The Legend of Zelda (universe)

The Legend of Zelda universe' (, The Legend of Zelda) refers to the ' series' collection of characters, stages, and properties that hail from Nintendo's long-running and famous The Legend of Zelda'' game series. It is a series of fantasy action-adventure titles produced by Nintendo throughout the company's history. It is widely considered one of the most influential video game franchises ever created, and has earned a spot as one of the company's flagship franchises alongside such notable series as and, with  being the best-reviewed game of all time by certain sources. It has had over fifteen official titles which together have sold over 60 million units, making it the 7th best-selling video game series ever. As a result, it is heavily featured in the Super Smash Bros. series, with five separate characters playable in Super Smash Bros. Melee, Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. 4, and 6 separate characters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: The main hero Link, his younger counterpart Young Link (Melee & Ultimate) and Toon Link (Brawl onward) incarnations, the titular Princess Zelda, her alternate ninja-like guise Sheik, and series villain Ganondorf.

Franchise description
In 1986, the development team of game designer Shigeru Miyamoto worked concurrently on two equally ambitious projects for the recently released Famicom/NES: Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda. The team made a conscious effort to conceptually separate the two titles; while Mario was a linear platformer, Miyamoto wanted Zelda to feel like an open adventure that forced the player to think about what they should do next, and also to convey the idea of a game "world" that could be explored at one's leisure. Miyamoto drew his inspiration from his experiences around Kyoto in his early life, where he explored nearby fields, woods, and caves and realized the feeling that could be instilled by going on such an "adventure". Meanwhile, Miyamoto designed the player character, Link, as a coming of age motif for players to identify with; Link begins the game as an ordinary boy, but is strengthened by his quest until he triumphs over a great, evil force. Further revolutionary features of the title were a replay mode that, very unusually for the time, contained an entirely new set of more difficult levels - the "Second Quest" - and the first-ever instance of password-free progress-saving in any cartridge-based system or game, made possible by battery-powered RAM.

The Legend of Zelda, released in the Americas in August of 1987, was an all-time bestseller for Nintendo, and much like Super Mario Bros. before it, it often appears on the highest spots in game publications' listings of the greatest games on the NES. It is often considered a spiritual forerunner of the RPG genre, more specifically the action RPG genre, despite lacking key RPG mechanics such as experience points, and is largely responsible for a surge of RPGs that focus on real-time action combat as well as puzzles. It was the spawning point for one of Nintendo's longest-running and most popular video game franchises, which as of 2013 has released over fifteen "primary" installments and several spin-offs. The now well-known "Zelda-style" Action RPG formula is central to almost all of the main series, which in some ways is ironic because the first Zelda sequel ever released, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, was the only game to feature a considerably different style of gameplay: a side-scrolling platformer with JPRG elements.

At least three other releases in the main series were arguably revolutionary in their own right. The third game,  for Super Nintendo in early April 1992, advanced many of the conventions introduced by the original game's formula to resemble what a modern-day top-down Zelda-style game traditionally features, with refined combat, item-usage, puzzle-filled dungeon aspects, and more detail to the archetypal story. It is widely considered today to be one of the greatest video games ever released, and the many Zelda games that make use of this top-down style are typically relegated to Nintendo handhelds. However, even more momentous was the late-1998 release of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the Nintendo 64, which seamlessly converted the Zelda formula into a fully realized and detailed three-dimensional world presented in the third person, and introduced what has since become common elements in 3D action-adventure games: a target-lock system to orient the player-character towards specific enemies and circle strafe around them in combat situations in areas with a freely rotatable camera, and context-sensitive buttons. On its initial release, it received perfect review scores from the majority of video game publications that reviewed it, and it sold over seven million copies worldwide. Like A Link to the Past for the top-down 2D perspective, Ocarina of Time introduced to the series the 3D-style of gameplay regularly used by console-based Zelda releases, which typically are the "biggest" releases in the series. Finally, after years of elaborating on the formulas set by A Link to the Past and Ocarina,  was released in 2017 for the Wii U and Nintendo Switch. Breath expanded Zelda to a highly engrossing open-world style, giving the player freedom to explore the game's world at their own leisure and adding a high degree of realism to the gameplay mechanics, and received near-unanimous praise as one of the series' best entries and the first truly revolutionary Zelda game since Ocarina of Time.

It is customary for at least one main Zelda title to be released over the lifespan of a given Nintendo console or handheld. Many of these adhere by default to a realistic, comparatively "adult" aesthetic, starting with Ocarina of Time and including titles as recent as '; however, in early 2003, a radically different "younger" alternative look and style was introduced into the series with the release of ' for the GameCube. This introduces a heavily cartoon-stylized, cel-shaded design and graphical style both to Link and the rest of his world, and this exact "Toon Link" design and aesthetic is reused in several subsequent releases on Nintendo handhelds, all of which are separate from the games featuring the "adult" aesthetic. Given the nearly-Mario-scale importance and relevance the Zelda franchise has had both to Nintendo and to the industry as a whole, it is unfailingly one of the first franchises confirmed for a starring role in each game of Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. series of crossover fighting games. Later games in the Smash Bros. series have featured content from both the realistic and the cartoon Zelda styles.

Each of the Zelda games, for the most part, are set in a fantasy land named, which had been created by a trio of goddesses that subsequently left behind embodiments of their power in a three-triangle artifact called the , a great evil - most often a demonic being named Ganon, or alternatively a powerful humanoid sorcerer named Ganondorf, depending on the game - threatens the land, and the only hope is for a young boy or man garbed in green, Link, in cooperation with a princess named Zelda, to go on an adventurous quest across Hyrule to smite the evil, most often with a blessed blade in an altar named the Master Sword. There is almost always some sort of variation to a given installment's narrative that ties both into the story and the gameplay; in some games there is a parallel world that Link must explore, while the world may be mostly covered in ocean in other games. Link himself may undertake his quest under a different set of circumstances each game, such as in ' when he can transform into a wolf and receive assistance from an imp-like creature named Midna, or ', where a talking hat he acquires allows him to shrink and grow back in size at will. Even Zelda's backstory, role, and relevance can vary between games, such as whether she is a classic damsel-in-distress or a capable ally of Link, but very rarely is any sort of romance between her and Link even implied.

Besides instances where some games are direct sequels and continuations to each other, there is usually no relevance in continuity between any of the seemingly independent portrayals of Hyrule. But this did not stop fans from speculating wildly on how all of the titles could be ordered in a chronological timeline that assumes Hyrule in all of these games is, in fact, the same world in different stages of its history, and that the reappearances of Link and related characters represent different individuals that are unwitting reincarnations of eras and Links from the past. But due to contradictions between games that arise when trying to place them all in a linear timeline, estimates were made that the Zelda chronology branched off into separate directions. In 2011, during the 25th anniversary of the franchise, Nintendo posted an official timeline for the series that affirmed that there were, in fact, three separate branches with their own corresponding games. The current official ordering of The Legend of Zelda series is explained below:


 * "The Legend of the Goddesses & the Hero": The beginning timeline before its triple-branch. After the creation of the heavens and Hyrule, the earliest chronological game is ' (2011), taking place on floating islands in the sky named, which the goddess had lifted to safeguard the Hylian people from the monster hordes of the demon king  infesting the lands below. The original incarnations of Link and Zelda, living on Skyloft along with the other Hylians during this time, are involved in a quest that explains and lays the groundwork for the patterns shown in the rest of the series. Following this, the  wherein the Triforce resides is sealed, and Hyrule Kingdom is established. Then, in both ' (2005) and ' (originally released as part of a Game Boy Advance port of A Link to the Past in December 2002), separate Links fight the wind mage . Finally, in ' (1998), a child Link takes part in a pivotal moment of the timeline when an evil human sorcerer, the original Ganondorf, covets the Triforce beyond the Sacred Realm, and Link must regularly travel back and forth between periods separated seven years apart - with Link himself assuming the form of a teenager during his time in the later period - and receive help from the enigmatic Sheik in order to defeat Ganondorf and the monstrous form Ganondorf eventually assumes, Ganon.


