Toon Link (SSBU)

Toon Link in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Universe	The Legend of Zelda
Other playable appearances	in Brawl in SSB4
Availability	Unlockable
Final Smash	Triforce Slash

“	He's smaller and faster than Link. His bombs explode with a unique anime-style. For his Final Smash, he emits light from his left hand and any opponents hit by it are trapped in the Triforce, subject to a punishing gauntlet of attacks.	”
—Super Smash Blog, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Official Site

Toon Link (トゥーンリンク, Toon Link) is a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. He was officially confirmed as playable on June 12th, 2018. Toon Link is classified as fighter #43.

As in Brawl and Smash 4, Sachi Matsumoto's portrayal of Toon Link from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker were repurposed for Ultimate.

How to unlock

Complete one of the following:

• Play VS. matches, with Toon Link being the 44th character to be unlocked.
• Clear Classic Mode with Link or any character in his unlock tree, being the last character unlocked.
• Have Toon Link join the player's party in World of Light.

With the exception of the third method, Toon Link must then be defeated on Pirate Ship.

Differences from Young Link

Because both Toon Link and Young Link are lighter and faster clones of the original Link, Toon Link is considered a counterpart to Young Link. However, Toon Link has a fair share of unique attacks and animations that set him apart from both Links.

Aesthetics

• While Young Link is based on Link's appearance in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Toon Link is based on Link's appearance in The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker. As such, Toon Link's entire skeleton is a different shape.
• Toon Link wields the Master Sword and Hero's Shield, whereas Young Link wields the Kokiri Sword and Deku Shield.
• Toon Link's on-screen appearance, taunts, idle animation and victory poses are all different from Young Link's.
• Toon Link has many different animations such as his jumping and spot dodge animations.

Attributes

• Toon Link is slightly shorter than Young Link, which makes him harder to hit, but also gives him less reach while attacking.
• Toon Link walks slightly faster than Young Link (1.26 → 1.288).
• Toon Link dashes faster than Young Link (1.749 → 1.906).
• Both of Toon Link jumps are higher than Young Link's (33.66 → 33.8)
• Toon Link is heavier than Young Link (88 → 91);This gives him superior survivability.
• Toon Link falls much more slowly than Young Link (1.8 → 1.38), being tied for 55th fastest fall speed compared to Young Link being tied for 10th fastest fall speed. While this hinders his vertical endurance, it also makes him less vulnerable to combos.
• Toon Link's gravity is lower (0.096 → 0.081).
• Toon Link's air speed is faster (0.966 → 1.05).
• Toon Link's air acceleration is faster (0.06 → 0.09).
• Toon Link's traction is lower than Young Link's (0.105 → 0.086).
• Toon Link's Hero's Shield covers more of his body than Young Link's Deku Shield, increasing its overall reliability.
• Except for the downward throw, Toon Link releases items 1 frame earlier than Young Link does then throwing them (8/10/12/5/6 (forward/backward/up/dash/drop) → 7/9/11/4/5).
• Toon Link releases heavy items 1 frame later than Young Link when throwing them either forward or backwards (19 → 20).

Ground attacks

• Neutral attack:
  • Toon Link does not a have multi-hit neutral attack like Young Link.
  • The first hit of Toon Link's neutral attack is faster (frames 6-7 → 5-6).
  • Toon Link's jab does more damage than Young Link's basic jab (2.0%, 1.5%, 3.5% → 2.0%, 2.0%, 4.0%).
• Forward tilt:
  • Toon Link's forward tilt reaches farther behind him, allowing him to hit opponents behind him.
  • Toon Link's forward tilt has less startup lag and a longer duration (frames 10-12 → 9-13).
  • Toon Link's forward tilt deals less damage (12%/11% → 9%).
• Up tilt:
  • Toon Link's up tilt has less start-up lag (frame 9 → 8) and ending lag (frame 32 → 26).
  • Toon Link's up tilt has fewer active frames (frames 9-14 → 8-12) and deals less damage (8% → 5%).
• Down tilt:
  • Toon Link's down tilt knocks opponents horizontally, as opposed to the vertical knockback from Young Link's down tilt. This reduces the amount of followups from the move, but opens the ability to tech chase and edgeguard with the move.
  • Toon Link's down tilt deals less damage (7%/9%/10% → 7%).
  • Toon Link's down tilt has less end lag (frame 26 → 23), can trip and lock opponents, and has a bonus chance of tripping opponents (50%).
• Dash attack:
  • Toon Link's dash attack has less start-up lag (frame 8 → 7) and end lag (frame 35 → 31). It also travels much further forward, making it a better burst option.
  • Toon Link's dash attack deals less knockback and damage (11%/10% → 8%), hindering its KO potential.
• Forward smash:
  • Toon Link's forward smash is a single upward slash as opposed to Young Link's two-part slash.
  • Toon Link's forward smash deals less damage than the two hits of Young Link's forward smash (6% + 12%/10% → 14%) and is slightly slower (frames 15-16 → 16-17). The lack of a second inputted swing also removes its mixup potential, severely hindering the moves utility.
  • Toon Link's Forward smash has less end lag, increasing its ability to combo into some aerials at mid to high percents.
  • Toon Link's forward smash deals more knockback, increasing its ability to KO.
• Up smash:
  • Toon Link's up smash is a single upward slash rather than three slashes.
  • Toon Link's up smash has much less endlag (frame 70 → 43) and is capable of KO'ing opponents earlier than Young Link's.
  • Toon Link's up smash is slightly slower than Young Link's up smash (frame 10 → 11) and deals less damage than the three hits combined (14% total → 13%/10%).
• Down smash:
  • Toon Link's down smash is essentially the inverse of Young Link's down smash; while Young Link's down smash has a stronger first hit, Toon Link's down smash has a stronger second hit.
  • The second hit of Toon Link's down smash has less startup lag (frame 21 → 17), and the move has less ending lag overall (frame 50 → 47). Toon Link's down smash also lacks the sourspots that Young Link's possesses, making the move more consistent.
  • Toon Link's down smash deals more damage (6% (clean)/7% (late) → 12%/13%).

