- Game Versions
- Smash 3DS, Smash Wii U
Sup guys? Just wanted to bring you a guide to Link since there isn't one that I consider to be "complete". This is my first guide so please bear with me and I'll try to update it as much as I can.
About this guide: This guide is mostly for people who know the basics of Link so I wont cover the damage each attack does or how the smash attacks work. If this bothers you guys then I'll update it later on with damage calculation and "How to" Basics.
Little bit about me and why I can be trusted: I've used Link since Melee but I only started competitive play on the 3ds version and gotten some good tricks down and also I am currently the Link champion on Gamefaqs (its not much but its something) http://ssbbrawlcharts.wix.com/chrutitles#!3ds/cee5 In this one tho my name is SoulStealer2684. This doesn't mean I'm the best Link in the world. I'm not even close but I know my way around him. Anywho, on to the guide.
The two common ways that Link is used: Link can be used either of two ways. Complete zoning which relies mostly on racking up damage with projectiles and then getting a kill with a smash attack or the second way (that I use) which I call Punishment Link. The point of this way of play is to strike at openings or make openings yourself with your projectiles to string with your sword. Much like he does in his original games.
Projectile basics:
Boomerang: Gives damage when thrown, pulls people along when coming back. Can be used diagonally. Travels farther if performed like a smash attack.
Hero's Bow: Can be charged for a good amount of damage. Cannot change directions once activated. Mostly used for long range attacks or to quickly disrupt a rush.
Bombs: Explodes after a few seconds. Used to damage enemies and if you manage to hit an enemy that's near, the explosion will not harm you. These are your go to projectiles.
Simple enough right? Now lets go with the things that I like about them and how they really should be used.
Projectiles advanced:
Boomerang: Use the boomerang to hit enemies far away to zone them and (better yet) to stop characters like Samus and Robin from charging their attacks. Can be used to gimp in one of two ways:
1) Try to hit them while they are recovering. If they hit then yay, some extra damage but pay attention. If they air dodge, you can use this small window to punish with a Fair or Bair.
2) Jump off stage and hit the wall on the side of the stage with it. This will cause the boomerang to bounce off of it and can push enemies away from the stage. Note: This one is really hard to do and takes a lot of practice.
While on stage, if you miss the boomerang throw, do not panic. It comes back and it will pull the opponent towards you and most people forget about its return path. Use this to your advantage to score a surprise smash attack or a Jab combo.
Bows: I don't use it much but their are a few techs. The one I remember right now is the Reverse bow. Much like the reverse Falcon Punch or Warlock punch, just press the side you want to do it while in the air to quickly turn and shoot. Can be used while running away but I don't find it so useful so moving on.
Bombs:
Man oh man...the bombs...Every Link main's best friend. You can pull off so many things with these. Here are some simple combos with em:
Throw -> (if it hits) Dash attack. The smoke will cover you up and the hit stun is just long enough to be able to perform the dash attack.
Jump -> Down Throw -> Nair
Pretty easy combo, bomb will push opponent upwards to your kick.
The list goes on but this will be on the combo list.
As for an advanced tech, do a short hop and press the grab button to let it go. It wont explode (if you jumped short enough) and you'll have map control.
Best advanced tech for bombs is the 2nd up B. Easily explained, when you get sent far away but survived, pull out a bomb. Just as your about to die, use the jump, then Up B, the bomb will explode by then and you should be able to Up B again. If you don't get KOed by an attack, you'll always make it back on stage.
Grabs and throws:
Link's grabs aren't great and if you miss, prepare to get punished hard. What's good about them? Well each one has their use.
Tapping A: You can use this to rack up quick damage since Link can do this very quickly nailing about 2 or 3 hits before sending a person flying. Note: Don't do this at early damage.
Side throws: Link kicks them forward/back depending on the side, not much use here.
Down Throws: Link's best comboer at early damage. After doing down throw just jump and do a Bair. Can be done twice.
