Link (SSBU)

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Link in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Universe	The Legend of Zelda
Other playable appearances	in SSB in Melee in Brawl in SSB4
Availability	Starter (Unlockable in World of Light)
Final Smash	Ancient Bow and Arrow

“	Link has been redesigned to match his appearance in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. He can now pick up arrows he's fired, and his bombs have been upgraded to remote bombs, so you can set them off when the timing is just right!	”
—Super Smash Blog, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Official Site

Link (リンク, Link) is a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. He was teased in a trailer released on March 8th, 2018 before being fully confirmed as playable on June 12th, 2018. Link is classified as fighter #03.

Link is now voiced by Kengo Takanashi, who reprises his role from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Changes from Super Smash Bros. 4

Link received a mix of buffs and nerfs in the transition between Smash 4 and Ultimate. He now incorporates multiple elements from Breath of the Wild into his moveset, such as the Remote Bomb, the Ancient Bow & Ancient Arrow, and the Sword Beam. Compared to his previous iterations in Smash, Link has better close combat capabilities thanks to his faster movement speed and longer sword, and the return of the Boomerang improves his ability to combo. On the other hand, his recovery is notably worse due to the loss of his tether, Spin Attack's reduced distance, and the changes to his bombs which hinder his bomb recovery.

Aesthetics

• Link's design is now based on his appearance in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. His default outfit is the blue Champion's Tunic, with the more traditional green Tunic of the Wild as an alternate costume, each having their own respective set of palette swaps. The Master Sword's design has also been updated.
• Link holds the Master Sword with his right hand and the Hylian Shield with his left. He also has an altered idle pose with his legs positioned farther apart and his sword and shield held up at all times.
• Link's new on-screen appearance involves him gliding onto the stage using the Paraglider.
• Link has a new side taunt where he holds the Master Sword in front of him with both hands while it glows, similar to one of Ike's taunts.
• Link's victory animation where he swings his sword then sheathes it now shows him swinging it back before sheathing it.
• Link's Boxing Ring alias has been changed to "Champion of Hyrule".

Attributes

• Like all characters, Link's jumpsquat animation now takes three frames to complete (down from 7).
• Link walks faster (1.188 → 1.247).
• Link runs faster (1.3944 → 1.534).
  • Link's initial dash is significantly faster (1.3 → 1.98).
• Link jumps higher.
• Link has increased air speed (0.88 → 0.924).
• Spot dodge has less lag (29 frames → 28).
• Spot dodge has less intangibility frames (3-18 frames → 3-17).
• Forward roll has less intangibility frames (4-17 frames → 4-15).
• Back roll has more lag (30 frames → 35) and less intangibility, also coming out slower (4-17 frames → 5-16).
• Air dodge has more lag (33 → 49).
• Air dodge has more intangibility frames (3-28 frames → 3-30).
• The Master Sword is longer, increasing the range of Link's sword-based attacks.

Ground Attacks

• Neutral attack:
  • Neutral attack's speed has been modified overall.
    • Neutral attack's first hit transitions into the second slower (frame 11 → 12).
    • Neutral attack's second hit transitions into the third faster (frame 11 → 8).
    • Neutral attack's second hit comes out one frame faster (frame 6 → 5).
    • The endlag of neutral attack's first (28 frames → 25) and final hits (37 frames → 35) were decreased.
    • Neutral attack's first hit comes out one frame slower (frame 7 → 8).
    • The endlag of neutral attack's second hit was increased (21 frames → 25).
    • Neutral attack's final hit's active frames were reduced (frames 6-10 → 6-7).
  • Neutral attack's final hit now involves Link swiping vertically instead of thrusting his sword.
  • Neutral attack's damage has been redistributed, with the first two hits dealing more damage (2.5% → 3% each) and the third hit dealing less (5% → 4%).
• Forward tilt:
  • Forward tilt has more endlag (FAF 38 → 40).
  • Forward tilt causes the screen to shake when the sword hits the ground.
• Up tilt:
  • Up tilt is an overhead arcing slash that starts from behind Link.
  • Up tilt deals more damage (9% → 11%).
• Down tilt:
  • Down tilt comes out one frame faster (frame 11 → 10).
  • Down tilt's endlag has been increased (FAF 29 → 31).
  • Down tilt deals less damage (11% → 9%).
• Dash attack:
  • Dash attack's initial lunge provides less distance, decreasing the move's horizontal range but allowing Link to more reliably hit opponents closer to him.
• Forward smash:
  • Forward smash's first hit has increased start-up (frame 15 → 17), and marginally decreased endlag (FAF 52 → 51).
  • Forward smash's first hit shoots out a spinning Sword Beam when Link is at 0% damage. Charging forward smash increases the size and damage of the projectile. This is in reference to multiple Zelda games where Link's sword shoots out beams when he is at full health.
  • The endlag of forward smash's second hit was decreased significantly (FAF 68 → 61).
• Down smash:
  • Down smash has slightly more startup on both hits (first hit 9 → 12, second hit 21 → 24).
  • Down smash has more endlag (FAF 50 → 55).