Aerial attacks

• Neutral aerial:
  • Toon Link has a different neutral aerial, which consists of two quick sword swipes on either side of him.
  • Toon Link's neutral aerial has disjointed hitboxes, making it safer to use. It is also capable of dealing more damage if both hits connect (10% → 8.5% + 7%).
  • Toon Link's neutral aerial has more startup lag and a shorter duration (frames 4-27 → 6-7 (front), 13-14 (back)), along with a greater amount of ending lag (frame 36 → 42). It also has less KO potential than Young Link's neutral aerial.
• Forward aerial:
  • Toon Link's forward aerial consists of only one hit instead of two.
  • Toon Link's forward aerial has more KO power than Young Link's. The damage is also more consistent due to it only hitting once.
  • Toon Link's forward aerial has the ability to autocancel out of a short hop, unlike Young Link. It also has less ending lag (47 → 39), allowing Toon Link to double jump or input another attack before landing.
  • Forward aerial has more landing lag (frame 6 → 11) and deals less damage overall (6% + 8% → 13%). It also lacks the ability to drag down opponents into a follow-up like Young Link, giving it less versatility.
• Back aerial:
  • Toon Link has a different back aerial where he swings his sword behind him in an upward arc. It only hits once, and has a more vertical knockback angle.
  • Toon Link's back aerial has a disjointed hitbox, making it safer to use. It also deals more consistent damage due to its single-hit nature.
  • Back aerial has more landing lag (6 → 8) and ending lag (30 → 36), and its maximum damage output is lower (12% → 8%).
  • Toon Link's back aerial lacks much of the combo potential that the first hit of Young Link's back aerial possesses due to it not having set knockback. The lack of a second hitbox also makes the move easier to punish.
• Up aerial:
  • Toon Link's up aerial is a much stronger KO move than Young Link's. It also has a much bigger hitbox.
  • Due to the way Toon Link positions his body, he has a much easier time hitting grounded opponents with an up aerial than Young Link.
  • Toon Link's up aerial has more startup lag and a shorter duration (frames 5-49 → 11-40). The clean hit also deals less damage (15% → 14%) as well as the late hit (12% → 11%).
• Down aerial:
  • Due to the stall-then-fall nature of the attack, Toon Link's down aerial is significantly more risky off stage, but allows him to reach the ground or his opponents much faster. Additionally, it lacks the ability to bounce off of opponents and shields like the other two Links.
  • Toon Link's down aerial has more start-up lag (frame 13 → 17) and landing lag (frame 17 → 23), making it a riskier move to use.
  • Unlike Young Link's down aerial, Toon Link's down aerial has the ability to meteor smash opponents. This allows him to net early kills and follow up on grounded opponents hit by a down aerial. Toon Link can also situationally lock opponents with this ability.
  • Toon Link's down aerial possesses windboxes, which can push away opponents on landing.
• Grab aerial:
  • Toon Link's grab aerial produces a different sound when successfully hitting an opponent.

Throws/other attacks

• Due to the hook of Toon Link's hookshot being smaller, Toon Link's grab has slightly less range than Young Link's.
• All of Toon Link's throws deal more damage.
• Toon Link's forward and back throws have different animations.
• The collateral hitbox on Toon Link's up throw is much stronger than Young Link's.
• Toon Link's back throw is a much more potent KO move than Young Link's back throw.
• Toon Link's down throw lacks the combo potential that Young Link's down throw possesses.

Special moves

• Hero's Bow:
  • An arrow fired from the Hero's Bow lasts much longer than Young Link's Fire Arrow. When combined with the slow travel time of the arrows, this allows Toon Link to keep the projectile in play longer than Young Link can to limit an opponent's options.
  • Toon Link's Hero's Bow fires and charges more slowly, has more ending lag, takes longer to travel, and deals less knockback than Young Link's Fire Arrows. It also lacks the combo potential that the Fire Arrows possess.
  • The lower knockback on Toon Link's arrows allow them to lock opponents, increasing their setup potential.
  • The arrows fired from Hero's Bow send at a different angle than Fire Arrows.
  • They also lack a flame effect.
• Boomerang:
  • The strong hit of Toon Link's Boomerang lasts much longer than Young Link's Boomerang.
  • The returning hit of Toon Link's Boomerang has set knockback, granting it more combo potential than Young Link's version. The returning hit also has more knockback compared to Young Link's nominal knockback, and also deals more damage (2% → 3%).
  • Toon Link's Boomerang does much less damage at close range (13.2%/11% → 9.6%/8%) and at a distance (8.4%/7% → 6%/5%) than Young Link's Boomerang. The knockback angle of Toon Link's close-range Boomerang also makes it slightly worse for combos.
  • Toon Link's Boomerang travels slightly farther and returns more slowly than Young Link's Boomerang.
• Spin Attack:
  • Grounded Spin Attack has significantly more KO potential. It also has a faster start-up (frame 9 → 6).
  • Toon Link's grounded Spin Attack has more ending lag (frame 71 → 78) than Young Link's version, making it a more risky move. Additionally, it lacks the combo potential and KO setups that Young Link's Spin Attack possesses.
  • Toon Link's grounded Spin Attack sends at a more horizontal angle.
  • Toon Link's grounded Spin Attack has slightly more horizontal range.
  • When all frontal hits connect, Toon Link's aerial Spin Attack deals more damage (12% → 14%) than Young Link's.
  • Toon Link's aerial Spin Attack has less aerial drift and recovery height than Young Link's Spin Attack, making it a worse recovery option overall.
  • The sword trails of Young Link and Toon Link's Spin Attacks have different visuals.
• Bomb:
  • Toon Link's Bomb pull animation has less endlag than Young Link (frame 40 → 37).
  • Toon Link's Bombs have a much bigger blast radius than Bombs from Young Link, making them easier to hit. Their damage is also more consistent due to being a single hit.
  • Toon Link's Bombs deal much less damage (minimum damage: 9.8 → 4.2) than Young Link's. They are also much harder to lay on the ground without having them explode, limiting their ability to trap opponents.
  • Toon Link's Bombs have a much longer fuse time than Young Link's Bombs (219 frames → 299 frames.)
  • The explosion from Toon Link's Bombs produce cartoon-like smoke and explosion graphics, as opposed to the more realistic look of Young Link's Bomb explosions. Toon Link's Bombs are also based on their appearance in The Wind Waker, as opposed to Ocarina of Time.
• Triforce Slash:
  • Triforce Slash deals less damage.
  • Triforce Slash is much brighter and opaque compared to Young Link’s.

