Editing Link

:''For fighter info, see [[Link (SSB)]], [[Link (SSBM)]], and [[Link (SSBB)]].''

:''For other variations of Link, see [[Toon Link]] and [[Young Link]].''

 

|name         = Link

|image       = [[File:Link Artwork.png|180px|Link]]

|caption      = Official artwork of Link from ''[[zeldawiki:The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess|The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess]]''.

|firstgame   = ''[[The Legend of Zelda]]'' (1987)

|game1        = SSB

|game2        = SSBM

|game3        = SSBB

|console     = [[Nintendo Entertainment System]]

|species     = Hylian

|gender       = Male

|homeworld   = [[Hyrule]]

|hair        = Varies, most often blond

|eyes        = Blue

|creator     = [[Shigeru Miyamoto]]

|voiceactor   = '''Video games'''<br/>Fujiko Takimoto ([[Young Link]]: ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|Ocarina of Time]]'', ''[[zeldawiki:The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask|Majora's Mask]]'', ''SSBM'')<br/>Nobuyuki Hiyama (Adult Link: ''Ocarina of Time'', ''SSB'', ''Melee'')<br/>Sachi Matsumoto ([[Toon Link]]; ''[[zeldawiki:The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker|The Wind Waker]]'', ''[[zeldawiki:The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass|Phantom Hourglass]]'', ''Brawl'')<br/>Akira Sasanuma (''Twilight Princess'', ''Brawl'')<br/>

|art-zeldawiki = Link

[[File:ZeldaSymbol.svg|50px|left]]'''Link''' (リンク, ''Rinku'') is the protagonist of [[The Legend of Zelda (universe)|''The Legend of Zelda'' series]] by [[Nintendo]]. He has saved [[Hyrule]] and [[Princess Zelda]] from evil many times. Link is the wielder of the [[Master Sword]] and the holder of the [[Triforce|Triforce of Courage]]. He appears as a main playable fighter in all three [[Super Smash Bros. (series)|''Super Smash Bros.'' games]].

==Character description==

Link's first appearance was in the original ''[[The Legend of Zelda]]'', which depicted his quest to rescue Princess Zelda and the land of [[Hyrule]] from the evil [[Ganon]]. Link's design with a green tunic and a green hat which (like Mario's design) was due to limitations in the NES hardware. This appearance has since been traditional for Link.  

It is worth noting that while there have been many Zelda games, it has not always been the same Link who the player controls. The timelines in which the Zelda games take place skip forward and backward across the centuries, and a each time they do a new Link, with a new origin, is created, who have received many titles throughout their adventures, which have included the "Hero of Time" (referring to the ''Ocarina of Time''/''Majora's Mask'' Link), "Hero of Winds" ([[Toon Link]], from ''The Wind Waker''/''Phantom Hourglass''), or "Hero Chosen by the Gods" (Twilight Princess). Because the Zelda series traditionally does not give Link dialogue during conversations, we do not have much insight into Link's personality. However, it has been shown that Link is a brave and polite young man and is very "humble".  

Because of the different Links, Link's origins can vary, but almost always, he is a young boy (or man) who starts out as a normal person until learning of his destiny to save Hyrule and Princess Zelda from the evil Ganon (or [[Ganondorf]]) and as his journey presses him, he becomes a hero. In ''Ocarina of Time'', he is a young Hylian, whose mother, before dying, entrusted him into the care of the [[zeldawiki:Great Deku Tree|Great Deku Tree]]. In ''The Wind Waker'', he is a young boy living on Outset Island, given the legendary Hero of Time's clothes. In ''Twilight Princess'', he is an ordinary young man working at Ordon Ranch until several of the villagers' children are kidnapped by monsters which starts his adventure.

Of the home console games, ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time]]'' was intended to be set earliest, to which ''The Wind Waker'' (which shows many things from ''Ocarina of Time'') and ''Twilight Princess'' were alternate sequels, branching off from the "Adult" and "Child" endings of ''OoT'' respectively (with ''Majora's Mask'' set between ''OoT'' and ''TP''). However, the next game in the series, ''[[zeldawiki:The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword|Skyward Sword]]'', is set a considerable time prior to the events of ''OoT''.  

One thing that has varied with Link is his age. In some games such as ''The Wind Waker'' and the first part of ''The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time'', Link is a [[Young Link|young boy]] whereas in ''[[zeldawiki:The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess|The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess]]'' and the second part of ''Ocarina of Time'', Link is depicted as a young adult.

Link made his first fighting appearance (and first official appearance) Nintendo game outside the ''Zelda'' series in ''Super Smash Bros.'', and has appeared in all instalments of the series since.

==In ''Super Smash Bros.''==

:''Main article: [[Link (SSB)]]''

[[File:LinkSSB.gif|thumb|left|Official artwork of Link in ''Super Smash Bros.'']]Link's first appearance in a fighting game is in the original ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' as one of the starting eight playable characters. He is a slow character, but as the wielder of the Master Sword, Link's melee attacks have considerable range, which often compensates for the lack of speed, allowing him to hit opponents from farther away to continue combos. His [[neutral special move]] is a fast [[Boomerang]] which will return to Link, a property that is useful in both comboing and combo breaking. His [[up special move]] is a [[Spin Attack]], which is powerful but doesn't give him much distance for recovery. In fact, Link's abysmal recovery is often considered to be the main reason for the bottom tier placing of what would otherwise be a powerful fighter with moderate combo potential and versatile projectiles. His [[down special move]] allows him to pull out a [[Bomb (Link)|Bomb]]. Link can throw the bomb so that it explodes after making contact, or he can throw it lightly so that it will not explode.

