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Young Link (SSBU)

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This article is about Young Link's appearance in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. For the character in other contexts, see Young Link.
Young Link
in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Young Link SSBU.png
ZeldaSymbol.svg
Universe The Legend of Zelda
Other playable appearance in Melee


Availability Unlockable
Final Smash Triforce Slash
YoungLinkHeadSSBU.png
He’s back after 17 years! Young Link is faster than Link but he’s also lighter, making him easier to launch.
Super Smash Blog, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Official Site

Young Link (こどもリンク, Young Link) is a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. He was officially confirmed as playable on June 12th, 2018. Young Link is classified as fighter #22.

As in Super Smash Bros. Melee, Fujiko Takimoto's portrayals of Young Link from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and its sequel The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask were repurposed for Ultimate, with mostly returning voice clips in addition to some new ones sourced from these games.

How to unlock

Complete one of the following:

  • Play VS. matches, with Young Link being the eighth character to be unlocked.
  • Clear Classic Mode with Link or any character in his unlock tree, being the sixth character unlocked after Snake.
  • Have Young Link join the player's party in World of Light.

With the exception of the third method, Young Link must then be defeated on Great Bay.

Differences from Link in SSB4

Despite not being an Echo Fighter of Link, Young Link is still a faster and lighter clone of Link. However, since Link has been heavily reworked to match his appearance in Breath of the Wild, Young Link effectively functions as a stand-in for Link’s older appearances. Furthermore, as Young Link is based off of Ocarina of Time rather than Twilight Princess, he is closest to Link’s appearances in Smash 64 and Melee. He retains moves and characteristics from Melee that Link himself no longer possesses, such as a rapid jab, dash attack, and Hookshot. Their moves largely appear and function similarly, but some of them have different attributes.

Aesthetics

  • Change Young Link is based on The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time rather than The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. This means that Young Link’s clothes are much brighter and less shabby.
  • Change Young Link wields the Kokiri Sword and Deku Shield instead of the Master Sword and Hylian Shield.
  • Change Young Link's on-screen appearance, taunts, idle poses, and two of his victory animations are different from Link's.

Attributes

  • Change Young Link is shorter than Link. While this does make him harder to hit, it also results in him having less reach in his attacks.
  • Nerf Young Link will sometimes hold his Deku Shield to the side during his walking and idle animations. This makes it less reliable for blocking projectiles.
  • Nerf Young Link's Kokiri Sword has less of a disjointed range advantage on his attacks than Link, which gives him inferior range when combined with his shorter height.
  • Buff Young Link's air speed is faster than Link's (0.88 → 0.966).
  • Buff Young Link walks faster than Link (1.188 → 1.26).
  • Buff Young Link dashes faster than Link (1.3944 → 1.749).
  • Change Young Link falls faster (1.6 → 1.8) than Link.
  • Buff Young Link's traction is significantly higher than Link's (0.064 → 0.105).
  • Buff Young Link has a greater jump height than Link.
  • Change Young Link deals less knockback for most of his attacks. This overall weakens his KO potential in comparison to Link, but it also grants Young link access to new combos.
  • Buff Unlike Link, Young Link can wall jump.
  • Nerf Young Link's Hookshot is shorter than Link's Clawshot, reducing its utility as a recovery tool.
  • Change Young Link is significantly lighter than Link (104 → 88). While this drastically worsens his endurance for horizontal and vertical survival, his faster falling speed lessens his otherwise reduced weakness to combos.

Ground attacks

  • Change Young Link's neutral attack can either end in a third hit or a neutral infinite with a finisher hit.
  • Change Young Link's dash attack has him slash directly in front of himself while running forward, instead of performing the Jump Attack from Ocarina of Time.

Aerial attacks

Throws and other attacks

  • Change Edge attack has Young Link swipe his sword in front of himself, unlike Link who stabs forward.

Special moves

  • Buff Fire Arrows deal more hitstun than Link's arrows, increasing his combo ability and making the move safer on hit up close. It also has a slightly faster startup than Link's Hero's Bow.
    • Change Fire Arrow deals flame damage (hence the name).
    • Nerf Fire Arrows travel less distance.
  • Change Instead of the Gale Boomerang, Young Link retains his standard Boomerang, which does not have a windbox.
    • Nerf Boomerang travels less distance compared to Link's Gale Boomerang.
    • Buff Boomerang can damage opponents on the way back.
  • Buff Spin Attack lands multiple hits instead of one, allowing it to trap opponents within its hitboxes, and the late hitboxes inflict more damage.
    • Nerf Nonetheless, it is still weaker than Link's clean Spin Attack in damage. Also, it is not a viable KO move unlike Link's.
  • Change Young Link's Bomb looks slightly different from Link's, as it is smaller; it has a smaller projectile hitbox but is slightly harder to track visually when thrown.
    • Buff Young Link's bombs have four hitboxes as opposed to Link's two, increasing their hitstun and combo ability.
    • Buff Young Link's bombs do more damage to opponents than Link's, given that all of their hitboxes connect.
    • Nerf The multi-hit property of the bombs means that their explosion can affect Young Link more often in close range.
    • Nerf Young Link's Bombs travel a shorter distance when thrown.
  • Change For Triforce Slash, the final flourish and slash have altered animations, as Young Link rears his hand back and does an outward slash, instead of a stab.

Changes from Super Smash Bros. Melee

Young Link has been significantly buffed in the transition from Melee to Ultimate. Young Link's speed has been improved from Melee not just in terms of his mobility but also his attacks. Many of his attacks have decreased ending lag and his aerials have heavily decreased landing lag (even compared to their L-canceled counterparts). Some of his moves have also been reworked to make them more reliable and effective, such as his up smash and his forward and back aerials, and the weakening of SDI heavily benefits his multi-hit attacks.