Up Throw: Link can kill just about anyone with this after 170%. "But Xeph, 170% is really high don't you think?" Well yeah but Link's smashes aren't really the fastest and if a person is good at dodge rolling, you're gonna have some trouble. Luckily, Link can nail about 4 or 5 A taps before throwing at 115%, so piling on the damage later on actually becomes easier.
How to gimp with Link:
We already covered that you can with boomerang but if we're gonna gimp, we're gonna do it right. Link's recovery is better this time around so you can jump off the stage without much risk to it. To gimp, just jump and use Bair or Fair. Simple. Hang on the ledge and if the person is about to come back, press the jump button and try to bair, even if you miss, you can still make it back since you have the second jump and Up B still.
Now what if the opponent has an obvious recovery like Rob's or Dog Hunt's? Just jump out and do a Dair. Trust me, you wont die (unless you fast fall) and if you do it at the right time (A.K.A. you hit them as you pull out the sword), you'll meteor them which lands you a free kill.
Advanced recovery:
Look at bomb advanced techs.
Racking up damage:
Use projectiles to keep them out and wait for openings to strike with your sword and remember to use your grabs. Use these simple combos to help you get started:
Bomb -> Jump -> Throw bomb down -> Nair
Fast Fall Nair -> Jab combo
Jab -> Jab -> Up smash/ Up B
Dthrow -> Bair
Not exactly combo but: Grab ledge -> Let go and quickly Up B. That's to surprise someone that's waiting near the ledge.
Bomb -> Dash attack
Bomb -> Up smash (on rare occasions, the bomb will cause the opponent to get knocked into your Up smash)
Getting the kill:
Link has plenty of KO options. So here is where I say: TILTS ARE YOUR FRIENDS!!!! Especially Ftilts that can kill easily and are pretty fast. Then we have the Down Smash (to punish rollers), Up Smash (to punish people who like aerial characters) and the one I use most, Front Smash (to punish after opponent makes a mistake). Also, Up B can kill but I wouldn't recommend it much.
I'll leave it here for now since I wrote this while at work to kill some time but I'll come back and see if I left anything behind.
Lastly, remember. Practice makes perfect.
About this guide: This guide is mostly for people who know the basics of Link so I wont cover the damage each attack does or how the smash attacks work. If this bothers you guys then I'll update it later on with damage calculation and "How to" Basics.
Little bit about me and why I can be trusted: I've used Link since Melee but I only started competitive play on the 3ds version and gotten some good tricks down and also I am currently the Link champion on Gamefaqs (its not much but its something) http://ssbbrawlcharts.wix.com/chrutitles#!3ds/cee5 In this one tho my name is SoulStealer2684. This doesn't mean I'm the best Link in the world. I'm not even close but I know my way around him. Anywho, on to the guide.
The two common ways that Link is used: Link can be used either of two ways. Complete zoning which relies mostly on racking up damage with projectiles and then getting a kill with a smash attack or the second way (that I use) which I call Punishment Link. The point of this way of play is to strike at openings or make openings yourself with your projectiles to string with your sword. Much like he does in his original games.
Projectile basics:
Boomerang: Gives damage when thrown, pulls people along when coming back. Can be used diagonally. Travels farther if performed like a smash attack.
Hero's Bow: Can be charged for a good amount of damage. Cannot change directions once activated. Mostly used for long range attacks or to quickly disrupt a rush.
Bombs: Explodes after a few seconds. Used to damage enemies and if you manage to hit an enemy that's near, the explosion will not harm you. These are your go to projectiles.
Simple enough right? Now lets go with the things that I like about them and how they really should be used.
Projectiles advanced:
Boomerang: Use the boomerang to hit enemies far away to zone them and (better yet) to stop characters like Samus and Robin from charging their attacks. Can be used to gimp in one of two ways:
1) Try to hit them while they are recovering. If they hit then yay, some extra damage but pay attention. If they air dodge, you can use this small window to punish with a Fair or Bair.