 * "The Decline of Hyrule & the Last Hero": This first timeline branch assumes Link is defeated in his battle against Ganon in Ocarina of Time. This leads to ' (1992), where a Link has to contend with the revival of the demonic Ganon at the hands of the wizard . The same Link would return in ' (1993), where during a voyage outside Hyrule to hone his skills, Link is shipwrecked and washes ashore on the dreamlike and must wake the island guardian, a whale called the, to return home. Link then contends with two separate villains named  and  in ' and ' (2001) respectively, which may lead to another revival for Ganon that Link must destroy. A new incarnation takes center stage starting in ' (2013), a spiritual successor to A Link to the Past where the new hero finds Hyrule's fate intertwined with that of its "mirror world" counterpart of . This same Link would return in its direct sequel ' (2015), which sees Link team up with two other Links to save the fashion-obsessed kingdom of  from the jealousy and influence of the Drablands Witch. The last incarnation of Link in this timeline debuted in the original ' (1986), wherein he defeats a revived Ganon and saves a princess named Zelda, and the follow-up ' (1988), where the same Link goes on a quest to awaken a different Zelda while avoiding getting killed by followers of Ganon seeking to revive the demon king once more.


 * "The Twilight Realm & the Legacy of the Hero": The second timeline branch assumes Ganondorf was never able to enter the Sacred Realm in Ocarina of Time, and therefore much of that game's quest never transpired and Link never left being a child; instead, Ganondorf faced execution. Beginning this "child era timeline" is ' (2000), where the Hero of Time ends up in a surreal alternate world called, where a under the evil influence of the eponymous mask has set the moon on a collision course into the land. Link must use a time-resetting method to repeatedly relive the three-day time period before doomsday so that he has the time to set up the means to avert Termina's fate. A century later, in ' (2006), a new Link is thrust from a life as a ranch-hand into a world-spanning quest against the forces of the king of an alternate twilight realm, , and he is forced into the form of a wolf whenever he enters a twilight-covered area of Hyrule and must accept help from the Twilight native Midna to compensate. Finally, in  (2004), another Link goes to battle against Vaati's last chronological appearance.


 * "The Hero of the Winds & A New World": The third timeline branch is the one that results from Link's victory and sealing of Ganondorf in the Sacred Realm, as seen in the ending of Ocarina of Time; it is referred to as the "adult" timeline. At a later date, Ganondorf is revived, and the gods flooded Hyrule to seal him back; this sets the stage for ' (2003), where a childish Link sets sail on what is initially a quest to rescue his sister from a monstrous bird, but later on becomes a fight against a once-again-revived Ganondorf. A direct sequel to this game is ' (2007), where a ghost ship steals away Link's ally, and he must enlist the help of a reluctant steamboat captain, Linebeck, to rediscover her. Finally, a century later,  (2009) takes place on a newly discovered continent that has since been civilized with an extensive railroad network, and an incarnation of Link that is an aspiring railroad engineer is accompanied by Zelda's disembodied spirit on a quest to discover why the tracks are disappearing.

In  released in March 2017, Link awakens after a 100-year slumber and is tasked with exploring and saving Hyrule from the return of Ganon, now an amorphous abomination known as Calamity Ganon. Link is able to gather materials, conquer Shrines (serving as small-scale dungeons), and explore the vast open world of Hyrule with virtually no limits. This is primarily facilitated by Link’s ability to climb virtually any surface and paraglide through the skies. The game and its primary goals were originally announced in early 2013, with brief gameplay sequences shown periodically through its development cycle before being officially rerevealed at E3 2016. These primary goals of this installment, according to Eiji Aonuma, were to break from the conventions that the series had held onto since Ocarina of Time and provide a Zelda experience unlike any game in the series before. Serving as the swan song for the Wii U as well as a launch title for the Nintendo Switch, the game has been universally lauded for returning to the open-ended, non-linear structure of the original The Legend of Zelda, leaving gameplay aspects up to the player's sense of curiosity, discovery, and experimentation, and introducing elements of realism and interaction with the environment. Breath of the Wild's timeline placement is currently unknown, but has been officially stated to take place sometime after Ocarina of Time. The game went on to become the single best selling entry in the entire franchise, and one of the top ten best selling games on the Nintendo Switch. An Expansion Pass was released throughout 2017 in two DLC packs: ' in June and ' in December. A direct sequel, , released for the Nintendo Switch on May 12, 2023. Between the two games, a Warriors-style prequel detailing the events of the Great Calamity 100 years prior, , was released for the Nintendo Switch on November 20th, 2020.

In Super Smash Bros.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was the most recent Zelda game at the time of the release of Super Smash Bros., and certainly the most popular and notable at the time, so the Zelda content in the game stemmed from the first 3D entry in the series. The Zelda universe contains one fighter, stage, and item.

Fighter

 * LinkIcon(SSB).png (Starter): A teenage sword-and-shield fighter with elven ears, a green tunic, and a long floppy green cap. The Link from Ocarina of Time was formerly a young boy from a forest but was divinely chosen to oppress the future rule of Ganondorf by being transported seven years into the future, where he became a brave, capable warrior in his older form and wielded the Master Sword along with the Triforce Piece of Courage. Link is never heard speaking throughout the games; he is only heard grunting and yelling in his many battles. He fights in Smash 64 with his various tools from Ocarina of Time. His neutral special, the Boomerang, is a good projectile that comes back to Link after it is thrown. His up special is the Spin Attack from A Link to the Past, a slow but powerful spinning maneuver. His down special is him spawning a from the Zelda series, which he can throw like an item. It explodes on contact with an opponent or after several seconds.

Stage

 * HyruleCastleIconSSB.png Hyrule Castle (Starter): A somewhat wide stage taking place on the top of the castle seen in Ocarina of Time. The castle is where the royal family governs the land of Hyrule. Whirlwinds pop up here from time to time, though it seems to be more in reference to the transportation whirlwind seen in the first The Legend of Zelda than anything in Ocarina of Time. In the top middle are three semi-solid platforms, and in the right is a dark green tent-like structure. Characters may stand on top of it and inside it, but cannot jump through it.

Item

 * Heart Container: In the original The Legend of Zelda and any other Zelda game, when Link defeats a boss, he wins a Heart Container, which increases his total life meter by one heart. In Smash 64, the Heart Container will always spawn in the air, and slowly float to the ground. Any character who picks it up will have their percentage reduced all the way to 0%, making this a powerful item.

Music

 * : A remix of the classic Zelda theme heard since the original The Legend of Zelda. It is heard on the stage Hyrule Castle.
 * 17: Link Wins: The victory theme of Link is an orchestration borrowing elements from the traditional "adventuring music" heard in Zelda games.

In Super Smash Bros. Melee
Despite the fact that Majora's Mask was released before Melee, most of the Zelda content in this game is once again based on Ocarina of Time. The Legend of Zelda franchise gained a massive amount of new content, including four brand new characters. This makes the Zelda franchise tied with the Mario franchise for having the most amount of playable characters, being five.

