith Soft has assisted in the production of some mainline titles. The series' gameplay incorporates elements of action, adventure, and puzzle-solving games.

The series centers on Link, the playable character and protagonist who is often tasked with rescuing Princess Zelda and the kingdom of Hyrule from Ganon, who is the series' primary antagonist; however, other settings and antagonists have appeared in several games. The plots commonly involve the Triforce, a relic that is a set of three omnipotent golden triangles.

Since the original The Legend of Zelda's release in 1986, the series has expanded to include twenty entries on Nintendo's major game consoles, as well as several spin-offs. An American animated TV series based on the games aired in 1989. Individual manga adaptations commissioned by Nintendo have been produced in Japan since 1997. The Legend of Zelda is one of Nintendo's most prominent and successful franchises, and many of its games are considered by critics and fans alike to be among the greatest video games of all time.

Main characters

Link

Main article: Link (The Legend of Zelda)

Link is the silent protagonist of the series and the main playable character. He is a Hylian youth of varying age who has traditionally been depicted wearing a green cap and tunic. He has appeared as the hero of every game in the series, each time as a new iteration of the same character. Although each game stars a new variation of Link, he typically embarks on a journey across Hyrule to defeat evil, usually in the form of Ganon, and save Princess Zelda. To defeat his enemies, he typically obtains and wields the legendary Master Sword. Each incarnation of Link is humble, brave, and worthy to bear the Triforce of Courage, one of the three pieces that form the Triforce. As protagonist, Link has appeared in related media, including spin-off games such as Hyrule Warriors, comics and manga, and other video game series, such as Mario Kart 8 and the Super Smash Bros. series. Although he is mainly silent in the video games, he does speak in the Legend of Zelda cartoon series and the CD-i games from The Legend of Zelda series produced by Philips. Link was recognised as the second greatest video game character of all time behind Mario in the Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2011. Nintendo Life describes Link as "one of gaming's most iconic heroes", while GamesRadar describes him as, "one of the most enduring heroic archetypes". Time named him as one of the most influential video game characters of all time.

Princess Zelda

Main article: Princess Zelda

Princess Zelda is Hyrule's princess and the guardian of the Triforce of Wisdom. While older titles portray her as a "princess in peril" who Link needed to save from Ganon, since Ocarina of Time she has been developed as a more fully realized character, particularly in Breath of the Wild. Zelda is the reincarnation of the goddess Hylia in mortal form and is therefore capable of using various magical powers to aid Link, including light magic to seal away Ganon. She has also wielded the Bow of Light as a recurring weapon in the series. Zelda occasionally has aliases and alter egos, including Sheik in Ocarina of Time and Tetra in The Wind Waker and Phantom Hourglass. Despite being the titular character, Zelda is only a playable character in Spirit Tracks in the main series and the CD-i games, but is playable in spin-offs such as Hyrule Warriors, or other games, such as the Super Smash Bros. series. She was named as one of the most iconic female game characters of all time by Digital Spy. Along with Link, she was counted as one of the greatest video game characters of all time by the 2011 Guinness World Record Gamer's Edition.

Ganon

Main article: Ganon

Ganon is the series' primary villain and final boss. His specific motives vary across games, but general themes include seeking the Triforce for power and destruction and to conquer Hyrule, and kidnapping Princess Zelda as a means to this end. Like Link and Zelda, he is the bearer of one third of the Triforce: the Triforce of Power. Ganon was introduced as the main antagonist of the original The Legend of Zelda in the form of a blue boar and his role and appearance has since evolved over time. Over the course of the series, he has generally appeared in two forms: Ganon, a monstrous, demonic pig-like form, and Ganondorf, a humanoid Gerudo form first introduced in Ocarina of Time. In Breath of the Wild, he appears in two forms in the final boss fight as Calamity Ganon and Dark Beast Ganon. In Tears of the Kingdom, Ganondorf is known as the Demon King. His portrayal varies across each game in the series, ranging from a mute beast to a powerful warlock with formidable sword skills, but generally he is so powerful that only Link and Zelda are capable of defeating him. In addition to the main Zelda series, Ganon/Ganondorf appears as a playable character in spin-off games, including Hyrule Warriors and the Super Smash Bros. series. Ganon was recognized as one of the greatest video game villains of all time in a 2013 poll for Guinness World Records 2013 Gamer's Edition. In 2022, GamesRadar named him as one of the most iconic gaming villains of all time.

The Legend of Zelda, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, A Link to the Past, and Link's Awakening

Old Man

The Old Man appears in the original The Legend of Zelda and is notable for being the first character that Link meets in the series. He is encountered inside a cave and offers Link a sword, saying, "It's dangerous to go alone! Take this." Ozzie Mejia, writing for Shacknews, remarked that this quote has become synonymous with gaming in popular culture and has been referenced in various media. Jack Yarwood of GamesRadar called him "iconic" and commented that he acts as a tutorial for the player, who is otherwise given no clear direction. The Old Man was the inspiration for several other characters that appear in the series, including a similar character in Breath of the Wild.

Impa

Impa was introduced in the game manual for the original The Legend of Zelda as an elderly woman and member of the Sheikah who acts as caretaker to Princess Zelda and seeks out Link to save her from Ganon. She returns in Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, where she acts as a guide to Link. In Ocarina of Time, she plays a major role as a young warrior and Zelda's guardian. Her character design is similar in Skyward Sword, where she appears in both a young and elderly form. Breath of the Wild depicts her as a Sheikah elder in Kakariko Village, where she is about 120 years old. She is a playable character in Hyrule Warriors and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity as a young warrior. In Tears of the Kingdom, she has retired and is investigating the Geoglyphs that have appeared around Hyrule, tasking Link with finding the Dragon's Tears and the memories they hold. Impa's characterisation was praised by Jenni Lada of Siliconera, who admired her for being an intelligent warrior and a respected character.

