Link

“Hey, for you Zelda, anything!”

—Link, The Legend of Zelda

Link is a courageous warrior and adventurer from the far away land of Hyrule; however, he occasionally visits Mushroom World. Link often has to release the Kingdom of Hyrule from the rule of Ganondorf. Link is connected to Zelda and Ganondorf by the Triforce.

Appearances in Mushroom World

A Well Deserved Rest

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Link gets some much needed rest at the Rose Town Inn.

During the events of Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, Link could be found taking a break from battling Ganon and actually resting at the Rose Town Inn. In fact, the Hyrulian hero is a heavy sleeper; he won't even awaken when spoken to (this is likely a nod to Link's constant portrayal as a silent protagonist). However, a strange but familiar melody could be heard whenever anyone tried to talk to the slumbering Link.

The Video Game Hero

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Link comes in third place as one of Cranky's Video Game Heroes.

In Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (and Donkey Kong Land 2), Link was ranked third in Cranky Kong’s list of Video Game Heroes. Mario came in first place, while Yoshi came in second place. The heroes were ranked according to how many of Cranky’s hidden DK Coins they discovered while progressing through the levels and defeating Kaptain K. Rool. By collecting more DK Coins than him (19), Diddy Kong knocks Link off the leader board and becomes the #3 Video Game Hero of Donkey Kong Country 2/Donkey Kong Land 2.

Shopping for Information

According to Bazaar the Bear, Link visited the Bear's General Store before the events of Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!. While he was there, Link asked Bazaar who owned the castle in the northern part of the Northern Kremisphere. However, Link did not have the two Bear Coins Bazaar required before he would tell his story about the castle. Link did have five hundred Rupees though, and Bazaar agreed to take them. Unfortunately for Link, Bazaar did not know who owned the castle; Bazaar merely knew there was a no trespassing sign on the castle grounds. Distraught, Link left the store, grumbling about how Bazaar’s Seashells were the wrong shape.

The Literal Video Game Hero

Link has appeared in all five WarioWare games. He usually is a playable character in 9-Volt's and 18-Volt's micro-games. In the micro-games, the player has to control the hero, helping him avoid the enemies on the screen by moving him safely into a cave.

Appearance in Club Nintendo

Link as seen in "Mario in Mariozilla".

Link also made several appearances in the Mario comic series of the German Club Nintendo magazine. He debuted in "Super Mario: Die Bescherung", celebrating a Christmas party in Mario and Luigi's house. His role in this story is minor, though he has a brief speaking part at the end, mistrusting the realness of Santa Claus.

In "Mario in Mariozilla", he is seen in the Empire State Building, studying a map together with Dr. Light, who lives there. Link's actual role is unknown, though it appears that he works as Light's assistant. He also comments on a "magic cap" Light gave to Mario in order to make him incognito - actually a simple paper bag pulled over his head - in the way that it "becomes" him.

Super Smash Bros. Battles

Link, as he appeared in Super Smash Bros. Melee.

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Link, as he appeared in the original Super Smash Bros.

Link has appeared in all three Super Smash Bros. games as a default character. In the first Super Smash Bros., he was the first character fought in single player mode, on Hyrule Castle. In Super Smash Bros. Melee, Link is fought in the Underground Maze in Adventure Mode. Link is fought many different times (wearing different tunics each time) as fighters search for the Triforce to end the level.

Link's Bomb attack is not as strong as throwing the Bob-omb item, but can still do medium damage to the opponent. His Bow and Arrows, as well as his Boomerang, are his main long range attacks. At close range, Link can use the Master Sword to attack and the Hylian Shield to defend. He uses his Hookshot as grab move, which can be attached to the stage to prevent him from falling. A younger version of Link, called Young Link, is also playable in Super Smash Bros. Melee, much in the same manner that Mario and Baby Mario often appear in the same game. Additionally, a doppelgänger of Link, known as Dark Link, can be fought in the game.

Link was also the first character to be announced for the new game Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Link's Final Smash is the Triforce Slash. His moveset has been altered to match his appearance from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, which gives him the Gale Boomerang as well as a chargable Spin Attack. Link's grab move, the Clawshot, can be used as a Tether Recovery. Link will have a new voice actor in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Akira Sasanuma, who voiced him in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Dark Link will also be in this game, as one of Link's Alternative Costumes. Toon Link, the Link from Wind Waker will also appear in the game, with a similar moveset to Link's.

Role in the Subspace Emissary

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Link's snapshot in The Subspace Emissary.

Link and Navi walk through a forest. There he finds the Master Sword. Taking the Master Sword in hand in a forest, Link meets up with Yoshi, forming an alliance. They later meet Mario and Pit, though under circumstances where Mario/Link defeats an evil copy of Zelda/Peach, leading to a fight. The two groups come to an understanding (and Kirby joins up as well) and unite as they see King Dedede driving off with Ness, Luigi, and the captured Princess.

