Samus (SSB4): Difference between revisions

|ranking = 37

'''Samus''' ({{ja|サムス|Samusu}}, ''Samus'') is a playable character in ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]''. Her return to the series was confirmed in the [[E3 2013]] trailers on June 11th, 2013, while she was also among the first wave of [[amiibo]] figures that are compatible with ''SSB4''. However, unlike in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'', Samus is no longer capable of transitioning into {{SSB4|Zero Suit Samus}}, with the latter now becoming a standalone character.

Samus is currently ranked 37th out of 55 on the [[tier list]] (tied with {{SSB4|Robin}}), placing her at the bottom of D tier and middle of mid tier. This is a noticeable improvement over her bottom-tier placement in ''Brawl'', where she was ranked 32nd out of 38. Samus possesses numerous projectiles in the form of her [[Charge Shot]], [[Missile]] and [[Bomb (Samus)|Bomb]], all of which grant her strong zoning potential alongside her [[Grapple Beam]]. Charge Shot also functions as a fearsome KOing option and a strong [[punish]]ing option in many situations due to its high damage output and excellent knockback, while her Bomb and Grapple Beam can aid her recovery. Samus also possesses a good air game that allows for powerful and highly damaging combos when she finds or sets up an opening, which is further supplemented by set-ups in the form of her dash attack, up tilt, down aerial, down throw and Grapple Beam.

Samus is unique among her fellow heavyweights. While she is tied with {{SSB4|Bowser Jr.}} as the sixth heaviest character in the game, she is a [[Falling speed#Floaty|floaty]] character with slightly below average [[walking]] and [[dash]]ing speeds, average [[air speed]] 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 Samus as she attempts to return to the stage. In addition, many of her moves artificially extend her hurtboxes, leading to trades, an opponent grabbing her invisible hurtboxes and, in some cases, getting punished after landing a move despite her being visually out of range of the opponent's counterattack. Furthermore, some of the hitboxes on her moves, most notably up smash, forward smash and up aerial, have the issue of failing to connect properly or even whiffing outright.

==Changes from ''Brawl''==

Samus has received a mix of [[buff]]s and [[nerf]]s in the transition from ''Brawl'' to ''SSB4'', but has been buffed overall due to her buffs being more abundant and helpful. Samus has gained several new KOing options, the most notable of which is [[Charge Shot]], which has drastically increased speed and knockback. The other noteworthy options include her forward smash, up smash, neutral aerial, forward aerial and [[Screw Attack]]. Forward smash now has a powerful sweetspot in the form of a fiery blast at the tip of her Arm Cannon. Neutral aerial, forward aerial, up smash and Screw Attack have each have had their knockback improved, most notably on neutral aerial (and only to the last hit in Screw Attack's case). Additionally, forward aerial, up smash and Screw Attack's multiple hits now connect better to further ensure that opponents cannot escape their respective last hits. Samus' dash attack is also capable of KOing due to its sweetspot having increased knockback growth, although it is not as viable in doing so as the aforementioned moves.

Aside from her new KOing options, Samus benefits from the general changes between ''Brawl'' and ''SSB4''. With the changes to [[hitstun canceling]], Samus' combo game has been improved. Her attacks such as down throw and dash attack have been given better knockback angles, and she is able to combo attacks into each other far easier, with multiple combo starters and combo oriented moves, including dash attack, up tilt, forward aerial, up aerial and down aerial. Due to the overall higher fall speeds in the transition, Samus was given improvements to her [[falling speed]], [[air speed]], and [[gravity]], which makes her aerial presence more threatening, giving her access to combos she never had before, and also allows her to land slightly easier than in ''Brawl''. The changes to shields and [[shieldstun]] in update [[1.1.1]] also benefit her, as she can use her Charge Shot, Super Missile and Bomb in tandem with other moves to easily break shields.

However, Samus also received a few nerfs in other areas during the initial. Her forward smash now has sightly increased ending lag as well as a new sourspot that is rather weak and runs along the Arm Cannon, while her up smash now deals less damage overall, though its knockback was heavily compensated, however. Likely due to receiving more KOing options, some of Samus' more reliable finishers in ''Brawl'', such as her down tilt and down smash, can no longer KO until very high percents. [[Missile]] is harder to camp with due her losing the ability to perform her Missile Cancel technique, though her projectiles overall are still powerful and useful in their own right. Additionally, a few of Samus' most damaging attacks deal slightly less damage (though they still deal high damage relative to the cast), while her aerials have slightly more landing lag (though this is a universal nerf among the cast).

