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Shadow Link Battles are a game mode in A Link Between Worlds. It allows players to trade A.I.-controlled Shadow versions of their Links via the StreetPass feature of the Nintendo 3DS for the purpose of battling one another.

Overview[]

Setup[]

ALBW StreetPass Profile

The setup screen for a player-made Shadow Link

Shadow Link Battles become available once Link has obtained a Sword and proceeds to speak to Gramps in Kakariko Village, who oversees the StreetPass Meadow.[1] Gramps excitedly describes the mode as a way to interact with the people we pass by in our daily lives, adding that there's nothing to lose and everything to gain by playing the mode, and goes on to explain how it works.[2]

To begin, Link is tasked with creating a profile for a Shadow version of himself that will be transmitted to other players via StreetPass. The Shadow Link is given the same equipment, quest Items, and number of Heart Containers as Link; essentially Link only needs to select up to two Items from his current inventory that the Shadow Link will take into battle. The profile for this Shadow Link also displays Link's chosen name, the number of challenges he has completed, the bounty, which is the amount of Rupees awarded for defeating the Shadow Link and a measure of its abilities and difficulty, and the Player name, which is the nickname of the Nintendo 3DS console from which the Shadow Link originates.

This Shadow Link profile does not automatically update itself when Link acquires new equipment or Heart Containers, so Link must speak to Gramps and perform the setup again in order to update the Shadow Link.

StreetPass[]

StreetPass MeadowALBW

The StreetPass Meadow filled with signposts

Once the setup is completed, StreetPass will be activated for A Link Between Worlds and will continue to function even after the game is closed.[3] Gramps will commemorate the occasion by planting the StreetPass Tree near Link's House.[4] StreetPasses occur when two or more Nintendo 3DS systems, with wireless communications enabled, pass nearby and electronically "tag" one another. A successful tag is indicated by the system's status light flashing bright green, along with a notice in the Notifications menu.

In order to import these tags from the system's memory into A Link Between Worlds, Link simply needs to visit Kakariko Village, where signposts signifying each newly-arrived Shadow Link will appear at the StreetPass Meadow.[5] Each signpost displays the corresponding Shadow Link's name, bounty, number of challenges completed, Player name, and a description of the randomly-selected location where the Shadow Link awaits. Its equipment, Heart Containers and chosen Items are left a secret until the Shadow Link Battle begins.

Once StreetPass functionality for A Link Between Worlds has been enabled, it can only be disabled through the Nintendo 3DS System Settings app. Alternatively, one could choose to avoid StreetPassing by turning off wireless communications. Up to three Shadow Links per copy of A Link Between Worlds can be transmitted in a single StreetPass—one for each saved game, provided that none of the saves are copies of another. The StreetPass Meadow can hold up to 20 signs at a time, while the Nintendo 3DS can store another 20 StreetPasses for A Link Between Worlds in its queue. Link can choose to banish any Shadow Link from the game by pressing the Y button while reading its corresponding signpost.

Battle[]

When Link encounters a Shadow Link in the overworld, he must speak to it and then choose to review the rules of the battle, view the list of challenges, or begin the battle. Link can only bring the two Items set to the Y and X buttons into the battle, and cannot change Items mid-battle.[6] The competitors will be transported to one of five arenas, roughly based on the Shadow Link's location, and the battle begins instantly. The Shadow Link is controlled by A.I. and will utilize his Sword, Shield, and Items in a tactical manner. The first fighter to deplete his opponent's Life Gauge will win the battle, though either can be revived if they are carrying a Fairy. Battles are fought under a 3-minute time limit; if neither Link has defeated the other by this time, then the one who dealt the most damage to his opponent is declared the winner.

If Link wins the battle, he will be awarded the Shadow Link's bounty in Rupees. Any Life that Link has lost or Items expended during the battle will be replenished afterward, regardless of who wins. If Link is defeated, any rented Items won't be reclaimed by Sheerow,[7] and the loss will not count toward Link's "Times defeated" counter.

Bounty[]

ALBW StreetPass Profile 2

The setup screen featuring a higher bounty

The bounty for each Shadow Link is scored based on the quality of that Shadow Link's equipment, the quest Items he possesses, and the efficiency of the chosen Items he brings into battle. In addition, each full Heart Container beyond the starting three adds 10 points to the bounty; having all 20 Heart Containers therefore adds 170 points.

The minimum bounty for a Shadow Link is 50, with the maximum being 999. The size and color of each signpost in the StreetPass Meadow reflects its bounty. Items that have no bearing on Shadow Link Battles, such as the Power Glove, Zora's Flippers, and Pendants of Virtue, do not count toward the bounty.