They come to Dedede's base, only to find that Bowser beat them to it, taking the Princess off in his Koopa Clown Car. The team grows in size as they meet with Meta Knight, Ike, Marth, Lucas and the Pokémon Trainer. The remaining heroes join them as they enter Subspace. Link is among the many that falls to Tabuu's Off Waves, only to be revived by Kirby. He and Zelda come across Ganondorf's trophy and revive him, forming a temporary alliance as everyone teams up to defeat Tabuu.

Official Profiles and Statistics

Profile Information from Super Smash Bros.

Link is the valiant boy hero of "The Legend of Zelda" series in which he fights against the evil Ganon to recover the Triforce. Though his tools may change with each adventure, his strengh and righteousness remain constant. With his trusty sword and a variety of weapons, he takes adventure head on!

Trophy Information from Super Smash Bros. Melee

#	Name	Image	First Game / Move	Description
7	Link (Classic)	File:Trophy7.PNG	The Legend of Zelda 07/87	Even in his youth, Link was already becoming the warrior who would carry the destiny of Hyrule (and many other lands) on his shoulders. His epic struggles against the forces of darkness are written in legend, and he is bound to the Princess Zelda and the archfiend Ganondorf by the awesome power of the Triforce.
8	Link [Smash] (Adventure)	File:Trophy8.PNG	B: Bow Smash B: Boomerang	Burdened with a shield, a heavy sword, and plenty of equipment, Link is not a very mobile character. Nevertheless, he's skilled with the blade, and his varied supply of missile weapons makes him a powerful fighter. To master Link, you must control the pace by balancing your long-range attacks with head-to-head swordplay.
9	Link [Smash] (All-Star)	File:Trophy9.PNG	Up & B: Spin Attack Down & B: Bomb	Link's Bow, Boomerang, and Bombs all take time to wield, so you may want to try drawing them in midair to prevent your foes from attacking you while you're vulnerable. The Spin Attack can score consecutive midair hits, and the final slash is very powerful. Link's Bombs are his trump card, but he can't pull one out if he's carrying another item.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Trophy Information

#	Name	Image	First Game / Move	Description
5	Link	File:TrLink.jpg	The Legend of Zelda 1986	A young man who emerged to rescue Hyrule from peril. He's the bearer of the Triforce of Courage who fights to keep Ganondorf from conquering the world. His green outfit is a constant throughout the series. He's a skilled swordsman, horseman, and archer. He's also proficient with bombs and boomerangs.
6	Triforce Slash	File:TrTriforce slash link.jpg		Link with a Smash Ball, releasing his ultimate attack. Light flares from the Triforce symbol on the back of his hand and rushes out to meet the enemy he faces. The enemy gets trapped within the glittering Triforce, is quickly cut to shreds, and is launched by the last strike. The attack works on one enemy at a time, so it's best to go after the character in first place.
338	Wolf Link	File:Wolf linktrophy.jpg	Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess 2006	Link's alternate form in the Twilight Realm. In this form, he cannot use weapons such as swords or shields, but he can attack with a ferocious wolf bite. He also has a number of unique skills inherent to his beast form, such as a keen sense of smell, the ability to dig, and a loud wolf howl.

Solid Snake Codec Conversation

• Snake: Otacon, who's the guy with the sword?
• Otacon: That's Link. He's the hero of Hyrule. That blade in his hand is called the Master Sword, also known as the "Blade of Evil's Bane." He also has a whole arsenal of items at his disposal--bombs and arrows, a shield, a boomerang, and a Clawshot. He's a force to be reckoned with.
• Snake: Gear is only useful when it's used at the right time and place. Just lugging a ton of it around dosen't do you any good.
• Otacon: ...I, uh... I wouldn't be talking if I we're you, Snake.
• Snake: What's that supposed to mean?
• Otacon: You tell me, Mr. Utility Belt.
• Snake: ...

Trivia

• Link's name appears on the scorechart of Mario Golf for the Nintendo 64.
• Link, along with many other non-Mario Nintendo characters, was meant to appear in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, at the Starbeans Cafe. He would try one of the drinks that Mario and Luigi got and reward them with an item called "Triforce". He was replaced by E. Gadd in the final version, although his Triforce reward (albeit redesigned) survived as the professor's Great Force invention.
• Link appears in Nintendo Monopoly. He takes the place of Pennsylvania Avenue, and costs $320.
• In Yoshi's Island DS, a baby that looks very similar to Link is seen; this baby has pointy ears and yellow hair. He was kidnapped by Kamek however turned out to not be a Star Child.
• The Ghost of Present in the Club Nintendo comic "Warios Weihnachtsmärchen" resembles Link.
• In the Club Nintendo comic "Super Mario: Die Verwandlung", Dr. Light constantly mistakes Mario for Link. One of these confusions also implies that Link has undergone an esthetic surgery by Light.