So a post I reblogged about no Dark Link in TotK being a missed opportunity got me thinking about how he could've been implemented:
You could find one of those journals in one of the Yiga outposts in the Depths talking about him. Here's how I think it could read:
Spotted the Hero in the Depths today. I attempted to approach while disguised as a member of the Zonai Survey Team.
Bad idea. I was attacked immediately and viciously without hesitation. I barely escaped with my life!
That... was not the Hero.
Was that the Hero's Shadow spoken of in the old legends? It is said the Shadow would mirror the Hero's appearance and fighting skills... I believe it after that encounter.
ATTENTION YIGA CLAN MEMBERS: If you spot this figure during your patrols, DO NOT APPROACH. This 'Shadow' will viciously attack anything and anyone that dares get near, even the Yiga Clan.
Beware the Hero's Shadow.
Dark Link would be patrolling the Depths, and upon spotting you, he will chase you down and attack, similar to the Gloom Hands. But unlike the Gloom Hands, you cannot escape by climbing to high ground and waiting for him to vanish. He will simply teleport up to you.
You can either deal enough damage to him, which will make him leave and reappear elsewhere in the Depths (like how the Yiga flee when defeated), or you can teleport far enough away so he loses track of you. Thankfully, he will not follow you to the Surface.
If he spots you while you're wearing the Dark Link outfit, he will be temporarily confused, giving you very limited time to run away or hide before he figures it out and starts attacking you. Similar to the Lynel Mask.
Also while you're wearing the Dark Link outfit, the Yiga will not ambush you, because they think you're the Hero's Shadow.
Dark Link's number of hearts will match that of the player's, just like in OoT. The stronger you get, the stronger he gets too.
He would also have the smartest enemy AI in the game, besides Ganondorf himself:
He dodges any thrown items or arrows shot at him, which means he cannot be cheesed with bombs. He will simply hop out of the blast radius before it lands. You must fight him in close melee combat.
He will mirror your strikes perfectly if you fight him with a one-handed sword and shield. However, he only wields a sword and shield, meaning you can attack him more easily with a different weapon, like... oh I don't know... a two-handed hammer? đ
I'm not entirely sure what he'd drop upon defeat... Maybe his sword and shield?
Anyway, those are my thoughts. I'd love to hear other ideas :)
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