The bounty value of each Item is as follows:

Equipment / Quest Items Bounty Ravio's Items Bounty Other Items Bounty
ALBW Forgotten Sword Icon Forgotten Sword 0 ALBW Rented Bow Icon ALBW Bow Icon Bow 50 ALBW Lamp Icon Lamp 10
ALBW Master Sword Icon Master Sword 100 ALBW Rented Boomerang Icon ALBW Boomerang Icon Boomerang 50 ALBW Super Lamp Icon Super Lamp 80
ALBW Master Sword Lv2 Icon Master Sword Lv2 150 ALBW Rented Hookshot Icon ALBW Hookshot Icon Hookshot 50 ALBW Net Icon Net 10
ALBW Master Sword Lv3 Icon Master Sword Lv3 200 ALBW Rented Hammer Icon ALBW Hammer Icon Hammer 50 ALBW Super Net Icon Super Net 80
ALBW Green Tunic Icon Green Tunic 0 ALBW Rented Bomb Icon ALBW Bomb Icon Bombs 50 ALBW Hint Glasses Icon Hint Glasses 1
ALBW Blue Mail Icon Blue Mail 50 ALBW Rented Fire Rod Icon ALBW Fire Rod Icon Fire Rod 50 ALBW Empty Bottle Icon Empty Bottle 1
ALBW Red Mail Icon Red Mail 100 ALBW Rented Ice Rod Icon ALBW Ice Rod Icon Ice Rod 50 ALBW Red Potion Icon Red Potion 40
ALBW Shield Icon Shield 50 ALBW Rented Tornado Rod Icon ALBW Tornado Rod Icon Tornado Rod 50 ALBW Blue Potion Icon Blue Potion 80
ALBW Hylian Shield Icon Hylian Shield 100 ALBW Rented Sand Rod Icon ALBW Sand Rod Icon Sand Rod 50 ALBW Yellow Potion Icon Yellow Potion 80
ALBW Ravio's Bracelet Active Icon Ravio's Bracelet 0 ALBW Nice Bow Icon Nice Bow 100 ALBW Purple Potion Icon Purple Potion 80
ALBW Bee Badge Icon Bee Badge 50 ALBW Nice Boomerang Icon Nice Boomerang 100 ALBW Milk Icon Milk 40
ALBW Pegasus Boots Icon Pegasus Boots 30 ALBW Nice Hookshot Icon Nice Hookshot 100 ALBW Premium Milk Icon Premium Milk 40
ALBW Stamina Scroll Icon Stamina Scroll 50 ALBW Nice Hammer Icon Nice Hammer 100 ALBW Heart Icon Heart 10
ALBW Great Spin Icon Great Spin 100 ALBW Nice Bomb Icon Nice Bombs 100 ALBW Apple Icon Apple 10
ALBW Nice Fire Rod Icon Nice Fire Rod 100 ALBW Green Apple Icon Green Apple 30
ALBW Nice Ice Rod Icon Nice Ice Rod 100 ALBW Fairy Icon Fairy 40
ALBW Nice Tornado Rod Icon Nice Tornado Rod 100 ALBW Bee Icon Bee 20
ALBW Nice Sand Rod Icon Nice Sand Rod 100 ALBW Golden Bee Icon Golden Bee 60
ALBW Letter in a Bottle Icon Letter in a Bottle 1
ALBW Foul Fruit Icon Foul Fruit 20
ALBW Scoot Fruit Icon Scoot Fruit 1

Challenges[]

ALBW StreetPass Challenges Complete

Completing all 50 challenges

Challenges, also known as records and medals, are a series of 50 achievements Link can earn by fulfilling certain conditions while competing in Shadow Link Battles. They range from winning set numbers of battles, to using specific Items in battle, to other challenges such as winning within a time limit or without pressing certain buttons. Newly-achieved challenges are tallied after each successful battle, and it is possible to achieve multiple challenges in a single battle.

Completing a challenge involving a Nice Item will also complete the challenge for the regular version of that weapon, therefore no challenges are permanently missable. In order for the challenge to count as completed, the Item must damage or otherwise make contact with the Shadow Link. Likewise, a Shield must deflect at least one of the Shadow Link's attacks for its challenge to count as completed. The challenge "Win after using Ravio's Bracelet!" requires Link to Wall Merge during the battle, which can only be achieved in certain arenas.

After all 50 challenges have been completed, Link can speak to Gramps to find out that he is only the second competitor to achieve the feat—the first being Gramps himself.[8] He will then be given the opportunity to battle Gramps, who possesses all the strongest equipment, 20 Heart Containers, and two random Nice Items, despite carrying a bounty of only 5 Rupees.

