10 Times Where Link Should Have Been Arrested

Saving the world is a noble duty entrusted to Link, wielder of the Master Sword, bearer of the Triforce of Courage.

However.

That’s not to say that his adventures are entirely aboveboard. Goddess Hylia’s chosen Hero does have a certain habit of committing questionable acts which, through our modern lens, err on the illegal side. At the very least, it requires an authority figure to give him a stern talking-to. So hang on tight while we list all the times that Link should’ve been arrested.

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Trespassing, breaking & entering

The legendary hero may save the kingdom on a regular basis, but he also treats private property laws like optional side quests.

Whether he’s sneaking across castle grounds in Ocarina of Time while actively avoiding guards (usually a clue you’re up to something illegal) or wandering through people’s land uninvited, Link’s rap sheet is impressive. Watch out — he’ll smash every pot you own, rifle through your drawers, and pocket your hard-earned Rupees.

Rude, considering he could just cut grass and source Rupees himself.

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Selling body parts

Link’s conduct raises further questions when examining his involvement in the monster body part trade.

While Hyrule draws the line at trafficking human remains, monster organs, teeth, eyeballs, horns, and guts are apparently fair game. In Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, Link routinely harvests body parts from fallen enemies and sells them for profit, either to merchants or to the eccentric Kilton at his Fang and Bone shop. These remains are then traded, brewed into potions, or used to enhance equipment, effectively turning monster hunting into a lucrative organ harvesting industry.

Whether this counts as resourceful entrepreneurship/craftmanship or something more sinister is up for debate, but someone’s gotta question it.

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Unlicensed weapons

It’s honestly impressive how well Link conceals his weapons. He basically has enough equipment for a small army: swords, bows, shields, bombs, and whatever dangerous artifact he picked up from the latest dungeon. Plus, there’s no doubt he’s got enough explosives to level the neighborhood.

One minute he’s politely standing in someone’s living room, the next he’s drawn a sword and started smashing pottery. Is he responsible enough to hold such an arsenal, and should someone be keeping a record of it?

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Theft

In Link’s Awakening, Link can steal items from the village shop by leaving while the owner is distracted. Doing so permanently changes his name to “THIEF”, and the shopkeeper will instantly frazzle him if he returns, so he faces some due punishment.

In Twilight Princess, Link is free to take supplies from Trill’s Shop without paying, but Trill will repeatedly attack and call him a thief until the debt is repaid. What’s more, early on, Midna instructs Wolf Link to sneak into Ordon Village’s homes and take the Ordon Sword and Shield. However, it’s kind of necessary, and he does end up saving Hyrule. Perhaps he can be forgiven.

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Animal cruelty

Repeat after me: Cucco-bashing is not okay.

They’re perfectly happy clucking about with nothing on their agenda except eating and sleeping until Link decides to whack them with his sword. Perhaps there’s no reason for authority figures to get involved, though. If a Cucco is hit one too many times, a wave of its friends will attack Link and peck him to death in a fury of feathery justice.

Remlits aren’t entirely left alone, either, since Link likes to occasionally throw them of the edge of Skyloft. Jury’s out for whether that’s cruel or not since they can fly right back. But maybe their wing-like ears are an example of evolution, having developed them after their kindred endured too many plummets beneath the clouds?

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Island obliteration

In Link’s Awakening, Koholint Island and all of its inhabitants are manifestations of the Wind Fish’s dream. After being ship-wrecked and nursed back to health by kind-hearted Marin, Link resolves to find his escape route. However, the only way he can do that is by waking the Wind Fish — meaning that everything and everyone will cease to exist.

Because it was all part of a dream and the island’s inhabitants technically didn’t exist in the first place, is it an offence?

And was it even worth it? We don’t actually know if this Link ever made it back to shore, so…yikes.

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Grave-robbing

Link’s history with graveyards is surprisingly long. In the original Legend of Zelda game’s Second Quest, Link uncovers valuable items by moving gravestones, while A Link to the Past hides an invisibility-granting cape beneath a tomb.

Ocarina of Time takes things a step further. In Kakariko Graveyard, Link pays Dampé 10 Rupees to dig up random patches of ground, potentially uncovering anything from spare Rupees to a Heart Piece. The “Heart-Pounding Gravedigging Tour” is a cheery name and all, but Link is essentially paying someone to hunt for treasure in a cemetery.

It’s downright immoral. Is nothing sacred?

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Chemical warfare

Link’s military record becomes rather difficult to defend when chemical warfare enters the conversation.

Throughout the series, he has deployed Deku Nuts to stun, filled rooms with smoke, used elemental arrows, and weaponized toxic environments against entire hordes of enemies. In Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom especially, his methods consist of detonating hazardous materials, spreading poisonous fumes, and engineering improvised attacks using whatever substances happen to be lying around.

While Hyrule’s legal system has yet to comment on these tactics, and his enemies totally deserve it, several of Link’s victories would likely warrant a lengthy investigation by an international tribunal.

One person with all this power can’t go by unchecked, surely?

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Identity fraud

A case of identity fraud occurs at the Stock Pot Inn in Majora’s Mask when a travelling Goron named Link arrives to claim a room reserved under his name. Before he can check in, another Link exploits the inn’s poor identity verification procedures and claims the reservation instead.

Because staff rely primarily on the guest’s name and fail to properly confirm his identity, the “hero” impostor receives the room key while the legitimate reservation holder is left without accommodation and is forced to sleep outside.

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Public indecency

In Breath of the Wild, it’s easy to frolic among Hyrule’s desecrated ruins, fighting Bokoblins, solving shrine puzzles — all with hardly anything on. Yes, he’s still got his underwear on, but it’s questionable to say the least.

Sure, some people don’t seem to mind (many complimenting him on his physique), but that’s not to say it’s acceptable. Link, we know you spent 100 years asleep in the Shrine of Resurrection, but social standards haven’t changed that much.

At least for Paya’s sake…put some clothes on.