Fighters

 * LinkIcon(SSBM).png (Starter): Link returns as a starter character, once again being based on his Ocarina of Time incarnation. While his moveset stays relatively the same, his grab, the Hookshot, can now grab onto ledges to help his previously poor recovery. He also gained a new forward smash and dash attack, and his previous neutral special, the Boomerang, is now his side special. His new neutral special is the Hero's Bow, where Link takes out his bow and shoots an arrow in front of him. With a better recovery, Link was slightly buffed from Smash 64.
 * ZeldaSheikIcon(SSBM).pngZelda/Sheik (Starter): Zelda/Sheik refers to both Zelda and Sheik as one character slot, and it also refers to players who alternate between the two characters. Zelda is unique in that she is the only character in Melee who can transform into another character in the midst of battle, the nimble Sheik. This is done via the down special Transform, which is shared between Zelda and Sheik. They can both transform into one another at any point in the match. While they are technically the same person, they both have completely unique movesets.
 * SheikIcon(SSBM).png: Sheik is the alter-ego of Zelda in Ocarina of Time. In Melee, Sheik is a new starter character, whose appearance is based on her look from Ocarina of Time. Her neutral special Needle Storm causes Sheik to store up a bunch of needles. When pressing the B button again, she releases all her needles in front of her. Her side special is Chain, where Sheik pulls out a long metal chain and whips it around. Her up special is Vanish, where Sheik vanishes into the air, then reappears further in one direction, which can be controlled with the control stick. While not appearing in the character select screen, she can be accessed by holding the A button at the beginning of a match when playing as Zelda.
 * ZeldaIcon(SSBM).png: Zelda is the princess of Hyrule, and the bearer of the Triforce of Wisdom who first appeared in the first Legend of Zelda. In Melee, Zelda is a new starter character, whose appearance is based on her look from Ocarina of Time. She mainly uses magic and fire attacks. Zelda's neutral special is Nayru's Love, a move where Zelda encloses herself into a blue crystal that reflects projectiles. Her side special is Din's Fire, where Zelda launches a controllable fireball that charges as it travels until it explodes. Her up special is Farore's Wind, where a yellow ribbon of magic spins around Zelda, causing her to disappear. After that, she will reappear in any direction held on the control stick. These specials are all magic attacks that Link could learn from the Great Fairies in Ocarina of Time.


 * YoungLinkIcon(SSBM).png (Unlockable): Young Link is simply Link as a child. While the Link in the first Legend of Zelda was a child, the first clear appearance of a prepubescent Link was in the beginning portion of Ocarina of Time in which the "Hero of Time" begins his quest as a young boy. The same young Link would star in the game Majora's Mask. In Melee, Young Link appears as a new unlockable character. Young Link is a slightly weaker and faster clone of Link, sharing the same base moveset. His neutral special is the Fire Bow, which is like Link's Bow, except it is faster, has shorter range, and has the fire property. His side special is also the Boomerang, but with a shorter range, and higher damage output. His up special is the Spin Attack, which attacks multiple times on the ground. His down special is also a Bomb, but it deals multiple hits upon exploding. Unlike Link, Young Link also has the ability to wall jump.
 * GanondorfIcon(SSBM).png (Unlockable): Ganondorf is the main antagonist of the Legend of Zelda franchise. First appearing in the original Legend of Zelda in his pig form, Ganondorf would make his debut in his human incarnation in Ocarina of Time. In Melee, Ganondorf is a new unlockable character. He is a clone of, sharing many animations and all special attacks, but Ganondorf has a significantly heavier, slower, and stronger nature. His neutral special is the Warlock Punch, a much slower and stronger version of the Falcon Punch. His side special is the Gerudo Dragon, a move like the Raptor Boost, except it does not meteor smash in the air. His down special is the Wizard's Foot, a clone move of the Falcon Kick. All three of these moves use "dark" effects instead of fire effects. His up special is the Dark Dive. The move itself is essentially a clone move of Falcon Dive, except that there are electric effects.

Stages

 * GreatBayIconSSBM.pngTermina: Great Bay (Starter): This stage is based on Majora's Mask, a game where Young Link travels to another country away from Hyrule called Termina. The stage takes place in the west coast of Termina where the third of the four dungeons in the game lies. The stage consists of three main solid platforms over water. On the right side of the stage is a turtle, acting as a fourth platform that sinks after 30 seconds, only to reappear after some time. Tingle can be seen floating in the air via a red balloon that can be stood on until it pops.
 * TempleIconSSBM.pngHyrule: Temple (Starter): This iconic stage does not necessarily represent a specific location from any Zelda game, but is rather an amalgamation of many designs from throughout the Zelda series up to this point, though it does bear a resemblance to the palaces in Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. The stage consists of three main sections; the left section that has a large platform above, the larger right section with three small platforms in the sky, and the underground section next to a tiny platform. This is by far the largest stage in Melee.

Items
Bold italics denotes an item new to the Smash Bros. series.
 * Heart Container: Returns from Smash 64 somewhat powered down. While it still heals players, it now restores only up to 100% damage in normal play rather than all % points to the character that picks it up. In All-Star Mode, however, it heals fully provided the character remains within the Rest Area until their damage reaches 0%.
 * Bunny Hood: An item that first appeared in Ocarina of Time as a sellable item, but then appeared in Majora's Mask as an equippable item that allows Young Link to run very fast. In Melee, when it is equipped by the character, it drastically increases that character's walking speed, running speed, jumping height, and falling speed for about 20 seconds.

Enemies

 * ReDeads: These hollow zombies are forged from dark magic, and they would bite onto you and do damage before letting go. In The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, they also demonstrated the ability to paralyze Link to where he was standing with their gazes. They appear in the Adventure Mode stage Underground Maze.
 * Octoroks: Octopus-like creatures that can shoot nuts from their cannon-like mouths at Link starting with their first appearance in the original Legend of Zelda. In Melee, they do the exact same thing. They are modeled off their appearances from Ocarina of Time. They appear in the Adventure Mode stage Underground Maze.
 * Like-Likes: Giant leech-like creatures that would swallow up Link and digest his shield before spitting him back out in many Zelda games. They incapacitate a character temporarily in Melee and damage him before spitting him back out. These are modeled off their Ocarina of Time appearances. They appear in the Adventure Mode stage Underground Maze.

Music

 * : An orchestration of the "official" The Legend of Zelda theme, heard throughout the Zelda series and introduced in the original The Legend of Zelda for NES. It is heard on the stage Great Bay. This song is used as one of Link, Zelda, and Sheik's credits theme, as well as Ganondorf's only credits theme. It is Song 5 in the Sound Test.
 * : An orchestration of the dungeon music heard in Zelda II: The Adventure of Link for NES. It is heard as the primary track of Temple, and also in the Underground Maze area of the Adventure mode. This song is also used as one of Link's credits theme. It is Song 6 in the Sound Test.
 * : A simple flute-based remix of "" from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for N64. It is heard as a secondary track in Great Bay and often accompanies Young Link in his single-player appearances. This is also used as one of Zelda and Sheik's credits theme, as well as Young Link's only credits theme. It is Song 31 in the Sound Test.
 * Zelda Team Victory: The victory theme of all The Legend of Zelda characters is an orchestration borrowing elements from the traditional "adventuring music" heard in Zelda games. It is Song 40 in the Sound Test.

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl
As one of the original 10 franchises to be featured in the Smash Bros. series, representation from The Legend of Zelda came as expected to be featured in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Young Link has been cut; however, newcomer Toon Link is featured and the four Zelda series veterans now have updated designs to match their incarnations in the most recent console installment, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.

Fighters
On the final character select screen (after all characters are unlocked), the Zelda characters take up the third column.


 * LinkIcon(SSBB).png (Starter): Link returns in Brawl, but is depicted here as his Twilight Princess incarnation rather than his adult Ocarina of Time incarnation. Some of his moves have also been slightly modified to reflect the Twilight Princess versions of his items. Link now has the Gale Boomerang as his side special, which will slightly drag the opponent towards Link upon its return. Link's Bow is now the Hero's Bow, though it is identical in function, and Link can now charge his Spin Attack, but only while grounded. Link's extended grab has also been changed to the Clawshot, which not only appears to be longer than the Hookshot, but also automatically aims towards the nearest ledge when Link is recovering. His Final Smash is the Triforce Slash, which does heavy, prolonged, and concentrated damage towards one opponent.
 * ZeldaSheikIcon(SSBB).pngZelda/Sheik (Starter): Zelda and Sheik return as a character slot in Brawl, mostly unchanged from Melee. Even though Sheik and Zelda are rated lower in the tier list and they are used less often, some smashers use Zelda and Sheik together. Also, they have their own character slot in the tier list and they are one spot above Sheik. Zelda has to be used approximately as much as Sheik for it to be referred as Zelda/Sheik and simply using Zelda for her recovery does not count.
 * SheikIcon(SSBB).png: Sheik returns as a playable character once again, and retains her ability to transform into Zelda during battle and can be selected between the two on the character select screen. She did not appear in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, but her appearance has been based on a "beta Sheik" that was meant to appear in Twilight Princess, but whose design was never seen by anyone but Eiji Aonuma and his development team. She still has her own moveset, but shares her Final Smash with Zelda.
 * ZeldaIcon(SSBB).png: Zelda also returns from the last game, now based on her Twilight Princess incarnation, with Sakurai claiming that she now has a "more subdued color scheme". She is a slow, yet light character, but when her attacks hit right, they can be powerful. She retains her ability to transform into Sheik during battle and can be selected between the two on the character select screen. Zelda's Final Smash is the heavenly Light Arrow.


