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Description

An imagined scenario of a duel between Sora, Keyblade Master (unofficially) and hero of Kingdom Hearts, and Link, reincarnating hero of Hyrule and protagonist of The Legend of Zelda.

Stats:

Both are expert swordsmen. While Sora is also well-versed in a range of spells, and his Keyblade can change into different weapons, Link carries an arsenal of weapons and tools on his person ("how" is anyone's guess, but it makes for some funny fanart). The specific weapons depend on the game/incarnation, but recurring tools include a bow and arrows, bombs, a boomerang, and the Hookshot. Link's primary tools are the Master Sword, an enchanted blade made to slay evil (and sometimes shoots energy beams), and the Knight's Shield, which, according to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, is canonically stronger than magic barriers conjured by two literal goddesses.

Sora possesses what can only be described as superhuman physical abilities (although they seem to be natural physical growth), allowing him to go toe-to-toe against similarly-superhuman opponents, enormous monsters, and Titans. Link is strong and agile, but his abilities seem to be more realistic in regards to what a human at peak ability can accomplish, but he can boost his strength with magic gauntlets and speed with magic boots.

Link also possesses a range of spells in some games, sometimes through a magic rod and other times through enchantments gifted by Great Fairies. While both heroes use magic, they run on a finite capacity of MP/magic energy. Sora can replenish his MP with Ethers/Elixirs, or he can wait for his mana to charge back up over time. Link, in contrast, can only replenish his energy with green magic potions (or, in one incarnation, he can drink Chateau Romani and have an endless supply). They can both heal injuries with potions (the Potion item and Elixirs for Sora, and Milk or Red Potions for Link), but Sora also has a spell (Cure) that can restore his health.

Both Sora and Link are very intelligent warriors. They can both analyze their opponents' attack patterns and react accordingly, and they can solve puzzles (shown most with Link in all incarnations, but also refer to Sora navigating Hollow Bastion and Wonderland in KH1). Compared to most incarnations of Link, Sora has had more or equal experience, but both have been able to match up against adversaries with more training and experience than them.

Analysis:

This is probably a perfect match. Both are expert swordsmen with a wide range of tactics. With the strength of the Keyblade and the protective qualities of Reflect versus the Hylian Shield (which is canonically stronger and a greater defense than the blessed shielding magic of two literal goddesses), and their versatility in terms of attacks, they can attack in many different ways and counter accordingly. As both of them defeat foes by reading their patterns and determining how to counter them, they are basically on even footing.

However, Link is limited by possessing finite resources in terms of arrows and bombs, while Sora is only limited by MP, which recharges over time, and he can even heal several times a fight if he manages mana and bides his time effectively.

Ultimately, the fight could go either way in any situation (except underwater, where Sora is just as versatile while Link stays grounded and can only attack with a Hookshot, because Water Levels). However, if the fight drags on long enough, Sora would ultimately gain the advantage due to retaining magic and the ability to heal.

What do you think? Who do you think would win in this match-up?

Description

An imagined scenario of a duel between Sora, Keyblade Master (unofficially) and hero of Kingdom Hearts, and Link, reincarnating hero of Hyrule and protagonist of The Legend of Zelda.

Stats:

Both are expert swordsmen. While Sora is also well-versed in a range of spells, and his Keyblade can change into different weapons, Link carries an arsenal of weapons and tools on his person ("how" is anyone's guess, but it makes for some funny fanart). The specific weapons depend on the game/incarnation, but recurring tools include a bow and arrows, bombs, a boomerang, and the Hookshot. Link's primary tools are the Master Sword, an enchanted blade made to slay evil (and sometimes shoots energy beams), and the Knight's Shield, which, according to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, is canonically stronger than magic barriers conjured by two literal goddesses.

Sora possesses what can only be described as superhuman physical abilities (although they seem to be natural physical growth), allowing him to go toe-to-toe against similarly-superhuman opponents, enormous monsters, and Titans. Link is strong and agile, but his abilities seem to be more realistic in regards to what a human at peak ability can accomplish, but he can boost his strength with magic gauntlets and speed with magic boots.

Link also possesses a range of spells in some games, sometimes through a magic rod and other times through enchantments gifted by Great Fairies. While both heroes use magic, they run on a finite capacity of MP/magic energy. Sora can replenish his MP with Ethers/Elixirs, or he can wait for his mana to charge back up over time. Link, in contrast, can only replenish his energy with green magic potions (or, in one incarnation, he can drink Chateau Romani and have an endless supply). They can both heal injuries with potions (the Potion item and Elixirs for Sora, and Milk or Red Potions for Link), but Sora also has a spell (Cure) that can restore his health.

Both Sora and Link are very intelligent warriors. They can both analyze their opponents' attack patterns and react accordingly, and they can solve puzzles (shown most with Link in all incarnations, but also refer to Sora navigating Hollow Bastion and Wonderland in KH1). Compared to most incarnations of Link, Sora has had more or equal experience, but both have been able to match up against adversaries with more training and experience than them.

Analysis:

This is probably a perfect match. Both are expert swordsmen with a wide range of tactics. With the strength of the Keyblade and the protective qualities of Reflect versus the Hylian Shield (which is canonically stronger and a greater defense than the blessed shielding magic of two literal goddesses), and their versatility in terms of attacks, they can attack in many different ways and counter accordingly. As both of them defeat foes by reading their patterns and determining how to counter them, they are basically on even footing.

However, Link is limited by possessing finite resources in terms of arrows and bombs, while Sora is only limited by MP, which recharges over time, and he can even heal several times a fight if he manages mana and bides his time effectively.

Ultimately, the fight could go either way in any situation (except underwater, where Sora is just as versatile while Link stays grounded and can only attack with a Hookshot, because Water Levels). However, if the fight drags on long enough, Sora would ultimately gain the advantage due to retaining magic and the ability to heal.

What do you think? Who do you think would win in this match-up?