Littered throughout the long and winding history of Hyrule are repeated figures. There’s the reincarnation of the hatred ofSkyward Sword’s villain Demise, a sword-wielding hero named Link, andthe mortal embodiment of the goddess Hyliacalled Zelda.The Legend of Zeldaseries has offered many iterations of these characters, and while the Ganons and Links of the world maintain largely the same personalities, none has seen as much variation as Zelda.

While she has a penchant for getting kidnapped and becoming the game’s MacGuffin, Zelda has played wildly varying roles in her tenure as princess. From pirate to scholar, leader to spy, here’s every mainlineLegend of Zeldaincarnation of Zelda, ranked from worst to best.

Link and Zelda riding on horseback together in a Memory from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2

S Tier

A Tier

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B Tier

C Tier

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D Tier

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Link kneels in front of Zelda in ceremonial wear from Skyward Sword.

A cloaked Zelda shows off her Triforce of Wisdom in Twilight Princess

Zelda Minish Cap Light Force Stained Glass

Zelda 2: The Adventures of Link