Link: Full Guide & Discussion Topic

• It has several trajectories to take note of:
  
  [*]Weak forward - slower throw, provides good presence in edgeguarding
  [*]Strong forward - standard throw, used due to ease of aiming
  [*]Weak up-diagonal - slow throw, stops jumps onto higher platforms
  [*]Strong up-diagonal - situational, only if nothing else will reach
  [*]Weak down-diagonal - deters short hops if bounced off ground, stops low recoveries, reaches into **** tent, lower platforms
  [*]Strong down-diagonal - Used when descending, arbitrary use​

• 
  [*]The boomerang can tack on extra damage from afar, and it can force approaches.
  [*]Foes have an odd fear of the boomerang. While the damage is only moderate and the hitstun low, it forces a grounded foe to hit the ground, and an airborne foe into a tumbling state.
  [*]The presence a weakly thrown boomerang gives is quite interesting, as it spins in one area for a short while.
  [*]In edgeguarding, the boomerang is potent. Against some foes, the attack itself is sometimes enough to completely prevent recovery.
  
  [*]This is more likely in the cases of Falcon, Link, Ness and Samus. In others, it makes them go backwards and down a little. Being hit will make most players panic slightly, and they will immediately revert to the standard recovery. This aids edgeguards tremendously.​

• 
  [*]In comboing, it is basically a ranged attack that induces weak hitstun, allowing Link to immediately close in and attack or continue a juggle.
• For this reason, the boomerang is more combo-friendly in small, confined spaces than larger, open ones, where dodging is very easy.
  [*]The return of the boomerang can take enemies by surprise, allowing one with good reflexes to immediately U-Tilt/U-Smash.

• 
  [*]When Link throws the boomerang, he loses the ability to re-throw it as long as it is still flying.
  
  [*]Attempting to re-throw it results in the animation without the projectile.
  [*]When it returns to him, a ‘catching’ animation will ensue. This overrides a number of animations, most importantly falling, walking and standing.
  [*]If you throw it off-screen and proceed to dash a short distance in the other direction, the boomerang will not return.
  [*]You will notice the camera pans towards the side it was thrown. When the camera returns to centre the characters (it is noticeable), you will have your Boomerang back.
  [*]This also applies to when you dodge a returning boomerang. In this case the pan is less noticeable, as you will have it back almost immediately.​
  ​
  [*]There are a number of glitches that involve throwing the boomerang into walls. This gives them enormous, non-standard trajectories.

• Link’s primary recovery.
• It also serves as a mid-range smash, an aerial smash and a repulsion from shielding.
• It can deal 21% damage on the ground from point-blank when fresh. This is dealt in a major hit of 16% and a weak hit of 5%.
• This is reduced to 16% when stale, in 12% and 4% increments.
  
  [*]This extra damage is undesirable. It allows foes to punish Link, as it cancels the greater knockback with weak, flinching (as opposed to smashing) knockback. On the ground, you should aim to hit with the outer half of the orange spin.​
  [*]It serves as a powerful aerial finisher too. Again, the outer part of the spin is desirable, as the inner part only deals weak knockback. This is less punishable, but it means a KO opportunity was missed.

• As a recovery, it is very, very mediocre. Timing it is everything.
  [*]The first priority is returning to the edge, the second is hurting an enemy.
  [*]If a foe jumps out to meet you, the chances of you safely recovering drop drastically, and you may as well use the move when you think you’ll be able to deal some damage.
  
  [*]You may even rebound them and get a surprise KO. However, getting back is usually a matter of sweetspotting.​
  [*]Learn the maximum distance Link can be below the edge before he cannot recover – this will allow you to stall past attacks with short hitboxes, like most D-Tilts and D-Smashes.

• The Bomb is Link’s secondary projectile, both superior and inferior to the Boomerang.
• For one, this projectile has a greater degree of mindgaming embedded in it, and it can be thrown both straight up and straight down.
• The drawback is in the fact that it is a handheld item, and must be pulled out before it can be used.
• It cannot be used easily for comboing, though there are methods.

• The bomb has two damage blocks: impact and explosion.
• The impact deals 11% when fresh and 6% when stale, while the explosion deals a fixed 5%.