Impa's character design has evolved significantly over the course of the series, having been depicted in various forms and ages to fulfill various roles in the games. In her first appearance, Impa was created as an elderly woman for the instruction manual of The Legend of Zelda. In Ocarina of Time, she appears as a slimmer, younger character with a sturdy build and hair tied back in a ponytail. By contrast, she was designed as an overweight woman for Oracle of Seasons. In Skyward Sword, she appears as younger and older versions of the same character due to the storyline shifting in time and is dressed in Sheikah attire. The younger version of Impa was given an androgynous appearance, while her older version wears a costume designed to reflect the passage of time, including a pendulum braid and a triangular robe that becomes a sundial. In Breath of the Wild, she appears as a much older village elder with a short, shrunken stature. In Hyrule Warriors, she is depicted as an athletic warrior, which is similar to her appearance in Ocarina of Time and her younger form in Skyward Sword. In Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, which features the younger self of her Breath of the Wild incarnation, she is portrayed as a powerful fighter and strongly resembles her future granddaughter, Paya. Impa's design, abilities, and gestures in Age of Calamity drew heavy inspiration from Naruto Uzumaki.

Throughout her many incarnations, she bears the typical traits of the Sheikah tribe, having white hair and red eyes. She also typically displays the Sheikah symbol, an eye with three triangles above and a teardrop below, on her forehead or clothing. As a representative of her people, she wears the unique garments of the Sheikah, which take inspiration from historical Japanese clothing. As a member of the Sheikah, Impa is highly skilled in combat and the use of magic.

Dark Link

Dark Link (also known as Shadow Link) is a recurring boss and doppelgänger of Link with a black color scheme and red eyes,who first appeared as the final boss of The Adventure of Link. He is a mini boss in the Water Temple in Ocarina of Time and is capable of mirroring his movements in combat. Dark Link appears in A Link to the Past and Four Swords in the optional dungeon Palace of the Four Swords, which requires the player to defeat four versions of him. He makes recurring appearances in Four Swords Adventures, and also appears in Oracle of Ages, where multiple Shadow Links are summoned by the sorceress Veran during the final battle. He also appears in a mini game in Spirit Tracks and the Den of Trials in Tri Force Heroes. The Dark Set, an obtainable armor set in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom is based on his appearance. He is also a downloadable costume in the spin-off Hyrule Warriors and an optional costume for Link in most entries of the Super Smash Bros. series. Game Informer considered Dark Link in The Adventure of Link as one of the top ten best Zelda boss fights, describing it as, "a notoriously difficult battle". Den of Geek praised Dark Link in Ocarina of Time as one of the series' most creative battles as his counter moves force the player to try different methods to defeat him. In 2010 IGN ranked Dark Link as 77th on its list of the Top 100 Video Game Villains for being a "formidable opponent, mirroring your moves and putting up a seemingly impenetrable defense".

Agahnim

Agahnim is an evil wizard and villain in A Link to the Past, who assisted the Royal Family by dispelling multiple plagues and became their trusted advisor for some time. However, he soon revealed his true intentions and seized power for himself by killing the King of Hyrule and brainwashing the castle soldiers. He also begins capturing the descendants of the Seven Sages and banishes them to the Dark World to release Ganon from his imprisonment. Link is unable to stop Agahnim from capturing Princess Zelda, as he escapes to the Dark World and drags Link with him. After a battle atop Ganon's Tower, prior to his defeat, it is revealed that his body is a vessel for Ganon's soul. Link faces Agahnim twice, first at the end of the light world and again near the end of the dark world, where he is assisted by two shadow clones. In the second battle, the player must distinguish between the shadow clones and the real Agahnim as they shoot projectiles at Link, who can bounce them back to defeat him. In Link's Awakening, Agahnim's Shadow is one of the Shadows of Link's former foes who attack him in the final battle at Koholint Island's Wind Fish Egg.

King of Hyrule

The King of Hyrule is the title given to the various ruling monarchs of Hyrule, who are generally the father of Princess Zelda in most incarnations. He appears in many entries, but his presence is often relegated to cameos, backstory, or lore. In The Minish Cap, Link must rescue King Daltus after Vaati turns him to stone and imprisons him. In The Wind Waker, Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule is later revealed to be the true identity of The King of Red Lions, the sentient red sailboat that accompanies Link and leads him to the Triforce of Courage, also helping Tetra to uncover her true identity as Zelda, ultimately usurping the Triforce to sink Hyrule. He later appears as a playable character in Hyrule Warriors Legends. In Breath of the Wild, the Old Man guides Link throughout the Great Plateau and helps him obtain the paraglider and is eventually revealed to be the spirit of King Rhoam Bosphoramus Hyrule. In the game's backstory, he prepared for the return of Calamity Ganon and put pressure on his daughter Zelda to awaken her sealing powers, but his efforts ended in failure and his death. King Rhoam returns as a playable character in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity.

Great Fairy

Great Fairies appear in almost every game in the series, residing in springs called "Great Fairy Fountains". They first appeared in the original The Legend of Zelda. Their designs have varied across the series, but they usually appear as voluptuous women. Their function is generally to help Link by bestowing hearts and upgrades. Ocarina of Time's Great Fairy designs moved away from traditional winged depictions and feature them with bright pink hair worn in braids and ivy across their body, with similar designs later being used in Majora's Mask. Visiting these fairies allows the player to replenish health and magic and receive upgrades that can be used in boss fights. In The Wind Waker, the Great Fairies resemble dolls with blank expressions, and upgrade Link's item inventory. Four Great Fairies, Cotera, Kayla, Mija and Tera appear in Breath of the Wild; they are scattered across Hyrule, and will upgrade Link's armor in exchange for materials. They return in Tears of the Kingdom, where they are found in different locations and can only be unlocked after being serenaded by a musical group called the Stable Trotters. In Hyrule Warriors, one of Link's unlockable weapons allows the player to control a Great Fairy, with Link held in a bottle that she carries with her. In Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, Great Fairies are secret characters that can be unlocked by completing four Fairy Fountain challenges.