 * GanondorfIcon(SSBB).png (Unlockable): Ganondorf returns in Brawl as well in his Twilight Princess appearance. This time, Ganondorf is quite different from his Melee incarnation, having very different animations for his moves when compared to, who he was considered a clone of in Melee. He is still one of the archetypal heavyweights in Brawl. Ganondorf's Final Smash is the Beast Ganon transformation.
 * ToonLinkIcon(SSBB).png (Unlockable): Link's childlike incarnation as seen in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and other titles is introduced in Brawl as the spiritual successor to Young Link. While not a heavy clone of Link, Toon Link has the same basic special moves and Final Smash, but all with important visual and functional differences.

Stages

 * Icon-templemelee.gifMelee Stages: Temple (Starter): One of the few stages to return from the previous game, this stage only received minor changes, such as a few areas that differ [especially the removal of the edge near the bottom right of the fight club] and the addition of My Music. It is the only Melee stage to receive a new song: a remix of the Great Palace theme from Zelda II.
 * Icon-bridgeofeldin.gifBridge of Eldin (Starter): The majority of this stage is based off The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. With an immensely wide flat bridge location where an enemy character from the game, King Bulblin riding upon Lord Bullbo, will ride through and damage combatants, and drop bombs that will destroy sections of the bridge. Shortly afterward, a portal to the will open in the sky and magically fill in the gap with a new piece.
 * Icon-pirateship.gifPirate Ship (Unlockable): Based off the enormous ocean Link must cross in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, characters fight on 's pirate ship, passing by cannons that fire cannonballs, getting swept up in a twister, and getting flung clean up into the sky and plunging back down into the ocean. Sometimes the ship will crash into a giant rock and won't be able to move anymore.

Items
Bold italics denotes an item new to the Smash Bros. series.
 * Heart Container: Returning from Smash 64 and Melee, the Heart Container continues to heal damage up to 100% in normal play, and all damage in All-Star Mode and Boss Battles mode (in the latter cases, the player no longer needs to wait until fully healed before moving onward).
 * Bunny Hood: Returning from Melee unchanged, the Bunny Hood is also available as a mode in Special Brawl.
 * Deku Nut: A new item introduced in Brawl, taken from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time — when the Deku Nut is thrown at an opponent, it causes large knockback on contact. If it goes off near an enemy, they will be stunned temporarily.

Assist Trophy

 * Tingle: Being the only Assist Trophy to represent The Legend of Zelda universe, Tingle chants his famous line "Tingle! Tingle! Kooloo-limpah!" and performs a random event on the stage, like summoning a bouquet of flowers or hordes of hammers.

Original Tracks

 * : An orchestrated version of main theme of the series. It is used on the Bridge of Eldin stage.
 * : As might be expected from the title, this music is a medley of "", ",, , the boss theme intro, "", ", "", and Saria's Song from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. It is used on the Bridge of Eldin stage. This song is also played during both Zelda and Sheik's Classic Mode credits.
 * : An epic mix of both the title screen of the original The Legend of Zelda and the dungeon music from the same game. It is used on the Bridge of Eldin stage.
 * ''': An atmospheric mix of the theme for the from '. It is used on the Bridge of Eldin stage.
 * : The music that played on the Dark World versions of the and  from The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. It is used on the Bridge of Eldin stage.
 * : The theme for, as depicted in ''The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. It is used on the Bridge of Eldin stage.
 * ''': A techno medley of both the overworld theme and the theme from '. It is used on the Pirate Ship stage.  This theme is also played during Link's Classic Mode credits.
 * : A medley of three separate themes from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time — the "Song of Storms, " Ganondorf's theme, and the "Serenade of Water." It is used on the Pirate Ship stage.
 * : A remix of the Great Temple and Temple themes from Zelda II. It is used on the Temple stage. It is notable for being the only song to play on a Melee stage that is not taken directly from Melee.

Returning Track

 * : Taken directly from Melee, it is the theme for the Temple stage.

Source Tracks

 * : Taken directly from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Official Soundtrack, this is the theme for Hyrule Field, as depicted in said game. It is the theme for the Bridge of Eldin stage.
 * : Taken directly from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, this is the theme that was played during the monster shoot during Link's first visit to the . It is used on the Bridge of Eldin stage.
 * : Taken directly from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, this is the theme that played from the end of the until Link met Princess Zelda after Midna is attacked by Zant. It is used on the Bridge of Eldin stage.
 * : The theme for from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, which this theme is taken directly from. It is the theme for the Pirate Ship stage.
 * : The theme while sailing on the in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. It is used on the Pirate Ship stage.
 * : Taken directly from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, this was the music for the entirety of Gerudo Valley in said game. It is used on the Pirate Ship stage. This song is also played during Ganondorf's Classic Mode credits.
 * : Taken directly from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, this was the music that played during the battle against, the boss of the . It is used on the Pirate Ship stage.
 * ': The theme for the restored from ', which is itself a remix of the  theme from The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past''. It is used on the Pirate Ship stage. This song is also used during Toon Link's Classic Mode credits.
 * : Taken directly from The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, this was the theme for the main overworld area. It is used on the Pirate Ship stage.

Victory Theme

 * Victory! The Legend of Zelda Series: The Zelda series victory theme has been altered from the one in the original and Melee to the original The Legend of Zelda's "Triforce Shard Obtained" theme.

Masterpieces

 * The Legend of Zelda
 * The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

In Super Smash Bros. 4
With almost no content from Brawl removed and the addition of several new Assist Trophies, items, and stages, The Legend of Zelda is well represented in and. Though there are no Zelda newcomers, all veterans from Brawl return. SSB4 features content from Zelda titles released after Brawl, including ' and ', but the majority of the playable characters are still based on their appearances in .

Fighters

 * LinkIcon(SSB4-U).png (Starter): Link makes an expected appearance in Super Smash Bros. 4, and again as the Twilight Princess incarnation. He has received many notable buffs from Brawl, now being virtually as viable as he was in Melee. Some of his costume options include his tunic from The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword and his "Fierce Deity" design from Majora's Mask.
 * SheikIcon(SSB4-U).png (Starter): Sheik returns as a stand-alone character, separated from Zelda and sporting an updated visual design from Brawl. Like Zelda, she has a new down special move to replace Transform; in her case, it is the Bouncing Fish. Sheik also sports a new side special in the form of the Burst Grenade. She has been notably buffed after her drastic nerf in Brawl, now arguably as viable as she was in Melee.
 * ZeldaIcon(SSB4-U).png (Starter): Zelda returns in this installment as the Twilight Princess version. One big change is that she can no longer transform into Sheik but can instead summon a Phantom to aid her in battle. Her design is also once again from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.
 * GanondorfIcon(SSB4-U).png (3DS: Unlockable; Wii U: Starter): Ganondorf was unofficially revealed as a veteran fighter and, as in Brawl, retains his Twilight Princess form. His moveset is largely the same as in Brawl. However, he has been drastically buffed in terms of power and speed (and even further via patch updates) and has been given a variety of custom moves that vary drastically from Captain Falcon's, one of which allows him to attack with his sword for the first time in the series.
 * ToonLinkIcon(SSB4-U).png (Starter): Toon Link returns in Super Smash Bros. 4 as well, continuing the dual representation of variations of Link that has been present in the series since Melee. He was revealed on the official website in conjunction with the Japanese release of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, and as such has many visual and animation upgrades that resemble that title.

