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

This article is about Young Link's appearance in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. For the character in other contexts, see Young Link.

“	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.

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 Super Smash Bros. 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.

Differences from Link in SSB4

Despite not being an Echo Fighter, Young Link is still a faster but weaker 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, his 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.
Except for the downward throw, Young Link releases items 1 frame later than Link does then throwing them (7/9/11/4/5 (forward/backward/up/dash/drop) → 8/10/12/5/6).
Young Link releases heavy items 1 frame earlier than Link when throwing them either forward or backwards (20 → 19).

Ground attacks

Neutral attack:

Young Link's neutral attack can be followed by neutral infinite and a finisher, unlike Link's.
His basic jab deals less damage than Link's (3%,3%,4% → 2%, 1.5%, 3.5%), total (10% → 7.5).
The first hit has less startup lag than Link's (frame 7 → 4) and transitions into the second hit faster (10 → 8), which transitions faster into the third hit (frame 10 → 9). All hits also have less ending lag (FAF 27 → 18, (hit 1), FAF 21 → 17 (hit 2) , FAF 37 → 36 (hit 3)).

Forward tilt:

Forward tilt has noticeably less startup lag (frame 15 → 10 and less ending lag (FAF 38 → 34), making it safer to use.
It deals less damage with a sourspot at the tip of the Kokiri Sword (13% → 12%/12/11%) and much less knockback (base 55/82 scaling → 30/25/85), KOing much later than Link's.
It has a shorter duration (15-18 → 10-12).

Up tilt:

Up tilt deals less damage (9% → 8%) and knockback (base 30/ scaling /122/130/124 → (20/130/128/126). This weakens its KO power, but makes it better for combos.
It has a longer duration (8-12 → 9-14) and less ending lag ( FAF 36 → 32), further improving its juggling and combo potential.
It has more startup (frame 8 → 9).

Down tilt:

Down tilt has less startup (frame 11 → 8) and ending lag (FAF 30 → 26), as well as less knockback (base 90/scaling 30 → 80/25), making it better for combos.
However, it doesn't have a meteor smash hitbox, making it useless for edgeguarding and reducing its versatility.
It deals less damage and has sourspots (11% → 10%/9%/7%).
Instead of using a extended hitbox, it uses three unextended hiboxes that are overall larger (3.1u → 3.4u, 3.4u, 3.0u).

Dash attack:

Young Link has a different dash attack: instead of performing the Jump Attack from Ocarina of Time, he performs a lunging downwards slash.
It has much less startup (frame 20 → 8) and ending lag ( FAF 57 → 35), making it much safer.
It has a shorter duration (20-23 → 8-10).
It deals less damage (14%/13%12% → 11/10%/10%) and less knockback, (base 70/85/85 scaling 85/85/77→ 70/70), making it worse for KOing. It also has less range due to Young Link not jumping.

Smash attacks

Forward smash:

The first hit has less ending lag (FAF 52 → 48) when not followed into the second.
The second hit has less startup ( frame 12 → 11) and much less ending lag (FAF 68 → 50).
It deals less damage (7%/7%/14% → 6%) (hit 1), (13%/13%/12%/12% → 12%/10%/12% (hit 2) without a hitbox on the first hit that deals 14% and the second hit has less base knockback and more knockback scaling, but wasn't compensated enough (base 85/scaling 89 → 43/115), hindering its damage racking and KO potential.
However, the hitboxes in the first hit have less base knockback with its knockback scaling unchanged (base 47 → 35/40), allowing it to connect better into the second hit.

Up smash:

It has less ending lag (FAF 78 → 70).
The first two hits have a slightly shorter duration (10-15 → 10-14 (hit 1), 25-30 → 25-29)
The first and third hits deal less damage (4% → 3%) (hit 1) (11%/10%/9% → 8%/7%/8%/8%/) and the knockback in the final hit wasn't fully compensated (base 60/ scaling 96 → 75/108), hindering its KO potential.

Down smash:

Unlike Link's, the first hit is a semi-spike like the second hit, making it better for edgeguarding.
Both hits deal less damage (14%/17%/16% → 13%/10%/13%) (hit 1) (12%/12%/11%/10% → 12%/9%/12%) (hit 2) and knockback (base 40/88 → 30/90 (hit 1), 80/63 → 25/90), hindering their KO potential, and the second hit has one hitbox less than Link's.
However, this also gives the second hit less sourspots compared Link's, causing it to deal more damage overall.

Aerial attacks

All aerials have less noticeably landing lag (10 frames → 6 (neutral, back), 12 → 6 (forward), 23 → 14 (up), 32 → 17 (down)), making them harder to punish if not autocanceled.

Neutral aerial:

Young Link's neutral aerial autocancels earlier than Link's neutral aerial (frame 36 → 32). Because of this, unlike Link's , it can autocancel in a short hop.
It has less startup (frame 7 → 4).
Young Link's neutral aerial has a shorter duration (7-31 → 4-21), causing it to have six more frames of ending lag than Link's version despite the earlier FAF (FAF 39 → 36).
Unlike Link's, the clean hit of Young Link's version doesn't have sourspots on his leg.
It deals less damage (11%/9% → 10%) (clean), (6% → 5%) (late) with the clean hit's knockback mostly (but not fully) compensated (base 22/scaling 100 → 20/108), causing it to KO slighly later than Link's.
The late hit has less base knockback (base 15 → 10). Combined with its lower damage, this allows it to combo and lock for longer.