Changes from Super Smash Bros. 4

Inspite of being a high tier character in SSB4 (23rd out of 55 characters), Toon Link has received a mix of buffs and nerfs in the transition from Smash 4 to Ultimate, but it's currently unclear whether he has been nerfed or buffed overall. As with other characters, his mobility has been improved thanks to faster walking and dashing speeds, and he falls faster as well. Many of his grounded options have been improved: Jab can now jab lock and tech chase better, forward tilt has less ending lag and one hitbox is more consistent, down tilt launches lower, improving its tech chasing potential, dash attack is much faster, has more range and the sweetspots outprioritize the sourspot, and up smash is more consistent. These buffs have vastly improved his grounded game from Smash 4, especially due to the addition of using tilts out of a run. Toon Link's aerial game has also improved, with the reduced landing lag on his aerials making it easier for him to combo and land; his neutral aerial has more range, forward aerial can once again autocancel in a short hop, his up aerial is notably much safer to use, and his back aerial is faster and has regained some of its old combo potential. Toon Link's down smash also sees better usage with the changes to its hitboxes, making the move far more consistent and practical for offensive usage, with both hits having strong KO potential. Finally, Toon Link's Spin Attack has received the most improvements, with the grounded version now being one of the best out of shield options in the game due to it being much faster and gaining kill potential, while the aerial version's power and safety has improved, greatly improving his sword attacks overall.

However, Toon Link also received some noticeable nerfs. One of his biggest nerfs was to his Forward smash, which is slower, has lower damage potential, possesses no mixup or spacing potential with a second hit, and has a debatably worse hitbox that fails to strike short opponents or ones hanging to the ledge. His other major nerf was to his Bombs, which no longer beat weak projectiles; instead bouncing off of them. This massively worsens their potential in trade and projectile situations. His up smash has fewer active frames (although it has better consistency), his back aerial is no longer a KOing move (although it has some form of combo potential), and his up tilt has inferior combo potential due to the changes to its knockback.

These changes have significantly changed the way Toon Link must be played in competitive play, shifting from primarily a zoner and counter-zoner style, to a more movement and pressure based playstyle that utilizes his sword attacks more. Toon Link was initially thought to fare worse than in two previous games due to the changes, with most top professionals ranking him as a mid-tier, and notably lower than the two other Links. However, later on many dedicated Toon Link professionals such as Sigma, Hyuga, Ri-ma, Tsuna and Xcal have seen very strong results in-region with the character, indicating that Toon Link is still a potent character. As a result, his representation has been more positive than before, with most professionals ranking him as a high-tier character, with ESAM saying he is the best link of the three.

Aesthetics

• As with all veterans returning from Smash 4, Toon Link's model features a more subdued color scheme. His clothing now features simple woven and stitched detailing, similar to his design in Brawl, though his hair remains clay-like.
• Some of the textures of Toon Link's face have been modified: his brow is more furrowed, and his mouth is now represented by a black dash, making it look less organic. Overall, he appears more cartoonish as a result.
• Toon Link's hair is now affected by gravity and wind. His hat also now has more physics-based movement than before.
• Like many other returning characters, Toon Link is more expressive. He is now more consistently angry and serious to match the other Links. In general, he now has wide variety of expressions in his animations.
• Several of Toon Link's animations have been altered to further distinguish him from the other Links.
  • While jumping, he raises his shield more.
  • During his falling animation, he spreads his legs apart. His helpless animation is also different, now leaning more forward as he falls. However, he reuses his falling animations from Smash 4 when moving forward or backwards while falling.
  • His double jump animation is now an upward flip similar to Roy and Ganondorf.
• Toon Link's sword attacks now use a set of new, cartoonish slash sound effects when they land.
• Toon Link's taunts have all been modified:
  • His up taunt now faces the screen regardless of the direction he is facing.
  • His side taunt has a more surprised expression and pose. The fairy also now disappears in a Wind Waker style puff of smoke.
  • His down taunt now has him visibly sweating. Like his up taunt, it now faces the screen regardless of the direction he's facing.
• Toon Link's victory pose where he conducts with the Wind Waker has been modified to be more in line with his official art from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and its HD version.

Attributes

• Like all characters, Toon Link's jumpsquat animation now takes three frames to complete (down from 5).
• Toon Link is slightly lighter (93 → 91), this slightly hinders his endurance.
• Toon Link walks slightly faster (1.2265 → 1.288).
• Toon Link dashes faster (1.7325 → 1.906).
• Toon Link's air speed has been increased (0.94 → 1.05).
• Toon Link's falling speed has been increased (1.28 → 1.38).
  • His fast fall speed has also been increased (2.048 → 2.208), making him harder to juggle.
• Toon Link's sidestep has increased startup on his invincibility (2-15 → 3-16), but less endlag (25 → 20), now being tied for the third fastest.
• Toon Link's back roll has slightly increased invincibility (4-14 → 4-15), but much more endlag (27 frames → 34).
• Toon Link's forward roll has slightly longer duration (FAF 27 → 29).
• Toon Link can now Z-drop items such as his Bombs without releasing the Hookshot. This vastly improves its versatility and utility as a tactic, mixup, combo and disadvantage tool. This also sees the return of the Invincibomb technique.
  • This change no longer allows Toon Link to Z-drop and use hookshot at the same time.
• The mechanical change to Tethers removes Toon Link's ability to cancel his airdodge into his hookshot, removing an option from his kit and vastly nerfing his recovery mixup potential.
  • Toon Link is still able to Tether to ledge while holding a bomb, by simply pressing Grab without holding a direction.

