Young Link (SSBM): Difference between revisions

'''Young Link''' ({{ja|こどもリンク|Kodomo Rinku}}, ''Young Link'') is a character in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]''. He is a direct clone of {{SSBM|Link}}, with some minor differences.

He ranks 17th on the [[tier list]] in the C- tier, one place higher than Link. Young Link has a very good approach due to some low [[lag]] [[aerial]]s, a great [[SHFFL]] and a good [[wavedash]], as well as three [[projectile]]s and good mobility overall. Young Link also is a potent [[combo]]er due to his projectiles, and can also [[edgeguard]] and [[space]] well. However, Young Link's primary flaw is that he has trouble [[KO]]ing, due to the lack of an efficient quick KO move and having difficulty in hitting cleanly with his [[smash attack]]s (except his down smash). Additionally, like Link, Young Link has a slow and predictable [[recovery]], though his ability to [[wall jump]], [[bomb jump]] and use his [[hookshot]] give him some options. Young Link's recovery, however, is rather poor for his [[weight]] class.

==How to unlock==

When fought, Young Link appears on [[Great Bay]], with ''Saria's Song'' playing in the background.

**{{buff|Back aerial is easier to connect than Link's.}}

*[[Down aerial]]:

**{{change|Down aerial gets stronger later in the attack, unlike Link's that gets weaker.}}

*[[Grab aerial]]:

{{MovesetTable

|game=SSBM

|neutralcount=3

|neutralinf=y

|neutralinfdmg=1% (loop)

|neutraldesc=Same as Link's; two initial slashes, and then it can be either a single launching stab if the [[A button]] is pressed just three times, or a barrage of stabs if it's pressed in quick succession.

|ftiltdmg=12% (tip), 11% (base), 10% (body)

|ftiltdesc=Brings sword down, in an axe-like fashion. Considerably faster than Link's.

|utiltdmg=8%

|utiltdesc=Swings his sword in an arc above himself. Quick, leads into various air combos if the foe [[DI]]s wrong. Above average KO power beyond high damages, usually 120%+, but can KO faster than his up smash.

|dtiltdmg=7% (tip), 9% (base), 10% (body)

|dtiltdesc=Swipes sword whilst crouching. Can lead into various combos, though somewhat slow. Incredibly powerful [[meteor smash]] if used against a foe on the ledge; unlike Link's, the meteor smash hitbox is located on the tip of the sword, making it considerably more useful for [[edgeguarding]].

|dashdmg=11% (tip), 10% (body)

|dashdesc=Slashes in front of himself and slows down. Surprisingly powerful for a dash attack, and it has the unusual property of Young Link charging forward. With the ability to KO starting at 95%, it is one of Young Link's most used finishers.

|fsmashcount=2

|fsmashdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|10}}

|fsmash2dmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|9}} (tip), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|11}} (body), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|12}} (base & arm)

|fsmashdesc=Swings his sword in front once with low set knockback, and if the [[A button]] is pressed again, he will do a much more powerful slash to follow. The first hit easily chains into the second, though it can be DI'd out of. Very strong finisher, damage and knockback-wise.

|usmashdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|3}} (hit 1), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|2}} (hit 2), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|7}}-{{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|8}} (hit 3 clean), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|8}}-{{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|9}} (hit 3 late)

|usmashdesc=Slashes in an upwards arc three consecutive times. Hits all usually follow into each other with the final hit having the most knockback, though DI makes it an unreliable finishing attack. Fully charged is usually the toughest time to get all hits successfully connecting. The last hit has the unusual property of being able to send opponents to the left or right side of him.

|dsmashdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|13}}/{{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|7}} (front), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|12}}/{{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|6}} (back)

|dsmashdesc=Swings sword on both sides of himself on the ground. First hit comes out fast, though second hit has some lag. Deals less damage if the opponent hits the tip of Young Link's sword.

|nairdmg=12% (clean), 8% (late)

|nairdesc=A standard [[sex kick]]. Stronger than Link's.

