Young Link (SSBU)

Young Link in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Universe	The Legend of Zelda
Other playable appearance	in Melee
Availability	Unlockable
Final Smash	Triforce Slash

“	He’s back after 17 years! Young Link is faster than Link but he’s also lighter, making him easier to launch.	”
—Super Smash Blog, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Official Site

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 on June 12th, 2018. 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 its sequel The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask were repurposed for Ultimate, with mostly returning voice clips 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 eighth character to be unlocked.
• Clear Classic Mode with Link or any character in his unlock tree, being the sixth 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.

Differences from Link in SSB4

Despite not being an Echo Fighter of Link, Young Link is still a faster and lighter clone of Link. However, 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, dash attack, and Hookshot. Their moves largely appear and function similarly, but some of them have different attributes.

Aesthetics

• Young Link is based on The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time rather than The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. This means that Young Link’s clothes are much brighter and less shabby.
• Young Link wields the Kokiri Sword and Deku Shield instead of the Master Sword and Hylian Shield.
• Young Link's on-screen appearance, taunts, idle poses, and two of his victory animations are different from Link's.

Attributes

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Young Link's air speed is faster than Link's (0.88 → 0.966).
• Young Link walks faster than Link (1.188 → 1.26).
• Young Link dashes faster than Link (1.3944 → 1.749).
• Young Link falls faster (1.6 → 1.8) than Link.
• Young Link's traction is significantly higher than Link's (0.064 → 0.105).
• Young Link has a greater jump height than Link.
• 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.
• Unlike Link, Young Link can wall jump.
• Young Link's Hookshot is shorter than Link's Clawshot, reducing its utility as a recovery tool.
• Young Link is significantly lighter than Link (104 → 88). While this drastically worsens his endurance for horizontal and vertical survival, his faster falling speed lessens his otherwise reduced weakness to combos.

Ground attacks

• Young Link's neutral attack can either end in a third hit or a neutral infinite with a finisher hit.
• Young Link's dash attack has him slash directly in front of himself while running forward, instead of performing the Jump Attack from Ocarina of Time.

Aerial attacks

• Down aerial does not have a meteor smash hitbox.

Throws and other attacks

• Edge attack has Young Link swipe his sword in front of himself, unlike Link who stabs forward.

Special moves

• Fire Arrows deal more hitstun than Link's arrows, increasing his combo ability and making the move safer on hit up close. It also has a slightly faster startup than Link's Hero's Bow.
  • Fire Arrow deals flame damage (hence the name).
  • Fire Arrows travel less distance.
• Instead of the Gale Boomerang, Young Link retains his standard Boomerang, which does not have a windbox.
  • Boomerang travels less distance compared to Link's Gale Boomerang.
  • Boomerang can damage opponents on the way back.
• Spin Attack lands multiple hits instead of one, allowing it to trap opponents within its hitboxes, and the late hitboxes inflict more damage.
  • Nonetheless, it is still weaker than Link's clean Spin Attack in damage. Also, it is not a viable KO move unlike Link's.
• Young Link's Bomb looks slightly different from Link's, as it is smaller; it has a smaller projectile hitbox but is slightly harder to track visually when thrown.
  • Young Link's bombs have four hitboxes as opposed to Link's two, increasing their hitstun and combo ability.
  • Young Link's bombs do more damage to opponents than Link's, given that all of their hitboxes connect.
  • The multi-hit property of the bombs means that their explosion can affect Young Link more often in close range.
  • Young Link's Bombs travel a shorter distance when thrown.
• For Triforce Slash, the final flourish and slash have altered animations, as Young Link rears his hand back and does an outward slash, instead of a stab.

Changes from Super Smash Bros. Melee

Young Link has been significantly buffed in the transition from Melee to Ultimate. Young Link's speed has been improved from Melee not just in terms of his mobility but also his attacks. Many of his attacks have decreased ending lag and his aerials have heavily decreased landing lag (even compared to their L-canceled counterparts). 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.

However, he has also seen a few nerfs. Some of Young Link's attacks deal less damage, while others have shorter durations, and a few of his attacks even have slightly increased startup and ending lag. His aerial mobility is also worse (especially when relative to the cast), and 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. The changes to air dodging also hinder his mobility, as wavedashing and wavelanding are significantly less effective.

