Editing Roy (SSB4)

|availability = [[Downloadable content (SSB4)|Downloadable]]

|tier = E

}}

Roy boasts good overall mobility and attack speed, owing to very fast [[dash]]ing and [[air speed]]s, alongside fast-starting attacks that allow him to quickly react to openings. When coupled with the [[fireemblemwiki:Binding Blade (weapon)|Binding Blade]]'s highly damaging sweetspots, which are close to its hilt, he boasts impressive power and a number of strong KOing options at close range.

He also benefits from gameplay changes brought about by ''SSB4'': the [[rage]] mechanic supplements his strong sweetspotted attacks, the changes to hitstun and shieldstun make his sweetspots significantly safer on hit, while the updated edge mechanics improve his recovery. Roy also has a varied combo game that is difficult to predict and grants him above average damage racking potential, with reliable combo starters from low to medium percents including forward and down throw, neutral attack, neutral and up aerial, and [[Double-Edge Dance]].

Roy's combo game is also flawed: his sweetspotted moves are ineffective at performing lengthy combos past medium percents, while his forward, back and down throws are heavily reliant on reads because of their very low hitstun. Finally, Roy suffers from a poor recovery: [[Blazer]] is predictable and covers very minimal vertical distance, while his very fast [[falling speed]] not only hinders his recovery, but also makes him susceptible to combos.

Roy is frequently placed within a group of characters ({{SSB4|Bowser}}, {{SSB4|Dr. Mario}}, {{SSB4|Charizard}}, {{SSB4|King Dedede}} and {{SSB4|Pit}}) that are the most noticeably reworked [[veteran]]s in ''SSB4''. In Roy's case, several of his moves were de-cloned from {{SSB4|Marth}} in a similar vein to {{SSBB|Falco}} and {{SSBB|Ganondorf}} in ''[[Brawl]]'', to the point that he is now a semi-clone. Although Roy received a mix of buffs and nerfs in the transition from ''Melee'' to ''SSB4'', he has overall been buffed.

However, Roy has also received several nerfs. Roy now stands at Marth's height, which enlarges his hurtbox, though his attacks have much shorter ranges and hitbox durations in spite of this, forcing him to fight at a much closer range, exacerbating one of his key weaknesses in ''Melee''. For the most part, Roy is also harmed by the post-''Melee'' gameplay changes: the loss of [[wavedash]]ing and L-canceling, as well as the weakening of [[dash-dancing]], noticeably worsen his approach. The general increase in range for other characters since ''Melee'', such as with {{SSB4|Donkey Kong}} and {{SSB4|Bowser}}, also indirectly hurts him. [[Double-Edge Dance]]'s first hit has almost completely lost its ability to stall his descent due to his faster falling speed, which hurts his recovery despite its improvements. Lastly, Roy's heavier weight makes him easy to combo despite falling speeds being slower in ''SSB4'' than they were in ''Melee''.

===Aerial attacks===

*{{buff|All aerials have decreased ending lag (FAF 50 → 46 (neutral), FAF 35 → 30 (forward), FAF 43 → 36 (back), FAF 49 → 42 (up), FAF 64 → 52 (down)).}}

*{{change|All aerials have decreased landing lag (20/10 frames (normal/L-canceled) → 11 (neutral), 20/10 frames → 13 (forward), 24/12 frames → 16 (back), 18/9 frames → 14 (up), 32/16 frames → 23 (down)). Due to the removal of [[L-canceling]], however, they are not fully compensated.}}

*[[Neutral aerial]]:

*[[Floor attack]]:

**{{buff|Front and back floor attacks deal more damage (6% → 7%).}}

===Special moves===

|game=SSB4

|nocustoms=y

|neutralcount=1

|neutral1dmg=7.5%/4.8%

|neutraldesc=A reversed gripped upward slash. Easily chains into itself, forward tilt and a grab at low percents, and his forward and up aerials at high percents. Starts at frame 5, making it a great tool for spacing, combos, and stopping approaches.