• The bomb, as a handheld item, can be thrown a number of ways:

• 
  [*]Like the boomerang, the bomb can be used to damage from afar and force approaches.
  [*]It can be used to edgeguard at medium percents, especially as you can have several of them. Putting a bomb on the edge (weak throw 2) and spamming them at a recovering foe can force panic and annoy.
  [*]Jumping slightly off the edge and throwing a bomb downwards can piss off low edgeguarders (eg. Ness, Falcon), but you shouldn't do this if you can just smash them away.
  [*]Being hit in mid-air changes the direction you face. This stops Samus and other Links recovering efficiently.
  [*]In all honesty, you shouldn't use projectiles to edgeguard enemies close to the edge. You're just giving them another Up-B.

• 
  [*]The only way to use the bomb for comboing is to hit an enemy within sword range but far away enough so you won’t be hit by the explosion. The key scenario is an enemy a short distance above you.
  [*]If held long enough, the bomb will blow up in your hand. You take only explosion damage (5%). If it explodes while you are shielding, nearby foes will be hit, but you won’t.
  [*]Pulling out the bomb is a standard-length animation. If you are baiting, you can do it on the spot. You can do it in midair if you are approaching or running backwards.
  [*]Having a bomb at all times isn’t recommended, as it overrides most of your aerials and ground attacks.
  [*]Weak forward 2 will also not explode if it hits an enemy. This guarantees a throw if you use one directly after tossing the bomb.
  
  [*]Alternatively, you can let them fall and predict their roll/tech to get some hits in.​

• First hit is basic poking move, used for speed purposes. Allows interception of shield-grabs if used with good timing.
• Because foes aren’t computers, this move can potentially set up for other fast hits eg. U-Tilt, D-Smash.
  [*]In perfect TAS-like scenario, this move has little use aside from the aforementioned pokes and cancelling certain projectiles (fireballs, etc).
  [*]Second hit can be used for similar purposes.
  [*]Third hit has too much lag, and is easily punished. However, s2j notes it can force the enemy to fall when they are at high percentages, prediction will then likely lead to a KO.
  [*]Infinite swordstorm move is useless unless against a wall, even then it can be DI’ed out and you can be punished during ending lag.

• Often compared to F-Smash. Newbies will disregard this as inferior to said move, but it also has some advantages.
  [*]It has a consistent KB hitbox, unlike F-Smash, which can deal lower KB if only the very edge hits.
  [*]It is marginally faster overall.
  [*]It can be used in lieu of F-Smash/D-Smash for a finisher.

• Likely the most important ground move in Link’s arsenal.
• It sets the bar for best U-Tilt hitbox, with disjointedness, speed and excellent range.
  [*]It starts off in front of Link and moves behind, and will provide low-moderate upwards KB starting from the point of impact. It can be repeated at low-moderate damage levels, and combos easily into any aerial.
  [*]Use of DI dampens the effectiveness, but one should get at least 2 uses of the move.
  
  [*]If you hit a shielding enemy who is in front of you, you can be grabbed easily.
  [*]Hitting an enemy behind you isn’t quite as easy to punish. Boomerang KB can set this move up very well.​

• 
  [*]At moderate-high damage levels, it leads right into Up-B or F-Air for a kill or power hit.
  [*] It can be used right after cancelling during an aerial, specifically U-Air and B-Air (and sometimes N-Air).
  [*]It loses its worth at high damage levels, as it is too strong to combo from and too weak to KO.
  [*]Should have priority of use in many situations, including repulsion, comboing, even sort of for spacing.

• Overlooked for a reason. The move is decidedly inferior to D-Smash for all purposes, as it is harder to time and has a less useful trajectory.
  [*]The range is the same as D-Smash’s initial slash (perhaps a few pixels short, but that may be a façade of the animation.
  [*]The overall duration is similar to D-Smash’s, but D-Smash gets in an entire extra hit.
  [*]It hits at roughly a vertical angle. It can be punished quite easily from a shield.
  [*]If for some reason you dislike D-Smash, D-Tilt > Up-B/F-Air can work as an edgeguard.

