diff --git a/src/extensions/score_metamodel/__init__.py b/src/extensions/score_metamodel/__init__.py
index fc0b75908..5897cfec1 100644
--- a/src/extensions/score_metamodel/__init__.py
+++ b/src/extensions/score_metamodel/__init__.py
@@ -13,10 +13,8 @@
 import importlib
 import os
 import pkgutil
-import re
 from collections.abc import Callable
 from pathlib import Path
-from typing import Any
 
 from sphinx.application import Sphinx
 from sphinx_needs import logging
@@ -102,6 +100,13 @@ def _run_checks(app: Sphinx, exception: Exception | None) -> None:
     if exception:
         return
 
+    # First of all postprocess the need links to convert
+    # type names into actual need types.
+    # This must be done before any checks are run.
+    # And it must be done after config was hashed, otherwise
+    # the config hash would include recusive linking between types.
+    postprocess_need_links(app.config.needs_types)
+
     # Filter out external needs, as checks are only intended to be run
     # on internal needs.
     needs_all_needs = SphinxNeedsData(app.env).get_needs_view()
@@ -171,59 +176,53 @@ def _get_need_type_for_need(app: Sphinx, need: NeedsInfoType) -> ScoreNeedType:
     raise ValueError(f"Need type {need['type']} not found in needs_types")
 
 
-def _validate_external_need_opt_links(
-    need: NeedsInfoType,
-    opt_links: dict[str, str],
-    allowed_prefixes: list[str],
-    log: CheckLogger,
-) -> None:
-    for link_field, pattern in opt_links.items():
-        raw_value: str | list[str] | None = need.get(link_field, None)
-        if raw_value in [None, [], ""]:
-            continue
-
-        values: list[str | Any] = (
-            raw_value if isinstance(raw_value, list) else [raw_value]
-        )
-        for value in values:
-            v: str | Any
-            if isinstance(value, str):
-                v = _remove_prefix(value, allowed_prefixes)
-            else:
-                v = value
-
-            try:
-                if not isinstance(v, str) or not re.match(pattern, v):
-                    log.warning_for_option(
-                        need,
-                        link_field,
-                        f"does not follow pattern `{pattern}`.",
-                        is_new_check=True,
-                    )
-            except TypeError:
-                log.warning_for_option(
-                    need,
-                    link_field,
-                    f"pattern `{pattern}` is not a valid regex pattern.",
-                    is_new_check=True,
-                )
-
-
-def _check_external_optional_link_patterns(app: Sphinx, log: CheckLogger) -> None:
-    """Validate optional link patterns on external needs and log as info-only.
-
-    Mirrors the original inline logic from ``_run_checks`` without changing behavior.
+def _resolve_linkable_types(
+    link_name: str,
+    link_value: str,
+    current_need_type: ScoreNeedType,
+    needs_types: list[ScoreNeedType],
+) -> list[ScoreNeedType]:
+    needs_types_dict = {nt["directive"]: nt for nt in needs_types}
+    link_values = [v.strip() for v in link_value.split(",")]
+    linkable_types: list[ScoreNeedType] = []
+    for v in link_values:
+        target_need_type = needs_types_dict.get(v)
+        if target_need_type is None:
+            logger.error(
+                f"In metamodel.yaml: {current_need_type['directive']}, "
+                f"link '{link_name}' references unknown type '{v}'."
+            )
+        else:
+            linkable_types.append(target_need_type)
+    return linkable_types
+
+
+def postprocess_need_links(needs_types_list: list[ScoreNeedType]):
+    """Convert link option strings into lists of target need types.
+
+    If a link value starts with '^' it is treated as a regex and left
+    unchanged. Otherwise it is a comma-separated list of type names which
+    are resolved to the corresponding ScoreNeedTypes.
     """
-    needs_external_needs = (
-        SphinxNeedsData(app.env).get_needs_view().filter_is_external(True)
-    )
+    for need_type in needs_types_list:
+        try:
+            link_dicts = (
+                need_type["mandatory_links"],
+                need_type["optional_links"],
+            )
+        except KeyError:
+            # TODO: remove the Sphinx-Needs defaults from our metamodel
+            # Example: {'directive': 'issue', 'title': 'Issue', 'prefix': 'IS_'}
+            continue
 
-    for need in needs_external_needs.values():
-        need_type = _get_need_type_for_need(app, need)
+        for link_dict in link_dicts:
+            for link_name, link_value in link_dict.items():
+                assert isinstance(link_value, str)  # so far all of them are strings
 