Stages

 * HyruleCastle64IconSSB4-U.pngHyrule Castle (64) (DLC): a wide arena staged atop the titular castle from Ocarina of Time, overlooking the Kingdom of Hyrule. Whirlwinds occasionally manifest on the stage and will send fighters skyward if caught within their gusts. This stage is large enough to accommodate 8-Player Smash and is one of the possible stages to appear in Level 2 of All-Star Mode as a home stage for Link and Zelda. Its Ω form is columnar. Hyrule Castle was released as downloadable content on July 31st, 2015 for both the 3DS and Wii U versions. It is one of four stages from the original Super Smash Bros. to be in SSB4, with the other three being Kongo Jungle, Peach's Castle, and Dream Land.

for Nintendo 3DS

 * GerudoValleyIconSSB4-3.pngGerudo Valley (Starter): a spacious arena staged in the titular desert valley from Ocarina of Time, above a chasm leading to . It aesthetically derives from . The central bridge can be destroyed, revealing beds of spikes at the base of the chasm. The sorceress sisters and  occasionally appear to wreak havoc on the stage. Koume casts a spell that sets the left side of the stage ablaze, while Kotake unleashes icy spikes on the right side. It is one of the possible stages to appear in Level 2 of All-Star Mode as a home stage for Link and Zelda. Its Ω form is columnar. Gerudo Valley was one the first stages revealed for the 3DS version, appearing in the 1st Trailer at E3 2013, alongside Spirit Train. It is the first stage based on a location from Ocarina of Time since Hyrule Castle.
 * SpiritTrainIconSSB4-3.pngSpirit Train (Starter): staged on a divine locomotive from Spirit Tracks piloted by Engineer Link. The Spirit Train's cars serve as steady ground in an otherwise fast-moving environment, similar to Big Blue. When Link or Toon Link participate in a match on the Spirit Train, the royal conductor stands in for Engineer Link. It is one of the possible stages to appear in Level 5 of All-Star Mode as a home stage for Sheik and Ganondorf. Its Ω form is a spacious floating platform like Final Destination. It was one the first stages revealed for the 3DS version, appearing in the 1st Trailer at E3 2013 alongside Gerudo Valley. This is one of the few 3DS stages to represent a handheld-exclusive title.

for Wii U

 * TempleIconSSB4-U.pngTemple (Starter): a massive arena staged on a floating palace from . Temple has received a significant graphical overhaul in its transition from Brawl, and the positioning of its platforms have been adjusted to make the Fight Club area less narrow. This stage is large enough to accommodate 8-Player Smash and was one of the first stages revealed to support it. Its Ω form is staged on a Final Destination-like platform, with the original main Temple platforms floating in the background.
 * BridgeofEldinIconSSB4-U.pngBridge of Eldin (Starter): a spacious arena staged on the titular masonic bridge from , high above a canyon at the foot of Hyrule Castle. often rides across the bridge on the back of his stead, causing damage to any fighters they make contact with. They are occasionally accompanied by a , who trails behind on foot. King Bulbin occasionally drops a bomb that severs the Bridge of Eldin into two platforms with a bottomless pit between them. The bridge is eventually restored by a . This stage is large enough to accommodate 8-Player Smash, though King Bulbin does not appear. It is one of the possible stages to appear in Level 3 of All-Star Mode as a home stage for Sheik and Ganondorf. Its Ω form is columnar.
 * PirateShipIconSSB4-U.pngPirate Ship (DLC): staged aboard Tetra's vessel from  as it traverses the . As it sails, the Pirate Ship occasionally runs and gets temporarily stuck on an island of rocks or gets pulled high into the sky by a typhoon, temporarily changing the platform layout and gravity, respectively. A catapult occasionally rises from the hold to the main deck and, when deployed, will launch any fighter who happens to be near it. occasionally appears as an additional platform trailing behind the ship. The Pirate Ship is often bombarded as it passes enemy s. Only its Ω form can accommodate 8-Player Smash, which is staged on the Lookout Platform. The actual ship sails in the background. The Pirate Ship one of the possible stages to appear in Level 2 of All-Star Mode as a home stage for Toon Link. It was released as downloadable content on September 30th, 2015 for the Wii U version. It is the only DLC stage available exclusively for one version of SSB4. It is also the only stage to have no unique music tracks, instead sharing them with the other Zelda stages.
 * SkyloftIconSSB4-U.pngSkyloft (Starter): staged on floating platforms that travels to various locations on the titular floating isle from . Similar to Delfino Plaza, the primary platform brings the fight to various areas about Skyloft, such as the Bazaar, the, the , and the . While all visited locales have widely varied platform arrangements, the main floating platform cycles through basic Battlefield-like layouts. s can be seen soaring in the background, as well as . It is one of the possible stages to appear in Level 6 of All-Star Mode as a home stage for Link and Zelda. Its Ω form is a spacious floating platform like Final Destination. It was one the first stages revealed for the Wii U version, appearing in the 1st Trailer at E3 2013.

Items
Bold italics denotes an item or Assist Trophy new to the Smash Bros. series. Five new Zelda items were introduced. All three Zelda items from Brawl return.


 * Heart Container (healing): a heart-shaped vessel from the original Legend of Zelda. It is a returning item that heals 100% damage from the player. It is based on its appearance in .
 * Bunny Hood (status): headgear with rabbit ears from . It is a returning item that increases the wearer's agility. One of the settings in Special Smash equips every fighter with the Bunny Hood.
 * Deku Nut (throwing): a unique nut from  that paralyzes opponents. It is a throwing item returning from Brawl. Struck opponents are temporarily stunned on contact.
 * Fairy Bottle (healing/throwing): a new healing item from . When used, it heals 100% of the user's damage. If the player is at ≤99% damage, the item can be picked up and thrown at opponents or teammates.
 * Cucco (throwing): a new throwing item from A Link to the Past. When it makes contact with an opponent or is attacked, it will summon a huge flock to attack the offender. Unlike their Smash Run counterpart, these Cuccos are based on their appearance in Twilight Princess.
 * Bombchu (throwing): a new item from Ocarina of Time. It is a murine bomb that scurries around the stage after being tossed. It will crawl up walls, floors, and ceilings until it makes contact with an opponent and explodes.
 * Beetle (throwing): a new item from Skyward Sword. It is a mechanical scarab that will grab onto opponents and lift them skyward, past the blast zone of the stage. If the player is at low damage and/or mashes enough buttons, they can break away from the Beetle.
 * Gust Bellows (shooting): a new item from Skyward Sword. It is a bag of winds that blows powerful gusts when fired. If discarded, the wind will be blown in all directions.

Assist Trophies

 * Tingle: a fairy-like man from ' who summons various random effects that will influence the fight, similar to Riki, including the spawning of Hammers, imposing curry effects on all fighters, making everyone trip, or spawning flowers on everyone's head. As in Brawl, he is based on his appearance in '.
 * Skull Kid: a forest-dwelling being under the control of Majora's Mask. When summoned, it distorts the battle by flipping the camera upside down, reversing directional inputs for all players, or turns everyone invisible. It does not explicitly aid the summoner. It was the first Assist Trophy shown off for the game.
 * Midna: Link’s impish companion from . She teleports to nearby opponents, grabs them, and tosses them with her hair. She reappears in the center of the stage should she fall off. She will not grab the summoner.
 * Ghirahim: a major antagonist from . He teleports towards opponents and attacks them with his sword and knives. He will respawn on the stage if he falls off. He does not attack the summoner.

Smash Tour items

 * Bunny Hood ( Red ): headgear with rabbit ears from Majora's Mask. The user starts battle with the Bunny Hood equipped.
 * Tingle ( Blue ): a fairy-like man from Majora's Mask. The user shuffles the fighters of all players.
 * Majora's Mask ( Red ): an evil, possessive mask. The user inflicts 50% damage to the user, but doubles their stats.
 * Tetra ( Blue ): a pirate captain from The Wind Waker. The user places a trap that can steal fighters.

