Editing Young Link

{{ArticleIcons|melee=y|brawl=y|ultimate=y}}
{{forfighter|SSBM=y|SSBU=y}}
{{Infobox Character General
|name = Young Link
|image = [[File:Young Link.png|250px]]
|caption = [[File:ZeldaSymbol.svg|50px|class=invert-dark]]
Official artwork of Young Link from ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time]]''.
|universe = {{uv|The Legend of Zelda}}
|firstgame = ''{{s|zeldawiki|The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time}}'' (1998)
|games = ''[[Melee]]''<br>''[[Ultimate]]''
|lastappearance = ''{{s|mariowiki|WarioWare: Move It!}}'' (2023, cameo)
|console = [[Nintendo 64]]
|gender = Male
|species = {{s|zeldawiki|Hylian}}
|homeworld = {{s|zeldawiki|Hyrule}}
|creator =
|artist =
|voiceactor = {{s|wikipedia|Fujiko Takimoto}}
|interwiki = zeldawiki
|interwikiname = Zelda Wiki
|interwikipage = Young Link
}}
'''Young Link''' ({{ja|こどもリンク|Kodomo Rinku}}, ''Young Link'') is one of [[Link]]'s multiple incarnations in [[zeldawiki:The Legend of Zelda (Series)|''The Legend of Zelda'' series]]. Although several prepubescent Links have appeared throughout ''The Legend of Zelda'' series, the one that appears as a playable character in the ''{{b|Super Smash Bros.|series}}'' series as "Young Link" is the {{s|zeldawiki|Hero of Time}}, the main protagonist of ''{{s|zeldawiki|The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time}}'' and ''{{s|zeldawiki|The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask}}''.

In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'', Young Link is an [[unlockable character]] and returns in that capacity in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'' after being absent from both ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]''.

==Origin==
The first appearance of a prepubescent Link is in the [[zeldawiki:The Legend of Zelda|series' first installment]]. This is confirmed by {{SSBM|Young Link}}'s trophy description in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'', which refers to the Link featured in this game as his debut. ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'' also uses Young Link as a placeholder for the original Link: {{SSBU|Pac-Man}}'s {{SSBU|Classic Mode}} route uses {{SSBU|Young Link}} to represent ''The Legend of Zelda'' series' debut in 1986 and the [[Spirit Battle]] for [[List of spirits (The Legend of Zelda series)|Link (The Legend of Zelda)]] uses Young Link as a [[False character|puppet fighter]].

However, the playable Young Link in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series is based specifically on the incarnation who made his debut in ''{{s|zeldawiki|The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time}}'', in which the "{{s|zeldawiki|Hero of Time}}" begins his quest as a young boy. Initially growing up in {{s|zeldawiki|Kokiri Forest}} under the assumption of being a {{s|zeldawiki|Kokiri}}, Link was eventually summoned by the {{s|zeldawiki|Great Deku Tree}} to receive his very own {{s|zeldawiki|fairy}}, {{s|zeldawiki|Navi}}. During this, the Tree also reveals that Link is destined to save {{s|zeldawiki|Hyrule}} by preventing a [[Ganondorf|desert man clad in black armor]] from acquiring the {{s|zeldawiki|Triforce}}, an almighty relic that can grant any wish.

However, the Tree is under attack by monsters pillaging his innards, and even after Link dispatches them, the Tree has nevertheless has been cursed to death by the man in black armor. Before dying, the Tree imparts his final words of wisdom, telling Link to venture to {{s|zeldawiki|Hyrule Castle}}.

Upon arriving at Hyrule Castle, a chance meeting with [[Princess Zelda]] results in her telling him of her prophetic dreams of [[Ganondorf]], who is revealed as the aforementioned man clad in black armor, as well as a young boy clad in green who would emerge from a forest while accompanied by a fairy. Due to fitting this description, Link allies with Zelda and proceeds to collect the {{s|zeldawiki|Spiritual Stones}} in order to assist her in preventing Ganondorf from accessing the {{s|zeldawiki|Sacred Realm}} and acquiring the Triforce that lies within it.