Overall, Young Link is a significantly better character than he was in Melee, with professional players such as Tweek and T demonstrating Young Link’s strong potential in spite of currently having low tournament representation.

Aesthetics

• Due to the game's graphical improvements, Young Link's design gains additional detail, particularly in his hair. His colors are more subdued than they were in Melee.
• Young Link is relatively bigger than in Melee. This increases his range, but also increases his hurtbox.
• Young Link is much more expressive. He appears angry while attacking, and smiles in his taunts and one of his victory poses.
• Young Link has gained an on-screen appearance, which is similar to Link's in the original Super Smash Bros.
• Young Link's taunt from Melee has been moved to his down taunt, and executes significantly faster. He has gained two new taunts: one where he triumphantly lifts his sword into the air while grinning; and another where Navi flies around him, akin to Link's side taunt in Brawl and Smash 4.
• Like all characters from Brawl onward, 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.
• Young Link has new voice clips for taking medium and heavy knockback, a second KO voice clip, and a different Star KO scream.
• The Kokiri Sword has a bronze hilt, and leaves behind a white trail with blue accents, as opposed to a pure white trail in Melee.
  • Additionally, Link's yellow and blue Spin Attack sword trail from Smash 4 is recycled for Young Link, as Link now has a unique sword trail.
• All sword attacks make a standard slash sound effect on hit, instead of a punch/kick sound effect like in Melee.
• Young Link has gained three additional alternate costumes, bringing his total up to the standard eight. His black alternate costume has also been altered to better resemble Dark Link.
• Young Link has gained a Boxing Ring alias, being “Master of the Ocarina”.
• 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

• Like all characters, Young Link's jumpsquat animation takes 3 frames to complete (down from 4).
• Young Link walks faster (1.2 → 1.26).
• Young Link runs faster (1.6 → 1.749).
  • His initial dash speed is much faster (1.72 → 2.09).
• 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.
• Young Link's falling speed has been reduced (2.13 → 1.8), but is now faster relative to the roster.
• Young Link's midair jump is significantly higher. This improves his ability to recover back to the stage.
• 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.
• Young Link's Deku Shield now protects him from projectiles while walking, similar to the shields of all other Link incarnations.
• 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.
• 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.
• Both rolls have noticeably less ending lag (FAF 38 → 29 (forward), 34 (back)), making them safer to use for repositioning and escaping pressure.
• Both rolls grant less intangibility (frames 4-19 → 4-14 (forward), 4-15 (back)).
• Spot dodge has more startup (frame 2 → 3) and ending lag (FAF 23 → 25).
• 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.
• 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

