Boss Rush Banter: Which Iteration of Link from The Legend of Zelda is the Strongest?

Ah, Link, the ubiquitous hero whose name is largely lost to all who are not dedicated fans of The Legend of Zelda franchise.

This silent protagonist has been who players control since the initial game dropped in 1986. Much like the eponymous Princess Zelda, Link has many iterations over the course of the long-running franchise, all of which become heroes of their own eras.

What’s interesting about these iterations is while most of them are different, there are a few who make repeat appearances. The franchise is a mixture of direct and spiritual sequels.

Regardless of which version of Link appears, they all end up saving the day in their own unique ways, acquiring a special set of skills along the way. So that begs the question: “Which Link is the strongest?”

I’ll admit the strongest Link is entirely subjective. It could mean physically the strongest or it could refer to mental prowess. Regardless of how you define the strongest, each one gained experience that sets them apart from the rest.

Representations of Link in various The Legend of Zelda games — **Image Credit:** Nintendo (via The Gamer)

Here is the list of the different Links and their corresponding games, according to the official timeline in Hyrule Historia:

Hero of the Skies — Skyward Sword
Hero of the Minish — The Minish Cap
Four Links — Four Swords
Hero of Time — Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask as well as a cameo in Twilight Princess as the Hero’s Shade.
Hero of Legend — A Link to the Past, Oracle of Ages, Oracle of Seasons, and Link’s Awakening
The New Hero of Hyrule — A Link Between Worlds and Tri-Force Heroes
Hero of Hyrule — The Legend of Zelda and Adventure of Link
Hero of Winds — The Wind Waker and Phantom Hourglass
Hero of Trains — Spirit Tracks
Hero of Twilight — Twilight Princess
Hero of Light — Four Sword Adventures
Hero of the Wild — Breath of the Wild and (presumably) Tears of the Kingdom

Personally, I think the Hero of Legend is the strongest. That’s four hefty adventures in four unique worlds. This version of Link really has the mileage, giving him not only physical strength, but also craftiness to round out his experience.

I also think it’s worth noting that the Hero of Time also ranks high because of his time-traveling abilities and saving the world from ruin in Majora’s Mask in meteoric fashion. This version of Link is also the only iteration we see at different points in his life, including a post-death appearance in Twilight Princess.

Regardless of how you look at it, Link is a powerful specimen who saves the world in so many ways. Each iteration showcases the character’s abilities and strengths in a unique way.

It can be hard to narrow down the best Link but it’s fun to try. I always like imagining a battle royale of the different Links with the Heroes of Time, Winds, Legend, and the Wild being the final four.

But what do you think? Which iteration of Link is the strongest? Which version could hold their own against the rest? Let us know in the comments below or by joining our Discord channel.

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