Toon Link (SSBU): Difference between revisions

'''Toon Link''' ({{ja|トゥーンリンク|Tūn Rinku}}, ''Toon Link'') is a playable character in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''. He was officially confirmed as playable on June 12th, 2018. Toon Link is classified as fighter #43.

As in ''[[Brawl]]'' and ''Smash 4'', {{s|wikipedia|Sachi Matsumuto}}'s portrayal of Toon Link from ''{{s|zeldawiki|The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker}}'' was repurposed for ''Ultimate''.

*Clear {{SSBU|Classic Mode}} with {{SSBU|Link}} or any character in his unlock tree, being the eighth character unlocked after {{SSBU|Richter}}.

With the exception of the third method, Toon Link must then be defeated on [[Pirate Ship]].

==Differences from {{SSBU|Young Link}}==

{{Cleanup|Should only contain information about Super Smash Bros. Ultimate}}

Because both Toon Link and Young Link are lighter and faster clones of the original [[Link]], people consider Toon Link as Young Link’s replacement in ''Brawl''. However, Toon Link has a fair share of unique attacks that set him apart from both Links.

*{{change|While Young Link is based on Link's appearance in ''The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask'', Toon Link is based on Link's appearance in ''The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker''. As such, Toon Link’s entire skeleton is a different shape.}}

*{{change|Toon Link's taunts, idle poses, and victory poses are all different from Young Link's.}}

*{{buff|Toon Link is slightly shorter than Young Link, making him harder to hit.}}

*{{change|Toon Link is heavier than Young Link (88 → 91); this lets him survive slightly longer before being KO'd, but increases his susceptibility to combos.}}

*{{change|Toon Link falls much more slowly than Young Link (1.8 → 1.38), being tied for 55th fastest fall speed compared to Young Link being tied for 10th highest fall speed. While this hinders his vertical endurance, it also makes him less vulnerable to combos.}}

*{{change|Toon Link's gravity is lower (0.096 → 0.081).}}

*{{buff|Toon Link's air speed is faster (0.966 → 1.05).}}

*{{buff|Toon Link's air acceleration is faster (0.06 → 0.09).}}

*{{buff|Toon Link's Hero's Shield covers more of his body than Young Link's Deku Shield, increasing its overall reliability.}}

*{{buff|The third hit of Toon Link's [[neutral attack]] has a larger hitbox.}}

*{{change|Toon Link does not a have multi-hit neutral attack like Young Link did. Rather, Toon Link has the same neutral attack as {{SSBB|Link}}.}}

*{{nerf|The first hit of Toon Link's neutral attack has a shorter duration (frames 6-8 → 6-7).}}

*{{buff|Toon Link's up tilt has less startup lag (frame 9 → 8) and deals more damage (8% → 9%).}}

*{{change|Toon Link's [[down tilt]] does not meteor smash. Instead it knocks opponents horizontally. It also deals consistent damage (7%/9%/10% → 9%).}}

*{{buff|Toon Link's down tilt has less startup lag (frame 14 → 9), end lag (frame 41 → 23), can [[lock]] opponents and it has a 40% chance of [[tripping]] opponents.}}

*{{buff|Toon Link's [[dash attack]] has less end lag (frame 55 → 40). It also sends opponents at a lower angle making it better for edgeguarding and allowing it to lock and trip opponents.}}

*{{nerf|Toon Link's dash attack has more startup lag and a shorter duration (frames 7-12 → 9-11). The tipper hitbox also deals less damage (11% → 8%) and his dash attack deals much less knockback hindering its KO potential.}}

*{{buff|Toon Link's up smash is a single upward slash rather than three slashes, making it a more reliable and stronger finisher. Its clean hit also deals more damage (11% → 15%) and it has less ending lag (frame 60 → 38).}}

*{{change|Toon Link's up smash has a longer duration than the first hit of Young Link's up smash (frames 11-14 → 11-13 (clean), 14-17 (late).}}

*{{buff|The second hit of Toon Link's [[down smash]] has less startup lag (frame 21 → 17).}}

*{{change|The first hit of Toon Link's down smash now launches opponents onto the second hit and has set knockback, making it less useful for launching opponents in front of Toon Link however, it increases the maximum damage output of the move (13% → 17%).}}

