Dark Link is the final boss of Zelda II, found at the very end of the Great Palace. He is a shadowy doppelganger of Link, mirroring your movements and attacks. This fight is a pure test of your mastery of Link's combat mechanics. Dark Link will jump when you jump, attack when you attack, and block with his shield. The most common and effective strategy is to corner him against the left side of the screen. Once he's cornered, crouch and repeatedly stab him. He will often jump over you, allowing you to turn around and continue the crouch-stab. Alternatively, you can try to jump over him and use the Downward Thrust, but this is riskier. The Shield spell can help reduce damage if you get hit, but the fight is more about avoiding damage entirely. This is a psychological battle as much as a physical one, requiring you to outsmart your own reflection. Defeating Dark Link awakens Princess Zelda and completes the game.
