Need to brush up on your knowledge of BotW's Link? He's similar to other iterations of the same stoic guy, but we get a glimpse of some different aspects during Breath of the Wild. He's Princess Zelda's Royal Knight, who does his duty valiantly… when not eating rock roasts and visiting the far corners of Hyrule.
If you've finished Breath of the Wild and want to tackle the sequel, we've got some guides to help you. Here are some handy Zelda TOTK maps, all the Tears of the Kingdom Shrine locations - and our Tears of the Kingdom review for an overview of the game.
Who is Link in Breath of the Wild?
Link, the Royal Knight attending Princess Zelda, is the main character in the Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. He's a quiet guy who kind of just gets on with it, no matter what Hyrule throws at him.
Mipha describes Link as a curious boy who is full of energy, but also a little reckless. As he grew older, he became much quieter and outwardly colder, though we still see glimpses of his old self now and again.
In Breath of the Wild, due to his amnesia, Link is similar to his boyhood character with more expression and a lighter mood, as he doesn't remember the burden from his role in Hyrule. We get to see the 'old Link' in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity's cutscenes, where he takes part in eating competitions with Gorons, among other humorous adventures.
In terms of his physical stature, He's 5'2″ tall, and weighs the same as 8 and 1/2 apples in the game. This may be why he can glide for so long in the air.
What are Breath of the Wild Link's abilities?
Link is a Hylian, but despite this, he has tons of powers up his sleeve - even without the Sheikah Slate's runes. He can pull off stealth like the Yiga, is a master of multiple weapon types - notably bows and swords - and can crack out amazing skills in battle. He's incredibly strong, too. He can even push large boulders around, which is perfect for completing Korok puzzles.
Link does learn extra skills once he gets the Sheikah Slate, including Magensis, which allows Link to lift metal objects and move them around. You can create ice pillars on the water using cryonis, which you can climb or use as a shield. Stasis allows you to stop time on an object for a brief period, to solve a puzzle or find a path. Link also gains the ability to make bombs to throw and detonate remotely, which is very handy.
What is Link's backstory in Breath of the Wild?
Link is a revered Knight of Hyrule and the main character in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, and Tears of the Kingdom. Yes, there's a Link in all Zelda games, but they're mostly all different incarnations.
Link's father was also a Knight of Hyrule, but his family was not nobility. His hometown is rumored to be Hateno Village - where he owns a house on the river - but this led to him receiving disrespect from nobles after his promotion to both champion and personal bodyguard to Princess Zelda.
During his deep healing sleep in the Shrine of Resurrection, Link suffers from amnesia after the Calamity, meaning he doesn't remember anyone or anything from before, even if not that much has changed in the 100 years he slept.
Want to know more about the characters in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild? Why not check out our ultimate guide to BotW's Zelda next, and see which Zelda characters are our favorite overall?