Link (Super Smash Bros. Melee)


 * This article is about Link's appearance in Super Smash Bros. Melee. For other uses, see Link.  For information about Link's "clone", see Young Link (SSBM).

Announced at E3 2001, Link (リンク, Rinku) is a starter character in all three Super Smash Bros. games.

Attributes
Link may have poor dash speed (although his air speed is quite fast), but he makes up for this with great range for most attacks and a variety of projectiles. He also has poweful smashes and aerial attacks, but his high lag attacks and moderate startup times counterbalance this. Link's grab range is large (due to being a tether grab) and can be used as a tether recovery. However, it leaves Link vulnerable if it misses, and it can't grab airbone opponents (which minimizes chaingrabing opportunities). Link's neutral aerial is powerful and fast when SHFFL'd. On the downside, his wavedash is short and slow. His Hylian Shield can act on its own and defend against projectiles when standing stationary, although it will not block projectiles above or below his Hylian shield. Link's ups special move (spink attack) is a quick finisher and edge-guarding tool. Link is vulnerable to chain grabs and combos due to his fairly heavy weight, fast falling speed, and comparitively large size.

Special Moves

 * Neutral B: Bow
 * Smash B: Boomerang
 * Up B: Spin Attack
 * Down B: Bomb

Pro Links

 * Kenshin
 * Aniki
 * Kitt
 * The GERM
 * Derilink
 * Deva
 * Azen
 * Hiku
 * Zoro

PAL differences

 * Up+B (Spin Attack) can no longer semi-spike
 * Link can no longer perform the Boomerang Superjump or the Chain Dance

Combos

 * A good combo to use in one on one battles is to use the boomerang, to momentarily disable the character of any attacks (they will pop into the air), use this momentary cease fire to use a spin attack and send them flying away. You must be quick or else chances are they will attack.


 * Another great combo is to grab your opponent, throw them up/down, depending on what character and damage the opponent have, if its a fastfaller then use upthrow, if they has high damage use the downthrow anyway, then instantly use the up-B attack. On high damage this is lethal. Follow the up-B with a boomerang and charge in for the kill (a F-air or another up-B usually does the trick.)


 * Up throw, Uair, then Up B. If the enemy still lives, Up smash.


 * Up-B throw the bomb into the air, grapple your opponent and throw them upwards. If done quickly enough your opponent will be hurled into the bomb and fly away from you, doing no harm to you. (However if too much time is wasted, the bomb will bounce off your opponent and land on you.

Changes from N64 to Melee

 * New Neutral B (Bow). Boomerang is now Link's Side B.
 * Different Spin Attack animation (both on air, and on ground).
 * Can use Hookshot for a wall-grapple.
 * Also, the Hookshot's chain will launch forward and just drop when it reaches its maximum length, instead of keeping horizontal.
 * Hookshot is shorter, has lower priority, and can no longer grab airborne opponents. (Although it has less ending lag than in SSB)
 * Spin attack is a better recovery.
 * Recovery is overall significantly better, to the point of being "decent", thanks to hookshot wall grapple and bombs.
 * Forward Smash has two hits, instead of just one.
 * Faster air speed
 * New Taunt
 * New helpless state
 * Back and Foward Grabs are weaker
 * New Dash Attack
 * Attacks are a bit weaker, but also a bit faster.

In Single-player
Link can be fought in the Underground Maze where if the player comes across the Master Sword, they will be taken to a battle with a different colored Link until they come across the Triforce. It is possible to complete the stage without fighting Link at all.

Link is featured in the following Event Matches:
 * Event 3: Bomb-fest: This match pits your character against the team of Link and Samus with one stock each on the Princess Peach's Castle stage. Link and Samus only use their bomb special moves, but all the bomb (or likewise) items will appear on the stage.
 * Event 18: Link's Adventure: You play as Link as you face Dark Link on the Hyrule Temple stage. Both have 2 stock each. (Dark Link is just a completly blacked out form of Link. Not the black character costume.)
 * Event 20: All-Star Match 2: Link is the second opponent you must fight in this series of staged battles. Your character battles him on the Great Bay stage, and your character has 2 stock while Link has 1. With a timer of four minutes, you must defeat him and the other four characters with the overall time and life you have: Samus, Zelda, Captain Falcon, and Fox.
 * Event 29: Triforce Gathering: You play as Link with Zelda as your partner. You face Ganondorf on the Hyrule Temple stage.
 * Event 34: Seven Years: As Young Link, you fight Link with 3 stock each on the Great Bay stage.
 * Event 41: En Garde!: As Marth, you face Link in a 2 stock match on the Hyrule Temple stage.

Trophy Descriptions
In addition to the normal trophy about Link as a character, there are two trophies about him as a fighter, unlocked by completing the Adventure and All-Star modes respectively with Link on any difficulty:


 * Link (smash red)
 * Burdened with a shield, a heavy sword, and plenty of equipment, Link is not a very mobile character. Nevertheless, he's skilled with the blade, and his varied supply of missile weapons makes him a powerful fighter. To master Link, you must control the pace by balancing your long-range attacks with head-to-head swordplay. (B: Bow, Smash B: Boomerang)


 * Link (smash blue)
 * Link's Bow, Boomerang, and Bombs all take time to wield, so you may want to try drawing them in midair to prevent your foes from attacking you while you're vulnerable. The Spin Attack can score consecutive midair hits, and the final slash is very powerful. Link's Bombs are his trump card, but he can't pull one out if he's carrying another item. (Up & B: Spin Attack, Down & B: Bomb)

Target Test
To start with, jump once and do the spin attack (B+up) move to destroy targets 1 and 2.

Go off the start platform to the left. When you hit the bottom, double jump and whirling sword up to destroy target 3. You should be able to make it onto the rising and falling platform with this move. Jump and whirling sword to destroy target 4 above you. Prepare an arrow now (B), fully charged, release when you are on the same level as target 5, or use the boomerang (B+forward). Do the same for target 6 when the barrier is out of the way.

Jump back to the start platform, and off to the right. As you fall, take a kick (A) at target 7 to destroy it. Jump onto the platform that slants up and right. From there, use a jump and whirling sword to destroy target 8. From there, jump up to target 9 and take a sword swing at it. Now, double jump and whirling sword to the right to destroy target 10.

An alternative technique is demonstrated here:     http://youtube.com/watch?v=Opyny7QPsLc

World Record
The current world record for Link's Target Test is 3:55. However, the strategy used to complete it this quickly is complex and difficult to perform. It, along with every SSBM Target Test record, can be seen here:       http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOtwrtOGso8&feature=related.

Home Run Contest
Use arrows, and repeatedly hit until the timer says about 2 seconds left. go a little bit farther away, and use his double slash (Smash-A, then A Again) and only have the second attack hit. It will send him farther than home run bat. Link's HRC record is held by Sin this video shows close to the world record    http://youtube.com/watch?v=wUzFIzLuuJU

Taunts
Link puts his right hand on his hip and races his left hand through his bang.

Techniques
Sex Kick