16. SHEIK

Franchise / home series: The Legend of Zelda

Notable non-Smash games: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)

Sheik debuted in Melee as the alter ego of Princess Zelda, delivering a fast-paced counterbalance to Zelda’s slower, magical playstyle. In later Smash games, Sheik became an independent fighter, fully embracing her role as a swift, ninja-like combatant inspired by her appearance in Ocarina of Time.

In Smash, Sheik is known for speed, precision, and relentless pressure. Her moveset includes quick strikes, needles for zoning and combo setups, and acrobatic specials like Bouncing Fish. Sheik’s identity revolves around tight-frame attacks, fluid mobility, and strong combo trees that reward technical mastery. While her kill power is typically low, her ability to rack up damage quickly and maintain stage control makes her a favorite in competitive play.

Over time, Sheik has maintained her place as one of the fastest and most execution-heavy characters in the roster. Her presence emphasizes the depth of melee-oriented fighters in Smash and highlights Nintendo’s ability to reinterpret a single character into two distinct, fully realized combat styles.