• A fairly solid dash attack with some lag on the end. However, this lag is only punishable from behind, as Link keeps the sword extended until the end of the animation. For this reason it is very desirable when techchasing.
  [*]It also works as a move with an extended hitbox when U-Smash or Up-B aren't appropriate.
  [*]It comes out fast and has a good hitbox, and works well with his projectiles.
  [*]One notable point is its power, which is easily enough to start an edgeguard or knock an enemy across the map.

• A move abused by Link noobs. Abused moves are abused for a reason, and this one has obvious reasons. Powerful, possessed of large range and fairly quick are the three pros that spring to mind.
• The sword starts off behind Link and is slashed downwards, sort of like a jump-slash in OoT.
  [*]Hitting an enemy at close range is the most effective.
  [*]Hitting them with the edge of the blade creates a weak knockback effect that is easily teched.
  [*]If the enemy is RIGHT behind you, it works like Yoshi’s U-Smash, but with a higher trajectory.
  [*]It can also be used to tack on significant damage (it deals 20% when fresh) against a foe from U-Tilt.
  [*]Very good when you pivot-smash, as it covers the entire area you were in before.
  [*]Usable to edgeguard, as even the weak hit should stop most foes. The aforementioned pivot-smash is also a good edgeguard against reckless foes, but that applies to pretty much every pivot F-Smash.

• The first hit hits in front and ‘sucks’ enemies up above you.
• The second hit has the greatest upwards range, but is very weak in terms of damage/KB.
• The third hit is the only one with significant damage/KB.
  [*]This move is very easy to counter with a shield-grab, and using it when below a standard platform (Dreamland, Hyrule) will result only in the second hit connecting. You can be punished from this.
  [*]This move can work with Boomerangs and Bombs.
  [*]You can link around three together on a non-floaty from 0%, but it is very easily DI'ed.
  [*]If the foe knows how to DI, it’s much, much less effective, but the third hit does catch them sometimes.
  [*]The hitbox is very small, and it is very punishable if you miss, so be sure that you can connect.
  
  [*]A notable method is ‘ground-cancelled F-Air > running U-Smash’. This can get an easy 30-40% or so from 0% on enemies.
  [*]The same goes for SH Boomerang > U-Smash, which is an interesting and fairly safe attempt at approaching. ​
  
  [*]If you catch a foe with this at moderate damage, chances are you should be able to hit with Up-B for a power hit.
  
• Be very careful when using this. Though I've made it sound like a decent move, the truth is that it is very risky. If you tag a foe and miss the third hit, hit a shield with this or just plain miss, chances are you will be grabbed/smashed/punished/whatever. Not only that, but anyone who has basic DI (not even x2 DI, to be honest) can get out easily. Again, be careful with this.

• A very good edgeguard move.
  [*]Very fast, so it's a good clearance move if you need one.
  [*]Low hitbox and speed can occasionally be useful in continuing a combo that other moves cannot hit, eg. an enemy falling just below your platform.
  [*]Players who roll a lot are punished by this.
  [*]The hitbox is actually very large, so hitting with it is easy enough, and the duration is quite short, making it quite usable. It can still be punished, especially if the enemy ends up in front of you after the first hit misses, or if it hits a shield.
  [*]Hitting with the edge of the sword gives a flat trajectory, which is death to other Links and sometimes Falcons.
  
  [*]Oddly enough, this seems like the imperfect hitbox when compared to the other trajectory – hitting with the hilt area of the sword gives a powerful upwards hit, sort of like Fox’s D-Tilt. It appears to have better KB than the sideways hit, but the direction isn’t as valuable.​

• One of Link’s weaker aerials. It’s also a sexkick. This makes it very valuable in certain situations. Being in the box is one of them.
  [*]If you’re good with fastfall continuation, you can generally get an Up-B out of this. Cancelling this into the ground also lets you run and get an Up-B at moderate percentages. Actually, this moves works well with Up-B.
  [*]The sexkick thing works in the box, where touching Link during a rebound can start another rebound. Quick double-jump N-Air onto the higher platform can lead into an easy F-Smash KO at higher damage levels.
  [*]Fastfalling with this to a lower platform can work well, due to large, constant hitbox.
  [*]In addition, when you are being comboed and think you can break out, this is a good move to choose. It has a larger hitbox than D-Air or U-Air, the other two choices, and is just plain easier to throw out (by mashing A).