• 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:
  • The first and second hits deal less knockback, and launch opponents towards Young Link with the farthest hitboxes, akin to other neutral attacks. This allows them to connect more reliably and jab lock for longer.
  • The first hit transitions faster into the second hit (frame 10 → 9), which transitions faster into the third hit (frame 11 → 9).
  • The second and third hits have less startup (frame 7 → 6), with the former's total duration decreased as well (FAF 18 → 17).
  • The third hit has greatly increased base knockback, and launches at a lower angle much like Link's, increasing its safety on hit at low percents and allowing it to set up tech-chases. It also has slightly more horizontal range.
  • Neutral infinite has a different animation: rather than repeatedly stabbing at different angles, Young Link performs a flurry of slashes.
  • Neutral infinite has faster startup (frame 10 → 6) and a shorter gap between hits (7 frames → 2), 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.
  • The weakening of SDI makes neutral infinite much harder to escape from, increasing its reliability for racking up damage.
  • Neutral attack deals less damage (3% → 2% (hit 1), 2% → 1.5% (hit 2), 5% → 3.5% (hit 3), 1% → 0.3% (infinite)).
  • The first three hits have shorter durations (frames 6-8 (hit 1), 7-9 (hit 2), 7-11 (hit 3) → 6-7 (all)).
  • The third hit has more ending lag (FAF 33 → 36), and largely decreased knockback scaling, causing it to KO later from center stage despite its higher base knockback.
  • 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.
    • 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.
• Forward tilt:
  • Forward tilt has less startup lag (frame 11 → 10).
  • It has more vertical range.
  • Its base knockback has been increased, although with its knockback scaling reduced to compensate. This makes it safer on hit at low percents, while keeping its KO ability at high percents.
• Up tilt:
  • Up tilt has a shorter duration (frames 9-15 → 9-14) and more ending lag (FAF 30 → 32), hindering its combo potential.
  • 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:
  • 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.
  • It has considerably reduced knockback scaling, allowing it to combo for longer.
  • It has a shorter hitbox duration (frames 14-16 → 8-9), and less vertical range.
  • It can no longer meteor smash opponents.
• Dash attack:
  • Dash attack has less ending lag (FAF 40 → 35).
  • It has significantly higher base knockback, increasing its safety on hit at lower percents.
  • It has more startup lag and a shorter duration (frames 7-12 → 8-10).
  • Dash attack sends opponents at a slightly higher angle.
• Forward smash:
  • The first hit of forward smash has less ending lag (FAF 50 → 48).
  • The second hit's damage output is properly affected by charging.
  • 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.
  • Both hits have a shorter duration (frames 15-17 → 15-16 (hit 1), 10-13 → 10-11 (hit 2)).
  • The first deals less damage (10% → 6%), and no longer has set knockback, hindering its reliability at higher percents.
  • The second hit has more startup (frame 10 → 11) and ending lag (FAF 40 → 50).
  • The second hit has higher base knockback, but lower knockback scaling, hindering its KO potential if not used near the edge.
  • 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:
  • Up smash's hits connect much more reliably due to the weakening of SDI.
  • The first two hits have less startup lag and longer durations (frames 11-14/26-28 → 10-14/25-29).
  • The second hit deals more damage (2% → 3%).
  • The third hit has much higher knockback, allowing it to KO at realistic percents.
  • The move deals more total damage due to the changes to stale-move negation (12.1%/11.19% → 14%/13%).
  • Up smash has significantly more ending lag (FAF 52 → 70), removing its combo potential.
  • The third hit has more startup lag (frame 40 → 41).
  • The third hit no longer has a late hit that deals more damage (8%/9% → 7%/8%) and is a semi-spike, removing its edgeguarding potential.
• Down smash:
  • Down smash's sourspots deal more damage (7% → 10% (front), 6% → 9% (back)), and thus have increased knockback.
  • The first hit no longer has hitboxes that launch opponents vertically, improving its consistency in edgeguarding and KOing.
  • It has more ending lag (FAF 42 → 50).
  • Both hits have a shorter duration (frames 9-12 → 9-10 (hit 1), 21-23 → 21-22 (hit 2)).
  • The second hit no longer has a hitbox on Young Link's foot, preventing it from hitting opponents in front of him.

Aerial attacks

• 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.
• 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:
  • Neutral aerial deals less damage (12% → 10% (clean), 8% → 5% (late)), with knockback mostly compensated only on the clean hit, slightly hindering its KO potential.
    • However, this allows the late hit to combo for longer.
• Forward aerial:
  • 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, improving its KO potential.
  • It has less ending lag (FAF 47 → 41).
  • It always launches opponents in the direction Young Link if facing, even if they are hit from behind, making it more reliable for edgeguarding.
  • 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.
  • Forward aerial has a much shorter hitbox duration (frames 14-32 → 14-15 (hit 1), 24-25 (hit 2)).
• Back aerial:
  • Back aerial's first hit has set knockback and launches at a higher angle, allowing it to connect more reliably into the second hit.
  • It always launches opponents opposite the direction Young Link is facing, even if hit from the front, making it more reliable for edgeguarding.
  • Both hits have shorter durations (frames 6-9 → 6-8 (hit 1), 18-23 → 18-20 (hit 2)).
  • The first hit deals less damage (7% → 5%).
  • The second hit deals much more knockback, improving its KO potential, but hindering its combo potential.
• Up aerial:
  • Up aerial deals less knockback, hindering its KO potential.
  • The hitboxes are much more narrow, making it harder to connect. Combined with the changes to collision between characters in Ultimate, landing an up aerial on a grounded opponent is much more difficult than before.
• Down aerial:
  • Down aerial's early hit deals more damage (14%/16% → 18%).
  • It no longer has a flame hitbox near Young Link's head that deals more damage and is a meteor smash, removing its extraordinary edgeguarding potential against opponents hit from below.
  • The late hit deals less damage (17%/21% → 15%).
  • The move deals less knockback, especially with the late hit due to its decreased damage, significantly hindering its KO potential.
• Grab aerial:
  • Grab aerial has dramatically decreased landing lag (30 frames → 8), and no longer causes helplessness, making it much more useful offensively.
  • It has a longer hitbox duration (frames 11-15 → 11-18).
  • It deals less damage (5% → 4%).
  • It causes the Hookshot to retract upon hitting an opponent, hindering its utility in battles with multiple opponents.
  • It has more base knockback, but even less knockback scaling, no longer KOing opponents even at 999%.
  • It is now affected by stale-move negation, reducing its damage output with consecutive uses, but allowing it to refresh other moves.
  • Due to universal changes, grab aerial functions like a tether recovery rather than a wall grapple.
    • 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.
    • However, this removes its ability to grapple to any wall, reducing its versatility.