Overall, Samus has been buffed overall from ''Brawl'' despite receiving a fair share of nerfs. She has been slightly re-balanced to be less reliant on projectiles, now wielding a slightly improved close-range game, with both her damage racking ability and combo game having been vastly improved. Most importantly, she has noticeably improved KOing potential, enabling her to score KOs much easier. While a few of her moves now require slightly more precision, such as her forward smash, neutral aerial and Missile, they compensate for this by being more rewarding. As such, she has a relatively high learning curve, but can be quite viable and versatile when mastered, similarly to {{SSB4|Shulk}}. Dedicated players like {{Sm|IcyMist}}, {{Sm|ESAM}}, and {{Sm|Afro Smash}} have managed to bring her some degree of tournament success and continue to develop her metagame.

*{{buff|Samus [[Walking|walks]] faster (1.05 → 1.0615).}}

*{{buff|Samus [[dash]]es faster (1.445 → 1.504).}}

*{{buff|Samus' [[air speed]] is faster (0.987 → 1.03).}}

*{{change|Samus' [[falling speed]] is faster (1.07 → 1.3).}}

*{{buff|Samus' [[fast fall]]ing speed is much faster (1.498 → 2.08).}}

*{{change|Samus' [[gravity]] is much higher (0.058 → 0.077).}}

*{{change|Samus is no longer connected to {{SSB4|Zero Suit Samus}} via [[Final Smash]], taunt, or menu input usage, with the latter becoming her own separate character.}}

*{{buff|Neutral attack's second hit deals slightly more damage (7% → 8%) and has increased vertical range.}}

*{{nerf|Neutral attack's first hit has decreased hitstun and increased knockback growth. This allows opponents to shield the second hit or even be launched out of range for the second hit to land, hindering its utility.}}

*{{buff|Forward tilt has adjusted hitbox properties. Its non-angled variant has received two sweetspots covering the lower leg and foot that deal more damage and received sourspots on her upper leg and body that deal the same damage as in ''Brawl'' (7%/8% → 7%/8%/9%/10%). Additionally, its upward and downward angles have each received a sweetspot on her foot that deals 1% more damage (10% → 11%). Lastly, it has increased knockback.}}

*{{nerf|Forward tilt's upward and downward angles have received sourspots covering her upper leg and body (10% → 8%/9%/10%). It also has slightly increased startup lag (frame 7 → 8).}}

*{{nerf|Down tilt deals 2% less damage (14% → 12%) and has decreased knockback growth (60 → 48), hindering its KO potential.}}

*{{buff|Down tilt has slightly increased range.}}

*{{buff|Dash attack has received an early hitbox that deals 7% and prevents point-blank whiffing. It also has adjusted hitbox timings and longer hitbox durations (frames 8-10 (clean)/11-16 (late) → 8-9 (early)/10-13 (clean)/14-18 (late)), decreased ending lag ([[IASA]] 38 → 34), improved knockback against aerial opponents. When coupled with the changes to [[hitstun canceling]], these changes significantly improve its combo potential.}}

*{{buff|Forward smash has received a sweetspot and a sourspot. The sweetspot is at the tip of the Arm Cannon and deals more damage (14%/13%/12% → 15%/14%/13.5%), while the sourspot is along the Arm Cannon and deals 1% less damage (14%/13%/12% → 13%/12%/11%). However, the sourspot is still stronger than her previous forward smash (20 (base)/100 (growth) → 16/112), making this negligible. Forward smash also has much greater reach because of the sweetspot, restoring its utility from ''Melee''.}}

*{{nerf|Forward smash has increased ending lag (IASA 47 → 49).}}

*{{nerf|Up smash deals less damage (23% → 18%).}}

*{{buff|Up smash's linking hits connect together better and the last hit has increased knockback, improving its KO potential.}}

*{{nerf|Down smash deals less damage (15% (front)/14% (back) → 10%/12%) and has decreased knockback (90 (base)/50 (growth) → 70/46 (front), 80 (base)/40 (growth) → 70/48 (back)), hindering its KO potential. Both hits also have shorter hitbox durations (frames 9-11 (front)/17-19 (back) → 9-10/17-18).}}

*{{buff|Down smash has decreased ending lag (IASA 52 → 45) and it is now a [[semi-spike]], granting it edge-guarding potential.}}

