The Legend Of Zelda: Most Important Side Characters

Summary

• Side characters in Legend of Zelda, like King of Red Lions and Great Deku Tree, play vital roles in fleshing out the series’ rich world.
• Characters like Tingle and Beedle, though polarizing, are important in providing key items and services to Link during his adventures.
• Iconic characters like Epona and Impa have made significant appearances in multiple Zelda games, shaping the lore and storylines.

Although the Legend of Zelda series centers on the eponymous Princess Zelda and her stalwart companion and defender of the realm Link, there are many memorable and very important side-characters of Zelda who as well as being well-loved by fans, play important roles in the game series – sometimes even across several games.

Although these side characters can’t hold a candle to the main characters of the series, they’re well-loved and serve to flesh out the rich and expansive world of the Legend of Zelda series in a major way.

Updated March 20, 2025, by Blaise Santi: While many fans may think it’s been too long since the last Zelda game, they might’ve forgotten about the recent release of The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, which released in September 2024. This new entry to the series is the first in which Princess Zelda is the main protagonist, having to rescue Link from the Still World. This update takes a look at five additional important side characters from the Zelda franchise, including Rauru, Purah, Midna, and more. Additionally, new tables displaying the characters’ various Zelda franchise appearances have been added, as well as the locations you can encounter them in their respective games.

15

Purah

Hyrule’s Smartest Sheikah

Players who first encountered Purah in Breath of the Wild were probably very surprised to discover that, despite her childish looks, she’s actually hundreds of years old as a result of a de-aging experiment. She’s the sister of Impa, the elderly chief of Kakariko Village, and an associate of Robbie, a fellow scientist who resides in Akkala Ancient Tech Lab in Hyrule.

While Purah plays a supporting role in Breath of the Wild as a way for players to upgrade their Sheikah Slate, in Tears of the Kingdom, she’s risen through the ranks to become the head of Lookout Landing, investigating the mysterious disappearance of Princess Zelda and serving as the players’ main point of contact throughout the main story.

14

Fi

The Master Sword Personified

Few sidekicks in the Zelda franchise have been as controversial as Fi, who debuted in Skyward Sword as the living embodiment of the Master Sword. Created by the goddess Hylia as a spirit meant to guide the Chosen Hero, Fi’s guidance in Skyward Sword was criticized by many fans for being annoying, drawing unfavorable comparisons to the “Hey, look, listen” of Navi in Ocarina of Time.

Gameplay nuisances aside, Fi is incredibly integral to the Zelda franchise, given that she supposedly resides in the Master Sword used by each incarnation of Link throughout the timeline. No matter how you feel about her, there’s no doubt she’s completely changed how fans view the iconic weapon.

13

Midna

Not Just A Twilight Princess, But A Twilight Queen

On the opposite side from Fi, Midna is one of the most beloved supporting characters in the Zelda franchise, despite only appearing in the main series once in Twilight Princess. Cursed to take on the appearance of an imp, Midna was a princess from the Twilight Realm who is usurped by Zant, a goon of Ganondorf, and teams up with Link to reclaim her throne.

However, the reveal of her true form at the end of Twilight Princess might be one of the biggest plot twists in any Nintendo game, up there with the reveal of Samus Aran’s gender at the end of the first Metroid. Not only is she one of the most powerful sidekicks of Link, but ever since her debut, fans have only ever wanted to see more of the character, but that has yet to come.

12

Marin

Link’s First Friend On Koholint Island

Despite making her debut early in the Zelda franchise with Link’s Awakening for the Game Boy, Marin isn’t often remembered as fondly as the likes of Princess Zelda or even Impa. However, her introduction into the series as a female companion for Link was game-changing for the franchise — and may have even influenced portrayals of Princess Zelda for decades to come.

As a supporting character, Marin has more personality than any character in the Zelda franchise up to that point, not only criticizing the players’ choices as Link but offering a more grounded draw to the world of Koholint Island. Especially given the ambiguousness of Zelda’s relationship with Link, players still love Marin to this day for her more implied romantic storyline with Link.

11

Rauru

Link’s Guide Has Taken Many Forms

The name “Rauru” has been given to two different characters in the Zelda franchise, but they both serve similar purposes in their respective games. The mysterious talking owl in Ocarina of Time, Kaepora Gaepora, is revealed in the game’s midpoint to be Rauru, the Sage of Light, who ends up being Link’s guide through his adventures in recovering the other six sages as his adult self.

However, in Tears of the Kingdom, Rauru is the name given to a mysterious Zonai, who turns out to be the first king of Hyrule. Link interacts with Rauru a lot during the game’s tutorial, but otherwise, Rauru’s story is revealed through flashback sequences in which he single-handedly stops Ganondorf from taking over Hyrule, albeit at the cost of his arm.

