Link. I'm sorry, but this is really no contest. Mario's basic arsenal is a jump. That's it. And while he may survive a bunch of wacky things happening to him in cutscenes, and may exhibit super powers (which, oddly, never show up when he's being attacked in combat), none of those let him survive more than one hit from a frelling Koopa. Yeah, he can single handly beat Bowser's army. So what? Bowser is one of the most incompetent villains in the universe. He uses poor tactics, inferior weaponry, and moronic minions. And even with his pathetic armies, he can kill Mario in two hits. Just because Mario has never faced competent opponents doesn't mean he's a fighting god. Basic skills to basic skills or full upgrades to full upgrades, Link wins. He's more versatile, stronger, and more durable. A plumber who is drugged up on mushrooms may be a match for Bowser, but he isn't going to do well against a well equipped warrior wielding a power that dwarfs anything Mario has ever seen (the Triforce of Courage).
