Dark Samus (SSBU): Difference between revisions

{{Infobox Character

|name = Dark Samus

|image = [[File:Dark Samus SSBU.png|250px]]

|game = SSBU

|availability = [[Unlockable character|Unlockable]]

}}

'''Dark Samus''' ({{ja|ダークサムス|Dāku Samusu}}, ''Dark Samus'') is a playable character in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''. She was announced as a [[newcomer]] during the August 8th, 2018 [[Nintendo Direct|Super Smash Bros. Direct]] alongside {{SSBU|Simon}}, {{SSBU|Richter}}, {{SSBU|Chrom}}, and {{SSBU|King K. Rool}}. Dark Samus is {{SSBU|Samus}}' [[Echo Fighter]], and is therefore classified as [[Fighter number|Fighter #04^ε]].

The sound effects used for Samus in ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]'' were repurposed for Dark Samus in ''Ultimate''.

==How to unlock==

Like Samus, Dark Samus is a [[Weight|heavyweight]]. She is a [[Falling speed#Floaty|floaty]] character with slightly below average [[walking]] and [[dash]]ing speeds, average [[air speed]], above average air acceleration, high jump height and slow [[falling speed]]. These attributes grant her an easier time chasing aerial opponents and forcing air dodges, yet also cause her to be juggled rather easily. When combined with her few reliable landing options and slow falling speed, opponents will also have more time to punish Dark Samus as she attempts to return to the stage.

In addition, Dark Samus has a strong air game. The changes to air dodges have benefitted her overall, as they notably improve her ability to edgeguard (especially with moves such as forward aerial or her renowned Charge Shot), while she isn't hindered as much due to her fast air speed, the ability to stall mid-air using her Bombs, and her Grapple Beam tether recovery's long range. All of Dark Samus' aerials have no more than 20 frames of landing lag, and her back aerial is one of her best moves courtesy of its power, damage output, speed and range. Her down aerial can be a powerful meteor smash, forward aerial is a good pressuring tool due to its long duration, and up aerial is an excellent combo option. Lastly, her neutral aerial is a viable KOing option. When coupled with her high jumps, Dark Samus' air game is also potent while she is off-stage, as she can recover from nearly anywhere on the stage, stay in position for longer periods of time due to her floatiness, or bait the opponent by stalling in the air and punishing edge-guard attempts.

*{{change|Dark Samus hovers in midair during several of her animations, similarly to {{SSBU|Mewtwo}}, {{SSBU|Rosalina & Luma}} and {{SSBU|Bowser Jr.}}}}

**{{change|Dark Samus' idle stance and periodic idle poses are different. Many of her animations, such as her crouch transition, have been changed to seamlessly transition into this stance.}}  

**{{change|Dark Samus has an altered animation for moving whilst shooting. However, the sound effects have not been changed to better match the animation.}}  

*{{change|Dark Samus' [[perfect shield]] animation is different. She performs a pose similar to the one in her artwork for ''{{iw|metroidwiki|Metroid Prime 3: Corruption}}''.}}

*{{change|As a reference to her Phazon-based attacks in the {{uv|Metroid}} series, any small explosions emitted by Dark Samus' Arm Cannon-based attacks are neon blue instead of orange.}}

**{{change|Aside from [[Missile]] and {{b|Bomb|Samus}}, Dark Samus' Phazon-based attacks also possess the [[electric]] effect instead of the [[flame]] effect of Samus' equivalent attacks. This changes how their respective attacks interact with others, such as Dark Samus being unable to immediately detonate other characters' [[bomb]]s with her equivalent attacks, and being able to hurt {{SSBU|Olimar}}'s Red {{b|Pikmin|species}} with them but not his Yellow Pikmin. Dark Samus' Phazon-based attacks also have a lower hitlag multiplier compared to Samus' equivalent attacks in order to maintain consistency with Samus' moveset.}}

*{{nerf|Dark Samus' shield is slightly smaller (12.5 → 12) and she stands in a more upright stance, with the shield centered slightly higher. This makes her easier to shield poke, especially with low reaching attacks.}}

**{{buff|However, Dark Samus' right arm is briefly intangible when activating and deactivating her shield.}}

**{{change|Homing Missile and Super Missile have an organic appearance.}}

*{{b|Screw Attack|move}}:

**{{change|The visual shockwave effect does not occur when Dark Samus activates Screw Attack in the air.}}

*{{b|Bomb|Samus}}:

|dtiltname=Earth Blaster ({{ja|アースブラスター|Āsu Burasutā}})

|dtiltdmg=12%

|dashname=Shoulder Tackle ({{ja|ショルダータックル|Shorudā Takkuru}})

|dashdmg=10% (clean), 6% (late)

|fsdmg=1% (charge loop), 0.5% (fringe loop), 1.5% (main loop), 2% (main loop; point blank, long range), 2.5% (contact blast), 8% (fringe blast), 10.5% (main blast)

|fsdesc=Fires an enormous beam of Phazon. The beam can be angled up and/or down throughout its duration. However, since Dark Samus' {{iw|metroidwiki|Phazon Suit}} lacks thrusters unlike {{SSBU|Samus}}' {{iw|metroidwiki|Power Suit}}, she cannot hit any opponents behind her. It resembles one of Dark Samus' attacks used during her final battle against Samus Aran in ''{{iw|metroidwiki|Metroid Prime 2: Echoes}}''.