:''Link is the valiant boy hero of "[[The Legend of Zelda (universe)|The Legend of Zelda]]" series in which he fights against the evil [[Ganondorf|Ganon]] to recover the Triforce. Though his tools may change with each adventure, his strength and righteousness remain constant. With his trusty sword and a variety of weapons, he takes adventure head on!''

==In ''Super Smash Bros. Melee''==

:''Main article: [[Link (SSBM)]]''

[[File:Linkmelee.jpg|right|120px|thumb|Link, as he appears in ''Super Smash Bros. Melee''.]]Link returns in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'' as a starting selectable character. While his play style is similar, his moves have been slightly tweaked. His up special move is now a much more reliable recovery jump. His new neutral special move is the [[Bow]], which allows Link to fire an arrow. The arrow's range depends on how long the player holds down the B button. His Boomerang has been moved to be his [[side special move]]. Link is ranked 16th on the tier list (mostly because of his recovery), meaning that Link was buffed and he is a better character.

By tradition, Link as a playable character is featured on his personal 3 trophies. His normal trophy is acquired by beating the Classic mode with Link on any difficulty, and his Smash Red and Smash Blue trophies are acquired the same way by beating the Adventure and All-Star modes, respectively.

Link's normal trophy reads as follows:

'''Link'''<br>

''Even in his youth, Link was already becoming the warrior who would carry the destiny of [[Hyrule]] (and many other lands) on his shoulders. His epic struggles against the forces of darkness are written in legend, and he is bound to the [[Princess Zelda]] and the archfiend [[Ganondorf]] by the awesome power of the Triforce.''

:*''[[The Legend of Zelda]]'', 07/87

<gallery caption="Link's Melee trophies"">

File:Link Trophy Melee.png|Main (classic mode) trophy

File:Link Trophy (Smash).png|Smash (Red, Adventure Mode) trophy

File:Link Trophy 2 (Smash).png|Smash (Blue, All-Star Mode) trophy

==In ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''==

:''Main article: [[Link (SSBB)]]''

[[File:Link.jpg|thumb|Link, as he appears in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''.]]

Link is again a [[starter character]] in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''. He has undergone a visual update (so that the ''Twilight Princess'' incarnation of Link appears, rather than the ''Ocarina of Time'' one), but he is essentially the same fighter as he was in ''Melee''.

Some of his moves have been slightly tweaked. To match ''Twilight Princess'', his weapons were also visually updated; while his boomerang became the [[Gale Boomerang]] and the [[Hookshot and Clawshot|Hookshot became the Clawshot]] - the former now pulls opponents and items in a small tornado, while the Clawshot homes in on the nearest ledge but cannot grab plain walls. The other changes are that the arrows of his renamed "Hero's Bow" disappear after a distance, and his Spin Attack is now chargable.

Like all of the game's returning characters, he now has a [[Final Smash]] attack that he obtains when he collects a [[Smash Ball]]. His final smash is the [[Triforce Slash]], in which light from the Triforce of Courage on Link's hand shoots out and traps an opponent in between two large Triforces. Link then dashes at the opponent, unleashes a barrage of sword slashes, finishing with a powerful blow with enough [[knockback]] to [[one-hit KO]] the opponent if nothing gets in the way.

[[File:Link - Brawl Trophy.png|left|thumb|100x120px]]

Link has a trophy that is awarded each time the [[Classic Mode]] is completed with Link on any difficulty. See [[Triforce Slash]] for the trophy description of Link's [[Final Smash]], and [[Toon Link]] for the trophies based on ''Wind Waker'' Link:

'''Link'''<br>

''A young man who emerged to rescue Hyrule from peril. He's the bearer of the Triforce of Courage who fights to keep Ganondorf from conquering the world. His green outfit is a constant throughout the series. He's a skilled swordsman, horseman, and archer. He's also proficient with bombs and boomerangs.''

{{Trophy games|console1=NES|game1=The Legend of Zelda|console2=Wii|game2=The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess}}

<br clear="all" />

*Link, [[Solid Snake|Snake]], [[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic]], and [[Donkey Kong]] are the only characters to be playable in fighting games outside the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series - of the Nintendo characters, Link appeared in the Gamecube version of Soulcalibur II, where most of his moves are heavily based on his move set in ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'', while DK was a bonus opponent in the [[Wii]] remake of ''[[Punch-Out!!]]''.

*Link has the lowest average tier position the original twelve ''SSB'' characters (his average tier position is 21), and is the lowest placed character on the ''Brawl'' tier list to have appeared in all three ''Super Smash Bros.'' games.

*Link has always had the same [[weight]] as [[Captain Falcon]] in each of the ''Super Smash Bros.'' games.

*Link and [[Mario]] are the only characters in ''Smash Bros.'' history to have different versions of themselves listed as different characters.

{{Characters}}{{Zelda universe}}

[[Category:Characters]]

[[Category:The Legend of Zelda universe]]