Link (SSBU)
Link in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | |
---|---|
Universe | The Legend of Zelda |
Other playable appearances | in SSB in Melee in Brawl in SSB4 |
Availability | Starter |
Final Smash | Ancient Bow and Arrow |
“ | Link has been redesigned to match his appearance in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. He can now pick up arrows he's fired, and his bombs have been upgraded to remote bombs, so you can set them off when the timing is just right! | ” |
—"Today's Fighter" Super Smash Blog description |
Link (リンク, Link) is a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. He was teased in a trailer released on March 8th, 2018 before being fully confirmed as playable on June 12th, 2018. Link is now voiced by Kengo Takanashi, who reprises his role from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Changes from Super Smash Bros. 4
Link now incorporates many elements from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild into his moveset, such as the Remote Bomb, the Ancient Bow & Ancient Arrow, and the Master Sword's Sword Beam.
Aesthetics
- Link's design is now based off of his appearance in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. He dons the Champion's Tunic as his default costume and has an alternate costume based on the Tunic of the Wild.
- Link now takes on a new stance: his legs are further apart, with his sword and shield up at all times. His body also faces more towards the camera.
- Link now holds the Master Sword with his right hand and shield with his left hand as opposed to previous Smash Bros. games, with many of his animations altered as a result. This references how he holds his sword and shield in Breath of the Wild. This is also similar to other Zelda titles with this feature such as Skyward Sword, Master Quest in Ocarina of Time 3D, the Wii version of Twilight Princess and its HD remake's Hero Mode, respectively.
- The Master Sword now bears its design from Breath of the Wild, and is much longer. Its blade also features a light blue glow during certain animations, referencing its awakened form in the presence of Calamity Ganon and his minions.
- Link has a new on-screen appearance: he now glides using the Paraglider onto the stage.
- Link has a new taunt where he holds in the Master Sword in both hands, similar to one of Ike's taunts.
Attributes
- With the implementation of universal frame 3 jumpsquat, Link's aerial capabilities are improved compared to Super Smash Bros. 4.
- The Master Sword is longer and larger than it was in previous installments, increasing Link's reach for his sword-based attacks.
Ground Attacks
- The final hit of Link's neutral attack is altered: he now swipes vertically instead of thrusting the sword. This also has an effect on the angle, being more vertical than in previous games.
- Neutral attack's first hit can now jab lock.
- Dash attack's sweetspot deals more damage.
- Link's up tilt has a slightly different animation.
- When at 0% damage, the first swing of Link's forward smash will shoot out a spinning sword beam. This is in reference to numerous Zelda titles, including Breath of the Wild, in which Link's sword shoots out sword beams when he is at full health.
- The sword beam will increase in damage, size and speed the longer the player charges Link's forward smash.
Aerial attacks
- Forward aerial's first hit now has set knockback. This makes it possible for it to combo into the second hit regardless of percent. However, this is a net nerf as the damage is lowered (both on the first hit and altogether) and the first hit is no longer a kill move.
- Back aerial has a slightly different animation.
Throws/other attacks
- Link no longer uses the Clawshot for his grabs, instead having standard grabs where he reaches out with one hand. This significantly decreases their lag, but also their range.
- Due to Link's Clawshot being retired, he no longer has a grab aerial or a tether recovery.
Special moves
- The arrows fired from Link's Bow can be picked up and thrown after it sticks to the ground.
- Using the Bow while holding an arrow causes Link to fire two arrows in one shot for double damage.
- Link now uses the Traveler's Bow from Breath of the Wild instead of the Hero's Bow.
- Link's Boomerang is no longer the Gale Boomerang. This means he can no longer bring opponents towards him to continue combos, or push them away with the lingering wind hitbox. However, just like in Melee and Smash 64, Link's Boomerang now has a returning hitbox to possibly interrupt approaches from enemies, and has increased range.
- Link can now reuse his double jump if hit during his Spin Attack.
- Spin Attack's visuals have been updated. Additionally, Link can now spin either inwards like in Smash 64, or outwards like in his other appearances.
- Link's down special is now the Remote Bomb Rune. It does not explode on contact, is rather bouncy and can be knocked around by attacks without detonating, and does not detonate after a set time. Instead, it is manually detonated by pressing the down special again. While this allows for item setups, it also prevents Link from extending his recovery in the same way as previous games.
- Link can now bomb recover by taking out a remote bomb, Z-dropping, then detonating.
- Link can only have one Remote Bomb Rune out on the battlefield, instead of two standard bombs. However, his bombs now have a larger blast radius to compensate.
- Link has a new Final Smash which involves him firing an Ancient Arrow. It is functionally similar to Light Arrow from the previous games, although it only deals a single powerful blow to the first opponent in the arrow's path, alongside any bystanders.
Alternate costumes
Gallery
Link taunting on Great Plateau Tower.
Link about to perform his forward smash on Temple.
Link performing a Spin Attack on Pac-Man on Spirit Train.
Link holding a Heart Container on Great Bay.
Link performing his new Final Smash.
About to strike Ganondorf with his dash attack on Skyloft.
Struck by Daisy on Spirit Train.
Struck by the Inkling on Mario Circuit.
Link using Traveler's Bow on Prism Tower.
With Zelda and Ganondorf.
Character Showcase Video
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Trivia
- This marks the first time in the series where Link does not wear his trademark green tunic as a default outfit, both in official art and in-game, nor uses a clawshot.
- Despite Link's design now being based on Breath of the Wild, Kirby still gains his familiar green cap when copying him. However, this is in line with Link's alternate costume.