}}

*'''Up taunt''': Hovers up slightly while emitting small embers of Phazon.

*'''Side taunt''': Spins around while emitting small embers of Phazon.

<gallery>

SSBUDarkSamusTaunt1.gif|Dark Samus' up taunt.

*Rubs her Arm Cannon with one finger.

<gallery>

</gallery>

===[[Victory pose]]s===

*'''Left:''' Raises her arm and lowers it in a fist pump pose. It is based on a pose she assumes during the introduction to her battle in ''Metroid Prime 3: Corruption''. It also somewhat resembles her arm's pose shown in the secret 100% ending of ''{{iw|metroidwiki|Metroid Prime}}''.

*'''Right:''' Turns toward the camera while emitting small embers of Phazon, then the camera dramatically zooms in to her face, at which point two of her eyes flash briefly through her {{iw|metroidwiki|visor}}. It is similar to the {{iw|metroidwiki|SA-X}}'s [[metroidwiki::File:SA-X mf Screenshot 1.png|introduction]] in ''{{iw|metroidwiki|Metroid Fusion}}''.

[[File:RidleyDarkSamusVictoryThemeUltimate.ogg|thumb|A sinister remix of the theme that plays when [[Samus Aran]] obtains a power-up for her {{iw|metroidwiki|Power Suit}}.]]

|''{{SSBUMusicLink|Metroid|Multiplayer - Metroid Prime 2: Echoes}}''

|}

==[[Spirit]]==

</center>

===As the main opponent===

{|class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;"

|{{SSBUMusicLink|Xenoblade Chronicles|Praetor Amalthus - The Acting God -}}

|

|}

<gallery>

Dark Samus Joins the Battle.png|Dark Samus' splash art.

SSBU Dark Samus Number.png|Dark Samus' fighter card.

Dark Samus unlock notice SSBU.jpg|Dark Samus' unlock notice.

SSBUWebsiteDarkSamus1.jpg|Charging her [[forward smash]] on the [[Great Plateau Tower]].

SSBUWebsiteDarkSamus2.jpg|Dark Samus with a fully charged [[Charge Shot]] on [[Great Bay]].

*Dark Samus is the second fighter revealed to have been cloned from a female fighter (in her case, {{SSBU|Samus}}), with the first being {{SSBU|Daisy}}.

*Much like Daisy's base fighter, {{SSBU|Peach}}, having a [[Daisy]]-based alternate costume in all of her previous appearances, Dark Samus' base fighter, Samus, has a [[Dark Samus]]-based alternate costume in ''Super Smash Bros. 4''. This costume was removed in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'', likely to make it easier to distinguish between Samus and Dark Samus. This scenario is similar to {{SSBU|Ike}}'s loss of his [[Chrom]]-inspired alternate costume following {{SSBU|Chrom}}'s inclusion as a fighter in ''Ultimate''.

*Dark Samus is the second non-Japanese character to be playable in ''Super Smash Bros.'', with the first being [[Diddy Kong]]. She is also the first fighter in the series that was created by an American developer ({{iw|wikipedia|Retro Studios}}).

*Just like her fellow {{uv|Metroid}} newcomer {{SSBU|Ridley}}, ''Ultimate'' marks Dark Samus' first playable appearance.

*While Dark Samus normally has a different idle stance from Samus, she will assume Samus' idle stance briefly after using an animation directly borrowed from Samus (such as any attack excluding her dash attack, smash attacks, special moves, Final Smash, or flinching in any way). This is similar to other Echo Fighters, though unlike the other examples (save for {{SSBU|Simon}} and {{SSBU|Richter}}), Dark Samus does not revert to her base fighter's idle stance while holding a small item.

**On a similar note, Dark Samus dashes on her feet while carrying heavy items (such as a [[crate]]) despite floating by default in order to move around. This is possibly an animation carryover from Samus. She also uses Samus' animations when walking/dashing off a platform.

*Dark Samus is one of two characters in ''Ultimate'' who shares another character's star KO voice clip (in her case, Samus'), with the other being {{SSBU|Dr. Mario}} (who has {{SSBU|Mario}}'s star KO voice clip).

*If Dark Samus is firing a shooting item, such as a [[Ray Gun]] or [[Fire Flower]], or wielding a [[Daybreak]] and is moving around with it, the sounds of her walking can be heard despite the fact that she floats while holding it. This is possibly due to an oversight.

*Dark Samus, Samus, {{SSBU|Mr. Game & Watch}} and {{SSBU|Pac-Man}} are the only fighters who do not emit flashing red eyes in the spirit battle preview screens in World of Light.

*Dark Samus' [https://www.nintendo.com/amiibo/detail/dark-samus-amiibo-super-smash-bros-series/ description] on the North American [[amiibo]] website is based on her Super Smash Blog entry.