Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Young Link (SSBU): Difference between revisions

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**{{buff|Young Link's a neutral attack can be followed by a neutral infinite and a finisher, unlike Link's.}}
**{{buff|Young Link's a neutral attack can be followed by a neutral infinite and a finisher, unlike Link's.}}
**{{buff|The first hit has much less startup lag (frame 8 → 4).}}
**{{buff|The first hit has much less startup lag (frame 8 → 4).}}
**{{change|The first hit has a lower [[hitlag]] multiplier (1.6× → 1.5×).}}
**{{nerf|The second hit has more startup lag (frame 5 → 6).}}
**{{nerf|The second hit has more startup lag (frame 5 → 6).}}
**{{buff|The first and second hits have much less ending lag (FAF 25 → 18 (hit 1), 25 → 17 (hit 2)).}}
**{{buff|The first and second hits have much less ending lag (FAF 25 → 18 (hit 1), 25 → 17 (hit 2)).}}
Line 79: Line 80:
**{{buff|Forward tilt has noticeably less startup lag (frame 15 → 10).}}
**{{buff|Forward tilt has noticeably less startup lag (frame 15 → 10).}}
**{{nerf|It has a shorter hitbox duration (frames 15-19 → 10-12), which also causes it to have one more frame of ending lag despite the shorter total duration (FAF 40 → 34).}}
**{{nerf|It has a shorter hitbox duration (frames 15-19 → 10-12), which also causes it to have one more frame of ending lag despite the shorter total duration (FAF 40 → 34).}}
**{{nerf|It deals less damage (13% → 12%/11%).}}
**{{nerf|It deals less damage (13% → 12% (base)/11% (tip)) and knockback (55 base/82 scaling → 30/85 (blade), 25/85 (body)), make it considerably weaker than Link's.}}
**{{nerf|It deals noticeably less knockback.}}
*[[Up tilt]]:
*[[Up tilt]]:
**{{change|Young Link's up tilt uses Link's previous animation, where it starts from the front rather than the back.}}
**{{change|Young Link's up tilt uses Link's previous animation, where it starts from the front rather than the back.}}
**{{nerf|It has more startup lag (frame 8 → 9) and deals less damage (11% → 8%).}}
**{{nerf|It has more startup lag (frame 8 → 9).}}
**{{buff|It has a longer duration (frames 8-12 → 9-14) and less ending lag (FAF 36 → 32).}}
**{{buff|It has a longer duration (frames 8-12 → 9-14) and less ending lag (FAF 36 → 32).}}
**{{nerf|It deals less damage (11% → 8%) with knockback scaling not fully compensated (base: 30 → 20, scaling: 103/111/105/104 → 130/128/126), make it weaker than Link's.}}
**{{change|The sword hit launches at a consistent angle (95°/85° → 85°).}}
**{{change|The body hit launches at a lower angle (85° → 75°).}}
*[[Down tilt]]:
*[[Down tilt]]:
**{{buff|Down tilt has less startup (frame 10 → 8) and ending lag (FAF 31 → 26), as well as less knockback (base 90/scaling 30 → 80/25), making it better for combos.}}
**{{buff|Down tilt has less startup (frame 10 → 8) and ending lag (FAF 31 → 26), as well as less knockback (90 base/30 scaling → 80/25), making it better for combos.}}
**{{buff|Down tilt launches opponents at a more vertical angle, giving it better combo ability.}}
**{{change|It does not deal consistent damage (9% → 10%/9%/7%).}}
**{{change|It does not deal consistent damage (9% → 10%/9%/7%).}}
*[[Dash attack]]:
*[[Dash attack]]:
**{{change|Young Link has a different dash attack: instead of performing the Jump Attack from ''Ocarina of Time'', he performs a lunging downwards slash.}}
**{{change|Young Link has a different dash attack: instead of performing the Jump Attack from ''Ocarina of Time'', he performs a lunging downwards slash.}}
**{{buff|It has much less startup (frame 20 → 8) and ending lag (FAF 57 → 35), making it much safer.}}
**{{buff|It has much less startup (frame 20 → 8) and ending lag (FAF 57 → 35), making it much safer.}}
**{{nerf|It deals less damage (14%/13%/12% → 11%/10%).}}
**{{nerf|It deals less damage (14% (tip)/13% (blade)/12% (body) → 11% (base)/10% (tip)) and knockback (70 base/85 scaling (tip), 85/85 (blade), 85/77 (body) → 70/70), make it considerably weaker than Link's.}}
**{{nerf|It deals much less knockback.}}
*[[Forward smash]]:
*[[Forward smash]]:
**{{nerf|The first hit of Young Link's forward smash cannot fire beams at 0%.}}
**{{nerf|The first hit of Young Link's forward smash cannot fire beams at 0%.}}
**{{buff|The first hit has less startup (frame 17 → 15) and ending lag (FAF 51 → 48).}}
**{{buff|The first hit has less startup (frame 17 → 15) and ending lag (FAF 51 → 48).}}
**{{change|The first hit always deals lower damage (14%/7% → 6%) and knockback.}}
**{{change|The first hit always deals lower damage (7% (base)/14% (tip) → 6%) and knockback (45 base/12 scaling (base), 30/100 (tip) → 35/40 base/15 scaling).}}
**{{change|The first hit launches at a lower angle (69°/60° → 60°/50°).}}  
**{{nerf|The second hit has more startup lag (frame 10 → 11).}}
**{{nerf|The second hit has more startup lag (frame 10 → 11).}}
**{{buff|The second hit has much less ending lag (FAF 61 → 50).}}
**{{buff|The second hit has much less ending lag (FAF 61 → 50).}}
**{{nerf|The second hit deals less damage (13% → 12%/10%).}}
**{{nerf|The second hit deals less damage (13% (blade)/12% (body) → 12% (base)/10% (tip)) and knockback (85 base/89 scaling → 43/115).}}
*[[Up smash]]:
*[[Up smash]]:
**{{buff|Up smash has noticeably less ending lag (FAF 78 → 70).}}
**{{buff|Up smash has noticeably less ending lag (FAF 78 → 70).}}
**{{nerf|The first two hits have a slightly shorter duration (10-15 → 10-14 (hit 1), 25-30 → 25-29 (hit 2)).}}
**{{nerf|The first two hits have a slightly shorter duration (10-15 → 10-14 (hit 1), 25-30 → 25-29 (hit 2)).}}
**{{nerf|The first and third hits deal less damage (4% → 3% (hit 1), 11%/10%/9% → 8%/7% (hit 3)) and the knockback in the final hit wasn't fully compensated (base 60/ scaling 96 → 75/108), hindering its KO potential.}}
**{{nerf|The first and third hits deal less damage (4% → 3% (hit 1), 11%/10%/9% → 8%/7% (hit 3)) and the knockback in the final hit wasn't fully compensated (60 base/96 scaling → 75/108), hindering its KO potential.}}
**{{change|The third hit launches at a consistent angle (80°/90° → 100°).}}  
*[[Down smash]]:
*[[Down smash]]:
**{{buff|Down smash has less startup (frame 12 → 9 (hit 1), frame 24 → 21 (hit 2)) and ending lag (FAF 55 → 50).}}
**{{buff|Down smash has less startup (frame 12 → 9 (hit 1), frame 24 → 21 (hit 2)) and ending lag (FAF 55 → 50).}}
**{{nerf|Both hits deal less damage (17%/16%/14% → 12%/11%/10% (hit 1), 13%/10% → 10%/9% (hit 2)).}}
**{{nerf|Both hits deal less damage (17%/16%/14% → 13%/10% (hit 1), 12%/11%/10% → 10%/9% (hit 2)) and knockback (40 base/88 scaling → 30/90 (hit 1), 80/63 → 25 base/90/70 scaling (hit 2)).}}
**{{change|The first hit does not have vertical knockback.}}
**{{change|The first hit launches at a much lower angle (78° → 30°).}}  


===Aerial attacks===
===Aerial attacks===

Revision as of 06:17, April 16, 2021

This article is about Young Link's appearance in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. For the character in other contexts, see Young Link.
Young Link
in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Young Link SSBU.png
ZeldaSymbol.svg
Universe The Legend of Zelda
Other playable appearance in Melee


Availability Unlockable
Final Smash Triforce Slash
Young Link (SSBU)

Young Link (こどもリンク, Young Link) is a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. He was officially confirmed as playable alongside his former successor Toon Link on June 12th, 2018. Although the changes made to Link were not enough to change Young Link's status as a clone, he is not classified as an Echo Fighter. As such, Young Link is classified as Fighter #22.

As in Super Smash Bros. Melee, Fujiko Takimoto's portrayals of Young Link from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask were repurposed for Ultimate, with mostly returning voice clips from Melee, and in addition to some new ones sourced from these games.

How to unlock

Complete one of the following:

  • Play VS. matches, with Young Link being the 8th character to be unlocked.
  • Clear Classic Mode with Link or any character in his unlock tree, being the 6th character unlocked after Snake.
  • Have Young Link join the player's party in World of Light.

With the exception of the third method, Young Link must then be defeated on Great Bay.

Attributes

Young Link is a lightweight character (same as Greninja and Isabelle) and is actually the lightest of the three Links, being three units lighter than Toon Link. Compared to his descendants, he tends to be in the middle of their movement stats, with Toon Link usually being faster than him, but outclassing the mobility of regular Link. In terms of the rest of the cast, Young Link’s dashing speed is average, his initial dash is above average, and his air speed and acceleration are both low. His falling speed is above average, actually being the highest of the Links, however his fast falling speed is slower than Link’s, albeit still above average. Finally, his gravity is average and tied with Link’s. Overall, Young Link’s mobility is very average.

Young Link’s moveset is regarded as one of the best and most reliable in the entire game. While even the best characters in the game usually have one or two moves in their moveset regarded as worthless, none of Young Link’s moves are competitively unviable and all serve a purpose to his kit. There are two reasons for this. The first being that, like his descendants, he wields a sword. However, in his case, he wields his starting weapon from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask: the Kokiri Sword. Being a sword, the Kokiri Sword grants Young Link disjointed range, giving him the ability to space out his opponents as well as making his sword attacks risky to trade with unless the opponent has disjointed range of their own. The second, and more important, is his outstanding frame data. While Link has been synonymous with poor frame data and a laggy moveset due to his past appearances up until Ultimate, Young Link, on the other hand, has some of the best frame data in the entire game, with many of his moves being infamous for how quickly they come out coupled with how little cooldown they have. As a result, many moves of his are extremely safe on shield, such as down tilt, neutral air, forward air, back air, and even his boomerang. Additionally, the speed of his moveset makes it reliable for one of Young Link’s most notable aspects: his combo game.

