Top 10 Best Legend of Zelda Companions

Top 10 Legend of Zelda Companions

You know what they say; it’s dangerous to go alone. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Legend of Zelda Companions.

For this list, we’ll be looking at the most interesting and useful partners Link has ever taken on an adventure, whether they be animals or more fleshed out sidekicks.

#10: Ricky

“The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages” (2001)

There are several useful companions in these Game Boy Color classics. Dimitri the Dodongo can swim through rough waters. Moosh the flying bear can hover over pits. But the best of the three has to be Ricky the boxing kangaroo. Ricky has the ability to jump over holes and scale tall walls. But it’s combat where he shines the brightest. Not only can he box an enemy’s ears, but he can also wind up and fire a tornado. Comparably, Dimitri merely bites and Moosh ground pounds. Plus, how adorable does Link look riding around in Ricky’s pouch? Accurate kangaroo anatomy be damned!

#9: Fi

“The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword” (2011)

You wouldn’t think a spirit confined to a sword for thousands of years would be the most personable companion. And, well, you’d kind of be right. But once you get used to Fi’s android-like behavior and dialogue, she can actually be pretty useful. She can provide insight regarding certain items and characters to help him find his way. Fi also grows more personable over the course of the game, resulting in one of the most touching yet heart wrenching scenes in Zelda history. Players will forever think of her whenever they pick up this iconic weapon.

#8: Epona

Various

When you think of animal companions in video games, Epona is often among the first to come to mind - and for good reason. She’s carried Link (literally) through some of the franchise’s biggest stepping stones - from adventuring through Hyrule Field to thrilling horseback combat. She was quite helpful on the N64, giving Link a speed boost and letting him reach new areas. And while their bond was strongest in “Twilight Princess,” the most useful version of her is in “Breath of the Wild.” You have to own Link’s amiibo to get her, but she comes with max bond, speed, strength, and stamina. And when you register her at a stable, the stableman calls her the horse of legend. You’ve gotta respect the classics!

#7: Wolf Link

“The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” (2017)

It’s another unfortunate case of needing an Amiibo, but it’s one well worth having. Scanning this special Amiibo, which came packaged with “Twilight Princess HD,” lets Wolf Link travel on your adventure. He’ll attack any enemies and hunt wild game on sight, letting Link preserve weapons and resources. Plus, he’ll automatically teleport to you when you get too far away. His health depends on how many hearts players had left after completing the Cave of Shadows in “Twilight Princess HD.” But no matter how strong your Wolf Link is, he’ll fill the hole of a travel companion - which is one of the only things “Breath of the Wild” was missing.

#6: Princess Zelda

“The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks” (2009)

It isn’t too often players get to team up with the franchise’s legendary namesake, let alone control her. As such, this DS title made for a rather momentous occasion. After her spirit was separated from her body by the dastardly Chancellor Cole, Zelda joined Link in order to reclaim it. This could’ve very easily been another adventure about rescuing a damsel-in-distress but Zelda plays a much bigger role. Within the Tower of Spirits, Zelda can possess armored enemies called Phantoms. This makes it interesting to return to the tower throughout the game, as controlling Zelda lets you solve a variety of puzzles. She’s still scared of rats, which is a tad regressive, but it’s still pretty cool having her alongside you the whole game.

#5: The Crimson Loftwing

“The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword” (2011)

With an overworld set in the clouds, Nintendo knew they couldn’t include Epona for this Wii entry. But what they gave us made exploring the sky much more exciting than riding around on horseback. Link’s Crimson Loftwing, the rarest form of the creature, is controlled using the Wii’s motion controls. And honestly, plunging down from incredible heights never gets old. Although every student of the Knight’s Academy gets a Loftwing, Link has a special connection with his; he was able to ride his companion at an early age with no instruction. A lack of content in the overworld is one of “Skyward Sword’s” most frequent criticisms, but the simple joy of controlling the Loftwing certainly helped make up for it.

#4: Tatl

“The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (2000)

Navi’s annoying nature is one of the most-referenced aspects of “Ocarina of Time”. But Tatl, the fairy that succeeded her, makes for a much more pleasant and complex companion. “Majora’s Mask” excels in subverting expectations of what a Zelda adventure entails - and your sidekick is no exception. Once a friend to Skull Kid, she reluctantly joins Link in order to find her brother. In fact, when they first meet, she helps Skull Kid rob and transform Link!. But on their journey, the strong-willed Tatl begins to open up and regret her actions. She feels a responsibility for Skull Kid’s descent into villainy and the well-being of his soon-to-be victims. Plus, she has all the usefulness of Navi without pestering you every few minutes.

#3: Ezlo

“The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap” (2005)

So useful is the ability this companion grants Link that the entire game was named after him. Once one of the Picori and master to Vaati, Ezlo was transformed into a hat by his former pupil. In order to regain his form and stop the power-hungry antagonist, he teams up with Link. Most of the game revolves around shrinking down in size to explore new areas and complete dungeons. Not only is this an interesting way to open up a game’s world, but Ezlo is also just incredibly entertaining. At times sarcastic and crotchety, Ezlo brings more genuine laughs than any companion before him. And he offers a nice origin story explaining why Link is always seen wearing a floppy, green hat!

#2: The King of Red Lions

“The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker” (2003)

The concept of a flooded Hyrule is already intriguing. But it’s this knowledgeable companion who guides Link and helps the player to understand this new world. While he is a bit serious compared to other companions, the King of Red Lions is still a source of comfort. He can give Link hints in dungeons via the Pirate’s Charm, and he helps you stay one step ahead of Ganon through his familiarity with world locations. But he further distinguishes himself with the bombshell reveal that he is in fact the King of Hyrule from long ago. This tragic backstory, coupled with his expressiveness, makes him far more fleshed than other companions. And his sacrifice and hopeful wish for Link and Zelda is enough to elicit tears.

#1: Midna

“The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess” (2006)

Midna is an endlessly helpful companion, eventually able to teleport Link around Hyrule and let him transform into a wolf at will. And when it comes to personality, there’s simply no topping her. The Queen of the Twilight Realm ventured into Hyrule to stop Zant, who transformed her into her impish form. She’s a bit rough around the edges, full of sass, and seems to take sinister delight in Hyrule’s current state. But Midna’s guard eventually comes down, and she’s revealed to have a strong heart and a deep love for her people. Plus, her personal conflict with Zant elevates him as a villain in kind. Honestly, “Twilight Princess” is just as much her story as it is Link’s, if not more so.