Although Link is successful in acquiring all three stones, he is too late to reunite with Zelda, who escapes on horseback alongside [[Impa]], her attendant. However, Zelda nevertheless manages to throw the {{s|zeldawiki|Ocarina of Time}} into Hyrule Castle's moat, allowing Link to claim it and proceed with their plan of stopping Ganondorf. She then telepathically directs him to play the {{s|zeldawiki|Song of Time}} in front of the {{s|zeldawiki|Temple of Time}}'s altar, which would open the {{s|zeldawiki|Door of Time}} and allow Link to access the {{s|zeldawiki|Master Sword}} that lies beyond it and use the sword to stop Ganondorf.

Upon drawing the Master Sword from the {{s|zeldawiki|Pedestal of Time}}, Link is accepted by the sword as its master. However, it nevertheless seals him away within the Sacred Realm, owing to him being too young to truly challenge Ganondorf. To further compound this, Ganondorf anticipated his and Zelda's plot and managed to acquire the Triforce for himself upon Link's sealing within the Sacred Realm.

Seven years later, a 16-year-old Link is awakened within the {{s|zeldawiki|Chamber of Sages}} by {{s|zeldawiki|Rauru}}, one of the six {{s|zeldawiki|Sage}}s. Upon explaining what happened to Link and the Triforce after he drew the Master Sword, Rauru declares him to be the "{{s|zeldawiki|Hero of Time}}". Rauru proceeds to grant Link a {{s|zeldawiki|Medallion}} before instructing him to awaken the remaining Sages and collect their respective Medallions in order to gain their assistance in defeating Ganondorf.

During this quest, the Great Deku Tree's [[zeldawiki:Deku Tree Sprout|newborn sprout]] additionally reveals that Link is not a Kokiri, but actually a {{s|zeldawiki|Hylian}} that was left in the Tree's care by [[zeldawiki:Link's Mother|his dying mother]] in order to survive the {{s|zeldawiki|Hyrulean Civil War}} that was going on at the time. This sprout would go on to be the Great Deku Tree in ''{{s|zeldawiki|The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker}}''. By using the Master Sword and Pedestal of Time's collective power to travel back and forth between his childhood and adult ages, Link proceeds to awaken the Sages, gain their support, and acquire the Triforce of Courage to finally defeat Ganondorf and save Hyrule.

Immediately after stopping Ganondorf, Zelda sends Link back in time in order for him to relive his essentially lost childhood. A few months later, Link leaves Hyrule to search for Navi, who inexplicably left him after he placed the Master Sword back into the Pedestal of Time soon after stopping Ganondorf. During his search, he is ambushed by a {{s|zeldawiki|Skull Kid}} wearing a mysterious mask. Upon giving chase after having {{s|zeldawiki|Epona}}, his faithful steed, stolen by the Skull Kid, Link winds up in the mysterious parallel world known as {{s|zeldawiki|Termina}}.

Soon after Link becomes an unintentional ally of {{s|zeldawiki|Tatl}}, one of the Skull Kid's fairy friends, he meets the mysterious {{s|zeldawiki|Happy Mask Salesman}}. The Salesman reveals the Skull Kid's mask to be {{iw|zeldawiki|Majora's Mask|Object}}, an ancient artifact that possesses a tremendous amount of magical power. Link and Tatl soon encounter Skull Kid and {{s|zeldawiki|Tael}}, Tatl's brother and the Skull Kid's other fairy friend. Tael reveals a clue on how to stop the Skull Kid, which leads Link on a quest to stop him from using the vast power of Majora's Mask to launch the {{iw|zeldawiki|Moon|Object}} into Termina.

As Link's quest progresses, the clue turns out to be a reference to the {{s|zeldawiki|Four Giants}}, Termina's guardian deities. Due to lashing out against Termina and its people long ago because of the Giants' decision to protect the land while laying dormant, the Skull Kid was expelled from Termina by the Giants. Ultimately, Link frees the Four Giants from being confined by the magic used by Skull Kid. With the Giants' help in halting the Moon's descent, Link then proceeds to destroy Majora's Mask after it abandons Skull Kid, who had used him as a puppet the entire time. Upon saving Termina, Link bids the Skull Kid, Tatl and Tael farewell before returning to Hyrule to resume his search for Navi.

