Young Link

Young Link is the child incarnation of Link in the Super Smash Bros. and Hyrule Warriors series. He is based on his appearances in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. He is a playable fighter in Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

In the Super Smash Bros. series, Young Link's entrance involves him descending from a column of light, similar to ones found at the end of a dungeon in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Link's entrance in the original Super Smash Bros.

Super Smash Bros. Melee
In Super Smash Bros. Melee, Young Link is an unlockable character, unlocked by beating Classic or Adventure mode with 10 characters, including Link and Zelda/Sheik, or by playing 500 Melee matches, and he then must be defeated on Great Bay. Young Link's moves are similar to Link's, though while Young Link is faster and lighter, he is also weaker. As Young Link is shorter and wields the smaller Kokiri Sword, his attacks do not have as much range. Young Link's Deku Shield is also not as strong as Link's Hylian Shield, as it does not protect against stronger projectiles. Young Link can wall jump, which Link is unable to do. Young Link is voiced by Fujiko Takimoto, who provided his voice clips for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. The theme associated with him is a cover of Saria's Song.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Young Link is one of the five playable characters from Super Smash Bros. Melee who is no longer playable in this game (the other four being Dr. Mario, Pichu, Mewtwo, and Roy), possibly being replaced by Toon Link, who functions very similarly to Young Link. However, he does have a collectible sticker, and is playable in a demo of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U
While Young Link does not make any appearance whatsoever in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, he is referenced in the trophy "Adult Link (Ocarina of Time)". Young Link is also indirectly referenced via Link's eighth alternate costume, which is almost identical to Young Link's Fierce Deity transformation. Lastly, Toon Link's Hero Bow has a custom variation based on Young Link's Fire Bow.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Young Link, after being absent as a fighter in the previous two Super Smash Bros. games (the longest absence of any playable character alongside Pichu), returns as an unlockable playable fighter in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Due to Link's The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild-based changes, Young Link is now considered an entirely unique fighter from him, though his moveset shares a few similarities with Toon Link's. Young Link gains a Final Smash, the Triforce Slash, which he shares with Toon Link. Young Link gains his new on-screen appearance and two new taunts, and Young Link can give a battle cry during a victory animation.

Young Link benefits from universal changes: his overall mobility is faster, his short hop timing is reduced, his aerials have less landing lag, and he can use ground attack out of a run and use his aerials on ladders. Young Link's recovery is better, since his double jump grants more height, while directionally air dodging does not leave him helpless anymore. However, Young Link's air and falling speeds are decreased, unlike fellow veterans; additionally, some of his moves deal less damage and knockback, or more startup and ending lag.

In the World of Light, Young Link's puppet fighter is fought in the Triforce of Courage section of the Sacred Land, referencing his home series. He must be awoken to progress the story, along with Ganondorf, Zelda, Sonic, and.

Classic Mode route
Young Link's Classic Mode route pits him against fighters from The Legend of Zelda series.

Hyrule Warriors
In Hyrule Warriors, Young Link is obtainable as a playable character through the Majora's Mask DLC pack, and is unlockable in the base version of both reissues. Like normal Link, he is accompanied by Proxi, who speaks for him. His equippable weapon is the Fierce Deity's Mask, though he only actually uses it when performing a Focus Spirit or Special Attack. He normally attacks rather with the Kokiri Sword, and wears the Keaton Mask on the side of his head. Uniquely, he is able to play the Ocarina of Time to transfer the contents of his special attack meter to his magic meter. However, he is by default relatively weak.

Palutena's Guidance

 * Pit: Is it just me, or has Link lost weight?
 * Palutena: Yes and no. That's Young Link. He's the child version of the Hero of Time.
 * Pit: The Hero of Time?
 * Palutena: The Link who mastered the Ocarina of Time and faced Ganondorf. Link's actions as the Hero of Time created parallel worlds, and from there, many different legends were born.
 * Pit: I don't follow. What do you mean?
 * Viridi: If you were defeated by Medusa, Palutena wouldn't be here today, right?
 * Pit: True, but what does that have to do with anything?
 * Viridi: We may have triumphed over Medusa in this timeline, but in a different timeline, you lost that fight, leaving Medusa and Hades to rule the world. Every action and inaction creates infinite parallel worlds! You're only in one of them.
 * Pit: Wait... I'm not the only me? And nothing I do matters because another me will do the opposite? THEN WHAT'S THE POINT OF DOING ANYTHING!
 * Palutena: Breathe, Pit! Focus on Young Link's short reach. He may be fast, but try to outrange him and anticipate his movements.

Super Smash Blog bio
"He’s back after 17 years! Young Link is faster than Link but he’s also lighter, making him easier to launch."

amiibo

 * Since his debut on the original Nintendo Entertainment System™ in 1987, Link's appearance has changed over and over again, each time adding to the mystique of his incomparable story. This younger incarnation is most often associated with the Legend of Zelda™: Ocarina of Time™ game.