Link (SSB4): Difference between revisions

Link's special moves all have their uses. [[Hero's Bow]] is a strong option against characters who struggle at [[approach]]ing and is good for providing long-ranged pressure. [[Gale Boomerang]] is a decent spacing option and has follow-up potential upon contact or via its [[wind]]-based drag effect. Gale Boomerang's drag effect also grants it [[gimp]]ing potential in the form of [[Gale Guarding]]. [[Spin Attack]]'s overall recovery distance has noticeably improved since ''Brawl'', while its already impressive power has been further increased, which in turn improves its KO potential or as a way to punish rolls. However, Link's [[Bomb (Link)|Bomb]] is perhaps the most versatile weapon within his arsenal due to its utility. Throwing a Bomb at an opponent can cause enough [[hitstun]] to help Link's approach and/or set up combos. Conversely, if the opponent shields it, the Bomb simply bounces off, allowing it to be used for spacing. Even holding a Bomb long enough for it to explode can be useful; while doing so damages Link, it gives him a small vertical boost and removes him from being [[helpless]], aiding his recovery and/or allowing him to break out of combos. Like in ''Brawl'', his bombs can also be used for a technique called [[Glide toss#Dash item throw cancel item throw (DITCIT)|Bomb Sliding]], which noticeably supplements his ground mobility. When combined with the overall fastest [[item throw]] animations in the game, Link's Bomb allows him to pressure opponents at a deceptively fast speed.

Overall, Link is a beginner-friendly character that is capable at both spacing and [[camping]]. However, unlike his fellow beginner-friendly characters {{SSB4|Mario}}, {{SSB4|Pit}} and {{SSB4|Cloud}}, Link is a generally defensive character who relies on appropriate use of both camping and his combo game to be successful, which is often dependent on the matchup. Additionally, his techniques can be difficult to utilize at higher levels of play, especially because of the speedy and combo-oriented characters that are prevalent in the metagame.

Link also benefits from the general physics changes brought about by ''SSB4''. The [[Edge-guarding#Ledge Trump|edge trump]] mechanic further improves his recovery, while the [[rage]] mechanic further boosts his power and can be utilized well due to his excellent endurance. Lastly, Link is one of the only characters to not be noticeably affected by the general nerf to camping. Ultimately, Link is significantly better than how he was in ''Brawl'' and is arguably better than he was was in ''Melee'', although his current viability is somewhat debatable due to the majority of the returning cast having also been buffed to varying degrees.

*{{buff|The Hylian Shield now blocks projectiles even while Link is walking. Additionally, it now always protects his front while he is idle, thanks to his idle poses' updated animations. Lastly, Link now raises it when a projectile or an explosion hits it.<ref name="Shield"/> Altogether, these changes significantly improve its reliability.}}

*{{buff|Down tilt deals 1% less damage (12% → 11%), although its knockback growth was somewhat compensated (50 → 62/30). It also has decreased start-up (frame 13 → 11) and ending lag (frame 32 → 29). Altogether, these changes improve its combo potential. It will also now always meteor smash the opponent should they be close enough to the ledge, improving its reliability.}}

*{{nerf|Down tilt has drastically reduced base knockback, now not being able to KO offstage opponents until well beyond 100%. It also cannot meteor smash opponents on the ledge (excluding Charizard).}}

*{{buff|Link has a new dash attack, the {{s|zeldawiki|Jump Attack}} from ''The Legend of Zelda'' series. Compared to the previous dash attack, it deals more damage (10%/12%/11% → 14%/13%/12%) and knockback (30 (base)/80 (growth)/0 (set) → 70 (base)/85/77 (growth)/85 (set)), making it better at KOing. It also has significantly larger hitboxes. Like the previous dash attack, it has favorable launching angles (90°/80°/70°/60° → 45°/50°/55°), which make it equally ideal for follow-ups.}}

*{{nerf|Forward smash deals less damage (15%/14% (hit 1)/17%/20% (hit 2) → 14% (hit 1)/13%/12% (hit 2)) and its second hit has increased ending lag (frame 50 → 68).}}

*{{buff|Forward smash has altered knockback (25 (base)/90 (growth) → 47/100 (hit 1), 20/25/30 (base)/90 (growth) → 85/89 (hit 2)), improving its KO potential. Its new knockback values also allow its non-tippered first hit to combo into its second hit, similarly to {{SSB4|Toon Link}}'s forward smash.}}

