Wolf (SSBU): Difference between revisions

{{disambig2|Wolf's appearance in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''|the character in other contexts|Wolf O'Donnell}}  

'''Wolf''' ({{ja|ウルフ|Urufu}}, ''Wolf'') is a playable fighter in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''. He was announced on June 12th, 2018 and is classified as fighter #44.

Jay Ward, Wolf's English voice actor from ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' and ''Starlink: Battle for Atlas'', reprises his role with new voice clips, while Kosuke Takaguchi, Wolf's Japanese voice actor from ''Star Fox 64 3D'' and ''Star Fox Zero'', reprises his role in the Japanese version, replacing Mahito Oba.

With the exception of the third method, Wolf must then be defeated on [[Lylat Cruise]].

Wolf's attributes and moveset give him a versatile gameplan, somewhere in the middle ground between {{SSBU|Fox}}'s focus on pressure and {{SSBU|Falco}}'s focus on [[punish]]es. This is reflected in his attributes, which include a slow [[run]] speed (though his [[initial dash]] is quite fast), above average [[walk speed]], and a high [[falling speed]] and [[gravity]] characteristic of the ''Star Fox'' characters. Unlike the other [[space animals]] however, Wolf has among the highest [[air speed]]s in the game, and is also significantly [[Weight|heavier]] than them, as he is a middleweight. Though his special moveset and vertical mobility are derived from his brethren, the similarities end there, with Wolf's being the most unique of the trio.

Wolf's {{b|Blaster|Wolf}} is the centerpiece of his [[neutral game]]. With the lasers causing higher [[knockback]] (and therefore [[hitstun]]) than the average projectile, and having a long duration with [[transcendent priority]], they grant him the ability to disrupt opponents' approaches, even when their grounded mobility is superior to his own, and its unique close-range hitbox on the bayonet give it some utility in close combat, dealing substantial damage if it connects. Lasers can often force opponents to jump over them, leaving them vulnerable to Wolf's fast aerial attacks; these are comprised of a fast [[neutral aerial]] that has a lingering hitbox with a powerful clean hit, a disjointed [[forward aerial]] that can [[combo]] into itself and his other aerials, a [[back aerial]] with moderate startup offset by its high power, an [[up aerial]] with fast startup and a wide arc well-suited to [[juggling]], and a [[down aerial]] that consistently [[meteor smash]]es opponents. While he can apply pressure from a distance, Wolf's close range options are not lacking either. [[Forward tilt]] and [[down tilt]] are decent poking tools, the latter which can [[trip]] at low percents. [[Forward smash]] has slow startup, but deceptively low ending [[lag]], while [[up smash]] deals high damage, covers a wide area around him, and has decent knockback. His neutral, forward, and back aerials are quite fast and difficult to punish even if shielded, while his standing [[grab]] is tied for the fastest in the game. Further augmenting his strong neutral game are his [[dash attack]] and {{b|Reflector|Wolf}}, the former which is useful for punishing aerial approaches and KOing at very high percents, and the latter which allows him to deal with opposing [[camping]] while also having a close range hit that can be followed up with aerials.  

Once Wolf has won the neutral exchange, he has several options to rack up damage. Forward aerial can combo into itself and other aerials, and into a grab at very low percents, from which [[up throw]] can lead into another forward or up aerial until mid-high percents, and [[down throw]] can lead into a dash attack at low percents. Should an opponent [[air dodge]] in an attempt to escape pressure, Wolf's aerial mobility allows him to chase them down and punish them, usually with an [[up tilt]] or up aerial to continue juggling them, or with a back aerial to send them offstage. Once the opponent has sustained a lot of damage, Wolf possesses several KO options. The most reliable one is his back aerial, as its quick [[autocancel]] and decent range allow it to be spaced safely, and it can KO relatively early if sweetspotted (at around 110% from center stage), while still possessing respectable power with its sourspots. His side special, [[Wolf Flash]], can either [[meteor smash]] or [[semi-spike]] opponents at the end of the dash depending on which hitbox connects, both of which are noticeably powerful, while his up special, [[Fire Wolf]], deals deceptively high knockback with its last hit as well. Other notable finishers are his forward smash and [[down smash]], the former due to its low ending lag making it safe on [[shield]] and potentially even on whiff, and the latter due to its powerful sweetspot, which can KO at percents as low as 50% at the edge and is an effective [[2 frame punish]]. At higher percents, several of his other moves become threatening, with his forward tilt, up tilt, dash attack, and neutral aerial or [[back throw]] near the edge all gaining KO potential.

However, Wolf does possess noticeable weaknesses. Though he is not short of finishers, he frequently has difficulty landing his most powerful ones due to their slow startup (with back aerial and all his smash attacks having more than 12 frames of startup) and his below-average run speed, in addition to lacking guaranteed methods to set up into them. In the case of Wolf Flash, although he possesses true setups into the move, such as from his forward aerial or down throw at medium percents, they are very risky to pull off, as he can either end up offstage after its use and [[self-destruct]] (since it causes [[helplessness]]), or miss the sweetspots and end up vulnerable due to its high landing lag. Like his ''Star Fox'' counterparts, Wolf is highly susceptible to combos, due to his tall frame, high falling speed, and compared to them, his higher weight and lack of quick enough options to escape pressure, with his fastest aerial attacks coming out on frame 7. Most critically, however, his recovery is among the worst out of the cast. Wolf Flash and Fire Wolf are both linear and offer below-average distance compared to other recoveries, and unlike Fox and Falco, both of them cause [[helplessness]], restricting him to one option offstage and leaving him with a much shorter recovery distance overall. This leaves Wolf highly vulnerable to [[gimp]]s and [[edgeguard]]ing, with [[meteor smash]]es in particular being deadly against him even at low percents, to the point exploiting his recovery offsets the increased horizontal endurance his higher weight would otherwise provide.