*{{buff|Samus has a new [[neutral aerial]], a modified version of the Counter Attack's roundhouse kick from ''Metroid: Other M''. Compared to the previous neutral aerial, it deals more damage (9%/6% → 10%/9%/8%) and significantly more knockback, making it significantly better at KOing. It also has much better range behind her and launches at a lower angle, making it better at edgeguarding.}}

*{{nerf|Neutral aerial has more startup lag (frame 5 → 8), a much shorter duration, and significantly smaller hitboxes compared to the previous neutral aerial, hindering its range in front of her.}}

*{{nerf|Samus' faster falling speed removes forward aerial's ability to auto-cancel from a short hop and back aerial's ability to be used twice from a short hop. Its first four hits also deal less damage (4% (hit 1)/3% (hits 2-4) → 3%/1.6%).}}

*{{buff|Forward aerial has received a hitbox to make its hits connect together better. It also launches at the [[Autolink angle|auto-link angle]] and its last hit has increased knockback, improving its edgeguarding potential.}}

*{{buff|Back aerial's sourspot deals 2% more damage (10% → 12%) and its sweetspot has much higher damage and knockback, making it among the strongest back aerials in the game, improving its KO potential. It also received a lingering sourspot that deals 9% and knockback that enables it to be used in a [[Wall of Pain]], improving its utility.}}

*{{buff|Up aerial's hits connect together better and its last hit has increased knockback, granting it KO potential near the upper blast line. It also has juggling potential now due to launching vertically instead of horizontally.}}

*{{nerf|Up aerial has significantly less edgeguarding potential due to its angle being changed.}}

*{{buff|Down aerial has decreased start-up lag (frame 18 → 17). It also gained spacing potential and significantly improved KO potential because of its new sourspots.}}

*{{nerf|Down aerial deals less damage (15% → 10% (early)/14% (clean)/11% (late)) and it has received a sourspot along the edges of its arc that launches opponents horizontally.}}

*{{nerf|Grab aerial deals less damage (4% (early)/7% (clean) → 1%/3.5%). It also has 8 frames of landing lag, rather than auto-canceling.}}

*{{buff|Grab aerial has increased range as a [[tether recovery]]. It also received two additional hitboxes.}}

*{{buff|All grabs have decreased start-up (frame 17 → 16 (standing/dash), frame 19 → 17 (pivot)) and ending lag (IASA 94 (standing)/74 (dash)/96 (pivot) → 69/67/83).}}

*{{bugfix|Pummel now always hits every fighter.}}

**{{buff|This removes its ability to whiff.}}

*{{buff|Up throw now deals full damage to all lightweights.}}

*{{buff|Front floor attack deals 1% more damage (6% → 7%).}}

*{{change|Back floor attack and edge attack deal consistent damage (6%/8% → 7%).}}

*{{buff|Fully charged [[Charge Shot]] has increased knockback growth (56 → 62), improving its KO potential. Charge Shot also charges slightly faster and travels significantly faster.}}

*{{buff|[[Missile]]s have decreased startup lag (frame 20 (Homing)/23 (Super) → 18/21), longer durations (frames 18-116 (Homing)/21-82 (Super) → 18-118/21-84), and decreased ending lag on the ground (IASA 60 (both) → 57 (Homing)/59 (Super)). Super Missile also has increased base knockback (40 → 50), slightly improving its KO potential.}}

*{{nerf|Samus can only have two Homing Missiles and one Super Missile onscreen at the same time. If she attempts to shoot another one while one is already on-screen, she will perform the firing animation, but no Missile will be fired. Homing Missile also appears to target less reliably. Additionally, Missile covers less distance and Samus is no longer able to perform the Missile Cancel, hindering its utility.}}

*{{buff|[[Screw Attack]] travels more vertical distance, improving its recovery potential, and its last hit has drastically increased knockback, granting it KO potential.}}

*{{buff|{{b|Bomb|Samus}} has decreased knockback, improving its combo potential. It also has decreased ending lag (IASA 47 → 45). Additionally, aerial Bomb can be used faster. When coupled with her faster air speed, these changes improve its horizontal recovery potential.}}

*{{nerf|Aerial Bomb delays Samus' descent for a slightly shorter amount of time and Bomb grants slightly less height, hindering its vertical recovery potential. Additionally, Bomb's explosion is now [[Absorption|absorbable]].}}