Aerial attacks

• All aerials have less landing lag:
  • Neutral: (10 → 6)
  • Forward: (12 → 11)
  • Back: (10 → 6)
  • Up: (23 → 14)
  • Down: (32 → 19)
• Forward aerial:
  • Forward aerial's first hit has significantly weaker knockback, which allows it to reliably link into the second hit.
  • Forward aerial's animation has been sped up, with the window in-between hits having been sped up (12 frames → 8).
  • Forward aerial's first hit can no longer KO at reasonable percents. Additionally, the start-up has been increased (frame 14 → 16).
  • Both hits of forward aerial deal 3% less damage (11%, 13% → 8%, 10%).
  • Forward aerial's endlag was slightly increased (50 frames → 52).
• Back aerial:
  • Both hits of back aerial deal 2% more damage. In addition, the second hit comes out earlier (frame 18 → 15), thus reducing the frame gap between hits.
  • Back aerial's second hit has less active frames (frame 18-22 → 15-17).
  • Back aerial has a slightly different animation.
• Down aerial:
  • Down aerial has a different animation, with a more exaggerated downward thrust.
  • Down aerial's early hit has more active frames (frame 14-17 → 14-19).
  • Down aerial's early hit deals 3% more damage (15% → 18%).

Throws/other attacks

• Link now grabs opponents with his hand instead of using the Clawshot.
  • All grabs have significantly reduced start-up and less endlag.
    • Standing Grab: (Start-up frame 12 → 6, FAF 62 → 35)
    • Dash Grab: (Start-up frame 14 → 9, FAF 66 → 43)
    • Pivot Grab: (Start-up frame 15 → 10, FAF 67 → 38)
  • All grabs have reduced range and no longer have lingering hitboxes.
• Pummel deals less damage (2.1% → 1.3%), but is overall faster.
• Link no longer has a grab aerial or a tether recovery due to losing the Clawshot.
  • Link can now Z-drop his Remote Bombs without triggering the grab aerial's lengthy animation.
• Forward throw and back throw deal 1.5% less damage