While the Link archetype is one that has never been known for combos, Young Link subverts this by providing one of the most complex and varied combo games out of the entire cast. His down tilt and up tilt are specifically designed to start combos, with both simply knocking the opponents up into the air with weak knockback to set up for his aerials, while his jab can transition into a rapid jab for respectable damage or be used to jab lock opponents and set up for down tilt into an aerial combo. However, his aerials are truly what gives him the outstanding combo game he has. Most of them are capable of both starting combos as well as continuing them, making their usage very flexible and wide. His neutral air, perhaps his best aerial, is a simple sex kick. It’s late hit in particular is extremely good for combos, being able to both start and continue combos even into high percentages and being able to be followed up with a majority of Young Link’s moveset. It can also lead to tech chase situations at high percents when the move causes opponents to go into tumble. The clean hit, on the other hand, is a very reliable “get off me” tool that prevents other combo heavy characters from overwhelming Young Link with combos of their own, as well as providing him with an out of shield option. Overall, the sheer utility of this move has caused it to gain the reputation as one of the best aerials in the game.

Forward and back air are both designed similarly. Both attacks are combo attacks that consist of a first weak hit that is meant to lead into a second stronger attack that contains knockback. However, these are both meant to be used in different ways. Back air is much more geared towards combos as it comes out fast, has very little lag, and deals minimal knockback, making it easy to follow up with another back air or another move. Forward air is instead a combo finisher as it comes out slower and is slower overall than back air in exchange for having much more power and knockback, being one of Young Link’s best KO moves. Additionally, both of these moves can be land cancelled before their second hits come out, essentially allowing them another way to set up for combos. Up air is a thrust above Young Link that comes out very fast for how strong it is and lingers awhile, making it useful for covering the space above him. It can be used to juggle opponents, as it’s hard to challenge due to it’s disjoint. Additionally, when fresh, it is one of his most potent KO moves and can be comboed into quite flexibly. Down air, while not being a combo tool, serves as a reliable landing option due to it’s lingering hitbox and disjointed range as well as a KO tool at high percents.

However, Young Link is not completely reliant upon his superb combo game and his special moves grant him many more options to work with. Fire Arrow fires a flaming arrow in front of Young Link. The most notable aspect of this move, much like the rest of Young Link’s moveset, is how fast it is. It contains very little startup and ending lag and even an uncharged arrow travels a respectable distance, making it very useful for zoning. The arrow itself also deals low upwards knockback with high hitstun, essentially making them reliable combo starters, too, provided Young Link is close enough to his opponent. Fire Arrow can also be charged, allowing it to fly further and do more damage than a noncharged arrow. However, this charge cannot be held, unlike moves such as Samus’ Charge Shot. Boomerang is slower than Fire Arrow, but comes with the perks of more damage, lasting much longer, and returning to Young Link after travelling a certain distance, meaning that the opponent must remain aware of the boomerang’s location even after it has passed them. Boomerang is best used as another projectile to force the opponent to worry about getting around and granting Young Link stage control. Interestingly, a point blank boomerang is actually safe on shield against most of the cast, something extremely uncharacteristic of a projectile. Bombs, Young Link’s third and final projectile, are perhaps his most flexible. Using the move will have Young Link pull out and light a bomb before holding it in his hand. Afterwards, the bomb functions as a held item, allowing Young Link to throw it forward, backward, up, and down in addition to being able to drop it and have it lie on the ground until it explodes. Bombs grant Young Link a numerous amount of trapping opportunities, such as being able to use dropped bombs to cover platforms or ledge getup options, as well as setting up for combos if the Bomb hits an opponent. Essentially, these three moves allow Young Link to play as a zoner, much like regular Link does. However, Young Link is unique in that, while most zoners’ weaknesses are their poor frame data and inability to get opponents off of them, he is more than capable of fighting up close and actually likes when his opponents get close to him, as it allows him to take advantage of his combo game. While on the topic of his combo game, his last special move, Spin Attack, serves as a surprisingly effective combo starter on the ground, where it knocks opponents up into the air with weak knockback and has little endlag. In the air, it is instead a combo finisher, reliably KOing opponents at the ledge at high percents.

Young Link’s grab game provides him with some interesting options. Unlike Link, Young Link still retains use of the Hookshot for his grab, giving him a very long grab range in exchange for his grab being laggier than most. Additionally, the Hookshot itself can be used as a grab aerial attack, where it has the longest range of any of his aerials, and can confirm into up smash for KOs at higher percents. This grab aerial attack can also allow him to grab onto ledges provided he is close enough, providing him with another recovery option. His forward throw is one of the strongest throws in the game, KOing middleweights at the ledge of Final Destination around 130%. Up and down throws both have combo potential in the low-to-mid percent range. Back throw is the least useful of his throws but can set up for an edgeguard.

However, while he has some very potent strengths, Young Link has some notable weaknesses. His range, while disjointed, is significantly lacking when compared to other sword users. As a result, despite having a sword, Young Link is beaten out in range by nearly every other swordfighter in the game, causing his mid-range game to be rather poor as his attacks are too short ranged to hit but his projectiles leave him wide open to attack. Unlike other sword characters, he still needs to get up close and personal if he wants to use any attacks other than his projectiles, which leads into his second issue of his mobility. While Young Link’s mobility is average overall, this average mobility can tend to clash with his combo oriented moveset. This can lead to situations where Young Link is simply too slow to continue a combo he has started. While Fire Arrows can help alleviate this by being used to “hold” opponents in hitstun while Young Link gets over to continue the combo, it is not ideal or even possible in all situations. Additionally, Young Link’s recovery, while much better than in Melee, is very exploitable. Due to Spin Attack only covering to the sides of him and not above, he is easily hit out of his recovery and edgeguarded by characters who can hit his head and now come into contact with the hitboxes as well as being vulnerable to characters with counters such as Lucina.

Though, none of these are Young Link’s biggest flaw which is his inconsistent KO ability. While some players may claim Young Link’s KO ability is flat out bad, this is not actually true. Many of his moves including all of his Smash Attacks, forward air, up air, and down air, all possess respectable knockback and can kill at average percentages at worst. What gives him difficulty KOing is his lack of an easy, reliable setup into these moves. The easy setups such as using bombs are not always reliable due to bombs having random knockback at times while the more difficult setups such as ZAir into Up Smash are reliable, but considerably more difficult to pull off due to the attacks themselves often being difficult to land because of Young Link’s small range, especially in the heat of a match. Stale moves also pose a huge threat to Young Link’s KO potential. While moves like forward and up air are very strong in combos, using them to wrack up damage will result in sacrificing them as reliable KO tools later on. As a result, Young Link players must be very vigilant of staling their moves and work to make sure they keep their kill moves as fresh as possible, more so than most other characters. This, when combined with a large number of combos and set ups that need to be memorized, causes Young Link to have a rather high learning curve, especially at top level play.

In summary, Young Link, despite appearing to be very similar to his descendants in terms of his moveset, has a completely unique design and playstyle unlike anybody else in the game. He possesses one of the best zoning and combo games in the cast, giving him the ability to play both hyper defensively and hyper aggressively and switch between the two playstyles on the fly to throw opponents off. However, he must remain very aware of how he uses his moves, as not to stale his finishers too soon, as well as be ready to react to any mistake an opponent makes at high percents in order to take a stock before an opponent’s percentage gets too high and it becomes difficult to KO them in a set-up. Despite rather low representation at top level, most likely due to his high learning curve and inconsistencies, Young Link is regarded as a high tier character, especially with the recent buffs to his KO power in 7.0.0, and the few top level players who have chosen to main him have proven his capability to preform well in tournaments.

Differences from Link

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Since Link has been heavily reworked to match his appearance in Breath of the Wild, Young Link effectively functions as a stand-in for Link’s older appearances. Furthermore, as Young Link is based off of Ocarina of Time rather than Twilight Princess, he is closest to Link’s appearances in Smash 64 and Melee. He retains moves and characteristics from Melee that Link himself no longer possesses, such as a rapid jab, his dash attack, and Hookshot. These changes significantly declone Young Link from Link, though just barely not enough to change his full clone status, due to all of his different moves from Link besides his rapid jab being shared with Toon Link.

Aesthetics

  • Change Young Link is based on The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time rather than The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
  • Change Young Link wields the Kokiri Sword and Deku Shield instead of the Master Sword and Hylian Shield.
  • Change Young Link's on-screen appearance, taunts, idle poses, and two of his victory poses are different from Link's.
  • Change All of Young Link's animations are horizontally mirrored from Link's.

Attributes

  • Change Young Link is shorter than Link. While this does make him harder to hit, it also results in him having less reach in his attacks.
  • Nerf Young Link will sometimes hold his Deku Shield to the side during his walking and idle animations. This makes it less reliable for blocking projectiles.
  • Nerf Young Link's Kokiri Sword has less of a disjointed range advantage on his attacks than Link, which gives him inferior range when combined with his shorter height.
  • Change Young Link deals less knockback for most of his attacks. This overall weakens his KO potential in comparison to Link, but it also grants Young Link access to new combos when combined with his better frame data.
  • Buff Young Link can wall jump, aiding his recovery and ledge play options on stages with walls.
  • Buff Young Link walks faster than Link (1.247 → 1.26).
  • Buff Young Link runs faster than Link (1.534 → 1.749).
    • Buff Young Link's initial dash speed is faster than Link's (1.98 → 2.09).
  • Nerf Young Link's traction is slightly lower than Link's (0.113 → 0.105), making it slightly harder for Young Link to punish out of shield.
  • Change Young Link's air friction is slightly lower (0.0038 → 0.00375).
  • Buff Young Link's air speed is faster than Link's (0.924 → 0.966).
  • Buff Young Link's base air acceleration is higher than Link's (0.01 → 0.02).
  • Change Young Link falls faster (1.6 → 1.8) than Link. However, his fast falling speed is slower (3.04 → 2.88).
    • Nerf The difference between Young Link's falling speed and fast falling speed is much lower than Link's (increase: 90% → 60%), which makes it more predictable when landing and gives it fewer options in the air.
  • Buff Young Link jumps higher than Link (27.8 → 33.66 (full hop), 13.38 → 16.26 (short hop), 29 → 33.66 (air jump)).
  • Nerf Young Link is significantly lighter than Link (104 → 88). This makes Young Link significantly easier to KO than Link.
    • Buff However, it also makes him slightly harder to combo when combined with his smaller hurtbox.

