Jigglypuff (SSBU): Difference between revisions

Jigglypuff is a character of extremes, as evident with its attributes: it has the 2nd fastest [[air speed]], the highest [[air acceleration]], the slowest [[falling speed]], and the lowest [[gravity]]. These attributes make Jigglypuff a very mobile character in the air. However, it also has the 3rd slowest [[walk]] and [[run speed]], the 6th slowest initial-dash, the 2nd lowest [[weight]] and [[jump]] force, and the 7th lowest [[traction]]. Collectively, these attributes render Jigglypuff unable to quickly traverse the stage on foot without relying on [[foxtrot]]ting, and susceptible to early KOs. To make up for its low jumping force, however, it has five [[midair jump]]s, which further enhance its aerial evasiveness. Its combination of light weight and floatiness results in Jigglypuff being fairly difficult to combo compared to most other characters, but conversely makes it fairly difficult for it to land onstage and escape a [[juggle]] without being forced to retreat offstage and grab the [[ledge]].

Jigglypuff's main strength is its formidable air game. Excluding back aerial, all of its aerial attacks have lingering hitboxes, and back air especially is safe on shield when properly spaced. Their duration is the primary reason Jigglypuff is deceptively difficult to challenge in the air, as opponents will most likely collide within an attack's final frames if they attempt to challenge its moves. All of its aerials, aside from up aerial, also have enough range to be [[spacing|spaced]] effectively thanks to Jigglypuff's aerial mobility, allowing it to zone and [[approach]] opponents safely in the air. Each of Jigglypuff's aerials also have their own distinct strengths. Neutral aerial is its fastest aerial and a fairly strong [[sex kick]], even when stale, and can easily [[gimp]] poor recoveries due to its late hitbox being sufficiently strong enough to do so. Due to its speed and power, it also works as a good [[out of shield]] or approach option, and its long duration allows it to break combos quite effectively. Forward aerial has the second-weakest knockback of Jigglypuff's aerials, but this grants it good combo potential in return. It can easily force opponents off-stage and is the main component of the [[wall of pain]] technique: once an opponent is launched off-stage, Jigglypuff can follow up with several other forward aerials until they reach the blast zone, where Jigglypuff can finish the opponent off with another forward or a neutral aerial. Both neutral air and forward air can also [[lock]] with their late hits, and generally both attacks linger for a long time and are very useful for [[edgeguarding]]. Back aerial is Jigglypuff's strongest aerial, an effective KOing option, and has a remarkable range, given Jigglypuff's small size; similarly to {{SSBU|Marth}}, {{SSBU|Roy}}, {{SSBU|Lucina}}, and {{SSBU|Chrom}}, the move also has the interesting trait of completely turning Jigglypuff around after its use. It is also safe on shield due to its high damage output and above-average hitlag, though it is also Jigglypuff's slowest aerial, making it a bit predictable. It also has a sweetspot closer to Jigglypuff's body, although this is difficult to hit due to the sourspot farther away taking priority. Up aerial has a deceptively long-lasting hitbox, which can be problematic for any opponent that has issues dealing with [[juggling]], and it is also a situational finisher near the upper blast line that combos into most of its toolkit if used while landing. Lastly, down aerial can be used as a highly damaging out of shield option, a combo tool, and a pressuring option, and has low ending lag. It can sometimes also work as an anti-juggling option against characters with slow aerial mobility or moves. As well, landing with it can lead into various other moves, allowing Jigglypuff to take stocks incredibly early, especially when factoring in the move's ability to [[autocancel]] and link into itself.

Jigglypuff's unmatched floatiness, exceptional air speed, multiple jumps, and strong air game give it a tremendous off-stage presence. Due to lacking a traditional [[recovery]] move, its recovery is fairly susceptible to gimping if it has used its jumps, though its other attributes make its recovery very effective regardless. Its fast air acceleration also allows it to mix-up against opponents that attempt to [[edgeguard]] it. With the aid of [[Pound]], it can also stall its recovery and protect its landing. Jigglypuff is infamously fearsome at edgeguarding: with proper spacing and good timing, it can gimp even the farthest distanced recoveries without being put at risk; {{SSBU|Cloud}}, Chrom, {{SSBU|Ganondorf}}, {{SSBU|Dr. Mario}}, {{SSBU|Little Mac}}, and {{SSBU|Min Min}} are perhaps the most susceptible to its edgeguarding, as their recoveries lack both speed and resilience, causing their performances against Jigglypuff to revolve around maintaining stage control as much as possible.

This is not to say its grounded moves are useless, however, as they are surprisingly versatile for such an air-based character. Jigglypuff's neutral attack possesses incredible speed, can lock, and leads into her dash attack, which can KO at unusually low percentages. Forward tilt is fast and highly damaging, and when [[angled]] down is her fastest option for hitting an opponent that is grabbing the ledge. Up tilt is relatively quick and surprisingly good combo potential, whilst still maintaining the utility of a kill move at later percents. Down tilt is a [[semi-spike]] with high base knockback that can easily gimp many recoveries when used at the ledge, whilst also putting opponents in a bad position on stage should they miss their [[tech]]. As for its smash attacks, forward smash has surprisingly high [[knockback scaling]], while down smash has [[intangibility]] on Jigglypuff's legs and the lowest launch angle of any other conventional semi-spike, causing characters with weaker recoveries to die at very low percents. She also possesses surprisingly fast grabs, and her down throw is a solid damage dealer which greatly benefits from throw [[invincibility]], particularly in certain matchups or when playing in [[Doubles]]. Her greatest grounded move, however, is her buffed Forward Throw, which sends opponents at a low angle when used near the ledge. This is a fantastic tool to have for a character that forces opponents to shield so often, especially due to Down Air's ability to combo directly into a grab. The angle forward throw sends at forces the opponent to pick an option, burn a resource, or both, making the edgeguarding guessing game much easier for the Jigglypuff player. As a cherry on top, at low percents, it can put opponents in a bad position onstage if they miss their tech, very similarly to their down tilt.