Enemies
All enemies are exclusive to and appear in Smash Run.
 * Octorok: an octopus-like creature from the original Legend of Zelda that shoots rocks from its siphon. It is based on its appearance in Skyward Sword. It previously appeared in Melee's Underground Maze.
 * Peahat: a large, hovering plant-like creature from The Legend of Zelda. It damages fighters with spinning, serrated leaves and will spawn smaller Peahats from its carpel. It is based on its appearance in .
 * Stalfos: a skeletal warrior from The Legend of Zelda. It swings a rusted sword to attack and protects itself with a shield. A similar being appears in the Wii U version inside Master Fortress. Stalfos is based on its appearance in Ocarina of Time 3D.
 * Bubble: a disembodied, floating skull with bat-like wings from The Legend of Zelda. It is based on its appearance in Ocarina of Time 3D. Two types of Bubble appear in Smash Run:
 * Red Bubble: a Bubble engulfed in fire that burns on contact. It is weak to ice, electric, and water-based attacks.
 * Blue Bubble: a Bubble engulfed in a blue flame that freezes on contact. It is weak to fire-based attacks.
 * Darknut: an armored sword-wielder from The Legend of Zelda. Similar to Stalfos, a Darknut relies on spacing in combat with opponents. It guards itself with a shield and utilizes a massive sword, but it is stronger and more powerful than Stalfos. The armor makes it resistant to most attacks, but it sheds its armor after accumulating a certain amount of damage. It is based on its appearance in .
 * Cucco: a chicken from . It is normally peaceful, but if it is sufficiently damaged, a large flock will attack the offender. Cuccos cannot be defeated and consequently cannot drop items. Unlike their item counterpart, the Cuccos in Smash Run are based on their in-game sprites from A Link to the Past.
 * ReDead: a clay monster from ' modeled after the . It moves around slowly without attacking, but it releases a strong scream that stuns opponents that get too close. It attacks its stunned victims with a powerful swipe. It is based on its appearance in Ocarina of Time 3D. It previously appeared in ''Melees Underground Maze.

Outfit

 * Link's Outfit (DLC): this outfit is based on Link. It was released with a corresponding hat as downloadable content on April 15th, 2015. The Mii wears a green tunic and wields the . The tunic resembles the iteration of Link from . An official Mii based on Link's likeness can be downloaded via QR code on the official site.

Headgear

 * Link Cap (DLC)
 * Princess Zelda Wig
 * Sheik Mask
 * Majora's Mask (DLC)

Original Tracks
Arrangements and remixes introduced in SSB4.
 * ' (DLC): a medley containing "Overworld Theme" and "Underworld" from the original Legend of Zelda'', and "Princess Zelda's Rescue" from '. It plays on Hyrule Castle (64) and Pirate Ship.
 * : an arrangement of "Overworld Theme" and "Underworld" from The Legend of Zelda. It plays on Spirit Train and Skyloft. It is featured on Disc 2 of A Smashing Soundtrack.
 * : an arrangement of "Dark World" and "Dark World Dungeon" from A Link to the Past. It plays on Smash Run, Bridge of Eldin, and Pirate Ship.
 * ''': an arrangement of "Lost Woods" and "Middle Boss Battle" from '. It plays on Skyloft.
 * : a remix of "Gerudo Valley" from Ocarina of Time. It plays on Gerudo Valley, Skyloft, and Pirate Ship. It is featured on Disc 1 of A Smashing Soundtrack.
 * ': an arrangement of "The Great Sea" from ' and "Select Screen" (here referred to as "Menu Select") from A Link to the Past''. It plays on Skyloft and Pirate Ship.
 * ': an arrangement of "Train Overworld Part 2", the main theme of '. It plays on Spirit Train and Temple. It is featured on Disc 1 of A Smashing Soundtrack''.
 * ': an arrangement of "" and "Ghirahim's Theme" from '. It plays on Smash Run and Skyloft. It is featured on Disc 2 of A Smashing Soundtrack''.

Returning Tracks
Arrangements and remixes from previous Smash Bros. titles.
 *  (DLC): a remix of "Overworld Theme" from The Legend of Zelda. It plays on Hyrule Castle (64).
 * : an arrangement of "Overworld Theme" from The Legend of Zelda. It plays on Temple.
 * ': a remix of "Palace Theme" from '. It plays on Smash Run and Temple. It is featured on Disc 2 of A Smashing Soundtrack''.
 * : an arrangement of "Title" and "Underworld" from The Legend of Zelda. It plays on Bridge of Eldin.
 * : an arrangement of "Overworld Theme" from The Legend of Zelda. It plays on Bridge of Eldin.
 * : an arrangement of "Great Palace Theme" and "Palace Theme" from The Adventure of Link. It plays on Temple.
 * ''': a techno medley containing "Koholint Island" and "Tal Tal Mountain Range" from '. It plays on Skyloft and Pirate Ship.
 * : an arrangement of "Dark World" from A Link to the Past. It plays on Temple.
 * : an arrangement of "Dark Mountain and Forest" from A Link to the Past. It plays on Bridge of Eldin.
 * : a medley of pieces from Ocarina of Time, including "Zelda's Lullaby", "Sun's Song", "Minuet of Forest", "Bolero of Fire", "Song of Storms", "Epona's Song", the "Song of Time", and "Saria's Song". It plays on Gerudo Valley, Bridge of Eldin, and Pirate Ship. It is featured on Disc 2 of A Smashing Soundtrack.
 * : an arrangement of "Hyrule Field Main Theme" from Ocarina of Time. It plays on Bridge of Eldin.
 * : a medley containing "Windmill Hut", "Ganondorf's Theme", and "Serenade of Water" from Ocarina of Time. It plays on Temple and Pirate Ship.

Source Tracks
Compositions and arrangements directly sourced from The Legend of Zelda series with no alterations.
 *  (DLC): it plays on Hyrule Castle (64).
 *  (DLC): it plays on Hyrule Castle (64).
 * : from Ocarina of Time. It plays on Temple and Pirate Ship.
 *  (DLC): "Hyrule Field Main Theme" from Ocarina of Time. It plays on Hyrule Castle (64).
 *  (DLC): from Majora's Mask. It plays on Hyrule Castle (64) and Pirate Ship.
 * : from The Wind Waker. It plays on Temple and Pirate Ship.
 * ': though sourced from ', the piece itself is a remix of "Kakariko Village" from A Link to the Past''. It plays on Skyloft and Pirate Ship.
 * : Taken directly from ripped from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Official Soundtrack, this is the theme for Hyrule Field, as depicted in said game. It plays on Bridge of Eldin.
 * : from Twilight Princess. It plays on Bridge of Eldin.
 * : from Twilight Princess. It plays on Bridge of Eldin.
 * : the main theme of Skyward Sword. It plays on Skyloft and Pirate Ship.
 * : from A Link Between Worlds. It plays on Skyloft.
 * : from A Link Between Worlds. It plays on Temple.
 * : from A Link Between Worlds. It plays on Temple.

Victory Theme

 * Victory! The Legend of Zelda Series: An arrangement of the original The Legend of Zelda's "Triforce Shard Obtained" theme.

Masterpieces

 * The Legend of Zelda
 * Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Of the "perfect-attendance" franchises, the Zelda series has undergone the most substantial reworks of all in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Ultimate marks the first time since Brawl that the designs and voices for each fighter (except Young Link and Toon Link) are completely overhauled. However, Ultimate also marks the first time that the design overhaul is no longer uniformed, with the designs for Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf completely drawn from different games throughout the Zelda series; previously, all three had been based on their Ocarina of Time designs in Melee and their Twilight Princess designs in Brawl and Smash 4. In fact, Ultimate features no character designs from Twilight Princess for the first time since the release of Melee seventeen years prior, as while Sheik has maintained her design, she was never in Twilight Princess to begin with and now wears the Sheikah Set clothes from Breath of the Wild. Due to these changes, Toon Link gains the distinction of being the only Zelda character to feature a consistent design for three separate Smash Bros. installments, being based on his The Wind Waker design in all three of his playable appearances. Additionally, all past stages have been curated and updated for Ultimate, in addition to a new stage being added that is based on Breath of the Wild. With these changes, the Zelda franchise is better referenced as a whole.