*{{nerf|{{b|Zero Laser|Samus}} deals less damage overall.}}

*{{buff|Zero Laser has less startup lag and more range.}}

*{{change|Zero Laser's animation has slightly changed. The beam now starts out thin before expanding, rather than starting out wide before thinning. It also produces slightly more prominent visual effects around the Arm Cannon's tip.}}

|neutralname=Straight and Cannon Hammer

|usmashname=Cover Fire<!--official from all-star trophy-->

|nairdesc=A spinning roundhouse kick. Hits on both sides quickly and can auto-cancel with a short hopped fast fall. One of the strongest neutral aerials as of update 1.1.5, its first few frames deal very powerful knockback, which makes it a viable KOing option off-stage or near the edge. It is also a decent combo finisher.

|bairdesc=A back kick. It is fast and deals powerful knockback when sweetspotted, which makes it an excellent KOing option, especially while edge-guarding. However, it has a small hitbox like her neutral aerial. When sweetspotted, it is among the strongest back aerials in the game. When sourspotted, it can be used as a [[Wall of Pain]]. KOs under 100% and around 80% at the edge.

|uairdesc=A diagonal corkscrew flying kick. Hits multiple times, though only the last hit deals moderate knockback. Unlike most multi-hitting attacks, the opponent can easily be launched before the move is complete if Samus does not follow the opponent's previous launch direction. Grounded opponents can be hit by the last hitbox if Samus lands while starting the move in the air, although it is difficult to do so. It is her fastest aerial, due to coming out on frame 5. Useful for landing, breaking some certain combos, and countering aerial approaches. Can be used as a follow-up after a dash attack, grounded up tilt, down aerial, or down throw, all of which can be followed up with another up aerial and/or can be finished off with a [[Screw Attack]]. On stages with platforms, it can even [[zero-to-death]] the entire cast when using a platform to extend the combo.

|zairname=[[Grapple Beam]]

|grabname=Grapple Beam

|uthrowdesc=Hoists the opponent overhead and then blasts them upward. Can combo into Screw Attack or up aerial at 0% against heavyweights or fast-fallers, but it otherwise launches opponents too high for follow-ups. However, on a platform, it can zero-to-death the same characters when followed up by her up aerial and then Screw Attack. Like her forward and back throws, it possesses low knockback growth.

|usc2desc=Deals more damage (albeit less total damage)!and much more knockback, which grants it much better KO potential, to the point that it can KO as low as 50% near the upper blast line and without rage, depending on weight and DI. However, it only hits twice and covers significantly less horizontal distance.  

==In [[Competitive play|competitive play]]==

===Notable players===

<!--If you are planning to add a player you consider to be notable, please provide tournament results in some shape or form (be it a link to a results thread or bracket of placing high in a tournament of other notable players or a video of them beating a notable player). Winning tournaments without notable players present is generally not enough to warrant a spot.-->

*{{Sm|IcyMist|USA}} - Wifi warrior who is considered the best Samus player in the world. She has wins over {{Sm|Dabuz}}, {{Sm|Elegant}}, {{Sm|Marss}}, {{Sm|Wrath}}, {{Sm|Captain L}}, and more. Placed 9th at Royal Flush, 13th at [[Super Smash Con 2018]], and 33rd at [[GENESIS 5]]. Ranked 1st on the [[Wi-Fi Warrior Rank]].

*{{Sm|Pyreeze|USA}} - One of the best Samus players in the United States, has wins over {{Sm|Elegant}}, {{Sm|Konga}}, {{Sm|KOSSismoss}} and more. Ranked 7th on the [[Washington Power Rankings#Super Smash Bros. for Wii U rankings|Western Washington Smash 4 Power Rankings]].

*{{Sm|YB|Japan}} - The best Samus player in Japan and a "Wi-Fi Warrior".

 

*{{Sm|Jonny Westside|USA}} - The best Samus player in the world when he was active. Formerly ranked 17th on the [[SoCal Power Rankings#Super Smash Bros. for Wii U rankings|SoCal Smash 4 Power Rankings]]. He has a win over {{Sm|Mr. ConCon}}. Went on a hiatus mid-2016.

*{{Sm|KayJay|Austria}} - The second best Samus player in Europe when he was active. Placed 13th at [[Smashdown World]]. Ranked 6th on the [[Austria Smash 4 Power Rankings]]. He has wins over {{Sm|Sodrek}}, {{Sm|Luigi player}}, {{Sm|Chimera}}, {{Sm|Anragon}} and more.