Throws and other attacks

• Grabs:
  • 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.
  • Both grabs have longer durations (4 frames → 7), and the hitbox on the Hookshot's end now affects aerial opponents.
  • Standing grab has one frame more startup lag (frame 11 → 12).
• Pummel:
  • Pummel deals more hitlag (4 frames → 13), but has significantly less startup (frame 10 → 1) and ending lag (FAF 26 → 7), shortening its duration.
  • It deals much less damage (3% → 1%).
• Young Link jumps a bit higher when performing his up throw.
• 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:
  • Forward throw launches at a slightly lower angle, and deals much more knockback, allowing it to KO under 170% at the edge.
• Back throw:
  • Back throw deals much more knockback, allowing it to KO under 200% at the edge.
• Up throw:
  • Up throw releases the opponent slower (frame 27 → 29) with its total duration unchanged, increasing its combo potential at low percents.
  • It has more base knockback, but less knockback scaling. This further improves its combo potential at low percents (due to its previously lacking hit advantage), but hinders its KO potential at high percents.
• Down throw:
  • Down throw has much higher knockback scaling, 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.
  • 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.
  • Its damage values have been redistributed (2% → 3% (hit 1), 4% → 3% (throw)).
  • It launches opponents at a slightly more horizontal angle.
• Floor attacks:
  • Floor attacks deal more damage per hit (6% → 7%).
• Edge attack:
  • Edge attack deals more damage (8% → 9%).

Special moves

• Due to the changes to powershielding, Young Link's projectiles can no longer be reflected back at him by any character.
• The decreased shieldstun for projectiles hinders their safety at close distances.
• Fire Arrow:
  • Fire Bow has been renamed to Fire Arrow.
  • Fire Arrow has one frame less ending lag (FAF 39 → 38).
  • It can be B-reversed.
  • The 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.
  • The arrows deal more knockback, which combined with their vertical angle increases their combo potential.
  • Fire Arrows stay active for a shorter period of time.
  • The arrows deal less damage (8%-15% → 4%-12%).
  • The move can no longer be held indefinitely upon reaching full charge, instead firing the arrow automatically if held for more than three seconds.
  • Fire Arrows are ablaze when being charged and fired, compared to Melee where the arrow does not light up at all.
  • Fire Arrows have been redesigned to more closely resemble the artwork found in the manual for Ocarina of Time.
  • Ghost Arrow glitch has been removed.
• Boomerang:
  • Boomerang is bigger, and Young Link throws it vertically instead of horizontally, increasing its coverage immensely.
  • It can be B-reversed.
  • It deals much less damage at point-blank range (16% → 11% (normal), 19% → 13.2% (smash input)).
    • However, its knockback has not been compensated, improving its combo potential.
  • Boomerang cannot be angled as sharply as in Melee; however, this makes its more useful angles easier to use.
  • Young Link has a new throwing animation for the boomerang.
  • The boomerang superjump and chain dance glitches have been removed.
• Spin Attack (grounded):
  • 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.
  • Its linking hits have set knockback, which combined with the weakening of SDI allows them to connect much more reliably.
  • The last hit has slightly higher base knockback, but lower knockback scaling, further improving its combo potential.
  • It can be charged to increase its damage and knockback, as with the other incarnations of Link.
  • 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%).
• Spin Attack (aerial):
  • 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.
  • Like most recovery moves from Brawl onward, it sweetspots the edge much earlier, making it safer to recover with.
  • Its hits connect much more reliably into each other, and are harder to escape due to the weakening of SDI, improving its safety.
  • It deals more total damage due to the changes to stale-move negation (11.19% → 12%).
• Bomb:
  • Like with Link's Bombs in Smash 4, the explosions from Young Link's bombs do not damage him if they hit an opponent.
  • The bombs travel further when thrown.
  • Their multi-hits accumulate much faster, making their damage more consistent.
  • 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.
  • Bomb's base damage output is lower, even with all hits connecting (13% → 8%).
  • The bomb dash glitch has been removed.
• 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