Marin

Marin is a young girl who appears in Link's Awakening. She finds Link washed ashore on Koholint Island and nurses him back to health, after which she spends her time in the village with her father Tarin. Marin is loved by the villagers for her singing, specifically her favorite song, the Ballad of the Wind Fish. If the player does not die during the game, a secret ending is revealed after the credits, where the Wind Fish grants her desire to fly away from Koholint by reincarnating her as a seagull. Jenni Lada of Siliconera considered Marin to be one of the most charming aspects of the game because, rather than being a one-note character, she grows as a person and plays a major role in the story. Timothy Monbleau of Destructoid opined that Marin's close relationship with Link marked a change in the series that resulted in more personal character stories in subsequent games, changing Zelda's role, and revealing more information about Link's character. Marin appears as a trophy in Super Smash Bros. Melee and as a playable character through downloadable content in Hyrule Warriors Legends.

Ocarina of Time

Main article: Characters of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Majora's Mask

Tingle

Main article: Tingle (character)

Tingle is a eccentric middle-aged man who is obsessed with fairies and believes himself to be the reincarnation of one. He first appears in Majora's Mask, where he wears a green body suit and floats around on a balloon selling maps. He reappears in Wind Waker, first in a jail room located on Windfall Island, and then in a tall wooden tower, where he acts as a map maker. He also appears in Oracle of Ages, Four Swords Adventures and The Minish Cap. He makes cameo appearances in Phantom Hourglass as a poster, in Spirit Tracks as a shop figurine, and in Skyward Sword as a doll in Zelda's room at the Knight Academy. Tingle has gained notoriety due to being disliked by American players and has not appeared in the main series since Twilight Princess. He ranked first on IGN's list of the weirdest Zelda characters. IGN staff expressed their distain for the character with a 2004 "Die, Tingle, Die! Die!" Campaign", describing him as a "nutty clown freak" and stating, "we hate Tingle, we want him dead, and we're not going to stand for him in another Zelda game". He has starred in his own games, including Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland and Ripened Tingle's Balloon Trip of Love. He is also a playable character via downloadable content in Hyrule Warriors. His suit is an obtainable armour set in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.

The Minish Cap and The Wind Waker

Vaati

Vaati (Japanese: グフー, Hepburn: Gufū) is the antagonist of The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords, Four Swords Adventures and The Minish Cap. His most common appearance is a black orb with a single eye, though he was originally a human sorcerer. In Four Swords, Vaati is initially sealed in the Four Sword, but escapes and captures Princess Zelda, only for Link, who was split into four by the sword's power, return him it. In the sequel, Four Swords Adventures, he escapes with Princess Zelda with help from Ganon, forcing Link to be split up again to defeat him. Before the events of The Minish Cap, Vaati was a Picori that became corrupted by the evil in the hearts of mankind. He used the Wishing Cap created by his master, Ezlo, to transform into a Hylian sorcerer and curse him into his current hat-like form, now seeking the power of the Light Force.

Beedle

Beedle, also known as Terry in other localizations, is a traveling merchant who sells Link items. He also values his consumers with rewards discounts. He first appears in The Wind Waker, where he can be found on islands in the Great Sea on his boat shop. In The Minish Cap, he appears in Hyrule Town selling Picolyte after Link fuses kinstones and clears the area with the Gust Jar. In Phantom Hourglass, he sells boat parts. In Spirit Tracks, he is seen soaring above in a balloon across New Hyrule. In Skyward Sword, he travels from his island home to Skyloft in a pedal-powered wooden shack with helicopter-type propellers, which also serves as his shop. In Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, he travels on foot with a large backpack, and is often seen at stables. IGN ranked him number 14 on its list of the weirdest Zelda characters.

Medli

Medli is a young Rito girl and the Sage of Earth as well as the apprentice attendant of Valoo, a powerful dragon and the Sky Spirit. When not serving Valoo, she tends to the young Prince Komali and practices her harp, the symbol of the Sage of Earth. Her ancestor Laruto, a Zora, was the original Sage, and teaches Link the Earth God's Lyric and appears to Medli in a vision to inform her of her sacred duty. Medli later travels to the Earth Temple with Link and helps him navigate it. She eventually begins offering up her prayers, which restores the energy and edge of the Master Sword. She also appears as a playable character in Hyrule Warriors through downloadable content. Josh Max of Nintendo World Report named Medli as his favourite Zelda character, describing her as "a little bird girl with a heart of gold". He praised her responsibility and kindness and noted that although she is unprepared to take on the role of sage and Valoo's attendant, she always tries her best and is a valuable ally in the game.

Twilight Princess, Skyward Sword, and Phantom Hourglass

Midna

Main article: Midna

Midna is the titular character of Twilight Princess. She is an imp-like creature and the princess of the Twili race, who serves as Link's companion and guide, like Navi in Ocarina of Time. She initially shows contempt for Link and uses him to further her own goals, but over time grows to like him as she helps him on his quest, as they share a common goal in defeating Zant, who invaded Hyrule and usurped the Twilight Realm's throne. When Link is transformed into a wolf in the Twilight Realm, she rides on his back and acts as his counterpart in battle. She is eventually revealed to be the true ruler of the Twilight Realm, the titular "Twilight Princess", who Zant overthrew and cursed into an impish form. At the end of the game, Midna's true form is revealed and she severs the connection with Hyrule by breaking the Mirror of Twilight. Midna returns in Hyrule Warriors as a playable character in both her imp and Twili forms. Destructoid listed Midna as one of the top ten best companions in gaming history, citing her cheeky character, her ability to help Link destroy enemies, and her emotional moments in the game. Jeff Levene, writing for The Escapist, also chose her as the best companion, describing her as a fully realized character with more layers than other companions.

Zant

Usurper King Zant is a sorcerer and the antagonist for the majority of Twilight Princess. He is the enemy of the Twili, who willingly offered himself to Ganondorf, whom he saw as a god, to dispose of their princess Midna and invade Hyrule. He dresses in an oversized robe with his head enclosed in a large silver helmet that resembles a chameleon's head. Rob Crossley of GameSpot remarked that Zant's personality "descends from composed usurper king to a confused, overpowered adolescent" as he becomes increasingly desperate, and described his story arc as "fascinating and overbearing and weird and brilliantly imaginative". The final battle against Zant involves fighting him in the arenas of other bosses and sub-bosses before fighting him in front of Hyrule Castle. Destructoid expressed a "hatred" for the character due to him being set up as the main villain, only to be reduced to a puppet of Ganondorf with no real power of his own. Zant also makes an appearance as a playable character in Hyrule Warriors. Zant's helmet is an obtainable armour piece in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.