Special Moves

• Bow and Arrows:
  • Link now uses the Traveler's Bow from Breath of the Wild instead of the Hero's Bow.
  • Arrows will become momentarily lodged in opponents' bodies.
  • Arrows charge faster and release earlier (frame 18 → 16). Additionally, Link now has less endlag (47 frames → 45).
  • Arrows travel farther at minimum charge.
  • Arrows that fail to hit an opponent will linger on the ground for a longer period of time and can be picked up and thrown. Using the Bow and Arrows while holding an arrow causes Link to fire two arrows at once for double the damage.
    • Arrows can be picked up by opponents and thrown at Link.
  • Arrows travel noticeably slower.
  • Arrows can no longer be held indefinitely.
• Boomerang:
  • The more traditional Boomerang has replaced the Gale Boomerang, functioning as it did in Smash 64 and Melee.
  • Boomerang has regained its damaging hitbox while returning, allowing Link to interrupt opponents' attacks and perform combos more reliably than he could with Gale Boomerang's windbox.
  • Boomerang overall damage has been increased with both early (7% → 8%) and late (5% → 6%) hits. In addition, the returning hitbox deals 3% damage.
  • Boomerang's throwing range has been increased.
  • Boomerang travels more slowly upon returning. This increases the amount of time the hitbox is active but also increases the amount of time it takes before Link can throw it again.
  • Boomerang will damage Link if it is reflected back at him. Link can also no longer perform the Gale Guarding technique.
  • Rather than simply disappearing, the Boomerang will drop to the ground and disappear in a puff of smoke if it is intercepted by another projectile.
• Spin Attack:
  • Spin Attack has more vibrant graphics and generates a blue "slash" around Link. Link now moves his arm while charging the move, and the Master Sword glints with light up to three times, referencing the three levels of charged attacks in Breath of the Wild. The grounded version is now an inward spin.
  • Link now has separate voice clips for grounded and aerial Spin Attacks, with the aerial version having two different clips.
  • Grounded Spin Attack deals more damage overall, has more range due to its new graphics, and has less start-up (frame 8 → 7) and endlag (FAF 82 → 77).
• Remote Bomb:
  • The spherical Remote Bomb from Breath of the Wild replaces Bomb as Link's down special. Rather than exploding on contact, the Remote Bomb bounces off of opponents and objects, and can be easily punted around by any attack. It is detonated by inputting down special again, similar to Snake's C4. It will also detonate automatically after about 30 seconds. This changes up Link's item play and recovery tactics substantially.
  • Remote Bomb's 30 second fuse allows it to remain in play much longer than Bomb's 7 seconds.
  • Remote Bomb's explosion has a significantly larger blast radius.
  • Remote Bomb's explosion damage has been streamlined to 7% all-around.
  • Remote Bomb's explosion deals significantly higher knockback, improving its KO potential. Opponents are also launched at a more horizontal angle, and the opponent's location relative to the bomb determines the direction they are sent. This generally improves its combo and edgeguarding potential.
  • Remote Bombs themselves can lock opponents if thrown lightly.
  • Remote Bomb now has 12 frames of start-up before it can damage the opponent.
  • Remote Bomb cannot be manually detonated if it is held by an opponent; if attempted, Link will try to generate another Remote Bomb, but this will fail and give him high ending lag.
  • Remote Bomb will damage Link even if the opponent is caught within its blast radius.
  • Only one Remote Bomb can be on the field at a time, as opposed to two Bombs.
  • The Remote Bomb itself deals less damage when hitting an opponent since it no longer explodes on contact.
  • Remote Bomb cannot be detonated while Link is helpless. Coupled with the bomb's horizontal knockback, this hinders Link's vertical recovery.
    • Link can now Z-drop and detonate a Remote Bomb on himself to supplement his horizontal recovery.
• Ancient Bow and Arrow:
  • Link's new Final Smash is the Ancient Bow and Arrow, replacing Triforce Slash. It is functionally similar to Zelda's Light Arrow from previous games, although it only deals a single powerful blow to the first opponent in the arrow's path along with any bystanders.
  • Ancient Bow and Arrow has more horizontal range than Triforce Slash.

Update History

1.2.0

• Invisible Bomb glitch removed.

Moveset

On-screen appearance

• Glides in on his Paraglider, and unsheathes his sword.

Taunts

• Up Taunt : Swings the Master Sword skillfully (twice), twirls it behind his head, and sheathes it.
• Side Taunt: Holds the Master Sword in front of him, in both of his hands. When the sword glows blue, he slices the air, holding the sword vertically.
• Down Taunt: Assumes a Fujian White Crane-like stance while rearing the Master Sword behind him. Loosely based on his attacking pose in Zelda II.

Idle poses

• Assumes a battle stance.
• Looks behind him, but more far-off than in previous games.

Victory poses

• Swings the Master Sword thrice and looks to the left. In prior Smash titles, he used to look to the right.
• Thrusts the Master Sword forward, holds it up to his face, then thrusts it upwards while yelling a kiai.
• Swings the Master Sword once, turns his back to the screen and sheathes the sword, while looking at the camera from the corner of his eye.

Classic Mode: A Quest to Seal the Darkness

Link's opponents are all affiliated with darkness.

Round	Opponent	Stage	Music	Notes
1	Dark Pit	Reset Bomb Forest	Dark Pit's Theme
2	Giant Ridley	Norfair	Vs. Ridley
3	Bayonetta	Umbra Clock Tower	One Of A Kind
4	Dark Samus	Frigate Orpheon	Boss Battle 4 - Metroid: Samus Returns
5	Ganondorf	Gerudo Valley	Gerudo Valley	Zelda is a CPU ally.
6	Dark Link	Temple	Great Temple / Temple	If using the Dark Link costume, Link appears as an enemy.
Bonus Stage
Final	Ganon	Calamity Ganon Battle - Second Form

Character unlock tree

Link's Classic Mode character unlock tree includes the following characters in order:

• King K. Rool
• Ice Climbers
• Simon
• Meta Knight
• Snake
• Young Link
• Richter
• Toon Link

Each character can be unlocked by clearing Link's Classic Mode, or the Classic Mode of any preceding character, if all preceding characters have been unlocked. Once all the above characters are unlocked, clearing Classic Mode with any of them will default to Mario's character unlock tree, starting with Sonic.