Complete list of Challenges

Arenas[]

Sky Arena[]

An arena that is held in the sky and features the Royal Crest in the middle of the stage. While there are no traps, Link and Shadow Link can fall off the edge.

Forest Arena[]

A clearing in a forest, featuring grass that can be cut for Hearts, Bees, and Fairies. There is also an Apple tree in the center, where Link and Shadow Link can eat Apples to regain health.

Fire Arena[]

ALBW firearena firepillars

The fire pillars that randomly appear in the arena

The arena is a grated metal platform over a lake of lava, where jets of lava will burst up and through the floor at random. Link can use Ice Rod to freeze the lava and use Ravio's Bracelet to Merge into the resulting column, making the Fire Arena one of the two possible arenas to complete the "Win after using Ravio's Bracelet!" Challenge.

Ice Arena[]

The arena is a platform made of ice, with breakable ice tiles in the center and several Bumpers near the edges. Both Bombs and the Fire Rod are capable of breaking the tiles, which can be used as a trap.

Desert Arena[]

The arena is covered in sand, making it possible to use the Sand Rod to create sand pillars which can be Merged into using Ravio's Bracelet. Devalants will emerge from the sand, creating sinkholes that the competitors can fall into.

The Desert Arena is the rarest of the arenas; fights usually occur here only if the Shadow Link is encountered in the Desert of Mystery.

Pre-Generated Shadow Links[]

Occasionally, a signpost will appear in the StreetPass Meadow without having met another player by StreetPass. This occurs once every five cumulative hours of gameplay, as long as StreetPass is enabled. These signposts represent Shadow Links that come from a supposed Player named Shade and are selected at random from the following list of 20 pre-generated characters, coming in a variety of bounties and Item selections.