However, he has also seen a few nerfs. Some of Young Link's attacks deal less damage, while others have shorter durations, and a few of his attacks even have slightly increased startup and ending lag. His aerial mobility is also worse (especially when relative to the cast), and his down tilt and down aerial no longer have meteor smash hitboxes, meaning that Young Link gains no benefits from the removal of meteor canceling. The changes to air dodging also hinder his mobility, as wavedashing and wavelanding are significantly less effective.

Overall, Young Link is a significantly better character than he was in Melee, with professional players such as Tweek and T demonstrating Young Link’s strong potential in spite of currently having low tournament representation.

Aesthetics

  • Change Due to the game's graphical improvements, Young Link's design gains additional detail, particularly in his hair. His colors are more subdued than they were in Melee.
  • Change Young Link is relatively bigger than in Melee. This increases his range, but also increases his hurtbox.
  • Change Young Link is much more expressive. He appears angry while attacking, and smiles in his taunts and one of his victory poses.
  • Change Young Link has gained an on-screen appearance, which is similar to Link's in the original Super Smash Bros.
  • Change Young Link's taunt from Melee has been moved to his down taunt, and executes significantly faster. He has gained two new taunts: one where he triumphantly lifts his sword into the air while grinning; and another where Navi flies around him, akin to Link's side taunt in Brawl and Smash 4.
  • Change Like all characters from Brawl onward, Young Link uses various voice clips for any move between the third hit of his neutral attack, any tilt attack, his dash attack, and any aerial attack (except grab aerial), and always uses specific clips for each of his smash attacks.
  • Change Young Link has new voice clips for taking medium and heavy knockback, a second KO voice clip, and a different Star KO scream.
  • Change The Kokiri Sword has a bronze hilt, and leaves behind a white trail with blue accents, as opposed to a pure white trail in Melee.
    • Change Additionally, Link's yellow and blue Spin Attack sword trail from Smash 4 is recycled for Young Link, as Link now has a unique sword trail.
  • Change All sword attacks make a standard slash sound effect on hit, instead of a punch/kick sound effect like in Melee.
  • Change Young Link has gained three additional alternate costumes, bringing his total up to the standard eight. His black alternate costume has also been altered to better resemble Dark Link.
  • Change Young Link has gained a Boxing Ring alias, being “Master of the Ocarina”.
  • Change Young Link's victory pose where he adjusts his belt is slightly different. After adjusting his belt, he holds the Kokiri Sword and flicks his nose with his thumb.

Attributes

  • Buff Like all characters, Young Link's jumpsquat animation takes 3 frames to complete (down from 4).
  • Buff Young Link walks faster (1.2 → 1.26).
  • Buff Young Link runs faster (1.6 → 1.749).
  • Nerf Young Link's air speed is slower (1 → 0.966), one of the few exceptions to returning veterans. It has gone from the 6th highest air speed to only the 60th highest.
  • Change Young Link's falling speed has been reduced (2.13 → 1.8), but is now faster relative to the roster.
  • Buff Young Link's midair jump is significantly higher. This improves his ability to recover back to the stage.
  • Buff Young Link's fast falling speed is much more in line with the rest of the roster (2.2 → 2.88), in comparison to his almost unnoticeable fast fall in Melee. This greatly increases the versatility of his air game, and allows him to use various mixups like other characters.
  • Buff Young Link's Deku Shield now protects him from projectiles while walking, similar to the shields of all other Link incarnations.
  • Buff Young Link is slightly heavier (85 → 88), improving his survivability, while still being less susceptible to combos than in Melee due to the changes to hitstun and his decreased falling speed.
  • Nerf The removal of meteor canceling harms Young Link more than any other returning veteran, as he no longer has access to any meteor smashes of his own, whereas his endurance is significantly hindered against opponents' meteor smashes.
  • Buff Both rolls have noticeably less ending lag (FAF 38 → 29 (forward), 34 (back)), making them safer to use for repositioning and escaping pressure.
  • Nerf Both rolls grant less intangibility (frames 4-19 → 4-14 (forward), 4-15 (back)).
  • Nerf Spot dodge has more startup (frame 2 → 3) and ending lag (FAF 23 → 25).
  • Buff Air dodge has less startup (frame 4 → 2), making it better for escaping combos. Due to its altered mechanics, it also no longer causes helplessness, and allows Young Link to sweetspot edges with directional air dodges.
  • Nerf Air dodge grants less intangibility (frames 4-29 → 2-26 (neutral), 2-19 (directional)), and due to the altered mechanics, directional air dodges have more landing lag (10 frames → 11-19) and are significantly less effective for wavedashing. Young Link can also no longer use his grab aerial out of an air dodge, hindering his recovery.

