Link Guide: Matchup Chart and Combos

This is a guide to using Link in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Link's bread and butter combos, how to unlock, frame data, alt costumes and skins, as well as Link's matchups, counters, and tier list placement can all be found here.

Link Tier and Overview

Stats and General Info

Link
Game Series	The Legend of Zelda
Smash Bros. Debut	Super Smash Bros. (64)
Fighter Number	3
Unlock Order	Default
Number of Jumps	2
Weight	104 Units (22/87)
Dash Speed	1.534 (71/87)
Air Speed	0.924 (76/87)
Fast Fall Speed	3.04 (6/87)
Special Attributes	None

Tier List Placement

Tier

Heavy hitting attacks and excellent zoning ability

Link in SSBU has a plethora of zoning tools in his arsenal to deal damage without getting too close. He has great range with both his projectiles and sword attacks, and has plenty ofhard hitting moves that can take a stock off of an opponent. His movement speed is not quite as good as his younger counterparts, and he has some noticeable lag on many of his normals, so he will mainly need to rely on nair when cornered.

See Our Tier List Here!

Link's Strengths and Weaknesses

Link Matchup Chart

Matchup Chart

-2
-1
0
+1
+2

Notes About Matchup Chart

1. -2 = Disadvantage. -1 = Slight Disadvantage or Even. 0 = Even. +1 = Slight Advantage or Even. +2 = Advantage.
2. The matchup chart was based around both the opinions of professional players of each character, as well as our own experience through playing Link.
3. Characters within each tier are unordered
4. Pokemon Trainer's individual Pokemon (Squirtle, Ivysaur, and Charizard) as well as Echo fighters with no significant difference than their regular counterpart are not shown.
5. For other characters who are not shown here, we are still investigating the matchup.

Good Matchups For Link

With a wide array of projectiles in his kit, Link does well against most big body characters (similar to the other Links), since they are an easy target for boomerang and bomb. Out of all three Links, his sword grants him the most range, so he also can do well against characters with short range on their attacks.

Link Counters

Link generally has a pretty good matchup for most characters, although there are some characters who may give him trouble. Characters with good frame data are much better at punishing Link's slower attacks, so ZSS, Pikachu, or Joker may be trouble. His recovery is also easy to exploit for characters with counters, and small body characters may be tough for him to land his attacks on.

How to Beat Link

Countering Remote Bomb

An essential part of Link's gameplan is his remote bomb, which can be pulled and detonated remotely with down B. Since it functions as an item, dash attacks, tilts, jabs, and aerials will all allow you to intercept it and hold it. While you are holding it, he cannot detonate it, so use this to your advantage. There is noticeable startup when he pulls it, so if you throw it offstage and wait for him to pull it again, you can punish him during the move's startup.

Link can also use this move to extend his recovery offstage, so be on the lookout for how he recovers. If Link is already offstage but his bomb is placed somewhere on stage, he will not have enough time to detonate, pull again, and redetonate for a bomb recovery.

Deal with his projectiles

Projectiles are another integral part of Link's gameplay, so you will have to find a way to deal with them. If your character has a reflector, this is rather easyーjust don't be too predictable in using it, or Link can counter it. If your character does not have a reflector, you'll instead need to play patiently, and look for patterns in how he uses his specials.

Careful use of shielding, spotdodging, parrying, as well as jumping are the key to manuevering around Link's projectiles to find an opening. Boomerang is one of Link's best neutral tools, but it does have considerable startup, so you can punish him as he begins the move if you are close enough. Once you have made your way in, keep the pressure up and don't let him get too far away.

Bait out moves for a punish

Many of Link's moves have significant endlag on them, particularly his smashes, tilts, and up special. Since Up Special is such a quick option out of shield, Links may use it to try punishing your moves that hit his shield. If you can feint an aerial by jumping toward his shield, then jumping away without doing anything, you may be able to bait the move out. Since the move only hits once, you can either shield hit and drop shield for any punish you want, or move in at the end to punish it. Up Smash can be dealt with in a similar way.