Ground attacks

  • Neutral attack:
    • Buff Young Link's a neutral attack can be followed by a neutral infinite and a finisher, unlike Link's.
    • Buff The first hit has much less startup lag (frame 8 → 4).
    • Change The first hit has a lower hitlag multiplier (1.6× → 1.5×).
    • Nerf The second hit has more startup lag (frame 5 → 6).
    • Buff The first and second hits have much less ending lag (FAF 25 → 18 (hit 1), 25 → 17 (hit 2)).
    • Change The third hit uses Link's previous animation that thrusting a sword, instead of swiping vertically.
    • Nerf The third hit have more ending lag (FAF 35 → 36).
    • Nerf All hits deal less damage (3% → 2% (hit 1), 3% → 1.5% (hit 2), 4% → 3.5% (hit 3), 10% → 7% (total)).
  • Forward tilt:
    • Buff Forward tilt has noticeably less startup lag (frame 15 → 10).
    • Nerf It has a shorter hitbox duration (frames 15-19 → 10-12), which also causes it to have one more frame of ending lag despite the shorter total duration (FAF 40 → 34).
    • Nerf It deals less damage (13% → 12% (base)/11% (tip)) and knockback (55 base/82 scaling → 30/85 (blade), 25/85 (body)), make it considerably weaker than Link's.
  • Up tilt:
    • Change Young Link's up tilt uses Link's previous animation, where it starts from the front rather than the back.
    • Nerf It has more startup lag (frame 8 → 9).
    • Buff It has a longer duration (frames 8-12 → 9-14) and less ending lag (FAF 36 → 32).
    • Nerf It deals less damage (11% → 8%) with knockback scaling not fully compensated (base: 30 → 20, scaling: 103/111/105/104 → 130/128/126), make it weaker than Link's.
    • Change The sword hit launches at a consistent angle (95°/85° → 85°).
    • Change The body hit launches at a lower angle (85° → 75°).
  • Down tilt:
    • Buff Down tilt has less startup (frame 10 → 8) and ending lag (FAF 31 → 26), as well as less knockback (90 base/30 scaling → 80/25), making it better for combos.
    • Change It does not deal consistent damage (9% → 10%/9%/7%).
  • Dash attack:
    • Change Young Link has a different dash attack: instead of performing the Jump Attack from Ocarina of Time, he performs a lunging downwards slash.
    • Buff It has much less startup (frame 20 → 8) and ending lag (FAF 57 → 35), making it much safer.
    • Nerf It deals less damage (14% (tip)/13% (blade)/12% (body) → 11% (base)/10% (tip)) and knockback (70 base/85 scaling (tip), 85/85 (blade), 85/77 (body) → 70/70), make it considerably weaker than Link's.
  • Forward smash:
    • Nerf The first hit of Young Link's forward smash cannot fire beams at 0%.
    • Buff The first hit has less startup (frame 17 → 15) and ending lag (FAF 51 → 48).
    • Change The first hit always deals lower damage (7% (base)/14% (tip) → 6%) and knockback (45 base/12 scaling (base), 30/100 (tip) → 35/40 base/15 scaling).
    • Change The first hit launches at a lower angle (69°/60° → 60°/50°).
    • Nerf The second hit has more startup lag (frame 10 → 11).
    • Buff The second hit has much less ending lag (FAF 61 → 50).
    • Nerf The second hit deals less damage (13% (blade)/12% (body) → 12% (base)/10% (tip)) and knockback (85 base/89 scaling → 43/115).
  • Up smash:
    • Buff Up smash has noticeably less ending lag (FAF 78 → 70).
    • Nerf The first two hits have a slightly shorter duration (10-15 → 10-14 (hit 1), 25-30 → 25-29 (hit 2)).
    • Nerf The first and third hits deal less damage (4% → 3% (hit 1), 11%/10%/9% → 8%/7% (hit 3)) and the knockback in the final hit wasn't fully compensated (60 base/96 scaling → 75/108), hindering its KO potential.
    • Change The third hit launches at a consistent angle (80°/90° → 100°).
  • Down smash:
    • Buff Down smash has less startup (frame 12 → 9 (hit 1), frame 24 → 21 (hit 2)) and ending lag (FAF 55 → 50).
    • Nerf Both hits deal less damage (17%/16%/14% → 13%/10% (hit 1), 12%/11%/10% → 10%/9% (hit 2)) and knockback (40 base/88 scaling → 30/90 (hit 1), 80/63 → 25 base/90/70 scaling (hit 2)).
    • Change The first hit launches at a much lower angle (78° → 30°).

Aerial attacks

  • Neutral aerial:
    • Buff Neutral aerial has less startup lag (frame 7 → 4).
    • Nerf It has a shorter hitbox duration (frames 7-31 → 4-27), which also causes it to have one frame more ending lag despite the shorter total duration (FAF 39 → 36).
    • Change The clean hit deals consistent damage (11%/9% → 10%).
    • Nerf The late hit deals less damage (6% → 5%).
  • Forward aerial:
    • Buff Forward aerial's first hit has less startup lag (frame 16 → 14).
    • Buff It has much less ending lag (FAF 52 → 41).
    • Buff It has noticeably less landing lag (11 frames → 6).
    • Nerf Both hits deal less damage (8% → 6% (hit 1), 10% → 8%/7% (hit 2)).
  • Back aerial:
    • Nerf Back aerial's second hit has more startup lag (frame 15 → 18).
    • Buff It has less ending lag (FAF 31 → 30).
  • Up aerial:
    • Buff Up aerial has noticeably less startup lag with a longer active duration (frames 11-40 → 5-49), making it safer to use and decreasing its ending lag compared to the hitbox.
    • Nerf The late hit deals less damage (13% → 12%).
  • Down aerial:
    • Buff Down aerial has less startup lag with a longer active duration (frames 15-64 → 13-64).
      • Nerf However, the clean hit has a shorter active duration (frames 16-19 → 13-15).
    • Buff It has less landing lag (19 frames → 17).
    • Nerf It does not have a meteor smash hitbox.
    • Nerf The bounce-off hit deals less damage (11% → 9%).

Throws and other attacks

  • Grabs:
    • Change Young Link retains the Hookshot while Link no longer has a tether grab.
      • Buff Because of this, all grabs have much longer range, as well as a longer duration (2 frames → 7).
      • Nerf However, all grabs have noticeably more startup (frame 6/9/10 (standing/dash/pivot) → 12/14/15) and ending lag (FAF 35/43/38 → 52/60/55), making them riskier to use at close range, and easier to punish if they miss.
      • Buff This gives Young Link a grab aerial and a tether recovery.
  • Forward throw:
    • Buff Forward throw deals slightly more damage (2.5% → 3% (throw), 5.5% → 6% (total)).
    • Buff It deals signficantly more knockback, allowing it to KO under 140% at the edge.
  • Back throw:
    • Buff Back throw deals slightly more damage (2.5% → 3% (throw), 5.5% → 6% (total)).
    • Buff It deals more knockback, allowing it to KO under 200% at the edge.
  • Up throw:
    • Nerf Up throw deals less damage (5% → 4% (hit 1), 7% → 6% (total)).
  • Edge attack:
    • Change Edge attack has Young Link swipe his sword in front of himself, unlike Link who stabs forward.
    • Nerf Edge attack has much shorter range.

Special moves

  • Fire Arrow:
    • Buff Fire Arrow less startup lag (frame 16 → 14) than Link's Bow and Arrows.
    • Nerf It has a signficantly shorter duration (frames 16-61 → 14-48).
    • Nerf It has more ending lag (FAF 35 → 38).
    • Buff It deals more knockback and launches upward instead of away, increasing his combo ability and making the move safer on hit up close.
    • Change It deals flame damage (hence the name).
    • Nerf Its projectiles move slower, causing them to travel less distance.
  • Boomerang:
    • Buff Boomerang deals more damage (8% → 11% (clean), 6% → 7% (late)), which increases further if used as a smash special move (9.6% → 13.2% (clean), 7.2% → 8.4% (late)).
    • Nerf The return hitbox deals less damage (3% → 2%).
    • Nerf The clean hit has a much shorter duration (frames 27-36 → 27-29).
  • Spin Attack:
    • Buff Grounded Spin Attack lands multiple hits instead of one, allowing it to trap opponents within its hitboxes, and the late hitboxes inflict more damage.
    • Buff Grounded Spin Attack launches opponents upwards, allowing for more follow-ups.
    • Nerf Grounded Spin Attack deals catastrophically less knockback. As a result, it is not a viable KO move unlike Link's.
  • Bomb:
    • Change Young Link retains Link's original bombs that detonate automatically, instead of the Remote Bomb.
    • Change It hits four times instead of once.
      • Buff It deals more damage (7% → 8-9.6% (2-2.4% per hit)).
  • Triforce Slash:
    • Change Young Link's Final Smash is Triforce Slash, which was Link's Final Smash in his previous appearances.

Changes from Super Smash Bros. Melee

Young Link has been heavily buffed in the transition from Melee to Ultimate. His attributes, moveset and general gameplan have all been significantly improved in the transition, and he has gained a better combo game, whereas the changes to the general pace of Ultimate have contributed to his benefits.

Young Link's speed has been improved from Melee, not just in terms of his mobility, but also his attacks, as many of them have decreased startup and ending lag (such as neutral attack, forward and down tilts, and dash attack), and his aerials have heavily decreased landing lag (even compared to their L-canceled counterparts in Melee), improving his ability to land. Some of his moves have also been reworked to make them more reliable and effective, such as his up smash and his forward and back aerials, and the weakening of SDI heavily benefits his multi-hit attacks. His grab game has also been improved thanks to the universal changes to tether grabs, as they now have less ending lag and a longer duration. His forward throw also has increased knockback, giving him a new KOing option.

His special moveset has also seen heavy improvements. Fire Arrow has less ending lag and increased knockback, Boomerang deals less knockback as a result of its lower damage, grounded Spin Attack has less ending lag after its final hit, and aerial Spin Attack's hits link into the other much more consistently. Bombs were also significantly buffed, as their multi-hits accumulate their damage faster, they travel farther when thrown, no longer deal damage to Young Link if they hit an enemy head-on, and can be "soft-tossed" or slowly Z-dropped without exploding. All of these changes combined together not only grant Young Link a deceptively improved zoning game, but have also further improved his combo ability from mid-distance.

The changes to Ultimate's engine have also generally benefitted Young Link. The universal increase in mobility, the ability to use any attack out of a run and the increased shieldstun have vastly improved Young Link's close quarters combat, as he can now close in on the distance with less issue and his attacks' above average damage output renders them harder to punish (most infamously his tilt attacks). The universal reduction to landing lag is an especially notable benefit, as not only this improves his ability to land, but has improved his aerials' safety on shield -despite the reduced shieldstun on aerial attacks-, but has also dramatically improved his combo game up-close outside of his down throw and Bombs, with him now having set-up options by virtue of his neutral aerial's late hit and the first hits of his forward and back aerials. The removal of edgehogging, the introduction of ledge trumping and the changes to invincibility when grabbing an edge have also notably improved Young Link's recovery, making him much less vulnerable to getting edgeguarded or getting hit if he doesn't grab the stage's edge.

Although he has mostly received buffs, Young Link is not without some nerfs. In exchange for his now excellent combo ability, some of Young Link's attacks deal less damage (most notably his projectiles), now requiring him to string more hits in order to rack up more damage. A few of his attacks also have slightly increased startup and ending lag, while others have shorter durations, bringing them more in line with the rest of the cast. His aerial mobility is also slightly worse (especially when relative to the cast). Additionally, his down tilt and down aerial no longer have meteor smash hitboxes, meaning that Young Link gains no benefits from the removal of meteor canceling. In terms of gameplay changes, the changes to air dodging also hinder Young Link's mobility, as wavedashing and wavelanding are significantly less effective due to their increased landing lag. Some of Young Link's weaknesses from Melee also remain, most notably his below average range for a swordfighter (despite it improving in the transition) and his still limited KOing ability.

