Squirtle

Squirtle (, Zenigame) is the Tiny Turtle Pokémon from the series. It debuted in the series' first generation as 's first stage Water-type, and is present as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (via Pokémon Trainer).

Origin
Squirtle is a small, blue, bipedal turtle-like creature, and is categorized within the Pokédex at #007 as the "Tiny Turtle Pokémon". Squirtle is the region's Water-type. However, unlike in Pokémon Red, Green, and Blue, Squirtle is obtainable alongside its fellow Kanto starters and  under special conditions in , and relatively early on in Pokémon X and Y. It evolves into at level 16 onward, and into Blastoise at level 36 onward.

When a Squirtle hatches, its shell is soft, but forms and hardens over time until it becomes resilient enough that prodding fingers will bounce off it. When threatened, Squirtle withdraws into its shell and squirts out water with vigorous force. In addition to its defensive potential, Squirtle's shell has a rounded shape with grooves on its surface, which help minimize resistance in water and enable it to swim at high speeds. To hunt, it shoots water at its prey while underwater.

The Pokémon anime features a gang of Squirtles called the, who were all abandoned by their original Trainers and caused mischief as a result. They are identifiable by the round sunglasses they wear, with the leader wearing triangular shades. After the caused a forest fire,  rescued the leader of the Squirtle Squad and assisted the gang in putting out the flames. The Squirtle Squad became a heroic band of firefighters because of this, and the leader decided to join Ash's journey, becoming a reliable member of his original team.

In Super Smash Bros. Melee
Squirtle makes a very brief cameo appearance in Super Smash Bros. Melee's introduction sequence. A giant balloon of Squirtle is also one of the many floating and bending "platforms" that are seen throughout Poké Floats. It is the first balloon in the stage and its head and arms are where the four fighters start off on at the beginning of the match.

Trophy
Squirtle 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.

As a playable character
Squirtle appears as a playable character Super Smash Bros. Brawl. It is one of 's three Pokémon, alongside and.

According to Masahiro Sakurai, Squirtle wasn't originally chosen to be part of the Pokémon Trainer's team, as he had considered adding Blastoise to the game as a playable character and as part of the Pokémon Trainer's team of Pokémon (alongside Charizard and Ivysaur), but Squirtle was chosen instead after some reconsideration as Sakurai thought that having balance with the sizes and stages of evolution would be more appealing.

Squirtle can be switched into or out of battle via Pokémon Change, which operates similarly to Transform. Squirtle has three other special moves as well. Water Gun is a chargeable projectile that pushes opponents away, akin to F.L.U.D.D. Withdraw has Squirtle retreat into its shell, giving it super armor in the process, and charge forward. Waterfall is its recovery move. It performs Hydro Pump as part of Triple Finish, the Final Smash of Pokémon Trainer.

In Super Smash Bros. 4
Squirtle, along with Ivysaur, did not return as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. 4. However, Squirtle does appear as a collectable trophy in both versions of Super Smash Bros. 4.

Trophy
In, the Squirtle trophy is part of the Pokémon Classics.

As a playable character
Squirtle returns as a playable character as part of, alongside and , in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Like Ivysaur and Charizard, it is no longer subject to stamina, and thus remains effective throughout a fight. Unlike Brawl, Pokémon Trainer is an unlockable character instead of a starter character.

Squirtle was previously considered the strongest party member of the Pokémon Trainer's team in Brawl, due to a combination of its quick mobility overall, fast attacks, and excellent aerial game, which made it a potentially viable contender in competitive play. Possibly as a result, Squirtle has received a mix of buffs and nerfs, but was nerfed overall. Unlike the other party Pokémon, Squirtle's moveset has been reworked into newer, different attacks, with many of its standard attacks being altered.

Trivia

 * Squirtle is the first playable of a region's starter trio, as well as the only first staged starter Pokémon.
 * It and Pichu are also the only playable Pokémon to be in the first stage of their respective evolutionary lines.
 * Squirtle and Ivysaur are the only Pokémon to have more than two Special Moves derived from one type.
 * The Squirtle balloon in Poké Floats is, in actuality, Squirtle's 3D model from .
 * Squirtle is the only one of the Pokémon Trainer's Pokémon to lack a meteor smash.