Ground attacks

• Neutral attack:
  • Neutral attack's first hit has faster startup (frame 6 → 5) and slightly lower duration (FAF 20 → 18).
    • Neutral attack's first hit does slightly less damage (3% → 2%).
  • Neutral attack's third hit has fewer active frames (frame 6-10 → 6-7), reducing consistency and utility.
  • Neutral attack's third hit deals more base knockback but less knockback scaling (55 base/100 scaling → 70/75) and sends opponents at a lower angle (48° → 30°), granting it tech chase setups.
    • Toon Link strikes a pose at the end of his third neutral attack.
  • As with nearly every other character, Toon Link's first and second neutral attack can now lock opponents.
  • Neutral attack's first hit (3.5u/4.2/3.8u → 1.8u/1.8u/1.8u/1.8u) and second (3.5u/4.2u/4u → 2.5u/3.2u/3.2u/3.2u) hits have had their three larger hitboxes replaced with four smaller ones, and the third hit has lost one of its hitboxes altogether (4.2u/4.2u/3u → 4.5u/3.5u).
• Forward tilt:
  • Forward tilt has reduced endlag (FAF 33 → 29), improving its safety and utility.
  • Forward tilt's frame 9 hit now has its farthest hitbox launch opponents in the direction he is facing (361° → 38°), improving its consistency and trap potential.
  • Forward tilt has more base knockback, but less knockback scaling (25 base/102 scaling → 45/83), improving its safety on hit at lower percents but hindering its KO potential.
  • Forward tilt's arm hitbox is deleted on frame 10, slightly weakening the move's consistency.
• Down tilt:
  • Down tilt has a lower knockback angle, increasing its tech chase and setup potential.
  • Down tilt has an altered animation where Toon Link's sword doesn't stay pointed outwards for both frames of the active hitbox, reducing its effective duration.
• Dash attack:
  • Dash attack hitbox has reduced start-up lag (frame 9 → 7) and endlag (FAF 40 → 31), making it much more useful and safer in landing trap situations.
  • Both sweetspot hitboxes now have priority over the sourspot.
  • Dash attack's hitboxes are larger (3.5u/4u/3u → 4.2u/4u/3.5u).
• Forward smash:
  • Toon Link has a new forward smash: a single upward swing.
  • Toon Link is now silent when performing the move.
  • Forward smash now has slightly more startup (15 frames → 16) and has decreased damage due to the removal of the second hit (21% → 14%).
    • Due to the removal of the second swing, Toon Link is also no longer able to use this move to space or mix up his opponent.
  • Forward smash's new animation has Toon Link swipe upwards and lunge farther, improving its vertical range.
    • The new animation also makes hitting grounded opponents more inconsistent, and no longer able to hit opponents hanging at the ledge.
  • The first hit has reduced knockback values compared to his old forward smash's second hit (25/32 base / 130 scaling → 25/20 / 110) to compensate for its increased damage (12% → 14%).
• Up smash:
  • Up smash has a slightly altered animation. Toon Link slightly turns after leaping.
  • Due to the altered animation, the sourspot hitbox is harder to land, improving its consistency and KO potential.
  • Up Smash has fewer active frames (frame 11-17 → 11-15).
• Down smash:
  • Down smash has a tweaked animation.
  • Down smash's front hitbox no longer sends opponents behind Toon Link; instead, each swing has strong knockback on its own.
    • This means Toon Link can no longer use down smash to send opponents behind him. The overall damage output for hitting the front hitbox has also been reduced (14% (both hits) → 12%).
  • Down smash has less ending lag (50 frames → 46). Also, each hit of down smash does more damage (6%/7% → 12% (front)/13% (back)) and can KO on either side of Toon Link.
  • This also vastly improves the consistency of the move and prevents grounded opponents from escaping between hits. Aerial opponents also are now hit with the regular hitbox as opposed to the aerial-only hitbox, which had reduced damage and altered knockback.

Aerial attacks

• All aerials have less landing lag (12 frames → 7 (neutral), 18 → 11 (forward), 17 → 8 (back), 21 → 13 (up), 40 → 23 (down)).
• Neutral aerial:
  • Both of neutral aerial's hits have larger hitboxes (3u/3.6u/4u/2.5u → 4u/4.5u/4.5u/2.5u)
• Forward aerial:
  • Forward aerial auto-cancels significantly earlier (frame 51 → 39), matching its interruptibility. This also allows it to auto-cancel out of a short hop like in Brawl.
  • Forward aerial's large hitbox has been replaced with three smaller ones (7.5u → 5u/5u/4u).
• Back aerial:
  • Back aerial has less startup (FAF 7 → 6).
  • Back aerial has far less ending lag (FAF 46 → 36), allowing Toon Link to double jump out of a short hop with it once again.
  • Back aerial auto-cancels earlier (frame 38 → 34).
  • Back aerial deals less damage (11% → 8%) without full compensation for its base knockback (18 → 24), losing its already poor KO potential.
    • Back aerial's lowered knockback and reduced endlag has vastly improved its combo and setup potential.
• Up aerial:
  • Up aerial has an altered animation where Toon Link ducks more. This lowers his hurtbox and allows him to hit opponents beneath him more effectively, similar to Link's up aerial.
• Down aerial:
  • Down aerial's hitboxes are slightly smaller (5.6u (clean)/5.3u (late) → 5.5u/5u) and higher up (Y offset: -3 → -1.1), reducing its range.
  • When landing, it has received a hitbox that deals 5% and appears when Toon Link raises the Master Sword from the ground.
• Grab aerial:
  • Grab aerial has less endlag (frame 75 → 74).
  • Grab aerial has fewer active frames (frame 11-20 → 11-18).
  • Grab aerial can only hit one opponent or projectile. Once it collides with something, it bounces off and the hitbox is disabled.