• Link’s flashiest aerial, also one of the harder to use properly. It has three hitboxes, strong forward, weak back and weak forward/body.
  [*]Obviously, the first is most important. It works well with timing and short hops, letting you get the power hit without having to wait for the other hits.
  [*]One of your choices in aerial KOs (Link has a lot of these).
  [*]U-Tilt, U-Smash (and to a lesser extent D-Tilt) will all lead into this nicely. Boomerangs can also complement this.
  [*]Dropping from a standard platform (Dreamland, Hyrule) and immediately using this gets you the first hit right before you hit the ground.
  [*]Ledgehopping with this is very lucrative – even if a foe expects it and counters, chances are any attack will just be cancelled out, allowing you to recover. Don't expect it to work every single time though.
  [*]Running off the ledge, fastfalling and jumping back up with this is a flashy edgeguard that can occasionally work, but D-Air is still much, much safer.

• SH U-Air works well at low-moderate percentages, and it can be continued if there’s a nearby platform.
  [*]U-Air has a long hitbox, countering almost any attempt to come from above.
  [*]Some nice manoeuvres with U-Air include the ledgehop U-Air (which sets up U-Tilt or SH D-Air very nicely), the platform drop U-Air (when timed correctly, is useful, as you can land, cancel and jump to B-Air/another aerial) and the landed U-Air (the bottom part of U-Air’s hitbox can still hit enemies, allowing U-Tilt or sometimes U-Smash to connect).
  [*]U-Air can never hit an opponent twice, like D-Air can.

• The standard Link approach tech. Basically you short hop into the enemy with this, hopefully landing two hits for roughly 16% damage (20% when fresh) and going right into something else like U-Tilt when you land.
  [*]Both hits have roughly the same KB, but if you hit with the inside of the first kick it's almost certain you'll land the other hit.
  [*]Hitting with the edge of the first hit is basic repulsion.
  [*]Due to the large hitbox and quick duration, this is one of Link’s only safe ledgehop edgeguards.
  [*]This combos well with walls, especially the **** tent, where you can repeat this move quite well and even lead into a finisher on the left platform.
  [*]Basically, it’s used a bit like Falcon’s F-Air, only the combo aspect is diminished and the approach aspect magnified a little.

• The fallback move. D-Air is basically putting a bomb beneath you. Foes who rush in get owned.
  [*]Fastfall D-Air is a staple, as are ledgehop D-Air and SH D-Air (with or without horizontal movement).
  [*]It’s also a brilliant edgeguard against all foes, especially Pikachu, whose recovery is ridiculous.
  [*]At lower damage levels, you can ‘sword ride’ to hit an enemy multiple times with this. This works at higher levels when in the box too.
  [*]It is VITAL that you Z-cancel this, or else you will be punished and owned. When you hit you have a bounce effect. You can drop through a platform with this, immediately hit a foe and then bounce back up onto that platform. This is surprisingly useful on Zebes, where you can camp when lava starts rising.
  [*]Use of D-Air isn’t only limited to approach and attack. As I said, it’s like putting a bomb beneath you, so landing a B-Air/N-Air and moving near the enemy with this can be enough – they might jump in and get hit. You can also techchase very efficiently with this move, especially if the opponent likes rolling towards you.
  [*]It eats through projectiles too, if that matters to you.

• His grab uses his Hookshot, which is a ranged-type grab.
  [*]This is both good and bad.
  
  [*]The range on the grab deters dashdances and low-distance stalls, and gives a larger margin for error, especially when using it in confined spaces (eg. the **** tent).
  [*]The lag at the end, however, amplifies the vulnerability to punishment, especially to other grabs.​
  [*]The throws are standard and completely situational. The fact that the grab eats through shields is vital, as shield-grabbing is very effective against Link.
  [*]Don’t be afraid to use it, but be cautious – don’t go spamming it about, even in confined spaces.
  [*]The KB provided by throws can make or break a game, letting you pursue an enemy to an edge or into somewhere like the **** tent/Saffron’s left side. This applies to all standard throws, really.