|ftiltdmg=12.5% (sweetspot), 9% (near), 8% (far)

|ftiltdesc=A reverse gripped downward slash. Very strong for a tilt attack, it usually KOs around 120% from center-stage when sweetspotted, making it a viable KO option. However, it has noticeable ending lag, making it punishable. The sweetspot is safe on shield if Roy does not directly touch the opponent's shield.

|utiltdmg=12%/7%

|utiltdesc=A reverse gripped overhead arcing slash. Very strong like his forward tilt, it usually KOs around 110% when sweetspotted. However, it has rather low horizontal range and high ending lag, which make it very punishable on shield.

|dtiltdmg=11%/6.5%

|dtiltdesc=A kneeling thrust, identical to {{SSB4|Marth}} and {{SSB4|Lucina}}'s down tilts, but with lower range. Has the lowest amount of ending lag out of his tilt attacks, and is useful for [[shield stab]]bing, edgeguarding or starting [[Tech-chasing|tech-chases]] thanks to it being a [[semi-spike]]. However, it has much less knockback growth than his other tilts.

|fsmashdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|20}} (close), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|17}} (mid), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|12}} (far)

|fsmashdesc=Rotates his body to perform a lunging, two-handed downward slash. It is one of the strongest forward smashes in the game when sweetspotted, as it can KO as low as 40% with [[rage]]. It also has very long disjointed range due to Roy lunging while performing it, and it comes out on frame 14, which is rather fast for a smash attack of its power. However, it has high ending lag and its hitbox does not last long, which make it very punishable when whiffed. It is based on his regular attack as a Great Lord in ''Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade''.

|usmashdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|1}} (hit 1), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|2}} (hits 2-4), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|10}} (hit 5)

|usmashdesc=An upward thrust, which ignites the Binding Blade's tip and concludes with a small explosion. Powerful enough to KO middleweights around 100% while uncharged. Good for juggling opponents in the air, as it grants intangibility to Roy's arm throughout its duration. The attack's multiple hits transition faster if the initial portion of the thrust connects. The move also deals 1% more damage on an aerial opponent (for a total of 18% if all hits connect). High ending lag like his other smash attacks.

|dsmashdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|15}}/{{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|10}} (front hit) {{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|17}}/{{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|11}} (back hit)

|dsmashdesc=A kneeling outward slash in front of himself and then behind himself. Weaker than his other smash attacks, but it has the fastest start-up, and is useful for punishing rolls. Can KO uncharged around the 120% range if sweetspotted with the front hit, and around 100% sweetspotted with the back hit. While it has very quick start-up, it has the longest ending lag of all his smash attacks, which makes it very punishable when whiffed.

|nairdmg=6%/4% (hit 1), 8.5%/5% (hit 2)

|nairdesc=An inward slash followed by a spinning, outward slash. One of Roy's most useful spacing and combo options thanks to its quick start-up, long-lasting duration, and low landing lag. The second hit is capable of attacking behind him, and the sourspot can catch opponents before he lands. The first hit is risky due to its short range, but it is a surprisingly effective combo starter. Very useful for KO set-ups at high percents, as landing the first hit can lead into an up tilt, up smash, or [[Blazer]].

|fairdmg=11%/7%

|fairdesc=A downward slash. It is fairly strong when sweetspotted, as it can KO opponents reliably while on-stage and especially off-stage. Good for air-to-air combat because of its low ending lag. It is possible to jump out of one from a short hop, and it can be used twice before landing from a jump. If performed fast enough, it can combo into itself when using his double jump.

|bairdmg=12%/9%

|bairdesc=Rotates his body to perform an upward slash. It is stronger than forward aerial, and can KO opponents reliably while on-stage and especially off-stage. Covers good vertical and horizontal range, but has rather high ending lag. Like with Marth and Lucina's back aerials, it turns Roy around when used. Unlike their back aerials, however, its sourspot can [[lock]] opponents at medium percents if they miss a tech.