Overall, Wolf is a non-traditional glass cannon. He sacrifices the power of other glass cannons such as {{SSBU|Mewtwo}} for sheer versatility, due to his combination of an effective projectile for disrupting and forcing approaches, fast approach options of his own, and abundance of combo and KO moves, which allow him to keep up the pressure on his opponent even after winning the neutral game. As such, he is able to adapt to nearly any playstyle. However, due to his vulnerability to combos, poor recovery and trouble securing KOs, Wolf must also be well aware of his opponents, as a single mistake can cause him to sustain heavy damage from combos and end up in a position where he can easily be KO'd.

Wolf received some of the most noticeable changes of any returning [[veteran]], similarly to {{SSBU|Link}} and {{SSBU|Mr. Game & Watch}}. Being a last-minute addition in ''Brawl'', most of his moveset has been reanimated to look more polished and further differentiate from [[Fox]]. As a result, Wolf received a mix of buffs and nerfs in his transition from ''Brawl'', but has been considerably buffed overall.  

Like most of the returning veterans, his [[initial dash]] is much faster, while his run and [[air speed]] have been slightly increased. In addition to this, however, his [[fast falling]] speed is significantly faster, no longer providing the smallest falling speed increase out of the cast by a considerable margin, greatly enhancing his aerial approach and landing ability. Coupled with his superior mobility are the buffs to his {{b|Blaster|Wolf}}, already an effective projectile in his previous appearance, and his new [[dash attack]]; the former's lasers deal more damage and knockback, while the latter covers much more horizontal range and is stronger, both of which improve his [[neutral game]]. His aerial attacks have also seen improvements: his new [[neutral aerial]] gives Wolf a vastly more effective [[approach]] option, his [[forward aerial]] has become an excellent combo starter due to its reduced ending and landing lag, and his [[back aerial|back]] and [[up aerial]]s have had their knockback noticeably increased (most notably the former). Wolf's grab game also received some noteworthy buffs, now having a KO option in his [[back throw]], and useful combo starters in his [[up throw]] and [[down throw]]. Finally, [[Wolf Flash]] and [[Fire Wolf]] are far stronger, giving him two more powerful, if risky, KO options; the former in particular can now be aimed up or down, slightly improving his horizontal recovery and making the clean hit easier to land.

Wolf also heavily benefits from the changes to gameplay mechanics. The new [[air dodge]] mechanics, as well as the changes to [[hitstun canceling]], allow him to combo and juggle his opponents for a longer period of time, especially paired with his improved mobility; he has gained not only several more ways to start combos (such as with a landing up aerial, or a [[down aerial]] on grounded opponents), but also KO setups into his powerful Wolf Flash. The drastic weakening of [[momentum canceling]] allows his moves to KO earlier and overall put his survivability more in line with the cast. Lastly, the new ledge mechanics and the removal of [[chain grab]]bing and [[meteor cancel]]ing also significantly improve his survivability, while the latter change makes his down aerial and Wolf Flash more effective for KOing offstage.

However, Wolf has received a few significant nerfs as well. Some of his moves have received increased lag in all aspects, such as his [[forward smash]], [[down smash]], and his renowned back aerial from ''Brawl'', in exchange for more power; the latter two are particularly noteworthy due to their previous speed and already decent power. Because of this, he has a more difficult time scoring KOs as his finishers are much harder to land in general, forcing him to either time them precisely or lure the opponent into them; while he does possess KO setups into Wolf Flash offstage, they are extremely risky, as Wolf will [[self-destruct]] more often than not and the opponent can [[DI]] to avoid them. Additionally, several of his moves have reduced range to various degrees, most notably his new forward smash, which no longer travels a considerable distance forward, and his [[forward aerial]], which has lost its deceptively large [[disjoint]]. His already poor recovery has been made worse, as both Fire Wolf and Wolf Flash have decreased distance, making him more susceptible to [[edgeguarding]] than in ''Brawl''. His neutral and forward aerials, while possessing greater combo ability and safety, are now weaker, with the former also having slower startup, and the latter no longer being a reliable KO option. Finally, his new down throw is less effective for [[tech-chasing]] and setting up edgeguards because of its higher launch angle.

Despite ''Ultimate''{{'}}s new mechanics heavily benefiting Wolf, he has also seen a few nerfs from the changes to the mechanics, most notably the removal of [[DACUS]] which hinders his grounded approach. Lastly, his lower [[weight]] worsens his survivability, especially horizontally (which is also hindered by the changes to [[momentum canceling]]), while he remains an easy combo target due to his high falling speed and the changes to hitstun canceling.  

Overall, Wolf's nerfs are offset by the new game mechanics and the buffs he has received, which has currently allowed him to fare better than he did in ''Brawl'' during ''Ultimate'''s early meta. So far, he has managed to achieve excellent representation and results thanks to {{Sm|Zackray}} winning multiple Japanese majors with the character, as well as numerous other top players such as {{Sm|MkLeo}} and {{Sm|Tweek}} placing favorably with him in tournaments. However, Wolf's results have become worse overtime as Zackray who was his strongest player dropped him in favor of {{SSBU|Joker}} as well as MkLeo and Tweek abandoning him in favor of other characters. As such, Wolf's viability has been questionable as players are debating on whether Wolf is as good as originally imagined. Regardless, he still has above average results and is widely agreed to be significantly better than he was in ''Brawl''.

Wolf has received a mix of buffs and nerfs via game updates. In 3.0.0, on top of the universal shield changes which hinder Blaster's shield damage, the sweetspot of his down smash's front hit, infamous among the community for its extreme power especially near edges, was made slightly weaker. An exploit that allowed Wolf to reduce Wolf Flash's landing lag with a directional air dodge was also removed. These nerfs, however, were negligible as he still retained all of his positive traits and continued to perform very well in tournaments.