Throws/other attacks

• All of Toon Link's grabs have less endlag (FAF 62 → 51 (standing), 72 → 60 (dash), 72 → 55 (pivot)).
• Toon Link has an altered down throw animation where he jumps much higher in the air before tackling his opponent. This helps him avoid projectiles close to the ground (especially his own bombs), but opens him to projectiles in the air.
• Up throw's collateral has a much shorter duration (26-30 → 27), hindering its range.
• Back throw has less knockback growth (120 → 110), reducing its KO potential.
• Toon Link now faces the opposite direction when using down throw.
• All of Toon Link's item toss framedata has increased endlag, reducing the potency of his item throws and followups (20 → 24 (forward/back), 20 → 23 (up), 19 → 20 (down)).)

Special Moves

• Hero's Bow:
  • Arrows can no longer be held indefinitely upon reaching full charge, now automatically firing if held for more than three seconds.
• Boomerang:
  • Boomerang appears to have a new model, featuring a more simplistic design.
  • A Boomerang performed with a smash input has increased damage and slightly increased knockback compared to a Tilt input (8% (near)/5% (mid) → 9.6%/6%).
  • Boomerang now has a clanking animation where it bounces quickly before falling and disappearing.
    • Boomerang is unavailable during this clanking animation, reducing Boomerang's utility in trade situations.
  • Boomerang has less duration on the returning hitbox. This reduces the potential of the returning boomerang, but the Boomerang now reappears in Toon Link's hands more quickly.
  • Boomerang has different physics when bouncing against surfaces in certain situations, most notably on return, altering the utility of returning boomerang.
• Spin Attack:
  • Spin Attack's sword trails are blue, now matching how they were in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.
  • Grounded Spin Attack has less startup lag (frame 9 → 6) and its duration was compensated (FAF 80 → 77), increasing its utility and safety.
  • Grounded Spin Attack's final hit has significantly increased knockback scaling (141 → 180) and launches at a lower angle (55° → 48°), granting it KO potential.
  • Grounded Spin Attack always knocks opponents in the direction Toon Link is facing, giving Toon Link the ability to control where his opponent is sent.
  • Aerial Spin Attack has a lower angle (75 → 45°) and much more knockback growth (120 → 170), giving it much better edgeguarding and kill power.
  • Aerial Spin Attack now has multiple hitboxes behind Toon Link, improving its safety and utility, and also increasing damage output on large targets caught in the attack.
  • Aerial Spin Attack now allows Toon Link to retain much more horizontal drift after the final hitbox, improving its spacing and recovery potential.
  • Aerial Spin Attack no longer takes away Toon Link's midair jump if he is interrupted before recovering, granting him more recovery mixups.
  • Toon Link strikes a slightly different pose during the final hit of Aerial Spin Attack, closely matching Link's new pose during his Aerial Spin Attack as well.
• Bomb:
  • Toon Link now pulls out the Bomb slightly quicker (39 frames → 36).
  • Bomb no longer does differing damage based on direct contact (4%) or the explosion (5%-8%). Both damage values have been homogenized, and the only factor to the bombs damage is the velocity before impact.
    • Bombs overall do less damage (4%-8% → 4.2%-6.5%). However, the lower damage betters bomb combo potential.
  • Bombs no longer beat weak projectiles, instead bouncing at the point of contact and falling to the ground. This massively reduces the potency of bombs in trade situations.
  • Bombs now always explode against fire-based attacks, regardless of how much damage the move does. While this removes their potential to absorb fire-based projectiles, it also allows Toon Link to force an opponent to blow up a bomb in his favor.
• Final Smash:
  • Triforce Slash has had its activation range massively increased, allowing Toon Link to chase down targets across Final Destination, like Link's iteration from Brawl and Smash 4.

Update history

Toon Link has been buffed overall from game updates.

1.2.0

• Fixed the Invisible Bomb glitch.

2.0.0

• Forward aerial auto-cancels earlier (frame 51 → 39), matching the move's interruptibility and allowing it to auto-cancel out of a short hop.
• Shortened the amount of time the player can't grab ledges after using his back aerial (68 frames → 60).

3.0.0

• Boomerang deals less shield damage (0 → -4/-2.5/-1.5 (clean/late/return)).

3.1.0

• Neutral attack 1 connects into neutral attack 2 more reliably.
• Boomerang teleportation glitch fixed.

4.0.0

• Toon Link can now shield SDI if a projectile hits his Hero's Shield.
• Down aerial no longer has its downward movement disabled when used out from of hitstun.

7.0.0

• Dash attack has less ending lag (FAF 31 → 29), improving its combo potential.
• Down smash has more knockback scaling (83 → 90 (hit 1), 79 → 85 (hit 2)).
• Back aerial:
  • Back aerial has less startup lag with a longer hitbox duration (frames 7-9 → 6-9).
  • The stronger "attack connect" HD rumble no longer triggers.
• Down aerial's late hit deals more damage (12% → 14%) with knockback scaling not fully compensated (100 → 98), drastically improving its KO potential.
• Grab aerial has a longer hitbox duration (frames 11-18 → 11-20).