Nybb said:

I would just like to disagree with this. Ranged throws take in the neighbourhood of 15 - 20 frames, while all normal grabs take 6 frames. This is enough of a difference that comboing into grabs is a lot more difficult with ranged grabs. Tether grab characters lack staple grab setups like Mario's jab > grab or Falcon's aerials > grab, and suffer way more lag on miss. Link has slightly above average throws in terms of power, but IMO he should really never grab until high percents when he can actually kind of combo into it, if it all.

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Link v Pika
This is the match no Link enjoys. Fail at spacing once, and a good Pika will rip a stock from you. The odds are all against you, and getting knocked off = death.

Use your boomerangs and bombs a LOT. Both force pressure and his approach. Outcamp him and you have a chance, but it's all up to your spacing. Don't go for flashy stuff unless you're (J) Link, stick to U-Tilt and standard hits. Make the most of your U-Air, nothing he has can break that from directly above. Short hop D-Airs are your gtfo move here, do NOT risk Up-B landing the weak hit and allowing him to punish you. Edgeguard with D-Air, or B-Air at very high percentages (U-Air if he recovers high).

Try not to shield much and DON'T ROLL. If you're in your shield, sh D-Air defensively, and NEVER hookshot unless you have a hitconfirm. Don't just blindly jump backwards and throw the boomerang/pull out a bomb, there is significant lag for these actions which CAN be punished. Don't jump towards him and boomerang if he is at mid-range (just outside your sh F-Air range is a good indicator).

U-Smash at low-mid damage is hellish for you. The same goes for a grab in the **** tent. At high percents don't even think of coming from above, his U-Tilt is huge and will crush your D-Air. Never underestimate his aerial range, even if you manage to shield it most of his aerials allow him to dash-grab you on the shieldstun.

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Link v Fox
Link has to play cautiously and approach well. Smart play and no stupid edgeguarding mistakes, that's the ticket. Projectiles are still workable, they don't always get negated by reflector. If you're godly you can aim to hit him with the explosion from the bomb rather than the bomb itself. Remember, if you get him off the edge, DON'T LET HIM GET BACK. Edgehogs are the fallback here.

Campy projectile screens work against you, but you should still keep hurling them and dodging return projectiles. Camping in the tent actually means you have a better chance at hitting him than he you. Just don't stay on the same level as him and dodging lasers shouldn't be a problem. D-Air does NOT beat U-Tilt if U-Tilt is used properly, but it crushes Foxes who foolishly D-Tilt a bunch. Use B-Air to pressure, and try not to U-Tilt Fox's shield. Keep moving in and out of his range.

Good Foxes will alternate between SHDL and shine to force *you* to approach, and given Link's rather average aerial speed and vulnerability to punishment, that's not good for you. You can abuse bombs all you want from long range, they can't be reflected particularly far at any rate. You should be camping as much as you can anyway. Always look ahead and never underestimate his range or speed, as Fox will suppress you close-up with speed alone. Last thing: DO NOT REPEATEDLY TECH IN PLACE OR TECH INTO A WALL.

Grabs in the **** tent destroy you. Fox has a bunch of lead-ins to U-Smash and D-Smash, both of which spell death for you (the latter more than the former, as Link is sorta heavy). Basically all of Fox's moves are incredibly fast or have gay range, and are problematic if used properly, so this paragraph is sorta redundant :\

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Link v Falcon
Don't get grabbed. Don't get hit by Up-Smash. Enjoy the combo-prone target if you can. As long as you don't get into a combo, you should be okay. The problem is avoiding the approaches to begin with; Falcon's dash is super gay.

I would say you should camp, but he can close in quickly. Camp anyway. When he gets in, don't be aggressive and keep yourself guarded with aerials. If you're confident, use your jab sometimes, it's reliable to stop his dash approach as long as you predict right. If you get him into a U-Tilt, milk him for it, throw in boomerangs and maybe hopeful U-Smashes (low-mid percentage only). When edgeguarding, use spaced D-Smash or D-Air (sometimes he just teleports to you, it's gay). If he recovers high use Up-B or F-Air. F-Smash is beastly too.

