20. GANONDORF

Franchise / home series: The Legend of Zelda

Notable non-Smash games: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998); The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (2002); The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2006)

Ganondorf debuted in Melee as the series’ first fully villainous heavyweight sword wielder—although ironically, his moveset was based on Captain Falcon due to time constraints. Despite this, he quickly developed a strong identity as the embodiment of power and domination from the Zelda universe.

In Smash, Ganondorf is defined by raw, overwhelming strength. His attacks are slow but exceptionally powerful, with many capable of KO’ing at early percentages. Moves like Warlock Punch, Flame Choke, and his devastating aerials emphasize his brutality. Over time, his design has shifted toward more sword-based animations, especially in Ultimate, where his Twilight Princess-inspired model wields his signature broadsword for several attacks.

Though often limited by slow speed and large hurtboxes, Ganondorf maintains a devoted fanbase drawn to his explosive damage output and commanding presence. He stands as Smash’s quintessential high-risk, high-reward powerhouse and the definitive villain counterpart to Link and Zelda.