Super Smash Bros. Melee/Link

From StrategyWiki, the video game walkthrough and strategy guide wiki
SSBM Portrait Link.png

Basic Techniques[edit]

Standard Attacks[edit]

Button(s) Description/notes
A button A weak slash. Good for starting combos.
A button A button Just two simple slashes.
A button A button A button A very good and quick combo.
Arcade-Modifier-Tap.png A button Stabs repeatedly at a rate of 8% per second.
Forward + A button Brings his sword above his head and strikes downward. High power for an f-tilt, and since the move ha a very high hitbox, it's possible to hit opponents in the air with this move.
Dash + A button Slashes with the momentum of the dash. Pretty fast, but with punishable end-lag. At higher damages, this can be a great move, knocking foes in the air to take advantage of Link's above-average air game, though on it's own, Link's dash attack dosen't have much KO power.
Down control + A button Kneels down and sweeps his sword horizontally just above the ground. It is reccomended to follow up with an aerial, thought his tends to become a tad bit predictable. If it connects on an aerial opponent with the bottom and middle of Link's sword, it is a strong meteor smash, though very situational.
Up control + A button Swings his sword above his head 180 degrees. One of Link's best and most flexible moves on the ground, having decent combo potential, has little start-up and ending lag, and is decently strong.
Smash Forward + A button Very similar to the Forward-A button move, and quite strong. Press A button again for another Smash that is much stronger, dealing more vertical knockback than the first blow. The first hit cannot combo into the second hit above 30%, due to the strength of hit 1 (but hit 1 is still a reliable kill move). The second hit, suprisingly, dosen't change in strength, regardless of charge. It's possible to land hit 2 without landing hit 1, but it requires quick reflexes.
Smash Down control + A button Again, similar to his Grasschopper, but swings a second time behind him. Great KO move, and the first blow is fast, but hit 2 is somewhat laggy. It is decently ranged, which combined with it's floor hitbox, can give it spacing potential.
Smash Up control + A button He swings, just like his Up control + A button, three times above his head, with the third move being the strongest. Not recommended for continuous use due to the amoint of times he misses the last hit. All hits have a noticeable arc above him. Thanks to having below-average knockback for an u-smash, it can combo somewhat well, and fresh, it can deal up to 14.92 damage.
A button (While lying down) Link gets up, then slashes behind him, then in front of him.
A button (When hanging off an edge) Link flips back onto the ledge, doing a slash with the momentum behind him.

Aerial Attacks[edit]

Button(s) Description/notes
A button He kicks. That's about it. Not very strong, but good for breaking combos, and good SHFFL move due to said speed.
Forward + A button He spins around once while swinging his sword. He attacks twice in front of him and once behind. Both hits rarely combine into each other, and like the f-smash, the second hit is stronger, causing many to intentionally miss the first hit to land the second, though ending lag makes this an unreliable edgeguard.
Backwards + A button He kicks once then once again behind him. You could double jump and repeat this move, then do a Spin Attack. Unlike nearly every other back aerial, not considered Link's best aerial for edgeguarding due to the unsusual length and hitbox placement.
Down control + A button He drops down from above and slams down with his famous attack from Zelda II, planting his Sword in the ground (or an enemy's head). A move of extremes, having massive knockback, massive end-lag, and a massive hitbox. If it connects right, the move can potentially KO under 75%. You can hit twice with this move at low damage. HOWEVER, if he lands on the ground, he must pull it out of the ground, with one of the highest end-lags in the game (though L-canceling gives it as much ending lag as a smash attack).
Up control + A button Raises his sword above his head. A very strong and quick move, killing at around 120%. Great juggler with L-cancelling, though quite high end-lag.
Z button A very unique attack, where for most characters, Z button doubles as A button while in the air, Link will actually shoot his hookshot forward, doing damage to whatever the tip hits. Dosen't suffer from stale-move negotiation. Low damage, knockback, and stun. Best for recovery.

Special Attacks[edit]

Button(s) Attack Description/notes
B button Silver Arrow Shot Whips out his Bow and Arrow and shoots one. Can be charged and it goes farther and does more damage with more charge time. The Arrow will shine when fully charged. Somewhat slow and laggy.
Up control + B button Spin Attack This is his signature move. He basically spins around with his sword outstretched. In close range the move is pretty strong. If you tip them with the end of the blade, they’ll go flying at a very low trajectory. In mid-air, he hits up to 5 times. This is also used for recovery purposes, though not immpresive in that regard. Incredible edge=guarder, being able to semi-spike powerfully on a recovering foe. He can grab the ledge backwards with this move, oddly.
Down control + B button Bomb He pulls out a bomb. Use A button or Z button with the Control Stick to throw in four directions. You can also useDown control + B button again to throw it, but only in the direction you’re facing. Left alone, it explodes, hurting Link. If used properly, this move can grant Link an extra Spin Attack for recovery.
Left control (Right control) + B button Boomerang He tosses his Boomerang. In close range, it does around 14-17% damage, with reasonable knockback. The farther the enemy, the less damage it does. During its return path, it can only go through walls does miniscule damage. By inputting this move like a smash attack, it can go farther.

Throws[edit]

Button(s) Description/notes
Down control He throws the opponent on the ground and slams his elbow into him. Follow up with a Down Smash or Spin Slash.
Right control He just kicks him in front of him. Quite weak. You may be able to squeeze in a Forward Smash afterwards. Oddly has two strange hits.
Up control This looks just like his Up control + A button move. Try to follow with an aerial move or an Up Smash. Good at comboing due to below-average vertical knockback.
Left control Link brings the opponent behind him and kicks him away.

Advanced Techniques[edit]

Auto Block[edit]

Link automatically blocks projectiles with his shield just by standing still, if the projectiles are at the correct height. Ducking will also accomplish the same thing. Samus’s Charge Shot, Bob-ombs, almost anything. Link can not use this ability while holding items, (because he holds them with his right hand and puts his shield on his back).

Bomb Jump[edit]

Link also has the ability to bomb jump, but it is not quite as effective and much more difficult to pull off. Basically once you’re off the edge (from being hit), pull a bomb out, throw it, and proceed to jump and up B button, if you do it correctly then the bomb will blow up on you and you will be able to perform another Up control + B button move.

Boomerang hookshot glitch[edit]

In 1.0, it is possible to throw a boomerang and hookshot a ledge. When the boomerang comes back Link will shoot up impossibly high into the air. This glitch is fixed in later versions (Player's Choice, PAL/European)

Quick Recovery[edit]

When using Link or Young Link's Aerial Down control + A button move, immediately pressing L button when the point of the blade touches will speed up the recovery time from the attack.

Wall Grapple[edit]

When using Link, Young Link, or Samus, pressing Z button or A button + L button or A button + R button to use the character's hookshot (Link and Young Link) or grappling beam (Samus). This can be done during the aforementioned characters' air dodges. It can connect to most solid ledges or walls and will allow the character to hang there; pressing A button reels the character back up towards the stage. A triple jump attack (Up control + B button) can be performed immediately afterwards. The air dodge can be used to position the character properly before using this recovery technique, since the hookshot/grappling beam will not connect if the character is too close or far from a wall. If it hits an enemy it does some damage and has minimal knockback.

In general, this move is superior to the Up control + B button for recovery, except in stages like DK 64 where it won't work.