Hookshot

From SmashWiki, the Super Smash Bros. wiki

TheHookshot, or theClawshot (which appears inSuper Smash Bros. Brawl andSuper Smash Bros. 4), is agrab aerial used byLink,Young Link, andToon Link. The Hookshot is a recurring item in theLegend of Zelda universe, and the Clawshot has also featured in more than oneZelda game, albeit with a different appearance in each. All aretether recoveries and can grab a ledge in midair. InSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate, Link no longer has his Hookshot nor his Clawshot due to neither appearing in the gameBreath of the Wild, which his current design is based on. As a result, Snake's codec for Link on Shadow Moses Island was altered in a way (and the only one with this distinction) so that the mention of his Clawshot was removed because of this. However, Young Link and Toon Link both retain their respective Hookshot.

Hookshot[edit]

Link's Hookshot inMelee.

Zelda Wiki has an article onHookshot.

TheHookshot isLink'sgrab inSuper Smash Bros. andSuper Smash Bros. Melee,Young Link's grab inSuper Smash Bros. Melee andSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate, andToon Link's grab inSuper Smash Bros. Brawl,Super Smash Bros. 4, andSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate. InSuper Smash Bros., the hook of the Hookshot fires straight out, and then returns straight back. InMelee andBrawl, however, the Hookshot/Clawshot (respectively) fires straight out, falls to the ground, and is then slung back towards Link. Also inMelee, Link/Young Link use this to perform thewall-grapple, since the Hookshot can latch to essentially any wall at any point at appropriate distances. Using the Hookshot on an incline causes it to retract immediately, which often leaves Link vulnerable for short periods of time. This is notable onPrincess Peach's Castle. Using this technique, one can usemindgames to assist in recoveries by choosing either to sweet spot the ledge or grapple another point of the wall; however, should the wall-grapple miss or otherwise fail, Link/Young Link will be left in the "helpless" animation. Additionally, the Hookshot may be used immediately after anair dodge, meaning a directional air dodge can give additional distance before using the Hookshot.

InSuper Smash Bros. Brawl andSuper Smash Bros. 4, Toon Link uses his to perform thetether recovery and grab. Similar to Link's Clawshot, if it misses, Toon Link is left wide open. It also has two hitboxes that follow the same mechanic from Link's Clawshot. InBrawl, Toon Link's Hookshot has a shorter range in grabs and tethers compared to Link's Clawshot, but this makes it slightly faster. As it is the case with all tether recoveries inBrawl, the Clawshot/Hookshot may only latch onto theledge, makingedgehogging the recovery relatively easily. Link's and Young Link's Hookshots are based on their design inOcarina of Time (despite the latter not being able to use the Hookshot in that game). Toon Link's however, is based on its appearance inThe Wind Waker.

Clawshot[edit]

Link uses his Clawshot as a recovery inSmash 4.

Zelda Wiki has an article onClawshot.

TheClawshot isLink's grab inSuper Smash Bros. Brawl andSuper Smash Bros. 4. Although it is very similar to the Hookshot inSuper Smash Bros. Melee, not only does it retract more quickly, but Link's newtether recovery now finds and tracks the wall, automaticallysweetspotting a nearby ledge. Also, when used in the air to attack, there are two differenthitboxes. The first is when the claw is shot out, and hits the opponent. The second hitbox is at the end of the Clawshot, when the claw closes. Also, if Link lands while using the Clawshot in the air, the move auto-cancels, which is a useful technique when combined withSHFF, quite possibly Link's best tactic for interrupting other characters' approaches. If used in contact with the ground, the move becomes a grab, and like all other tether grabs is laggy if missed. It should also be noted that if it fails, Link doesn't enter aHelpless state.In most cases, it's recommended to use the Clawshot for recovery because it helps prevent Link from getting edgeguarded by certain attacks.

The Clawshot has an invaluable edgehogging property in that it can quickly give Link more invincibility frames by pressing back after Link has grabbed the edge, and immediately pressing the grab button, releasing the Clawshot, and pressing the grab button again to instantly grab the ledge and gain invincibility frames. This technique is sometimes referred to as Zair Edgeguarding, even though it is used as anedgehogging technique.

Although the two function identically inSuper Smash Bros, the Clawshot that Link uses inTwilight Princess is a fundamentally different weapon from the Hookshot inOcarina of Time.