Wolf was once again nerfed in 3.1.0, which slightly weakened his down smash's frontal sweetspot a second time, reduced the range of Fire Wolf's last hit, and most significantly increased the ending lag of Blaster, previously notable as a safe [[neutral]] tool that could counter approaches with relatively low risk. However, this update also brought some buffs to Wolf: his neutral attack and Fire Wolf connect more reliably, the former no longer causing the third hit to miss characters at high percents, and Reflector is overall faster by one frame. It is unknown how these changes will affect Wolf in the long run, as while the nerfs are more impactful than in the previous update, he has also received noteworthy buffs.

|neutralname= 

|neutraldesc=An inward slash with his left hand, followed by another inward slash with his right, finishing with an outward swipe with the right. Fairly quick, coming out on frame 4, and can [[jab lock]] opponents. However, the last hit has a short-range compared to other neutral attacks, which can cause it to fail to connect from the previous hits at high percents.

|ftiltname= 

|ftiltdesc=Forcefully brings his claws together, then separates his claws on impact. The first hit produces a large amount of [[freeze frame]]s. Deals above-average damage for a tilt attack, and can KO at around 140% near the edge of {{SSBU|Final Destination}}.

|utiltname= 

|utiltdesc=A leaping upward kick with one leg. It has a fast startup, and high power when hitting with the sweetspot at Wolf's foot, KOing middleweights under 140% from ground level. However, unlike most other up tilts, its ending lag and launch angle prevents it from being used to start combos.

|dtiltname= 

|dtiltdesc=Kicks out with his foot while crouching. The move has a rather decent range and quick speed, which makes it a good poking and pressuring option, as well as a useful tool to deny approaches. It also has the chance to [[trip]], which can potentially make it a combo starter. However, it is the weakest out of Wolf's tilts.

|dashname= 

|dashdesc=Lunges forward with a flying kick. Has decent startup, but most importantly, it propels Wolf forward a considerable distance, and its clean hit deals respectable damage and knockback. This allows it to function as a reliable burst option to punish landings, whiffed moves, and follow up from other attacks. Hitting opponents close to Wolf launches them upward while hitting them near his foot launches them more horizontally. Depending on which hitbox is landed, the clean hit can KO under 150% from center stage, and under 120% near the edge.

|fsmashname= 

|fsmashdesc=Rears back then performs a forceful palm strike. While it has a slow startup, hitting on frame 20, it has notoriously low ending lag (interruptible on frame 42), allowing it to be safe on shield, and potentially difficult to punish even if missed. It also has remarkable power, KOing middleweights at around 100% from center stage. As a result, it is one of Wolf's safest KO options on the ground.

|usmashname= 

|usmashdesc=A breakdance-like spin followed by an upward dropkick. It has the fastest start-up of his smash attacks. The first hit offers surprisingly long horizontal range, which when combined with its moderately fast startup, makes it a great out-of-shield option. It deals high damage, hits at both sides and provides wide coverage above Wolf, making it useful to quickly punish opponents close to him and set up juggles. Due to its moderate ending lag for an up smash, the second hit can also lead to an up aerial at low percents if the opponent's option out of hitstun is successfully covered. However, its power is slightly below-average for a smash attack, not KOing middleweights until around 120% uncharged, and can be easily punished on shield due to the second hit's lack of horizontal range.

|dsmashname= 

|dsmashdesc=Slashes at a low height in front of himself with one hand, then behind himself with the same hand. Both hits have sweetspots at the tips of Wolf's claws, which launch at a lower, [[semi-spike]] angle with a higher power. The move has moderate startup (hitting on frame 14 at the front), but has decent ending lag for a smash attack (interruptible on frame 44), making it safe on shield if spaced, can reliably [[2 frame punish]] opponents, and the sweetspots are extremely powerful, with the front hit's sweetspot being among the strongest down smashes in the game and KOing middleweights from center stage at around 85%, and the back one at around 100%, and both KOing them near edges at around 55% and 70% respectively. As a result, it is Wolf's most dangerous [[edgeguard]] tool, as well as a reliable finisher at close range.

|nairname= 

|nairdesc=A flying kick, much like {{SSBU|Fox}}'s neutral aerial. Compared to other [[sex kick]] neutral aerials, it has slower startup (hitting on frame 7) but deals higher damage and knockback with its clean hit. It is one of Wolf's fastest aerials, tied with his forward and up aerials but compared to those, it hits lower, has a longer duration, and covers a consistent area. Combined with its low landing lag (9 frames), this makes it very useful for air-to-ground transitioning, as well as starting combos at a variety of percents, with the clean hit being more effective at lower percents and the late hit being more effective at higher percents. The clean hit is also a decent finisher near the edge, KOing at around 145%.

|fairname= 

|fairdesc=A downward arcing slash with his left arm. It is a staple of Wolf's neutral game, with its fast startup (tied with neutral and up aerial), wide vertical arc, and low landing lag (10 frames) making it a safe approach option, and combined with its 60° launch angle, allowing it to combo into a multitude of moves, such as a jab, any tilt, or grab at low percents, any aerial attack from low to mid percents (including itself to extend combos), and even Wolf Flash as a KO setup (albeit risky and hard to land) at high percents. However, it has poor edgeguarding ability due to its more vertical angle and deals the least damage and knockback out of Wolf's aerials exacerbated further by [[stale-move negation]] due to its frequent use in his neutral game.

|bairname= 

|bairdesc=A backward kick. It has a noticeable startup (hitting on frame 13), ending lag, and landing lag (15 frames), making it Wolf's second-slowest aerial (behind down aerial). To compensate, its [[autocancel]] frames come out very quickly after the hitboxes (on frame 18), effectively giving it little to no ending lag with proper timing, allowing it to poke shields and bait opponents. It is also one of Wolf's main KO moves: it deals high damage and significant knockback if sweetspotted, KOing at around 110% from center stage and 75% near the edge, while its other hitboxes still boast respectable KO potential.

|uairname= 

|uairdesc=An overhead arcing slash, starting from the front. Its fast startup, wide arc, low landing lag (10 frames) and vertical knockback allow it to juggle opponents very effectively. It can also set up combos into itself and other attacks from low to mid percents, though not as reliably as forward aerial. Additionally, it possesses enough knockback to KO from 120% to 130% near the top blast line.

|dairname= 

|dairdesc=A takedown slash below himself with both arms. It has the most startup (hitting on frame 16), ending lag, and landing lag (19 frames) out of Wolf's aerials, making it particularly risky to use offstage due to Wolf's poor recovery. However, it meteor smashes opponents consistently throughout the move, instead of requiring to land a specific part of it like most other meteor smashing down aerials. This essentially turns it into a high risk, high reward edgeguarding option. Against grounded opponents, it can combo into a variety of attacks even up to high percents.

