Jump Attack Changes in the Zelda Remake
If you’re familiar with 3D Zelda, you already know Link’s core moves — roll, sidestep, standard slashes, spin attack, and the jump attack. The jump attack doubles the damage of a regular smash and has been a staple since Ocarina of Time.
In the original game, Link could only jump automatically when running up a ledge, making the jump attack easy: just Z‑target an enemy and press A.
The remake changes the mechanic. You can now jump at any time with the X button, whether you’re crossing a gap, targeting an enemy, or doing nothing. This added freedom lets you reach new areas, but it also means you must manually handle the jump attack, which now requires a sequence: target an enemy, push the stick forward, press X to jump, then Y to strike. The brief airtime makes the combo feel unintuitive, and many longtime players find it frustrating.
Original director and remake producer original director and remake producer Eiji Aonuma recognized how bad this felt and asked the team to make a workaround. It isn’t shown in the tutorial, but you can discover it in the menu refresher after learning the move in Kokiri Forest. Simply target an enemy, tilt the stick forward, and press A; Link will leap and attack automatically. It’s much easier than the original X‑plus‑Y combo.
While the new attack button layout feels a bit off, this simplified method is far more approachable. Give it a try if you’re struggling with the original combo.
