03. LINK

Franchise / home series: The Legend of Zelda

Notable non-Smash games: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998); The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2006); The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017)

Link has appeared as a core playable fighter in every Smash game, serving as the primary representative of The Legend of Zelda series. From the N64 original to Ultimate, he showcases the heroic swordsman archetype and brings Zelda’s action-adventure tools into the platform-fighting format. He has been regularly featured in promotional art, intros, and story modes as one of the central faces of Nintendo’s fantasy lineup.

In gameplay terms, Link combines sword-based melee attacks with a variety of projectiles: bombs, arrows, and the boomerang. This makes him a hybrid zoner and mid-range fighter. Early titles focused on straightforward, powerful swings and classic items, while later games refined his kit with sharper spacing tools and more dynamic projectiles. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate reimagined him with a Breath of the Wild-inspired look, Remote Bombs, and updated animations that better match his modern incarnation.

Throughout the series, Link has occupied a flexible place in the metagame, sometimes leaning more toward defensive zoning and at other times toward aggressive mid-range play. Regardless of tier placement, he consistently captures the feeling of a hero using a full arsenal of weapons, preserving the adventurous spirit of the Zelda series within Smash.