Linebeck

Linebeck first appears in Phantom Hourglass, where he helps Link save the World of the Ocean King from Bellum and provides transport for Link in his ship, the S. S. Linebeck. During the first half of the game, he seeks to obtain the Ghost Ship's treasure. After the Ghost Ship's treasure is revealed to be a rumor Bellum devised to attract people to it, Oshus, who is revealed to be the Ocean King, promises Linebeck one wish if he continues to sail Link across the oceans, which will be granted after Bellum is defeated. In the endgame, Linebeck saves Link and Tetra from Bellum by stabbing him, after which Bellum possesses him to fight Link, but is ultimately killed and Linebeck is freed. When the now-restored Ocean King asks him what his wish is, Linebeck first questions whether he even has to make a wish, then decides that he wants his destroyed ship back rather than great treasure. In Spirit Tracks, Linebeck's grandson, Linebeck III, runs Linebeck Trading at the Trading Outpost in New Hyrule, and hires a bridgemaker to build a bridge for Link in exchange for a precious ring he retrieves from the original Linebeck's resting place.

Ghirahim

Demon Lord Ghirahim is a boss encountered throughout Skyward Sword. He seeks to kidnap Zelda to break the seal of the goddess Hylia so that the ancient evil Demise can be released, forcing Link to battle him to save her. Eiji Aonuma said that he wanted to include a different type of antagonist for the game in place of Ganon, so Ghirahim's delicate appearance was designed to contrast with Ganon's "very masculine, powerful, evil" image. In the final boss battle, Ghirahim is revealed to be the spirit of Demise's sword, given life so that he can resurrect his master. He returns to his sword form, but is ultimately defeated by the Master Sword during the climactic battle with Link. Kenneth Shepard of Kotaku described him as a "queer-coded menace" and noted that despite all of his theatricality and cockiness, him resorting to brute force in the final battle reveals his true character. Nintendo Life described Ghirahim as, "one of Nintendo's most edgy, downright creepy creations", noting his intimidating character and strange mannerisms. Outside the main series, Ghirahim appears in Hyrule Warriors and both Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as an Assist Trophy.

Demise

Demon King Demise is an evil deity and the final boss in Skyward Sword. He is presented as the origin of the evil that manifests throughout the history of Hyrule. Despite not being the first game in the series, Skyward Sword was designed to be the beginning of The Legend of Zelda timeline. In the ancient past, Demise invaded the world with his forces seeking to steal the Triforce from the goddess Hylia and have ultimate power over the world. To protect the Triforce, Hylia sealed him away in the Sealed Grounds. However, he takes on a monstrous form called The Imprisoned and attempts to escape by breaking the seal. His sword, which assumes the form of the Demon Lord Ghirahim, tracks down Hylia's reincarnation, Zelda, and uses her lifeforce to resurrect Demise. Impressed to see a Hylian like Link willing to stand up to him, Demise decides to battle him out of amusement. After Link mortally wounds him and restores Zelda's soul to her body, Demise's remains are sealed within the Master Sword. Before his end, Demise curses the future incarnations of Link and Zelda with the promise to manifest repeatedly throughout history. Within the history of the series, this is widely considered to be Ganondorf's origin as Demise's reincarnation. In Hyrule Warriors, Demise reappears in his Imprisoned form.

Fi

Fi (/faɪ/) is a female humanoid representation of the Goddess Sword, which later evolves into the Master Sword, who appears in Skyward Sword. She serves as Link's logical-minded companion and assists him throughout the game. Her design is based off of the Master Sword. In the end, after Demise is sealed within the Master Sword, Fi reveals her last order from the goddess is to let Link put her into an endless sleep within the weapon, which he does after encouragement from her and Zelda. She also appears in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, where she informs Zelda that Link can be saved by bringing him to the Shrine of Resurrection. Fi also appears as a playable character in Hyrule Warriors. Fi is voiced in Skyward Sword and Hyrule Warriors by Ayumi Fujimura.

Fi was first revealed at E3 2009 in concept art for Skyward Sword alongside Link. The designers created Fi to serve as a counterpart to the silent protagonist in order to provide hints, navigation and storytelling. Fi is a humanoid spirit that resides within a sword called the Goddess Sword, which eventually becomes the Master Sword. She has a metallic appearance and her voice is robotic, which gives the impression that she displays no emotion. She wears a cape, which opens up when she spins. Her appearance is predominantly blue and purple in colour. Beneath her cloak Fi appears to have no arms, though when she dances the cloth moves as though it were her limbs. She is revealed in Hyrule Historia to have arms hidden within her cloak. She wears a blue gem on her chest, a purple miniskirt and black tights with criss-crossed teal stripes. In the game she appears to wear heeled shoes that blend seamlessly with her tights but in early concept art she is described as barefoot. The shape of her cloak mimics the design of the sword's crossguard, the pattern on her legs mimics the cross grid pattern on the sword's hilt and her blue and purple colour scheme also reflects the sword's prominent colours. Fi's figure is feminine in appearance but the character is officially genderless. Her original function was different than it is in the final game, though the function was not specified. They used 1980s anime as a source of inspiration for Fi's design, with them saying that anime from that era would have the protagonist accompanied by a "beautiful personal assistant." They also intended for her design to resemble the Fairy Queen's from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. Despite the use of female pronouns, Fi is genderless.

Fi has been met with mostly negative reception. Critics and gamers considered her frequent interjections in gameplay to be annoying, comparing her unfavourably to Navi from Ocarina of Time. She has been criticized for hurting the pace or making the game more annoying to play by critics. Due to her repeated interruptions in the gameplay of Skyward Sword, she has been the subject of various internet memes. Venture Beat writer Sebastian Haley, however, felt she was less annoying, and considered her the best aspect of the game. The change of her hints to be optional was well-received by critics.