-        if opt_links := need_type["optional_links"]:
-            allowed_prefixes = app.config.allowed_external_prefixes
-            _validate_external_need_opt_links(need, opt_links, allowed_prefixes, log)
+                if not link_value.startswith("^"):
+                    link_dict[link_name] = _resolve_linkable_types(  # pyright: ignore[reportArgumentType]
+                        link_name, link_value, need_type, needs_types_list
+                    )
 
 
 def setup(app: Sphinx) -> dict[str, str | bool]:
diff --git a/src/extensions/score_metamodel/checks/check_options.py b/src/extensions/score_metamodel/checks/check_options.py
index 2c23c0a6c..42953c672 100644
--- a/src/extensions/score_metamodel/checks/check_options.py
+++ b/src/extensions/score_metamodel/checks/check_options.py
@@ -60,10 +60,49 @@ def _validate_value_pattern(
         ) from e
 
 
+def _log_option_warning(
+    need: NeedsInfoType,
+    log: CheckLogger,
+    field_type: str,
+    allowed_directives: list[ScoreNeedType] | None,
+    field: str,
+    value: str | list[str],
+    allowed_value: str | list[str],
+    required: bool,
+):
+    if field_type == "link":
+        if allowed_directives:
+            dirs = " or ".join(
+                f"{d['title']} ({d['directive']})" for d in allowed_directives
+            )
+            msg = f"but it must reference {dirs}."
+        else:
+            msg = f"which does not follow pattern `{allowed_value}`."
+
+        # warning_for_option will print all the values. This way the specific
+        # problematic value is highlighted in the message.
+        # This is especially useful if multiple values are given.
+        msg = f"references '{value}' as '{field}', {msg}"
+        log.warning_for_need(
+            need,
+            msg,
+            # TODO: Errors in optional links are non fatal for now
+            is_new_check=not required,
+        )
+    else:
+        msg = f"does not follow pattern `{allowed_value}`."
+        log.warning_for_option(
+            need,
+            field,
+            msg,
+            is_new_check=False,
+        )
+
+
 def validate_fields(
     need: NeedsInfoType,
     log: CheckLogger,
-    fields: dict[str, str],
+    fields: dict[str, str] | dict[str, list[ScoreNeedType]],
     required: bool,
     field_type: str,
     allowed_prefixes: list[str],
@@ -83,8 +122,6 @@ def remove_prefix(word: str, prefixes: list[str]) -> str:
         # Removes any prefix allowed by configuration, if prefix is there.
         return [word.removeprefix(prefix) for prefix in prefixes][0]
 
-    optional_link_as_info = (not required) and (field_type == "link")
-
     for field, allowed_value in fields.items():
         raw_value: str | list[str] | None = need.get(field, None)
         if raw_value in [None, [], ""]:
@@ -96,17 +133,37 @@ def remove_prefix(word: str, prefixes: list[str]) -> str:
 
         values = _normalize_values(raw_value)
 
+        # Links can be configured to reference other need types instead of regex.
+        # However, in order to not "load" the other need, we'll check the regex as
+        # it does encode the need type (at least in S-CORE metamodel).
+        # Therefore this can remain a @local_check!
+        # TypedDicts cannot be used with isinstance, so check for dict and required keys
+        if isinstance(allowed_value, list):
+            assert field_type == "link"  # sanity check
+            # patterns holds a list of allowed need types
+            allowed_directives = allowed_value
+            allowed_value = (
+                "("
+                + "|".join(d["mandatory_options"]["id"] for d in allowed_directives)
+                + ")"
+            )
+        else:
+            allowed_directives = None
+
         # regex based validation
         for value in values:
             if allowed_prefixes:
                 value = remove_prefix(value, allowed_prefixes)
             if not _validate_value_pattern(value, allowed_value, need, field):
-                msg = f"does not follow pattern `{allowed_value}`."
-                log.warning_for_option(
+                _log_option_warning(
                     need,
+                    log,
+                    field_type,
+                    allowed_directives,
                     field,
-                    msg,
-                    is_new_check=optional_link_as_info,
+                    value,
+                    allowed_value,
+                    required,
                 )
 
 
@@ -132,7 +189,9 @@ def check_options(
     allowed_prefixes = app.config.allowed_external_prefixes
 
