Ocarina of Time Switch 2 Dark Link is the mirror-image miniboss waiting in the Water Temple’s reflective chamber. He copies and counters predictable sword attacks. Instead of swinging repeatedly, change your timing and strike after he misses.
You can beat him with the Master Sword, so you don’t need to leave the dungeon for optional equipment. When the fight ends, take the Longshot from the chest in the room beyond. You’ll need its extra reach to finish the temple.
Where is Ocarina of Time Switch 2 Dark Link?
Follow the Water Temple’s high-level route and moving platforms into the quiet room with a tree on a small island. Walk towards the far door, then turn back. Dark Link appears and the doors close. This is not Morpha’s final boss arena.
Why Dark Link blocks your sword attacks
Ocarina of Time Switch 2 Dark Link mirrors direct sword swings, including stabs. As he becomes more aggressive, he can leap onto your blade and counterattack. Repeating the same thrust into his guard is a good way to lose health.
Against Ocarina of Time Switch 2 Dark Link, give him room to attack first, then punish the recovery with a jump attack or a couple of quick slashes. The remake supports jumping and attacking separately as well as a single-button jump-attack option, so use whichever control feels comfortable.
Best ways to beat Ocarina of Time Switch 2 Dark Link
With the Master Sword, wait for him to miss or dodge before making a quick attack. A jump attack followed by slashes is more reliable than charging straight into his defence. Back off if he immediately blocks again.
Biggoron’s Sword is effective if you’ve completed its optional quest. Din’s Fire is another option because the magic burst bypasses his normal sword defence, though you’ll need enough magic. Neither item is compulsory.
What changes as the duel goes on?
He becomes more aggressive as the duel goes on. Watch for the end of his leap or spin, then move in when he is recovering. If the next strike gets countered, make some space and reset your timing.
If you keep losing, refill your health, leave space between you and the opponent and avoid locking yourself into long attack animations. The remake has modernised controls, but Nintendo says the fundamentals of the original combat were deliberately preserved.
How to get the Longshot after Dark Link
Once Ocarina of Time Switch 2 Dark Link is beaten, go through the exit and open the chest. That’s the Longshot, a Hookshot upgrade with much greater reach. Don’t leave without it: the remaining Water Temple routes depend on that range.
You will use it to access later Water Temple rooms, find the Boss Key and eventually reach Morpha’s arena. If you’re stuck at a target that looks just beyond Hookshot range, check that you’ve opened this chest before trying to find a risky jump around the obstacle.
What comes after the Longshot?
Before leaving the Longshot room, play the Song of Time behind its chest to reveal the next passage. The whirlpool and boulder routes lead towards the remaining keys and, eventually, Morpha’s Boss Key. The Longshot is also essential in the final battle, where it pulls the vulnerable core out of the water.
Our Water Temple guide explains the water controls and central tower key. The Morpha guide covers the final battle and is separate from this miniboss encounter.
What if Dark Link keeps countering you?
Break the rhythm of the fight. Move away rather than attacking into his guard, watch for the end of his leap or spin and punish the opening with a jump attack. If you have enough magic, Din’s Fire is an alternative to repeated sword exchanges. You can still win using the Master Sword alone.
For Ocarina of Time Switch 2 Dark Link, the important outcome is the Longshot. Open the chest beyond his room, then return to the water-level puzzles to find the Boss Key and reach Morpha.
Official source: Nintendo’s Ocarina of Time Switch 2 game page.
