Triforce Slash

The Triforce Slash (, Triforce Rush) serves as the Final Smash of both Link and Toon Link in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. 4, and Toon Link and in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Overview
The attack starts out with the Triforce symbol on the back of the user's hand glowing (and in SSB4's case, a large projection of the Triforce visibly being shown hovering above the user's hand). A ray of light will stun anyone horizontally in front of him. The user will then dash toward an opponent stunned by the beam and strike them repeatedly for an immense amount of damage. The ambient time stops, making it safe when used in moving stages. The Super Smash Bros Brawl: Premier Edition player's guide says that the attack can only reach two character lengths in front of the user. However, the guide is incorrect: the attack can actually reach all the way across for Link and halfway across for Toon Link if one holds on to the special button.

This attack seems to be primarily meant for a single target, but more than one character can easily be hit simultaneously if they are close enough to each other and can even KO multiple characters. Ike's Great Aether is very similar to Triforce Slash, as they both trap the opponents in a barrage of powerful slashes, but one of Triforce Slash's advantages is that it can be done at the edge of the stage, greatly increasing the rate of KO. Apparently, another player can change the knockback angle of the final blow that ejects the opponent. When the user is pausing to charge the final blow, another player can attack the trapped player and when the user unleashes the ejecting blow, the victim will be sent flying according to the knockback of the other player's move.

Toon Link's Triforce Slash does the exact same amount of damage and number of hits as Link's, and only differs in appearance/sound effects. Toon Link's Triforce Slash has a more cartoony appearance than Link's, as a reference to 's cartoonish graphic style. In addition to Toon Link's version being more The Wind Waker-esque, it is also a bit slower. It also has a much lower range and slightly less knockback, but on the flip side has much less startup time. The final strike at the end of his Triforce Slash has greater range than Link's, though only has around the strength of a smash attack. Note that the character will get super armor from being caught by the Final Smash, but they are also trapped in the spot where they are caught by the Triforce symbol.

In Ultimate, Young Link's Triforce Slash is much closer in appearance and function to Link's in SSB4 than to Toon Link's version.

Damage
In Brawl, the attack can deal up to 83%. The initial trapping hit deals 5% damage. Each strike will cause 4% and trap any victims for the next strike, until the 15th which ejects all but the primary target from the attack. The last strike causes 18% damage and immense knockback to the main target and anyone close enough to it. This is the same for both Links.

In SSB4 and Ultimate, Link's, Toon Link's (in SSB4), and Young Link's damage potential was lowered from 83% to 60%. The trapping hit deals 1% instead of 5%, the first 14 hits deals 3% instead of 4%, the 15th deals 2%, and the final hit deals 15% instead of 18%.

In Ultimate, Toon Link's version deals even less, with its maximum damage being reduced to just 56.2%. Instead of 3% the first 14 hits deal 2.8% and the final hit deals 14% down from 15%. However, Young Link's version retains the 60% damage output from SSB4, as well as the full knockback from said game, being one of the few returning Final Smashes to not have a knockback reduction.

Escapes

 * One can dodge Triforce Slash by air dodging. The Triforce will appear around the player for a second, but then disappear. It only works if the player dodges at a specific time - after the user raises his hand, but before the beam of light actually shoots out.
 * Certain moves which grant their user intangibility can be used to dodge the initial trapping hit of Triforce Slash.
 * An example is Counter. However, it must be timed perfectly, as its intangibility period is very brief.
 * Villager can use Pocket to this effect, which can give the illusion of a "pocketed Final Smash".
 * If Triforce Slash is performed on the partner Ice Climber, and the leader is KOed in the meantime, then the targeted Ice Climber will disappear and leave Link slashing at nothing. Additionally, the Triforce will not explode at the end, it will instead be merely pushed and vanish. If this happens while Link is dashing over to them, he'll keep going and probably dash off the edge.
 * In a stamina match, if the player trapped in the Triforce Slash loses all of their HP, they will fall out and the move's user will continue to use the Triforce Slash with nothing caught inside of it.
 * If Togepi uses Earthquake right beside the Triforce Slash, the player can escape.
 * If Link or Toon Link targets someone behind a drop-through sloped block, he will dash onto the slope and miss the targeted enemy.
 * In some cases, when he passes the enemy he will enter a helpless state if in midair.
 * Toon Link's version can be canceled by throwing an item just at the right time. The Triforce will only appear for a split second, and will then disappear.
 * Pit can partially block the Final Smash by using his forward smash or his dash attack, taking the damage but canceling the knockback. However, one must time this move perfectly.