Role in World of Light

Link was among the fighters summoned to the cliffside to fight the army of Master Hands.

Link was present on the cliffside when Galeem unleashed his beams of light. Link successfully deflected three beams of light with his Hylian Shield (staying true to the shield's unbreakable nature), but he lost his footing on the third blow, and was vaporized and placed under Galeem's imprisonment along with the rest of the fighters (excluding Kirby).

Link is unlocked near a Sheikah Tower when taking the Villager route. The player must defeat either Don's or Fiora's spirit to access his unlock battle.

Alternate costumes

Gallery

• 

  Link, Kirby, Mario, and Cloud artwork, as posted by Tetsuya Nomura's official Twitter account.

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  Artwork of all The Legend of Zelda characters, as posted on the official Legend of Zelda Twitter account.

• 

  Official render of Link's Tunic of the Wild outfit.

• 

  Link's fighter card.

• 

  Link taunting on the Great Plateau Tower.

• 

  Link about to perform his forward smash on Temple.

• 

  Link performing a Spin Attack on Pac-Man on Spirit Train.

• 

  Link holding a Heart Container on Great Bay.

• 

  Link performing his new Final Smash, Ancient Bow and Arrow.

• 

  About to strike Ganondorf with his dash attack on Skyworld.

• 

  Struck by Daisy's down smash on Spirit Train.

• 

  Link struck by Dr. Mario's forward smash on New Pork City.

• 

  Link, Mario and Samus struck by the Inkling's Splat Roller on Figure-8 Circuit.

• 

  Link getting hit by Isabelle's forward smash on Luigi's Mansion.

• 

  Link struck by Roy's neutral aerial on Skyloft.

• 

  Link, Marth and Shulk advancing towards Rathalos on Coliseum.

• 

  Link, Pikachu, Bowser and Inkling being attacked by Rathalos on Tortimer Island.

• 

  Link using Bow and Arrows on Prism Tower.

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  With Mario, Donkey Kong, Samus, Ice Climbers, Pit, Villager and Inkling on Battlefield.

• 

  With Kirby, Mario, Inkling, Marth, Pit, Ridley and Villager on Battlefield.

• 

  With all playable The Legend of Zelda veterans on the Great Plateau Tower.

• 

  With Zelda and Ganondorf on the Great Plateau Tower.

Character Showcase Video

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Trivia

• Ultimate marks the first time in the Smash series where Link does not wear his trademark green tunic as his default outfit, as well as the first time Link no longer has his Goron and Zora tunics from Ocarina of Time as his respective red and blue alternate costumes. His new red and blue costumes are based on armor sets from Breath of the Wild - the Hylian Tunic and the Royal Guard Uniform, respectively.
  • Ironically, Link's Champion's Tunic cannot be dyed in Breath of the Wild despite being the base for four of his costumes in Ultimate. His Tunic of the Wild can be dyed, but the colors used for the other four costumes based on this outfit are not possible in Breath of the Wild.
  • Despite being recolored versions of the Tunic of the Wild, neither his Fierce Deity nor his Twilight Princess-inspired costumes appear to expose his knees. This is in line with how both outfits appear in their respective Zelda games.
  • Despite Link's default design lacking a cap, Kirby still gains his familiar green cap when copying Link.
• Ultimate is the first Smash game where Link does not use a tether; however, his doppelgängers Young Link and Toon Link still use one.
• In the E3 demo of the game, Link's portrait used his in-game model instead of his official artwork. This was also the case for Mario, Pikachu and Villager.
• Link is one of three fighters from Smash 4 to have their Boxing Ring alias changed in Ultimate, the others being Mega Man and Ryu.
• Link is ranked #3 on Ultimate's roster, which is coincidentally the same number of playable Links in the game as well as the same number of pieces in the Triforce.