Ever since his debut in the 1986 NES classic The Legend of Zelda, Link has remained one of the most iconic and well-known heroes in all gaming. One aspect that has often caused him to stand out from other gaming mascots is his somewhat bizarre sense of fashion. While Link might be best known for dressing up like Peter Pan, he has also sported a wide variety of outfits throughout his more than 35-year history in the medium.
These outfits range from stylish, to bizarre, and even functional. In this list, we will be ranking some of Link's most iconic outfits. We will not be counting full-body transformations such as those from the masks in Majora's Mask. We will also not be including color swaps of pre-existing outfits such as the Zora and Goron Tunic or minor alterations to existing attire as each outfit featured in this list must be distinct.
6 Engineer's Clothes
By 2009 Link had mastered many forms of transportation, whether it be horseback riding, sailing across the open ocean, or operating a steamship. One form of transportation that the young hero had yet to master was the locomotive but that all changed in The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks.
This game introduced players to a new version of the Hylian hero whose primary occupation was that of a train conductor. With this job came a new outfit, the engineer's clothes which Link began the game with. This outfit consists of a blue boiler suit with four bronze buttons, a belt, gloves, boots, and a red cap with a bird on the front.
5 Magic Armor
By far one of the gaudiest outfits that Link has worn in his many adventures is the magic armor from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. This outfit can be bought at Castle Town's Malo Mart after a lengthy and expensive side quest. It has the effect of making Link invulnerable to all forms of damage, however, it drains 2 rupees for every second that it is equipped.
If the player runs out of rupees the armor loses its color and weighs Link down in a manner similar to that of the iron boots. The outfit consists of a golden breastplate with a precious stone in the center, as well as golden boots, shoulder pads, and greaves, a red hat with a golden tiara that has a precious stone in the center, a golden belt, a shirt of chain mail and a shirt showing the crest of the royal family of Hyrule.
4 Skyloft Clothes
In The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Link initially starts the game in the civilian garb of Skyloft, before later earning his iconic green duds during the wing ceremony. This outfit consists of a thick white shirt with blue accents, thick green pants, and an apron of sorts tied around his stomach with his belt.
It is likely that the reason why this outfit is so thick is that it serves as a means of keeping him warm during high-altitude flights. This outfit would later be referenced as an alternate skin for Link in the Super Smash Bros series.
3 Island Outfit
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker broke from Zelda tradition in numerous ways. This was apparent immediately from the start when players got to see Link for the first time in something other than his iconic tunic and cap. The island outfit primarily consists of a long blue shirt with a picture of a lobster on it. The outfit has a definite nautical theme to it, very fitting considering the setting of the game.
Only once he goes to visit his grandmother does Link receive the Hero's Clothes. On playing through the game again after beating it, Link is able to play through the game entirely in this outfit. The shirt appears again in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild where it is called the Island Lobster Shirt.
2 Champion's Tunic
One of Link's more recent accouterments, the champion's tunic was prominently featured in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. This actually marked the first time that Link's primary outfit was anything other than his traditional green tunic. This fetching attire is light blue with patterns somewhat similar to that of the Master Sword. The outfit also ditches Link's hat.
While relatively new, the champion's tunic has already become an iconic part of Link's wardrobe, as can be seen in the way that it is now the subject of his default appearance in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
1 Green Tunic
This outfit has many names across different games in the series: the hero's clothes, the green jerkin, the Kokari tunic, and knight's uniform just to name a few. None can deny that this is by far Link's most iconic attire. First appearing in the original Legend of Zelda from 1986, this garb has appeared in some form or another in every entry in the series. This iconic outfit has Link in a green tunic somewhat similar to that worn by Peter Pan, with a matching phrygian hat; it also sometimes includes white wool tights.
The exact reason why Link wears this attire varies from game to game ranging from it being a part of some ancient tradition, to it being a uniform, or in Twilight Princess where it just sort of appears on him for seemingly no reason. This outfit can also be found in multiple different colors, some of which can grant link additional protection and unique magical abilities like being able to breathe underwater.