D-Air counter-hits U-Smash, but even so you shouldn't be running in at him. Don't tech in place, because Falcon's grab is fast enough to miss and still grab you. Don't roll on reflex, that's bad for you in general. Retreating F-Airs may be more valuable than SH D-Air purely because U-Smash is such a *****. U-Air punishes dumb FF D-Air approaches from him. If he gets too close for comfort, know that your short hop is capable of jumping over his grab. It won't help against U-Smash though. When getting up from the edge, sometimes you can just use your normal get up and he'll pivot smash and miss you completely. This applies to all characters, but when DI-ing his U-Airs, go behind and below him if possible.

The obvious threats are U-Smash and grabs. Both lead into reliable 0-deaths, as do aerials on your shield. That's all Falcon is, combo starter > U-Airs/F-Airs > finisher. If you're up against an inconsistent Falcon then fight on. The key strategy is still to camp like hell.

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Link v Kirby
Smart Kirbies are dangerous. Dumb ones are still dangerous. Be careful and use projectiles well. Seriously, you can play the best Link ever, with perfect edge cancels and comboing, and still get gayed by stupid U-Tilt, F-Smash, B-Air and D-Air.

Projectiles are wonderful against this puffball, especially bombs (because his giant feet still activate the explosion and he has no choice but to float around them). Your sword and his feet are equally large, the only difference is the speed at which they come out. You have to keep your distance. D-Smash and F-Smash are wonderful in this matchup to punish slow Kirbies, but the former can be punished if you use it recklessly and they SH over it, while the latter is just punishable if Kirby knows your range. If you're playing a Kirby who likes to fly a lot, take advantage of it - his jumps aren't actually much higher than yours until he gets 2 or 3 puff ups, so get above him and D-Air or something. Kirby in the air is vulnerable from above, Kirby on the ground is unapproachable from above. Remember that and keep your options open - Kirby always has a vulnerability, even if he's just camping and U-Tilting, but the vulnerability changes a lot. U-Air is great in general here.

Don't stay near Kirby unless you're whirling about with SH aerials, and even then be very careful. Seriously. U-Tilt is quite literally death for you at low percents. If he kicks you or your shield with that ****ed tilt you have a problem. Don't underestimate the range of his feet and don't shield or dodge roll needlessly. When teching, try to tech away from him and his smashes and U-Tilt. Kirby's movement isn't actually very fast, so he'll be forced to use either N-Air or the DI-able F-Air. Kirby is likely the best punisher in the game at any percent, and Link is the one who suffers the most from punishment at low percent, so be bloody careful not to let thoughtless U-Tilts through.

All of his usable moves are a fricking huge threat. D-Air might have a very directed hitbox, but if Kirby moves with it you have a wall of death approaching you. If he comes from above with D-Air you can fend him off with a well-placed U-Air or even an Up-B, but both are punishable, so short hop them or just run away. U-Tilt is of course the best ground move in the game, and Link is heavy enough for it to take a huge toll from him. B-Air is fast and outranges your aerial attacks not called F-Air's first hit. N-Air is a forwards B-Air with less range, so you can actually beat it with an N-Air or D-Air from above. His F-Smash can be a problem if you haven't got decent spacing, but you *can* punish it from above or with a SH D-Air in place or even a grab. Finally, a gay Kirby will use D-Smash a bunch against you. If it hits you at 40-50% or higher and you aren't particularly far from the edge, it leads to either plain death or an easy edgeguard. D-Tilt is the same, only with a bigger forwards hitbox.

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Link v Yoshi
Do try not to get hit...beware of invinci frames, D-Air/F-Smash owns near the edge, use hookshots wisely to counter invinci, but don't go mad with them. Shield-breaks can mean trouble, as Link is owned by U-Tilt/U-Air combos.

Yoshi is arguably one of the easiest to combo for Link. Most of his moves are beaten by U-Tilt and U-Air, he is rather susceptible to boomerang and bomb hits close-up, he detests the **** tent, and his weight is just perfect to take U-Tilts and U-Airs and fall into range for another. Again, projectiles are great, especially if you can throw them in rapid succession. Parries only go so far (sorry to the Yoshi mains, but it's true), and projectiles provide that pressure quite well. Utilise your greater disjointed hitboxes well. Hookshots are great, Yoshi stays near the ground for DJCing a lot in approach, and the hookshot breaks the chance of DJCC. The problem is that it doesn't lead to combos unless there's a nearby wall, or possibly with a techchase at very low percents.

