Ganondorf: Difference between revisions

{{ArticleIcons|melee=y|brawl=y|ssb4=y|ultimate=y}}

{{Infobox Character General

|name        = Ganondorf

|caption      = [[File:ZeldaSymbol.svg|50px|class=invert]]

|firstgame    = ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time]]'' (1998)

|games        = ''[[Melee]]''<br>''[[Brawl]]''<br>''[[SSB4]]''<br>''[[Ultimate]]''

|console      = [[Nintendo 64]]

|gender      = Male

|homeworld    = [[Hyrule]]

|interwiki    = zeldawiki

|interwikiname= Zelda Wiki

}}

Ganondorf debuted as a playable character in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'', and also appears in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'', ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]'', and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'' as such.

==Origin==

In ''Ocarina of Time'', Ganondorf's first canonical appearance in the greater ''Zelda'' timeline, it is revealed that he belongs to the {{s|zeldawiki|Gerudo}}, a tribe of female thieves who bear a male only once every century. As the lone male Gerudo, Ganondorf is destined to become their king, but not all of the tribe approve of him, most notably {{s|zeldawiki|Nabooru}}. In terms of physical appearance, he sports his race's typical features: dark skin (with his having an olive green tint), a sharp aquiline nose, amber eyes, and red eyebrows and hair (with the former connecting to the latter). After conquering Hyrule and reigning over its ruins for about seven years, Ganondorf is finally defeated by Link and sealed by Zelda in the Dark World, after which the return of Link to his original time split the timelines.

If Link were to be killed during the events of ''Ocarina of Time'', Ganondorf is left to conquer Hyrule uncontested. This eventually culminates in the people of Hyrule rising up against him in a series of events known as the {{s|zeldawiki|Imprisoning War}}, where the seven sages are able to seal Ganon in the dark realm. Centuries later, Ganon returns during the events of ''A Link to the Past'', where he is driven back by Link and the new seven sages. Centuries after that during the events of ''{{s|zeldawiki|The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds}}'', a sorcerer named {{s|zeldawiki|Yuga}} brings Ganon back and fuse with him to create Yuga-Ganon. Link and the sages are able to separate them and drive both back once again. Hyrule declines in power after these events, being nothing more than scattered communities by the time Ganon returns in ''The Legend of Zelda''. While capturing Princess Zelda, she manages to shatter the Triforce and scatter it across the land. Link collects these pieces and manages to kill Ganon with a silver arrow. Years later, Ganon's minions discover that mixing the blood of Link with his own will revive him, causing Link to be hunted down. This curse is finally broken when Link collects all three triforce pieces and wishes for a sleeping Zelda to wake up.

Unlike some of Nintendo's more comedic villains — such as certain depictions of [[Bowser]] or [[King K. Rool]] — Ganondorf not only boasts the strength of a god, he is also cunning and easily capable of accomplishing his goals. This was most evident in ''Ocarina of Time'', where he successfully conquered Hyrule, forcing Link to build up his strength so he could take the kingdom back and end Ganondorf's seven year-long reign. In one timeline, Ganondorf even succeeds in killing Link and collecting the complete Triforce, forcing the {{s|zeldawiki|Seven Sages}} to seal him within the {{s|zeldawiki|Sacred Realm}} as a last resort.

Ganondorf, as with the other playable characters, is featured on three trophies. His normal trophy is acquired by beating the Classic Mode with Ganondorf on any difficulty, and his Smash Red and Smash Blue trophies are acquired through winning the Adventure and All-Star modes, respectively.

==In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''==

===As a playable character===

{{main|Ganondorf (SSBB)}}

Ganondorf reappears in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' as a playable [[unlockable character]], using his ''The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess'' character model, although without the glowing chest wound like in the game and sporting a hemmed cape instead of a tattered cape. Some of his attacks have changed from his ''Melee'' set and have undergone large aesthetic changes to resemble various hand-to-hand moves he has used in the ''Zelda'' franchise, while his other attacks are similar to their ''Melee'' counterparts.

===Trophies===

{{main|List of SSBB trophies (The Legend of Zelda series)}}

===Stickers===

! Game

! Effect

|-

| {{s|zeldawiki|Ganondorf}}

===As a playable character===

{{main|Ganondorf (SSB4)}}

Ganondorf returns as a playable character in ''Super Smash Bros. 4''. He reuses his ''Twilight Princess'' appearance, but with his glowing chest wound from that game clearly visible and a more tattered cape. His moveset is similar to its ''Brawl'' incarnation, though he now has a set of [[Character customization|custom]] [[special move]]s that are completely different from Captain Falcon's.

