Hyrule Warriors Legends: How to Unlock All Playable Characters

With 25 characters to play as but only one available at the start, you’ll need to play quite a bit of Hyrule Warriors Legends to unlock them all. Some are straightforward, unlocking periodically throughout the game’s story mode, while others are a bit more complicated and require some exploring in Adventure Mode. Just click on the character you’re searching for below, and you’ll see exactly how to add them to your ranks.

• Link
• Impa
• Sheik
• Lana
• Zelda
• Ganondorf
• Darunia
• Ruto
• Agitha
• Midna
• Zant
• Fi
• Ghirahim
• Cia
• Volga
• Wizzro
• Twili Midna
• Young Link
• Tingle
• Linkle
• Skull Kid
• Toon Link
• Tetra
• King Daphnes
• Medli

Link

Link is the only character available at the beginning of the game. Just boot up Hyrule Warriors Legends, and there he is.

Impa

At the beginning of the game there will only be one play mode available: Legend Mode. Once you complete the first stage of Legend Mode, called The Armies of Ruin, Impa will unlock for all modes along with her Giant’s Knife weapon.

Sheik

Sheik and her Goddess’s Harp weapon both become availble upon completing the Legend Mode stage, The Sheikah Tribesman. This is the second stage in Legend Mode.

Lana

Completing the third stage of Legend Mode, The Sorceress of the Woods, will unlock Lana and her Spirit’s Tome weapon.

Zelda

Princess Zelda becomes playable in all modes after beating The Sacred Sword stage on Legend Mode. She comes equipped with a Polished Rapier.

Ganondorf

Ganondorf will become playable after beating the Shining Beacon stage on Legend Mode. He comes equipped with the Swords of Despair.

Darunia

Darunia and his Magic Hammer weapon will be unlocked after completing the Land of Myth stage in Legend Mode.

Ruto

To unlock Ruto, you must work your way through the main Adventure Mode map to square 5-10. That’s the fifth row down, tenth column in from the left. Before entering the challenge, you must use a Power Bracelet item card to move the large rock on the map. It’s on the left side, and is the only green block that’s not a bush. If you want to be sure you’ve got the right spot, use a Compass item card first. Moving the rock makes Ruto a new reward for completing that stage.

From there simply complete stage 5-10, and Ruto will then be unlocked. Her starting weapon is the Silver Scale.

Agitha

To unlock Agitha, you must work your way through the main Adventure Mode map to square 4-7. That’s the fourth row down, seventh column in from the left. Before entering the challenge, you must use a Water Bomb item card to blow up the large rock in the water. Blowing up the rock unlocks Agitha as a new reward for completing that stage.

From there simply complete stage 4-7, and Agitha will be playable in all modes. Her starting weapon is the Butterfly Parasol.

Midna

Midna and her Cursed Shackle weapon will be unlocked after completing The Shadow King stage in Legend Mode.

Zant

To unlock Zant, you must work your way through the main Adventure Mode map to square 3-3. That’s the third row down, third column in from the left. Before entering the challenge, you must use a Digging Mitts item card to clear a particular square of soft grass on the map. You can use a Compass item card to reveal the square if you like, but the soft patch of grass is impossible to miss. It’s on the top left, and it’s the only green patch here. In doing so, Zant becomes a new reward for completing that stage.

From there simply complete stage 3-3, and Zant will then be playable, equipped with the Usurper’s Scimitars.

Fi

Fi and her Goddess Sword will be unlocked after completing the Land in the Sky stage in Legend Mode.

Ghirahim

To unlock Ghirahim, you must work your way through the main Adventure Mode map to square 7-3. That’s the seventh row down, third column in from the left. Before entering the challenge, you must use a Candle item card to burn a particular bush on the map. It’s the first single bush from the top in the middle column, but you can use a Compass item card to reveal the specific bush if you want to be sure. Once you’ve burned the correct bush, Ghirahim becomes a new reward for completing that stage. From there, simply play the stage and win. You do not need to reach a specific rank; just beat the level.

After completing stage 7-3 Ghirahim will join your playable roster, equipped with the Demon Tribe Sword.

Cia

Cia, along with her Scepter of Time weapon, are unlocked upon completion of the Grand Finale: Liberation of the Triforce stage in Legend Mode.

Volga

Volga is unlocked to play as once you complete the Cia’s Tale: The Dragon of the Caves mission in Legend Mode. His starting weapon is the Dragonbone Pike.

Wizzro

Wizzro becomes available as a playable character upon completion of the Cia’s Tale: The Dragon of the Caves stage in Legend Mode. His starting weapon is the Blue Ring.

Twili Midna

To unlock Twili Midna, you must work your way through the main Adventure Mode map to square 1-16. That’s the top-right corner space on the map. Before entering the challenge, you must use a Digging Mitts item card to clear a particular square of soft grass on the map. You can use a Compass item card to reveal the square if you like, but the soft patch of grass is impossible to miss. It’s on the top right, and it’s the only green patch here. In doing so Twili Midna becomes a new reward for completing that stage.

After completing stage 1-16, Twili Midna is unlocked to play with anytime. Her starting weapon is the Mirror of Shadows.

Young Link

To unlock Young Link, you must work your way through the main Adventure Mode map to square 2-1. That’s the second row down, first column on the left. Before entering the challenge, you must use a Bomb item card to blow up a piece of the wall. It’s the second square to the right of the ladder; you can use a Compass item card to reveal the specific square if you want to be sure. Once you’ve destroyed the correct space Young Link becomes a new reward for completing that stage. From there simply play the stage and win. You do not need to reach a specific rank; just beat the level.

After completing stage 2-1 Young Link and his Fierce Deity Mask weapon become available.

Tingle

To unlock Tingle, you must work your way through the main Adventure Mode map to square 1-12. That’s the top row, twelfth column from the left. Before entering the challenge, you must use an Ice Arrow item card to disperse the ring of fire on the map. It’s on the upper right-hand corner; you can’t miss it. Once you’ve cleared the fire, Tingle becomes a new reward for completing that stage. From there simply play the stage and win. You do not need to reach a specific rank; just beat the level.

After completing stage 1-12 Tingle is unlocked to play with anytime. His starting weapon is the Rosy Balloon.

Linkle

Completing the third stage of Legend Mode, The Sorceress of the Woods, will unlock Linkle and her starting Crossbows.

Skull Kid

To unlock Skull Kid, you must work your way through the main Adventure Mode map to square 3-13. That’s the third row down, thirteenth column from the left. Before entering the challenge, you must use an item card on the map to unlock him as a reward. From there simply play the stage and win. You do not need to reach a specific rank; just beat the level.

After completing stage 3-13 Skull Kid is unlocked to play with anytime. His starting weapon is the Fairy Ocarina.

Toon Link

To unlock Toon Link, you must work your way through the main Adventure Mode map to square 7-9. That’s the seventh row down, ninth column in from the left.

Toon Link becomes unlocked once you complete stage 7-9, regardless of your ranking on the stage. His starting weapon is the Hero’s Sword.

Tetra

Tetra is unlocked through Legend Mode, after completing the stage The Wind Waker: A New Disturbance. Her starting weapon is the Pirate Cutlass.

King Daphnes

King Daphnes and his Windfall Sail weapon are unlocked once you beat the Legend Mode stage The Wind Waker: Reclaiming the Darkness.

Medli

Medli will be available to download free of charge when the first DLC pack becomes available in May 2016. She is not a part of the season pass, and will be available for free to all 3DS and Wii U players of the game.