Lugia

It launches a vortex of air from the back of the screen, affecting a certain area of the stage. It’s relatively easy to dodge, but the launch power is high if you get hit. Lugia (, Lugia) is a creature in the media franchise. It appears as a Poké Ball Pokémon in Super Smash Bros. Melee, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Smash Bros. 4 and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Origin
is a Psychic/Flying-type and the  of ' and '. It is heavily associated with the sea and often slumbers in the depths. While not being a Water-type it can learn several Water-type moves. In the National Pokédex, it is registered as #249 and known as the "Diving Pokémon". Prior to its debut in, it first appeared in the second Pokémon movie, , initially being a creation for said movie.

is a special Flying-type move with 100 base power, 95% accuracy and an increased chance of dealing a critical hit. It is Lugia's, and thus the only Pokémon able to learn it naturally. Stat-wise, Lugia has great Special Defense, Defense and Speed, but its offensive stats are average, especially for a Legendary Pokémon.

As a Poké Ball Pokémon
When summoned, Lugia will appear on the stage, then fly into the background, use its Aeroblast attack, and finally fly off the screen to the background of the stage (similar to the movement of Ho-Oh). Aeroblast travels around the stage in a random pattern (circular/left to right or right to left/sweeping the ground and vice versa), that will move towards the direction of the summoner's opponents.

Before Lugia flies into the background, any character that makes contact will take 30% damage and sustain extremely high vertical knockback, similar to touching Moltres's wings; it can KO most characters as low as 35%. Though Lugia's body hitbox is not as powerful as Moltres', it covers a larger area due to Lugia being much larger in size. Aeroblast has multiple hits, allowing this attack to be escapable with very quick and precise SDI, though extremely difficult to do so and survive. Aeroblast can inflict up to 440% in a little over 2 seconds, with each hitbox dealing 20% in damage. The knockback inflicted by Aeroblast is extreme, which combined with the massive damage it deals, allows it to potentially OHKO a player trapped in it unless they can tech a wall or ceiling. However, the first hit of Aeroblast can whiff if the opponents are hit at the left or right endpoint of its range. Even a player gets hit once instead of multiples hits, a single hit has enough knockback to KO at low percentages (roughly 35%), but not to OHKO. However, due to its diagonal angle, DI'ing down and away cause this attack KO'ing at early-mid percent (50% onwards). The summoner is immune to all previously mentioned attacks.

Lugia is a powerful Poké Ball Pokémon in Melee, as its huge body hitbox KOs well under 100% and its Aeroblast have high KO potential, while covering a very large area (covering about 80% of if summoned in the center). It is also possible for Lugia to KO the same opponent twice (from touching it before it flies off, and then getting hit by Aeroblast), though the likelihood of this situation happening is dependant on the actions of the opponent, making it a rarity. Lugia is the only Pokémon in Melee with this capability.

Due to Lugia being a, the chance of summoning Lugia is rare, with only Mew and Celebi being rarer Pokémon. However, the chance of Lugia appearing out of a Poké Ball is greatly increased in the event match Legendary Pokémon.

Trophy
Lugia features as a collectible trophy, unlocked as one of the 100+ trophies that can be collected randomly during normal play, such as in the Trophy Lottery and throughout the various single-player Regular Matches, though it only appears once 200 VS matches have been played.

As a Poké Ball Pokémon
Lugia reprises its role from Melee. The model is overall higher quality, including Aeroblast having a more detailed appearance. The same basic sequence of events is performed: starting on-stage, then flying to the background to use Aeroblast in a random pathway. In some fields Lugia was significantly changed in Brawl; the first such change is that touching it pulls the player away with massive vertical knockback, avoiding multiple hits in most cases. However, opponents are still inflicted 30% damage and can easily be KOed as low as 30%, slightly better than Melee.

Another major change is Lugia's Aeroblasts covers a smaller area and have more time between blasts, being closer to individual pulses instead of a near continuous stream as in Melee. It still deals 20% and has a high potential to KO, taking out on  around 45%. Multiple Aeroblasts can hit a player and lead to an earlier KO, however this is less likely to happen than in Melee (in rare cases 3 Aeroblasts can rapidly hit and cause a KO). This means that avoiding this attack is simpler now, although there is still a threat of being KO'd if hit while above 50%.

While Lugia received some signifacant nerfs in terms of damage and usability, it still is very powerful and arguably the most useful Pokémon in Brawl. Also, it still retains from the previous game the possibility to KO a character two times in a row (first KO by touching Lugia's body and second OHKO from Aeroblast). However it is not unique anymore, since other Pokémon share this ability in Brawl.

Trophy
This trophy can be found randomly during normal play, including the Coin Launcher.

As a Poké Ball Pokémon
Lugia returns to the Smash series again, once more using Aeroblast upon being released from a Poké Ball. However, it is weaker compared to prior games. Contact with Lugia's body still deals 30% but is less powerful, KOing light characters over 50% and avoiding multiple hits most times. Aeroblast still deals 20% but has much less knockback and is less likely to rapidly hit multiple times, causing it to KO around 60%. Like other legendary Pokémon it can also appear out of a Master Ball. Due to less Pokémon being summonable through a Master Ball overall, Lugia has a much higher chance of appearing from it then a regular Poké Ball.

As a Poké Ball Pokémon
Lugia returns as a Poké Ball and Master Ball summon, with no major differences from Smash 4.

Lugia cannot be summoned on 3D Land, Arena Ferox, Brinstar, Corneria, Dream Land GB, Frigate Orpheon, Gerudo Valley, Hyrule Castle, Living Room, Luigi's Mansion, Magicant, Mario Circuit, Mario Galaxy, Mementos, Mishima Dojo, Mushroom Kingdom U, Mushroomy Kingdom, Pac-Land, Paper Mario, Prism Tower, Reset Bomb Forest, Skyloft, Skyworld, Super Mario Maker, Suzaku Castle, Temple, The Great Cave Offensive, Tortimer Island, Umbra Clock Tower, Unova Pokemon League, WarioWare Inc., or Wrecking Crew.

Trivia

 * Lugia is one of four legendary Poké Ball Pokémon to appear in every installment since Melee, the other three being Moltres, Entei, and Suicune.