When in disadvantage, Links (especially at lower levels) may try and land with down air. If he misses the move, it has enough lag to punish easily, so it can even be baited out by waiting underneath him, dodging it, then moving in for a quick move.

Edgeguarding

If the Link you are playing against does not know how to bomb recover, Link's normal recovery is quite easy to deal with. Since it has no hitbox above it, he is still very easily hit with a move that attacks downward (such as a spike). If your character has a counter (Marth, Lucina, etc), you can also use it just before he gets back to the ledge, and you will easily stop his recovery. Just be sure to mix up your timing, or else the Link will just wait until after you finish using the move.

Link Combos

Link Bread and Butter Combos

Link Advanced Combos

Link Frame Data and Moveset

Link's Best Out of Shield Options

Up B out of shield is a very fast and powerful move, and can easily KO an opponent depending on % and positioning. However, be warned that it is very easy to punish, so do not use it to try and counterattack a move that is very safe on shield. If you have a bomb in hand, you can throw it for a quick OOS option. Additionally, Nair and Grab will typically come in handy, depending on what you think your opponent is about to do next (grab if you think they will shield, and Nair if you are less certain).

Link Jab (Light Attack)

Jab Info

Link's jab is pretty quick, especially when compared to his other grounded options. In particular, it is a good for an easy follow up to a fast fall neutral air. It can be used to break out of combos, but Nair will fit this role as well.

Link Dash Attack / Tilt Attacks

Dash Attack Info

Link's DA is very powerful, although it has significant startup and end lag. It is a bit high risk/high reward, and you should not be reckless with it, but it can sometimes be used to catch opponents that are landing.

Forward Tilt Info

Link's FTilt has excellent range, and it is also very strong. It is a very good KO option for Link, although it does have significant startup and end lag on it.

Up Tilt Info

This move covers a lot of space, and has a pretty quick startup. It covers the entire 180 Degree area above Link, so it is good at snuffing out jumps, or when used as an anti-air. It is also a good follow-up for down throw.

Down Tilt Info

D Tilt has both a quick startup and good range. It is one of Link's best combo tools due to the angle it sends opponents, and can be followed up with a Fair.

Link Smash Attacks

Forward Smash Info

FSmash is a strong two-hit move that can KO opponents. Unlike most smash attacks, you need to press the A button (or smash button) twice in order to use both hits. The window for inputting the second hit is pretty long, so you can sometimes throw the first hit on an opponent's shield and delay the second until they drop their shield, if you expect them to try and punish your first hit.

When Link's % is at 0, an F Smash will also shoot out a beam of light that can damage opponents. Although it is not really very good when compared to his other projectiles, it is still a neat feature that Legend of Zelda fans will appreciate.

Up Smash Info

USmash has a very wide range to catch opponents. Like his up tilt, he strikes to cover a 180 degree angle. This attack consists of three hits, and has a long active hitbox. However, because of how long this attack is, you are extremely punishable if you miss.

Down Smash

Link's quickest smash attack, although still very laggy. It is not as strong as his other smash attacks, but it sometimes catch a foe doing normal getup from ledge, or one who has used all of their invulnerability on a ledge. It is also good for a quick punish, and can cover a roll, since it hits both sides.

Link Aerials

Neutral Air Info

This is one of Link's best moves in his kit, and possibly one of the best Nairs in the game, thanks to its quick startup, long active hitbox, and low end lag. It is a good Get-Off-Me option, and can even be used to break from untrue combos. In general, this move can be used in a ton of situations, and its utility should not be underestimated. It is -2 on shield for the strong hit and -3 for the weak one. When you aren't sure what else to do, try Nair!

Forward Air Info

Link's Fair is a high damaging multi-hit attack. While its startup is a bit slow, it can combo with boomerang to take stocks.

Back Air Info

Link's Bair has low startup and is good for comboing. Additionally, it is a pretty fast out of shield option, and it is pretty safe on an opponent's shield (-3). Link will not get many KOs off of this move alone, but he can make Bair strings that combo into Up B for tons of damage.