1.2.0

• Invisible bomb glitch fixed.

3.0.0

• Fire Arrow deals less shield damage.
• Boomerang deals less shield damage.
• An unknown bug was created where opponents would unexpectedly teleport in any direction upon releasing Boomerang.

3.1.0

• Boomerang teleportation glitch fixed.

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.

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

		Name	Damage	Description
Neutral attack			2%	Two forward swings, followed by either a single launching stab, or a loop of quick slices, ending with a forward thrust.
			1.5%
			3.5%
			0.3% (loop), 2.5% (final hit)
Forward tilt			12% (base), 11% (tip)	Young Link raises the Kokiri Sword over his head and slashes forward.
Up tilt			8%	An upwards slice with the Kokiri Sword. Combos into itself at medium percents.
Down tilt			10% (base), 9% (middle), 7% (tip)	A crouching slash. Has low, vertical knockback, allowing it to combo into his aerials easily.
Dash attack			11% (base), 10% (tip)	A dash swing.
Forward smash			6%	Winds up and swings the Kokiri Sword forward. Pressing the button again allows for a second, more powerful slash. The first hit deals almost no knockback, but is a natural combo into the second hit.
			12% (base), 10% (tip)
Up smash			3% (hits 1-2), 8% (hit 3, base), 7% (hit 3, tip)	Three upward-arcing slashes.
Down smash			13% (front, base), 10% (front, tip), 12% (back, base), 9% (back, tip)	A slash forward, leading into a slash behind.
Neutral aerial			10% (clean), 5% (late)	A standard sex kick.
Forward aerial			6% (hit 1), 8% (hit 2, base), 7% (hit 2, tip)	Quickly slices twice in the air. Deals reasonably high knockback, making it useful for knocking opponents offstage or killing them outright at higher percents.
Back aerial			5% (hit 1), 7% (hit 2)	Performs a double backwards kick. Functions similarly to his forward aerial, but trades range and power for less starting lag.
Up aerial			15% (clean), 12% (late)	An upwards thrust. Has a deceptively long duration, and can KO at around 130% with the clean hit.
Down aerial			18% (clean), 15% (late)	Performs the Down Thrust. Unlike Link's similar move, it does not meteor smash even with the clean hit. Deals enough knockback to KO at high percents, but is dangerous to use offstage due to its long duration and high endlag.
Grab aerial		Midair Hookshot	4%	Shoots his Hookshot forward. Can be used to grab stage ledges.
Grab		Hookshot	—	Fires his Hookshot straight forward. It functions as a Tether Grab, and can be used for tether recovery.
Pummel			1%	Quickly hits the opponent with the pommel of the Kokiri Sword.
Forward throw			3% (hit 1), 3% (throw)	A forward kick. Young Link's strongest throw. KOing at 160% from the edge of Final Destination.
Back throw			3% (hit 1), 3% (throw)	Swings his opponent to the opposite direction and kicks them away. KOing at 177% from the edge of Final Destination.
Up throw			4% (hit 1), 2% (throw)	Tosses the opponent up into the air and performs a spinning upwards slash. KOing at 188% on Final Destination.
Down throw			3% (hit 1), 3% (throw)	Pins the opponent to the ground and performs an elbow drop.
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%	Fires a flaming arrow from his bow. It can be charged up for more power and range. The arrows send opponents at an upwards angle, making it a good aerial combo starter. In addition, it has low startup 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 aimed diagonally and deals damage when returning to Young Link. 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)	Spins with his sword outwards, slashing opponents nearby. Has very quick startup. Just like the Spin Attack of the other two Link incarnations, it can be charged when grounded for more damage. The knockback angle is mostly vertical, so it can be used as an aerial 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. 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%	Traps opponents inside a large Triforce, and then slashes at them repeatedly.