*{{nerf|As the front hit of Toon Link's down smash sends opponents into the second hit, it makes his down smash much less reliable than Young Link's down smash as his opponents can avoid the second hit. The first hit also does not have a hitbox which deals 13% damage making it deal 7% much like Young Link's sourspot.}}

*{{change|Toon Link has a different neutral aerial. He swipes his sword in front and behind him. Both hits deal 10% damage.}}

*{{buff|Toon Link's neutral aerial [[auto cancel]]s earlier (frame 30> → 28>) and as it has two hits, its maximum damage output is higher (12% → 20%). It can also lock and trip opponents.}}

*{{nerf|Toon Link's neutral aerial has more startup lag and a shorter duration (frames 4-27 → 6-7 (front), 13-14 (back)).}}

*{{buff|Toon Link's [[forward aerial]] only consists of one hit instead of two making it much more reliable. It deals higher consistent damage than the first hit of Young Link's forward aerial (12%/10%/9% → 13%), has less ending lag (frame 56 → 38), has a bigger hitbox, can lock and trip opponents at very low percents and can auto cancel in a [[short hop]].}}

*{{nerf|Toon Link's forward aerial has a much shorter duration (frames 14-32 → 14-15) and has more landing lag (15 frames → 18).}}

*{{buff|Toon Link's has a different [[back aerial]]. He swings his sword behind him consisting of one hit. It has a longer duration than the first hit of Young Link's back aerial (frames 6-9 → 6-10), has less ending lag (frame 41 → 31), has less landing lag (15 frames → 10) and it auto cancels earlier (frame 29> → 28>) with Toon Link being able to very easily perform two back aerials in a short hop. Toon Link's back aerial has very strong combo potential at lower percents and can kill at very high percents giving it a lot more reliability and utility than Young Link's back aerial. It also has a larger disjointed hitbox.

*{{nerf|Due to Toon Link's back aerial only consisting of one hit instead of two, its maximum damage output is lower (13% → 10%).}}

*{{buff|Toon Link's up aerial is a much stronger KO move than Young Link's. It also has less landing lag (30 frames → 21) and auto cancels earlier (frame 55> → 47>).}}

*{{nerf|Toon Link's up aerial has more startup lag and a shorter duration (frames 5-50 → 11-40).}} The clean hit also deals less damage (15% → 14%) and it has less range.}}

*{{buff|Toon Link's [[down aerial]] has less startup lag (frame 13 → 12) and the sweetspot is drastically easier to land. The sweetspot can also trip opponents at very low percents. It also has less landing lag (50 frames → 40).}}

*{{change|Toon Link's down aerial is a [[stall-then-fall]] that makes him fall straight down (making it more akin to the down thrust used in his ''Zelda'' game appearances). This significantly hinders its safety off stage but allows him to reach his opponents much faster and it aids his vertical endurance due to the introduction of [[momentum canceling]]. It also deals consistent damage (14%/16% → 16% (clean), 17%/12% → 13% (late) 8%/9% → 8% (after bounce)).}}

*{{change|Down aerial now [[meteor smash]]es opponents during the beginning of the plunge, rather than having a sweetspot at the hilt of Young Link's sword. Toon Link's sweetspot also does not have a fire effect.}}

*{{nerf|Toon Link's grab aerial has more startup lag (frame 9 → 11), ending lag (frame 61 → 71), and deals less damage (5% → 4%). It also has much less range and is a tether recovery rather than a wall grapple greatly reducing its recovery potential.}}

*{{nerf|Toon Link's [[grab]]s has more startup lag (frame 10 → 12 (standing), frame 13 → 14 (dash)).}}

*{{buff|Both of Toon Link's grabs have longer durations (frame 10-13 → 12-16 (standing), 13-16 → 14-18 (dash)).}}

*{{buff|Toon Link's [[pummel]] has less ending lag (frame 26 → 16).}}

*{{nerf|Toon Link's pummel deals less damage (3% → 2%).}}

*{{change|All of Toon Link's throws deal more damage (6% → 7%).}}

*{{change|Toon Link's forward and back throws have different animations.}}

*{{buff|Toon Link's [[back throw]] is now a [[semi-spike]] making it more effective for edgeguarding especially when combined with its higher knockback.}}

