In this Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Link Guide, we will guide you on how to play if you choose Link as your character of choice in a fight. We will highlight all the moves that are specific to Link, plus his defending moves, special moves and his final smash. In addition, this guide will also give you a better understanding of his moves, for if you find yourself fighting against Link.

This guide will focus on Link’s attacks like neutral attacks, special attacks, and grounded attacks. We will also detailed the amount of damage each attack deals to an opponent. In the end, we will finish off with what his final smash looks like and what it does to your foe.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Link Guide

Below we have listed all the attacks that are specific and special to Link. Refer to each attack for a better understanding of how Link combats in the stage.

Introduction

Link comes with a lot of options when we talk about attacks in the game. His projectiles in the game are particularly his strength, where he can control and limit his opponent’s safe zones, setting traps and restricting parts of the stage, giving him a strong battlefield presence advantage.

Link has the upper hand when he is fighting against slow opponents that are limited to fewer aerial options, as he is most dangerous when he is given a lot of space.

Link’s Hylian Shield is best for blocking all projectiles of all sizes. As long as he is facing the incoming projectile with his shield, he will block and totally cancel out every shot aimed at him.

Grounded Attacks

This section of the guide contains all the grounded attacks that Link can perform while on the stage.

Neutral Attacks

Link has three neutral attacks. The first is a jab with his blade extension that deals 3 damage, which is them followed by another horizontal swipe that also deals 3 damage. The finishing attack is an uppercut slash that knocks enemies away and deals 4 damage.

Dash Attack

This attack deals 14 damage, where while dashing, Link jumps in the air with a mighty overhead attack, smashing his sword into the ground. This is a powerful attack but it takes a slow time to start. It is a high risk high reward attack, that can knockout enemy, but if missed, can leave you open to receive multiple attacks.

Smashes

Link has four smash attacks.

Side Smash

This attack deals 14 + 5 damage, where Link swings his master sword over his head and towards his opponent. He then delivers an upward slash that knocks the opponent away. If Link is at 0% damage, this side smash will unleash a sword beam projectile.

Side Smash 2

This attack deals 13 damage, where you can cancel the previous smash and convert it to another heavy frontal strike by pressing the Attack button during the wind down period. The optional second strike can be used to punish enemies jumping over your beam

Up Smash

This attack deals 4, 3, 11. In this attack, Link attacks with a three hit combo, starting with two head level swipes and finishing off with a mighty jump kick that sends the opponent flying high. While this attack can be highly risky if missed or dodged, it is still a decent option for retaliating against your aggressors.

Down Smash

This attack deals 17 damage, where Link crouches down and sweeps the floor in front of him, then swings around to sweep the ground behind. Thanks to its rear hit effect, this attack is primarily used to clear out multiple enemies and to punish ground rolls and air dodges. It’s not safe on shield, making it less optimal as a poking move.

Defensive Attacks

Link has three Defensive attacks. The first is the Ledge Attack that deals 9 damage, while the second is the Wake-up attack that deals 9 damage.

Tilts

Link has three Tilt Attacks.

Side Tilt

This attack deals 13 damage, where Link produces a heavy wide arc overhead attack with his sword that slams in the ground and slices opponents in a large area in front of him. This is a very effective ground attack that can be used as a poke, and being decent enough to knock out enemies, has reasonably low lag, and has long reach.

Up Tilt

This attack deals 11 damage, where Link delivers back to front slash above him with his sword, controlling a significant portion of airspace around his head. This attack is best to keep airborne enemies guessing and for punishing their mistimed air dodges and subpar down air attacks.

Down Tilt

This attack deals 9 damage, where Link crouches and performs a sweeping sword attack that targets opponents feet. As it hits them, opponents are knock in the air. This attack then opens up many opportunities for a follow up combo.

Thanks to its brief end lag, you can go for shielded down tilt into an anti-aggression neutral attack, applying decent shield damage pressure against more defensive opponents.

Grabs

Link has 5 Grab Attacks. His first grab deals 1.3 damage. Next are the Front and Back Throw which deal 5.5 damage each. Finally the Up Throw deals 7 damage, while the Down throw deals 6 damage.

Link’s grab attack is a swift pommel strike. For his up throw, Link tosses the enemy into the air before connecting a hopping up-slash, leaving them vulnerable to additional follow-up attacks. His forward and back throws are conventional knockback attacks as he kicks them away. For his down throw, Link performs a surprisingly agile wrestling maneuver, slamming his victim into the ground before dropping a precision elbow strike into their chest that pops them up for a combo opportunity.