On-screen appearance

• Floats down from the sky in a blue magical field, referencing the Ocarina's powers from Ocarina of Time, and then equips the Kokiri Sword and Deku Shield.

Idle poses

• Looks around himself.
• Kicks the toes of his boots on the ground, as if knocking off dirt.

Taunts

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

Victory poses

• Adjusts his belt and flicks his nose.
• Horizontal swipe 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.
• 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.

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In competitive play

Notable players

•  colinies - One of the best Young Link players in the United States. Placed 1st at Steel City Showdown, 3rd at COST 2019, and 17th at Collision 2019. Ranked 2nd on the Ohio Smash Ultimate Power Rankings.
•  SS - The best Young Link player in Arizona. Placed 2nd at Ascension II, 3rd at Ascension, and 9th at both Ascension III and Ascension IV.
•  Supahsemmie - The best Young Link player in Europe. Placed 1st at Elysium: Yggdrasil.
•  T - The best Young Link player in Japan and one of the best ones in the world. Placed 3rd at Midwest Mayhem Ultimate and 25th at Umebura SP 2.
•  Tweek - The best Young Link player in the world. Placed 1st at Glitch 6 in conjunction with Wario and 7th at 2GG: Prime Saga. Has wins over Nairo, WaDi and Jakal.
•  Zan - One of the best Young Link players in the United States. Placed 17th at both Heart of Battle and Ultimate Nimbus as well as 25th at SoCal Chronicles.

Classic Mode: Hyrule Smash

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	Hyrule Castle	Hyrule Main Theme
2	Young Link	Temple	Song of Storms	If the player is using the Dark Young Link costume, the CPU player will be default Young Link
3	Sheik	Gerudo Valley (Ω form)	Gerudo Valley
4	Toon Link (x4)	Pirate Ship	The Great Sea / Menu Select
5	Ganondorf	Bridge of Eldin (Ω form)	Main Theme - The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
6	Link	Great Plateau Tower	Main Theme - The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Bonus Stage
Final	Ganon	?	Calamity Ganon Battle - Second Form

Credits roll after completing Classic Mode. Completing it as Young Link has Termina Field 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 unlocked in the Sacred Realm 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	Grab	10,300	Temple (Ω form)	Saria's Song

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.

