The Legend of Zelda is one of Nintendo's longest-running and most popular franchises. Understandably, its characters have featured heavily in the all-star Super Smash Bros fighting game series. Link, the Zelda series' main protagonist, is even represented three times on the roster: Adult Link, Young Link, and Toon Link.
Despite the series' popularity and importance to the Nintendo canon, the Zelda series representation has been unfortunately lackluster. Aside from the three Links, a brand-new Zelda character hasn't been added to the series since Super Smash BrosMelee, the series' second installment. These Zelda characters would be perfect additions to the series.
10 Lana
The ensemble hack-and-slash game Hyrule Warriors was released initially for Wii U, with later ports to 3DS and Nintendo Switch. Lana features heavily in this spin-off, despite not appearing in any mainline Zelda games. She's a sorceress, carrying around a book of magic that she uses to battle hordes of enemies in the game.
As a magic user, Lana would join the Smash roster alongside fellow magic users like Robin, Palutena, and Princess Zelda herself. She also has an evil counterpart, Cia, who could be an alternate costume, a clone, or part of Lana's Final Smash. Either way, she would definitely prove to be unique among the current Zelda characters.
9 Skull Kid
Skull Kid is one of the most popular choices for a Zelda representative in Super Smash Bros. At the moment, Skull Kid appears in Super Smash Bros Ultimate as an Assist Trophy, turning the stage upside down and inverting player controls. However, given his abilities in Majora's Mask, Skull Kid could do a lot more as a fighter.
In his appearance in Hyrule Warriors, Skull Kid attacks using Link's Ocarina, as well as his fairy companions Tatl and Tael. In addition, Skull Kid also possesses the Majora's Mask, a powerful object which allows the user to summon curses. This could provide a unique moveset for Skull Kid, forcing his opponents to shapeshift into various forms.
8 Midna & Wolf Link
Like Skull Kid, Midna also appears in the Super Smash Bros series as an Assist Trophy. There, she attacks opponents with her hair, which could be the source of her grab moves if she was ever made fully playable. In addition, Midna is often seen riding Wolf Link in Twilight Princess, meaning a fourth form of Link could be playable as well.
Midna and Wolf Link together have many attacks that would translate well to Super Smash Bros. Midna could summon twilight magic while also physically attacking with Wolf Link's vicious abilities. She could also, like other magic users, teleport herself around the stage to avoid her opponents' attacks.
7 Revali
Revali is one of four Champions who feature prominently in the story of Breath of the Wild. He's also a member of the Rito tribe, who first appeared in The Wind Waker. As such, Revali could represent his entire tribe in Super Smash Bros, incorporating elements from the Rito people's abilities in both games.
Obviously, Revali's bird-like qualities mean he'd be primarily an aerial fighter. However, he also possesses a bow-and-arrow, which would help him attack from a distance. He also bestows the ability Revali's Gale onto Link, allowing Link to soar with a powerful gust of wind, which he could use for himself as a potential recovery move.
6 Daruk
The Goron are a race of rock-eaters that have appeared throughout the Zelda franchise ever since Ocarina of Time. While there are many strong candidates for a possible Goron fighter, Daruk from Breath of the Wild might be the strongest. Like Revali, Daruk is another Champion who appears in the game.
With his heavy Boulder Breaker sword, Daruk could be a slow, heavy swordsman, a fighting style not common in the Super Smash Bros roster. He also could utilize Daruk's Protection ability, shielding himself with an impenetrable barrier. For his Final Smash, perhaps he can summon Divine Beast Vah Rudania to attack the stage.
5 Princess Mipha
Like the Goron, the Zora people originally appeared in Ocarina of Time as a sea-based species that predate the Rito. While Prince Sidon is a popular character among Zelda fans, his older sister Mipha might be the more ideal candidate for Super Smash Bros. Out of all the Champions, Mipha is definitely the most developed.
The power that Mipha bestows upon Link in Breath of the Wild, Mipha's Grace, allows him to recover all his hearts before dying. This could translate into a potential healing ability for Mipha in her Smash moveset. Additionally, she wields a long trident, which she could use gracefully for her basic attacks.
4 Urbosa
The Gerudo also made their initial debut in Ocarina of Time, appearing again in Breath of the Wild. Technically, there already is a Gerudo representative on the Smash roster in Ganondorf, though Ganondorf's moveset infamously lacks originality. With Urbosa, the last of the four Champions, there's more potential for uniqueness.
Urbosa's weapons include the Scimitar of the Seven and the Daybreaker shield, meaning like Link she'd be another sword-and-shield user. However, her movements would definitely be more graceful, aligning with her Gerudo roots. She could also use the Urbosa's Fury power, dealing electrical damage to enemies.
3 Tingle
Tingle is one of the Legend of Zelda franchise's most popular characters, even getting several solo spin-offs. However, in the Super Smash Bros series, Tingle appears as an Assist Trophy, summoning a random effect to change the tide of battle. With a fully fleshed-out moveset, Tingle could get a proper chance to shine.
Obviously, Tingle's main attributes are the balloons he travels with, which can make him a versatile fighter in the air. He also possesses the use of magic, which could be of a more trickster variety than other magic users in Smash who concentrate on spell-casting. Finally, he could have attacks that utilize rupees, a form of currency in Hyrule.
2 Toon Zelda
The inclusion of Toon Link in Super Smash Bros Brawl opens many possibilities for alternate iterations of the current Zelda characters. Toon Zelda would be the most obvious one, as she features prominently in the DS game Spirit Tracks. In Hyrule Warriors, she's playable with a moveset based on that game.
Uniquely, Toon Zelda does not fight on her own. Instead, she's a spirit who possesses Phantom armor to attack. The Phantom Armor already appears in Smash as regular Zelda's Down-B, but the inclusion of Toon Zelda means this could be reimagined as well. Another possible moveset could involve her transforming into Tetra.
1 Impa
Impa, a Sheikah warrior, has appeared throughout the Zelda series, much like Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf. Even throughout the Hyrule Warriors series, there are several possible movesets for Impa. In a Skyward Sword-inspired design, Impa could wield a great sword or a naginata, giving her a long-range and powerful attack power.
However, if a younger Impa from the Breath of the Wild timeline appeared, she could wield kodachi knives, as well as other forms of Sheikah magic currently unrepresented by Sheik. While there are many potential Smash Bros fighters from across the Zelda timeline, no one deserves it more than Impa.