A Link Between Worlds

Yuga

Yuga is a powerful sorcerer and the main antagonist of A Link Between Worlds. His obsession with beauty and art compels him to transform his victims into paintings. In the game, Link uses this ability to merge with walls to travel between Hyrule and Lorule. Yuga conspires with Lorule's ruler Princess Hilda to infiltrate Hyrule and steal its Triforce to restore Lorule, which has crumbled into ruin as a result of its people destroying their Triforce. Rather than being another pawn in Ganon's plan to take over the world, Yuga decides to resurrect Ganon and use him to make himself more powerful by merging with him to become Yuga-Ganon. Link must defeat Yuga-Ganon in a boss fight that involves deflecting light arrows to hit him from behind. At a New York Comic Con panel, Eiji Aonuma explained that Yuga had been designed with long hair and physical features that make him "a little bit ambiguous gender-wise". Outside the main series, Yuga appears in downloadable content for Hyrule Warriors.

Ravio

Ravio is a mysterious merchant and a supporting character in A Link Between Worlds. He wears a purple outfit with a rabbit mask covering his face, referencing Link's transformation into a rabbit upon entering the Dark World in A Link to the Past. Ravio sets up a shop and rents equipment to Link for Rupees, and sends his pet bird Sheerow to retrieve rented items should Link fall in battle. Jim Sterling, writing for The Escapist, described Ravio as "really annoying" and disliked the rental system, as it requires the player to return to Ravio when they run out of health and rent the items again. Ravio is later revealed to be Link's counterpart in the Dark World, who attempted to stop Princess Hilda from stealing Hyrule's Triforce. GamesRadar's David Roberts thought that Ravio's reveal is one of the coolest moments in the series, describing it as a "brilliant yet subtle callback". Peter Tieryas of Kotaku responded positively to Ravio's role, noting that his rental system means that the player can tackle the game's dungeons in any order and that losing a life has more significance than in other Zelda games. He also considered Ravio's reveal as the cowardly version of Hyrule's hero as an opportunity to see Link in a new light. Ravio also appears as a playable character through downloadable content in Hyrule Warriors, where he uses the Rental Hammer as his primary weapon. His appearance is slightly altered to make him resemble the Hyrule Warriors incarnation of Link.

Breath of the Wild

Mipha

Mipha is the Zora Princess, Champion, and pilot of Divine Beast Vah Ruta, the Divine Beast that takes the form of an Elephant. Mipha was the first of the Champions to master her Divine Beast. Her signature weapon is the Lightscale Trident. She is voiced by Amelia Gotham in English and Mayu Isshiki in Japanese. Mipha, alongside the other three Champions, died during the battle with Calamity Ganon. In the game's backstory, Mipha and Link were once childhood friends. In the Memory "Mipha's Touch", Mipha reminisces with Link about their past and promises to always heal him. Mipha is shown to have romantic feelings for Link, to the extent that she makes Zora armor for him to wear, but it is not revealed whether he returns her affections. Her spirit is set free in the present day after Link awakens 100 years later and helps to reclaim control of Divine Beast Vah Ruta. Afterwards, she bestows a powerful healing skill, Mipha's Grace, upon him and sets Ruta up on a mountain to take aim on Calamity Ganon. She apologizes to her father for not returning safely and wishes that she could see her family again. Link honors her memory by wearing the Zora armor that she made for him and by aiding the Zora.

Mipha also appears in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity as a playable character. She wields the Lightscale Trident or Zora Spear in battle and has the ability to heal herself and her allies on the battlefield. She also uses her ability to manipulate water to create water-based attacks. Mipha plays a major role in the storyline as one of the four Champions. During a cutscene, she accepts her role as the Zora Champion, although her father King Dorephan says that it is only on the condition that she returns safely.

Lead artist Hirohito Shinoda stated in development notes that he based her design off of a dolphin. Cinematic designer Naoki Mori said that Mipha's relationship with Link was intended to be different to his relationship with Princess Zelda, commenting that "it almost ended up being too intense. I tried to balance things by making her into a quieter person".

Daruk

Daruk is the Goron Champion and pilot of Divine Beast Vah Rudania, the Divine Beast that takes the form of a lizard. Daruk’s signature weapon is the Boulder Breaker. He is voiced by Joe Hernandez in English and Koji Takeda in Japanese. He is usually energetic and upbeat, and he becomes ferocious during battle and believes in Link's fighting capabilities. When Link defeats Fireblight Ganon, He grants Link "Daruk's Protection," which protects Link from attacks. He then takes aim on Calamity Ganon. Daruk also appears as a playable warrior in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity. Cinematic designer Naoki Mori stated that Daruk is reminiscent of Darunia from Ocarina of Time because he calls Link "little guy", which serves as a homage to Darunia calling him "brother". He designed him to have a straightforward nature like the other Gorons while being the elder spiritual leader of the Champions. Lead artist Hierohito Shinoda added that he wanted Daruk to feel like an experienced leader that anyone can count on, with his hair looking like armour. He also focused on his body shape to ensure that he was bulky and muscular.

Revali

Revali is the Rito Champion and pilot of Divine Beast Vah Medoh. He is voiced in English by Sean Chiplock and Noboru Yamaguchi in Japanese. Revali is skilled in aerial battles and has exceptional sight and archery skills. He believes himself to be superior to Link, but changes his views after Link frees his spirit from Calamity Ganon by defeating Windblight Ganon. Once he does, Revali grants Link "Revali's Gale,” a powerful vertical wind current that blows him into the air. In Creating a Champion, cinematic designer, Naoki Mori stated that the Champions were designed as a throwback to characters in earlier games. He thought it would be interesting to create a character that does not accept Link as a hero like the other Champions, but wanted to ensure that he was not disliked for his overconfidence. The lead artist of NPCs, Hirohito Shinoda, stated that Revali was the first Rito character to be created for the game and defined the other Rito designs. Various bird motifs were considered for his design, including swallows and woodpeckers, before the team chose birds of prey. Shinoda also stated that it took a lot of experimentation to create a character that sees Link as his rival, but is unable to be honest about it. He also appears in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity as a playable character. VG247 reported that players lamented the absence of Revali's Gale in Tears of the Kingdom, describing it as the most useful of the four Champion abilities.