*{{buff|Toon Link's [[down throw]] does not put opponents into [[tumble]] at lower percents preventing [[hitstun canceling]] and potentially allowing him to follow up after it.}}

*{{buff|Toon Link's [[Hero's Bow]] charges faster and shoots farther. Toon Link can auto cancel an uncharged Hero's Bow in a short hop. It can also lock opponents and Toon Link has access to {{b|Quickdraw|technique}}ing improving its utility. Toon Link is capable of firing an arrow out of a short hop followed up with a quickdrawn arrow.}}

*{{nerf|The arrows are slower and does not set targets on fire like Young Link's does. They also deal less damage (8-15% → 4-12%).}}

*{{buff|Toon Link's [[Boomerang]] is larger and it deals more damage from mid range (7% → 8%) and when it returns (2% → 3%). Toon Link also doesn't stop all momentum when using it and can use it while running off a ledge to gain a significant amount of horizontal momentum giving Boomerang additional edgeguarding potential.}}

*{{nerf|Toon Link's boomerang is slower and doesn't fly as far as Young Link's. It also deals less damage when throw (16%/19% → 12%).}}

*{{buff|[[Spin Attack]] has more vertical distance and has better horizontal control. Grounded Spin Attack also has much larger hitboxes (especially the final hit) and can also be charged and deals more damage than Young Link's when fully charged (13% → 19%).}}

*{{nerf|Toon Link's [[Bomb (Link)#Toon Link's Bombs|Bombs]] have less combo potential and are weaker compared to Young Link's [[Bomb (Link)#Young Link's Bombs|Bombs]] with their maximum damage output being lower (14% → 7%).}}

*{{buff|The hitboxes from the explosion are bigger. It is also easier for Toon Link to make use of [[jump cancel throw]]s due to his longer jumpsquat.}}

*{{change|The bombs' design and explosion effects are based off of ''The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker''.}}

Toon Link has been buffed in the transition from ''Smash 4'' to ''Ultimate''. As with other characters, his mobility has been improved thanks to faster walk and dash speeds, while the universal 3-frame jumpsquat makes it easier for him to perform ground-to-air combos. Toon Link's aerial game has also improved, with the reduced landing lag on his aerials making it easier for him to return to the stage, while his up aerial is notably much safer to use. Finally, Toon Link's recovery has been improved, while the changes to his Spin Attack make it better for recovering along with being much safer.

However, Toon Link also received some nerfs. The biggest nerfs were to his smash attacks; his forward smash has lower damage potential and can no longer strike edge-handing opponents as easily or use it as a mix-up/spacing tool as effectively. His up smash has fewer active frames, and his down smash, despite its improved consistency, has less offensive potential. His Bombs and Boomerang can also no longer beat out weak projectiles, while a grounded Spin Attack has less range, making it less safe around range-heavy characters due to its duration.

It is unknown how the buffs will help Toon Link in the early meta.

*{{change|As with all [[veteran]]s returning from ''Smash 4'', Toon Link's model features a more subdued color scheme. His clothing features simple woven and stitched detailing, similar to his design in ''[[Brawl]]'', though his hair remains clay-like.}}

*{{change|Some of the textures of Toon Link's face have been modified: his brow is more furrowed, and his mouth is now represented by a black dash, making it look less organic. Overall, he appears more cartoonish as a result.}}

*{{change|Like many returning characters, Toon Link is more expressive. He now sports angrier expressions by default.}}

*{{change|Toon Link's double jump animation is now an upward flip similar to {{SSBU|Roy}} and {{SSBU|Ganondorf}}.}}

*{{change|Toon Link's sword attacks now use a set of new, cartoonish slash sound effects when they land.}}

*{{change|Toon Link's [[taunt]]s have all been modified:}}

**{{change|His side taunt has a more surprised expression and pose.}}

*{{change|Toon Link's [[victory pose]] where he conducts with the [[zeldawiki:Wind Waker (Item)|Wind Waker]] has been modified to be more in-line with his official art from ''{{s|zeldawiki|The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker}}'' and its HD version.}}

*{{buff|Like all characters, Toon Link's [[jumpsquat]] animation now takes three frames to complete (down from 5).}}

