Although mythology has technically been a part ofThe Legend of Zelda’s fantasy world since its inception, that sort of worldbuilding has only grown in scale and impact with the series' evolution over time. Legends of prophecies and goddesses have materialized into crucial aspects of the stories seen in popularThe Legend of Zeldagames, leading to several varying takes on a similar foundation.
Archetypes of divine figures have come to be depicted differently across differentZeldanarratives, as the franchise tends to feature new mini-pantheons which echo previous ones. Between some variation within that structure and experimenting outside it, however, it’s clear that somegods inThe Legend of Zeldahave achieved more importance in the eyes of fans.
S-Tier Deities
Din, Nayru, and Farore were the earliest instance of the three goddess concept, makers of the world who are responsible for the existence of the Trifoce. Hylia, on the other hand, came to the forefront when it was revealed that she sacrificed her immortality toreincarnate as Zelda inSkyward Sword. Demise exists alongside her as the evil presence that has reappeared in Ganondorf in opposition, making the two stand as primordial forces across games. Majora, while mysterious, has attained a level of visual recognition through their associated mask that is difficult to ignore.
A-Tier Deities
While not necessarily the creators of everything, these deities still play major roles in shaping their domains. While the Wind Fish’s dream composes the entirety of the world ofLink’s Awakening, the Kokiri’s Great Deku Tree established itself as a guardian mentor figure, and Jabu-Jabu did the same for the Zora. Zephos and Cyclos are vital parts ofWind Waker’s world as literal gods of the wind who bestow Link with control over it, while theroaming dragons ofThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildserve as visually-stunning takes on the Golden Goddesses. The Fierce Deity manifested through the mask of its namesake remains unknown, but its apparent connection to Majora and intimidating appearance make it a fan-favorite.
B-Tier Deities
While not all necessarily bear universal reach or highly memorable presences, these godly beings still help to flesh out the worlds they represent. The Spirits of Light, Ordona, Faron, Eldin, and Lanayru fromTwilight Princessare homages to the goddess trio with a unique twist, while Jabun and thedragon Valoo inThe Legend of Zelda: The Wind Wakerare charming flips on Volvagia and Jabu-Jabu in a new context. Phantom Hourglass' gods share domains with previous deities, while Malanya and the Horned God showcase the more cryptic storytelling niches of the recent Switch titles. The Four Giants ofMajora’s Maskpresent an unforgettable spectacle, even if their bizarre debut was never followed up on.
C-Tier Deities
These figures either have a more questionable status as deities, generally limited influence, or aren’t even fully depicted and therefore exist more as legends alone, naturally leaving them with more limited roles. For example, it’s theorized but unconfirmed that the Goddess of Time mentioned inMajora’s Maskcould be Hylia herself. TheGuardian Dragon trio ofThe Legend of Zelda: Skyward Swordare a tamer take on a familiar idea, while the rest are practically all lacking physical manifestations.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
WHERE TO PLAY
Save Hyrule—this time with the wisdom of Princess Zelda!The people of Hyrule are being stolen away by strange rifts—and with a certain swordsman among the missing, it’s up to Princess Zelda to save her kingdom in the latest adventure in The Legend of Zelda™ series!Team up with the ethereal creature Tri and use the Tri Rod to create “echoes,” which are imitations of things you find in the environment—then recreate those echoes whenever you like to solve puzzles and defeat enemies. Use echoes like water blocks to reach new heights, make bridges out of old beds, throw rocks at foes, or find your own combination of echoes to do things your way. You can even make echoes of monsters to fight at your side in combat!