10

King Of Red Lions

A Talking Boat With A Secret Identity

The King of Red Lions makes its first appearance in Wind Waker but has appeared in various other games including spin-offs such as Hyrule Warriors. What makes King of Red Lions interesting is that he’s both a mode of travel for Link and a companion, because he can talk.

King of Red Lions ferries Link from island to island in Wind Waker’s Great Sea setting, providing him the means to travel the world and do his thing. It provides a vital service to Link and keeps him company across long sea journeys too.

9

Great Deku Tree

Not Just a Really Big Tree

The Great Deku Tree is a giant talking tree. That’s cool already, but it’s also a giant talking tree with massive relevance to the nation of Hyrule and the world of the Legend of Zelda game franchise. With appearances across the franchise, from mainline games such as Wind Waker and Breath of the Wild to spin-offs like Hyrule Warriors and Freshly-Picked Tingle’s Rosy Rupeeland, the Great Deku Tree is a stalwart of the franchise.

The Great Deku Tree is the guardian of the forest and takes care of the creatures that live within it, including the Kokiri or the Koroks. He even sets Link on his journey during Ocarina of Time.

8

Tingle

The Guy People Love To Hate

Tingle is one of the Zelda characters with the biggest polarizing reaction among fans. Some fans love Tingle and his unusual appearance and approach to life, while others hate him and wish he’d never existed as a character. So it would be a stretch to call him a beloved character.

But Tingle is quite important in some of the games in which he appears, and his character has even starred as a playable character in some Zelda spin-off games too. Tingle is well known for selling important and useful maps and charts. So despite his polarizing personality and overall vibe, Tingle is absolutely one of the most important side characters in the Zelda series.

7

Beedle

In All the Right Places

Making his first appearance in Wind Waker, Beedle is a merchant who buys and sells many items, including quest items. Unlike some other merchants, Beedle doesn’t stay in one place. Instead, he’s a traveling character who can be encountered in many different locations in the games he appears in, making him a very useful merchant for Link on his journeys.

Beedle sometimes travels by ship or by airship, although notably in Breath of the Wild he’s always encountered travelling on foot. But Beedle aids Link on his many journeys and has sold many essential items to Link over the years.

6

Dampé

A Digger With Depth

Although at first Dampé seems like an ordinary old man with a slightly macabre job as a gravedigger, a little digging into his history and actions shows that he understands a lot more than he lets on. Dampé has a range of appearances, including in Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask. He even makes an appearance in Link’s Awakening for the Nintendo Switch.

Dampé has many useful interactions with Link, challenging him to games or providing him with powerful items and at times, hidden knowledge.

5

The Postman

The MVPostman

The Postman is a recurring Zelda character who is, not surprisingly, a postman. This guy is a postman with a difference, though, as he manages to get letters and other things delivered to Link in an astounding variety of locations – a bit like Skyrim’s Courier.

The Postman has appeared in many different games in the Legend of Zelda franchise, sometimes with comic relief aspects and sometimes without. This guy is the real MVP, delivering letters and important items for quests to Link across the centuries without fail.

4

Biggoron

Big Sword Guy

Biggoron is exactly what his name suggests: he’s a really big Goron. This giant Goron is a fun character to see pop up in a game, but he’s more than just a neat cameo. Biggoron in most of his appearances allows Link to forge a powerful sword to use in his adventure.

Biggoron’s Sword is a powerful recurring item found in several Zelda games including Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.

3

Epona

The GOAT Of Horses

For a long time, Link had to just walk around everywhere. Across the whole of Hyrule, the Gerudo deserts, basically everywhere. Sure, there was the odd boat. But Ocarina of Time was the first game that Link was able to get a leg up — literally — with a much-needed boost to his traveling speed.

First encountered as a foal, Epona grew into a majestic horse and has made multiple appearances in Zelda games across the franchise. Although she doesn’t say much — except in Twilight Princess where Wolf Link can speak with her — she’s a stalwart companion for Link and literally carries the hero on her shoulders.

2

Twinrova

(Mostly) Evil Witches

Twinrova, the pair of (usually) evil witches Koume and Kotake, play a major role in the Legend of Zelda games’ history. A pair of powerful Gerudo witches, Twinrova secretly controlled the Gerudo people and were also responsible for raising Ganondorf, the series’ biggest antagonist.

The twins have appeared in multiple games in the franchise over the years, usually as evil characters but make one appearance as helpful characters in Majora’s Mask, where they help Link on his quest. Twinrova even has a cameo appearance in Tears of the Kingdom.

1

Impa

The Dedicated Nursemaid

Impa is arguably the single most important side character to make an appearance in a Zelda game. To some, Impa may even be considered more than a side character given her many appearances. But Impa has an important role in many Zelda games, including Skyward Sword, Breath of the Wild, and Ocarina of Time.

Impa has been many things: a powerful Sage, a nursemaid to Princess Zelda, a warrior, and even a general in one appearance. Across her many incarnations, one thing has been true though: Impa is a person of importance not just to Princess Zelda, but to the entire kingdom of Hyrule.