Although Link is ultimately revered as the Hero of Time in a parallel timeline created upon Zelda sending him back in time, he becomes full of regret over his near-total lack of recognition as a hero within his own timeline. When coupled with his failure to teach his [[zeldawiki:Hidden Skills|skills]] to any successors during his lifetime, Link's regret became so significant that it prevented him from passing on to the afterlife upon his death. This subsequently resulted in him lingering on as a [[zeldawiki:Ancient Hero|sword-wielding, armor-clad spirit]].

A number of centuries later, Link, under the guise of an ethereal, golden wolf, would encounter his bloodline descendant, the Link of ''{{s|zeldawiki|The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess}}''. After teaching all seven of his skills, Link finally eases his regrets and passes on to the afterlife, but not before bidding farewell to his descendant and offering him some final words of encouragement. Ultimately, these skills assist his descendant's destined growth into the "Hero of Twilight", who succeeds the Hero of Time as the savior of Hyrule by stopping the {{s|zeldawiki|Twilight}}-based invasion led by {{s|zeldawiki|Zant}} and his ancestor's nemesis, Ganondorf. This marks the only time that two different Links canonically meet plot-wise. The only other example being in ''{{s|zeldawiki|The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild}}'', where players can use an [[amiibo]] to get ''{{s|zeldawiki|Wolf}} Link'', but this does not affect the story and is considered non-canon.

==In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]''==
===As a playable character===
{{Main|Young Link (SSBM)}}
[[File:Young Link SSBM.jpg|thumb|150px|Young Link, as he appears in ''Super Smash Bros. Melee''.]]
Young Link appears as an [[unlockable character]] in ''Super Smash Bros. Melee''. He is a [[clone]] of his [[Link (SSBM)|older self]] and differs in a number of ways: he is unsurprisingly smaller, weaker and lighter, yet boasts better mobility thanks to his much faster [[dash]]ing speed, ability to [[wall jump]] and longer [[wavedash]].<ref name=SGbio>[https://www.sourcegaming.info/2016/01/15/news-flash-super-smash-bros-young-link/ News Flash! Super Smash Bros.: Young Link]</ref>

Although Young Link's special moves are burdened by his aforementioned shorter range, they nevertheless have benefits to compensate. [[Fire Bow]]<ref name=SGbio/> boasts combo potential, thanks to its {{s|zeldawiki|Fire Arrow}}s' higher hitstun. Young Link's [[Boomerang]] can be thrown at wider angles,<ref name=SGbio/> while his [[Spin Attack]] is useful for punishing rolls thanks to its multiple hits. Lastly, Young Link's {{b|Bomb|Link}} has twice as many hitboxes as Link's Bomb, which give it greater damage potential and make it better in regard to combos.

Thanks to his strengths, Young Link is ranked 17th on the [[tier list]], placing him in the C- tier. In addition to rendering him as a mid-tier character, this places him just one spot above his older self.
{{clrl}}

===Trophies===
{{main|List of SSBM trophies (The Legend of Zelda series)}}
As a playable character, Young Link has three trophies - a normal trophy won beating the {{SSBM|Classic Mode}} with Young Link on any difficulty, and "Smash Red" and "Smash Blue" trophies are acquired by beating the Adventure and All-Star modes, respectively.

{{Trophy
|name=Young Link
|image=Young Link Trophy.png
|mode=Classic
|desc=Link's younger incarnation is often considered to be the true Link: he was a young boy in the very first Legend of Zelda game, and he has appeared as a youth in most of the subsequent games. Since his debut on the original NES in 1987, Link's appearance has changed over and over again, each time adding to the mystique of his incomparable story.
|gamelist={{Trophy games|game1=The Legend of Zelda|release1=7/87}}
|game=Melee
}}
{{clrl}}

{{Trophy
|name=Young Link
|image=Young Link Trophy (Smash).png
|mode=Adventure
|desc=Young Link is lighter and faster than his older self, and his Kokiri sword packs less punch. Even though his Boomerang has a shorter range, he has greater control over it. He's a smaller target, and while his Hookshot has less reach than the older Link's, you can still use it in midair as a last-ditch attempt to grab a ledge.
|gamelist=:B: Fire Bow
:Smash B: Boomerang
|game=Melee
}}
{{clrl}}

