Seek and Battle

Learn how to find and defeat Shadow Link in The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds. Get tips on strategy, exploiting AI, and winning bounties.

Alright, so you've been StreetPassing with other players and now you're ready to take on the challenge! Once you've successfully connected with someone, a signpost will pop up in the field just below Gramps' place. Head over there and check it out – it'll show you the bounty and the location of a Shadow Link you can fight.

Once you've got the location, it's time to hunt! Go to the spot and look for a shadowy version of Link just hanging around. When you find him, chat him up, and you'll get the option to throw down.

These battles happen in different arenas, depending on where you find the Shadow Link. For example, if you find him near Turtle Rock, expect a fiery battlefield! This Shadow Link fights just like you do, using all the same moves. He's super aggressive, unlike most monsters, and he's pretty good at dodging and moving around your attacks.

Pro Tip: When you're just starting out, it's probably best to avoid fighting Shadow Links with a higher bounty than yours. You might end up losing, and nobody wants that! But once you've gotten a few fights under your belt, you'll start to get a feel for how he moves and attacks.

To win, your main goal is to knock his heart count down to zero. Here’s a general strategy: keep moving! Don't stand still for too long. It also really helps to bring an item that can stun him, like the Hookshot, Boomerang, or Tornado Rod. Even though this Shadow Link is way smarter than your average enemy, he's still an AI, and you can totally exploit his patterns.

Here's the trick: wait for him to attack, then look for your opening. As soon as you see it, stun him, then wail on him while he's vulnerable. Just repeat that, and you'll snag an easy win.

Watch Out: If the fight goes on for too long, the timer might run out! If that happens, the game will look at how many attacks each of you landed, and whoever has more wins. This is actually super handy if the Shadow Link decides to chug a blue potion and prolong the fight.

Either way, once you've emerged victorious, you'll earn that Shadow Link's bounty!