Moveset

• While standing still, walking, or crouching, incoming projectiles that hit Toon Link's Hero's Shield will deal no damage and simply push him back. It can block any amount of projectiles regardless of power.
• Toon Link can wall jump.
• Toon Link possesses a tether attack and grab.

For a gallery of Toon Link's hitboxes, see here.

Note: All numbers are listed as base damage, without the 1v1 multiplier.

		Name	Damage	Description
Neutral attack			2%	An outward slash, followed by an inward slash, and concluded with a forward thrust. The first 2 hits can lock.
			2%
			4%
Forward tilt			9%	Toon Link raises the Master Sword over his head and slashes forward.
Up tilt		Half-Moon Slash	5%	An upwards slice with the Master Sword. Can combo into itself at low percentages, or his neutral, forward, backward and up aerials at low to mid percentages.
Down tilt			7%	A crouching slash. Can cause opponents to trip at low percents, as well as being able to jab lock. At higher percents, it launches opponents away at a horizontal angle.
Dash attack			8%	A dashing, outwards swing.
Forward smash			14%	Winds up and swings the sword in an upward arc. Moves Toon Link slightly forwards. The duration of this move's hitbox is deceptively shorter that the duration of the swing (frames 8 and 9). As such, the move's range is also deceptively short and will fail to damage those above Toon Link beginning at frame 10.
Up smash			13%	An upward arcing slash. Can hit behind Toon Link.
Down smash			12% (front), 13% (back)	A sweeping slash in front, and then behind himself.
Neutral aerial		Two Part Slash	8.5% (front), 7% (back)	A quick, spinning slice that hits in front, and then in back. Has a chance to trip grounded opponents at low percents. Can also be used to jab lock, or as a combo starter.
Forward aerial			13%	A quick, spinning slash in front of himself. Has decently high knockback, being able to KO at higher percents.
Back aerial			8%	A spinning slash behind himself. Almost identical to forward aerial, but trades power for a faster startup. Can be used for comboing.
Up aerial			13% (clean), 11% (late)	An upwards thrust. Possesses sex kick properties. The clean hit has high knockback and can KO off the upper blast line at high percents, and the late hit can be used as a combo starter until high percents.
Down aerial		Sword Plant	15% (clean), 12%	A stall-then-fall version of the Down Thrust. Has a powerful meteor smash at the start of the descent, and weak windboxes on landing. Extremely risky to use offstage, as it has a long duration and Toon Link will not bounce off of any opponents he hits.
Grab aerial		Midair Hookshot	4%	Shoots his Hookshot forward. Can be used to grab stage ledges.
Grab		Hookshot	—	Fires his Hookshot straight forward. It functions as a Tether Grab, and and be used for tether recovery.
Pummel			1%	Quickly hits the opponent with the pommel of the Master Sword.
Forward throw			3% (hit), 4% (throw)	A shoulder tackle. Nearby opponents will take damage. KOing middleweights at around 173% at the ledge of Final Destination.
Back throw			7%	Performs the tomoe nage[1], a judo throw. This is Toon Link's main KO throw. It can KO middleweights at around 138% at the ledge of Final Destination with DI.
Up throw			5% (hit), 2% (throw)	Tosses the opponent up into the air and performs a spinning upwards slash. KOing middleweights at around 185% on Final Destination.
Down throw			3% (hit), 4% (throw)	Pins the opponent to the ground and performs an elbow drop. KOing middleweights at around 234% on Battlefield with Toon Link facing away the edge.
Forward roll Back roll Spot dodge Air dodge		—	—
Techs		—	—
Floor attack (front) Floor getups (front)			7%	Slashes in front and behind himself while getting up.
Floor attack (back) Floor getups (back)			7%	Slashes in front and behind himself while getting up.
Floor attack (trip) Floor getups (trip)			5%	Slashes in front and behind himself while getting up.
Edge attack Edge getups			9%	Performs an outwards slash while climbing up.
Neutral special		Hero's Bow	4% (uncharged), 12% (fully charged)	Equips his Hero's Bow to fire an arrow. It can be charged up for more power and range. The arrows move much slower than the arrows that Link or Young Link fire, making them easier to avoid. However, this also means that the arrows remain active for longer.
Side special		Boomerang	8% (near), 9.6 (smash attack), 5% (far), 3% (return),	Throws his Boomerang forward. Spins vertically when thrown, then spins horizontally when returning. Can be aimed via directional input. Does more damage at the start and has additional range when inputted as a smash attack.
Up special		Spin Attack	1% (uncharged hits 1-10), 3% (uncharged hit 11), 1.6% (charged hits 1-10), 4% (charged hit 11), 4% (aerial hit 1), 2% (aerial hits 2-4) 4% (aerial hit 5)	Spins with his sword outwards, slashing opponents nearby. The last hit launches opponents horizontally. The aerial version can carry opponents to the upper blast line, and KO them there if they're at a high enough percent.
Down special		Bomb	5.4%-7%	Pulls out a Bomb.
Final Smash		Triforce Slash	56.2%	Uses the Triforce of Courage to emit a thin beam of light from his left hand to stun an opponent in front of himself. If the beam comes in contact with an opponent, Link dashes forward and performs a barrage of slashes while they are trapped in a Triforce-shaped energy field before concluding with an outward slash that shatters the energy field and launches them and any bystanders.

On-screen appearance

• A cartoony explosion appears on-screen. As the smoke fades, Toon Link appears and equips the Master Sword and Hero's Shield.

Taunts

• Up taunt: Sheaths the Master Sword and places the Hero's Shield on his back and conducts with the Wind Waker.
• Side taunt: Sheaths the Master Sword and places the Hero's Shield on his back and watches a fairy fly around.
• Down taunt: Swings the Master Sword in front of himself while yelling in a panicked tone, ending with him becoming exhausted and catching his breath.

• 

  Toon Link's up taunt.

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  Toon Link's side taunt.

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  Toon Link's down taunt.