Overall, Young Link's gameplan has radically changed between both games, which has also resulted in a slight increase to his already high learning curve. Young Link now has reliable damage racking capabilities at all ranges, courtesy of an improved zoning game and a deceptively improved combo game that doesn't require use of his bombs, which now makes it easier for him to close in on the distance against other characters and harder for other characters to keep up with him, and he has less trouble at landing due to his aerials' lower landing lag. However, even with the higher knockback on some of his moves and his new hit confirms, his KOing ability remains below average, which combined with his short range means Young Link still has to take risks in order to KO the opponent. Regardless, Young Link is a significantly better character than he was in Melee, with a larger playerbase in competitive play consisting of players such as colinies, SKITTLES!!, Supahsemmie, T, Toast and Tweek, who have demonstrated Young Link's strong potential when mastered. As a result, Young Link is commonly considered to be a high tier character, though due to other characters receiving similar improvements such as Greninja, Mario, Pikachu, Palutena, Roy, R.O.B., and Wolf, his true tier placement remains debatable.

Aesthetics

  • Change Due to the game's graphical improvements, Young Link's design is drastically more detailed, particularly in his hair. His colors are more subdued than they were in Melee, while his eye color is more vibrant.
  • Change The Kokiri Sword now has a bronze hilt and leaves behind new sword trails:
    • All standard sword attacks have a white trail with blue accents, as opposed to a pure white trail in Melee.
    • Spin Attack has a yellow and blue trail, similar to the one Link had in SSB4, instead of purple as in Melee.
  • Change Young Link is much more expressive. He appears angry while attacking, and smiles in his taunts and one of his victory poses.
  • Change Young Link has been updated with universal features introduced in Brawl and SSB4.
    • Change Young Link now has an on-screen appearance, a Boxing Ring title, a Palutena's Guidance conversation, and two new taunts. His taunt from Melee has been moved to his down taunt and executes significantly faster.
    • Change Young Link has gained three additional alternate costumes, bringing his total up to the standard eight. His Dark Link costume now has the same color scheme as Link and Toon Link's corresponding counterparts, making the costume appear virtually almost identical to Dark Young Link in Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition, albeit with gray hair.
    • Change Young Link uses various voice clips for any move between the third hit of his neutral attack, any tilt attack, his dash attack, and any aerial attack (except grab aerial), and always uses specific clips for each of his smash attacks.
    • Change Young Link has new voice clips for taking medium and heavy knockback, when Star KO'd, when waking out of sleep status when not suffering any knockback, and a second KO voice clip.
      • Change Young Link also has a voice clip when emerging from underwater, although it now uses the voice clip previously used for his taunt in Melee, which now uses a new voice clip.
  • Change All sword attacks make a standard slash sound effect on hit, instead of a punch/kick sound effect like in Melee.
  • Change Young Link's victory pose where he adjusts his belt is slightly different. After adjusting his belt, he holds the Kokiri Sword and flicks his nose with his thumb.

Attributes

  • Change Young Link is relatively bigger than in Melee. This increases his range, but also increases his hurtbox.
  • Buff Like all characters, Young Link's jumpsquat animation takes 3 frames to complete (down from 4).
  • Buff Young Link walks faster (1.2 → 1.26).
  • Buff Young Link runs faster (1.6 → 1.749).
  • Nerf Young Link's air speed is slower (1 → 0.966), one of the few exceptions to returning veterans. It has gone from the 6th highest air speed to only the 60th highest.
  • Change Young Link's falling speed has been reduced (2.13 → 1.8), but is now faster relative to the roster.
  • Buff Young Link's midair jump is significantly higher. This improves his ability to recover back to the stage.
  • Buff Young Link's fast falling speed is much more in line with the rest of the roster (2.2 → 2.88), in comparison to his almost unnoticeable fast fall in Melee. This greatly increases the versatility of his air game, and allows him to use various mixups like other characters.
  • Buff Young Link's Deku Shield now protects him from projectiles while walking, similar to the shields of all other Link incarnations.
  • Buff Young Link is slightly heavier (85 → 88), improving his survivability, while still being less susceptible to combos than in Melee due to the changes to hitstun and his decreased falling speed.
  • Nerf The removal of meteor canceling harms Young Link more than any other returning veteran, as he no longer has access to any meteor smashes of his own, whereas his endurance is significantly hindered against opponents' meteor smashes.
  • Buff Both rolls have noticeably less ending lag (FAF 38 → 29 (forward), 34 (back)), making them safer to use for repositioning and escaping pressure.
  • Nerf Both rolls grant less intangibility (frames 4-19 → 4-14 (forward), 4-15 (back)).
  • Nerf Spot dodge has more startup (frame 2 → 3) and ending lag (FAF 23 → 25).
  • Buff Air dodge has less startup (frame 4 → 2), making it better for escaping combos. Due to its altered mechanics, it also no longer causes helplessness, and allows Young Link to sweetspot edges with directional air dodges.
  • Nerf Air dodge grants less intangibility (frames 4-29 → 2-26 (neutral), 2-19 (directional)), and due to the altered mechanics, directional air dodges have more landing lag (10 frames → 11-19) and are significantly less effective for wavedashing. Young Link can also no longer use his grab aerial out of an air dodge, hindering his recovery.

Ground attacks

  • Buff The increased shieldstun for ground attacks makes Young Link's slightly to moderately safer on shield, especially his tilt attacks (although not his smash attacks due to their increased ending lag).
  • Neutral attack:
    • Buff The first and second hits deal less knockback (10 base/60 scaling → 25/20 base/25/15 scaling), and launch opponents towards Young Link with the farthest hitboxes (361° → 180°), akin to other neutral attacks. This allows them to connect more reliably.
    • Buff The first hit transitions faster into the second hit (frame 10 → 9), which transitions faster into the third hit (frame 11 → 9).
    • Buff All hits have less startup (frame 6 (first hit)/frame 7 (second & third) → 4/6), with the first and second's total duration decreased as well (FAF 20/18 → 18/17).
    • Buff The third hit has greatly increased base knockback (10 → 75/70), and launches at a lower angle much like Link's (361° → 30°), increasing its safety on hit at low percents and allowing it to set up tech-chases.
    • Change Neutral infinite has a different animation: rather than repeatedly stabbing at different angles, Young Link performs a flurry of slashes.
    • Buff Neutral infinite has faster startup (frame 10 → 6), a shorter gap between hits (7 frames → 2), and deals less knockback (10 base/40/50/60 scaling → 8/15) while gaining a hitstun modifier of 2 on each hit, allowing it to connect much more reliably. Like all neutral infinites since Smash 4, it has also gained a finisher in the form of an ascending slash, making it significantly safer.
    • Buff Neutral infinite has gained a lower hitlag multiplier (0.5×) and SDI multiplier (0.4×), which alongside the changes to DI and SDI from Melee to Ultimate make it much harder to escape from, increasing its reliability for racking up damage.
    • Nerf Neutral attack deals less damage (3% → 2% (hit 1), 2% → 1.5% (hit 2), 5% → 3.5% (hit 3), 1% → 0.3% (infinite)).
    • Nerf The first three hits have shorter durations (frames 6-8 (hit 1), 7-9 (hit 2), 7-11 (hit 3) → 6-7 (all)).
    • Nerf The third hit has more ending lag (FAF 33 → 36), and decreased knockback scaling (100 → 70), causing it to KO later from center stage despite its higher base knockback.
    • Change Like most neutral attacks from Brawl onward, the full sequence of hits can be unleashed by simply holding the attack button instead of pressing it multiple times. Likewise, the neutral infinite can be looped by holding the button instead of having to mash it.
      • Change The second hit can transition into the neutral infinite if the attack button is pressed three times in quick succession, with the third hit now being activated by holding it or pressing it at a slower rate. In Melee, it would only transition into the infinite if the button was pressed more than three times.
    • Change The infinite has gained a shieldstun multiplier of 6×. This allows it to lock opponents into their shields between each hit, and thus pressure them more effectively, but also allows them to cancel shieldstun and punish Young Link more easily if they shield 10 hits or more.
  • Forward tilt:
    • Buff Forward tilt has less startup lag (frame 11 → 10).
    • Buff It has more vertical range.
    • Buff It has higher base knockback (5/2 → 30/25), although with its knockback scaling reduced to compensate (100 → 85). This increases its safety on hit at low percents, while keeping its KO ability at high percents.
    • Buff The weaker sourspots have been replaced by sweetspots (12%/11%/10%/10% → 12%/11%/12%), making the move's power more consistent.
    • Change The sweetspot has a higher hitlag multiplier (1.2×).
  • Up tilt:
    • Nerf Up tilt has a shorter duration (frames 9-15 → 9-14) and more ending lag (FAF 30 → 32), hindering its combo potential.
    • Change It has an altered animation, with Young Link slashing in a faster and heavier arc, akin to Link in Brawl and Smash 4.
  • Down tilt:
    • Buff Down tilt has much faster startup (frame 14 → 8), with its total duration reduced as well (FAF 32 → 26). This makes it safer and more reliable as a combo starter.
    • Buff It has considerably reduced knockback scaling (50 → 25), allowing it to combo for longer.
    • Nerf It has a shorter hitbox duration (frames 14-16 → 8-9), and less vertical range.
    • Nerf It launches at a consistent angle (280°/70° → 80°). While this slightly improves its combo potential, it most notably removes its ability to meteor smash.
  • Dash attack:
    • Buff Dash attack has less ending lag (FAF 40 → 35).
    • Buff It has significantly higher base knockback (10 → 70), increasing its safety on hit at lower percents.
    • Buff It has less sourspots (11%/10%/10%/10% → 11%/10%/11%), making its power more consistent.
    • Nerf It has more startup lag with a shorter duration (frames 7-12 → 8-10).
    • Nerf It has lower knockback scaling (100 → 70), reducing its KO ability.
    • Change It launches at higher angles (361° → 45°/50°/55°).
    • Change The sweetspot has a higher hitlag multiplier (1.2×).
  • Forward smash:
    • Buff The first hit has less ending lag (FAF 50 → 48).
    • Buff The second hit's damage output is properly affected by charging.
    • Buff Due to the changes to jostle mechanics, the second hit of forward smash no longer misses when Young Link is extremely close to the opponent, improving its reliability.
    • Nerf Both hits have a shorter duration (frames 15-17 → 15-16 (hit 1), 10-13 → 10-11 (hit 2)).
    • Nerf The first hit deals less damage (10% → 6%), and no longer has set knockback (40 set/100 scaling → 35/40 base/15 scaling), hindering its reliability at higher percents.
    • Nerf The second hit has more startup (frame 10 → 11) and ending lag (FAF 40 → 50).
    • Nerf The second hit launches at a higher angle (361° → 48°) with more base knockback (30 → 43), but less knockback scaling (120 → 115), hindering its KO potential if not used near the edge.
    • Change The first hit has different angles (75° → 65°/50°).
    • Change The second hit has a higher hitlag multiplier (1.5×).
    • Change The second hit's two previous sourspots have been merged into one, with its damage being the average of both (11%/9% → 10%).
  • Up smash:
    • Buff Up smash's first two hits have lower hitlag (0.6×) and SDI multipliers (0.5×), and use weight-independent knockback, which alongside the changes to DI and SDI allows them to connect much more reliably.
    • Buff The first two hits have less startup lag and longer durations (frames 11-14/26-28 → 10-14/25-29).
    • Buff The second hit deals more damage (2% → 3%), which alongside the changes to stale-move negation increases the move's total damage (12.1%/11.19% → 14%/13%).
    • Buff The third hit deals much more knockback (70 base/70 scaling → 75/108), allowing it to KO at realistic percents.
    • Nerf Up smash has significantly more ending lag (FAF 52 → 70), removing its combo potential.
    • Nerf The third hit has more startup lag (frame 40 → 41).
    • Nerf The third hit no longer has a late hit that deals more damage (8%/9% → 7%/8%) and is a semi-spike (30° → 100°), removing its edgeguarding potential.
  • Down smash:
    • Buff Down smash's sourspots deal more damage (7% → 10% (hit 1), 6% → 9% (hit 2)), and thus have increased knockback.
    • Buff The first hit no longer has hitboxes that launch opponents vertically (30°/70°/70°/30° → 30°), improving its consistency in edgeguarding and KOing.
    • Nerf It has more ending lag (FAF 42 → 50).
    • Nerf Both hits have a shorter duration (frames 9-12 → 9-10 (hit 1), 21-23 → 21-22 (hit 2)).
    • Nerf The second hit no longer has a hitbox on Young Link's foot, preventing it from hitting opponents in front of him.

