Young Link: Difference between revisions

{{ArticleIcons|melee=y|brawl=y|ultimate=y}}

{{Infobox Character General

|name = Young Link

|firstgame = ''{{s|zeldawiki|The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time}}'' (1998)

|games = ''[[Melee]]''<br>''[[Ultimate]]''

|console = [[Nintendo 64]]

|gender = Male

|interwikipage = Young Link

}}

In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'', Young Link is an [[unlockable character]] and returns in that capacity in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'' after being absent from both ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]''.

However, the playable Young Link in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series is based specifically on the incarnation who made his debut in ''{{s|zeldawiki|The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time}}'', in which the "{{s|zeldawiki|Hero of Time}}" begins his quest as a young boy. Initially growing up in {{s|zeldawiki|Kokiri Forest}} under the assumption of being a {{s|zeldawiki|Kokiri}}, Link was eventually summoned by the {{s|zeldawiki|Great Deku Tree}} to receive his very own {{s|zeldawiki|fairy}}, {{s|zeldawiki|Navi}}. During this, the Tree also reveals that Link is destined to save {{s|zeldawiki|Hyrule}} by preventing a [[Ganondorf|desert man clad in black armor]] from acquiring the {{s|zeldawiki|Triforce}}, an almighty relic that can grant any wish.

Although Link is successful in acquiring all three stones, he is too late to reunite with Zelda, who escapes on horseback alongside [[Impa]], her attendant. However, Zelda nevertheless manages to throw the {{s|zeldawiki|Ocarina of Time}} into Hyrule Castle's moat, allowing Link to claim it and proceed with their plan of stopping Ganondorf. She then telepathically directs him to play the {{s|zeldawiki|Song of Time}} in front of the {{s|zeldawiki|Temple of Time}}'s altar, which would open the {{s|zeldawiki|Door of Time}} and allow Link to access the {{s|zeldawiki|Master Sword}} that lies beyond it and use the sword to stop Ganondorf.

Seven years later, a 16-year-old Link is awakened within the {{s|zeldawiki|Chamber of Sages}} by {{s|zeldawiki|Rauru}}, one of the six {{s|zeldawiki|Sage}}s. Upon explaining what happened to Link and the Triforce after he drew the Master Sword, Rauru declares him to be the "{{s|zeldawiki|Hero of Time}}". Rauru proceeds to grant Link a {{s|zeldawiki|Medallion}} before instructing him to awaken the remaining Sages and collect their respective Medallions in order to gain their assistance in defeating Ganondorf.

Immediately after stopping Ganondorf, Zelda sends Link back in time in order for him to relive his essentially lost childhood. A few months later, Link leaves Hyrule to search for Navi, who inexplicably left him after he placed the Master Sword back into the Pedestal of Time soon after stopping Ganondorf. During his search, he is ambushed by a {{s|zeldawiki|Skull Kid}} wearing a mysterious mask. Upon giving chase after having {{s|zeldawiki|Epona}}, his faithful steed, stolen by the Skull Kid, Link winds up in the mysterious parallel world known as {{s|zeldawiki|Termina}}.

Although Young Link's special moves are burdened by his aforementioned shorter range, they nevertheless have benefits to compensate. [[Fire Bow]]<ref name=SGbio/> boasts combo potential, thanks to its {{s|zeldawiki|Fire Arrow}}s' higher hitstun. Young Link's [[Boomerang]] can be thrown at wider angles,<ref name=SGbio/> while his [[Spin Attack]] is useful for punishing rolls thanks to its multiple hits. Lastly, Young Link's {{b|Bomb|Link}} has twice as many hitboxes as Link's Bomb, which give it greater damage potential and make it better in regard to combos.

{{clrl}}

===Trophies===

{{main|List of SSBM trophies (The Legend of Zelda series)}}

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==In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''==

Young Link was one of the five playable characters in ''Melee'' who did not return in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''. Instead, he has effectively been succeeded by {{SSBB|Toon Link}}, owing to both functioning as a younger, smaller, weaker, and faster version of Link. Toon Link also derives most of the moveset differences Young Link had from his older self, such as forward smash's first hit having set knockback, grounded Spin Attack hitting multiple times, and down aerial being capable of [[meteor smash]]ing.

===Stickers===

! Game

! Effect

|-

| {{s|zeldawiki|Deku Link}}

| [[The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask]]

| {{SortKey|AttackSlash+021}}{{EffectIcon|Slash}} Attack +21

|-

| [[Link]] with {{iw|zeldawiki|Goron Mask}}

| [[The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask]]

| {{SortKey|AttackSlash+017}}{{EffectIcon|Slash}} Attack +17

|-

| {{s|zeldawiki|Zora Link}}

Although Young Link's descendant, the "Hero of Twilight", has been succeeded by the "Hero of the Wild" as [[Link (SSBU)|a playable character]] in ''Ultimate'', Young Link nevertheless possesses mechanical and aesthetic aspects from both his own moveset in ''Melee'' and his descendant's moveset in ''SSB4''. When coupled with the new Link featuring a number of noticeable mechanical and aesthetic differences, Young Link has been further decloned, though not enough to change his full clone status.  

===Spirits===

|de=Junger Link

|deM=Young Link

|itM=Child Link

|nl=Jonge Link

|ru={{rollover|Юный Линк|Yunyy Link|?}}

|ruM=Young Link

|zh_cnM=Young Link

|zh_twM=

|ko={{rollover|소년 링크|Sonyeon Lingkeu|?}}, ''Young Link''

*Young Link and [[Pichu]] are the only playable characters to skip more than one installment in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series prior to returning to the series in a playable capacity.

**Young Link is also the only ''The Legend of Zelda'' character to skip an installment.

*''{{s|zeldawiki|Hyrule Warriors}}'' is the only other game outside of the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series where the Hero of Time's child form is referred to as "Young Link" instead of simply Link.

*Despite Young Link being the only incarnation capable of becoming {{s|zeldawiki|Fierce Deity Link}}, only the "Hero of Twilight" and the "Hero of the Wild" incarnations reference this transformation, specifically via [[alternate costume]]s.