LogFAQs > #913195639

I'd add something about where the phrase came from and why specifically it's the noble nine and not the elite 8 or super 3 or terrific 10 or whatever

I'll have to do more research later as I'm on my phone, but IIRC it was originally just 'link is the best' in 2002, as he was the only undefeated character.

Then, after link lost his first match in 2003, 'link is the best' changed into 'a set of all characters that either are link or have defeated someone in the set.' The first iteration happened to have 9 characters, and so the set was called the noble nine.

It also happened that the set didn't change for roughly a decade or more, so people seemed to forget it could be expanded, and was originally an expansion itself.

Some people add a corollary that the characters have to have been in every contest. If you don't use that restriction, one could now say 'pikachu is in the noble ten', then look and see who has defeated pikachu in the past, forming the noble 11 and so on
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You did indeed stab me in the back. However, you are only level one, whilst I am level 50. That means I should remain uninjured.