Ganondorf saw a slight rise in [[tier list]] placement for ''SSB4'', now ranking 53rd out of 55 characters (being tied with {{SSB4|Zelda}}). He still retains his trademark extreme power, granting him a powerful [[punish]] game. He also benefits from the removal of [[chain grabbing]], meaning he can no longer be a victim of such, and the removal of [[hitstun]] cancelling gives Ganondorf some combo capability. The new [[shield]] mechanics introduced in updates {{SSB4|1.1.0}} and [[1.1.1]] also enhances his already superb shield-breaking power, as well as make his more heavy-hitlag moves safer on shield. Nonetheless, Ganondorf's slow speed, susceptibility to combos, vulnerability to [[projectile]] camping, and terrible recovery options remain prominent. While some custom moves grant him better recovery and approach options, custom moves are currently banned in tournaments, leaving Ganondorf with only his default options. Although he received some buffs in the transition from ''Brawl'' to ''SSB4'', as well as gained many more buffs in game updates, his glaring flaws remain. When this is coupled with the aforementioned custom moves ban, he is mainly seen as a non-viable pick for high-level play, though he still has a few dedicated players, some of whom even use him as a singular [[main]].

===Trophies===

==In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''==

===As a playable character===

{{Main|Ganondorf (SSBU)}}

Ganondorf returns as a playable character in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'', as with all previous playable characters. His appearance is now based on his design in ''The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time'' for the first time since ''Melee''. Ganondorf has received new smash attacks which use his sword from the ''Space World 2000'' tech demo, and his Final Smash transforms him into Ganon as seen in ''Ocarina of Time'' as well. Like each of his previous appearances in the series (except for ''Super Smash Bros. for Wii U''), he is an unlockable character. Additionally, Ganon appears as a boss in Classic Mode.

Ganondorf's strengths and weaknesses have both become more potent, solidifying his status as a glass cannon. His absurdly high damage output has been further increased, which is especially notable with moves like Dark Dive and Wizard's Foot. Most of his attacks are also faster, have longer range (most obviously shown with his new sword-based smash attacks), or sport additional utility, and he also benefits from universal mobility improvements. However, Dark Dive and Flame Choke are easier to escape, Ganoncide now KOs Ganondorf first, and his already poor out of shield options have been worsened by the increase in shield drop frames, while universally higher traction makes it harder for Ganondorf to safely pressure shields himself. Despite initially positive reception, Ganondorf is generally agreed to once again be low- or bottom-tier like in ''Brawl'' and ''Smash 4'', though he has seen greater success than in either previous installment.

===Spirits===

*Not counting [[Kirby]], who can [[List of Copy Abilities|copy]] [[Egg Lay]], [[Chomp]], [[King Dedede]]'s {{b|Inhale|King Dedede}} and [[Blunderbuss]], Ganondorf is the only character who has more than one [[command grab]]s in a single game, being [[Flame Choke]] and [[Dark Dive]] in all of his appearances except ''Melee'', where [[Gerudo Dragon]] appears in the place of the former.

*Ganondorf and [[Sheik]] both made their playable debuts in ''Super Smash Bros. Melee''. Coincidentally, both made their playable debuts outside of ''Super Smash Bros.'' in ''Hyrule Warriors''.

*Ganondorf is the only [[clone]] to not be from the same [[universe]] as [[Captain Falcon|the character his moveset is based on]].

**Jigglypuff also had a parent clone in Kirby, but it has been completely de-cloned since ''Melee''.

**He is also the only clone not to share the name of any of his [[special moves]] with his base fighter.

*Ganondorf and [[Ike]] are the only characters in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' franchise to revert back to an earlier design used for their debut appearance in a later installment.

*None of Ganondorf's unlock battles take place on a stage from the game his design is based on. In ''Melee'' and ''Brawl'', his unlock battle is set in their respective [[Final Destination]]s. In ''Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS'' (which features his ''Twilight Princess'' appearance), he is fought on [[Gerudo Valley]], a stage from ''Ocarina of Time'', and in ''Ultimate'' (which features his ''Ocarina of Time'' appearance), he is fought on [[Bridge of Eldin]], a ''Twilight Princess'' stage. This makes Ganondorf the only ''Legend of Zelda'' series character in ''Smash Bros.'' with this distinction.

*Ganondorf’s voice actor in ''Melee'' and ''Ultimate'' {{s|wikipedia|Takashi Nagasako}} also voices [[Donkey Kong]] outside of the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series.

==References==