Characters & Roles

Characters & Roles: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

This guide covers all major characters, their roles, and how they fit into the game. Since Link is the sole playable character, this section emphasizes his capabilities and the supporting cast's narrative and gameplay significance.

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Playable Character

#### Link – The Hero of Hyrule

• Background: Link is a 17-year-old Hylian knight, chosen by the Master Sword to defeat Calamity Ganon. He awakens from a 100-year slumber in the Shrine of Resurrection with no memory of his past, but retains his innate combat prowess and courage.


• Role: Player avatar; all actions are performed as Link. He is a silent protagonist whose memories are recovered through \"Memories\" quests.


• Strengths: Incredible versatility. Link can use any weapon, shield, bow, and rune ability. He climbs, swims, glides, and rides horses. His stamina and health can be upgraded via shrines and Goddess Statues.


• Weaknesses: No permanent unlockable classes – all abilities are earned temporarily (Champion Abilities) or permanently (runes). Link cannot wear heavy armor without stamina penalties, and he is fragile early on.


• Playstyle: Highly adaptive. Players can choose stealth, direct combat, elemental tactics, environmental manipulation, or pure exploration. The only limitation is Link's stamina and health.


• Unlock Conditions: Link is available from the start. No unlock required.


• Recommended Equipment/Builds:

- Early Game: Traveler's gear, Wooden Bow, Soldier's Broadsword, Hylian Shield (found later). Prioritize stamina vessels.
- Mid Game: Knight's gear, elemental weapons (Great Flameblade, Frostspear), multi-shot bows (Lynel Bow).
- Late Game: Ancient Armor set, Master Sword, Savage Lynel weapons, Ancient Bow, upgraded Barbarian Armor for attack boost.

• Champion Abilities (special moves granted after freeing Divine Beasts):

- Mipha’s Grace: Auto-revive once per cooldown.
- Revali’s Gale: Create an updraft for gliding.
- Daruk’s Protection: Auto-block three attacks.
- Urbosa’s Fury: AOE electric shock.

• Team Synergy: Not applicable; Link works alone. However, he can tame horses, which serve as mounts, and use Sheikah Slate runes (Magnesis, Stasis, Cryonis, Remote Bombs) that interact with the environment.


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Major Non-Playable Characters (NPCs)



These characters are central to the story, provide quests, or aid Link indirectly. They are not playable but have distinct roles.

#### Princess Zelda

• Role: The rightful heir to the throne of Hyrule, wielder of the sealing power, and head of the Sheikah research team. She is not playable but appears in cutscenes and memory locations.


• Background: Eldest daughter of King Rhoam. She struggled to unlock her sealing magic for years, feeling pressure to stop Calamity Ganon. After the Calamity struck, she held Ganon at bay within Hyrule Castle for 100 years.


• Significance: She guides Link through her diary, voice in the final battle, and provides the Light Bow in the final boss fight (not usable otherwise). Her memories are collectibles.


#### The Four Champions

These are the legendary pilots of the Divine Beasts. Each grants Link a Champion Ability after their respective Divine Beast is freed.

##### Mipha – Champion of the Zora

• Background: Zora princess, skilled healer, and Link’s childhood friend. She had a crush on Link. She died 100 years ago in the Calamity, but her spirit remains in Vah Ruta.


• Champion Ability: Mipha’s Grace – revives Link with extra hearts when his health reaches zero (cooldown ~24 minutes).


• Role: Healer support (narrative). Weak in direct combat compared to others.


##### Revali – Champion of the Rito

• Background: Arrogant Rito warrior, master archer, felt overshadowed by Link. He perfected the technique \"Revali's Gale\".


• Champion Ability: Revali’s Gale – creates a vertical wind current that lifts Link into the air, perfect for paragliding or bullet time arrows.


• Role: Aerial mobility specialist.


##### Daruk – Champion of the Gorons

• Background: Massive Goron warrior, close friend of Link, known for his protective shield technique \"Daruk's Protection\".


• Champion Ability: Daruk’s Protection – auto-deflects up to three incoming attacks, including guardian lasers, then recharges.


• Role: Tank/defense support.


##### Urbosa – Champion of the Gerudo

• Background: Gerudo chief, formidable warrior, close to Zelda’s mother. She wielded lightning attacks and her technique \"Urbosa's Fury\".