|uairdmg=9%/6%

|uairdesc=A backflipping, upward arcing slash. The weakest of Roy's aerials in terms of damage and knockback, but it is his fastest one, due to it coming out on frame 5 (the same as his neutral attack). Its large arc and speed also make it suitable for juggling and/or combos, as it is able to follow up with most of his grounded attacks at low percents while he is falling, and into his aerials at high percents. Its sourspot also has a long duration, which allows it to function as a KO set-up, such as into back aerial or Blazer.

|dairdmg=15%/10%

|dairdesc=A two-handed, downward slash between his legs, similar to {{SSB4|Ike}}'s down aerial. It has a powerful [[meteor smash]] hitbox near the Binding Blade's hilt, while the rest of its blade launches opponents upward. KOs around 130% when sweetspotted on-stage. However, it has considerable ending and landing lag, which makes it risky to use off-stage, especially due to Roy's very high falling speed.

|uthrowdmg=6%

|uthrowdesc=Heaves the opponent upward with his free hand. Like Marth and Lucina's up throws, it is Roy's only throw with KO potential, although it starts KOing slightly later in comparison (at around 170%).

|dthrowdmg=5%

|dthrowdesc=A one-armed body slam. Aesthetically, it appears almost identical to forward throw, with its only difference being a shockwave effect to indicate the opponent hitting the ground. Mechanically, it functions much differently, as it launches the opponent directly above Roy and is a [[true combo]] into Blazer on most characters up to medium percents. Like Roy's forward throw, this throw causes very low hitstun, but its low base knockback and low knockback growth allow it to combo into neutral attack, up tilt and forward tilt at low percents, with the neutral attack combo allowing for the possibility of chaining into another grab if the opponent does not react in time. It can also combo into a neutral aerial, forward aerial and up aerial at medium percents.

| Fourth Hit (Down) || 2% (hit 1-4), 5%/3% (hit 5) || Steps forward, bends close to the ground, and does a flurry of five stabs. The last hit launches opponents away.

|}

===[[Announcer]] call===

Roy's initial perception among the community was very positive; players almost immediately recognized his powerful offense due to the prominent strengths of his sweetspotted attacks, heavily damaging throw set-ups, and significantly improved mobility. These views were especially noted because his semi-clone, {{SSB4|Marth}}, and by extension {{SSB4|Lucina}}, were considered poor characters at the time. Despite his extremely low representation, which was unseen of a perceived high-tier character, most of the community believed that Roy was a viable character, with some claiming him to be the premier swordfighter in the game. Even so, his viability was also disputed due to his sparse tournament placements and difficulty in initiating combo setups. Furthermore, characters considered worse than him received a variety of buffs in later updates, with a corresponding increase in tournament results and representation than Roy, while his weaknesses were made much more apparent to the community. As such, opinions on Roy quickly started to change for the worse due to his vulnerability to combos, weak recovery, and an ineffective close-ranged playstyle due to his poor approach and unimpressive range. In spite of his flaws and lacking tournament presence, Roy was ranked 32nd on the first ''4BR'' [[tier list]], placing him at the top of the low-tier.

===Most historically significant players===

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''Any number following the Smasher name indicates placement on the [[PGR 100]], which recognizes the official top 100 players in [[Super Smash Bros. 4]] of all time.''

*{{Sm|Cloudy|Mexico}} - The best Roy player in the world. Placed 9th at {{Trn|Smash Factor 6}} and 33rd at both {{Trn|2GGC: Fire Emblem Saga}} and {{Trn|Smash Factor 7}} with wins over players such as {{Sm|Kameme}} and {{Sm|Mr.R}}.

SSB4 Roy SplashArt.png|Roy's splash art.

Roy_amiibo.png|Roy's [[amiibo]].

Roy Screen-1.jpg|Using his down taunt.

Roy Screen-2.jpg|Using his new neutral attack on {{SSB4|Captain Falcon}}.