Ground attacks

  • Buff The increased shieldstun for ground attacks makes Young Link's slightly to moderately safer on shield, especially his tilt attacks (although not his smash attacks due to their increased ending lag).
  • Neutral attack:
    • Buff The first and second hits deal less knockback, and launch opponents towards Young Link with the farthest hitboxes, akin to other neutral attacks. This allows them to connect more reliably and jab lock for longer.
    • Buff The first hit transitions faster into the second hit (frame 10 → 9), which transitions faster into the third hit (frame 11 → 9).
    • Buff The second and third hits have less startup (frame 7 → 6), with the former's total duration decreased as well (FAF 18 → 17).
    • Buff The third hit has greatly increased base knockback, and launches at a lower angle much like Link's, increasing its safety on hit at low percents and allowing it to set up tech-chases. It also has slightly more horizontal range.
    • Change Neutral infinite has a different animation: rather than repeatedly stabbing at different angles, Young Link performs a flurry of slashes.
    • Buff Neutral infinite has faster startup (frame 10 → 6) and a shorter gap between hits (7 frames → 2), allowing it to connect much more reliably. Like all neutral infinites since Smash 4, it has also gained a finisher in the form of an ascending slash, making it significantly safer.
    • Buff The weakening of SDI makes neutral infinite much harder to escape from, increasing its reliability for racking up damage.
    • Nerf Neutral attack deals less damage (3% → 2% (hit 1), 2% → 1.5% (hit 2), 5% → 3.5% (hit 3), 1% → 0.3% (infinite)).
    • Nerf The first three hits have shorter durations (frames 6-8 (hit 1), 7-9 (hit 2), 7-11 (hit 3) → 6-7 (all)).
    • Nerf The third hit has more ending lag (FAF 33 → 36), and largely decreased knockback scaling, causing it to KO later from center stage despite its higher base knockback.
    • Change Like most neutral attacks from Brawl onward, the full sequence of hits can be unleashed by simply holding the attack button instead of pressing it multiple times. Likewise, the neutral infinite can be looped by holding the button instead of having to mash it.
      • Change The second hit can transition into the neutral infinite if the attack button is pressed three times in quick succession, with the third hit now being activated by holding it or pressing it at a slower rate. In Melee, it would only transition into the infinite if the button was pressed more than three times.
  • Forward tilt:
    • Buff Forward tilt has less startup lag (frame 11 → 10).
    • Buff It has more vertical range.
    • Buff Its base knockback has been increased, although with its knockback scaling reduced to compensate. This makes it safer on hit at low percents, while keeping its KO ability at high percents.
  • Up tilt:
    • Nerf Up tilt has a shorter duration (frames 9-15 → 9-14) and more ending lag (FAF 30 → 32), hindering its combo potential.
    • Change It has an altered animation, with Young Link slashing in a faster and heavier arc, akin to Link in Brawl and Smash 4.
  • Down tilt:
    • Buff Down tilt has much faster startup (frame 14 → 8), with its total duration reduced as well (FAF 32 → 26). This makes it safer and more reliable as a combo starter.
    • Buff It has considerably reduced knockback scaling, allowing it to combo for longer.
    • Nerf It has a shorter hitbox duration (frames 14-16 → 8-9), and less vertical range.
    • Nerf It can no longer meteor smash opponents.
  • Dash attack:
    • Buff Dash attack has less ending lag (FAF 40 → 35).
    • Buff It has significantly higher base knockback, increasing its safety on hit at lower percents.
    • Nerf It has more startup lag and a shorter duration (frames 7-12 → 8-10).
    • Change Dash attack sends opponents at a slightly higher angle.
  • Forward smash:
    • Buff The first hit of forward smash has less ending lag (FAF 50 → 48).
    • Buff The second hit's damage output is properly affected by charging.
    • Buff Due to the changes to jostle mechanics, the second hit of forward smash no longer misses when Young Link is extremely close to the opponent, improving its reliability.
    • Nerf Both hits have a shorter duration (frames 15-17 → 15-16 (hit 1), 10-13 → 10-11 (hit 2)).
    • Nerf The first deals less damage (10% → 6%), and no longer has set knockback, hindering its reliability at higher percents.
    • Nerf The second hit has more startup (frame 10 → 11) and ending lag (FAF 40 → 50).
    • Nerf The second hit has higher base knockback, but lower knockback scaling, hindering its KO potential if not used near the edge.
    • Change The second hit's two previous sourspots have been merged into one, with its damage being the average of both (11%/9% → 10%).
  • Up smash:
    • Buff Up smash's hits connect much more reliably due to the weakening of SDI.
    • Buff The first two hits have less startup lag and longer durations (frames 11-14/26-28 → 10-14/25-29).
    • Buff The second hit deals more damage (2% → 3%).
    • Buff The third hit has much higher knockback, allowing it to KO at realistic percents.
    • Buff The move deals more total damage due to the changes to stale-move negation (12.1%/11.19% → 14%/13%).
    • Nerf Up smash has significantly more ending lag (FAF 52 → 70), removing its combo potential.
    • Nerf The third hit has more startup lag (frame 40 → 41).
    • Nerf The third hit no longer has a late hit that deals more damage (8%/9% → 7%/8%) and is a semi-spike, removing its edgeguarding potential.
  • Down smash:
    • Buff Down smash's sourspots deal more damage (7% → 10% (front), 6% → 9% (back)), and thus have increased knockback.
    • Buff The first hit no longer has hitboxes that launch opponents vertically, improving its consistency in edgeguarding and KOing.
    • Nerf It has more ending lag (FAF 42 → 50).
    • Nerf Both hits have a shorter duration (frames 9-12 → 9-10 (hit 1), 21-23 → 21-22 (hit 2)).
    • Nerf The second hit no longer has a hitbox on Young Link's foot, preventing it from hitting opponents in front of him.