Up Air Info

This move is good at juggling, thanks to its huge range and long lasting hit box. It can KO opponents, and is a good follow-up to things like DTilt, etc.

Down Air Info

This move has a very long lasting hit box, and can deal a ton of damage. While it does not combo from other moves, the initial hit box can spike opponents, leading to early KOs. This is best done with a T-Spikeーa method of grabbing ledge, hitting down, and then immediately pressing jump and dair at the same time to recover while hitting an opponent recovering low. Do not over use this move on stage, as it is pretty easy for an opponent to predict and then punish.

Link Specials

Neutral B (Arrow)

Arrows are Link's neutral special. By holding B longer, the arrow will fly further and deal more damage. It is not one of your main neutral tools, and you mainly only want to use it at a distance. It can fly extremely far when fully charged though, making it excellent for edge guarding. When you fire an arrow onto the ground, you can pick it up and throw it as an item. If you are holding an arrow and you fire from your bow, you can deal 1.5x damage.

Forward B (Boomerang)

Link's side B is the boomerang. This deals a good amount of damage, and can hit your opponents when you first throw it out, as well as on the return. By holding up or down when throwing it out, you can alter the angle that it flies.

This tool is great for keeping opponents from rushing in at you, and it is also one of Link's most important combat tools, so use it as much as possible.

Up B (Spin Attack)

This attack spins around Link and sends the opponent away It can even be charged when grounded by holding B, to deal more damage. It is a very good KO option, and since it comes out in just 7 frames, it is an amazing OOS option as well. It is also Link's recovery when used in the air, and catching opponents with this will send them up and away. Catching an opponent in the air with this move is very strong, so if you can trick an opponent into recovering high, then read their movement, you may be able to take their stock much earlier than expected.

Down B (Remote Bomb)

Down B will pull out a remote bomb, which Link can then use as an item and throw at the opponent. It detonates when you press down B again, when coming into contact withfire, or after enough time has passed. Additionally, when thrown at a charge shot from Samus, Lucario, Mewtwo, etc, it will cancel the shot, so it can shield him from this type of enemy. When combined with Z-Dropping and Fair, bomb throw has unlimited combo potential as well, so it may be worth putting some training time into.

Bombs can also be used to extend Link's recovery. If you pull bomb as soon as you are sent off stage, you can Z-Drop and detonate it to move Link close to the stage before using your Up B as a recovery. While it takes some practice to get used to the timing, it is a great way to both extend your recovery and mix up your route. The way to use a bomb recovery is shown below.

Link Grabs and Throws

Grab Info

Link no longer has the hookshot/tether grab from previous Smash titles. In its place, he has a standard grab, with a quick startup of only 6 frames. His grab game may not be spectacular, but a quick grab certainly doesn't hurt him.

Forward Throw Info

Forward throw is mostly just used for gaining stage control, or throwing your opponent off stage. It does not combo into anything.

Back Throw Info

Back throw is also just used for gaining stage control, or throwing your opponent off stage. It does not combo into anything either.

Up Throw Info

Up throw will throw the opponent straight up. It does not combo, but it can KO off the top from around 200%.

Down Throw Info

This is generally your go to throw at lower percents, due to the fact that it combos easily into Up Smash, Up Tilt, or Nair.

Final Smash

Link Balance Changes

Version 13.0.1 Balance Patch

Version 11.0.0 Balance Patch

Version 7.0.0 Balance Patch

Version 4.0.0 Balance Patch

Version 3.0 Balance Patch

Version 2.0.0 Balance Patch

Major Changes from Smash 4

How to Unlock Link in World of Light

Link can be found in the western area of the Light Realm, by a hill near the sea. He is most quickly found by taking the Villager's path.

How to Unlock Characters Fast

Link Alt Costumes and Skins

Link Reveal Trailer

Smash Ultimate Character Guides

List of Fighters
Tier List	Unlocking Fighters

Character Stat Lists