Linkle

Linkle is a playable character in who hails from a small village filled with Cuccos. She wields dual Crossbows as her weapon and uses them alongside quick kicks to attack enemies.

Development
During the development of, Linkle was originally conceived to be a female version of Link and was to be like a little sister to him, but the idea was later scrapped. After the game's release, sketches of her were included in the Hyrule Warriors art book included in the Japanese limited editions of the game. Despite being incomplete at the time, she was one of the popularly requested characters in the open call for playable candidates posted onto the game's Twitter. She was finally announced for Hyrule Warriors Legends during a Nintendo Direct, 12 November 2015, where she was revealed with a slightly different design and two Crossbows, rather than just one as shown in her early concept arts.

Former Nintendo character writer Chris Pranger stated on his twitter that Linkle was the last character he wrote for before leaving Nintendo, and that she is his favorite Nintendo character to have written for.

Trivia

 * Prior to her announcement, her Crossbow was hidden among the game's artwork, hinting at her inclusion.
 * Her Compass is available as a clock in the Japanese and European limited editions of Hyrule Warriors Legends.
 * Her concept art is similar to Link's artwork in.
 * Like Link in Link's Crossbow Training, Linkle's crossbows glow when certain moves are performed, glowing red when charging a Bomb Arrow and glowing green when rapid-firing.