|fairdmg=12%/11%/9% (clean), 8%/7%/5% (late)

|fairdesc=Swings his sword twice in front of himself. Strangely, even though Young Link does two midair slashes, the move can only hit opponents once.

|bairdmg=7% (hits 1-2)

|bairdesc=Two short-ranged kicks behind himself. More easier for both hits to connect compared to Link's version.

|uairdmg=15% (clean), 12% (late)

|uairdesc=Stabs his sword upwards. Not a good move for KOing, being better at juggling.

|dairdmg=14%/16% (early), 17%/21% (late), 8%/9% (after bounce)

|dairdesc=Very similar to Link's. Thrusts his sword down with massive damage, knockback, ending lag, and duration, and makes Young Link bounce after hitting a foe. If the opponent is positioned above or to the side of Young Link, they will be hit with an extremely powerful [[meteor smash]]. This is hard to perform as Young Link will most likely self-destruct. If the opponent is below Young Link, it results in considerable vertical knockback on the first hit, making it a great KO move. It is the strongest meteor smash in ''Melee'' (when the 21% hitbox connects) and is the most powerful aerial attack in the game, being even stronger than Ganondorf's down aerial, despite the latter having slightly superior knockback scaling. This is due to Young Link's down aerial having immensely high base knockback (70). Though it is very difficult to meteor smash opponents on a soft platform, it is capable of [[Star KO]]ing any grounded opponents (only if the characters are on the soft platform) under 150%.

|zairdmg=5%

|zairdesc=Uses his Hookshot. The attack has the unusual property of not suffering from [[stale move negation]]. With low damage, knockback and hitstun, as well as long lag, the move has relatively little use outside of being used for recovery, though its long range can potentially catch opponents off-guard, and it benefits from Young Link's small short hop. This move has [[Priority#Transcendent_priority|transcendent priority]].

|grabdesc=Uses his hookshot to grab at foes from afar. It's the third longest grab in the game, behind {{SSBM|Link}}.

|pummeldmg=3%

|pummeldesc=Hits opponent with the hilt of his sword.

|fthrowdmg=3% (hit 1), 3% (throw)

|fthrowdesc=Kicks foe forward. Can chaingrab against heavy foes, or can simply lead into a combo or follow-up attack.

|bthrowdmg=3% (hit 1), 3% (throw)

|bthrowdesc=Takes foe and kicks them to his back.

|uthrowdmg=4% (hit 1), 2% (throw)

|uthrowdesc=Takes foe and swings his sword in an arc above, launching the foe above. Can lead into various combos, or simply his up aerial. At high percentage it can lead to his down aerial's meteor smash (up to 200%) if timed correctly.

|dthrowdmg=2% (hit 1), 4% (throw)

|dthrowdesc=Suddenly grounds the foe and tackles them. This launches the foe temporarily in the air right in front of Young Link, and can lead into many combos, though being DI-able.

|dsdmg=2-7% (contact), 2% (explosion hits 1-3)

|dsdesc=Young Link takes out a bomb and can throw it like any other item. The bomb eventually explodes on its own, even being able to damage Young Link himself. Unlike Link's Bombs, Young Link's bombs deal multiple hits upon exploding. Oddly, anyone who comes in contact with the bomb will have an [[explosive]] effect on their bodies, despite the bomb not detonating. The explosion can grant Young Link an extra Spin Attack if used skillfully.

}}

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*{{Sm|Rocket|Chile}} - Was the first solo Young Link to be ranked top 100, being ranked 98th on the [[SSBMRank 2022]]. He is considered one of the best solo players in the world, with a 17th place finish at {{Trn|Wavedash 2022}}, picking up a win over {{Sm|Suf}}. He also has taken sets from {{Sm|Spark}}.

*Young Link in ''Melee'' has the worst fast fall speed increase of any character in any official ''Smash'' game, at only 3.3% faster than his maximum fall speed.

*Despite the entire playable ''Zelda'' cast in ''Melee'' all being based on their ''Ocarina of Time'' designs, Young Link is technically the only one to appear in another game; in this case, ''Majora's Mask''.

{{SSBMCharacters}}

{{Zelda universe}}