• Champion Ability: Urbosa’s Fury – an AOE electric shock that stuns and damages all nearby enemies. Recharges after each use.


• Role: Crowd control/damage dealer.


#### King Rhoam (as the Old Man)

• Role: The first major NPC Link meets on the Great Plateau, who is actually King Rhoam’s ghost. He provides the paraglider and tutorial objectives.


• Significance: Reveals the backstory and points Link toward the main quests. Cannot be interacted with after leaving the Great Plateau (his diary appears later).


#### Impa

• Role: Elder of Kakariko Village, leader of the Sheikah, and Zelda’s trusted advisor. She is the primary quest giver for main storyline (Find the Champions, Free the Divine Beasts).


• Significance: Gives Link the Sheikah Slate + runes, and tasks him with the \"Destroy Ganon\" main quest. Her granddaughter Paya also interacts with Link.


#### The Deku Tree

• Role: Ancient spirit tree in Korok Forest, guardian of the Master Sword. He evaluates Link’s worthiness to pull the sword.


• Significance: If Link has 13 hearts, he can obtain the Master Sword. Also provides hints about the Lost Woods and shrines.


#### Purah

• Role: Sheikah researcher in the Hateno Ancient Tech Lab, Impa’s younger sister who de-aged herself by accident. Upgrades the Sheikah Slate runes (Camerapedia, Hero’s Path mode, etc.).


• Unlock Conditions: Complete the main quest \"Locked Mementos\" and bring her the required materials.


#### Robbie

• Role: Sheikah researcher at the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab, specializing in ancient weapons and armor. Provides the Ancient set and upgrades to the Stasis rune (Stasis+).


• Unlock Conditions: Complete the main quest \"The Priceless Maracas\" and side quests.


#### Kilton

• Role: Mysterious monster parts merchant who appears at certain towns at night after Link frees a Divine Beast. Sells monster masks, cosmetic gear, and the \"Monster Stamp\" item.


• Significance: Only vendor for rare items like the Dark Hood, and allows Link to disguise as Bokoblins/Lizalfos/Lynels.


#### Beedle

• Role: Traveling merchant encountered at stables and villages. Sells common supplies, arrows, elixirs, and bugs (at higher prices than other shops).


• Significance: Useful for quick restocking, especially arrows. Notable for his beetle obsession.


#### The Great Fairies

• Background: Four giant spirits locked in cocoons across Hyrule. When awakened with rupees (increasing costs: 100, 500, 1000, 10000), they upgrade armor sets to higher defense levels.


• Role: Enhanced armor customization. Each fairy adds a star level to armor, from ★ to ★★★★ (four fairies max).


#### The Koroks

• Role: Forest spirits scattered across Hyrule. Hestu (a large Korok) can increase Link’s inventory slots for weapons, shields, and bows in exchange for Korok Seeds.


• Significance: Inventory expansion is vital for long-term play. There are 900 Korok Seeds total.


#### The Yiga Clan

• Role: Antagonistic Sheikah splinter group serving Ganon. They attack Link on sight, disguised as travelers, or in full Yiga uniform. They also have a hideout in Gerudo Desert.


• Key Members: Sooga (blademaster, Master Kohga’s right hand), Master Kohga (leader, encountered in the Yiga Clan Hideout). Defeating Kohga yields the Thunder Helm (cosmetic) and access to a shrine.


#### Kass

• Role: Rito bard who plays accordion and appears at various stables and villages. He sings songs that reveal hidden shrines and lead to side quests (\"The Hero’s Cache\").


• Significance: Kass is the secondary quest giver for shrine-related riddles. He appears in the end credits after defeating Ganon.


#### Bolson (and Karson)

• Role: Builders in Tarrey Town, a major side quest. Bolson contracts Link to help construct houses and recruit villagers. After Tarrey Town is complete, Bolson sells a Piece of Heart and grants the unique \"Hylian Homeowner\" side quest.


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Major Enemy Characters (Bosses & Mini-Bosses)



These are significant opponents with distinct roles in the game world.

#### Calamity Ganon (Main Boss)

• Location: Hyrule Castle Sanctum. Appears as a giant pig-like beast after Dark Beast Ganon in phase 2.


