The Legend of Zeldahas firmly established itself as one of the most seminal franchises in gaming history. The series follows the adventures of Link who, with the titular Zelda, strives to time and again save the land of Hyrule and beyond.
More often than not, for Link, saving Hyrule means taking on the demonic Ganon, who frequently seeks to plunge the whole world into darkness.In the many years since the original game first released in Japan back in 1986, Link has made plenty of fantastical enemies. A select few have taken their feuds with the heroic protagonist more personally than others.
5Veran
A sinister sorceress who can take control of anyone she wants.
This powerful villainboasts the fearsome power of being able to possess the bodies of others. Like so many evil figures inThe Legend of Zelda, Veran ultimately proves to have a connection to the dreaded Ganon.
Her interactions with Link kicks off when she manipulates the hero through possessing Impa.The fiery dynamic between the pair hits several peaks, including Veran very nearly getting rid of Link for good through the soldiers at Ambi’s Palace. She even attempted to possess Link near the end of the game. Ultimately, though, despite her wits and manipulative powers, Veran falls short of being able to best the legendary hero. Their final battle sees Veran die by the hand of Link, but laughs at him in her dying moments, taking great comfort in the return of Ganon that she helped to bring about.
4Vaati
Link must follow in the footsteps of a previous warrior by defeating and imprisoning the dastardly Vaati.
This recurring villainhas caused Link nothing but trouble in both his more human and more monstrous appearances since he first broke out of the Four Sword. Like so many of Link’s enemies, Vaati sets his sights on Princess Zelda.
InFour Swords, Vaati attempts to force Zelda into marrying him, leading to a team of four alternate Links swooping in to stop him. Later appearances see Vaati continue to be a troublemaker,including working under Ganon in Four Swords Adventures. Considering Link scuppered his bizarre marriage plans and sent him back to the dreaded Four Sword prison, it’s hardly surprising Vaati quickly grew to loathe the series’ beloved protagonist.
3Zant
A sinister sorcerer with dark ambitions.
The dreaded King of Twilight is initially introduced as a traitor to, and nemesis of, the Twili. However, by the end ofTwilight Princess, Link has firmly established himself as the deadly magic practitioner’s bane.
At first, Zant’s sorcery makes him seem all but unbeatable to Link. Under the bad influence of Ganondorf during his time in the Twilight Realm, Zant cruelly turns the Twili people into vicious Shadow Beasts. From there, he seeks to spread the Twilight over Hyrule, forcing Zelda to surrender along the way. As is to be expected in the classic fantasy series, Link steps up to the plate to foil Zant’s sinister plans,incurring his wrath en route to defeating himand facing the dastardly Ganondorf once again.
2Ghirahim
This contemptuous sword spirit causes Link nothing but trouble whenever they meet. A demon lord from the world underneath Skyloft,Ghirahim debuts in the serieswith the singular purpose of hunting down Princess Zelda.
Through Zelda, Ghirahim hopes to be able to bring Demise, his powerful advisor, back to life. Unsurprisingly, it falls to Link to put a stop to the powerful demon’s sinister plans. While he initially dismisses Link’s status as a threat, he quickly learns the hard way how efficient the Hylian warrior is at taking the fight to evil. It doesn’t take long for Link to drive Ghirahim up the wall. Despite his typically confident demeanor, the demon lord frequently loses his cool when it comes to Link, resorting to enraged trash talk and threatsthroughout their encounters.
1Ganon/Ganondorf
No matter the age or timeline, Ganon is Link’s eternal nemesis
The long-running lead villain of the classic series, this monstrous, former Gerudo ruler has frequently served as a final boss. Time and again, Ganondorf has caused chaos for Link by kidnapping Princess Zelda or spreading terror and death across Hyrule.
Needless to say, this action alone has managedto solidify Ganondorf and his monstrous Ganon form as an absolute menaceto Link and everything he stands for. More often than not, Ganondorf’s endeavors revolve around destroying the land of Hyrule. While not often the most nuanced of villains, Ganondorf’s thirst for power and destruction makes him a colossal threat that must be stopped. No matter what timeline, Link has proven to be a constant thorn in Ganon’s side and is frequently on the receiving end of the villain’s animosity.