     # Validate Options and Links
-    field_validations = [
+    field_validations: list[
+        tuple[str, dict[str, str] | dict[str, list[ScoreNeedType]], bool]
+    ] = [
         ("option", need_type["mandatory_options"], True),
         ("option", need_type["optional_options"], False),
         ("link", need_type["mandatory_links"], True),
diff --git a/src/extensions/score_metamodel/metamodel.yaml b/src/extensions/score_metamodel/metamodel.yaml
index b2a28065f..219afeded 100644
--- a/src/extensions/score_metamodel/metamodel.yaml
+++ b/src/extensions/score_metamodel/metamodel.yaml
@@ -108,12 +108,12 @@ needs_types:
     mandatory_options:
       status: ^(valid|draft)$
     mandatory_links:
-      input: ^wp__.*$
-      output: ^wp__.*$
-      approved_by: ^rl__.*$
-      responsible: ^rl__.*$
+      input: workproduct
+      output: workproduct
+      approved_by: role
+      responsible: role
     optional_links:
-      supported_by: ^rl__.*$
+      supported_by: role
       contains: ^gd_(req|temp|chklst|guidl|meth)__.*$
       has: ^doc_(getstrt|concept)__.*$
     parts: 2
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ needs_types:
     optional_links:
       # req-Id: tool_req__docs_req_link_satisfies_allowed
       # TODO: fix once process_description is fixed
-      satisfies: ^wf__.*$
+      satisfies: workflow
       complies: ^std_req__(iso26262|isosae21434|isopas8926|aspice_40)__.*$
     tags:
       - requirement
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ needs_types:
     title: Role
     prefix: rl__
     optional_links:
-      contains: ^rl__.*$
+      contains: role
     parts: 2
 
   # Documents, process_description only
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ needs_types:
       approver: ^.*$
       reviewer: ^.*$
     optional_links:
-      realizes: "^wp__.+$"
+      realizes: workproduct
     parts: 2
 
   # req-Id: tool_req__docs_doc_types
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ needs_types:
       approver: ^.*$
       reviewer: ^.*$
     optional_links:
-      realizes: "^wp__.+$"
+      realizes: workproduct
     parts: 2
 
   # Requirements
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ needs_types:
       content: ^[\s\S]+$
     mandatory_links:
       # req-Id: tool_req__docs_req_link_satisfies_allowed
-      satisfies: ^stkh_req__.*$
+      satisfies: stkh_req
     optional_options:
       codelink: ^.*$
       testlink: ^.*$
@@ -311,7 +311,7 @@ needs_types:
       content: ^[\s\S]+$
     mandatory_links:
       # req-Id: tool_req__docs_req_link_satisfies_allowed
-      satisfies: ^feat_req__.*$
+      satisfies: feat_req
     optional_options:
       codelink: ^.*$
       testlink: ^.*$
@@ -339,7 +339,7 @@ needs_types:
     optional_links:
       # req-Id: tool_req__docs_req_link_satisfies_allowed
       # TODO: make it mandatory
-      satisfies: ^gd_req__.*$
+      satisfies: gd_req
     optional_options:
       codelink: ^.*$
       tags: ^.*$
@@ -400,7 +400,7 @@ needs_types:
     mandatory_links:
       includes: ^logic_arc_int(_op)*__.+$
     optional_links:
-      fulfils: ^feat_req__.+$
+      fulfils: feat_req
     tags:
       - architecture_element
       - architecture_view
@@ -420,7 +420,7 @@ needs_types:
       # req-Id: tool_req__docs_common_attr_status
       status: ^(valid|invalid)$
     mandatory_links:
-      fulfils: ^feat_req__.+$
+      fulfils: feat_req
     tags:
       - architecture_view
       - architecture_element
@@ -441,8 +441,8 @@ needs_types:
       # req-Id: tool_req__docs_common_attr_status
       status: ^(valid|invalid)$
     optional_links:
-      includes: ^logic_arc_int_op__.+$
-      fulfils: ^comp_req__.+$
+      includes: logic_arc_int_op
+      fulfils: comp_req
     tags:
       - architecture_element
       - architecture_view
@@ -462,7 +462,7 @@ needs_types:
       # req-Id: tool_req__docs_common_attr_status
       status: ^(valid|invalid)$
     mandatory_links:
-      included_by: ^logic_arc_int__.+$
+      included_by: logic_arc_int
     tags:
       - architecture_element
     parts: 3
@@ -474,7 +474,7 @@ needs_types:
     color: #FEDCD2
     style: card
     mandatory_links:
-      includes: ^comp_arc_sta__.+$
+      includes: comp_arc_sta
     tags:
       - architecture_view
     parts: 3
@@ -501,10 +501,10 @@ needs_types:
       # req-Id: tool_req__docs_common_attr_status
       status: ^(valid|invalid)$
     optional_links:
-      implements: ^real_arc_int(_op)*__.+$
-      includes: ^comp_arc_sta__.+$
-      uses: ^real_arc_int(_op)*__.+$
-      fulfils: ^comp_req__.+$
+      implements: real_arc_int, real_arc_int_op
+      includes: comp_arc_sta
+      uses: real_arc_int, real_arc_int_op
+      fulfils: comp_req
     tags:
       - architecture_element
       - architecture_view
@@ -524,7 +524,7 @@ needs_types:
       # req-Id: tool_req__docs_common_attr_status
       status: ^(valid|invalid)$
     optional_links:
-      fulfils: ^comp_req__.+$
+      fulfils: comp_req
     tags:
       - architecture_view
       - architecture_element
@@ -546,7 +546,7 @@ needs_types:
       status: ^(valid|invalid)$
       language: ^(cpp|rust)$
     optional_links:
-      fulfils: ^comp_req__.+$
+      fulfils: comp_req
     tags:
       - architecture_element
       - architecture_view
@@ -566,9 +566,9 @@ needs_types:
       # req-Id: tool_req__docs_common_attr_status
       status: ^(valid|invalid)$
     mandatory_links:
-      included_by: ^real_arc_int__.+$
+      included_by: real_arc_int
     optional_links:
-      implements: ^logic_arc_int_op__.+$
+      implements: logic_arc_int_op
     tags:
       - architecture_element
     parts: 3
@@ -594,10 +594,10 @@ needs_types:
       safety: ^(QM|ASIL_B)$
       status: ^(valid|invalid)$
     mandatory_links:
-      implements: ^comp_req__.*$
-      satisfies: ^comp_arc_sta__.*$
+      implements: comp_req
+      satisfies: comp_arc_sta
     optional_links:
-      includes: ^sw_unit__.*$
+      includes: sw_unit
     parts: 3
 