Idle poses

• Looks around cautiously
• Taps his foot on the ground

• 

  Toon Link's first idle pose

• 

  Toon Link's second idle pose

Victory poses

• Left: Waves the Wind Waker, ending in a pose similar to his official artwork from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.
• Up: Chases a pig. Upon catching the pig, he holds it above his head. Whilst balancing on one foot, he occasionally starts to lose balance before retaining it again.
• Right: Tries to catch a pig, but ends up tripping and falling on his bottom. He then proceeds to rub his bottom for the rest of the victory pose while sheepishly smiling.

A flourished and abridged remix of the theme that plays when Link obtains a Triforce Piece in The Legend of Zelda and has since become the main theme of The Legend of Zelda series.

• 
• 
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In competitive play

Toon Link was seen as one of the most underrated characters in the game because he has been overshadowed by the return of Young Link and Link's new Breath of the Wild design. In the early months of Ultimate's release, he was seen as a mid tier and the worst of the three Links. But over time, Toon Link's representation was huge in Japan through players, such as Ri-ma, Sigma, and Lv.1. These players have been consistently getting top 8's and top 16's at some of the biggest tournaments there, including the 2nd largest Japanese tournament, Umebura Japan Major 2019 and several Sumabatos and Umeburas.

Because of this, Toon Link is notably viewed as a high tier, with some, such as ESAM and Nairo, with the former placing him as the best of the three Links through his consistent damage output, KO confirms through his projectiles, and his results in Japan. Later Patch 7.0.0 gave him new combo opportunities with less endlag on dash attack and stronger knockback with down smash and down aerial. This allowed him more viability in the current meta of Ultimate with more players seeing his strengths over the other two Links.

Notable players

Active

•  Ang - One of the best Toon Link players in Mexico. Placed 5th at BIT MASTER MTY 3rd IMPACT, 9th at both BIT MASTER MTY 6 and Delfino Maza 2, and 17th at WeTecThose 9. Has wins over Wonf.
•  Hyuga - One of the best Toon Link players in Mexico. Placed 5th at Ragnarok, Encuentro Mítico, WeTecThose 9, and 9th at Smash Factor 8.
•  Lv.1 - One of the best active Toon Link players in the world. Placed 5th at Umebura SP 7 with solo Toon Link, 7th at Sumabato SP 5, 9th at Sumabato SP 10, and 49th at Umebura Japan Major 2019 with both Toon Link and Isabelle.
•  Sigma - One of the best active Toon Link players in the world. Placed 1st at Karisuma SP 5, Karisuma SP 6 4th at Sumabato SP 2, 7th at Sumabato SP, and 13th at Umebura Japan Major 2019. Has wins over ZAKI, Akasa, and komorikiri.
•  Xcal - The best Toon Link player in Canada. Placed 1st at Smashurai Dojo Monthly #6, 3rd at Polybash 2019, 5th at DreamHack Montreal 2019, and 7th at Rising Stars at EGLX 2019.

Inactive

•  Jtails - Played Toon Link as a secondary. Placed 5th at Don't Park on the Grass 2018 and 17th at Super Splat Bros. Has since retired from competitive play.
•  Ri-ma - One of the best Toon Link players in the world before switching to Joker. Placed 5th at Sumabato SP 4, 7th at Umebura Japan Major 2019, and 9th at Sumabato SP. Has wins over Nietono, Zackray, and YOC.
•  Tsuna - The best Toon Link player in Europe prior to retiring. Placed 3rd at DoKomi 2019 and 5th at Brussels Challenge Major Edition 2019.

Classic Mode: The Teamwork of Courage

Toon Link's congratulations screen.

Toon Link fights alongside two CPU Toon Link teammates in all of his battles, likely referencing The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes. Toon Link fights characters from different universes in each stage.

Round	Opponent	Stage	Music	Notes
1	Mario , Luigi , Peach , and Yoshi	3D Land	Ground Theme / Underwater Theme - Super Mario 3D Land	Toon Link (x2) are CPU allies. If either of these costumes are being used by the player, default Toon Link takes their place.
2	Villager and Isabelle	Tortimer Island	Kapp'n's Song
3	R.O.B. (x3)	75m (Battlefield form)	Stack-Up/Gyromite
4	Squirtle , Ivysaur , and Charizard	Pokémon Stadium	Battle! (Trainer) - Pokémon Sun / Pokémon Moon
5	Inkling (x4)	Moray Towers	Now or Never!
6	Giant Ganondorf	Great Plateau Tower (Battlefield form)	Main Theme - The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes
Bonus Stage
Final	Ganon	Sacred Realm	Calamity Ganon Battle - Second Form	Toon Link (x2) are CPU allies. If either of these costumes are being used by the player, default Toon Link takes their place.

Note: When fighting Squirtle, Ivysaur, and Charizard, their respective Pokémon Trainers are absent.

Credits roll after completing Classic Mode. Completing it as Toon Link has Hyrule Main Theme accompany the credits.

Role in World of Light

Finding Toon Link in World of Light

Although Toon Link does not appear in the World of Light opening cutscene, he was vaporized and later imprisoned alongside the rest of the fighters (sans Kirby) when Galeem unleashed his beams of light.

Toon Link is unlocked in the Forest Hill sub-area of the Light Realm. To awaken him, the player must activate a nearby switch which extends the bridge and defeat the spirit of Zelda (Breath of the Wild) that's in front of him.

Fighter Battle

No.	Image	Name	Type	Power	Stage	Music
43		Toon Link	Attack	7,500	Wuhu Island (volcano)	Main Theme - The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes

Spirits

Toon Link's Fighter Spirit can be obtained by completing Classic Mode. It is also available periodically for purchase in the shop for 500 coins. Unlocking Toon Link in World of Light allows the player to preview the first spirit below in the Spirit List under the name "???". As a Fighter Spirit, it cannot be used in Spirit Battles and is purely aesthetic. Each Fighter Spirit has an alternate version that replaces them with their artwork in Ultimate.