Aerial attacks

  • Buff All aerials have significantly less landing lag (15 frames → 6 (neutral, forward, back), 30 → 14 (up), 50 → 17 (down)) having even less than when L-canceled in Melee.
  • Nerf The decreased shieldstun for aerial attacks makes Young Link's slightly to moderately less safe on shield compared to their L-canceled versions in Melee, despite their reduced landing lag.
  • Neutral aerial:
    • Nerf Neutral aerial deals less damage (12% → 10% (clean), 8% → 5% (late)), with knockback mostly compensated only on the clean hit, slightly hindering its KO potential.
      • Buff However, this allows the late hit to combo for longer.
  • Forward aerial:
    • Buff Forward aerial is no longer a single degrading hit, and instead hits twice like Link's. It deals more damage if both hits connect (12%/11%/9% (clean), 8%/7%/5% (late) → 6% (hit 1), 8%/7% (hit 2); 14%/13% total), and has increased knockback on the second hit, improving its KO potential.
    • Buff It has less ending lag (FAF 47 → 41).
    • Buff It always launches opponents in the direction Young Link if facing, even if they are hit from behind, making it more reliable for edgeguarding.
    • Buff The first hit can lead into combos if Young Link lands before the second hit comes out, which gives him more options to rack up damage or secure a KO.
    • Nerf Forward aerial has a much shorter hitbox duration (frames 14-32 → 14-15 (hit 1), 24-25 (hit 2)).
  • Back aerial:
    • Buff Back aerial's first hit has set knockback and launches at a higher angle, allowing it to connect more reliably into the second hit.
    • Buff It always launches opponents opposite the direction Young Link is facing, even if hit from the front, making it more reliable for edgeguarding.
    • Nerf Both hits have shorter durations (frames 6-9 → 6-8 (hit 1), 18-23 → 18-20 (hit 2)).
    • Nerf The first hit deals less damage (7% → 5%).
    • Change The second hit deals much more knockback, improving its KO potential, but hindering its combo potential.
  • Up aerial:
    • Nerf Up aerial deals less knockback, hindering its KO potential.
    • Nerf The hitboxes are much more narrow, making it harder to connect. Combined with the changes to collision between characters in Ultimate, landing an up aerial on a grounded opponent is much more difficult than before.
  • Down aerial:
    • Buff Down aerial's early hit deals more damage (14%/16% → 18%).
    • Nerf It no longer has a flame hitbox near Young Link's head that deals more damage and is a meteor smash, removing its extraordinary edgeguarding potential against opponents hit from below.
    • Nerf The late hit deals less damage (17%/21% → 15%).
    • Nerf The move deals less knockback, especially with the late hit due to its decreased damage, significantly hindering its KO potential.
  • Grab aerial:
    • Buff Grab aerial has dramatically decreased landing lag (30 frames → 8), and no longer causes helplessness, making it much more useful offensively.
    • Buff It has a longer hitbox duration (frames 11-15 → 11-18).
    • Nerf It deals less damage (5% → 4%).
    • Nerf It causes the Hookshot to retract upon hitting an opponent, hindering its utility in battles with multiple opponents.
    • Change It has more base knockback, but even less knockback scaling, no longer KOing opponents even at 999%.
    • Change It is now affected by stale-move negation, reducing its damage output with consecutive uses, but allowing it to refresh other moves.
    • Change Due to universal changes, grab aerial functions like a tether recovery rather than a wall grapple.
      • Buff This allows it to be shot much faster to ledges if used close enough to them, leaving opponents with a shorter window to edgeguard Young Link.
      • Nerf However, this removes its ability to grapple to any wall, reducing its versatility.

Throws and other attacks

  • Grabs:
    • Buff Standing and dash grabs have significantly less ending lag (FAF 85 → 53 (standing), FAF 95 → 61 (dash)), leaving them much less punishable if they miss.
    • Buff Both grabs have longer durations (4 frames → 7), and the hitbox on the Hookshot's end now affects aerial opponents.
    • Nerf Standing grab has one frame more startup lag (frame 11 → 12).
  • Pummel:
    • Buff Pummel deals more hitlag (4 frames → 13), but has significantly less startup (frame 10 → 1) and ending lag (FAF 26 → 7), shortening its duration.
    • Nerf It deals much less damage (3% → 1%).
  • Change Young Link jumps a bit higher when performing his up throw.
  • Change Forward and back throw release the opponent faster (frame 16 → 13), although with their total duration unchanged, and the former's first hit is faster (frame 12 → 11). This reduces the time for the opponent to DI them properly, but increases their ending lag.
  • Forward throw:
    • Buff Forward throw launches at a slightly lower angle, and deals much more knockback, allowing it to KO under 170% at the edge.
  • Back throw:
    • Buff Back throw deals much more knockback, allowing it to KO under 200% at the edge.
  • Up throw:
    • Buff Up throw releases the opponent slower (frame 27 → 29) with its total duration unchanged, increasing its combo potential at low percents.
    • Change It has more base knockback, but less knockback scaling. This further improves its combo potential at low percents (due to its previously lacking hit advantage), but hinders its KO potential at high percents.
  • Down throw:
    • Nerf Down throw has much higher knockback scaling, drastically hindering its combo potential beyond mid percents. Most notably, it no longer has a guaranteed KO confirm into an up aerial at high percents.
    • Nerf Its speed is no longer weight-dependent, further diminishing its combo ability on lightweights, while still being worse on heavyweights due to its increased knockback.
    • Change Its damage values have been redistributed (2% → 3% (hit 1), 4% → 3% (throw)).
    • Change It launches opponents at a slightly more horizontal angle.
  • Floor attacks:
    • Buff Floor attacks deal more damage per hit (6% → 7%).
  • Edge attack:
    • Buff Edge attack deals more damage (8% → 9%).