2) Jump off stage and hit the wall on the side of the stage with it. This will cause the boomerang to bounce off of it and can push enemies away from the stage. Note: This one is really hard to do and takes a lot of practice.
While on stage, if you miss the boomerang throw, do not panic. It comes back and it will pull the opponent towards you and most people forget about its return path. Use this to your advantage to score a surprise smash attack or a Jab combo.
Bows: I don't use it much but their are a few techs. The one I remember right now is the Reverse bow. Much like the reverse Falcon Punch or Warlock punch, just press the side you want to do it while in the air to quickly turn and shoot. Can be used while running away but I don't find it so useful so moving on.
Bombs:
Man oh man...the bombs...Every Link main's best friend. You can pull off so many things with these. Here are some simple combos with em:
Throw -> (if it hits) Dash attack. The smoke will cover you up and the hit stun is just long enough to be able to perform the dash attack.
Jump -> Down Throw -> Nair
Pretty easy combo, bomb will push opponent upwards to your kick.
The list goes on but this will be on the combo list.
As for an advanced tech, do a short hop and press the grab button to let it go. It wont explode (if you jumped short enough) and you'll have map control.
Best advanced tech for bombs is the 2nd up B. Easily explained, when you get sent far away but survived, pull out a bomb. Just as your about to die, use the jump, then Up B, the bomb will explode by then and you should be able to Up B again. If you don't get KOed by an attack, you'll always make it back on stage.
Grabs and throws:
Link's grabs aren't great and if you miss, prepare to get punished hard. What's good about them? Well each one has their use.
Tapping A: You can use this to rack up quick damage since Link can do this very quickly nailing about 2 or 3 hits before sending a person flying. Note: Don't do this at early damage.
Side throws: Link kicks them forward/back depending on the side, not much use here.
Down Throws: Link's best comboer at early damage. After doing down throw just jump and do a Bair. Can be done twice.
Up Throw: Link can kill just about anyone with this after 170%. "But Xeph, 170% is really high don't you think?" Well yeah but Link's smashes aren't really the fastest and if a person is good at dodge rolling, you're gonna have some trouble. Luckily, Link can nail about 4 or 5 A taps before throwing at 115%, so piling on the damage later on actually becomes easier.
How to gimp with Link:
We already covered that you can with boomerang but if we're gonna gimp, we're gonna do it right. Link's recovery is better this time around so you can jump off the stage without much risk to it. To gimp, just jump and use Bair or Fair. Simple. Hang on the ledge and if the person is about to come back, press the jump button and try to bair, even if you miss, you can still make it back since you have the second jump and Up B still.
Now what if the opponent has an obvious recovery like Rob's or Dog Hunt's? Just jump out and do a Dair. Trust me, you wont die (unless you fast fall) and if you do it at the right time (A.K.A. you hit them as you pull out the sword), you'll meteor them which lands you a free kill.
Advanced recovery:
Look at bomb advanced techs.
Racking up damage:
Use projectiles to keep them out and wait for openings to strike with your sword and remember to use your grabs. Use these simple combos to help you get started:
Bomb -> Jump -> Throw bomb down -> Nair
Fast Fall Nair -> Jab combo
Jab -> Jab -> Up smash/ Up B
Dthrow -> Bair
Not exactly combo but: Grab ledge -> Let go and quickly Up B. That's to surprise someone that's waiting near the ledge.
Bomb -> Dash attack
Bomb -> Up smash (on rare occasions, the bomb will cause the opponent to get knocked into your Up smash)
Getting the kill:
Link has plenty of KO options. So here is where I say: TILTS ARE YOUR FRIENDS!!!! Especially Ftilts that can kill easily and are pretty fast. Then we have the Down Smash (to punish rollers), Up Smash (to punish people who like aerial characters) and the one I use most, Front Smash (to punish after opponent makes a mistake). Also, Up B can kill but I wouldn't recommend it much.
I'll leave it here for now since I wrote this while at work to kill some time but I'll come back and see if I left anything behind.
Lastly, remember. Practice makes perfect.