|grabname= 

|grabdesc=Swipes forward with his right arm.

|pummelname= 

|pummeldesc=Hits the opponent with his right knee.

|fthrowname= 

|fthrowdesc=Slashes the opponent away. While it deals decent damage, it is extremely weak, not KOing opponents under 300% even at the edge, and its ending lag is too high for reliable followups. Because of this, it has little utility outside of throwing opponents offstage. Even then, it is mostly outclassed by down throw for said purpose, which also launches horizontally, but deals considerably higher knockback and has combos at lower percents, with forward throw's only advantages over it being its slightly higher damage and lower angle. However, the lower angle makes it a rather potent tech-chasing move at higher percentages.

|bthrowname= 

|uthrowname= 

|uthrowdesc=Brings the opponent above himself and slashes them upward. One of Wolf's most reliable combo starters, leading into a forward aerial or up aerial until around 90%, which can then keep the opponent in a disadvantageous state.

|dthrowname= 

|dthrowdesc=Grabs the opponent by the head then does a leaping somersault and slams them onto the ground. It launches opponents horizontally with low ending lag, allowing it to combo into a dash attack until around 45%, or potentially set up [[tech-chase]]s if the opponent does not [[DI]] enough to act out of hitstun before hitting the ground. At around the 60-100% percent range, it can also combo into Wolf Flash depending on weight and DI, though doing this close to an edge will cause Wolf to self-destruct in the process, making it a high-risk, high-reward combo.

|nsdmg=7% (bayonet), 6%/8%/7% (laser close-far)

|nsdesc=Fires a single, purple energy shot from his blaster. It has the ability to be able to reliably disrupt and force approaches thanks to its decent lag, as well as the laser's moderately large size and [[transcendent priority]]. Unlike most projectiles, it has great utility in close-quarters combat, as the blaster itself has a hitbox on the bayonet which connects to the laser, dealing decent damage if both hits connect. As a result, it is an excellent tool in Wolf's neutral game, due to the myriad of abilities it has. This move is the centerpiece of Wolf's neutral game and is widely considered to be one of the best projectiles in the game.

|ssdesc=Dashes quickly at a diagonal angle, leaving a claw trail behind, alongside another trail in front of himself at the end of the dash. It can be slightly aimed up or down, the latter which allows it to hit most grounded opponents. The dash itself is very weak, but at the end, it possesses two, much stronger hitboxes; one closer to Wolf's center that [[meteor smash]]es aerial opponents, and another more in front of him that [[semi-spike]]s both grounded and aerial ones. The meteor hitbox deals extremely high damage with enough knockback to KO opponents at around 10% at ground level, while the semi-spike can KO at around 120% from center stage and 85% near edges; as a result, it is one of Wolf's strongest finishers. However, it renders him [[helplessness|helpless]], and has high landing lag (30 frames), making it very risky to use and requiring Wolf to choose between it or Fire Wolf for recovery.

|usdmg=4% (hit 1), 2.5% (hits 2-4), 5% (hit 5, ground), 6% (hit 5, air)

|usdesc=Propels himself with a kick in the chosen direction, dragging opponents along in multiple hits, then delivers a final kick with his other leg. It is generally subpar as a recovery option, due to its slow startup and lack of distance compared to other recoveries that can be aimed. However, it works decently as an attack, as it deals high damage if all hits connect, and the last hit can KO at around 150% from center stage, and 95% at the edge, which makes it a potent edgeguarding tool if used correctly.

|dsdmg=4% (startup), 5% (reflection), 1.5× damage (reflected projectiles)

|dsdesc=Activates his reflecting device, creating an electrical field around himself that [[reflect]]s incoming projectiles. Reflected projectiles deal more damage and travel at almost twice the original speed. Upon activation, the Reflector also grants Wolf brief [[intangibility]] (frames 5-8), and damages opponents in addition to launching them at a mostly vertical angle (65°), granting it some combo potential. There's also another hitbox that comes out once Wolf reflects a projectile that deals 5% damage. Unlike Fox's Reflector, Wolf's version does not stall him upon first use in the air.

|fsdmg= 3% (trapping hit), 35% (lasers), 10% (end)

|fsdesc=Upon activation, Wolf shouts "Wolf Pack!", with a large red reticle appearing in front of him, as a Wolfen flies from behind the screen in the area where the reticle is located. Upon hit, a cutscene begins with Wolf and his crew flying in a group of Wolfens, as Wolf himself says, "Grahaha! The hunt is on, boys!" (saying "I've got you now, Star Fox!" if he hits Fox or Falco), as all of the members then fire lasers at the trapped opponents, damaging them heavily and launching them horizontally as the cutscene ends.

Ejects from a Wolfen.

*'''Down taunt''': Kneels down, slaps the ground with one hand and makes a howling-esque noise.

SSBUWolfIdle1.gif|Wolf's first idle pose

SSBUWolfIdle2.gif|Wolf's second idle pose

*'''Left:''' Raises his right hand towards his face. He then moves his arms in alternating circular motions before bringing his left arm towards his right side. He then concludes by swinging out his left arm while raising his right, assuming a martial arts stance.

*'''Up:''' Performs two alternating slashes and an inverted roundhouse kick, saying "You're good, but I'm better." ({{ja|貴様を倒すのはこの俺様だ！|Kisama wo taosu no wa kono oresama da!}}, ''You will be defeated by the very me!''). After the kick, Wolf assumes a low-postured stance in which he raises his right arm behind himself while he holds out his left while smirking.

*'''Right:''' While facing away from the camera, Wolf raises his right arm. He then turns quickly toward the camera, gesturing towards the screen with his claws. During the entirety of the pose, he scoffs and says "Weaklings! The lot of you." ({{ja|弱者どもめ。|Jakusha domo me.}}, ''Such weak ones.'')

[[File:StarFoxUniverseTheme.ogg|thumb|This victory theme is based upon the main theme of ''{{s|lylatwiki|Star Fox 64}}'', most specifically the title theme. It is also reminiscent of the music that would play when a mission was completed or accomplished.]]