Special moves

  • Buff Due to the changes to powershielding, Young Link's projectiles can no longer be reflected back at him by any character.
  • Nerf The decreased shieldstun for projectiles hinders their safety at close distances.
  • Fire Arrow:
    • Change Fire Bow has been renamed to Fire Arrow.
    • Buff Fire Arrow has one frame less ending lag (FAF 39 → 38).
    • Buff It can be B-reversed.
    • Buff The arrows fly much further, especially when uncharged. This greatly increases Fire Arrow's zoning and pressing ability, making it a more essential part of Young Link's toolkit.
    • Buff The arrows deal more knockback, which combined with their vertical angle increases their combo potential.
    • Nerf Fire Arrows stay active for a shorter period of time.
    • Nerf The arrows deal less damage (8%-15% → 4%-12%).
    • Nerf The move can no longer be held indefinitely upon reaching full charge, instead firing the arrow automatically if held for more than three seconds.
    • Change Fire Arrows are ablaze when being charged and fired, compared to Melee where the arrow does not light up at all.
    • Change Fire Arrows have been redesigned to more closely resemble the artwork found in the manual for Ocarina of Time.
    • Bug fix Ghost Arrow glitch has been removed.
  • Boomerang:
    • Buff Boomerang is bigger, and Young Link throws it vertically instead of horizontally, increasing its coverage immensely.
    • Buff It can be B-reversed.
    • Nerf It deals much less damage at point-blank range (16% → 11% (normal), 19% → 13.2% (smash input)).
      • Buff However, its knockback has not been compensated, improving its combo potential.
    • Change Boomerang cannot be angled as sharply as in Melee; however, this makes its more useful angles easier to use.
    • Change Young Link has a new throwing animation for the boomerang.
    • Bug fix The boomerang superjump and chain dance glitches have been removed.
  • Spin Attack (grounded):
    • Buff Grounded Spin Attack has less ending lag (FAF 80 → 71), while its last hit is slower (frame 44 → 49), allowing it to combo reliably into aerial attacks even up to high percents.
    • Buff Its linking hits have set knockback, which combined with the weakening of SDI allows them to connect much more reliably.
    • Buff The last hit has slightly higher base knockback, but lower knockback scaling, further improving its combo potential.
    • Buff It can be charged to increase its damage and knockback, as with the other incarnations of Link.
    • Nerf Grounded Spin Attack has one frame more startup (frame 8 → 9), and its linking hits have a slightly longer duration (frames 8-43 → 9-45), but a slower rehit rate (3 → 4). As a result, it deals a total of 11 hits instead of 13, reducing its total damage when uncharged despite the changes to stale-move negation (13.74% → 13%).
  • Spin Attack (aerial):
    • Buff Aerial Spin Attack has increased vertical distance, preserves much more momentum after being used, and Young Link can drift more in the air during its animation.
    • Buff Like most recovery moves from Brawl onward, it sweetspots the edge much earlier, making it safer to recover with.
    • Buff Its hits connect much more reliably into each other, and are harder to escape due to the weakening of SDI, improving its safety.
    • Buff It deals more total damage due to the changes to stale-move negation (11.19% → 12%).
  • Bomb:
    • Buff Like with Link's Bombs in Smash 4, the explosions from Young Link's bombs do not damage him if they hit an opponent.
    • Buff The bombs travel further when thrown.
    • Buff Their multi-hits accumulate much faster, making their damage more consistent.
    • Buff Similarly to Link in Smash 4, Young Link can "soft-toss" his Bombs, which lets him lay them on the floor with a throw without having them explode. This allows Young Link to set traps on the floor to hinder his opponent, and also allows for mindgame potential. Additionally, Young Link can Z-drop Bombs without them exploding much easier than in Melee.
    • Nerf Bomb's base damage output is lower, even with all hits connecting (13% → 8%).
    • Bug fix The bomb dash glitch has been removed.
  • Change Young Link now has a Final Smash, that being Triforce Slash. Visually, it resembles Link's version from Smash 4, but it has completely unique animations for attacks, including a shield bash, kicks, and a different finisher in an outward slash.

Update History

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate 1.2.0

  • Bug fix Invisible bomb glitch fixed.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate 3.0.0

  • Nerf Fire Arrow deals less shield damage.
  • Nerf Boomerang deals less shield damage.
  • Change An unknown bug was created where opponents would unexpectedly teleport in any direction upon releasing Boomerang.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate 3.1.0

  • Bug fix Boomerang teleportation glitch fixed.

Moveset

  • While standing still, walking, or crouching, incoming projectiles that hit Young Link's Deku Shield will deal no damage and simply push him back. It can block any amount of projectiles regardless of power.
  • Young Link can wall jump.
  • Young Link possesses a tether attack and grab.

Note: All numbers are listed as base damage, without the 1v1 multiplier.

