Super Smash Bros. Fighters – The Legend of Zelda series – 03 Zelda 

Debut

In the Legend of Zelda series: The Legend of Zelda (1986)
In the Super Smash Bros. series: Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001)

Boxing Ring Title: Hyrule’s Wise Princess

Theme Song: Ballad of the Goddess/Ghirahim’s Theme

Princess Zelda is a major character in "The Legend of Zelda" series, and is the wielder of the Triforce of Wisdom. There have been various incarnations of Zelda throughout the series, but only three Zeldas have entered Super Smash Bros.: Ocarina of Time Zelda in Super Smash Bros. Melee, Twilight Princess Zelda in "Super Smash Bros. Brawl" and "Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS & Wii U,” and “A Link Between Worlds” Zelda in “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.”

In “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time,” a young Zelda has been having bad dreams involving a man named Ganondorf, who hails from the Gerudo desert who pledges loyalty to her father, bringing her kingdom to ruins. Zelda plotted with Link to expose Ganondorf’s wickedness to her father, but unfortunately, Ganondorf was one step ahead and manages to slay her father, forcing her to flee with her aide, Impa.

During her time in hiding, she would learn the way of the Sheikah Clan from Impa and use her magic to create an alter-ego she calls “Sheik” so that Ganondorf wouldn’t be able to find her. Seven years later, Zelda - as Sheik - would find Link in the Temple of Time, and would proceed to help and guide him to the seven sages.

In “The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess,” which takes place 100 years after the events of “Ocarina of Time” in the Child Timeline, Zelda is about to have her coronation ceremony. However, it gets interrupted when Zant, the King of Twilight, invades her kingdom. She tries to force Zant's army out, but they prove to be too much for her army to handle. To stop the bloodshed, she surrenders, allowing Zant to spread his veil of Twilight over her castle. She ends up becoming a prisoner in her own room. 

Some time later, an imp named Midna would lead Link - who's stuck in a wolf form - to Zelda's room, where Zelda explains to Link what's happening. Much later on in the game, she helps save a dying Midna, and even assist Link in his battle against Ganondorf.

In “The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds,” which takes place 100+ years after the events of “Ocarina of Time” in an alternate timeline called the Downfall Timeline, Zelda is the sole ruler of Hyrule. After Link comes to warn her of impending danger, she tells him to warn Sahasrahla of Karariko Village, and gives him a special pendant. Later on in the game, Yuga – the main antagonist – barges into her castle and turns Zelda into a painting. He plans on using her, as well as the other six sages, to revive Ganon so he can fuse with him.

In Super Smash Bros., Zelda has a variety of magical spells she can use to give her an edge over her opponents!

Special Moves 

Neutral Special: Nayru’s Love 

Zelda surrounds herself in a magical barrier with sharp crystals swarming the sides. The sharp crystals damage anyone in who tries to approach while the barrier reflects projectiles back at the offender.

Inspired by the item, Nayru’s Love, in “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.” In that game, using it would form a protective barrier around Link that would shield him for damage for a minute. The catch is that it would drain about a half of his magic - or a fourth if his magic is fully upgraded - as well as prevent him from using other items that require magic. It had no offensive purposes.

Zelda has never been shown using this move, though in "Hyrule Warriors," one of her attacks when she's wielding the Rapier seems to reference Nayru's Love.

Side Special: Din’s Fire

Zelda sends out a small ball of flame in front of her that can be guided up or down. After reaching a certain distance – or if you let go of the Special Button – Zelda will have the ball of fire explode. The farther the fireball goes, the more damage it’ll do when it explodes.

If Zelda is attacked while using this move, the fireball will continue to travel in whatever arc Zelda last had it going, and will travel the maximum distance before exploding.

Inspired by the item, Din’s Fire, in “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.” In that game, using it would allow Link to create an explosion of fire around him, which would allow him to damage any enemies nearby, as well as light torches.

Zelda has never been shown using this move, though in "Hyrule Warriors," one of her attacks when she's wielding the Rapier seems to reference Din's Fire.

Up Special: Farore’s Wind 

Zelda spins around before disappearing. Anyone close to her gets sent flying upwards. Zelda will then reappear in the direction you’re holding, the default being upwards if nothing is held. Anyone who is unfortunate enough to be where she'll reappear will take damage and go flying away.

Inspired by the item, Farore’s Wind, in “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time”. In that game, using it would allow Link to mark an area in a dungeon so he can return to it later on upon using the move a second time. It has no offensive purposes.

Zelda has never been shown using this move, though in "Hyrule Warriors," one of her attacks when she's wielding the Rapier seems to reference Farore's Wind. 

Down Special: Phantom Slash 

Zelda strikes a pose as a Phantom begins to assemble itself. Upon being fully assembled, the Phantom will stall for a bit before rushing forward to try and strike foes with its sword! It can even take some hits for Zelda as well, though if either it or Zelda are hit during the assembling part, it’ll immediately shatter.

Zelda can instantly order the Phantom to attack before the it's fully assembled by pressing the Special Button again at any point, but it will be weak and won’t travel as far. What kind of attack the Phantom uses depends on how  much armor it has assembled.

Additionally, if you press the Special Button just as its head assembles itself on the body, it’ll immediately rush forward without stalling.

Inspired by the Phantoms in “The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass,” as well as “The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks.” In those games, Phantoms patrol certain temples, and if they happen to spot Link, they’d chase him down. Getting hit would send Link back to the entrance. In “Spirit Tracks,” Zelda – who’s spirit got separated from her body in that game – could possess empty/dazed Phantom Armor and help Link out, whether through distracting enemies, fighting, or carrying him over dangerous areas. 

Final Smash: Triforce of Wisdom

Zelda summons the Triforce of Wisdom. The Triforce of Wisdom then begins trying to inhale anyone nearby. Once it grabs an opponent, they'll get absorbed into the Triforce of Wisdom and take damaging as it shrinks. Once the Triforce of Wisdom is super-small, Zelda will shatter it, sending the opponent flying. Unless the opponent has 100+% damage. Then they’ll be instantly KOed.

The move seems to be inspired by how Zelda uses the Triforce of Wisdom to defeat Ganon in “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.” It also has a similar inspiration in “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time,” where Zelda uses the Triforce of Wisdom to stun Ganon long enough for Link to defeat him.

The Triforce of Wisdom is an item that debuted in “The Legend of Zelda.” Throughout the game, Link goes around obtaining the various broken shards of it from various dungeons, and once he has all eight pieces, he would be allowed to enter Ganon's Lair. In various games, the Triforce of Wisdom is heavily associated with Princess Zelda.

Additional Notes

Back in their debut in “Super Smash Bros. Melee,” Zelda and Sheik shared the same character slot. You could switch between them by using their Down Special, “Transform,” which would cause Zelda to transform into Sheik, and vice-versa. By “Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS & Wii U,” Zelda and Sheik were given separate character slots, as well as new Down Specials, because the Nintendo 3DS version of the game couldn’t handle transforming characters very well.

While Zelda’s design in “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” is mostly inspired by her appearance in “The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds,” it also takes inspiration from her appearance in the game's prequel, “The Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past.“ One such example is her necklace, which "A Link Between Worlds" Zelda doesn't wear.