==In competitive play==

Initial opinions of Wolf were mixed before the release of ''Ultimate'', with players noting the loss of his renowned back aerial and powerful [[DACUS]], reduced invinciblity from {{b|Reflector|Wolf}}, alongside [[Wolf Flash]] still causing helplessness, which was a big detriment compared to {{SSBU|Fox}} and {{SSBU|Falco}}'s respective side specials. However, players began to realise the effectiveness of Wolf's buffs past the game's release, as it gave him a powerful projectile courtesy of his Blaster, effective combos due to his modified physics, and a notorious [[edgeguard]]ing tool in down smash, which kept its high power even despite being nerfed twice through game updates. This caused Wolf to gain a renowned, controllable [[neutral game]], allowing him to dictate the flow of battle through use of his Blaster, overall speed, and combo ability.  

As a result, Wolf has consistently been a very popular pick in competitive play during ''Ultimate'''s early lifespan; he has been the most used character in many competitive events, including {{Trn|Pound 2019}}<ref>[https://web.e-gsol.in/2019/04/22/the-wolf-pack-came-out-in-full-force-for-super-smash-bros-ultimate-during-pound-2019-here-are-the-top-128-character-usage-stats-eventhubs/]</ref>, {{Trn|EVO 2019}}, <ref>[https://www.eventhubs.com/news/2019/aug/04/super-smash-bros-ultimate-usage-stats-evo-2019/]</ref> and {{Trn|Valhalla III}}<ref>[https://www.eventhubs.com/news/2020/jan/12/wolf-chrom-and-peach-were-frequent-picks-valhalla-3s-super-smash-bros-ultimate-event-while-fox-and-falco-were-picks-melee/]</ref>. In addition, many professional players have attained strong results with the character, and players in general have agreed that Wolf is potentially one of the best characters in the game. However, Wolf's weaknesses have become more exploitable as the meta evolved, with his strongest mains either dropping him ({{Sm|Zackray}}) or moving to other characters ({{Sm|MkLeo}} and {{Sm|Tweek}}). This has put his current standing in the meta in question, although it is agreed that Wolf is a solid high tier at this point in time.

===Notable players===

<!--If you are planning to add a player you consider to be notable, please provide tournament results in some shape or form in the edit summary (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.-->

''Any number following the Smasher name indicates placement on the [[Fall 2019 PGRU]], which recognizes the official top 50 players in the world in [[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]] from July 13th, 2019 to December 15th, 2019.''

*{{Sm|Atelier|Japan}} - Co-mains Wolf with {{SSBU|Pokémon Trainer}} and is considered one of the best Wolf players in Japan. Place 1st at {{Trn|Sumabato SP 3}}, 7th at {{Trn|Sumabato SP 2}}, and 49th at {{Trn|EVO 2019}} with solo Wolf.

*{{Sm|Best Taco|Mexico}} - Placed 1st at {{Trn|BIT MASTER MTY 6}}, 5th at {{Trn|Thunderstruck 2019}}, and 25th at {{Trn|WeTecThose 9}}. Ranked 48th on the [[Wi-Fi Warrior Rank|Wi-Fi Warrior Rank v3]].

*{{Sm|Charliedaking|USA}} - One of the best Wolf players in the world. Placed 4th at {{Trn|Super Smashed Fest}}, 9th at {{Trn|GENESIS 7}}, {{Trn|Heart of Battle}}, {{Trn|Ultimate Nimbus}}, and {{Trn|Thunder Smash}}, 17th at {{Trn|2GG: SwitchFest 2019}}, and 25th at both {{Trn|The Big House 9}} and {{Trn|Frostbite 2020}}. Has wins over {{Sm|Elegant}}, {{Sm|Pandarian}}, {{Sm|ScAtt}}, {{Sm|Prodigy}}, and {{Sm|MVD}}.

*{{Sm|chicken|Japan}} - One of the best Wolf players in Japan. Placed 13th at {{Trn|EGS Cup 2}}, 25th at {{Trn|Umebura SP 5}}, 33rd at both {{Trn|Umebura SP 4}} and {{Trn|Umebura SP 5}}, and 49th at {{Trn|Umebura Japan Major 2019}}.

*{{Sm|Hawk|p=Connecticut|USA}} - The best Wolf player in Connecticut. Placed 9th at both {{Trn|Overclocked Ultimate}} and {{Trn|CT GamerCon 3}}. Has wins over {{Sm|Light|p=Connecticut}}, {{Sm|LingLing}}, and {{Sm|GwJ}}.

*{{Sm|iModerz|USA}} - One of the best Wolf players in the United States. Placed 3rd at both {{Trn|Replay FX Gaming Arena 2019}} and {{Trn|The Amuka Smash Cup}}, 4th at {{Trn|Rising Stars at EGLX 2019}}, and 5th at {{Trn|Mango's Birthday Bash}}.

*{{Sm|Jakal|USA}} - One of the best Wolf players in the world. Placed 2nd at the {{Trn|The Scarlet Classic V}}, 7th at {{Trn|Overclocked Ultimate II}}, and 9th at {{Trn|Suplex City Smash}}, {{Trn|Glitch 7 - Minus World }}, and {{Trn|Shine 2019}}. Ranked 5th on the [[New Jersey Power Rankings]].

*{{Sm|Javi|p=Smash 4|Mexico}} - Placed 5th at {{Trn|Mexican Gaming Championship}} with mainly Wolf, 9th at {{Trn|Smash Factor 8}} and 49th at {{Trn|EVO 2019}} with both Wolf and {{SSBU|Lucina}}.

*{{Sm|K9sbruce|USA}} - Placed 13th at {{Trn|Heart of Battle}}, 17th at {{Trn|GENESIS 6}} and {{Trn|Ultimate Nimbus}}, and 33rd at {{Trn|2GG: Prime Saga}}.

*{{Sm|Kain|USA}} - Placed 9th at {{Trn|Combo Breaker 2019}}, 13th at {{Trn|Frosty Faustings XI}}, and 17th at {{Trn|Midwest Mayhem Ultimate}}.

*{{Sm|Kare~|Japan}} - One of the best Wolf players in Japan. Placed 2nd at {{Trn|TSC 12}}, 4th at {{Trn|TSC 11}}, 17th at {{Trn|Umebura SP 4}}, and 25th at {{Trn|Umebura SP 5}}.

