The Legend of Zeldahas plenty of iconic characters, from its trio of Triforce wielders in Princess Zelda, Link, and Ganondorf, to those who support the battle against the constant threat of darkness consuming the land. Butunlike other Nintendo franchises,The Legend of Zeldafeatures a hefty amount of strong, inspirational female characters.
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From the latest additions inBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdomto the beloved characters of classic titles likeOcarina of TimeandTwilight Princess,The Legend of Zeldahas its fair share of memorable female characters that have changed the course of Hyrule’s history.
10Princess Zelda (Various)
The Legend of Zeldawouldn’t be the same without its namesake. While there have been many iterations of the Princess across the games, courage and wisdom are two consistent characteristics shared among them. Zelda isn’t one to back down from her duties or give up, and will step into the forefront of battles whether in disguised like Sheik inThe Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Timeor by keeping the darkness sealed away for 100 years as she does inThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
And when she’s not saving Hyrule, Princess Zelda is a caring ruler to her people. Being a Sage and the wielder of the Triforce of Wisdom is obviously important to her, but it’s the safety of Hylians that will always come first.
9Medli
The Legend of Zeldafranchisefeatures dozens of supporting characters, but none stand out more so than Medli. The small Rito plays a large part in the story ofThe Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, taking her duties to heart and using her strength in the face of adversity. The apprentice of Valoo, Medli tries her hardest for her people – especially her close friend, Prince Komali.
Through the process of the story, Link helps Medli discover her true purpose as the Sage of the Earth. “There’s actually something that I can do to help this world,” she tells Link upon the realization, thanking him.
8Urbosa
As one of the four Champions of Hyrule, Urbosa was tasked with piloting the Divine Beast Vah Naboris to stop Calamity Ganon from engulfing Hyrule with Malice. Despite being a strong and adept Gerudo fighter, nothing could have prepared Urbosa for the onslaught that Ganon brought upon the Champions during the Great Calamity.
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After 100 years of being trapped within the confines of Vah Naboris, Urbosa comes to terms with the outcome. When Link finally sets her free, she clarifies this realization. She hopes he passes this on to Zelda, explaining that no one was to blame and that the extent of Ganon’s return was not foreseen.
7Makeela Riju
Makeela Riju is the Chief of the Gerudo inBreath of the Wildfollowing her mother’s death. Despite only being 12 years old during the events of the game, Riju proves herself to be steadfast and dedicated to her role. It seems as though she’ll haveher time to shine inTears of the Kingdom, helping Link face the newly reborn Ganondorf as he attempts to take over Hyrule once more.
Riju more than proved herself inBreath of the Wild, helping Link gain access to the Divine Beast Vah Naboris by traversing the lightning-infused sands of the Gerudo Desert.
6Impa (Various)
If there’s one character inThe Legend of Zeldathat’sworthy of a potential spin-off, it’s Impa. As an adviser to Hyrule’s royal family, Impa is often tasked with looking out for and guiding the young Princess Zelda.
Like Zelda, many characters throughout the franchise hold the mantle of caretaker, but her interactions presented inSkyward SwordandTwilight Princessare particularly noteworthy. As is the Impa ofHyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, which sees the younger version of Impa inBreath of the Wildfight in the Great Calamity alongside Link, Zelda, and the Hyrule Champions.
5Saria
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Timeintroduced a bunch ofbeloved characters in the franchise, but none more than Link’s childhood friend Saria. In the game, Link starts his adventure from Kokiri Forest, where he receives his fairy Navi and is summoned by the Great Deku Tree to undertake a vital quest. Saria is the first Kokiri that Link speaks to, and the pair form a deep connection that follows the Hero throughout his journey.
Even in his seven-year absence from the forest, Saria upholds Link’s name and takes on the mantle of Sage of the Forest Temple. Her kind and humble nature is so revered that inBreath of the Wild,players can find a lake named after her in Korok Forest.
4Midna
Link and Zelda are often aided in their quest to defeat Ganon, and inThe Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, the Twili princess Midna helps in their plight. Before the game’s events, the usurper Zant curses Midna to be stuck in the form of an imp. She initially joins Link on his quest to save Hyrule to save herself but has a change of heart when Zelda revives her after being gravely injured.
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In a true show of self-sacrifice, Midna faces Ganon herself after she realizes the curse won’t lift. Although this doesn’t go to plan, Link and Zelda finally manage to put Ganon to rest. In return, the Light Spirits revive Midna while breaking the curse in the process. Ending the game in her true form, Midna leaves a lasting impact on Link, Zelda, and players.
3Tetra
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Wakersees Link meet Tetra – a pirate captain whohappens to be a variation of Princess Zelda. But Tetra feels far removed from her connection to Zelda, courtesy of her bold personality and her comfort in sailing the seas with her cherished crew.
Like the player, Tetra is unaware of this connection until partway through the game when the King informs the pirate that her necklace is actually part of the Triforce of Wisdom, held by Zelda. Even though Tetra returns to her seafaring ways at the end ofThe Wind Waker, she embraces her true destiny inThe Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, where she founded the new kingdom of Hyrule.
2Navi
Love her or hate her, Navi is one of the most iconic female characters inThe Legend of Zelda. Despite only appearing inThe Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Link’s fairy companion helped players come to grips with the controls of the game’s new 3D environment.
WhileNavi’s fate is unknown, her character has had a lasting effect on players (whether good or bad). She’s become a symbol of the franchise as much as the Triforce, and rightfully so – Link wouldn’t have been able to traverseOcarina of Time’s Hyrule without her reminding him to stop and listen every once in a while.
1Purah
InBreath of the Wild, players were introduced to Purah – Impa’s older sister. Residing in Hateno Village, the cute and quirky researcher runs her own laboratory, where she focuses on building ancient Sheikah technology. So much so that she created an anti-aging rune that worked a littletoowell, resulting in her childlike appearance.
Like Impa, Purah helps Link in his quest to put a stop to Calamity Ganon once and for all. A century prior, she was an integral part of Link and Zelda’s team of heroes during the Great Calamity when she would have been around 24 years old.
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