  Name Damage Description
Neutral attack   2% Two forward swings, followed by either a single launching stab, or a loop of quick slices, ending with a forward thrust.
1.5%
3.5%
0.3% (loop), 2.5% (final hit)
Forward tilt   12% (base), 11% (tip) Young Link raises the Kokiri Sword over his head and slashes forward.
Up tilt   8% An upwards slice with the Kokiri Sword. Combos into itself at medium percents.
Down tilt   10% (base), 9% (middle), 7% (tip) A crouching slash. Has low, vertical knockback, allowing it to combo into his aerials easily.
Dash attack   11% (base), 10% (tip) A dash swing.
Forward smash   6% Winds up and swings the Kokiri Sword forward. Pressing the button again allows for a second, more powerful slash. The first hit deals almost no knockback, but is a natural combo into the second hit.
12% (base), 10% (tip)
Up smash   3% (hits 1-2), 8% (hit 3, base), 7% (hit 3, tip) Three upward-arcing slashes.
Down smash   13% (front, base), 10% (front, tip), 12% (back, base), 9% (back, tip) A slash forward, leading into a slash behind.
Neutral aerial   10% (clean), 5% (late) A standard sex kick.
Forward aerial   6% (hit 1), 8% (hit 2, base), 7% (hit 2, tip) Quickly slices twice in the air. Deals reasonably high knockback, making it useful for knocking opponents offstage or killing them outright at higher percents.
Back aerial   5% (hit 1), 7% (hit 2) Performs a double backwards kick. Functions similarly to his forward aerial, but trades range and power for less starting lag.
Up aerial   15% (clean), 12% (late) An upwards thrust. Has a deceptively long duration, and can KO at around 130% with the clean hit.
Down aerial   18% (clean), 15% (late) Performs the Down Thrust. Unlike Link's similar move, it does not meteor smash even with the clean hit. Deals enough knockback to KO at high percents, but is dangerous to use offstage due to its long duration and high endlag.
Grab aerial Midair Hookshot 4% Shoots his Hookshot forward. Can be used to grab stage ledges.
Grab Hookshot Fires his Hookshot straight forward. It functions as a Tether Grab, and can be used for tether recovery.
Pummel   1% Quickly hits the opponent with the pommel of the Kokiri Sword.
Forward throw   3% (hit 1), 3% (throw) A forward kick. Young Link's strongest throw. KOing at 160% from the edge of Final Destination.
Back throw   3% (hit 1), 3% (throw) Swings his opponent to the opposite direction and kicks them away. KOing at 177% from the edge of Final Destination.
Up throw   4% (hit 1), 2% (throw) Tosses the opponent up into the air and performs a spinning upwards slash. KOing at 188% on Final Destination.
Down throw   3% (hit 1), 3% (throw) Pins the opponent to the ground and performs an elbow drop.
Floor attack (front)   7% Slashes in front and behind himself while getting up.
Floor attack (back)   7% Slashes in front and behind himself while getting up.
Floor attack (trip)   5% Slashes in front and behind himself while getting up.
Edge attack   9% Climbs up the ledge and performs a slash.
Neutral special Fire Arrow 4%-12% Fires a flaming arrow from his bow. It can be charged up for more power and range. The arrows send opponents at an upwards angle, making it a good aerial combo starter. In addition, it has low startup and ending lag, making it an excellent combo/spacing tool all around.
Side special Boomerang 11% (close, normal throw), 13.2% (close, smash throw), 7% (far), 2% (return) Throws his Boomerang forward. It can be aimed diagonally and deals damage when returning to Young Link. Can combo into an aerial at most percents.
Up special Spin Attack 1%-1.6% (grounded hits 1-10), 3%-4.8% (grounded hit 11), 3% (aerial hit 1), 2% (aerial hits 2-4), 3% (aerial hit 5) Spins with his sword outwards, slashing opponents nearby. Has very quick startup. Just like the Spin Attack of the other two Link incarnations, it can be charged when grounded for more damage. The knockback angle is mostly vertical, so it can be used as an aerial combo starter. The aerial version can carry opponents to the upper blast line, and KO them there at high enough percents.
Down special Bomb 2%-2.4% (hits 1-4) Pulls out a Bomb. Just like in Melee, the explosion from the bomb hits multiple times. The bomb explodes after hitting a surface or enemy, or after enough time passes. Can be used to extend Young Link's recovery, as the damage from the explosion will take him out of helplessness.
Final Smash Triforce Slash 60% Traps opponents inside a large Triforce, and then slashes at them repeatedly.

On-screen appearance

  • Floats down from the sky in a blue magical field, referencing the Ocarina's powers from Ocarina of Time, and then equips the Kokiri Sword and Deku Shield.

Idle poses

  • Looks around himself.
  • Kicks the toes of his boots on the ground, as if knocking off dirt.

Taunts

  • Up taunt: Holds the Kokiri Sword up in the air.
  • Side taunt: Places the Deku Shield on his back and watches a fairy fly around.
  • Down taunt: Sheaths the Kokiri Sword and places the Deku Shield on his back and takes a drink of Lon Lon Milk.

Victory poses

  • Adjusts his belt and flicks his nose.
  • Horizontal swipe with his sword, then holds it up, giving off a battle cry. This is identical to one of Link's poses other than the camera angle.
  • Sheathes his sword, dusts his hands off, and puts them on his hips while grinning.
A flourished and abridged remix of the theme that plays when Link obtains a Triforce Piece in The Legend of Zelda and has since become the main theme of The Legend of Zelda series.

In competitive play

Notable players

Classic Mode: Hyrule Smash

Young Link's opponents are all from the Zelda series. Additionally, to go with the theme of the route, all stages, items and assist trophies are from the The Legend of Zelda universe.

Round Opponent Stage Music Notes
1 Zelda ZeldaHeadSSBU.png Hyrule Castle Hyrule Main Theme
2 Young Link YoungLinkHeadBlackSSBU.png Temple Song of Storms If the player is using the Dark Young Link costume, the CPU player will be default Young Link YoungLinkHeadSSBU.png
3 Sheik SheikHeadSSBU.png Gerudo Valley (Ω form) Gerudo Valley
4 Toon Link (x4) ToonLinkHeadSSBU.pngToonLinkHeadRedSSBU.pngToonLinkHeadBlueSSBU.pngToonLinkHeadPurpleSSBU.png Pirate Ship The Great Sea / Menu Select
5 Ganondorf GanondorfHeadSSBU.png Bridge of Eldin (Ω form) Main Theme - The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
6 Link LinkHeadSSBU.png Great Plateau Tower Main Theme - The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Bonus Stage
Final Ganon ? Calamity Ganon Battle - Second Form

Credits roll after completing Classic Mode. Completing it as Young Link has Termina Field accompany the credits.