*{{Sm|komorikiri|Japan}} - One of the best Wolf players in Japan. Placed 5th at {{Trn|Sumabato SP 2}}, 9th at {{Trn|Sumabato SP}}, 13th at {{Trn|KVOxTSB 2019}}, and 17th at {{Trn|Sumabato SP 10}}.

*{{Sm|Larry Lurr|USA}} - One of the best Wolf players in the world. Placed 1st at {{Trn|Esports Arena Smash Ultimate Tournament - Oakland}}, {{Trn|2GG: All In}}, and {{Trn|DreamHack Anaheim 2020}}, 7th at {{Trn|The Kid, the Goat, and the Mang0}}, 9th at {{Trn|Thunder Smash 3: Clash of the Pandas}}, 17th at {{Trn|2GG: Prime Saga}}, 33rd at {{Trn|GENESIS 7}}, and 49th at {{Trn|EVO 2019}}. Has wins over {{Sm|Marss}}, {{Sm|Nairo}}, {{Sm|VoiD}}, {{Sm|Cosmos}}, {{Sm|Nicko}}, and {{Sm|Zenyou}}.

*{{Sm|Masha|Japan}} - One of the best Wolf players in Japan. Placed 3rd at {{Trn|Karisuma SP 5}}, 4th at {{Trn|Sumabato SP 5}}, 5th at {{Trn|Karisuma SP 6}}, and 13th at {{Trn|Sumabato SP 7}}. He has taken sets over {{Sm|Abadango}}, {{Sm|T}}, {{Sm|kept}}, and {{Sm|Shogun}}.

*{{Sm|MkBryanZ|Mexico}} - One of the best Wolf players in Mexico. Placed 7th at {{Trn|Mexican Gaming Championship}}, 25th at {{Trn|Get On My Level 2019}}, and 33rd at {{Trn|Smash Factor 8}}. Has a win over {{Sm|Myran}}.

*{{Sm|Ogey|France}} - Co-mains Wolf and {{SSBU|Captain Falcon}}. Placed 4th at {{Trn|SEL 4: Crêpes Strikes Back}}, 13th at {{Trn|Syndicate 2019}}, and 25th at {{Trn|VCA 2019}} using both characters. Ranked 7th on the [[France Power Rankings]].

*{{Sm|Oryon|France}} - One of the best Wolf players in France. Placed 4th at {{Trn|Stunfest 2019}}, 5th at {{Trn|Syndicate 2019}}, 7th at {{Trn|VCA 2019}}, and 9th at {{Trn|Albion 4}}. Ranked 4th on the [[France Power Rankings]].

*{{Sm|Purple~H|Germany}} - One of the best Wolf players in Germany. Placed 1st at {{Trn|Calyptus Cup Inkstrike}}, 3rd at {{Trn|Calyptus Cup Fusion}}, and 9th at {{Trn|Elysium: Yggdrasil}}.

*{{Sm|Shu|Japan}} - Co-mains Wolf with Snake and placed 17th at both {{Trn|Umebura SP}} and {{Trn|Umebura SP 2}}.

*{{Sm|Smokk|Canada}} - The best Wolf player in Canada. Placed 5th at {{Trn|LAN ETS 2019}}, 7th at {{Trn|Rising Stars at EGLX 2019}}, 13th at {{Trn|Collision 2019}}, and 17th at {{Trn|Get On My Level 2019}}, {{Trn|Defend the North 2019}}, {{Trn|DreamHack Montreal 2019}}, and {{Trn|The Amuka Smash Cup}},

*{{Sm|Stocktaker69|USA}} - The best Wolf player in New York. Placed 4th at {{Trn|Return to Yoshi's Island}}, 9th at {{Trn|Defend the North 2019}}, and 17th at both {{Trn|Glitch 7 - Minus World}} and {{Trn|2GG: Nightmare on Smashville}}. Ranked 12th on the [[New York City Power Rankings#Super Smash Bros. Ultimate rankings|New York City Ultimate Power Rankings]].

*{{Sm|Streakz|UK}} - Placed 9th at {{Trn|Regen 2019}} and 25th at {{Trn|Albion 4}}, {{Trn|Ultimate Fighting Arena 2019}}, and {{Trn|Syndicate 2019}}.

*{{Sm|Tweek|USA}} (#3) - Uses Wolf as a secondary and is considered one of the best Wolf players in the world. Placed  1st at both {{Trn|Frostbite 2019}} and {{Trn|Glitch 8 - Missingno}}, 2nd at {{Trn|2GG: Kongo Saga}}, 5th at {{Trn|The Big House 9}}, and 9th at {{Trn|GENESIS 6}}. He has defeated {{Sm|Dark Wizzy}}, {{Sm|Glutonny}}, {{Sm|Shuton}}, {{Sm|Cosmos}}, and {{Sm|Ryuga}} with the character.

*{{Sm|ZD|USA}} - Has a strong Wolf secondary. Placed 13th at {{Trn|Glitch 8 - Missingno}}, 25th at {{Trn|Frostbite 2019}}, and 33rd at {{Trn|CEO 2019}}.

*{{Sm|Aaron|USA|p=Florida}} - Placed 5th at {{Trn|Ultimate Gamer Miami}} and 33rd at {{Trn|Frostbite 2019}} with solo Wolf.

*{{Sm|akasa|Japan}} - Co-mained {{SSBU|Cloud}} with Wolf before switching to {{SSBU|Joker}} and was considered one of the best Wolf players in Japan. Placed 25th at both {{Trn|Sumabato SP 5}} and {{Trn|Sumabato SP 7}} as well as 33rd at {{Trn|Umebura SP 4}} with both Wolf and Cloud.

*{{Sm|MkLeo|Mexico}} (#1) - One of the best Wolf players in the world, utilizing him as a secondary. Placed 1st at {{Trn|Heart of Battle}} and {{Trn|Smash Ultimate Summit}} and 7th at {{Trn|2GG: Prime Saga}}. Has wins over {{Sm|WaDi}}, {{Sm|Marss}}, {{Sm|Leffen}}, and {{Sm|Dabuz}}.

