Young Link

Lore & Background

In the world of The Wind Waker, the Great Sea stretches endlessly between scattered islands, and young Link sets sail from the Outset Island in a small boat, driven by a dream of Princess Zelda. Along his voyage he is entrusted with the Master Sword and the Wind Waker, a fan of extraordinary power that lets him call gusts, ride the air, and even conjure a solid platform from the wind itself. His journey is one of growing courage, friendship with Tetra and the King of Red Lions, and the quiet determination of a child who knows the world needs saving even if he does not yet fully understand why.

When Nintendo brought him into the Smash Bros. arena, Young Link carried with him the spirit of that open-sea adventure. His cel-shaded design, wide eyes, and perpetual grin set him apart from the more stoic Links of Ocarina of Time or Twilight Princess. In the context of the Smash universe, he is simply another hero who answers the call to the Battlefield, bringing his fan and his sword to a fight that spans every world.

Among fans, Young Link occupies a beloved niche: he is the Link who feels most like a kid on a grand quest, the one whose story is told in watercolor skies and hand-painted islands. His inclusion in Smash Brawl and again in the 3DS/Wii U entry cemented him as a fan-favorite representation of the franchise's more whimsical side.

In Their Own Story

The Great Sea was calm that evening, the kind of stillness that made the waves look like hammered bronze. Young Link stood at the prow of his little boat, the Wind Waker tucked under his arm, and watched the sun melt into the horizon in ribbons of gold and violet. Somewhere out there, beyond the next ridge of clouds, Princess Zelda was waiting. He did not know how to reach her. He did not know what the Master Sword truly cost to draw. All he knew was that the wind had shifted, and when it shifted, it was telling him to keep sailing.

He grinned, tightened his grip on the fan, and whispered to the sea, "Alright then. Let's go."

The blades of the Wind Waker caught the breeze, and for one breathless moment the whole ocean seemed to lean in and listen.

Reader's Guide

FIGHTER DOSSIER: YOUNG LINK Source Franchise: The Legend of Zelda (The Wind Waker) Unlock Method: In Brawl, unlock by reaching the final stage of the Subspace Emissary or by playing a set number of matches. In 3DS/Wii U, unlock via the trophy shop or by completing a set number of matches.

NEUTRALS Neutral Attack: A three-hit sword combo — a quick horizontal slash, a diagonal overhead, and a finishing thrust. Fast startup, moderate range.

SPECIALS Side Special (Wind Waker): Young Link spins the fan in a wide arc, releasing a gust of wind that travels forward and can knock opponents off balance. Useful for spacing and edge-guarding. Up Special (Wind Waker): He spins the fan overhead and rises in a short vertical boost. Functions as a standard recovery option but with limited vertical distance. Down Special (Wind Waker): The signature move. Young Link whips the fan beneath him, conjuring a solid platform of compressed wind that he can stand on. This grants him a unique mid-air recovery and repositioning tool, though it is limited to a small number of charges per match.

AERIALS Forward Aerial: A lunging sword thrust with decent knockback. Back Aerial: A sweeping arc swing that can catch opponents behind him. Up Aerial: An upward slash with moderate pop-off.

SMASHES Forward Smash: A long, powerful horizontal sword thrust. Up Smash: A rising overhead slash. Down Smash: A wide horizontal sweep at ground level.

GRABS & THROWS Standard grab, pummel, and four directional throws (forward, back, up, down). No unique grab mechanics.

ALTERNATE COSTUMES Several color variants are available, typically shifting the hue of his tunic, boots, and the Wind Waker fan. The default is the classic teal-and-gold Wind Waker palette.

UNIQUE MECHANICS & QUIRKS - Lightweight: Fast fall speed, low air acceleration, easy to knock off-stage. - Limited Down Special: The Wind Waker platform has a fixed charge count; once depleted, it must recharge over time. - Recovery is his greatest strength and weakness: the platform gives him an extra out, but his up special is short and his side special does not reposition him. - Combo potential: His neutral combo and forward aerial chain well into edge pressure, but his low knockback on most attacks means he must rely on combo setups rather than single-hit finishes.

Did You Know?

• Young Link's cel-shaded, hand-painted visual style in The Wind Waker was a deliberate departure from the 3D realism of earlier Zelda games, and that same stylized look carried directly into his Smash Bros. model.
• His Down Special platform in Brawl was one of the first recovery mechanics in the series to grant a fighter a temporary solid surface in mid-air, influencing how later characters approached out-of-bounds options.
• Young Link is one of the few fighters whose design is based on a specific, single source title rather than a composite of multiple games, making his Wind Waker fan a uniquely tied piece of equipment.
• In The Wind Waker, the Wind Waker is not merely a weapon — it is a navigational tool that lets Link read the wind's direction, tying his Smash recovery mechanic to a core gameplay element of his home game.