Fighters

 * 03. LinkIcon(SSBU).png (Starter): The reincarnating bearer of the Triforce of Courage returns as a starting fighter, but this time with a significant design overhaul. Like his transition from Melee to Brawl, his design, moveset, and voice clips have been updated to reflect his appearance in '. Some key changes include a lack of a Hookshot or Clawshot, arrows becoming equippable items and being able to fire two at once, launching sword beams with his forward smash if no damage has been taken, access to the Remote Bomb rune (replacing his timed bombs from past appearances), and a new Final Smash involving the Ancient Bow and Arrows. His green Tunic of the Wild armor set can be selected as an alternate costume. He was suggested to appear during ''Ultimates then unnamed teaser trailer at the end of the March 8th, 2018 Nintendo Direct, and was later formally announced along with all other veterans during E3 2018.
 * 16. SheikIcon(SSBU).png (Unlockable): The ninja-like alter-ego returns as an unlockable fighter after being a starter in Melee, Brawl, and Smash 4, with a new design based on the Stealth Armor Set from Breath of the Wild. Her moveset otherwise remains largely unchanged from SSB4. Two key changes are that she has received new voice clips for the first time since Brawl and she has a new Final Smash, Sheikah Dance, which is a rushing flurry of knife attacks.
 * 17. ZeldaIcon(SSBU).png (Unlockable): The bearer of the Triforce of Wisdom returns as an unlockable fighter after being a starter in Melee, Brawl, and Smash 4, this time with her design overhauled to combine her appearances from ' and '. Some notable changes include new voice clips for the first time since Brawl, a new rapid jab, reworks to her Phantom Slash, and a new Final Smash utilizing the Triforce of Wisdom.
 * 22. YoungLinkIcon(SSBU).png (Unlockable): After a two installment absence, the child incarnation of the Hero of Time returns from Melee as an unlockable fighter, retaining his design from Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask. Despite keeping his status as a full clone, Young Link is not labeled as an Echo Fighter, possibly due to retaining the moveset of the more traditional adult Link from Melee rather than the current one. Some notable changes include being able to charge his Spin Attack on the ground like the other Links, having two more taunts, new alternate costumes, and a Final Smash, that being Triforce Slash.
 * 23. GanondorfIcon(SSBU).png (Unlockable): The bearer of the Triforce of Power returns as an unlockable fighter after being a starter in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, with his design having been reverted to his Gerudo appearance in Ocarina of Time, last seen in Melee. One notable change is that he now uses the sword from the SpaceWorld 2000 Tech Demo (also seen in Melee in one of his victory screens) for his smash attacks. Otherwise, he has gained many notable mobility buffs across the board. He has received new voice clips to match his past incarnation as well.
 * 43. ToonLinkIcon(SSBU).png (Unlockable): The Hero of Winds returns as an unlockable fighter after being a starter in Smash 4, retaining his design from The Wind Waker. Some notable changes include new sword sound effects that are exclusive to him and only performing one upwards swipe from his forward smash. Otherwise, he remains largely unchanged from his previous appearance.

Boss

 * Ganon SSBU.pngGanon: Ganon appears as a boss, using his Demon-King design from Ocarina of Time. He is fought on a stage reminiscent of the ruins of Ganon's Castle, where the final battle of said game takes place. He wields two swords in battle and his primary weak point is his glowing tail.

Stages
All Zelda stages from previous Super Smash Bros. games return with one new stage as part of the base game.
 * HyruleCastleIconSSBU.pngHyrule Castle (Starter): Returning from Smash 64, this stage maintains its retro aesthetics.
 * GreatBayIconSSBU.pngGreat Bay (Starter): Returns from Melee after a 17-year absence. The visuals have been improved to match its appearance in .
 * TempleIconSSBU.pngTemple (Starter): Returning from Melee, with a massive graphical overhaul.
 * BridgeofEldinIconSSBU.pngBridge of Eldin (Starter): Returning from Brawl, with a massive graphical overhaul.
 * PirateShipIconSSBU.pngPirate Ship (Starter): Returning from Brawl, with a minor graphical overhaul.
 * GerudoValleyIconSSBU.pngGerudo Valley (Starter): Returning from 3DS, with a massive graphical overhaul.
 * SpiritTrainIconSSBU.pngSpirit Train (Starter): Returning from 3DS, with a massive graphical overhaul.
 * SkyloftIconSSBU.pngSkyloft (Starter): Returning from Wii U, with a minor graphical overhaul.
 * GreatPlateauTowerIconSSBU.pngGreat Plateau Tower (Starter): A brand new stage based off of the first Sheikah tower from Breath of the Wild. The overhead structure can crumble and reform in a similar manner to Luigi's Mansion.

World of Light Sub-World

 * SacredLandCharacterLocations.jpgSacred Land: Based on various locations in Hyrule, the Sacred Land appears as a sub-world in The Dark Realm. The map is shaped like the Triforce, with the Triforce of Courage section based on the Lost Woods, the Triforce of Wisdom based section based on Kakariko Village, and the Triforce of Power secrion based on Gerudo Valley. Owl Statues are scattered throughout the land, giving hints to the player on how to solve certain puzzles. Ganon appears as the boss, appearing at Hyrule Castle. However, he will only appear once, , and have been unlocked. In addition to these three, , , , , and  can be unlocked here.

Items

 * Heart Container (healing): A heart-shaped vessel from the original Legend of Zelda. It is a returning item that heals 100% damage from the player. It is based on its appearance in .
 * Bunny Hood (status): Headgear with rabbit ears from . It is a returning item that increases the wearer's agility. One of the settings in Special Smash equips every fighter with the Bunny Hood.
 * Deku Nut (throwing): A unique nut from  that paralyzes opponents. It is a returning item that temporarily stuns stuck opponents on contact.
 * Fairy Bottle (healing/throwing): A healing item from . When used, it heals 100% of the user's damage. If the player is at ≤99% damage, the item can be picked up and thrown at opponents or teammates.
 * Cucco (throwing): A throwing item from A Link to the Past. When it makes contact with an opponent or is attacked, it will summon a huge flock to attack the offender. Unlike their Smash Run counterpart, these Cuccos are based on their appearance in Twilight Princess.
 * Bombchu (throwing): An item from Ocarina of Time. It is a murine bomb that scurries around the stage after being tossed. It will crawl up walls, floors, and ceilings until it makes contact with an opponent and explodes.
 * Beetle (throwing): An item from Skyward Sword. It is a mechanical scarab that will grab onto opponents and lift them skyward, past the blast zone of the stage. If the player is at low damage and/or mashes enough buttons, they can break away from the Beetle.
 * Gust Bellows (shooting): An item from Skyward Sword. It is a bag of winds that blows powerful gusts when fired. If discarded, the wind will be blown in all directions.

Assist Trophies
Bold italics denotes an Assist Trophy new to the Smash Bros. series. All past Assist Trophies return except for Tingle.
 * Skull Kid: Returns as an Assist Trophy; he causes one of three random status effects to occur on everyone: flipping the screen upside down, reversing controls, or turning everyone invisible.
 * Midna: Returns as an Assist Trophy; she uses the hand from her hair to grab and throw nearby opponents. Can be attacked and KO’d.
 * Ghirahim: Returns as an Assist Trophy; he warps around the stage attacking with swords and knives. Can be attacked and KO’d.
 * Moon: Appeared as it did in Majora's Mask 3D. It collides into the stage from the background, damaging and launching all participants.

