Young Link

Young Link is the incarnation of Link from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. In Ocarina of Time, this child version of Link turns into the adult version of himself about midway through the game after pulling out the Master Sword, and becomes known as the "Hero of Time" for his courageous efforts. In Majora's Mask, the player plays as Young Link throughout its entirety as he inadvertently embarks on a quest to save Termina, a parallel world to Hyrule, from being destroyed by the eponymous Majora's Mask.

Young Link appears as a playable fighter in Super Smash Bros. Melee, being treated as a separate character from his adult self. After being absent as a fighter in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U, he returned in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, where he is treated as a separate character from Link and Toon Link.

Super Smash Bros. Melee
In Super Smash Bros Melee, Young Link is an unlockable character, unlocked by beating Classic or Adventure mode with 10 characters, including Link and Zelda/Sheik, or by playing 500 Melee matches, and he then must be defeated on Great Bay. Young Link's moves are similar to Link's, though while Young Link is faster and lighter, he is also weaker. As Young Link is shorter and wields the smaller Kokiri Sword, his attacks do not have as much range. Young Link's Deku Shield is also not as strong as Link's Hylian Shield, as it does not protect against stronger projectiles. Young Link, however, can Wall Jump, which Link is not able to do. Young Link is voiced by Fujiko Takimoto, who provided his voice clips for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Young Link is one of the five playable characters from Super Smash Bros. Melee who is no longer playable in this game (the other four being Dr. Mario, Pichu, Mewtwo, and Roy), possibly being replaced by Toon Link, who functions very similarly to Young Link. However, he does have a collectible Sticker, and is playable in a demo of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U
While Young Link does not make any appearance whatsoever in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, he is referenced in the trophy "Adult Link (Ocarina of Time)". Young Link is also indirectly referenced via Link's eighth alternate costume, which is almost identical to Young Link's Fierce Deity transformation. Lastly, Toon Link's Hero Bow has a custom variation based on Young Link's Fire Bow.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Young Link, after being absent as a fighter in the previous two Super Smash Bros. games (the longest absence of any playable character alongside Pichu), returns as an unlockable playable fighter in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Due to Link's The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild-based changes, Young Link is now considered an entirely unique fighter from him, though his moveset shares a few similarities with Toon Link's. Young Link gains a Final Smash, the Triforce Slash, which he shares with Toon Link. Young Link gains his new on-screen appearance and two new taunts, and Young Link can give a battle cry during a victory animation. For his stage entrance, Young Link descends from a column of light, similar to the end-of-dungeon one in Ocarina of Time and Link's appearance in the original Super Smash Bros..

Young Link benefits from universal changes: his overall mobility is faster, his short hop timing is reduced, his aerials have less landing lag, and he can use ground attack out of a run and use his aerials on ladders. Young Link's recovery is better, since his double jump grants more height, while directionally air dodging does not leave him helpless anymore. However, Young Link's air and falling speeds are decreased, unlike fellow veterans; additionally, some of his moves deal less damage and knockback, or more startup and ending lag.

In the World of Light, Young Link's puppet fighter is fought in the Triforce of Courage section of the Sacred Land, referencing his home series. He must be awoken to progress the story, along with Ganondorf, Zelda, Sonic, and Cloud.

Classic Mode route
Young Link's Classic Mode route pits him against fighters from The Legend of Zelda series.

Palutena's Guidance

 * Pit: Is it just me, or has Link lost weight?
 * Palutena: Yes and no. That's Young Link. He's the child version of the Hero of Time.
 * Pit: The Hero of Time?
 * Palutena: The Link who mastered the Ocarina of Time and faced Ganondorf. Link's actions as the Hero of Time created parallel worlds, and from there, many different legends were born.
 * Pit: I don't follow. What do you mean?
 * Viridi: If you were defeated by Medusa, Palutena wouldn't be here today, right?
 * Pit: True, but what does that have to do with anything?
 * Viridi: We may have triumphed over Medusa in this timeline, but in a different timeline, you lost that fight, leaving Medusa and Hades to rule the world. Every action and inaction creates infinite parallel worlds! You're only in one of them.
 * Pit: Wait... I'm not the only me? And nothing I do matters because another me will do the opposite? THEN WHAT'S THE POINT OF DOING ANYTHING!
 * Palutena: Breathe, Pit! Focus on Young Link's short reach. He may be fast, but try to outrange him and anticipate his movements.

Super Smash Blog bio
"He’s back after 17 years! Young Link is faster than Link but he’s also lighter, making him easier to launch."

amiibo

 * Since his debut on the original Nintendo Entertainment System™ in 1987, Link's appearance has changed over and over again, each time adding to the mystique of his incomparable story. This younger incarnation is most often associated with the Legend of Zelda™: Ocarina of Time™ game.