Jigglypuff also possesses an infamous trump card in [[Rest]]. Rest has powerful vertical knockback at all percentages, to the point where it can reliably KO any character at 70%, but KOs most characters at as early as 50%. It hits on frame 2 with a [[flower]] effect and has full [[intangibility]] until Jigglypuff closes its eyes. In addition to being an incredible [[punishment]] option, the threat of Rest forces opponents to be very careful when using laggy moves, especially due to Jigglypuff's ability to perform an occasionally situational true combo into it. One of the best ways to confirm a Rest is with forward aerial: hitting with the move's final frames will lead into an unavoidable Rest, which becomes even more potent if used in the air or with high [[rage]]. Depending on the opponent's falling speed, a jump may be necessary to reach them. Another reliable way to confirm one is by landing with up aerial: should Jigglypuff land immediately after hitting the opponent, Rest can be landed without fail. This combo works optimally on platforms due to its limited percentage range and its ability to KO as early as 30%. Up tilt can also combo into Rest on its own or after a landing down aerial, which can be used to rack up at least 30% and potentially KO as well (especially on platforms), but the confirm has a tight percent window, as well as a [[sour spot]] that must be accounted for. Lastly, down air has two main Rest confirms: Drill Rest and Rising Dair Rest. Drill Rest involves using down air and landing on the ground before the final hit connects, buffering a rest so that the confirm lands as soon as possible. This confirm is strong against certain characters such as {{SSBU|Kirby}}, {{SSBU|Meta Knight}}, {{SSBU|Mewtwo}}, {{SSBU|Pichu}}, and opposing Jigglypuff, but aside from them and a select few other characters, it is very inconsistent and often not worth going for. Rising Dair Rest, on the other hand, is performed by rising with down air and buffering a jump rest. This is much more consistent overall against the entire cast, but like up tilt Rest, it has a tight percent window that varies from character to character.

Other methods of safely using Rest involve [[crouching]], [[buffering]], a [[footstool jump]], a [[jab reset]], or interrupting an opposing neutral attack, though few characters are vulnerable to these methods, and they usually require impeccable timing. Platforms can be a saving grace when considering Rest, as they can lead into 0% KO confirms on certain characters and, if they are moving, can make it a bit harder to punish. For all its potential, however, Rest infamously possesses extremely high [[ending lag]], making it very easy to [[punish]] if whiffed, though Jigglypuff can skip some of the move's ending lag if it is successfully landed.

To balance out all of these strengths, Jigglypuff is held back by numerous weaknesses. The most detrimental is its survivability: Jigglypuff's stats result in it having among the worst endurance out of any character in the game. As a result, it can be knocked out as early as 30% with a sufficiently strong attack. Rage is an additional burden, since opponents can send it flying even earlier with it while Jigglypuff may not survive long enough to fully reap the benefits of rage itself. These drawbacks force Jigglypuff to play extremely cautiously, as any damage taken can prove dangerous in the long run. Adding insult to injury, Jigglypuff's [[shield jump]] launches it upward with enough force to KO it even in the largest of stages, although this weakness rarely comes into effect in [[competitive play]], where shieldbreaks are uncommon.

Furthermore, Jigglypuff has a very problematic ground game. Although most of its ground moves are fast in proportion to their power, its lack of range and slow ground movement prevent it from racking up large amounts of damage with the majority of said moves. This is worsened when considering the utility of its grounded attacks, which as mentioned are quite high for such an air heavy character. The main exception is her Up Smash, a very barebones move that only barely accomplishes its job of being a consistent anti air that kills at reasonable percents. Its grab game also has similar issues: while Jigglypuff has some of the fastest grabs in the game, landing a grab can sometimes be difficult. Her throws are also a mixed bag; whilst the previously mentioned down throw and forward throw are very effective, back throw is similar to up smash in that it's a very one-dimensional move that is barely good enough at its job to be worth using, only instead it's a positioning tool instead of an anti-air. Up throw is even worse; despite being her strongest kill throw, it is not able to KO reliably even well beyond 200%, and it has very little utility outside of this role. This results in Jigglypuff being easily kept at bay by shields without the usage of Pound's high [[shield damage]] and mix-ups with her grab.

 

Overall, Jigglypuff is an air-based glass cannon that can quickly rack up damage or KO opponents, but in return can be KOed just as quickly. Its strengths are on par with its weaknesses, and while it has lower representation than most other characters due to the aforementioned weaknesses, it has received strong results from players such as {{Sm|BassMage}} and {{Sm|Senra}}.