Aerial attacks

  • Buff All aerials have significantly less landing lag (15 frames → 6 (neutral, forward, back), 30 → 14 (up), 50 → 17 (down)) having even less than when L-canceled in Melee.
  • Nerf The decreased shieldstun for aerial attacks makes Young Link's slightly to moderately less safe on shield compared to their L-canceled versions in Melee, despite their reduced landing lag.
  • Neutral aerial:
    • Nerf Neutral aerial deals less damage (12% → 10% (clean), 8% → 5% (late)), with knockback not fully compensated on the clean hit (15 base/100 scaling → 20/108), slightly hindering its KO potential.
      • Buff However, this allows the late hit to combo for longer.
  • Forward aerial:
    • Buff Forward aerial is no longer a single degrading hit, and instead hits twice like Link's. It deals more damage if both hits connect (12%/11%/9% (clean), 8%/7%/5% (late) → 6% (hit 1), 8%/7% (hit 2); 14%/13% total), and has increased knockback on the second hit (5 base/100 scaling → 45/125), improving its KO potential.
    • Buff It has less ending lag (FAF 47 → 41).
    • Buff It always launches opponents in the direction Young Link is facing, even if they are hit from behind, making it more reliable for edgeguarding.
    • Buff The first hit can lead into combos if Young Link lands before the second hit comes out, which gives him more options to rack up damage or secure a KO.
    • Nerf Forward aerial has a much shorter hitbox duration (frames 14-32 → 14-15 (hit 1), 24-25 (hit 2)).
    • Change It launches at a consistent angle (361° (clean), 76° (late) → 48°).
    • Change The second hit has a higher hitlag multiplier (1.2×).
  • Back aerial:
    • Buff Back aerial's first hit has set knockback (0 base/100 scaling → 50/20 set/100 scaling) and launches at higher angles (361° → 75°/72°/70°), allowing it to connect more reliably into the second hit.
    • Buff It always launches opponents opposite the direction Young Link is facing, even if hit from the front, making it more reliable for edgeguarding.
    • Nerf Both hits have shorter durations (frames 6-9 → 6-8 (hit 1), 18-23 → 18-20 (hit 2)).
    • Nerf The first hit deals less damage (7% → 5%).
    • Change The second hit deals much more knockback (15 base/100 scaling → 40/102), improving its KO potential, but hindering its combo potential.
    • Change The second hit has a higher hitlag multiplier (1.2×).
  • Up aerial:
    • Nerf Up aerial has lower knockback scaling (85 → 82), slightly hindering its KO potential.
    • Nerf It has smaller hitboxes (4.8u/2.4u → 3.4u/2.6u). Combined with the changes to jostle mechanics, landing an up aerial on a grounded opponent is much more difficult than before.
  • Down aerial:
    • Buff Down aerial's early hit deals more damage (14%/16% → 18%).
    • Nerf It no longer has a flame hitbox near Young Link's head that deals more damage and is a meteor smash, removing its extreme edgeguarding potential against opponents hit from below.
    • Nerf The late hit deals less damage (17%/21% → 15%).
    • Nerf The move deals less knockback (40/70 base/100 scaling → 30/83), especially with the late hit due to its decreased damage, significantly hindering its KO potential.
    • Change It has a higher hitlag multiplier (1.2×).
  • Grab aerial:
    • Buff Grab aerial has less startup with a longer hitbox duration (frames 11-15 → 9-16).
    • Buff It has significantly less landing lag (30 frames → 8) and no longer causes helplessness, making it much more useful offensively.
    • Buff It launches at a higher angle (361° → 60°) and has gained a hitstun modifier of 4, which alongside its reduced landing lag grants it combo potential even up to high percents.
    • Nerf It deals less damage (5% → 4%).
      • Buff However, it deals additional shield damage to compensate (0 → 1).
    • Nerf It causes the Hookshot to retract upon hitting an opponent, hindering its utility in battles with multiple opponents.
    • Change It has more base knockback (40 → 70), but even less knockback scaling (40 → 20), no longer KOing opponents even at 999%.
    • Change It has a lower hitlag multiplier (0.8×).
    • Change It is now affected by stale-move negation, reducing its damage output with consecutive uses, but allowing it to refresh other moves.
    • Change Due to universal changes, grab aerial functions like a tether recovery rather than a wall grapple.
      • Buff This allows it to be shot much faster to ledges if used close enough to them, leaving opponents with a shorter window to edgeguard Young Link.
      • Nerf However, this removes its ability to grapple to any wall, reducing its versatility.

Throws and other attacks

  • Grabs:
    • Buff Standing and dash grabs have significantly less ending lag (FAF 85 → 53 (standing), FAF 95 → 61 (dash)), leaving them much less punishable if they miss.
    • Buff Both grabs have longer durations (4 frames → 7), and the hitbox on the Hookshot's end now affects aerial opponents.
    • Nerf Standing grab has one frame more startup lag (frame 11 → 12).
  • Pummel:
    • Buff Pummel deals more hitlag (4 frames → 13), but has significantly less startup (frame 10 → 1) and ending lag (FAF 26 → 7), shortening its duration.
    • Nerf It deals much less damage (3% → 1%).
  • Change Forward and back throw release the opponent faster (frame 16 → 13), although with their total duration unchanged, and the former's first hit is faster (frame 12 → 11). This reduces the time for the opponent to DI them properly, but increases their ending lag.
  • Forward throw:
    • Buff Forward throw launches at a slightly lower angle (55° → 52°), and deals much more knockback (25 base/110 scaling → 48/184), allowing it to KO under 170% at the edge.
  • Back throw:
    • Buff Back throw deals much more knockback (24 base/110 scaling → 45/140), allowing it to KO under 200% at the edge.
  • Up throw:
    • Buff Up throw releases the opponent slower (frame 27 → 29) with its total duration unchanged, increasing its combo potential at low percents.
    • Change It has more base knockback (18 → 30), but less knockback scaling (230 → 210). This further improves its combo potential at low percents (due to its previously lacking hit advantage), but hinders its KO potential at high percents.
    • Change Young Link jumps a bit higher during up throw.
  • Down throw:
    • Nerf Down throw deals much more knockback (60 base/50 scaling → 70/115), drastically hindering its combo potential beyond mid percents. Most notably, it no longer has a guaranteed KO confirm into an up aerial at high percents.
    • Nerf Its speed is no longer weight-dependent, further diminishing its combo ability on lightweights, while still being worse on heavyweights due to its increased knockback.
    • Change Its damage values have been redistributed (2% → 3% (hit 1), 4% → 3% (throw)).
    • Change It launches opponents at a slightly more horizontal angle (90° → 86°).
  • Floor attacks:
    • Buff Floor attacks deal more damage (6% → 7%) and shield damage (1 → 8) per hit, with minimally compensated knockback scaling (50 → 48).
    • Change Their angles have been altered (361° → 48°).
    • Change Due to the introduction of tripping in Brawl, Young Link has received a floor attack after tripping.
  • Edge attack:
    • Buff Edge attack deals more damage (8% → 9%) and no longer has set knockback (90 set/100 scaling → 90 base/20 scaling).