*{{Sm|Puppeh|USA}} - Uses Wolf as an occasional secondary and was considered one of the best Wolf players in the MD/VA region. Placed 1st at {{Trn|Just Roll With It! 10}} and 33rd at both {{Trn|Pound 2019}} and {{Trn|Mainstage}}. Ranked 5th on the [[MD/VA Power Rankings#Super Smash Bros. Ultimate|MD/VA Ultimate Rankings]].

*{{Sm|RAIN|Japan}} - Considered one of the best Wolf players in Japan before switching to {{SSBU|Joker}}. Placed 7th at {{Trn|Sumabato SP 6}}, 25th at {{Trn|Umebura SP 3}}, and 65th at {{Trn|EVO 2019}}.

*{{Sm|VoiD|USA}} (#38) - One of the best Wolf players in the world. Placed 2nd at {{Trn|GENESIS 6}} in conjunction with {{SSBU|Pichu}}, 5th at {{Trn|Heart of Battle}} using primarily Wolf, and 49th at {{Trn|EVO 2019}}. Has a win over {{Sm|Shuton}}.

*{{Sm|Wizzrobe|USA}} - Placed 7th at {{Trn|Smash 'N' Splash 5}}, 17th at {{Trn|Come to Papa 3}}, 49th at {{Trn|EVO 2019}}, and 65th at {{Trn|GENESIS 6}}. Has wins over {{Sm|Tweek}}, {{Sm|dyr}}, and {{Sm|UtopianRay}}.

Wolf fights fighters who are veterans that did not appear in ''Super Smash Bros. 4'', starting with the veterans that debuted in ''Super Smash Bros. Melee''. Notably, his boss, [[Galleom]], fits in with the theme, as he was cut from ''SSB4'' as well.

{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"

|1||{{SSBU|Ice Climbers}} {{Head|Ice Climbers|g=SSBU|s=20px}}||[[Summit]]||''{{SSBUMusicLink|Ice Climber|Ice Climber (Melee)}}''||

|2||{{SSBU|Young Link}} {{Head|Young Link|g=SSBU|s=20px}}||[[Great Bay]]||''{{SSBUMusicLink|The Legend of Zelda|Overworld Theme - The Legend of Zelda (Melee)}}''||

|3||{{SSBU|Pichu}} {{Head|Pichu|g=SSBU|s=20px}}||[[Pokémon Stadium]]||''{{SSBUMusicLink|Pokémon|Pokémon Gold / Pokémon Silver Medley}}''||

|4||{{SSBU|Squirtle}} {{Head|Squirtle|g=SSBU|s=20px}}||[[Pokémon Stadium 2]]||''{{SSBUMusicLink|Pokémon|Pokémon Gym/Evolution - Pokémon Red / Pokémon Blue}}''||Squirtle's {{SSBU|Pokémon Trainer}} is absent.

|5||{{SSBU|Ivysaur}} {{Head|Ivysaur|g=SSBU|s=20px}}||[[Spear Pillar]]||''{{SSBUMusicLink|Pokémon|Battle! (Dialga/Palkia) / Spear Pillar}}''||Ivysaur's Pokémon Trainer is absent.

|6||{{SSBU|Snake}} {{Head|Snake|g=SSBU|s=20px}}||[[Shadow Moses Island]]||''{{SSBUMusicLink|Metal Gear|Theme of Tara}}''||

|Final||[[Galleom]]||Base||''{{SSBUMusicLink|Super Smash Bros.|Boss Battle - Super Smash Bros. Brawl}}''||

Although Wolf does not appear in the World of Light opening cutscene, he was vaporized and later imprisoned alongside the rest of the fighters (except for {{SSBU|Kirby}}) when Galeem unleashed his beams of light.

Wolf was one of the many fighters that fell under [[Dharkon]]'s control upon Galeem's first defeat. He is unlocked in the Mysterious Dimension in the Dark Realm. The player must defeat the [[Andross]] spirit (which is the answer to a given question) to reveal a path leading to a wrecked airplane. His unlock battle is on the plane's tail (just to the left of the [[Krystal]] spirit).

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

! style="width:5%;"|No.

! style="width:5%;"|Image

! Name

! Type

! Power

! Stage

! Music

| 44

| [[File:Wolf SSBU.png|center|64x64px]]

| {{SSBU|Wolf}}

| [[File:SpiritTypeAttack.png|20px|center|Attack]] <center>{{color|#dc1029|Attack}}</center>

| 11,800

| [[Lylat Cruise]] ([[Ω form]])

| ''{{SSBUMusicLink|Star Fox|Star Wolf (Brawl)}}''

{{-}}

Wolf's Fighter Spirit can be obtained by completing [[Classic Mode]]. It is also available periodically for purchase in the shop for 500 coins. Unlocking Wolf in World of Light allows the player to preview the first spirit below in the Spirit List under the name "???". As a Fighter Spirit, it cannot be used in Spirit Battles and is purely aesthetic. Each Fighter Spirit has an alternate version that replaces them with their artwork in ''Ultimate''.

Wolf Spirit.png|384. '''''Wolf O'Donnell'''''

|{{anchor|Panther Caroso}}[[Panther Caroso]]

|''Star Fox series''

|[[File:SpiritTypeAttack.png|20px|center|Attack]]

|{{anchor|Wolfen}}[[Wolfen]]

|''Star Fox series''

|[[File:SpiritTypeNeutral.png|20px|center|Neutral]]

|{{anchor|Cubone}}Cubone

|''Pokémon series''

|[[File:SpiritTypeGrab.png|20px|center|Grab]]

|•Take your strongest team into this no-frills battle

|{{anchor|Houndoom}}Houndoom

|''Pokémon series''

|[[File:SpiritTypeAttack.png|20px|center|Attack]]

|{{anchor|Absol}}Absol

|''Pokémon series''

|[[File:SpiritTypeAttack.png|20px|center|Attack]]

|{{anchor|Zoroark}}[[Zoroark]]

|''Pokémon series''

