The wait for more Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom information has begun. The game only has three trailers so far, and fans hardly know anything. Breath of the Wild’s Hyrule seems largely intact judging by footage comparisons, but there are plenty of new elements dotting the landscape as developments take place above and below Hyrule’s surface. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom should get plenty more coverage in the next six months, but until then, fans are left guessing what this new open-world Zelda will entail.

One of the many questions left unanswered is the status of various characters beyond Link, Zelda, and presumably Ganondorf. An unknown amount of time has passed since Breath of the Wild, and the inhabitants of Hyrule have no doubt noticed that another supernatural catastrophe has struck. Link will probably interact with the four new Champions again, and either reminisce or talk with the spirits of the older Champions. Whatever the case, the now-established hero won't be fighting alone, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has the chance to bring back an old Zelda companion staple in full force.

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Legend Of Zelda Companions Tier List

Companions have been present in the Zelda series for a long time. A Link to the Past arguably held the earliest example with various characters that Link had to escort, including Zelda herself. The series’ first constant companion appeared in Ocarina of Time as the fairy Navi. Gifted by the Great Deku Tree to mark Link’s coming of age, Navi is a permanent fixture of the story and gameplay mechanics. She acts as both a lock-on marker and an indicator for points of interest. Link can also consult her on foes and what to do next. While Navi's voice clips begging for attention can be grating, it's hard to deny that she's a real help on Link's journey through time.

After that, companions have taken different forms. Some, like Midna, Ezlo, and Fi, acted as similar gameplay guides while serving some distinct mechanical purpose. Others, like Linebeck and the King of Red Lions, were more focused on transportation. A few other fairies like Tatl from Majora's Mask and the player's avatar in Phantom Hourglass also appeared, clearly inspired by Navi. Princess Zelda herself even became a playable character in Spirit Tracks.

RELATED: The Legend of Zelda Companions Tier List

Breath of the Wild Largely Did Away With Companions

breath of the wild link landscape hyrule

Breath of the Wild changed this up. Link no longer had a constant companion, with Zelda only speaking to him a few times. Otherwise, Link and the player are left to their own devices, meant to reinforce the unrestricted freedom that Breath of the Wild advertises. However, this also means the overall characterization of the game takes a hit. All four of the Champions’ descendants will assist Link as he first infiltrates each Divine Beast, but that's the extent of their screen time.

The lonely atmosphere of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild can be broken up if the player chooses, but only through animal companions. The player can tame, name, and journey with a horse, but horses can die and be replaced. Alternatively, if the player has a Wolf Link amiibo, Wolf Link himself can be summoned as a more permanent companion. This system is interesting, and it would be nice to see Tears of the Kingdom introduce NPC traveling buddies. However, Wolf Link is not very strong and must receive upgrades through The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD. Because of these awkward conditions, players mostly found themselves traveling alone.

Tears of the Kingdom Could Employ Old and New Allies

Link's arm getting infused with magic in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2

Even though Zelda is walking around again, Tears of the Kingdom’s trailers make it look like she and Link won’t spend much time together. There are still other potential sources for companions. The Champions’ descendants will probably have some quests, and more pertinently, Link has the Master Sword from the beginning of Tears of the Kingdom, which Breath of the Wild teased Fi is inside. Fi would not speak as often as she did in her Skyward Sword debut, especially given that the Master Sword is damaged, but she may still be able to give some directions to Link, and the Master Sword’s gradual reforging may allow her to manifest more often.

However, the Blade of Evil’s Bane is not the only legendary artifact Link is carrying around. Whatever arm-shaped force was keeping Ganondorf sealed appears to have inhabited Link's arm. With it, Link can use powers similar to those from Breath of the Wild’s Sheikah Slate. However, there's also unique storytelling opportunities with this arm. Fan investigation has pegged it as a Zonai artifact, and the latest trailer made it seem like some extra lore revelations involving the Zonai are going to take center stage.

Link's arm could be inhabited by some ancient Zonai hero, and they would be able to help explain some things Link sees in the new ruins. In fact, this character could be the recipient of a new memory side quest, showing ancestors of the Champions from thousands of years in the past. Whatever the case, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has the chance to represent different parts of Hyrule's history, and could add to Link's traveling entourage while doing so.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is set to release on May 12, 2023, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.

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