Outfits

 * Link's Outfit
 * Skull Kid's Outfit
 * Champion's Outfit
 * Yiga Clan's Outfit
 * Ancient Cuirass (DLC)

Headgear

 * Link Cap
 * Skull Kid Cap
 * Champion's Wig
 * Yiga Clan Mask
 * Princess Zelda Wig
 * Sheik Mask
 * Majora's Mask
 * Ancient Helm (DLC)

Original Tracks
Arrangements and remixes unique to Ultimate
 * ''': An arrangement of the Death Mountain theme, as well as the Ganon Appears jingle, the Game Over and Ending theme, the Puzzle Solved jingle, and the Overworld theme from the original '.
 * ''': A new arrangement of "Termina Field" as well as the from '.
 * ''': An arrangement of the theme played when fighting in '.
 * ''': A new arrangement of "Midna's Lament" from ', it also contains part of the File Select theme from the same game.
 * ''': A new arrangement of the title theme from '.
 * ''': An arrangement of the music which played in the January 2017 trailer for '.
 * : A new arrangement of the main theme of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
 * : A new arrangement of 's theme as well as the main theme from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Returning Tracks
Arrangements and remixes returning from previous Smash games.
 * : A remix of "Overworld Theme" from The Legend of Zelda. Returns from the original Super Smash Bros., renamed from Hyrule Castle Stage.
 * : An arrangement of "Overworld Theme" from The Legend of Zelda. Returns from Melee, renamed from Great Bay.
 * ': An arrangement of the music that plays in the Palaces in '. Returns from Melee''.
 * ': An arrangement of "Saria's Song" from '. Returns from Melee''.
 * : An arrangement of the title theme and dungeon music from The Legend of Zelda. Returns from Brawl.
 * : Another arrangement of "Overworld Theme" from The Legend of Zelda. Returns from Brawl.
 * : An arrangement of "Great Palace Theme" and "Palace Theme" from Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. Returns from Brawl.
 * ': An arrangement of "Dark World" from '. Returns from Brawl''.
 * : An arrangement of "Dark Mountain and Forest" from The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Returns from Brawl.
 * ': A techno medley containing "Koholint Island" and "Tal Tal Mountain Range" from '. Returns from Brawl''.
 * : A medley of tracks from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, containing "Zelda's Lullaby", "Sun's Song", "Minuet of Forest", "Bolero of Fire", "Song of Storms", "Epona's Song", the "Song of Time", and "Saria's Song". Returns from Brawl.
 * : An arrangement of "Hyrule Field Main Theme" from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Returns from Brawl.
 * : A medley of containing "Windmill Hut", "Ganondorf's Theme", and "Serenade of Water" from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Returns from Brawl.
 * : An arrangement of the overworld theme and the dungeon music from The Legend of Zelda. Returns from Smash 4.
 * : A medley containing "Overworld Theme" and "Underworld" from The Legend of Zelda, and "Zelda's Lullaby" from The Legend of Zelda: A Link to The Past. Returns from Smash 4
 * : An arrangement of "Dark World" and "Dark World Dungeon" from The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Returns from Smash 4.
 * : A remix of "Gerudo Valley" from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Returns from Smash 4.
 * ': An arrangement of "Train Overworld Part 2", the main theme of '. Returns from Smash 4''.
 * ': An arrangement of "Ballad of the Goddess" and "Ghirahim's Theme" from '. Returns from Smash 4''.
 * : An arrangement of "Lost Woods" and "Middle Boss Battle" from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Returns from Smash for Wii U.
 * : An arrangement of "The Great Sea" from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, and "Select Screen" from The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Returns from Smash for Wii U.

Source Tracks
Tracks sourced directly from their original games.
 * : The theme that plays in the overworld, ripped from The Legend of Zelda.
 * : The overworld theme, ripped from The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.
 * : The "Hyrule Field Main Theme", ripped from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
 * : The theme that plays in Gerudo Valley, ripped from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
 * : The theme that plays in Termina Field, ripped from The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask.
 * : The theme that plays on Dragon Roost Island, ripped from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.
 * '''. The theme that plays in the Village of the Blue Maiden, which itself is a remix of "Kakariko Village", ripped from '.
 * : Taken directly from ripped from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Official Soundtrack, this is the theme for Hyrule Field, as depicted in said game.
 * : The theme that plays in The Hidden Village, ripped from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.
 * : The "Ballad of the Goddess", ripped from The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword.
 * ''': One of the themes that play in Hyrule, ripped from '.
 * : The theme that plays when fighting in Hyrule Castle, ripped from The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds.
 * : The theme that plays in, ripped from The Legend of Zelda: A Between Worlds.
 * : The theme that plays in the Woodlands, ripped from The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes.
 * : The theme that plays when on the outside portions of Hyrule Castle, ripped from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
 * : The theme that plays when fighting 's second phase, ripped from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Victory Theme

 * Victory! The Legend of Zelda Series: A new remix of the theme when Link collects a price of the Triforce from The Legend of Zelda.

Media with elements appearing in the Super Smash Bros. series
The Legend of Zelda universe has media represented throughout the Super Smash Bros. series with a total of 28 games and media. The latest game represented in this universe is , released on May 12, 2023.

Trivia

 * Super Smash Bros. Melee is the only game to introduce more than one The Legend of Zelda character.
 * Tied with the Pokémon series in Brawl (if Pokémon Trainer's three Pokémon are considered separate characters), The Legend of Zelda series introduced the most characters out of all universes within a single game, introducing 4 into Melee.
 * In Melee, The Legend of Zelda universe had the highest amount of playable characters in the game, tied with the Super Mario series at 5.
 * This is the only universe in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U to have a past stage from each of the first three games.
 * The Legend of Zelda,, and  are the only universes to retain their series symbols throughout the entire Super Smash Bros. series.
 * The designs choices for Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf in Ultimate, combined with Sheik, Young Link, and Toon Link, appear to reference the timelines forming the Zelda franchise: Link references Breath of the Wild, taking place long after any of the events in any timeline, Zelda references the "Downfall" timeline, Ganondorf references Ocarina of Time, just right before the timeline splits; Young Link now references the "Child" timeline, and Toon Link references the "Adult" timeline. Only Sheik is the exception, as her design combines elements of all of the timelines except for the Adult timeline: she is introduced in Ocarina of Time, her design is based on the Stealth Armor from Breath of the Wild, has Twilight Princess' braided ponytail, and shares her voice with A Link Between Worlds Zelda.
 * The Legend of Zelda universe is the first universe to have 3 playable versions of the main character.
 * This is the only universe in Ultimate with a stage in Smash 64 to include all of its stages from past games, and include at least one new stage.
 * It is also the only universe in Ultimate to receive a new stage, but not a new fighter, not counting Smash itself.
 * Additionally, this and are the only returning universes in Ultimate to feature new stages in the base game (being Great Plateau Tower and New Donk City Hall respectively), not counting Smash itself (, Small Battlefield,, and ).
 * Furthermore, The Legend of Zelda and Mario are the only universes to have had at least one new stage in every installment, not counting Smash itself.
 * Every non-portable Zelda title released since Ocarina of Time has a representative stage in Ultimate.
 * All the stages from the Zelda,, and universes are playable on Ultimate, a trait shared by none of the other universes present in the original Super Smash Bros.
 * Ultimate is the second game to feature all of the Zelda fighters in Smash as playable characters, the first being .
 * Hyrule Warriors is also the only other game outside of the Smash franchise where the child version of the Hero of Time and the Link from The Wind Waker are both referred to as "Young Link" and "Toon Link", respectively, as opposed to simply just "Link."
 * In Ultimate, exactly half of The Legend of Zelda characters are controlled by Galeem (Link, Sheik, and Toon Link), and the other half are controlled by Dharkon (Young Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf) in World of Light.
 * As of Ultimate, The Legend of Zelda and are the only universes to have antagonists which do not have separate victory themes.
 * The Legend of Zelda,, and universes are tied for having most clones of any type, with 3 each.
 * Discounting costumes original to the Super Smash Bros. series, The Legend of Zelda is the universe with the most Mii Costume sets (Headgear and a matching Outfit), with a total of five.
 * Not including alternate costumes, the Zelda series is the first franchise to introduce multiple female characters in one installment; in this case Zelda and Sheik.
 * The Zelda franchise is the only universe in Smash to have at least one character sport an alternate costume that would become the inspiration of that character's redesign, and another character to revert back to their original design in their Smash debut in a subsequent game: in this case, the characters in question are Zelda and Ganondorf, respectively.