*{{buff|Toon Link [[walk]]s slightly faster (1.2265 → 1.288).}}

*{{buff|Toon Link's [[air speed]] has increased (0.94 → 1.05).}}

*{{change|Toon Link's [[falling speed]] has increased slightly (1.28 → 1.38).}}

*{{change|Toon Link's [[sidestep]] has increased startup on his invincibility (2-15 → 3-16), but less endlag (25 → 20).}}

*{{change|Toon Link's back roll has slightly increased invincibility (4-14 → 4-15), but much more endlag (27 frames → 34).}}

*{{nerf|Toon Link's forward roll has slightly longer duration (FAF 27 → 29).}}

*{{buff|Toon Link can now Z-drop items such as his {{b|Bomb|Link}}s without releasing the [[Hookshot and Clawshot|Hookshot]]. This vastly improves its versatility and utility as a tactic, mixup, combo and disadvantage tool. This also sees the return of the Invincibomb technique.}}

**{{change|This change no longer allows Toon Link to Z-drop and use hookshot at the same time.}}

*{{nerf|The mechanical change to Tethers removes Toon Link's ability to cancel his airdodge into his hookshot, removing an option from his kit and vastly nerfing his recovery mixup potential.}}

**{{change|Toon Link is still able to Tether to ledge while holding a bomb, by simply pressing Grab without holding a direction.}}

**{{nerf|The change to neutral attacks knockback removes all of Toon Link's jab mixups.}}

**{{buff|Forward tilt's initial hitbox now knocks opponents to be in front of him, improving its consistency and trap potential.}}

**{{change|Down smash's front hitbox no longer sends opponents behind Toon Link; instead, each swing has strong knockback on its own.}}

**{{buff|This also vastly improves the consistency of the move and prevents grounded opponents from escaping between hits. Aerial opponents also are now hit with the regular hitbox as opposed to the aerial-only hitbox, which had reduced damage and altered knockback.}}

===Aerial attacks===

**{{buff|Back aerial has far less ending lag (45 frames → 35), allowing Toon Link to double jump out of a short hop with it once again.}}

**{{nerf|Back aerial does less damage (11% → 8%) and has lost much of its KO potential.}}

**{{buff|Up aerial has an altered animation where Toon Link ducks more. This lowers his hurtbox and allows him to hit opponents beneath him more effectively, similar to {{SSBU|Link}}'s up aerial.}}

**{{nerf|Grab aerial can only hit one opponent or projectile. Once it collides with something, it bounces off and the hitbox is disabled.}}

*{{buff|All of Toon Link's Grab animations have a notable reduction in their endlag (frame 62 → 51 (standing), frame 72 → 60 (dash), frame 72 → 55 (pivot)).}}

*{{change|Toon Link has an altered [[Down throw]] animation where he jumps much higher in the air before tackling his opponent. This helps him avoid projectiles close to the ground (especially his own bombs), but opens him to projectiles in the air.}}

*{{nerf|All of Toon Link's item toss framedata has increased endlag, reducing the potency of his item throws and followups (Forward: 20 → 24, back: 20 → 24, up: 20 → 23, down: 19 → 20).)}}

***{{nerf|Boomerang is unavailable during this clanking animation, reducing Boomerang's utility in trade situations.}}

**{{change|Boomerang has less duration on the returning hitbox. This reduces the potential of the returning boomerang, but the Boomerang now reappears in Toon Link's hands more quickly.}}

**{{change|Boomerang has different physics when bouncing against surfaces in certain situations, most notably on return, altering the utility of returning boomerang.}}

**{{change|Spin Attack's sword trails are blue, now matching how they were in ''The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker''.}}

**{{buff|Grounded Spin Attack is faster (frame 9 → 6), has slightly less endlag (frame 80 → 77), deals much more knockback, and now hits opponents horizontally, granting it KO potential.}}

**{{buff|Grounded Spin Attack always knocks opponents in the direction Toon Link is facing, giving Toon Link the ability to control where his opponent is sent.}}

**{{buff|Aerial Spin Attack now has multiple hitboxes behind Toon Link, improving its safety and utility, and also increasing damage output on large targets caught in the attack.}}

**{{buff|Aerial Spin Attack now allows Toon Link to retain much more horizontal drift after the final hitbox, improving its spacing and recovery potential.}}

