Zelda (USBIV)

Zelda is a startable playable character in Ultra Smash Bros. IV and makes her fourth appearance in the series since Brawl. She was confirmed before the announcement trailer, way long before the release, of Hyrule Warriors Legends for Nintendo 3DS, alongside with Impa, the newcomer that appears in this game. In her own titular The Legend of Zelda series, Zelda is the second protagonist of the game and she protects Hyrule with her Triforce of Wisdom. She possesses magical abilities and gets often kidnapped by Ganondorf, where Link must rescue her. During his adventures, Zelda helps him by giving the Triforce of Courage.
Zelda's Twilight Princess appearance had changed to her appearance of Hyrule Warriors. She looks fresher and has a more realistic idle poses and run animation.
Sheik is the alter-ego counterpart of Zelda where she can be played seperately again like Smash 4. In this game, Zelda is more floatier and careful, while Sheik is fast in her mobility. Zelda possesses magic while Sheik possesses ninja-like moves. Not only has Zelda has her own counterpart but Samus has too, which is Zero Suit Samus.
Zelda's voiceclips didn't changed but they were been remastered by Saori Seto, who voices her in Hyrule Warriors and who replaces Jun Mizusawa that reprised her role in all Smash Bros. series.
Zelda ranks the 78th place of the 103rd in the tier list, putting her at the bottom of mid tier classment (C+) behind Wii Fit Trainer and after Snake. This is a significant improvement for Zelda being a low tier in Smash 4 and also the first time that she became to be viable at the tournaments unlike Brawl and Melee.
Zelda possesses strong magical abilities that kills the opponents at early percents such as her smash attacks and her devestating Lighting Kicks used in her aerials. She only uses her sword for down-air for her Lightning Strike when sweetspotted similar to Robin. Zelda's neutral air and her Nayru's Love, neutral special, are a good tool for trading and escaping attacks when needed. Instead using her hands like her previous games, she mostly uses her sword with her magic. She also uses her sword for her down smash with a magical effect. Din's Fire, her side special, is pretty effective for gimping characters off-stage. Her Farore's Wind, up special, is a good wide teleportation recovery and a good kill move at late percents at the top of the blast zone.
However, Zelda has still some flaws. She's medium-lightweighted and can be knocked-out earlier. Being a floaty character, fast-fallers such as Sheik or Greninja can easily combo her with many options. Her down special is pretty predictable and be easily reflected or escaped. Her mobility as in the air and on the ground are still the worst for Zelda. Overall in her matchups, Zelda does make a decent represantation at major tournaments but won against various mid tier characters and some of the high tiers.