Bounty Name Medals Hearts Sword Tunic Shield Quest Items Y Button Item X Button Item
50 Varnis 000/50 3 0
ALBW Forgotten Sword Icon
0
ALBW Green Tunic Icon
0 000 050
ALBW Rented Bow Icon
000
120 Bandle 055/50 7 0
ALBW Forgotten Sword Icon
0
ALBW Green Tunic Icon
0 000 040
ALBW Fairy Icon
040
ALBW Fairy Icon
160 Adom 022/50 5 0
ALBW Forgotten Sword Icon
0
ALBW Green Tunic Icon
1
ALBW Shield Icon
000 040
ALBW Red Potion Icon
050
ALBW Rented Fire Rod Icon
170 Barmon 033/50 5 0
ALBW Forgotten Sword Icon
0
ALBW Green Tunic Icon
1
ALBW Shield Icon
000 050
ALBW Rented Tornado Rod Icon
050
ALBW Rented Bow Icon
180 Byll 1010/50 10 0
ALBW Forgotten Sword Icon
0
ALBW Green Tunic Icon
0 080ALBW Bee Badge IconALBW Pegasus Boots Icon 020
ALBW Bee Icon
010
ALBW Net Icon
230 Tablo 033/50 8 0
ALBW Forgotten Sword Icon
0
ALBW Green Tunic Icon
1
ALBW Shield Icon
030ALBW Pegasus Boots Icon 050
ALBW Rented Boomerang Icon
050
ALBW Rented Hammer Icon
280 Vale 2020/50 10 1
ALBW Master Sword Icon
0
ALBW Green Tunic Icon
1
ALBW Shield Icon
030ALBW Pegasus Boots Icon 010
ALBW Apple Icon
020
ALBW Foul Fruit Icon
340 Loki 2020/50 8 1
ALBW Master Sword Icon
0
ALBW Green Tunic Icon
1
ALBW Shield Icon
000 040
ALBW Milk Icon
100
ALBW Nice Boomerang Icon
350 Matti 1515/50 10 1
ALBW Master Sword Icon
0
ALBW Green Tunic Icon
1
ALBW Shield Icon
030ALBW Pegasus Boots Icon 050
ALBW Tornado Rod Icon
050
ALBW Sand Rod Icon
360 Ecru 1515/50 8 2
ALBW Master Sword Lv2 Icon
0
ALBW Green Tunic Icon
1
ALBW Shield Icon
000 100
ALBW Nice Fire Rod Icon
010
ALBW Lamp Icon
390 Dock 1515/50 9 1
ALBW Master Sword Icon
1
ALBW Blue Mail Icon
1
ALBW Shield Icon
030ALBW Pegasus Boots Icon 050
ALBW Hookshot Icon
050
ALBW Bomb Icon
410 Keelo 2020/50 10 1
ALBW Master Sword Icon
0
ALBW Green Tunic Icon
1
ALBW Shield Icon
050ALBW Bee Badge Icon 080
ALBW Yellow Potion Icon
060
ALBW Golden Bee Icon
490 Reita 2525/50 11 1
ALBW Master Sword Icon
1
ALBW Blue Mail Icon
2
ALBW Hylian Shield Icon
000 080
ALBW Blue Potion Icon
080
ALBW Blue Potion Icon
520 Burin 2525/50 14 3
ALBW Master Sword Lv3 Icon
0
ALBW Green Tunic Icon
1
ALBW Shield Icon
030ALBW Pegasus Boots Icon 050
ALBW Rented Ice Rod Icon
080
ALBW Purple Potion Icon
661 Ebon 3535/50 16 2
ALBW Master Sword Lv2 Icon
1
ALBW Blue Mail Icon
2
ALBW Hylian Shield Icon
130ALBW Bee Badge IconALBW Pegasus Boots IconALBW Stamina Scroll Icon 001
ALBW Hint Glasses Icon
100
ALBW Nice Bomb Icon
670 Grisa 4040/50 3 3
ALBW Master Sword Lv3 Icon
2
ALBW Red Mail Icon
2
ALBW Hylian Shield Icon
130ALBW Bee Badge IconALBW Pegasus Boots IconALBW Stamina Scroll Icon 100
ALBW Nice Tornado Rod Icon
040
ALBW Fairy Icon
680 Rasset 2525/50 15 2
ALBW Master Sword Lv2 Icon
1
ALBW Blue Mail Icon
2
ALBW Hylian Shield Icon
080ALBW Pegasus Boots IconALBW Stamina Scroll Icon 080
ALBW Blue Potion Icon
100
ALBW Nice Bow Icon
702 Slatt 4545/50 20 3
ALBW Master Sword Lv3 Icon
2
ALBW Red Mail Icon
2
ALBW Hylian Shield Icon
130ALBW Bee Badge IconALBW Pegasus Boots IconALBW Stamina Scroll Icon 001
ALBW Empty Bottle Icon
001
ALBW Empty Bottle Icon
720 Goush 3535/50 17 3
ALBW Master Sword Lv3 Icon
2
ALBW Red Mail Icon
0 080ALBW Pegasus Boots IconALBW Stamina Scroll Icon 100
ALBW Nice Sand Rod Icon
100
ALBW Nice Ice Rod Icon
999 Leef 4949/50 20 3
ALBW Master Sword Lv3 Icon
2
ALBW Red Mail Icon
2
ALBW Hylian Shield Icon
230ALBW Bee Badge IconALBW Pegasus Boots IconALBW Stamina Scroll IconALBW Great Spin Icon 100
ALBW Nice Hookshot Icon
100
ALBW Nice Hammer Icon

Trivia[]

  • The music that plays during a Shadow Link Battle is an orchestrated remix of the Palace theme from The Adventure of Link.

Gallery[]

See Also[]

References

  1. "Hm... It looks like you don't have a sword of your own yet. You need a sword for StreetPass. Sorry. I don't make the rules. Come back once you get your own sword." — Gramps (A Link Between Worlds)
  2. "Ever stop to think how many times we just pass right on by people on the street? You know, all our life? Well, I know a secret that will make passing by people a lot more fun. Because I am in the business of introducing people such as yourself to StreetPass!" — Gramps (A Link Between Worlds)
  3. "All right. I've saved your settings. Even if you stop playing this game, StreetPass will continue to function automatically. Just make sure to push the wireless switch to enable wireless communication." — Gramps (A Link Between Worlds)
  4. "Today is a day for the history books. Why? Because you are making your StreetPass debut! I'd like to commemorate this special occasion with a gift.
    That gift is...an apple tree!
    I'll plant it in the garden near your house. Go take a look at it when you get a chance.
    " — Gramps (A Link Between Worlds)
  5. "When you tag someone via StreetPass, I'll put a sign up here in this field. Come take a look from time to time." — Gramps (A Link Between Worlds)
  6. "During the battle, you can only use the items that are currently set to the X and Y Buttons." — Shadow Link (A Link Between Worlds)
  7. "Your hearts will be fully replenished before and after the battle. Items you use up will be restored once the battle ends, and you won't lose rented items if defeated." — Shadow Link (A Link Between Worlds)
  8. "Well done. It looks like you've finally completed all the challenges. You're only the second person who's ever done that. Want to know who the first person to do it was? You do, do you?
    I see... Then I'm going to give this everything I've got!" — Gramps (A Link Between Worlds)
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