Urbosa

Main article: Urbosa

Urbosa is the Gerudo Champion and pilot of Divine Beast Vah Naboris. She is voiced by Elizabeth Maxwell in English and Rei Shimoda in Japanese. Urbosa is a strong and courageous leader who showcases care and concern for Princess Zelda's well-being, as she was good friends with Zelda's mother, the deceased Queen of Hyrule. Urbosa still feels bitter about her failure as a Champion one hundred years before. However, she is happy to be able to make up for her people's shame, as one of Ganon's previous incarnations was a Gerudo. She grants Link "Urbosa's Fury", a devastating electric attack. She also appears in Age of Calamity as a playable character. She was generally well-regarded, as she was considered one of the best characters of 2017 by Paste Magazine and Destructoid.

Sidon

Main article: Sidon (The Legend of Zelda)

Sidon is Mipha's younger brother and heir to the Zora throne, who is admired by the Zora for his strength and optimism. He is voiced by Jamie Mortellaro in English and Kosuke Onishi in Japanese. He aids Link in stopping Vah Ruta from flooding Zora's Domain and causing damage to the surrounding regions, as the Zoras, being weak to electricity, are unable to use the Shock Arrows needed to disable it. Sidon also helps Link win the support of the prejudiced Muzu by proving Mipha's love for him with the Zora Armor. A younger version of Sidon appears in the Memory "Champion Mipha's Song" during the Champion's Ballad DLC, and again in Age of Calamity. He also appears in Age of Calamity as a playable character.

In Tears of the Kingdom, Sidon assists Link in purifying Zora's Domain of sludge by entering the Water Temple and defeating Mucktorok. Subsequently, he becomes the Sage of Water and king of the Zora after Dorephan abdicates the throne. He and Link are now depicted in a statue in Zora's Domain, which depicts Link riding on Sidon and honors them saving Zora's Domain from Vah Ruta.

Yunobo

Yunobo is a young Goron and a descendant of Daruk. He is voiced by Joe Hernandez in English and Miyuki Kobori in Japanese. Despite being cowardly, Yunobo possesses Daruk's power of protection and helps Link enter Vah Rudania by acting as a cannonball to disable it. In Age of Calamity, Yunobo can eat special Rock Roasts to change the effects of his Protection when he attacks.

In Tears of the Kingdom, Yunobo is mind controlled by Ganon, becoming a drug kingpin and leader of a marbled rock mining operation (the marbled rock in question having negative effects on the Gorons who consume it). After fighting Link and breaking the mask being used to control him, Yunobo accompanies Link to the Fire Temple and later becomes the Sage of Fire, gaining the ability to create a spirit avatar who assists Link using powerful rolling attacks.

Teba

Teba is a Rito archer known for his great skill in combat, as well as his focus and temper. He is voiced by Sean Chiplock in English and Takuya Masumoto in Japanese. With the Rito unable to fly freely for fear of getting shot down by Vah Medoh, Teba intends to attack the Divine Beast by himself while disregarding the potential consequences. Teba aids Link in the attack on Vah Medoh, drawing its attention so Link can disable it and climb aboard. In Tears of the Kingdom, he becomes the new leader of the Rito following Kaneli's retirement.

Riju

Makeela Riju is the young chief of the Gerudo, who inherited the throne at a very young age. She is twelve years old in Breath of the Wild, and returns in Tears of the Kingdom as an older teenager. She is respected by the Gerudo despite her young age. Link wins her support by retrieving the Gerudo's treasured Thunder Helm from the Yiga Clan. Riju plays a major supporting role by helping Link board Divine Beast Vah Naboris, using the Thunder Helm to protect Link from Vah Naboris' lightning attacks while he injures its feet to immobilize and board it. In battle, Riju rides on a shield pulled by her favorite sand seal, Patricia.

In Tears of the Kingdom, Riju again plays a major role in the main quest, aiding Link in defending Kara Kara Bazaar and Gerudo Town from Gibdo attacks and accompanying him to the Lightning Temple. She later becomes the Sage of Lightning, gaining the ability to create a spirit avatar to aid Link in combat.

Master Kohga

Master Kohga is the leader of the Yiga Clan, who first appears in Breath of the Wild. He appears as a boss in the main quest line, as Link fights him to obtain the Thunder Helm. He is lazy and egotistical, as he spends most of his time sleeping in the Yiga Clan's hideout, which is located in the desert through the Karusa Valley, while the clan goes after Link. When Link infiltrates the Yiga hideout to confront him, Kohga summons a spiked ball that rolls over him and sends him falling into the depths. He also appears with the Yiga Clan in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity. Kohga returns in Tears of the Kingdom, which reveals he survived following his supposed death in Breath of the Wild, and appears as a reoccurring boss in the Depths. His first boss fight is part of the main quest and allows the player to unlock the Autobuild ability. He also appears in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as a spirit. Jacob Linden, writing for The Escapist, described the Kohga boss quest line as "utter joy" and praised the character's expressive animation and boss fights.

Magda

Magda is a Hylian woman who is encountered near Hila Rao Shrine in Breath of the Wild. She is devoted to caring for her patch of flowers, which surround the shrine and block Link's path. If Link steps on the flowers, she becomes increasingly enraged to the point where she physically attacks him. Magda achieved notoriety amongst players, with some attempting to take revenge on her and giving her the nickname "Flowerblight Ganon" in reference to the game's main bosses. Writing for Kotaku, Narelle Ho Sang considered this moment to be hilarious, commenting on the irony that Magda is more obsessed with caring for her flowers than Hyrule's destruction. She returns in Tears of the Kingdom, where she is encountered at the end of a side quest in the same location. Although still protective of her flowers, she is noticeably calmer and will no longer attack Link if he steps on her flowerbed.

