Young Link Character Guide for Smash Ultimate

Character overview

Young Link is a fast projectile pressure character who converts light hits into long advantage sequences.

Difficulty level

Intermediate

Playstyle identity

Chip with arrows and boomerang, then burst in with fast aerials when shield and jump habits are exposed.

Strengths

• Excellent projectile frame-to-frame pressure
• Strong combo routes from tilts and aerial starters
• Mobile enough to weave in and out of burst range

Weaknesses

• Can struggle to close stocks without setup
• Gets punished hard if projectile spacing is sloppy
• Recovery can be sniped when predictable

Best beginner gameplan

• Build percent through arrow and boomerang confirms
• Pressure shield safely with low-commit aerials
• Push opponents to ledge and force panic options

Neutral strategy

• Use fire arrow to interrupt dashes and jumps
• Do not overcommit to boomerang at point-blank range
• Dash dance around burst range before committing nair

Advantage state

• String up airs while tracking DI and platform routes
• At ledge, threaten z-drop and jump callouts
• Keep pressure with quick resets instead of greedy smashes

Disadvantage state

• Use mobility first, buttons second
• Avoid directional airdodge habits toward center
• Challenge juggles only when anti-air lane is clear

Recovery tips

• Mix tether and spin attack timing
• Recover from varied heights to avoid edgeguard scripts
• Hold jump until opponent commits to edgeguard

Common beginner mistakes

• Throwing projectiles with no spacing behind them
• Overextending combo attempts and losing stage
• Using unsafe kill moves instead of ledge pressure

Key moves

• Fire Arrow: quick neutral check
• Boomerang: confirms and corner control
• Nair: fast pressure tool
• Up air: juggle extender

Out of shield options

• Nair out of shield at close range
• Up-B out of shield as hard punish
• Jump out of shield reset when spacing is safe

Basic combos

• Down tilt into aerial chain at low percent
• Boomerang hit into forward air confirm
• Up throw into platform pressure routes

Kill confirms

• Forward air callout near ledge
• Up-B out of shield punishes
• Projectile trap into smash read

Matchup considerations

• Against swordies, prioritize drift and projectile timing
• Against rushdown, keep them in arrow check range
• Against heavies, farm combo damage and ledge traps

Practical gameplay advice

• Young Link wins through layered tempo
• Do not panic fish kills when ahead
• Adapt projectile cadence between stocks

Training priorities

• Projectile-to-aerial confirm drill
• Ledge trap option coverage reps
• Recovery route variation practice

Related guides

• How to space safely
• How to improve shield pressure
• How to keep advantage
• Best training mode drills