   dd_dyn:
@@ -609,8 +609,8 @@ needs_types:
       safety: ^(QM|ASIL_B)$
       status: ^(valid|invalid)$
     mandatory_links:
-      implements: ^comp_req__.*$
-      satisfies: ^comp_arc_sta__.*$
+      implements: comp_req
+      satisfies: comp_arc_sta
     parts: 3
 
   sw_unit:
@@ -642,11 +642,11 @@ needs_types:
       status: ^(valid|invalid)$
       content: ^[\s\S]+$
     mandatory_links:
-      violates: ^feat_arc_sta__[0-9a-z_]+$
+      violates: feat_arc_sta
     optional_options:
       mitigation_issue: ^https://github.com/.*$
     optional_links:
-      mitigated_by: ^(feat_req__.*|aou_req__.*)$
+      mitigated_by: feat_req, aou_req
     parts: 3
 
   # req-Id: tool_req__docs_saf_types
@@ -663,14 +663,14 @@ needs_types:
       content: ^[\s\S]+$
     mandatory_links:
       # req-Id: tool_req__docs_saf_attrs_violates
-      violates: ^feat_arc_sta__[0-9a-z_]+$
+      violates: feat_arc_sta
     optional_options:
       # req-Id: tool_req__docs_saf_attrs_mitigation_issue
       mitigation_issue: ^https://github.com/.*$
     optional_links:
       # req-Id: tool_req__docs_saf_attrs_mitigated_by
       # (only mandatory once valid status == valid)
-      mitigated_by: ^(feat_req__.*|aou_req__.*)$
+      mitigated_by: feat_req, aou_req
     tags:
       - dependent_failure_analysis
       - safety_analysis
@@ -693,11 +693,11 @@ needs_types:
       mitigation_issue: ^https://github.com/.*$
     mandatory_links:
       # req-Id: tool_req__docs_saf_attrs_violates
-      violates: ^comp_arc_sta__[0-9a-z_]+$
+      violates: comp_arc_sta
     optional_links:
       # req-Id: tool_req__docs_saf_attrs_mitigated_by
       # (only mandatory once valid status == valid)
-      mitigated_by: ^(comp_req__.*|aou_req__.*)$
+      mitigated_by: comp_req, aou_req
     tags:
       - dependent_failure_analysis
       - safety_analysis
@@ -721,11 +721,11 @@ needs_types:
       mitigation_issue: ^https://github.com/.*$
     mandatory_links:
       # req-Id: tool_req__docs_saf_attrs_violates
-      violates: ^feat_arc_dyn__[0-9a-z_]+$
+      violates: feat_arc_dyn
     optional_links:
       # req-Id: tool_req__docs_saf_attrs_mitigated_by
       # (only mandatory once valid status == valid)
-      mitigated_by: ^(feat_req__.*|aou_req__.*)$
+      mitigated_by: feat_req, aou_req
     tags:
       - failure_mode_effects_analysis
       - safety_analysis
@@ -748,9 +748,9 @@ needs_types:
       mitigation_issue: ^https://github.com/.*$
     mandatory_links:
       # req-Id: tool_req__docs_saf_attrs_violates
-      violates: ^comp_arc_dyn__[0-9a-z_]+$
+      violates: comp_arc_dyn
     optional_links:
-      mitigated_by: ^(comp_req__.*|aou_req__.*)$
+      mitigated_by: comp_req, aou_req
     tags:
       - failure_mode_effects_analysis
       - safety_analysis
diff --git a/src/extensions/score_metamodel/metamodel_types.py b/src/extensions/score_metamodel/metamodel_types.py
index 8eee3f062..8a1cf7c94 100644
--- a/src/extensions/score_metamodel/metamodel_types.py
+++ b/src/extensions/score_metamodel/metamodel_types.py
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 # *******************************************************************************
 