|•{{SSBU|Wolf}} {{Head|Wolf|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Black}}<br>•{{SSBU|Lucario}} {{Head|Lucario|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Grey}} (×3)

|[[File:SpiritTypeAttack.png|20px|center|Attack]]

|•Only certain Pokémon will emerge from Poké Balls ([[Zoroark]])<br>•Reinforcements will appear after an enemy is KO'd

|{{SSBUMusicLink|Pokémon|Battle! (Reshiram/Zekrom)}}

|{{s|fzerowiki|Bio Rex}}

|''F-Zero series''

|[[File:SpiritTypeAttack.png|20px|center|Attack]]

|{{s|fireemblem|Gangrel}}

|''Fire Emblem series''

|[[File:SpiritTypeAttack.png|20px|center|Attack]]

|{{anchor|Sonic the Werehog}}[[File:Werehog Spirit.png|center|64x64px]]

|''Sonic the Hedgehog series''

|[[File:SpiritTypeAttack.png|20px|center|Attack]]

|[[File:Mumkhar.png|center|64x64px]]

|''Xenoblade Chronicles series''

|•{{SSBU|Wolf}} {{Head|Wolf|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Black}}

|[[File:SpiritTypeAttack.png|20px|center|Attack]]

|{{SSBUMusicLink|Xenoblade|You Will Know Our Names}}

|[[File:Hogansalley.png|center|64x64px]]

|Gangster, Lady, & Policeman

|[[File:SpiritTypeAttack.png|20px|center|Attack]]

|[[File:Werewolf.png|center|64x64px]]

|''Castlevania series''

|[[File:SpiritTypeAttack.png|20px|center|Attack]]

|{{anchor|Toy Poodle}}[[File:Toy Poodle Spirit.png|center|64x64px]]

|''Nintendogs series''

|•{{SSBU|Wolf}} {{Head|Wolf|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Orange}} (×3)<br>•Ally: {{SSBU|Duck Hunt}} {{Head|Duck Hunt|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Black}}

|[[File:SpiritTypeShield.png|20px|center|Shield]]

|•[[Assist Trophy]] Enemies ([[Nintendog]])

|{{SSBUMusicLink|Nintendo|Bathtime Theme}}

|[[File:Iori Yagami.png|center|64x64px]]

|''THE KING OF FIGHTERS series''

|•{{SSBU|Wolf}} (×2) ({{Head|Wolf|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Red}} {{Head|Wolf|g=SSBU|s=20px}})

|[[File:SpiritTypeNeutral.png|20px|center|Neutral]]

|[[Reset Bomb Forest]] (second room only)

|N/A

|•Stanina Battle<br>•Reinforcements will appear after an enemy is KO'd<br>•All fighters have reduced jump power

|[https://snk.fandom.com/wiki/Orochi_Iori Orochi Iori] (default costume)

|{{anchor|Leon Powalski}}[[Leon Powalski]]

|''Star Fox series''

|[[File:SpiritTypeAttack.png|20px|center|Attack]]

|{{SSBUMusicLink|Star Fox|Star Wolf (Brawl)}}

|{{anchor|Pigma Dengar}}[[Pigma Dengar]]

|''Star Fox series''

|[[File:SpiritTypeShield.png|20px|center|Shield]]

|{{anchor|Geo Stelar & Omega-Xis}}[[File:GeoStelar&OmegaXis.png|center|64x64px]]

|Geo Stelar & Omega-Xis

|''Mega Man Star Force series''

|[[File:SpiritTypeNeutral.png|20px|center|Neutral]]

|[[File:Zacian&ZamazentaSpirit.png|center|64x64px]]

|Zacian & Zamazenta

|''Pokémon series''

|[[File:SpiritTypeNeutral.png|20px|center|Neutral]]

|[[Spear Pillar]] (Ω form)

|•The enemy starts the battle with a [[Killing Edge]]

|[[bulbapedia:Zamazenta (Pokémon)|Zamazenta]]

===Character Showcase Video===

*Early gameplay footage of Wolf in ''Ultimate'' contains a few inconsistencies between his official render and his in-game model. The soles of his boots are blue in his official render while they appeared red in his in-game model, the straps behind his right shin guard were white instead of black, and his jacket and gloves were a dark purple color instead of light purple. <ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62uBiZfw9w0&t=0m13s]</ref> <ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7B4w2Tsy9PE&t=0m4s]</ref>

**Oddly, in his showcase video, the inconsistencies only appear in the final part of the video, when he attacks Fox.

**They are also present in {{SSBU|Fox}}'s, {{SSBU|Mewtwo}}'s, and {{SSBU|Corrin}}'s character showcase videos.

**Additionally, the inconsistencies are used for his model in the first five screenshots of his character page on the ''Smash Bros. Ultimate'' official website.

*Wolf's unique line when winning a match against Fox is not present in the [[Sound Test]].

*Wolf is the only playable ''Star Fox'' character whose Fighter Spirit does not use artwork from ''Star Fox Zero''.

*Wolf's fighter description in the Tips section is the only one to mention a previously canceled video game, being ''{{iw|lylatwiki|Star Fox 2}}''.

*There's been a change in Wolf's in-game model that's not present on either his official artwork or amiibo. Additional straps were added on his shinguards that match the color of the bands on his gloves.

*Wolf is the only playable ''Star Fox'' character whose voice actor from ''Brawl'' reprises their role in ''Ultimate'', while Fox and Falco's voice actors were changed from ''Brawl'' to ''Smash 4'', which is retained in ''Ultimate''.

*There's currently an animation error with Wolf's forward teching animation, his left foot will be twisted the other way when rolling.

**The same thing happens for exactly 1 frame during the roundhouse kick segment of his "Up" victory pose.

*Wolf, {{SSBU|Marth}}, {{SSBU|Lucina}}, {{SSBU|Young Link}}, {{SSBU|Roy}} and {{SSBU|Chrom}} are the only characters that uses their crouching animation from their previous ''Smash Bros.'' game when holding a small item (in Chrom's case, he uses Roy's previous crouching animation).

*If Fox is present in the match, the lasers fired from Wolf's Blaster generates a black smoke effect when hitting an opponent, an item or wall, much like the lasers fired from Fox's Blaster.