Squirtle (SSBU): Difference between revisions

{{s|bulbapedia|Michele Knotz}}, Rikako Aikawa and Klaus Münster reprise their roles as Squirtle from ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' in English, Japanese and German respectively, all with new voice clips; in French, Jean-Marc Delhausse replaces Virginie Demians from ''Brawl''.

 

Unlocked as part of {{SSBU|Pokémon Trainer}} alongside {{SSBU|Ivysaur}} and {{SSBU|Charizard}}.

Squirtle's small size makes it a hard target to hit, but also gives its attacks (with the exception of its smash attacks) poor range. Squirtle is the fastest of the three available Pokémon and has good mobility overall, with average [[dash]]ing and [[air speed]]s, a fast [[walk]]ing speed, very high [[air acceleration]] (the eighth highest), high [[gravity]] and high jump height, but a below-average [[falling speed]] and low traction. These attributes paired with its good out-of-shield options gives Squirtle a flexible game plan, either functioning as an effective bait-and-punish character or a quick rushdown character. Squirtle also has the ability to [[crawl]] and [[wall cling]].

However, Squirtle does have some weaknesses. While Squirtle has high combo potential, the damage output from its individual attacks is poor overall, and outside of its smash attacks (which are extremely slow and committal) and its back throw (which can have trouble killing away from the ledge), Squirtle lacks any reliable KO options, especially since some of its previous KO options were weakened. Up aerial can only KO near the upper blast line and along with forward throw, requires rage to KO on its own, while its other aerials need edgeguarding to KO at all. Squirtle lacks reliable [[kill confirm]]s as well, making it very difficult for Squirtle to close out stocks on its own if it is incapable of edgeguarding the opponent. Squirtle's light weight and exploitable recovery also make its endurance very poor, and it is no longer resistant to fire attacks due to the removal of [[type effectiveness]], further hindering Squirtle's endurance in certain matchups. As previously mentioned, Squirtle has poor range throughout its attacks (save for its smash attacks), and it lacks a damaging projectile, making it very easy for Squirtle to be out-spaced by characters with superior range.

Squirtle was previously considered the strongest party member of the {{SSBU|Pokémon Trainer}}'s team in ''Brawl'', due to a combination of its quick mobility, fast attacks, and excellent aerial game, which made it a potentially viable contender in competitive play; this made the team reliant on the character to achieve the most level of success possible. Likely in an attempt to create a higher balance within the team, Squirtle has received a mix of buffs and nerfs in the transition to ''Ultimate'', but while objectively nerfed, it benefits from many of the gameplay mechanics, helping compensate for its shortcomings while improving on its strengths. Because of this, Squirtle was slightly nerfed overall.

A large part of Squirtle's moveset has been altered, receiving several new moves. Among its most notorious ones, its new [[neutral attack]] is faster all-around and retains its ability to [[lock]]; [[dash attack]] has better stage control and combo capabilities; and [[neutral aerial]] has better combo potential thanks to its new angle (though at the cost of power). Many of Squirtle's moves have been streamlined due to various changes to knockback angles, utility and power, with [[forward tilt|forward]] and [[up tilt]]s, [[back aerial|back]], [[up aerial|up]] and [[down aerial]]s, and [[up throw|up]] and [[down throw]]s, now being excellent combo starters and/or finishers in their own right at a wide range of percents. Squirtle's KO options have been improved as well, with its new [[forward smash|forward]] and [[down smash]]es having increased range with much lower ending lag, and the former, along with its new [[back throw]] having increased knockback. Squirtle's specials are all more effective for punishes and stage control, as [[Water Gun]] has less ending lag with a substantially increased push force, [[Withdraw]] travels faster and is much stronger on hit, and [[Waterfall]] connects much more reliably and has increased knockback.

Squirtle benefits significantly from '' Ultimate''{{'}}s new mechanics. The neutering of [[hitstun canceling]] further benefits Squirtle's aforementioned combo-centric moves. The universally decreased [[landing lag]] makes Squirtle's approach safer, which combines well with its fast frame data, which has been retained and, in some cases, improved. The increased [[shieldstun]] makes several of its attacks safer on shield, most notably its [[forward tilt]] and new smash attacks. The removal of the [[Pokémon Change#Stamina|Stamina]] mechanic also eliminates Squirtle's biggest limiting factor from ''Brawl'', as it can now stay in battle for as long as the player wishes with no penalty, provided it is not KO'd. Finally, the removal of [[chain grab]]bing and neutering of aerial [[grab release]] combos vastly improves Squirtle's survivability.

 

 

Overall, Squirtle's combo game has been improved drastically, giving it an excellent damage racking ability, but its main weaknesses, including its poor range and KO power, have been further exacerbated, resulting in Squirtle being retooled to fit more in line with the speedy, combo-centric playstyle it represents in the Pokémon Trainer's team, exploiting its combo ability and speedy attacks to rack up damage and bring opponents to KO percents for its partner Pokémon. As a result, though it remains a very effective character, it is generally agreed upon that Squirtle is no longer the Pokémon Trainer's best Pokémon by a large margin.

Squirtle only received one change throughout ''Ultimate''{{'}}s game updates; a near-universal buff to shield sizes. Due to this, it was the least affected of the Pokémon Trainer's Pokémon by a large margin, and arguably the least affected playable character in the whole game.

SSBUSquirtleIdle1.gif|Squirtle's first idle pose.

SSBUSquirtleIdle2.gif|Squirtle's second idle pose.

==In Spirit Battles==