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  176. Young Link

• Epona Spirit.png

  196. Epona

• Deku Link.png

  207. Deku Link

• FierceDeityLinkSpirit.png

  208. Fierce Deity Link

In Spirit battles

As the main opponent

Spirit				Battle parameters
No.	Image	Name	Series	Enemy Fighter(s)	Type	Power	Stage	Rules	Conditions	Music
178		Link (The Legend of Zelda)	The Legend of Zelda series	•Young Link		13,500	Find Mii	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
184	File:Fairy Bottle Spirit.png	Fairy Bottle	The Legend of Zelda series	•Young Link		3,700	Fountain of Dreams	•Sudden Damage	•All fighters take serious damage •The enemy has increased defense	Saria's Theme
194		Kaepora Gaebora	The Legend of Zelda series	•Young Link		3,700	Distant Planet (Battlefield form)	•Hazard: Screen Flip	•The screen will suddenly flip after a little while	Ocarina of Time Medley
212	File:Happymasksalesman.png	Happy Mask Salesman	The Legend of Zelda series	•Young Link		4,300	Umbra Clock Tower	•Attack Power ↑ •Move Speed ↑ •Jump Power ↑	•Timed battle •All fighters have increased jump power •All fighters have increased move speed after a little while	Song of Storms
213		Kafei	The Legend of Zelda series	•Bunny Young Link		4,600	Skyloft	N/A	•Timed battle •The enemy tends to avoid conflict	Termina Field (Remix)
235		Ravio	The Legend of Zelda series	•Bunny Young Link		4,000	Skyloft	N/A	•Timed battle •The enemy favors special moves •The enemy is easily distracted by items	Hyrule Main Theme
364		Poppy Bros. Jr.	Kirby series	•Young Link (×2)		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	File:Cutman.png	Cut Man	Mega Man series	•Young Link (x2)		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	File:BombMan.PNG	Bomb Man	Mega Man series	•Young Link (×2)		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	File:Diskun.png	Diskun	Disk System	•Young Link •Pit •Simon •Samus		9,100	Temple (Battlefield form)	N/A	•Take your strongest team into this no-frills battle	Famicom Medley
1,130	File:Donbe hikari.png	Donbe & Hikari	Famicom Mukashibanashi series	•Young Link •Villager •Falco •Diddy Kong •Duck Hunt		3,500	Duck Hunt (hazards off)	N/A	•Defeat an army of fighters	Shin Onigashima Medley
1,145		Prince Richard	Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru	•Young Link		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	Castle Lololo
1,280		Tethu	Ever Oasis	•Young Link		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		Musashi	Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido	•Young Link		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		Young Zelda	The Legend of Zelda series	•Zelda •Young Link		3,700	Hyrule Castle	N/A	•Take your strongest team into this no-frills battle	Ocarina of Time Medley	Young Link
192		Saria	The Legend of Zelda series	•Isabelle •Young Link		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
211		Tingle	The Legend of Zelda series	•Villager (×3) () •Young Link		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 while •The enemy loves to taunt	Termina Field (Remix)	Young Link
218	File:Dimitri Spirit.png	Dimitri	The Legend of Zelda series	•Yoshi •Young Link		1,700	Great Bay	N/A	•The enemy favors neutral specials	Tal Tal Heights	Link (Oracle of Ages/Oracle of Seasons)
233		Wall-Merged Link	The Legend of Zelda series	•Mr. Game & Watch •Young Link		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	File:Hilda.png	Hilda	The Legend of Zelda series	•Zelda •Young Link		9,100	Temple	•Assist Trophy Enemies (Nightmare)	•Hostile assist trophies will appear	Lorule Main Theme	Ravio
1,319		Professor Riggs & Plaise & Lerna	Nintendo Labo series	•Dr. Mario •Bayonetta •Tiny Young Link		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

Gallery

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

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  Young Link's amiibo.

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  Young Link's fighter card.

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  Young Link on Great Bay.

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  Tossing his Bomb at Wario on Castle Siege.

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  Idling with Toon Link's Fairy on Skyworld.

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  Drinking Lon Lon Milk with Inkling on Temple.

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  Performing his down aerial in his Dark Link-based costume on the Umbra Clock Tower.

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  Tossing his Boomerang on Onett.

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  Young Link drinking his Lon Lon Milk with Simon on Figure-8 Circuit.

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  Carrying his Bomb with Bomberman on Temple.

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  Idling with Mario on Tomodachi Life.

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

Trivia

• Young Link's official artwork is based off of 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's light blue costume gives him a pair of beige trousers. Although it looks like his legs were just recoloured, the fabric and seams can be seen by zooming in on his legs during gameplay.
• The belt around Young Link's sheath appears to have back-face culling, as it is shown to not be visible when seen from the other side. This is mostly noticeable whenever he is shown performing his down taunt, where he is drinking Lon-Lon milk at the end of his character showcase video. This was fixed in the initial release of the game.
  • Additionally, his legs would clip through his tunic in his showcase video, which was also fixed in the initial release of the game.
• 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 get cut off rather than being connected to his cap.
  • Additionally, when looking at the cuffs of his boots from below, there's a visible gap.
• There is currently an animation error with Young Link's up tilt; during the ending lag, the sword does a full rotation in his hand.
• 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 in to her initial position from offscreen. This suggest 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 uses their crouching animation from their previous Smash Bros. game when holding a small item (in Chrom's case, he uses Roy's previous crouching animation).
  • 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.