Additionally, this incarnation of Link and others under the same artstyle appear in a few Primary and Support Spirits.

• 

  177. Toon Link

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  248. King of Red Lions

• Alfonzo Spirit.png

  260. Alfonzo & Engineer Link

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  262. Totem Link

In Spirit battles

As the main opponent

Spirit				Battle parameters
No.	Image	Name	Series	Enemy Fighter(s)	Type	Power	Stage	Rules	Conditions	Music
246		Tetra	The Legend of Zelda series	•Toon Link		9,800	Pirate Ship	•Item: Bullet Bill •Hazard: Heavy Wind	•Dangerously high winds are in effect •The enemy is easily distracted by items	The Great Sea / Menu Select
256	File:Ezlo Spirit.png	Ezlo	The Legend of Zelda series	•Toon Link		3,700	Distant Planet	•Hazard: Left Is Right, Right Is Left •Giant	•The enemy is giant •Left and right controls will suddenly reverse after a little while	Village of the Blue Maiden
260	File:Alfonzo Spirit.png	Alfonzo & Engineer Link	The Legend of Zelda series	•Toon Link •Captain Falcon		3,600	Spirit Train	•Attack Power ↑	•The enemy's dash attacks have increased power •The enemy has increased attack power after a little while •The enemy can deal damage by dashing into you	Full Steam Ahead
262		Totem Link	The Legend of Zelda series	•Toon Link (×3) ()		3,500	Hyrule Castle	Item: The Legend of Zelda	•The enemy favors smash attacks	Main Theme - The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes
1,293	File:Bomberman Spirit.png	Bomberman	Bomberman series	•Toon Link		9,700	Wrecking Crew (Battlefield form)	•Assist Trophy Enemies (Bomberman) •Item: Exploding Types	•The enemy's explosion and fire attacks have increased power •Hostile assist trophies will appear	Bomb Man Stage
1,322		Link (Link's Awakening)	The Legend of Zelda series	•Toon Link		9,400	Tortimer Island (Two palm trees, two regular trees)	Assist Trophy Enemies (Chain Chomp)	•Hostile assist trophies will appear	Tal Tal Heights

As a minion

Spirit				Battle parameters							Inspiration
No.	Image	Name	Series	Enemy Fighter(s)	Type	Power	Stage	Rules	Conditions	Music	Character
250	File:Aryll.PNG	Aryll	The Legend of Zelda series	•Villager •Toon Link		9,000	Wuhu Island	N/A	•The enemy has increased attack power	The Great Sea / Menu Select	Link (Wind Waker)
253	File:Beedle Spirit.png	Beedle	The Legend of Zelda series	•Shulk •Toon Link		2,600	Gaur Plain (Battlefield form)	•Item: Beetle	•Items will be pulled toward the enemy	Dragon Roost Island	Link (Wind Waker)
257		Linebeck	The Legend of Zelda series	•Luigi •Toon Link		9,000	Wuhu Island (The boat)	•Buoyancy Reduced	•No one knows how to swim	The Great Sea / Menu Select	Link (Phantom Hourglass)
263		Madame Couture	The Legend of Zelda series	•Rosalina & Luma •Toon Link (×3) ()		3,300	Skyloft	N/A	•Defeat the main fighter to win •Reinforcements will appear during the battle	Main Theme - The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes	Links (Tri Force Heroes)

Alternate costumes

Gallery

• 

  Artwork of all The Legend of Zelda characters, as posted on the official Legend of Zelda Twitter account.

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  Toon Link's fighter card.

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  On Arena Ferox.

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  Avoiding a Cucco on Skyloft.

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  Toon Link confronting Bowser on the Bridge of Eldin.

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  Performing his up taunt on Tortimer Island.

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  Toon Link with Purple Link, Red Link and Blue Link on The Great Cave Offensive.

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  Attacking Ganondorf with Triforce Slash.

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  Toon Link getting hit by Duck Hunt's neutral infinite on The Great Cave Offensive.

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  Getting attacked by Jigglypuff on 3D Land.

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  With Pit and Marth against a giant Jigglypuff.

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  Advancing towards Meta Knight on Kongo Falls.

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  Taunting alongside Robin on Wii Fit Studio.

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  With all playable The Legend of Zelda veterans on the Great Plateau Tower.

Trivia

• Toon Link is the only Zelda character playable in Ultimate who:
  • Shares his Final Smash with another character.
  • Did not receive a new or updated Final Smash.
  • Did not receive any kind of redesign in his appearance.
  • Did not have his Palutena's Guidance conversation changed.
  • Did not receive any new voice clips.
  • Did not receive any new or changed alternate costumes.
• Toon Link is the only character who travels to 3D Land in Classic Mode.
• Toon Link is one of five characters whose unlocking battle in World of Light is not on either Final Destination or an Ω form. The other four are Peach, Daisy, King K. Rool, and Mii Gunner.
• Toon Link is among the few voiced fighters in Ultimate whose voice clips are sourced from their own games rather than specifically recorded for a Smash game. He shares this trait with Bowser Jr. and the Koopalings, Daisy, Rosalina & Luma, Yoshi, Inkling, Sonic, Banjo & Kazooie and Young Link.
• While holding a small item, Toon Link reuses his facial expressions from Super Smash Bros. for Wii U in his idle animation.
• Toon Link is the only variant of Link who does not fight a dark version of himself in his Classic Mode route.
• Toon Link is the only variant of Link in Ultimate whose design does not potentially expose his knees, like either Link (when wearing his Wild set-based alternate costume) or Young Link (outside of his light blue costume, which gives him beige trousers).
• In his Ultimate trailer, his sword attacks use punching sounds when they hit: this is different from the actual game, where they use slashing sounds.

Notes

1.^ translates to "Circle Throw"