Yoshi's effective range (DJC B-Air and F-Air are the primary ones to watch out for) is surprising to those who have never played a good Yoshi. As long as you are prepared to stay just out of range and punish him for it, you should be okay. When the Yoshi catches on, you can still fight him with your superior hitboxes. Stay defensive and don't get into close combat, and don't let him smack your shield hard. In fact, try not to get into situations where you stand there shielding. Rolls are slightly less dangerous here than in other matchups, just don't go rolling behind Yoshi. Shieldbreaks are a very real danger against good Yoshis, and when you're helpless, good Yoshis will almost certainly tilt that stock in their favour, or even garner a KO on smaller stages. Use SH D-Air well.

U-Tilt is a huge problem if it hits you, seeing as Yoshi's combos are almost as simple to start as Falcon's, and it leads right into his high-powered U-Smash at high percentages. U-Tilt hitting a shield, however, is a very combatible threat - it doesn't provide significant shieldstun and you should be able to roll away (or jump out of shield, but that leaves you open to another U-Tilt). DJC F-Air and B-Air are very potent threats, with large hitboxes and deceptive range. Both can lead into U-Tilt (the former moreso than the latter). Better Yoshis can shieldbreak you if you just stand there shielding dumbly. Beware of U-Airs out of nowhere. While the hitbox is very small, the problems that hitbox can cause are huge, especially at mid-damage. D-Air is a rare edgeguard, but is probably Yoshi's best option against you, and should be kept in mind when you recover.

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Link v Mario
Be very careful and don't get thrown off, because you probably won't be coming back at any percent. Fireballs are a nuisance, but your camping still wins.

This is a strange matchup. Your camping is slightly less effective, so you might be forced to approach on smaller maps, and Mario can combo you very well. You, on the other hand, have a bunch of different combo options and can still camp like hell if you pick Hyrule. N-Air in particular is more effective in this matchup than others. Mario's fast moves are, for the most part, outranged by it or equalled by it, and the moves with good horizontal hitboxes are slower than it. It also beats fireballs nicely, but remember that Link still has punishable hurtboxes with it. U-Tilt is also double-edged sword here - Mario can't approach you with only aerials if you time your U-Tilts well and it does a number on Mario at mid-percent, but fireballs clank and cancel your U-Tilt, rendering you vulnerable. Use your own projectiles defensively, and try to throw them from a higher level than Mario. Use U-Air often, as it is a great anti-D-Air attack.

Don't shield recklessly or risk being grabbed. Stay the hell out of the **** tent and force him out of there, the risk is so much greater than the possible reward, given that Mario's floatiness stops your standard tent combos (you can try a number of B-Air/N-Air chains against the green house, but chances are you'll be grabbed and smacked hard).

Spamming D-Air is good, there isn't much Mario can do to beat it. Mario has a problem (past a lucky U-Smash > techchase) if you always have a sword protruding downwards. The other low damage problem is being grabbed near the edge - aside from Kirby, Mario is likely the best edgeguarder against Link, because he can do repeated D-Airs to kill you quickly. At mid-damage, ditch that strategy: U-Air is just dangerous and beats D-Air from the side. Don't run at Mario recklessly, his D-Smash is ****ed fast and powerful and gives Mario more space to work with. Just expand on this and camp more thoroughly.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_1W0ThSbNE ***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HstjmRUyPvA ***
Link v DK
Most DKs are laughable, those that aren't are scarily dangerous. B-Throw, F-Throw, smashes are all bad for you
The key thing is to space well and know DK's grab range. Efficient and accurate projectile use is a must, even on small maps. DK's Up-B is hell for a recovering Link. Even if you hit through it, you'll still be dead if the DK plays his cards right.

You can't tackle DK with only offensive tactics and expect to win. He beats you quite throughly in the close combat war with Up-B alone. Add grabs, U-Air, Down-B antics and that ridiculous B-Air and you have quite a problem. You have to keep defensive until there is an opening, then get in and PUNISH HIM. Successful punishment of predictability is the decider of this match at higher levels, so you want to predict well and hit him with U-Tilt and, where necessary, U-Smash. U-Tilt is great at mid percents, do a U-Air juggle and go to a F-Air/Up-B.