+from __future__ import annotations
+
 from dataclasses import dataclass, field
 
 from sphinx_needs.config import NeedType
@@ -32,6 +34,7 @@ class ScoreNeedType(NeedType):
     mandatory_options: dict[str, str]
     optional_options: dict[str, str]
 
-    # Holds a regex (str)
-    mandatory_links: dict[str, str]
-    optional_links: dict[str, str]
+    # Holds either regexes (str) or a list of other need types (list of ScoreNeedType).
+    # One or the other for simplicity, no mixing.
+    mandatory_links: dict[str, str] | dict[str, list[ScoreNeedType]]
+    optional_links: dict[str, str] | dict[str, list[ScoreNeedType]]
diff --git a/src/extensions/score_metamodel/tests/rst/options/test_options_options.rst b/src/extensions/score_metamodel/tests/rst/options/test_options_options.rst
index a3cd9c07a..32203f36e 100644
--- a/src/extensions/score_metamodel/tests/rst/options/test_options_options.rst
+++ b/src/extensions/score_metamodel/tests/rst/options/test_options_options.rst
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
 
 
 .. Required link `satisfies` refers to wrong requirement type
-#EXPECT: feat_req__abce.satisfies (['std_wp__test__abce']): does not follow pattern `^stkh_req__.*$`.
+#EXPECT: feat_req__abce: references 'std_wp__test__abce' as 'satisfies', but it must reference Stakeholder Requirement (stkh_req).
 
 .. feat_req:: Child requirement
    :id: feat_req__abce
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@
 
 
 
-.. 
+..
    This Test can not be tested at the moment without enabeling that optional checks are also linked.
    TODO: Re-enable this check
 .. Negative Test: Linked to a non-allowed requirement type.
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@
 
 
 .. Negative Test: Linked to a non-allowed requirement type.
-#EXPECT: feat_saf_fmea__child__26.violates (['comp_req__child__ASIL_B']): does not follow pattern `^feat_arc_dyn__[0-9a-z_]+$`.
+#EXPECT: feat_saf_fmea__child__26: references 'comp_req__child__ASIL_B' as 'violates', but it must reference Feature Sequence Diagram (feat_arc_dyn).
 
 .. feat_saf_fmea:: Child requirement 26
    :id: feat_saf_fmea__child__26
@@ -504,4 +504,3 @@
 
 .. std_wp:: This is a test
    :id: std_wp__test_content
-
diff --git a/src/extensions/score_metamodel/yaml_parser.py b/src/extensions/score_metamodel/yaml_parser.py
index a0a912879..de89fd9d9 100644
--- a/src/extensions/score_metamodel/yaml_parser.py
+++ b/src/extensions/score_metamodel/yaml_parser.py
@@ -144,9 +144,7 @@ def _parse_needs_types(
     return needs_types
 
 
-def _parse_links(
-    links_dict: dict[str, Any],
-) -> list[dict[str, str]]:
+def _parse_links(links_dict: dict[str, dict[str, str]]) -> list[dict[str, str]]:
     """
     Generate 'needs_extra_links' for sphinx-needs.