Special moves

  • Buff Due to the changes to Perfect Shielding, Young Link's projectiles can no longer be reflected back at him by any character.
  • Nerf The decreased shieldstun for projectiles hinders their safety at close distances.
  • Fire Arrow:
    • Change Fire Bow has been renamed to Fire Arrow.
    • Buff Fire Arrow has one frame less ending lag (FAF 39 → 38).
    • Buff It can be B-reversed.
    • Buff Arrows fly much further, especially when uncharged. This greatly increases Fire Arrow's zoning and pressing ability, making it a more essential part of Young Link's toolkit.
    • Buff Arrows have more knockback scaling (30 → 70), increasing their combo potential despite launching at a slightly lower angle (80° → 78°).
    • Nerf They stay active for a shorter period of time.
    • Nerf They deal less damage (8%-15% → 4%-12%), and have received negative shield damage (0 → -2.5).
    • Nerf The move can no longer be held indefinitely upon reaching full charge, instead firing the arrow automatically if held for more than three seconds.
    • Change Fire Arrows are ablaze when being charged and fired, compared to Melee where the arrow does not light up at all.
    • Change Fire Arrows have been redesigned to more closely resemble the artwork found in the manual for Ocarina of Time.
    • Bug fix Ghost Arrow glitch has been removed.
  • Boomerang:
    • Buff Boomerang is bigger, and Young Link throws it vertically instead of horizontally, increasing its coverage immensely.
    • Buff It can be B-reversed.
    • Nerf It deals much less damage at point-blank range (16% → 11% (normal), 19% → 13.2% (smash input)), and has received negative shield damage (0 → -5.5 (clean), -3.5 (late), -1 (return)), effectively dealing half its usual damage to shields.
      • Buff However, its knockback has not been compensated, improving its combo potential.
    • Change Boomerang cannot be angled as sharply as in Melee; however, this makes its more useful angles easier to use.
    • Change Young Link has a new throwing animation for the boomerang.
    • Bug fix The boomerang superjump and chain dance glitches have been removed.
  • Spin Attack (grounded):
    • Buff Grounded Spin Attack has less ending lag (FAF 80 → 71), while its last hit is slower (frame 44 → 49), allowing it to combo reliably into aerial attacks even up to high percents.
    • Buff Its linking hits have set, weight-independent knockback (80/60 base/40 scaling → 55/10 set/100 scaling), and lower hitlag (0.4×) and SDI multipliers (0.5×), which combined with the weakening of SDI allows them to connect much more reliably.
    • Buff The last hit has higher base knockback (60 → 71), but lower knockback scaling (100 → 85), and launches at a higher angle (80° → 84°), further improving its combo potential.
    • Buff It can be charged to increase its damage and knockback, as with the other incarnations of Link.
    • Nerf Grounded Spin Attack has one frame more startup (frame 8 → 9), and its linking hits have a slightly longer duration (frames 8-43 → 9-45), but a slower rehit rate (3 → 4). As a result, it deals a total of 11 hits instead of 13, reducing its total damage when uncharged despite the changes to stale-move negation (13.74% → 13%).
    • Change The last hit has a higher hitlag multiplier (1.8×).
  • Spin Attack (aerial):
    • Buff Aerial Spin Attack has increased vertical distance, preserves much more momentum after being used, and Young Link can drift more in the air during its animation.
    • Buff Like most recovery moves from Brawl onward, it sweetspots the edge much earlier, making it safer to recover with.
    • Buff The multi-hits have a lower SDI multiplier (0.3×), weight-independent knockback, and use the autolink angle (367°), which alongside the changes to DI and SDI allows them to connect much more reliably.
    • Buff It deals more total damage due to the changes to stale-move negation (11.19% → 12%).
    • Change The last hit has a higher hitlag multiplier (2×).
  • Bomb:
    • Buff Like with Link's Bombs in Smash 4, the explosions from Young Link's bombs do not damage him if they hit an opponent.
    • Buff The bombs travel further when thrown.
    • Buff Their multi-hits accumulate much faster, making their damage more consistent.
    • Buff Similarly to Link in Smash 4, Young Link can "soft-toss" his Bombs, which lets him lay them on the floor with a throw without having them explode. This allows Young Link to set traps on the floor to hinder his opponent, and also allows for mindgame potential. Additionally, Young Link can Z-drop Bombs without them exploding much easier than in Melee.
    • Nerf Bomb's damage output is lower, even with all hits connecting (13% → 8%).
    • Bug fix The bomb dash glitch has been removed.
  • Change Young Link now has a Final Smash, that being Triforce Slash. Visually, it resembles Link's version from Smash 4, but it has completely unique animations for attacks, including a shield bash, kicks, and a different finisher in an outward slash.

Update history

Young Link received a mix of buffs and nerfs in game updates, but was buffed overall. The nerfs to the shield damage of various projectiles in update 3.0.0 affect Young Link more negatively than most other characters. However, the version 7.0.0 update gave Young Link increased knockback on many of his attacks, allowing for more KO options.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate 1.2.0

  • Bug fix Fixed the Invisible Bomb glitch.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate 3.0.0

  • Nerf Fire Arrow has received negative shield damage (0 → -2.5).
  • Nerf Boomerang has received negative shield damage (0 → -5.5 (clean), -3.5 (late), -1 (return)), effectively dealing half its usual damage to shields.
  • Bug introduced An unknown bug was created where opponents would unexpectedly teleport in any direction upon releasing Boomerang.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate 3.1.0

  • Bug fix Boomerang teleportation glitch fixed.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate 4.0.0

  • Buff Young Link can now shield SDI if a projectile hits his Deku Shield.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate 7.0.0

  • Buff Overall shield size has been increased.
  • Buff Neutral attack's first hit has less startup lag (frame 6 → 4), with its total duration reduced as well (FAF 20 → 18).
  • Buff Up smash has more knockback scaling (100 → 108), improving its KO potential.
  • Buff Up aerial has more knockback scaling (77 → 82), slightly improving its KO potential.
  • Buff Forward throw deals more knockback (45 base/165 scaling → 48/184), allowing it to KO at realistic percents.
  • Buff Grab aerial has less startup lag (frame 11 → 9).
  • Buff Grab aerial launches at a higher angle (38˚ → 60˚), and inflicts 4 additional frames of hitstun, giving it combo potential even up to high percents.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate 9.0.0

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate 10.1.0

  • Buff Aerial Spin Attack has received various adjustments that allow the move to connect more reliably:
    • Buff The first front hit has a new hitbox that outprioritizes the old hitbox and is smaller (size: 6u → 4u) but has similar range (Y-offset: 7.5 → 5.5, Z-offset: 10.5—8.5 → 11.5—7.5), sends at a vertical angle (367° → 80°) and has more set knockback (107 → 110). This sends opponents higher, setting them up for the following hits.
    • Change The first front hit's pre-existing hitbox no longer sends at an autolink angle (367° → 80°), but has less set knockback (107 → 76).
    • Change The third front hit no longer sends at an autolink angle (367° → 65°), but has less set knockback (107 → 70).
    • Buff The fourth front hit has a new hitbox that outprioritizes the old hitbox and is smaller (size: 6.5u → 4u), positioned differently (Y-offset: 9.5—8.5 → 9—6, Z-offset: 10.5—8.5 → 5.5—7), sends at a more vertical angle (70° → 74°) and has less set knockback (72 → 60). This sets them up for the final hit.
    • Buff The fourth front hit's pre-existing hitbox sends at an altered angle (70° → 98°) and has less set knockback (72 → 62).

Moveset

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

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

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

  Name Damage Description
Neutral attack   2% A downward slash, followed by an outward slash, followed by a thrust. If button mashed, Young Link instead performs a rapid flurry of slashes before concluding with an upward slash. The standard neutral attack is based on the final series of strikes that he does to Ganon in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
1.5%
3.5%
0.3% (loop), 2.5% (last)
Forward tilt   12% (base), 11% (tip) A lunging downward slash. It resembles the Z-Targeting slash he uses in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. It comes out on frame 10 with low ending lag, yet it has good power for its speed, making it a reliable KO option. However, the tip of the sword is a sourspot.
Up tilt   8% An overhead arcing clash. A reliable combo starter that can combo into itself or into Young Link's aerials.
Down tilt   10% (base), 9% (middle), 7% (tip) A kneeling inward slash. It has minimal knockback and launches the opponent vertically, allowing it to easily chain into all of his aerials at almost any percent, allowing for KO confirms into aerial Spin Attack and forward aerial. One of Young Link's best combo tools. It deals more damage closer to the base of the sword.
Dash attack   11% (base), 10% (tip) A lunging downward slash. It comes out quickly at frame 8 without a large amount of ending lag, and it has decent power, giving it some KO potential at the ledge. Just like other attacks, the tip of the Kokiri Sword deals less damage.
Forward smash   6% A two-handed, lunging downward slash. If the attack button is pressed again, Young Link will perform a single-handed outward slash. The first hit deals almost no knockback but is a natural combo into the second hit, which deals powerful knockback. Is somewhat fast for a forward smash, coming out on frame 15. Can be combo'd into from neutral aerial's late hit and aerial Hookshot.
12% (base), 10% (tip)
Up smash   3% (hits 1-2), 8% (hit 3 base), 7% (hit 3 tip) A series of three overhead arcing slashes, the last of which launches opponents vertically. Unlike in Melee, it is no longer capable of creating long juggles due to its increased lag and knockback, although this also makes it significantly more effective as a KO move. The first two slashes trap opponents, with the third hit launching them vertically. Decently powerful, but the move's long duration makes it easy to punish if whiffed. It was buffed in update 7.0., being noticeably stronger than before.
Down smash   13% (front base), 10% (front tip), 12% (back base), 9% (back tip) A kneeling inward slash in front of himself, followed by a kneeling outward slash behind himself. Both hits are semi-spikes, making them good for edgeguarding, and is stronger from the front than from the back.
Neutral aerial   10% (clean), 5% (late) A flying kick. It is a sex kick and one of the fastest aerials in the game at frame 4, making it a very good option to get opponents off of him. Additionally, it has extremely low landing lag, can autocancel in a short hop, and has just as strong of an offense use, as the late hit can function both as a combo starter or can be used in the middle of a combo to lead into a variety of moves. It also has decent power, as it can KO at high percents when edgeguarding. Overall, it is commonly regarded as one of the best aerials in the game and is a vital part of Young Link's combo game.
Forward aerial   6% (hit 1), 8% (hit 2, base), 7% (hit 2, tip) Two alternating, spinning outward slashes. The first hit traps opponents into the second hit, which deals reasonably high knockback, making it useful for knocking opponents offstage or killing them outright at higher percents. Landing on the ground after the first hit but before the second will cancel the move, allowing for a follow-up into a different attack. It can autocancel in a full hop.
Back aerial   5% (hit 1), 7% (hit 2) A hook kick followed by a mid-level roundhouse kick. It comes out on frame 6 and has the lowest ending lag of his aerials. Functions similarly to his forward aerial, including the ability to drag down foes with the first hit, but trades range and power for reduced start-up. Despite this, it possesses a somewhat disjointed hitbox, and its first hit can reliably KO into any of his smash attacks.
Up aerial   15% (clean), 12% (late) The Up Thrust. It has a long active duration, and its high damage and knockback allow it to KO at around 130% with the clean hit, but despite that, it has very fast start-up at frame 5. However, its long active duration makes it punishable if not used carefully, and it has a strict autocancel window, as it can only autocancel in a double jump.
Down aerial   18% (clean), 15% (late), 9% (bounce) The Down Thrust. Unlike Link's similar move, it does not meteor smash even with the clean hit. Deals high knockback, making it one of Young Link's most reliable aerial KO moves, but is dangerous to use offstage due to its long duration and high ending lag. Landing the clean hit on an opponent or their shield will cause Young Link to bounce upwards.
Grab aerial Midair Hookshot 4% Shoots his Hookshot forward. Can be used to grab stage ledges. As of update 7.0., it now has above-average hitstun and faster start-up, making it an excellent combo starter at nearly any percent, even allowing for KO confirms into up smash, forward smash, or forward aerial.
Grab Hookshot — Fires his Hookshot straight forward. Functions as a tether grab and can be used for tether recovery. Like other tether grabs, it has higher lag than normal grabs in exchange for much longer range.
Pummel   1% Quickly hits the opponent with the pommel of the Kokiri Sword.
Forward throw   3% (hit 1), 3% (throw) A jumping front kick. It is easily Young Link's strongest throw, and one of the strongest forward throws in the game, starting to KO middleweights around 130% from the edge of Final Destination, which makes it a reliable KO throw.
Back throw   3% (hit 1), 3% (throw) A back kick. Launches at a high angle, but has low ending lag and relatively low knockback growth, potentially leading into edgeguard setups. It is also capable of KOing around 180% from the edge of Final Destination.
Up throw   4% (hit 1), 2% (throw) Raises the opponent overhead and slashes them upward. It starts to KO around 190% on Final Destination. If the initial sword slash hits another opponent, they will be launched at a very low angle, allowing for edgeguard setups. It has some combo potential at low-to-mid percents.
Down throw   3% (hit 1), 3% (throw) Pins the opponent to the ground and performs an elbow drop. It can be used as a combo starter, although not reliable as in Melee.
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% Climbs up the ledge and performs a slash.
Neutral special Fire Arrow 4%-12% Uses the Fairy Bow to fire a Fire Arrow. It can be charged up for more power and range. The arrows send opponents at an upwards angle with low knockback and high hitstun, making it a good aerial combo starter. In addition, it has low start-up and ending lag, making it an excellent combo/spacing tool all around.
Side special Boomerang 11% (close, normal throw), 13.2% (close, smash throw), 7% (far), 2% (return) Throws his Boomerang forward. It can be angled diagonally and deals damage when returning to Young Link. It can combo into an aerial at most percents.
Up special Spin Attack 1%-1.6% (grounded hits 1-10), 3%-4.8% (grounded hit 11), 3% (aerial hit 1), 2% (aerial hits 2-4), 3% (aerial hit 5) A series of spinning, outward slashes. It has very quick start-up, making it a potent out-of-shield option. Just like the Spin Attack of the other two Link incarnations, it can be charged when grounded for more damage. Similarly to Toon Link's version of the move, it hits multiple times on the ground, with the final hit launching opponents. However, Young Link's version of the Spin Attack is different than the variants the other Links have: instead of dealing strong horizontal knockback, Young Link's Spin Attack deals weak vertical knockback, making it unviable as a KO tool but useful as a combo starter. The aerial version can carry opponents to the upper blast line, and KO them there at high enough percents.
Down special Bomb 2%-2.4% (hits 1-4) Pulls out a Bomb. Just like in Melee, the explosion from the bomb hits multiple times. The bomb explodes after hitting a surface or enemy, or after enough time passes. The bomb's weak knockback makes it useful as a combo starter. It can be used to extend Young Link's recovery, as the damage from the explosion will take him out of helplessness.
Final Smash Triforce Slash 60% 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