Forward aerial:

Unlike Link's, it's interruptible, giving it less ending lag (FAF 50 → 41).
It deals much less damage (11% → 6%) (hit 1) (13% → 8%) and the second hit has less knockback than the first hit of Link's version (base 20/ scaling 130 → 45/125).
However, the first hit has more base knockback but drastically less knockback scaling and uses the autolink angle instead of launching diagonally (base 20/ scaling 130 → 25/30), allowing it to connect better into the stronger second hit.
The second hit comes out faster (frame 26 → 24).
It autocancels earlier (frame 51 → 41). Unlike Link, this allows it to autocancel in a full hop.

Back aerial:

Both hits deal more damage, increasing its damage output (3% → 5%) (hit 1), (5% → 7%) (hit 2), (8% → 12%), (total))
The second kick has noticeably less base knockback and much more knockback scaling (base 70/ scaling 70 → 40/102). This improves its KO potential when combined with its higher damage, but this also means its combos will stop working earlier.
The second hit has a shorter duration (18-22 → 18-20), giving it one more frame of ending lag despite the shorter FAF (FAF 31 → 30).

Up aerial:

It has noticeably less startup lag with a longer active duration (11-40 → 5-49), making it safer to use and decreasing its ending lag compared to the hitbox despite the later FAF (FAF 59 → 60).
The clean hit has more base knockback, but less knockback scaling, KOing slighly later (base 23/ scaling 93 → 25/85).
The late hit deals less damage and knockback (13% → 12%),(base 18/ scaling 88 → 25/82.
However, the reduced damage and knockback makes it slightly better for juggling when combined with its lower landing lag.
Because of its longer duration, it autocancels later (frame 47 → 56). Unlike Link's, it cannot autocancel in a full hop and can only autocancel in a double jump.
When performing it, Young Link is more upright. This makes him harder to hit horizontally, but easier to hit vertically.

Down aerial:

Down aerial does not have a meteor smash hitbox.
The clean hit has a shorter duration, being halved compared to Link's version (14-19 → 13-15).
The late hit deals less damage (18% → 15%) and knockback (base 30/ scaling 80 → 30/83).
The clean hit deals more damage (15% → 18%) and knockback (base 30/ scaling 80 → 30/83) than Link's version, allowing it to KO much earlier than Link's late hit.
It has less startup (frame 14 → 13).

Throws and other attacks

All grabs have less ending lag (FAF 62 → 53 (standing)/(66 → 61 (dash)/67 → 56 (pivot)

Pummel:

It has more hitlag (4 frames → 13) but much less startup (frame 10 → 1) and ending lag (16 → 7) making it faster overall, to the point it's one of the fastest pummels.
It deals less damage (2.1% → 1%).

Forward throw:

The throw hitbox deals less damage (3% (collateral), (4% → 3%) (throw), total (7% → 6%) and launches at a higher angle (361°→ 52°).
However, it has slightly less base knockback and much more knockback scaling (base 50/scaling 120 → 48/184), making it a much stronger finisher and allowing it to KO middleweights at around 130% near the ledge without rage.
It has more ending lag (FAF 38 → 40).

Back throw:

The throw hitbox deals less damage (3% (collateral), (4% → 3%) (throw), total (7% → 6%).
However, it has less base knockback and more knockback scaling (base 50/scaling 110 → 45/140), making it better for edgeguarding.
It releases the opponent slightly faster (frame 14 → 13) and has a later FAF (FAF 39 → 40), increasing its ending lag by two frames compared to Link's.

Up throw:

The collateral hitbox lacks a sweetspot that deals more damage (5%/4% → 4%).
It has more base knockback, but less knockback scaling (base 24/scaling 230 → 30/210), improving its combo potential.
It releases the opponent later (frame 28 → 29) with its duration unchanged, giving it one less frame of ending lag and further improving its combo potential when combined with the change above.

Down throw:

It launches at a slightly higher angle (83°→ 86°) and releases the opponent slower (frame 24 → 28) with minimal compensation on its total duration (FAF 49 → 50), giving it three less frames of ending lag and making it slighly better for combos at low percents.
However, it has much more knockback (base 60/ scaling 85 → 70/115), worsening its combo potential in general.
Edge attack has Young Link swipe his sword in front of himself, unlike Link who stabs forward.

Special moves

Fire Arrows deal more knockback than Link's arrows, and launch upwards instead of away, 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 move slower, causing them to travel less distance.
However, this also causes them to be active for longer
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, dealing 2%.
- It deals more damage (7% → 11%) (clean hit), (5% → 7%) (late hit).
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 and, as a result, he is commonly considered to be a high tier character in spite of currently having low tournament representation.