Role in World of Light

Young Link's location in World of Light.
Finding Young Link in World of Light

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

Young Link was one of the many imprisoned fighters that fell under Dharkon's control upon Galeem's first defeat. He is unlocked in the Sacred Realm sub-area on the bottom right corner of the land which makes up the Triforce of Courage. The player must rely on the owl statues which will guide the player to Saria's spirit battle. Unlocking her spirit clears out a tree stump that blocked access to his unlock battle. Once Young Link is unlocked, the Triforce of Courage appears in the center of the map. If Zelda is unlocked, the path leading to Cloud's unlock battle and the Master Sword clears out.

Fighter Battle

No. Image Name Type Power Stage Music
22
Young Link SSBU.png
Young Link Grab 10,300 Temple (Ω form) Saria's Song

Template:-

Spirits

Young 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 Young 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 makes an appearance in a few Primary and Support Spirits under other forms.

In Spirit battles

As the main opponent

Spirit Battle parameters
No. Image Name Series Enemy Fighter(s) Type Power Stage Rules Conditions Music
178
Spirit Link TLOZ.png
Link (The Legend of Zelda) The Legend of Zelda series Young Link YoungLinkHeadRedSSBU.png
Neutral
13,500 Find Mii N/A •The enemy's melee weapons have increased power
•The enemy's FS Meter charges quickly
•The enemy has increased attack power
Overworld Theme - The Legend of Zelda
184 Fairy Bottle The Legend of Zelda series Young Link YoungLinkHeadPinkSSBU.png
Grab
3,700 Fountain of Dreams •Sudden Damage •All fighters take serious damage
•The enemy has increased defense
Saria's Theme
194
Kaepora Gaebora Spirit.png
Kaepora Gaebora The Legend of Zelda series Young Link YoungLinkHeadOrangeSSBU.png
Grab
3,700 Distant Planet (Battlefield form) •Hazard: Screen Flip •The screen will suddenly flip after a little while Ocarina of Time Medley
212 Happy Mask Salesman The Legend of Zelda series Young Link YoungLinkHeadBlackSSBU.png
Shield
4,300 Umbra Clock Tower •Attack Power ↑
•Move Speed ↑
•Jump Power ↑
•Timed battle
•All fighters have increased jump power
•All fighters have increased move speed after a little while
Song of Storms
213
Kafei Spirit.png
Kafei The Legend of Zelda series •Bunny Young Link YoungLinkHeadBlueSSBU.png
Grab
4,600 Skyloft N/A •Timed battle
•The enemy tends to avoid conflict
Termina Field (Remix)
235
Ravio Spirit.png
Ravio The Legend of Zelda series •Bunny Young Link YoungLinkHeadBlueSSBU.png
Shield
4,000 Skyloft N/A •Timed battle
•The enemy favors special moves
•The enemy is easily distracted by items
Hyrule Main Theme
364
Poppybrosjr.png
Poppy Bros. Jr. Kirby series Young Link YoungLinkHeadCyanSSBU.png (×2)
Grab
1,500 Yoshi's Island •Item: Bob-omb •The enemy's down special has increased power
•The enemy favors down specials in the air
Green Greens (for 3DS / Wii U)
876 Cut Man Mega Man series Young Link YoungLinkHeadOrangeSSBU.png (x2)
Grab
3,700 Wily Castle (Ω form) N/A •The enemy's side special has increased power
Stamina battle
•The enemy favors side specials
Cut Man Stage
879 Bomb Man Mega Man series Young Link YoungLinkHeadOrangeSSBU.png (×2)
Grab
3,500 Wily Castle (Ω form) N/A •The enemy's explosion and fire attacks have increased power
Stamina battle
•The enemy favors down specials
Bomb Man Stage
1,127 Diskun Disk System Young Link YoungLinkHeadRedSSBU.png
Pit PitHeadYellowSSBU.png
Simon SimonHeadRedSSBU.png
Samus SamusHeadBlueSSBU.png
Attack
9,100 Temple (Battlefield form) N/A •Take your strongest team into this no-frills battle Famicom Medley
1,130 Donbe & Hikari Famicom Mukashibanashi series Young Link YoungLinkHeadCyanSSBU.png
Villager VillagerHeadPinkSSBU.png
Falco FalcoHeadOrangeSSBU.png
Diddy Kong DiddyKongHeadBlueSSBU.png
Duck Hunt DuckHuntHeadTanSSBU.png
Neutral
3,500 Duck Hunt (hazards off) N/A •Defeat an army of fighters Shin Onigashima Medley
1,145
Prince Richard Spirit.png
Prince Richard Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru Young Link YoungLinkHeadCyanSSBU.png
Neutral
9,900 Dream Land GB •Temporary Invincibility
•Assist Trophy Enemies (Sablé Prince)
•The enemy will occasionally be invincible after a little while
•The enemy can unleash powerful critical hits at random
•Hostile assist trophies will appear
Castle Lololo
1,280
Tethu.png
Tethu Ever Oasis Young Link YoungLinkHeadRedSSBU.png
Attack
3,700 Gerudo Valley (hazards off) •Flowery
•Item: Deku Nut
•You constantly take minor damage
•The enemy starts the battle with a Gust Bellows
Struggle Against Chaos
1,282
Musashi Spirit.png
Musashi Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido Young Link YoungLinkHeadCyanSSBU.png
Grab
2,400 Onett •Item Tidal Wave
•Hazard: Heavy Wind
•Dangerously high winds are in effect after a little while
•The enemy favors side specials
•Certain items will appear in large numbers after a little while
Gourmet Race (Brawl)

