I am glad there are others like me who still want Young Link to return! I had a think about how they could re-introduce Young Link while keeping him similar to in Melee, but not feeling pointless in Smash 4. I came up with these ideas. Tell me what you think!
I envision Young Link as a Link/Toon Link hybrid in Smash 4, with some moves being changed to make him less similar to them. Young Link would be faster than Link but slower than Toon Link (who I will be referring to as Tink from now on). He would also be in between them in terms of height. In terms of weight, he would weigh less than Toon Link, perhaps being a weight of anywhere from 85 to 90. He would also be based on his Majora's Mask incarnation, having the Sword and Shield from that game, meaning he would have less range than Link, but more than Tink. He would also be able to wall jump like in Melee.
Standard Attacks. His Jab would be the same as the others, but it would keep his cool multi hitting option if you wanted, and it could even have a finisher this time around! It would deal less damage than the other Links, but the option for the rapid jab finish makes up for this. Tilts would be very similar to how they were in Melee, not much to say here. They would have less range than Link but more than Tink, and would be faster than Link's, but slower than Tink's. They would do more damage than Tink's, but have less knockback to compensate. I think his Dash Attack would be his Melee dash attack, not being Link's Jump Slash (we will get onto that later). This could knock people in different directions depending on when it hits. If the start hits, it knocks into the air diagonally in front of him, but if hit late on into the move, it could knock opponents behind him, perhaps confusing the opponent. Smashes would be slightly different. His Up Smash would probably be the same as Links, but with less KO power and slightly less endlag. The move could maybe have less knockback at low percents allowing it to combo more. Down Smash could be a different Dsmash in this game, with the front hit having more knockback but less damage, and the back being less knockback but more damage, It would function like Links, not linking like Tinks. Fsmash could be the Jump Slash, like Links Dash Attack, meaning he doesn't have the 2 hit move. This would mean this move has less damage potential, but is more reliable and still is potent. Faster than Link's Jump Slash, but as a smash, it can be charged, meaning it could have more knockback at full charge, but slightly less at no charge.
Aerial Attacks. This is where things start to mix up. I think Young Link could inherit different Aerials from Link and Tink. For example, he would keep Links Nair and Dair, but have Tink's Fair an Bair, but they would obviously work differently. Nair would work like Melee, being more powerful than Links. Dair would function like Links too, and not a stall then fall like Tinks. This one would be less powerful than Links in terms of damage, and it would be cool if the meteor smash came out later, meaning you must have different timings for the 2 characters. His Fair and Bair would function like Tinks, but deal less knockback, while having more range. For example, Fair could do 10% damage, and Bair 12%, have more range than Tinks but less knockback. Still reliable at killing, just kill later, not early like Tinks. Uair could be a different move. A weak upwards slice, similar to Meta Knight's Uair. This would give Young Link an aerial juggle tool. It wouldn't KO, but Link and Tink lack an aerial juggle tool, so this would differentiate them more.
Specials. I want Young Link to return with his regular special moves. I know there is room to make specials different, but I want him to stay as close to his Melee self as possible. Of course, his specials could have different properties. Bombs need no intorductions, they would function like the others. Boomerang would be more close to Tinks, but this one deals more damage. In return, it travels ever so slightly farther, meaning it also takes ever so slightly longer to return when thrown. Up Special could be slightly different. On the ground, if you don't charge it, it is a multi hit move, but charge it to make it function like Links, albeit less powerful. The multi hit spin deals more damage but less knockback than Tink, and launches diagonally, meaning though it has less knockback, it puts him in a safer position. Arrows are where there is room for opening however. I thought it would be cool to reference his bow and arrow from Majora. Arrows fly as fast as Links but deal less damage than Tinks (for example, Tinks deal 4% uncharged and 12% chagred. Young Links could deal 4% uncharged, but 9% charged, while travelling as fast as Links). This is where I have an idea. Hold Up while charging an arrow to activate a Fire Arrow, which travels less distance and drops to the floor quicker, but deals more damage (11%) and stays on the floor for a few seconds, dealing 1% damage to opponents who step on it with no knockback at all). You could also hold Down whle charging to activate an Ice Arrow, that deals less damage fully charged (7%) and functions like a regular arrow in terms of speed, but has a 50% chance of lightly freezing the opponent. It is about as easy to break out of as being buried by Villagers Down Smash.
Throws would work mainly like Link's. Dthrow would be a good combo starter for things like Utilt, and Uthrow would work nicely for getting opponents into the air. It would not kill, like Links, but has less endlag, allowing you to follow up with his Uair. I thought he could also utilize his slingshot from Ocarina in his F/Bthrows. Launch them away with a Deku Seed from the Slingshot. They would deal the most damage of his throws, dealing 9% on impact and 1% when they launch, but the slingshot animation is slow, giving the opponent lots of time to get the correct DI. The slingshot animation cannot be escaped, the animation is just slow. They could kill at the edge at around 140%, meaning he could kill better with his F/Bthrow than Link can, but Tink still has the superior kill throw in his Bthrow.
His Final Smash would not be the Triforce Slash, but would be Fierce Deity Link. In this Final Smash, you become the size of regular Link. Your attacks deal more damage, slightly more knockback, have more range thanks to the sword, and you are invincible. You are transformed for approximately 15 seconds, though taking damage reduces this time (akin to Mega Lucario, Wario Man, Giga Bowser etc.). You can however only use attacks that involve his sword during this time, due to the sword taking both hands to swing. This means no grabs, no arrows, bombs or boomerang. You can still use your Up B Spin Attack however, as that involves your sword.
To conclude, I want to see Young Link return without drastic changes to his moveset, but enough changes to warrant him feeling different to the other 2, while still letting the others feel unique. Link would still be the most powerful, Toon Link would be the quickest and have the easiest time landing his KO (with things like Bthrow) and Young Link would be a mixture of the 2, while wielding special special moves, and an improved juggle game (perhaps due to his youth!). What do you people think of my idea?
BluePikmin11
Young Link is the character I want the most for smash DLC!
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