  • Descends onto the stage while surrounded by rays of blue light that shine down from the sky, referencing the Ocarina of Time's powers. Upon landing, he equips the Kokiri Sword and Deku Shield. This is akin to his older self's on-screen appearance in SSB.
  • Young Link's on-screen appearance

    Young Link's on-screen appearance

Taunts

  • Up taunt: Holds the Kokiri Sword up in the air.
  • Side taunt: Places the Deku Shield on his back and watches Navi fly around him.
  • Down taunt: Sheaths the Kokiri Sword and places the Deku Shield on his back and takes a drink of Lon Lon Milk.
  • Young Link's up taunt.

    Young Link's up taunt.

  • Young Link's side taunt.

    Young Link's side taunt.

  • Young Link's down taunt.

    Young Link's down taunt.

Idle poses

  • Looks around himself.
  • Kicks the toes of his boots on the ground, as if knocking off the dirt.
  • Young Link's first idle pose

    Young Link's first idle pose

  • Young Link's second idle pose

    Young Link's second idle pose

Crowd cheer

Cheer (English) Cheer (Japanese/Chinese) Cheer (Italian) Cheer (Dutch) Cheer (French)
Cheer
File:Young Link Cheer English SSBU.ogg
Description Young Link! Lin - Ku! Link! Bam - biii - no! Link Link! Jonge Link! Link enfant!
Cheer (German) Cheer (Spanish) Cheer (Russian) Cheer (Korean)
Cheer
Description Jon - ger Link! Liiiink niño! Yu - nyy Link! So - nyeon Lin - gkeu!

Victory poses

  • Left: While holding his sword in a reverse grip, adjusts his belt and flicks his nose. Based on one of Young Link's idle animations in Ocarina of Time.
  • Up: Stabs forward with his sword, then holds it up, giving off a battle cry. This is identical to one of Link's poses other than the camera angle.
  • Right: Sheathes his sword, dusts his hands off, and puts them on his hips while grinning.
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.
  • YoungLinkVictoryPose1SSBU.gif
  • YoungLinkVictoryPose2SSBU.gif
  • YoungLinkVictoryPose3SSBU.gif

In competitive play

Young Link was met with a considerable amount of hype when he returned to the series after 17 years, last appearing in Melee. By the time Ultimate was released, there were high hopes for him due to his amazing combo game and damage racking potential from his projectiles. Tweek found success with the character in the early months of Ultimate, winning tournaments such as Glitch 6 and Frostbite 2019. Players believed that because of these strengths and strong results, Young Link was seen as a viable high-tier or top-tier character, and the best of the three Links. As time went on, players began discovering his weaknesses, which include inconsistent KO power and a linear, slow recovery, making him relatively easy to edgeguard. Tweek went on to drop the character in favor of Pokémon Trainer and Wario. As a result, Young Link was then seen as a high-tier or an upper-mid tier. In 2020, patch 7.0.0. was released, granting Young Link a multitude of buffs, which fixed his problem of KO'ing at higher percents and having a confirm off of his grab aerial, or z-air. This caused many to again consider him a competitive high-tier or top-tier and the best fighter from The Legend of Zelda. Because of this, coming out of nowhere, Toast amazed the crowd with his breakout performance at Frostbite 2020, placing 7th, taking sets off of many top players, including Samsora and Light.

In the online scene, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Young Link has a more prominent representation and a much stronger pick in Wi-Fi tournaments. His safe aerials and already strong projectiles are buffed online due to increased lag and reaction time being taken into account. Currently, the character's Wi-Fi meta is being represented by players such as SKITTLES!! and colinies.

Notable players

Any number following the Smasher name indicates placement on the Fall 2019 PGRU, which recognizes the official top 50 players in the world in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate from July 13th, 2019 to December 15th, 2019.

See also: Category:Young Link professionals (SSBU)

Active

Inactive

Classic Mode: Hyrule Smash!

Young Link's congratulations screen.

Young Link's opponents are all from the Zelda series. Additionally, to go with the theme of the route, all stages, items and assist trophies are from the The Legend of Zelda universe.

Round Opponent Stage Music Notes
1 Zelda (SSBU) Zelda Hyrule Castle Hyrule Main Theme
2 Young Link (SSBU) Young Link Temple Song of Storms If the player is using the Dark Young Link costume, the CPU player will be the Young Link (SSBU) default Young Link.
3 Sheik (SSBU) Sheik Gerudo Valley (Ω form) Gerudo Valley
4 Toon Link (SSBU)Toon Link (SSBU)Toon Link (SSBU)Toon Link (SSBU) Toon Link (x4) Pirate Ship The Great Sea / Menu Select The multicolored Toon Links are a reference to The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords sub-series.
5 Ganondorf (SSBU) Ganondorf Bridge of Eldin (Ω form) Main Theme - The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
6 Link (SSBU) Link Great Plateau Tower Main Theme - The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Bonus Stage
Final Ganon Sacred Land Calamity Ganon Battle - Second Form

Credits roll after completing Classic Mode. Completing it as Young Link has Termina Field (Remix) accompany the credits.

Role in World of Light

Finding Young Link in World of Light

Although Young 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.

Young Link was one of the many imprisoned fighters that fell under Dharkon's control upon Galeem's first defeat. He is a necessary unlock found in the Sacred Land sub-area on the bottom right corner of the land which makes up the Triforce of Courage. The player must rely on the owl statues which will guide the player to Saria's spirit battle. Unlocking her spirit clears out a tree stump that blocked access to his unlock battle. Once Young Link is unlocked, the Triforce of Courage appears in the center of the map. If Zelda is unlocked, the path leading to Cloud's unlock battle and the Master Sword clears out.

Fighter Battle

No. Image Name Type Power Stage Music
22
Young Link SSBU.png
 Young Link
Grab
Grab
 10,300 Temple (Ω form) Saria's Theme

Template:-

Spirits

Young 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 Young 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 makes an appearance in a few primary and support spirits under other forms.

  • 176. Young Link

    176. Young Link

  • 196. Epona

    196. Epona

  • 207. Deku Link

    207. Deku Link

  • 208. Fierce Deity Link

    208. Fierce Deity Link

In Spirit battles

As the main opponent

Spirit Battle parameters Inspiration
No. Image Name Series Enemy Fighter(s) Type Power Stage Rules Conditions Music Character
178
SSBU spirit Link (The Legend of Zelda).png
 Link (The Legend of Zelda) The Legend of Zelda Series •Young Link Young Link (SSBU)
Neutral
 13,500 Find Mii (hazards off) N/A •The enemy's melee weapons have increased power
•The enemy's FS Meter charges quickly
•The enemy has increased attack power 		Overworld Theme - The Legend of Zelda Link (Red Ring equipped)
184
SSBU spirit Fairy Bottle.png
 Fairy Bottle The Legend of Zelda Series •Young Link Young Link (SSBU)
Grab
 3,700 Fountain of Dreams •Sudden Damage •All fighters take serious damage
•The enemy has increased defense
•The enemy starts the battle with a Fairy Bottle 		Saria's Theme
194
SSBU spirit Kaepora Gaebora.png
 Kaepora Gaebora The Legend of Zelda Series •Young Link Young Link (SSBU)
Grab
 3,700 Distant Planet (Battlefield form) •Hazard: Screen Flip •The screen will suddenly flip after a little while Ocarina of Time Medley
212
SSBU spirit Happy Mask Salesman.png
 Happy Mask Salesman The Legend of Zelda Series •Young Link Young Link (SSBU)
Shield
 4,300 Umbra Clock Tower •Attack Power ↑
•Move Speed ↑
•Jump Power ↑ 		•Timed battle (1:30)
•All fighters have increased jump power
•All fighters have increased move speed after a little while 		Song of Storms
213
SSBU spirit Kafei.png
 Kafei The Legend of Zelda Series •Bunny Young Link Young Link (SSBU)
Grab
 4,600 Skyloft N/A •Timed battle (1:30)
•The enemy tends to avoid conflict 		Termina Field (Remix)
235
SSBU spirit Ravio.png
 Ravio The Legend of Zelda Series •Bunny Young Link Young Link (SSBU)
Shield
 4,000 Skyloft N/A •Timed battle (2:00)
•The enemy favors special moves
•The enemy is easily distracted by items 		Hyrule Main Theme
364
SSBU spirit Poppy Bros. Jr..png
 Poppy Bros. Jr. Kirby Series •Young Link Young Link (SSBU)×2
Grab
 1,500 Yoshi's Island •Item: Bob-omb •The enemy's down special has increased power
•The enemy favors down specials in the air 		Green Greens (for 3DS / Wii U)
876
SSBU spirit Cut Man.png
 Cut Man Mega Man Series •Young Link Young Link (SSBU)×2 (80 HP)
Grab
 3,700 Wily Castle (Ω form) N/A •The enemy's side special has increased power
•Stamina battle
•The enemy favors side specials 		Cut Man Stage
879
SSBU spirit Bomb Man.png
 Bomb Man Mega Man Series •Young Link Young Link (SSBU)×2 (80 HP)
Grab
 3,500 Wily Castle (Ω form) N/A •The enemy's explosion and fire attacks have increased power
•Stamina battle
•The enemy favors down specials 		Bomb Man Stage
1,127
diskun
 Diskun Disk System •Young Link Young Link (SSBU)
•Pit Pit (SSBU)
•Simon Simon (SSBU)
•Samus Samus (SSBU)
Attack
 9,100 Temple (Battlefield form) N/A •Take your strongest team into this no-frills battle Famicom Medley Link (The Legend of Zelda for the Famicom Disk System)
1,130
donbe hikari
 Donbe & Hikari Famicom Mukashibanashi Series •Young Link Young Link (SSBU)
•Villager Villager (SSBU)
•Falco Falco (SSBU)
•Diddy Kong Diddy Kong (SSBU)
•Duck Hunt Duck Hunt (SSBU)
Neutral
 3,500 Duck Hunt (hazards off) N/A •Defeat an army of fighters Shin Onigashima Medley Donbe
1,145
from the game's files
 Prince Richard Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru •Young Link Young Link (SSBU)
Neutral
 9,900 Dream Land GB •Temporary Invincibility
•Assist Trophy Enemies (Sablé Prince) 		•The enemy will occasionally be invincible after a little while
•The enemy can unleash powerful critical hits at random
•Hostile assist trophies will appear 		Kirby Retro Medley (Castle Lololo)
1,280
Tethu
 Tethu Ever Oasis •Young Link Young Link (SSBU)
Attack
 3,700 Gerudo Valley (hazards off) •Flowery
•Item: Deku Nut 		•You constantly take minor damage
•The enemy starts the battle with a Gust Bellows 		Struggle Against Chaos
1,282
Spirit of Musashi from Sushi Striker
 Musashi Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido •Young Link Young Link (SSBU)
Grab
 2,400 Onett •Item Tidal Wave
•Hazard: Heavy Wind 		•Dangerously high winds are in effect after a little while
•The enemy favors side specials
•Certain items will appear in large numbers after a little while 		Gourmet Race (Brawl)