First things first. Stay the hell out of the **** tent. Second thing. Stay the hell out of the **** tent. After that, I'm just going to assume that DK's infinite cargo hold is banned past 2 releases. Even then, I'm going to tell you this. Don't get grabbed. Learn DK's grab range. Use F-Air and B-Air to pressure shield-grabbers. Throw projectiles as if every boomerang and bomb hit would get you a winning lottery ticket. DK can't actually be reliably comboed at 0% (aside from hard aerial > U-Smash, but that would expose you to the risk of missing the aerial and being grabbed), so wait until he can be U-Tilted at least twice (think 30-35% at least) before running in with your sword. Long story short, camp like a little *****.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1SUcaRXz4o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtdMLV9VCYc
Link v Jiggs
Don't get hit. This is a surprisingly even matchup. As long as you can space, use projectiles and know how to DI and finish well, you'll be fine. F-Air tends to be a good move against Jiggs, and you have usable finishers in every possible scenario, so long as you don't make dumb choices. Grabs are almost totally unnecessary past low-damage projectile lead-ins (and mindgames, of course). D-Air is fantastic.

Projectiles, projectiles and projectiles. That's the offensive gospel of Link, and that applies doubly for this puffball. Past that, Puff is horribly vulnerable in the air from any direction except in front (N-Air is quite big). Use aerials well. Lots of Puffs like to float up above you and wait for you to jump up and U-Air empty space. Pre-empt that and get above their initial jump with D-Air, or hit their predicted position hard with F-Air. U-Tilt should be chained once or twice, then lead into an aerial/smash. Don't expect to zero to death much without platfoms. Even with platforms Jiggs has to be at a specific percentage. You can try B-Air to Up-B, it tends to work.

Camp all you want, Jiggs can't do anything to stop you if you camp right. You have to go in at some point, but your aerials beat hers thoroughly, so if you can force her to attack you, then punish her with a powerful smack, you'll do quite well. She can't beat your D-Air head-on if used right, and will be forced to space cautiously. Your short hop is perfect for her to hit with a full hop D-Air, but she can't really follow up without prediction. Be cautious all the same, because grabs can lead to death for you at almost any percentage - F-Throw to a rest combo, B-Air due to dumb knockback trajectory.

Grabs at low percent are hell for you, there are like 10 follow-ups that can lead to regrabs or bigger problems. DI is a must against D-Air, the other big threat. Jiggs won't be doing anything against your aerials with her U-Tilt, but you have to keep in mind that it is the perfect lead-up to rest, regardless of awful hitbox. It *can* be landed on its own, just not easily. N-Air is the only significant aerial range Jiggs has, so be wary. Be careful of her other aerials as well, good Jiggs are able to land them if you don't keep a sword pointed at them. D-Smash and B-Throw both spell death for you at higher percents.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-mlvxajLHo
Link v Samus
This is still a tough matchup, even if it's one of Link's best. Link will be throttled if you stay on the same level as Samus, because her B-Air beats out any of your aerials, and F-Smash/Tilt are essentially the only thing you have against her on the ground (U-Tilt clanks with it if you're lucky). What Samus hates, however, are projectiles. This match, if played properly, is an exercise in aggressive camping. Just keep throwing projectiles, then wait for a chance to get above them for the D-Air. Staying below Samus and abusing U-Air is also a viable strategy.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISekL3X8fic ***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVsCojBOWtM ***
Link v Luigi
Pretty average matchup if you know what Luigi's best at. Don't get thrown and try not to get hit when off the edge. You win the projectile war, plus you can own him with N-Air > Up-B, just like vs. Samus. He can't get into your range because your sword is fricking large, and U-air and D-air own essentially everything he throws at you from those two directions. Note his slidey nature - your D-Air in particular will send him away, so don't use D-Air to shield pressure if you intend to get behind him and avoid a shield grab.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1s5_EJVL44 - ***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjmQLUuEkIU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu_moia-oVI - ***
Link dittoes
My personal worst matchup, excepting stupid campy Foxes and stupid gay Pikas. Gah I hate Pika matchups. I also hate Fox matchups. You know what, I'm not going to talk about this matchup, and leave you in the dark about the opponent's weaknesses and strengths. I do suggest you watch the third video, it's very good.

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