{{Trophy
|name=Young Link
|image=Young Link Trophy 2 (Smash).png
|mode=All Star
|desc=With a youthful spring in his step, Young Link can perform amazing wall-jumps. Once he hits a wall, tap the Control Stick in the opposite direction to send him leaping upward; you can practice to your heart's content in Target Test. His Spin Attack can strike multiple times even on the ground, and although it's hard to discern, so do his Bombs.
|gamelist=:Up & B: Spin Attack
:Down & B: Bomb
|game=Melee
}}
{{clrl}}

==In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''==
Young Link was one of the five playable characters in ''Melee'' who did not return in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''. Instead, he has effectively been succeeded by {{SSBB|Toon Link}}, owing to both functioning as a younger, smaller, weaker, and faster version of Link. Toon Link also derives most of the moveset differences Young Link had from his older self, such as forward smash's first hit having set knockback, grounded Spin Attack hitting multiple times, and down aerial being capable of [[meteor smash]]ing.

Various forms of Young Link, however, still appear as [[sticker]]s from ''The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask''.

===Stickers===
{| class="wikitable"
! Name
! Game
! Effect
! Fighter(s)
|-
| {{s|zeldawiki|Deku Link}}
| [[The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask]]
| {{SortKey|DefenseElectric+005}}{{EffectIcon|Electric}} Resistance +5
| {{SortKey|All characters}}{{AllChars|SSBB|s=16}}
|-
| {{s|zeldawiki|Fierce Deity Link}}
| [[The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask]]
| {{SortKey|AttackSlash+021}}{{EffectIcon|Slash}} Attack +21
| {{StickerHead|Link|Zelda|Ganondorf|Toon Link}}
|-
| [[Link]] with {{iw|zeldawiki|Goron Mask}}
| [[The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask]]
| {{SortKey|AttackSlash+017}}{{EffectIcon|Slash}} Attack +17
| {{StickerHead|Link|Zelda|Ganondorf|Toon Link}}
|-
| {{s|zeldawiki|Zora Link}}
| {{s|zeldawiki|The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask}}
| {{SortKey|SpecialSwimTime+060}}{{StickerIcon|Swim Time}} +60
| {{SortKey|All characters}}{{AllChars|SSBB|s=16}}
|}

{{StickerPicBox|Deku Link|Zelda: Majora's Mask}}
{{StickerPicBox|Fierce Deity Link|Zelda: MM}}
{{StickerPicBox|Link with Goron Mask|Zelda: MM}}
{{StickerPicBox|Zora Link|Zelda: Majora's Mask}}

==In ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]''==
While Young Link does not make any appearance whatsoever in ''Super Smash Bros. 4'', his adult self is featured in the trophy "Adult Link (Ocarina of Time)". Young Link is also indirectly referenced via {{SSB4|Link}}'s eighth [[Alternate costume (SSB4)#Link|alternate costume]], which is almost identical to Young Link's [[zeldawiki:Fierce Deity Link|Fierce Deity]] transformation. Lastly, Toon Link's [[Hero's Bow]] has a [[Character customization|custom variation]] based on Young Link's [[Fire Bow]].

==In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''==
===As a playable character===
{{main|Young Link (SSBU)}}
[[File:Young Link SSBU.png|thumb|Young Link, as he appears in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''.]]

After a two installment absence, Young Link returns as a playable character in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''. When discounting the adult aged Hero of Time's cameo in ''SSB4'' via the "Adult Link (Ocarina of Time)" trophy, this marks his first appearance of any kind in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series in 10 years. On a related note, this is also Young Link's first playable ''Super Smash Bros.'' appearance in 17 years, a distinction shared with fellow ''Melee'' veteran [[Pichu]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L93H7YC-83o Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - E3 2018 - Nintendo Switch]</ref>

Although Young Link's descendant, the "Hero of Twilight", has been succeeded by the "Hero of the Wild" as [[Link (SSBU)|a playable character]] in ''Ultimate'', Young Link nevertheless possesses mechanical and aesthetic aspects from both his own moveset in ''Melee'' and his descendant's moveset in ''SSB4''. When coupled with the new Link featuring a number of noticeable mechanical and aesthetic differences, Young Link has been further decloned, though not enough to change his full clone status. 
{{clr}}