**{{buff|Toon Link now pulls out the Bomb slightly quicker (39 frames → 36).}}

**{{change|Bomb no longer does differing damage based on direct contact (4%) or the explosion (5%-8%). Both damage values have been homogenized, and the only factor to the bombs damage is the velocity before impact.}}

**{{nerf|Bombs no longer beat weak projectiles, instead bouncing at the point of contact and falling to the ground. This massively reduces the potency of bombs in trade situations.}}

**{{buff|Toon Link's Final Smash, [[Triforce Slash]], has had its activation range massively increased, allowing him to chase down targets across Final Destination, like Link's iteration from ''Brawl'' and ''Smash 4''.}}

==Update History==

'''{{GameIcon|ssbu}} 1.2.0'''

*{{bugfix|Invisible bomb glitch removed.}}

'''{{GameIcon|ssbu}} 2.0.0'''

*{{buff|Forward aerial [[auto-cancel]]s earlier (frame 51 → 39), matching the move's [[interruptibility]] and allowing it to auto-cancel out of a short hop.}}

*{{buff|Shortened the amount of time the player can't grab ledges after using his back aerial (68 frames → 60).}}

*While standing still, walking, or crouching, incoming [[projectile]]s that hit Toon Link's [[Shield (Link)|Hero's Shield]] will deal no damage and simply push him back. It can block any amount of projectiles regardless of power.

|neutralname= 

|neutraldesc= Two forward swings, ending with a forward thrust.

|ftiltname= 

|ftiltdesc=Toon Link raises the Master Sword over his head and slashes forward.

|utiltname=Half-Moon Slash

|utiltdesc=An upwards slice with the Master Sword.

|dtiltname= 

|dtiltdesc=A crouching slash. Can cause opponents to [[trip]].

|dashname= 

|dashdmg=8%

|dashdesc=A dash swing.

|fsmashname= 

|fsmashdesc=Winds up and swings the sword in an upward arc.

|usmashname= 

|usmashdesc=An upward arcing slash. Can hit from the back.

|dsmashname= 

|dsmashdesc=A slash forward, leading into a slash behind.

|nairname=Two Part Slash

|nairdesc=A quick, spinning slice that hits in the front and back.

|fairname= 

|fairdesc=Quickly swings his sword forward and spins once.

|bairname= 

|bairdesc=Spins around and performs a backwards slash.

|uairname= 

|uairdmg={{ShortHopDmgSSBU|13}} (clean), {{ShortHopDmgSSBU|11}} (late)

|uairdesc=An upwards thrust.

|dairname=Sword Plant

|dairdmg={{ShortHopDmgSSBU|15}} (clean), {{ShortHopDmgSSBU|12}}

|dairdesc=A [[stall-then-fall]] version of the {{s|zeldawiki|Down Thrust}}.

|zairname=Midair Hookshot

|zairdesc=

|grabname=[[Hookshot]]

|grabdesc=Fires his Hookshot straight forward. It functions as a Tether Grab, and and be used for tether recovery.

|pummelname= 

|fthrowname= 

|fthrowdmg=7% (throw) 3% (collateral)

|fthrowdesc=A shoulder tackle.

|bthrowname=

|bthrowdesc=Performs the tomoe nage, a judo throw.

|uthrowname= 

|uthrowdmg=7%

|uthrowdesc=Tosses the opponent up into the air and performs a spinning upwards slash.

|dthrowname= 

|dthrowdmg=7%

|dthrowdesc=Pins the opponent to the ground and performs an elbow drop.

|nsdesc=Fires an arrow from his bow. It can be charged up for more power and range.

|ssdmg= 8% (near), 9.6 (smash attack), 5% (far), 3% (return),

|ssdesc=Throws his {{s|zeldawiki|Boomerang}} forward. Spins vertically when thrown, then spins horizontally when returning. Can be aimed via directional input.

|usdmg= 1% (uncharged hits 1-9), 3% (uncharge hit 10), 1%-2% (charged hits 1-9), 4% (charged hit 10), 4% (aerial hit 1), 2% (aerial hits 2-4) 4% (aerial hit 5)  

|usdesc=Spins with his sword outwards, slashing opponents nearby.

|dsdmg=6.5% (center)

|dsdesc=Pulls out a {{s|zeldawiki|Bomb}}.

|fsdmg=56.2%

|fsdesc=Traps opponents inside a large Triforce, allowing Toon Link to slash at them repeatedly.