• Role: Final boss. Link must defeat him to end the game. He uses malice tentacles, laser beams, and projectiles. Phase 1 is inside the castle; Phase 2 is outside on the plain.


• Weakness: Ancient Arrows (phase 1), Light Bow and arrows (phase 2), Urbosa’s Fury stuns him. Hit his glowing weak points.


#### Dark Beast Ganon (Phase 2 of Final Boss)

• Location: Hyrule Field, after Calamity Ganon’s shield is broken.


• Role: Giant shadow beast that charges and releases malice pools. Zelda provides the Light Bow, and you must shoot four glowing weak points on his forehead and back.


• Strategy: Use Revali’s Gale to gain height, then shoot with bomb or ancient arrows. Urbosa’s Fury can also help clear malice.


#### The Blight Ganons (Divine Beast Bosses)

Each Divine Beast is piloted by a champion, but Calamity Ganon’s blight has taken their form. Link faces the blight inside the beast.


• Waterblight Ganon (Vah Ruta): Uses a spear and ice attacks. Weak to bomb arrows and fire weapons.


• Windblight Ganon (Vah Medoh): Hovering in air, fires wind blasts and lasers. Use Revali’s Gale or paraglide to get close, then shoot arrows.


• Fireblight Ganon (Vah Rudania): Flails a sword and shield, spews fire. Use ice/water weapons to cool him down.


• Thunderblight Ganon (Vah Naboris): Extremely fast, uses electric attacks and teleports. Use magnesis to drop metal boxes on him, or use ancient arrows when stunned.


#### Lynels

• Role: Mini-bosses that roam the world, particularly around Hyrule Field and Lanayru Great Spring. They are the hardest common enemies.


• Types: Red (easy), Blue, White, Silver (hard). White and Silver drop savage gear. Golden Lynels appear in Master Mode.


• Strategy: Use Stasis+ to freeze, then attack with highest damage weapon. Flurry Rush after dodging. Parrying their charges and mounts works. They drop valuable weapons and parts.


#### Talus (Stone Talus, Igneo Talus, Frost Talus)

• Role: Giant rock golems with a crystal weak point on top. Found in specific locations. Defeating them yields gems and ore.


• Tip: Climb on top of them and attack the crystal. Use bombs to stun, then climb quickly.


#### Hinox & Stalnox

• Role: Giant cyclops enemies. Hinox are alive, Stalnox are skeletal at night. Weak point is the eye. Stun them by shooting the eye, then attack. They drop weapons, shields, and Hylian Shield (one-time in a chest).


#### Molduga

• Role: Sandworm boss found in Gerudo Desert. You must bait it with bombs or arrows while standing on elevated platforms. Once it leaps, shoot its belly.


#### Guardian Stalkers/Skywatchers/Turrets/Sentinel

• Role: Ancient Sheikah robots corrupted by Ganon. They have one eye as a weak point. Perfect parrying their laser reflects it for a kill. Ancient arrows also work. They drop ancient parts for upgrades.

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Unlock Conditions for All Major Abilities & Equipment

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Team Synergy (Narrative vs. Gameplay)

While Link operates alone, the Champions provide passive cooperative effects:

• Mipha’s Grace acts as a failsafe healer.


• Revali’s Gale boosts mobility for scouting and bullet time.


• Daruk’s Protection mitigates damage from surprise attacks.


• Urbosa’s Fury clears mobs and stuns bosses.


Together, they cover combat, survival, and exploration. There is no direct character swapping, but selecting which Champion Ability to use (all active simultaneously) is crucial. Players often turn off abilities they want to save for specific encounters (e.g., disabling Daruk’s Protection to parry Guardian lasers).

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Summary of Character Roles in Gameplay Loop




• Link: Versatile explorer, combatant, puzzle solver.


• Champions: Provide global passive upgrades (once acquired) – essential for making late-game easier.


• Key NPCs: Impa, Purah, Robbie, Hestu, Kilton, Beedle, Great Fairies – offer upgrades, quests, shop access.


• Bosses: Gatekeepers of story progression and high-tier loot.

This guide covers all major characters and their roles in the world of Hyrule. No other playable classes exist; the depth comes from Link’s ability set and the supporting cast’s contributions.