Glitches

 * If R.O.B. uses his up smash attack just before Toon Link activates Triforce Slash, Toon Link will throw the Triforce, but will "slingshot" forward without slashing, and, in most cases, self-destruct.
 * If the Triforce Slash tries to grab the secondary Ice Climber during the invincibility period of Belay, then the attack will fail. However, for the rest of that stock, the secondary Climber's special effects, such as the puffs of smoke from dashing or jumping, will be played at a reduced speed.
 * Triforce Slash will sometimes fail upon connecting. The Triforce will appear around the target for a second as if the attack was air dodged, but disappears, and the target receives 30% damage without knockback. This can be caused by certain terrains, such as the crest of a hill getting in Link/Toon Link's way.
 * In Smash 4, upon activating Triforce Slash slightly above an opponent (as if trying to achieve a phantom hit), the beam of light will connect and the opponent will still freeze in place, but the rest of the attack will not play out and the opponent will simply get pushed back slightly. The cause of this is currently unknown.
 * In Ultimate, the 11th hit of Young Link's version will sometimes miss against some fighters.

Triforce Slash glitch
The Triforce Slash glitch is a glitch in Brawl that allows  or  to "slide" across a curved platform.

To perform the glitch, a custom stage containing a line of fall-through diagonal platforms must be created, with a flat, standable platform that is underneath the diagonal platforms. Link/Toon Link must stand "above" the diagonal platforms, facing the target, who must be standing on the other side. If the players are positioned correctly, when Triforce Slash begins, the Triforce symbol will briefly form around the opponent, then disappear, and the target will receive about 30% damage. The user will slide a large distance up the diagonal platforms, often falling off short platforms. If he falls off, he will enter a helpless state.

Another method is to have use his up smash, and while he is upside down, use the Final Smash. The user will go flying and then become helpless, while R.O.B. will receive 30% damage.

Origin
This move is unique to the  series. However, it is similar to the final blow performed against Ganon during the final boss battle in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. In this game, once Ganon has been damaged enough, he falls down and Zelda uses her magic to paralyze him, leaving him vulnerable to a final strike, which consists of three slashing attacks before Link pierces through him with his sword.

Years after Triforce Slash's introduction in Brawl, a similar rush of sword strikes became one of Link's abilities in  through dodging with perfect timing, known as. However, the Triforce plays no part in the move.

Trivia

 * If the move is used on Kirby while he is using Stone, he will be seen in a T-pose for the duration of the Final Smash. Two similar Final Smashes, Meta Knight's Galaxia Darkness and Captain Falcon's Blue Falcon, exhibit the same behavior.
 * Relatedly, if the move is used on a character who is firing a Super Scope, they will enter a T-pose for a split second.
 * Young Link's version of Triforce Slash is the only version in which the attacker uses something other than his sword for some of the hits. During the move, Young Link kicks the opponent twice, shield bashes them, strikes with his knee, and strikes with his shoulder.
 * Triforce Slash is tied with Landmaster and Critical Hit for the most holders of the same Final Smash, with each of these moves being shared by three fighters.
 * Of these, Triforce Slash is the only one which is not shared by all three fighters in the same game, as Link's Final Smash was changed in Ultimate, before which Young Link was absent since Melee.
 * The scream that the Links use for the finishing slash of the move is taken from one of their other moves: Link's is taken from his up special and down smash, Toon Link's is taken from his up smash, and Young Link's is taken from his down smash.

Technical data
Link: Young Link: Toon Link:
 * Link (SSBB)/Final Smash
 * Link (SSB4)/Final Smash
 * Young Link (SSBU)/Final Smash
 * Toon Link (SSBB)/Final Smash
 * Toon Link (SSB4)/Final Smash
 * Toon Link (SSBU)/Final Smash