Editing Dark Link

{{ArticleIcons|melee=y|brawl=y|ssb4=y}}

|image        = [[File:SSB4 - Shulk Screen-6.jpg|260px]]

|caption      = Dark Link in {{forwiiu}}. <br />[[File:ZeldaSymbol.svg|50px]]

|console      = Nintendo Entertainment System

'''Dark Link''' ({{ja|ダークリンク|Dāku Rinku}}, ''Dark Link''), also known as '''Shadow Link''', is a completely black doppelgänger of [[Link]] that appears in multiple ''Zelda'' titles, including ''[[Zelda II: The Adventure of Link]]'', ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time]]'', and ''{{s|zeldawiki|The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures}}''. His origin is shrouded in mystery, sometimes believed to be a creation of [[Ganondorf]]. Dark Link's strength and abilities differ in the games he has appeared in. In most of Dark Link's appearances, he appears to know every technique Link knows or has learned and can effectively match and counter his attacks; other games also show that he is capable of using Link's items as well.

By coincidence, the Dark Link Event Matches in both ''Melee'' and ''Brawl'' are Event 18.

In ''Melee'', Dark Link is fought by the player controlling a red-colored {{SSBM|Link}} in the [[event match]] [[Event 18: Link's Adventure]]. An all-black character does not appear anywhere else in the game, and aside from the texture and lack of voice effects, he is identical to Link. The texture can be applied to any character via the {{SSBM|debug menu}} or the [[black character glitch]]. This version of Dark Link is an allusion to the final boss of ''{{s|zeldawiki|Zelda II}}'', {{s|zeldawiki|Shadow Link}}. The playable Link's red palette swap is likely referencing the Reflect spell that was used in ''Zelda II'' which turned his tunic from green to red.

Dark Link appears as an [[Alternate costume (SSBB)#Link|alternate costume]] for {{SSBB|Link}}. This design is based on a cameo appearance of Dark Link in ''Twilight Princess''. Also, Dark Link reprises his role as the enemy of [[Event 18: Dark Link Duel]]. However, the Dark Link in said event is shown as being completely black, like in ''Melee'' and ''Zelda II''. Despite that, Dark Link uses the damage meter icon for the normal palette swap. [[Co-Op Event 7: Battle of the Dark Sides]] features the players as Link and {{SSBB|Samus}} versus Dark Link and [[Dark Samus]].

{{SSBB|Toon Link}} also has an [[Alternate costume (SSBB)#Toon Link|alternate costume]] that resembles a toon version of Dark Link, although this version of Dark Link bears a resemblance to {{s|zeldawiki|Shadow Link}} from ''{{s|zeldawiki|The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures}}''.

The Dark Link {{SSB4|alternate costume}}s from ''Brawl'' return in ''Super Smash Bros. 4'' for {{SSB4|Link}} and {{SSB4|Toon Link}}. The Link costume is used to represent the Dark Link character in the [[Final Battle Team-Up]] event and two entirely darkened Links in [[A Fated Battle]] event match in {{forwiiu}}.

E18-darklinkduel.png|Dark Link as he appears in event matches in ''Brawl''.