*An explosion appears on-screen and as the smoke fades, Toon Link appears and equips the Master Sword and Hero's Shield.

===[[Taunts]]===

*'''Up taunt''': Sheaths the Master Sword and places the Hero's Shield on his back and conducts The Wind Waker.

*'''Side taunt''': Sheaths the Master Sword and places the Hero's Shield on his back and watches a fairy fly around.

*'''Down taunt''': Swings the Master Sword in front of himself while yelling in a panicked tone, ending with him becoming exhausted and catching his breath.

*Waves the Wind Waker.

*He catches a pig and holds it above his head.

*He tries to catch a pig but ends up tripping and falling on his bottom.

[[File:ZeldaSeriesVictoryThemeUltimate.ogg|thumb|A flourished and abridged remix of the theme that plays when [[Link]] obtains a [[zeldawiki:Triforce|Triforce Piece]] in ''[[zeldawiki:The Legend of Zelda (Game)|The Legend of Zelda]]'' and has since become the main theme of ''The Legend of Zelda'' series.]]

Toon Link fights alongside two CPU Toon Link teammates in all of his battles.

{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"

!Round!!Opponent!!Stage!!Music

|1||{{SSBU|Mario}}, {{SSBU|Luigi}}, {{SSBU|Peach}}, and {{SSBU|Yoshi}}||[[3D Land]]||Ground Theme / Underwater Theme - Super Mario 3D Land

|2||{{SSBU|Villager}} and {{SSBU|Isabelle}}||[[Tortimer Island]]||Kapp'n's Song

|3||3 {{SSBU|R.O.B.}}s||[[75m]] ([[Battlefield form]])||Stack-Up/Gyromite

|4||{{SSBU|Squirtle}}, {{SSBU|Ivysaur}}, and {{SSBU|Charizard}}||[[Pokémon Stadium]]||Battle! (Trainer) - Pokémon Sun / Pokémon Moon

|5||4 {{SSBU|Inkling}}s||[[Moray Towers]]||Now or Never!

|6||Giant {{SSBU|Ganondorf}}||[[Great Plateau Tower]] (Battlefield form)||Main Theme - The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes

|colspan="4"|Bonus Stage

|Final||[[Ganon, the Demon King]]||?||Calamity Ganon Battle - Second Form

Note: When fighting Squirtle, Ivysaur, and Charizard, their respective {{SSBU|Pokémon Trainer}}s are absent.

Although Toon Link does not appear in the World of Light opening cutscene, he was vaporized and later imprisoned alongside the rest of the fighters (sans {{SSBU|Kirby}}) when Galeem unleashed his beams of light.

Toon Link is unlocked in the Forest Hill sub-area of the Light Realm. To access his unlock battle, the player must activate a nearby switch which extends the bridge and defeat the spirit of Zelda (Breath of the Wild) that's in front of him.

Toon Link's Fighter Spirit can be obtained by completing [[Classic Mode]]. It is also available periodically for purchase in the shop for 500 coins. Unlocking Toon Link in World of Light allows the player to preview the first spirit below in the Spirit List under the name "???". As a Fighter Spirit, it cannot be used in Spirit Battles and is purely aesthetic. Each Fighter Spirit has an alternate version that replaces them with their artwork in ''Ultimate''.

Additionally, this incarnation of Link and others under the same artstyle appear in a few Primary and Support Spirits.

The Wind Waker Scene.png|177. '''''Toon Link'''''

King of Red Lions.png|248. King of Red Lions  

Alfonzo Spirit.png|260. Alfonzo & Engineer Link  

Totem Link Spirit.png|262. Totem Link  

===Character Showcase Video===

*Toon Link is the only ''Legend of Zelda'' veteran playable in ''SSB4'':

**Who did not get a new or updated Final Smash for ''Ultimate''.

**Who did not receive any kind of redesign in his appearance.

**Not to have his [[Palutena's Guidance]] conversation changed.

**Not to have new voice clips.

*Toon Link is the only character who travels to [[3D Land]] and [[Tortimer Island]] in Classic Mode.