*{{Sm|Salem|USA}} - He has wins over {{Sm|Saj}}, {{Sm|Ryo}}, {{Sm|Dyr}}, and {{Sm|Kome}} with Samus.

 

Samus was initially considered to have improved from ''Brawl'', due to the improvements to her KO potential, a trait she previously lacked in tournament play. However, it soon became clear the buffs to other bottom-tier characters, such as {{SSB4|Mario}}, {{SSB4|Captain Falcon}} and {{SSB4|Link}}, had made them significantly better than her. When combined with glaring blind spots on her hitboxes, extended hurtboxes, and continued struggle to KO, Samus would later be considered one of the worst characters in the game. Despite the buffs gained in game updates, notably update [[1.1.1]], her poorly regarded status remained intact, with only a handful of dedicated mains, such as {{Sm|IcyMist}}, {{Sm|KayJay}}, {{Sm|Afro Smash}} and {{Sm|Jonny Westside}}, having a notable tournament impact. As such, she was ranked 51st on the first ''4BR'' [[tier list]], becoming a bottom-tier character.

It was not until update [[1.1.5]] when Samus gained her most efficient buffs, which allowed her moveset to flow significantly better, improving her offense and eliminating the majority of her blindspots. This resulted in her achieving significantly better placements at tournaments, and benefitting from nerfs given to characters with preferable matchups against her, such as {{SSB4|Bayonetta}}, {{SSB4|Diddy Kong}}, {{SSB4|Sheik}} and {{SSB4|Zero Suit Samus}}. These traits saw Samus ranked 45th on the second tier list and placed in the low tier, eventually rosing to 41st on the third tier list, at the top of the low tier. Her more bountiful results have resulted in her becoming a more stable character, and has seen her rise to 37th on the fourth and current tier list, now a mid-tier character, sharing the spot with {{SSB4|Robin}}. As such, she is considered a far more viable character after game updates, and significantly better than how she was in ''Brawl'', with some smashers, such as {{Sm|ESAM}} and  {{Sm|Dabuz}}, claim that a higher placement in the tier list is needed, despite her relatively below-average representation.

:'''Samus'''

::{{flag|ntsc}} ''Samus Aran has fought her way across a variety of planets in the Metroid series. She wears a Power Suit designed by the Chozo, giving her incredible versatility in a fight. She can wade in, but she favors beams and missiles. A fully charged Charge Shot packs a serious punch!''

::{{flag|pal}} ''The heroine of the Metroid series, Samus Aran. Her missions take her across the reaches of space, and her Power Suit gives her immeasurable fighting prowess. In this game, she uses a variety of ranged attacks based around beams and missiles. When her Charge Shot is fully charged, it can launch foes with devastating force.''

::{{Trophy games|console1=NES|game1=Metroid (08/1987)|console2=SNES|game2=Super Metroid (04/1994)}}

:'''Samus (Alt.)'''

::{{flag|ntsc}} ''Samus protects herself from overhead enemies with her up smash, Cover Fire, which can land multiple hits on anyone it connects with. Samus also fires a homing missile by holding sideways and pressing the special- attack button or launches a Super Missile by quickly tapping sideways instead.''

 

::{{Trophy games|console1=NES|game1=Metroid (08/1987)|console2=SNES|game2=Super Metroid (04/1994)}}

 

::{{flag|ntsc}} ''Samus unleashes a massive, long-range beam from her Arm Cannon as her Final Smash. Fighters on the edges of the beam will be drawn in, taking more and more damage. The sheer power of this weapon makes it tough to aim once it's firing, but it's possible to adjust the beam up and down.''

 

::{{flag|pal}} ''In Samus' Final Smash, she unleashes a huge laser beam from her Arm Cannon that draws opponents to the centre of the beam. Quite handy, since the closer they are to the centre, the more damage they'll take! You can also angle it up and down (albeit slowly), letting you catch more of your enemies and create more havoc.''

 

SamusTrophy3DS.png|Classic (3DS)

ZeroLaserTrophyWiiU.png|{{b|Zero Laser|Samus}}

SSB4 - Tether Recovery.jpg|Samus and Link simultaneously grabbing an edge with their [[Grapple Beam]] and [[Hookshot and Clawshot|Clawshot]] [[Tether recovery|tether recoveries]].

[[Category:Samus (SSB4)]]