Purah

Main article: Purah

Purah is a Sheikah researcher who first appears in Breath of the Wild. She is the director of the Hateno Tech Lab and helps Link to upgrade the Sheikah Slate. Her physical appearance is that of a small child, after having conducted research that caused her to age backwards. Despite her young appearance, she is described in Creating a Champion as being about 124 years old, older than her sister Impa. Alongside her research partner Robbie, she also appears as a young woman in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity. Purah returns in Tears of the Kingdom as the head of Lookout Landing. Her renewed appearance as a young woman gained attention from players across social media upon the game's release. Nintendo Life reported that players were "enamoured" by her redesign, which spawned numerous works of fan art.

Robbie

Robbie is a Sheikah researcher and colleague of Purah, who first appears in Breath of the Wild. He manages the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab and researches ancient Guardian technology. After Link restores his machine Cherry, he trades Guardian parts for various items. He returns in Tears of the Kingdom, where he takes over the Hateno Ancient Tech Lab and works with Purah to develop the Purah Pad. He plays an integral role in the story by setting up the Purah Pad for Link to use at Lookout Landing and sending him on a quest into the Depths, which allows the player to unlock the Camera and the Hyrule Compendium. He also upgrades the Purah Pad with additional functions, including the Shrine Sensor, which can track nearby shrines, and the Travel Medallion, which sets a travel return point. He also appears in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity as a playable character alongside Purah.

Paya

Paya is a young Sheikah who first appears in Breath of the Wild. She is Impa's granddaughter and is encountered at Impa's house in Kakariko Village. Paya is a dutiful assistant to Impa and is typically found performing household duties during the day or praying to deities at night. She returns in Tears of the Kingdom, where she has become village elder following Impa's retirement. Paya has a quiet personality and is especially shy when interacting with Link, but her dialogue and diary entries show that she harbors a secret crush on him. VentureBeat highlighted that her interactions with Link in Breath of the Wild show an attraction towards him and reveal details about her character.

Hestu

Hestu is a large, music-loving Korok who first appears in Breath of the Wild. He is first encountered near Kakariko Village, where Link must retrieve his stolen maracas. In both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, he upgrades Link's weapon inventory slots using collected Korok Seeds. In both games, collecting all Korok Seeds will reward the player with "Hestu's Gift". Allegra Frank of Polygon described Hestu as the "true star" of Breath of the Wild, commenting that he is a familiar and comforting presence in the game's enormous world and highlighting that he is a fan favorite amongst many players, who responded positively to his appearance. Hidemaro Fujibayashi confirmed that the Korok Seeds are actually Korok poop, stating that the development team "thought it would be funny to make that a big joke". Hestu also appears as a playable character in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity.

Hudson

Hudson is a builder who first appears in Breath of the Wild. Link can aid Hudson as he works to found a new settlement called Tarrey Town in a side quest that involves various minor characters across Hyrule. In Tears of the Kingdom, Link again encounters Hudson and his Gerudo wife Rhondson at Tarrey Town. They own Hudson Construction, a building company known throughout Hyrule. Link meets their young daughter Mattison, who embarks on her own journey to reach Gerudo Town. Caleb Pistoni, writing for Paste, considered that the side quest to help Hudson build Tarrey Town was a highlight of Breath of the Wild and praised the story continuity in Tears of the Kingdom, which shows the existing characters thriving and rebuilding Hyrule after its destruction. After helping Mattison achieve independence, Link can purchase a plot of land from Rhondson, giving him the opportunity to build his own home.

Kass

Kass is a Rito bard who first appears in Breath of the Wild. He plays a major supporting role in guiding Link throughout his adventure by playing distinctive tunes on his accordion to reveal hidden shrines. Kass also guides Link throughout the Champion's Ballad DLC, as his songs provide the clues to its shrines. IGN highlighted that Kass is noticeably absent from Tears of the Kingdom despite being a beloved character amongst fans. Rebekah Valentine considered it strange that he is not mentioned by name and that fans hoped that he would return in the game's DLC. Writing for VG247, Oisin Kuhnke considered Kass to be an "incredibly iconic character from Breath of the Wild", as his soothing accordion can be heard all over Hyrule.

Kilton

Kilton is a merchant who appears in Breath of the Wild. He runs a shop called Fang and Bone, which only appears at night. There, Link can trade collected monster parts for a currency called Mon, which can be exchanged for masks and other items. These masks allow him to disguise himself amongst certain monsters by mimicking their appearance and movements. Narelle Ho Sang of Kotaku counted Kilton and his masks as one of the weirdest moments in the game and noted the similarities to Majora's Mask, where Link wears various masks. She also highlighted that Kilton's patchwork balloon mimics the colors of Majora's mask and considered this to be an callback to the game. In Tears of the Kingdom, Kilton's brother Koltin fulfils a similar function, trading collected Bubbul Gems obtained from Bubbulfrogs in Hyrule's caves.

Satori

Satori is a glowing ghostly creature that appears in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. It is also known as the Lord of the Mountain. In the game, Satori can be found on Satori Mountain near a blossoming cherry tree surrounded by glowing bunny spirits called Blupees. It can be ridden by Link if tamed and is the fastest mount in the game with infinite stamina; however, it cannot be registered at stables, and disappears once dismounted. In Tears of the Kingdom, it can be summoned at cherry trees scattered around Hyrule by offering an apple to reveal nearby caves. Satori is widely considered by critics to be the development team's tribute to Satoru Iwata, who died during Breath of the Wild's development. Oscar Dayus of GameSpot highlighted the character Botrick, who he believes bares a striking resemblance to Iwata. The game's director Hidemaro Fujibayashi stated that "When he passed away, there were moments we'd come up with an idea which we'd be excited to talk to Iwata about. Then we'd remember he was no longer here".

Tears of the Kingdom

Rauru

"Rauru" redirects here. For the Māori iwi, see Ngā Rauru.