As a minion

Spirit Battle parameters Inspiration
No. Image Name Series Enemy Fighter(s) Type Power Stage Rules Conditions Music Character
189
Young Zelda.png
Young Zelda The Legend of Zelda series Zelda ZeldaHeadPurpleSSBU.png
Young Link YoungLinkHeadRedSSBU.png
Shield
3,700 Hyrule Castle N/A •Take your strongest team into this no-frills battle Ocarina of Time Medley Young Link
192
Saria Spirit.png
Saria The Legend of Zelda series Isabelle IsabelleHeadTealSSBU.png
Young Link YoungLinkHeadRedSSBU.png
Shield
9,900 Garden of Hope •Hazard: Fog •The stage is covered in fog
•The enemy will charge up a powerful Final Smash
Saria's Theme Young Link
211
Tingle.png
Tingle The Legend of Zelda series Villager (×3) (VillagerHeadCyanSSBU.pngVillagerHeadPurpleSSBU.pngVillagerHeadYellowSSBU.png)
Young Link YoungLinkHeadRedSSBU.png
Grab
9,000 Great Bay •Uncontrollable Speed
•Slippery Stage
•Defeat the main fighter to win
•All fighters move faster and can't stop quickly after a while
•The enemy loves to taunt
Termina Field (Remix) Young Link
218 Dimitri The Legend of Zelda series Yoshi YoshiHeadRedSSBU.png
Young Link YoungLinkHeadRedSSBU.png
Shield
1,700 Great Bay N/A •The enemy favors neutral specials Tal Tal Heights Link (Oracle of Ages/Oracle of Seasons)
233
Link Drawing Spirit.png
Wall-Merged Link The Legend of Zelda series Mr. Game & Watch MrGame&WatchHeadSSBU.png
Young Link YoungLinkHeadOrangeSSBU.png
Neutral
3,500 Flat Zone X N/A •Reinforcements will appear after an enemy is KO'd Lorule Main Theme Link (A Link Between Worlds)
236 Hilda The Legend of Zelda series Zelda ZeldaHeadBlackSSBU.png
Young Link YoungLinkHeadBlueSSBU.png
Shield
9,100 Temple Assist Trophy Enemies (Nightmare) •Hostile assist trophies will appear Lorule Main Theme Ravio
1,319
Professor Riggs Spirit.png
Professor Riggs & Plaise & Lerna Nintendo Labo series Dr. Mario DrMarioHeadYellowSSBU.png
Bayonetta BayonettaHeadBlueSSBU.png
•Tiny Young Link YoungLinkHeadRedSSBU.png
Neutral
2,500 Paper Mario •Attack Power ↑
•Defense ↑
•The enemy has increased defense after a little while
•The enemy has increased attack power after a little while
Title Theme - Super Mario Maker Plaise Allatyme

Alternate costumes

Young Link Palette (SSBU).png
YoungLinkHeadSSBU.png YoungLinkHeadRedSSBU.png YoungLinkHeadBlueSSBU.png YoungLinkHeadWhiteSSBU.png YoungLinkHeadPinkSSBU.png YoungLinkHeadCyanSSBU.png YoungLinkHeadOrangeSSBU.png YoungLinkHeadBlackSSBU.png

Gallery

Character Showcase Video

Trivia

  • Young Link's official artwork is based off of the pose he strikes after using his grounded Spin Attack.
  • Young Link and Pichu share the longest gap between playable appearances in the Super Smash Bros. series, with seventeen years between Melee and Ultimate.
    • This has been noted by both of their Super Smash Bros. blog's "Today's Fighter" descriptions.
  • Young Link's light blue costume gives him a pair of beige trousers. Although it looks like his legs were just recoloured, the fabric and seams can be seen by zooming in on his legs during gameplay.
  • The belt around Young Link's sheath appears to have back-face culling, as it is shown to not be visible when seen from the other side. This is mostly noticeable whenever he is shown performing his down taunt, where he is drinking Lon-Lon milk at the end of his character showcase video. This was fixed in the initial release of the game.
    • Additionally, his legs would clip through his tunic in his showcase video, which was also fixed in the initial release of the game.
  • Due to Young Link's hair having more physics-based movement, in certain animations such as taking damage, it's possible to see that his sideburns get cut off rather than being connected to his cap.[1][2]
    • Additionally, when looking at the cuffs of his boots from below, there's a visible gap.[3]
  • There is currently an animation error with Young Link's up tilt; during the ending lag, the sword does a full rotation in his hand.
  • When Young Link activates his side taunt where Navi flies around his head, if the game is slowed down to 1/4 speed, she can be seen flying in to her initial position from offscreen. This suggest Navi's model is kept somewhere offscreen and changes location on activation of the taunt, however, when the taunt ends, she returns back into his hat like normal and does not appear to fly back offscreen.
  • Young Link, Marth, Lucina, Roy, Chrom, and Wolf are the only characters that uses their crouching animation from their previous Smash Bros. game when holding a small item (in Chrom's case, he uses Roy's previous crouching animation).
    • Out of all of them, Young Link is the only one who's doesn't revert to his previous idle pose when holding a small throwable item.

References