*{{buff|Up smash's last hit deals 1% more damage (10%/9%/8% → 11%/10%/9%) and has altered knockback (70 (base)/80 (growth) → 60/96), improving its KO potential. Up smash's hits also connect together better.}}

*{{buff|Down smash has altered knockback (26 (base)/90 (growth) → 40/88 (hit 1), 20 (base)/90 (growth) → 80/63 (hit 2)), improving its KO potential.}}

*{{buff|Due to its angles being altered (75° (both) → 78° (hit 1)/30° (hit 2)), down smash's second hit is now a [[semi-spike]].}}

*{{nerf|Forward aerial is interruptible 2 frames later (frame 48 → 50).}}

*{{buff|Up aerial has an altered animation. Link now leans further backward while performing the {{s|zeldawiki|Up Thrust}}. This makes improves its range and makes his hurtbox narrower.}}

*{{nerf|Clean and late down aerial deal less damage (22% (clean)/18% (late) → 18%/15%). Down aerial is also more difficult to land and all of its hits have decreased base knockback (40/30 → 30 (early, clean), 40/50 → 30 (late, bounce)), hindering its KO potential.}}

*{{buff|Down aerial's bouncing hit deals 3% more damage (8% → 11%). Additionally, it can now [[meteor smash]] during start-up,<ref>[https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAADMUKlaxXyxNw Pic of the Day: November 6, 2013]</ref> similarly to [[Toon Link (SSBB)|Toon Link]]'s down aerial in ''Brawl''. However, it does not meteor smash grounded opponents, allowing it to connect into its second hit. Lastly, it has decreased landing lag (50 frames → 32) and increased range, improving its safety.}}

*{{nerf|Grab aerial deals less damage (4% (hit 1)/6% (hit 2) → 2.5%/4%) and has increased start-up lag (frame 11 → 12).}}

*{{buff|Grab aerial has significantly increased range as a [[tether recovery]], significantly improving its recovery potential. It also transitions faster as an attack (frames 11-16 (hit 1)/frames 23-24 (hit 2) → 12-21/22-23).}}

*{{buff|[[Gale Boomerang]] has slightly improved follow-up potential at close range and at low percentages.}}

*{{buff|Uncharged [[Spin Attack]] deals 2% more damage (12% → 14%) and has increased knockback growth (72 (hit 1)/80 (hits 2-3) → 86 (early, clean)/82 (late)), improving its KO potential. It also has decreased start-up lag (frame 12 → 8).}}

*{{nerf|Spin Attack's back half KOs 19% later.}}

*{{buff|Due to consisting of nine hits instead of five, aerial Spin Attack deals 8% more damage (14% → 22%). Additionally, its last hit has increased knockback growth (160 → 200), significantly improving its KO potential. Lastly, it covers much more vertical and horizontal distance, Link retains much more momentum upon performing it, and it can now hit an opponent behind him, significantly improving its recovery potential and safety.}}

Link has been heavily buffed via game updates. In update [[1.0.4]], the knockback of the first hit of his forward smash was lowered, allowing it to connect better into the second hit. In update [[1.0.6]] though, he received a mix of buffs and nerfs, which hindered his KO and damage racking potentials, but improved his range and combo game. However, update 1.0.8 brought Link significant buffs in the form of a much more effective grab game and better KOing options, the latter of which helped mitigate the nerfs to his KOing potential that update 1.0.6 brought. In update [[1.1.0]], his grab game was buffed by slightly decreasing the start-up lag of his dash and pivot grabs. Updates [[1.1.3]] and [[1.1.5]] also brought several buffs, which further increased his already high KO potential. Lastly, he was indirectly buffed due to the changes on the shield mechanics in updates 1.1.0 and [[1.1.1]], as the increased [[shieldstun]] and the fact that [[hitlag]] modifiers now apply on shielding opponents improve Link's close-range game by making his moves safer on shield. Altogether, these buffs have resulted in Link being viewed as a better character than how he was in ''Brawl'' and even better than during the initial release of ''SSB4'', much like {{SSB4|Samus}}.

*{{change|Down tilt's knockback growth decreased. This improves its combo potential, but hinders its KO potential.}}

*{{change|Down tilt deals 1% less damage|12%|11%, its knockback decreased, and its start-up lag decreased. These changes improve its combo potential, but hinder its KO potential.}}