Rauru is a Zonai who appears in Tears of the Kingdom as a major supporting character. He is voiced by Chris Hackney in English and Riki Kagami in Japanese. At the beginning of the game, he saves Link after Ganondorf attacks him with Gloom beneath Hyrule Castle by attaching his own arm, which gives him various abilities. He is the Sage of Light and his name references Rauru, the Sage of Light in Ocarina of Time. In the game's story, Zelda meets him in the distant past, where he is revealed to have been the king of Hyrule, founding it alongside his wife Sonia. Rauru plays a critical role in the Imprisoning War where he battles against Ganondorf's army. When Ganondorf betrays Rauru and kills Sonia to transform himself into the Demon King using the power of her Secret Stone, Rauru gathers the Sages to defeat him, ultimately sacrificing himself to seal him away. Cody Perez, writing for Destructoid, considered Rauru to be one of the most important characters in the game, as he is the source of Link's arm and plays an integral role in battling Ganondorf. Hope Bellingham of GamesRadar noted that many players had reacted positively to the character's design.

Sonia

Queen Sonia is a major supporting character who appears in Tears of the Kingdom. She is voiced by Cherami Leigh in English and Yūko Kaida in Japanese. She is Rauru's wife and the first queen of Hyrule. She appears in the memories of the Dragon's Tears, which are found at geoglyphs and reveal Hyrule's distant past. Sonia possesses the power to manipulate time and, being the ancestor of Zelda, is the origin of her power alongside Rauru. After Zelda is transported through time to Hyrule's distant past, she meets Sonia and Rauru, who try to help her understand her newfound power and return to her own time. Sonia recognizes Zelda's strength and they develop a close connection. Although Ganondorf swears an oath of peace to the Zonai, he betrays them to gain power over Hyrule. He then kills Sonia, taking her Secret Stone to transform himself into the Demon King. Her death motivates Zelda and Rauru to defeat Ganondorf.

Mineru

Mineru is a Zonai and Rauru's elder sister, who appears in Tears of the Kingdom. She is voiced by Heather Gonzalez in English. After Zelda is transported to the distant past, she meets Mineru and Rauru, who are the last two remaining Zonai. Mineru helps Zelda to return to her own time by explaining the power of the Secret Stones and the forbidden act of draconification; swallowing a stone to become an immortal dragon. She is the Sage of Spirit, which gives her the power to separate her spirit from her body. After the Sages' battle against the Ganondorf, she succumbs to her injuries and her spirit remains in the Purah Pad. In the present, Link encounters Mineru in the Depths and builds a Zonai mech to house her spirit before helping her recover her Secret Stone from the Spirit Temple.

Tulin

Tulin (voiced by Cristina Vee) is Teba's son, who initially made a minor appearance as a child in Breath of the Wild and returns in Tears of the Kingdom, where he helps Link traverse the Stormwind Ark and stop the blizzard threatening the Rito. Afterward, he becomes the Sage of Wind, gaining the ability to create a spirit avatar who assists Link by creating gusts of wind that allows him to quickly travel horizontal distances. GamesRadar reported that players reacted positively to the character, describing him as "adorable", particularly because the two feathers that hang from his Great Eagle Bow are a display of love for his parents.

Josha

Josha (voiced by Maya Tuttle) is a major supporting character who first appears in Tears of the Kingdom. She is a young Sheikah researcher who developed her knowledge by researching the Depths. She works alongside Purah and Robbie at Lookout Landing and has a passion for cave exploration. As the Head of Depths Research, Josha plays a critical role in sending Link into the Depths as part of the main quest, which leads him to unlock the Camera and the Hyrule Compendium. Due to being unable to go down to the Depths herself, she asks Link to find evidence of an ancient race that she believes can be found there. Returning to her at Lookout Landing begins a quest that sends Link into the Depths to follow a trail of statues that lead to an old mine. Josha's request eventually leads him to battle Master Kohga, which unlocks Autobuild, one of Link's main abilities.

Penn

Penn is a Rito who first appears in Tears of the Kingdom. He works alongside editor Traysi as a journalist for the Lucky Clover Gazette, a newspaper in Hyrule. His energetic character is reflected in his dialogue, which he typically ends with the catchphrase "Soar long!" While working with Penn, Link can take on the role of reporter and earn Rupees by investigating sightings of Princess Zelda around Hyrule. Penn sets high standards for his journalism, stating with enthusiasm the importance of only publishing facts. This positive stance on journalism is reflected in the response of many minor characters who read the Lucky Clover Gazette. Luke Winkie, writing for Slate, highlighted that players responded positively to Penn's side quests and considered his high standards to be a commentary on the positive nature of old-fashioned journalism.

Addison

Addison is a supporting character that appears throughout Hyrule in Tears of the Kingdom. His job is to promote his boss Hudson, who is the president of Hudson Construction. Hudson supports the rebuilding of the kingdom by depositing caches of building materials in various locations, where Addison can be found trying to support a sign bearing Hudson's face. The player is tasked with creating constructions using Ultrahand to support Addison's sign. Polygon's Olly Welsh chose Addison as his favorite character in the game, commenting that he is one of many minor characters who demonstrate that The Legend of Zelda series is about real life and the fantastical. He also opined that Addison's eagerness to support his boss, who is motivated by his own self interests, is a satire on Japanese work culture and that, even when catastrophe hits the world of Hyrule, the mediocre aspects of life continue. Jim Norman of Nintendo Life wrote an entire "love letter" to the character, describing him as "hilarious" due to him being "terrible at his job" and commented that he felt unable to walk past him in-game without stopping to help him.

Yona

Lady Yona (voiced by Lauren Mayfield) is a Zora who appears in Tears of the Kingdom and resembles a manta ray. Link encounters her while investigating the phenomenon of strange muck appearing in Zora's Domain. She appears alongside her fiancé Sidon. She has been Sidon's best friend from early childhood and dedicates her life to helping her fellow Zora. Yona's presence in the game caused a generally negative reaction. Polygon described the character as "public enemy No. 1" and reported that many fans of Sidon expressed their dismay on social media upon discovering that he was officially betrothed to another Zora. IGN also noted the angry fan response to the character, stating that Yona was "tearing apart Sidon's fans" and reported on the possibility that Nintendo had introduced her in an attempt to end shipping of Sidon and Link.

See also

• Characters in the Mario franchise