Within the Legend of Zelda series, the primary hero Link encounters numerous enemies though one recurring foe stands above the rest, the protagonist's own shadow self, Dark Link. This particular enemy made his first appearance as the final boss in Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link and has shown up in a good handful of games after including Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess, though not always as a combat encounter. In some games Dark Link appears as an ominous figure to represent an evil from the past or a portent of the dark future to come should Link not succeed in his quest. When Dark Link does serve as an enemy combatant it is often one of the most memorable fights of that particular game.
No games in the series mention Dark Link having a particular agenda or if he serves the Legend of Zelda series' coolest villain design, Ganon. Regardless of whether you have to fight Dark Link or not it isn't explained why he is there or what exactly he is. He mysteriously arrives to challenge Link and once he is overcome, Dark Link disappears in just as an enigmatic way as his entrance. The only indication of Dark Link's intent is his appearance, which can vary from game to game within the Legend of Zelda, but usually consists of a dark or black outfit mirroring that of Link's and glowing red eyes.
Most evidently, Dark Link seems not to be an agent of evil but is purely a shadowy reflection of Link, created to challenge the courage and conviction of the hero. This is most clearly seen in Ocarina of Time when Link is confronted by his dark doppelganger as a mini-boss within one of the series' classic Water Temple dungeons, which have Zelda's best bosses quite regularly. This can arguably be said to be the best Dark Link encounter of all. The confrontation is staged within a misty chamber, and the reflective nature of the fight is made clear by the mirror-like layer of water along the floor of the room. Mystery continues to build as the room's only escape is barred and even stranger still when Link's reflection suddenly disappears from beneath his feet only to be replaced by the hazy ominous figure of Dark Link. Approaching this shadow warrior then starts what is considered one of the best combat moments in the series.
The Best Dark Link Can Go Toe To Toe With His Counterpart
What makes this fight with Ocarina of Time's Dark Link the best is that by most measures he is the equal to Link. Numerous players have seen Legend of Zelda's Link die in entertaining ways to the challenge Dark Link presents. His sword skills are on par with that of the hero, even being able to defeat Link's stab attacks by deftly leaping onto the flat of the blade to hold it down and prevent it from landing. Even when Link is able to land a blow against his counterpart, the fight isn't as easily won with the seemingly standard three hits a normal boss would take. This version of Dark Link is just as tough as Link himself, requiring as many hits as Link has Heart Containers. The normal strategy of grinding in the game to make yourself stronger can easily backfire in this fight.
Dark Link is a truly intriguing figure, exemplifying the inner darkness of Zelda's best-explored and most interesting character, Link. Dark Link's appearances are loved and anticipated by the fans, with speculation always rampant about his next encounter. While he hasn't been seen in a bigger capacity too recently, he does show up in some fun and interesting ways within the main series of games, most recently as an outfit within Breath of the Wild. Despite his role as a final boss in Zelda 2, his appearance as a mini-boss in Ocarina of Time is the one that fans keep coming back to and point to as a standard to what combats within the Legend of Zelda series should be.