Boomerang (move)

The Boomerang is a recurring item throughout The Legend of Zelda series that appears as one of Link's special moves in Super Smash Bros. and Super Smash Bros. Melee, originally his neutral special move before being made his side special move in Super Smash Bros. Melee, being replaced by the Bow. Originally designed after the Boomerang in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, in Super Smash Bros. Melee the move is also used by Young Link, who uses the same boomerang. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U the move is used by Toon Link, whose design of the boomerang is based upon that in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, while Link's Boomerang was replaced with the Gale Boomerang from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.

When the move is used, the player throws a boomerang at opponents that can damage them, automatically returning to the player once it hits an opponent or wall. The player can hold the control stick to make it fly farther, and can also be thrown diagonally. The Boomerang can also fly up or down while it is active by tilting the control stick just before throwing it. Young Link's Boomerang does not travel as far, and it is not as powerful, but it can be controlled better. Toon Link's Boomerang can also be controlled in the same way.

In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, Toon Link's Boomerang features two custom variations that can be unlocked. The first is Floating Boomerang, which makes the boomerang move more slowly as it returns. The second is the High-Speed Boomerang, which throws a faster boomerang than normal that can pass through opponents, but it is weaker than normal and does not home in on Toon Link when returning. In addition, one of the custom special moves for Link's Gale Boomerang is called "Boomerang", which gives it a similar effect to this move.