As a minion

Spirit Battle parameters Inspiration
No. Image Name Series Enemy Fighter(s) Type Power Stage Rules Conditions Music Character
189
SSBU spirit Young Zelda.png
 Young Zelda The Legend of Zelda Series •Tiny Zelda Zelda (SSBU)
•Young Link Young Link (SSBU)
Shield
 3,700 Hyrule Castle N/A •Take your strongest team into this no-frills battle Ocarina of Time Medley Young Link (Ocarina of Time)
192
SSBU spirit Saria.png
 Saria The Legend of Zelda Series •Isabelle Isabelle (SSBU)
•Young Link Young Link (SSBU)
Shield
 9,900 Garden of Hope •Hazard: Fog •The stage is covered in fog
•The enemy will charge up a powerful Final Smash 		Saria's Theme Young Link (Ocarina of Time)
211
SSBU spirit Tingle.png
 Tingle The Legend of Zelda Series •Villager Villager (SSBU)Villager (SSBU)Villager (SSBU)
•Young Link Young Link (SSBU)
Grab
 9,000 Great Bay •Uncontrollable Speed
•Slippery Stage 		•Defeat the main fighter to win
•All fighters move faster and can't stop quickly after a little while
•The enemy loves to taunt 		Termina Field (Remix) Link (Majora's Mask)
218
SSBU spirit Dimitri (The Legend of Zelda).png
 Dimitri (The Legend of Zelda) The Legend of Zelda Series •Yoshi Yoshi (SSBU)
•Young Link Young Link (SSBU)
Shield
 1,700 Great Bay N/A •The enemy favors neutral specials Tal Tal Heights Link (Oracle of Ages/Oracle of Seasons)
233
SSBU spirit Wall-Merged Link.png
 Wall-Merged Link The Legend of Zelda Series •Mr. Game & Watch Mr. Game & Watch (SSBU)
•Young Link Young Link (SSBU)
Neutral
 3,500 Flat Zone X N/A •Reinforcements will appear after an enemy is KO'd Lorule Main Theme Link (A Link Between Worlds)
236
SSBU spirit Hilda (The Legend of Zelda).png
 Hilda (The Legend of Zelda) The Legend of Zelda Series •Zelda Zelda (SSBU)
•Bunny Young Link Young Link (SSBU)
Shield
 9,100 Temple •Assist Trophy Enemies (Nightmare) •Hostile assist trophies will appear Lorule Main Theme Ravio
1,319
from the game's files
 Professor Riggs & Plaise & Lerna North America
Professor Gerry, Plaise, & Lerna PAL 		Nintendo Labo Series •Dr. Mario Dr. Mario (SSBU)
•Bayonetta Bayonetta (SSBU)
•Tiny Young Link Young Link (SSBU)
Neutral
 2,500 Paper Mario •Attack Power ↑
•Defense ↑ 		•The enemy has increased defense after a little while
•The enemy has increased attack power after a little while 		Title Theme - Super Mario Maker Plaise Allatyme

Alternate costumes

Alternate costume (SSBU)
Young Link (SSBU) Young Link (SSBU) Young Link (SSBU) Young Link (SSBU) Young Link (SSBU) Young Link (SSBU) Young Link (SSBU) Young Link (SSBU)

Gallery

Character Showcase Video

Trivia

  • Young Link's official artwork is based upon the pose he strikes after using his grounded Spin Attack.
  • Young Link and Pichu share the longest gap between playable appearances in the Super Smash Bros. series, with seventeen years between Melee and Ultimate.
    • This has been noted by both of their Super Smash Bros. blog's "Today's Fighter" descriptions.
  • Young Link, Dr. Mario, and Pichu are the only full clones who are not labelled as echo fighters.
  • Young Link's light blue costume gives him a pair of beige trousers. Although it may appear that his legs were just recolored, they use a different texture to look like clothing.
    • Similarly, Link's Twilight Princess and "Fierce Deity" costumes (being recolored from his Tunic of the Wild alternate costume, which exposes his knees), were colored in a way so that his trousers were indeed lengthened and not simply just recolored.
  • Due to Young Link's hair having more physics-based movement, in certain animations such as taking damage, it's possible to see that his sideburns are not fully modeled under his hair.[1][2]
    • Additionally, the cuffs of his boots is not fully modeled when looking at them from below.[3]
  • Young Link is among the few voiced fighters in Ultimate whose voice clips are recycled from their own games rather than specifically recorded for a Smash game. He shares this trait with Banjo & Kazooie, Daisy, Inkling, Rosalina & Luma, Sonic, Toon Link, Yoshi, Bowser Jr. and Min Min.
  • An animation error is present in Young Link's up tilt; the Kokiri Sword rotates in his hand as he returns to his idle stance.
    • There's another animation error regarding his Hookshot in which the chain disconnects from the Hookshot during his pulling up animation after grabbing a ledge.
    • Additionally, certain animations such as one of his idle animations will cause his arm to clip through his shield.
  • When Young Link activates his side taunt where Navi flies around his head, if the game is slowed down to 1/4 speed, she can be seen flying into her initial position from offscreen. This suggests that Navi's model is kept somewhere offscreen and changes location on activation of the taunt, however, when the taunt ends, she returns back into his hat like normal and does not appear to fly back offscreen.
  • Young Link, Marth, Lucina, Roy, Chrom, and Wolf are the only characters that use their crouching animation from their previous Smash Bros. game when holding a small item.
    • Out of all of them, Young Link is the only one who's doesn't revert to his previous idle pose when holding a small throwable item.
  • When performing a wall jump, Young Link does not directly touch the wall before the jump, which is best seen when wall jumping on the training stage.
  • Young Link's Star KO voice clip, unusually, begins with a short pause.
    • This was also the case for his Star KO voice clip in Melee.
  • In German, the name tag and voice clip from the announcer on the victory screen is slightly different from the one used on the character select screen, instead featuring a noticeable translation of "the" (der Jonger Link). He shares this trait with Dark Pit.
  • When KO'd by reaching 0 HP during his final stock in Stamina Mode, Young Link's KO scream is a noticeably higher pitched version of one of his KO screams. He shares this trait with Inkling.
  • Young Link is one of only five characters to predominantly use his left hand to wield his weapon, sharing this trait with Sephiroth, Toon Link, Ice Climbers, and Rosalina & Luma.

References

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ [2]
  3. ^ [3]


v • d • e
Fighters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Veterans Bayonetta · Bowser · Bowser Jr. · Captain Falcon · Cloud · Corrin · Dark Pit · Diddy Kong · Donkey Kong · Dr. Mario · Duck Hunt · Falco · Fox · Ganondorf · Greninja · Ice Climbers · Ike · Jigglypuff · King Dedede · Kirby · Link · Little Mac · Lucario · Lucas · Lucina · Luigi · Mario · Marth · Mega Man · Meta Knight · Mewtwo · Mii Fighter (Mii Brawler · Mii Gunner · Mii Swordfighter) · Mr. Game & Watch · Ness · Olimar · Pac-Man · Palutena · Peach · Pichu · Pikachu · Pit · Pokémon Trainer (Charizard · Ivysaur · Squirtle) · R.O.B. · Robin · Rosalina & Luma · Roy · Ryu · Samus · Sheik · Shulk · Snake · Sonic · Toon Link · Villager · Wario · Wii Fit Trainer · Wolf · Yoshi · Young Link · Zelda · Zero Suit Samus
Newcomers Banjo & Kazooie · Byleth · Chrom · Daisy · Dark Samus · Hero · Incineroar · Inkling · Isabelle · Joker · Kazuya · Ken · King K. Rool · Min Min · Piranha Plant · Pyra / Mythra  · Richter · Ridley · Sephiroth · Simon · Sora · Steve · Terry
v • d • e
The Legend of Zelda (universe) The Legend of Zelda universe
Fighters Link (SSB · SSBM · SSBB · SSB4 · SSBU) · Sheik (SSBM · SSBB · SSB4 · SSBU) · Zelda (SSBM · SSBB · SSB4 · SSBU) · Young Link (SSBM · SSBU) · Ganondorf (SSBM · SSBB · SSB4 · SSBU) · Toon Link (SSBB · SSB4 · SSBU)
Assist Trophies Tingle · Skull Kid · Midna · Ghirahim · Moon
Bosses Ganon
Stages Hyrule Castle · Great Bay · Temple · Bridge of Eldin · Pirate Ship · Gerudo Valley · Spirit Train · Skyloft · Great Plateau Tower
Underground Maze (Adventure Mode)
Items Heart Container · Bunny Hood · Deku Nut · Fairy Bottle · Cucco · Bombchu · Beetle · Gust Bellows
Enemies Bubble · Cucco · Darknut · Like Like · Octorok · Peahat · ReDead · Stalfos
Other Bulblin · Dark Link · King Bulblin & Lord Bullbo · King of Red Lions · Koume & Kotake · Majora's Mask · Navi · Phantom · Sacred Land · Tetra · Yiga Clan
Trophies, Stickers and Spirits Trophies (SSBM · SSBB · SSB4) · Stickers · Spirits
Music Brawl · SSB4 · Ultimate
Masterpieces The Legend of Zelda · Zelda II: The Adventure of Link · The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
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