===Spirits===
====Fighter spirit====
<center>
<gallery>
SSBU spirit Young Link.png|176. '''''Young Link'''''
</gallery>
</center>
====Primary spirits====
{|class="wikitable sortable"
! No. !! Image !! Name !! Type !! Class !! Slots
! Base [[File:Equipment Icon Power Badge.png|20px|Power]]
! Max [[File:Equipment Icon Power Badge.png|20px|Power]]
! Base [[File:Equipment Icon Brawn Badge.png|20px|Attack]]
! Max [[File:Equipment Icon Brawn Badge.png|20px|Attack]]
! Base [[File:Equipment Icon Protection Badge.png|20px|Defense]]
! Max [[File:Equipment Icon Protection Badge.png|20px|Defense]]
! Ability !! Series
|-
| 207 || {{SpiritTableName|Deku Link}} || {{SpiritType|Grab}} || ★★ || 1 || 2083 || 8335 || 1082 || 4328 || 921 || 3687 || Fire Weakness || ''The Legend of Zelda'' Series
|-
| 208 || {{SpiritTableName|Fierce Deity Link}} || {{SpiritType|Attack}} || ★★★★ || 1 || 4623 || 11561 || 2900 || 7252 || 1303 || 3258 || Sword Attack ↑ || ''The Legend of Zelda'' Series
|}

==Names in other languages==
{{langtable
|ja={{ja|こどもリンク|Kodomo Rinku}}, ''Young Link''
|jaM=Child Link
|en=Young Link
|fr=Link enfant
|frM=Child Link
|es=Link niño
|esM=Child Link
|de=Junger Link
|deM=Young Link
|it=Link bambino
|itM=Child Link
|nl=Jonge Link
|nlM=Young Link
|ru={{rollover|Юный Линк|Yunyy Link|?}}
|ruM=Young Link
|zh_cn={{rollover|年幼林克|Niányòu Línkè|?}}, ''Young Link''
|zh_cnM=Young Link
|zh_tw={{rollover|幼年林克|Yòunián Línkè|?}}, ''Young Link''
|zh_twM=
|ko={{rollover|소년 링크|Sonyeon Lingkeu|?}}, ''Young Link''
|koM=Boy Link
}}

==Trivia==
*Young Link and [[Dr. Mario]] are the only clones who are the exact same character as the character they are cloned from. However, in Young Link's case, this only applies to his appearance in ''Super Smash Bros. Melee''.
*Young Link is the only version of Link in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series who does not wield the {{s|zeldawiki|Master Sword}}.
**Prior to ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'', he, [[Toon Link]] and [[Roy]] were the only swordsmen in the ''{{b|Super Smash Bros.|series}}'' series whose swords consistently produced a punch/kick sound effect instead of a slashing sound effect for the majority of their moves.
*Young Link, [[Toon Link]] and [[Cloud]] are the only swordsmen in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series capable of [[wall jump]]ing.
*Young Link and [[Snake]] are the only cut characters to lack a trophy in either version of ''Super Smash Bros. 4''.
*Young Link and [[Pichu]] are the only playable characters to skip more than one installment in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series prior to returning to the series in a playable capacity.
**Young Link is also the only ''The Legend of Zelda'' character to skip an installment.
* Young Link is the only ''The Legend of Zelda'' fighter to have never been a [[Starter character]].
*''{{s|zeldawiki|Hyrule Warriors}}'' is the only other game outside of the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series where the Hero of Time's child form is referred to as "Young Link" instead of simply Link.
*Even though both ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'' give Young Link palette swaps based on the Goron and Zora Tunics, he was never able to change his outfit in either ''Ocarina of Time'' or ''Majora's Mask''.
*Despite Young Link being the only incarnation capable of becoming {{s|zeldawiki|Fierce Deity Link}}, only the "Hero of Twilight" and the "Hero of the Wild" incarnations reference this transformation, specifically via [[alternate costume]]s.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Characters}}
{{Zelda universe}}
[[Category:Young Link| ]]
[[Category:Trophies (SSBM)]]
[[Category:Stickers]]
[[Category:Spirits]]
[[es:Young Link]]
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