Aerial Attacks

This section of the guide will cover all the Aerial attacks that Link has.

Neutral Air Attack

This attack deals 6 damage, where Link extends a lightning fast flying kick for a short time, striking down opponents. This is a very versatile physical attach Link has, where it is an excellent air to air poke and fast falling attack.

You can use it offensively as well, thanks to its little end and landing lag. Off of a deep jumping attack against grounded foes, you’re generally safe from reprisal attacks. Naturally, it’s an incredible edge-guarding attack with its low lag, allowing you to keep up the pressure on successful hits. You can also use fast-falling neutral air attack as a “meaty” attack against an edge climb to set up a potential edge slip

Forward Air Attack

This attack deals 8, 10 damage where Link jumps into the air and performs a one-handed spinning attack with the Master Sword, slashing the area in front of him twice. In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the first hit of forward air attack auto-links to the second hit when it connects with an enemy, with the second hit having most of the knockback.

this attack can do serious shield damage, as both hits force the defending opponent into shielding both attacks. With Link’s quick fast fall, you can create exceptional jump attack sequences, covering air-to-air and defending the area low to the ground: jump, input forward air, then immediately cancel into fast fall. With practice and timing, you can create an incredibly effective technique that can be difficult for your opponents to deal with.

Back Air Attack

This attack deals 5, 7 damage where Link spins around in the air, and delivers two rear spin kicks in succession. This is the fastest air move Link has, and works great after shielding an enemy’s attack from behind.

With this attack it is possible combo a low one-hit back air attack into multiple up tilts at mid-damage percentages. And back air is a great way to cross up out-of-shield attacks, baiting out incorrectly faced shield grabs.

Up Air Attack

This attack deals 15 damage where Link performs his Thrust Attack. While the attack remains active for a significant duration, connecting with the first few active frames rewards you with extra damage. Link’s up air attack has slightly less lag than it used to, making it less punishing to use if you whiff it, and opening up more possibilities for up air confirms.

Jump up air is a key component to your anti-air juggling arsenal. As such, it’s important to be able to execute jump, full-velocity up airs.

Down Air Attack

This attack deals 18 damage, where Link commits to a powerful downward thrust. This attack is primarily used as a meteor smash finisher while edge-guarding, such as off of an edge-slip combo.

Special Moves

Link has 4 special moves. All of them are detailed below.

Neutral Special – Bows and Arrows

This attack deals 4 damage (12 max charge) with a single arrow. And 3 damage (9 max charge) with Double arrow. In this attack, Link fires an Arrow from his Bow. The longer he draws and holds his Arrow, the faster and more powerful the projectile becomes. If Link picks up a fallen Arrow from a prior shot, he can fire an extra projectile (up to two at once) the next time he shoots his Bow.

Side Special – Boomerang

This attack deals 8 damage when normal. And 9.6 when flicked. In this attack, Link throws his Boomerang either straight ahead, angled upward or angled down. This projectile can hit multiple enemies before returning back to Link.

The flicked version travels farther and deals more damage. At first glance, it may seem like you should only use the high-damage version with increased range over the normal version. However, the shorter distance of the normal version means less time for the Boomerang to make its return trip, as well as less time for Link to retrieve his Boomerang for use again

Up Special (Ground) – Spin Attack

This attack deals 14 damage, where Link performs a pirouette with his Master Sword extended and clearing out opponents around him. This attack is a strong finisher in certain situations.

Up Special (Airborne) – Spin Attack

This attack deals 4, 2×3, 4 damage. When airborne, spin attack is a different move. In the air it becomes a multi-hit combo that launches Link higher in the higher. However, you have to be careful to land on the stage, as it makes Link fall into a free fall state where you can’t perform a platform or ledge special.

Down Special – Remote Bomb

This attack deals 1 damage on bomb throw, and 7 on bomb detonation. In this special attack, link produces a bomb with the Sheikah Slate. This bomb can be carried and then thrown to detonate on command. The blast radius of the bomb is very large.

The bomb is not only manually detonated by Link, but it can detonate after receiving a set amount of damage from attacks, or it can be instantly detonated if it is damaged by a fire attack.

Final Smash – Ancient Bow and Arrow

Link shoots an Ancient Arrow that flies straight ahead. If the Arrow hits an opponent or the terrain, it explodes. While the Arrow itself can only hit one target, the resulting detonation can launch nearby opponents.

For other characters, check out our Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Characters Guide.

Read more Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Guides.

This concludes our Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Link Guide. If you want to add anything to this guide, feel free to use the comments section below.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Link Guide – How to Play, Attack Moves

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Link Guide

Introduction