Zero Suit Samus (SSBU): Difference between revisions

|image = {{tabber|title1=Zero Suit|content1=[[File:Zero Suit Samus SSBU.png|250px]]|title2=Casual Outfit (Zero Mission)|content2=[[File:Zero Suit Samus-Alt6 SSBU.png|250px]]|title3=Casual Outfit (Fusion)|content3=[[File:Zero Suit Samus-Alt7 SSBU.png|250px]]}}

As in ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]'', {{s|wikipedia|Alésia Glidewell}}'s portrayal of Zero Suit Samus from ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' was repurposed for ''Ultimate''.

 

 

 

Zero Suit Samus was initially considered to be among the best characters in the game, with the character notably having a strong presence in Japan. However, nerfs to her strengths and metagame shifts due to the addition of DLC characters and buffs to other characters led to a noticeable decline following the online era. Even with the decline, she is still considered to be a viable character who has seen great results and decent representation in tournaments thanks to the likes of {{Sm|Marss}}.

One of her biggest strengths is her outstanding air game, considered among the best in the cast. While her [[neutral aerial]] has noticeable start-up, it is decently [[disjoint]]ed and sends at an excellent angle for combos. This makes it one of her main tools in the [[neutral game|neutral]] and is notable for having several KO confirms into some of her finishing moves. Her [[forward aerial]] is also a great combo starter due to its low lag and can be useful for edgeguarding, while it also has some KO potential offstage. Her [[back aerial]] is fast, fairly strong, and can be combo'd into from a neutral aerial at high percents, making it one of her primary KO options. Her [[up aerial]] is exceptionally fast at frame 6 and can be combo'd into itself repeatedly, making it a great juggling tool that can sometimes KO confirm into [[Boost Kick]]. Her [[down aerial]] is a [[stall-then-fall]] aerial with a [[meteor smash]] hitbox; while it is her slowest aerial and easily her most unsafe, it can nonetheless be used as a situational KO move and landing option. Finally, she is one of the only characters in the game with a [[grab aerial]], which like most other grab aerials has long [[range]] and low lag overall, giving her a good approach against aerial foes as well as a niche recovery option.

While her ground game isn't as powerful as her aerials, it still has decent utility. Her [[neutral attack]] is notable for coming out instantly on frame 1, making it a reliable anti-pressure tool despite its poor damage output and range. Her [[forward tilt]] has good range, low lag, and can set up [[tech-chase]] situations and can [[trip]] at low percents when angled downwards, her [[up tilt]] is the fastest of its kind at 3 frames of startup and can be used as an anti-air, and her [[down tilt]] lowers her hurtbox and is useful as a ranged poking option while also being a decent combo starter. Her [[down smash]] has decently sized hitboxes with low ending lag and is an effective combo tool starting from lower percentages while at higher percentages, it can lead into KO moves such as Boost Kick or up smash; however, unlike most other down smashes, it only hits in front of her, limiting its utility for tech-chasing. Lastly, her [[up smash]] has impressive vertical range overall, deals high hitstun, has low enough ending lag for combos at low percentages, and has decent KO power, arguably making it one of the best up smashes in ''Ultimate''.

Zero Suit Samus also has a decent [[grab]] game, as her grab has a very long range, while all of her [[throw]]s deal at least 8% damage. Her [[forward throw]] can be used for tech chasing, while her [[back throw]] can force opponents into unfavorable offstage situations or even lead into her infamous Flip Jump meteor smash. Her [[up throw]] is a decent KO throw (which KO's starting around 170%), and while her [[down throw]] is ironically unsuitable for combos unlike other down throws, it can still follow up at low percentages if the opponent fails to act fast enough.

Finally, her special moveset has strong utility overall. [[Paralyzer]], her neutral special, has a very fast charge time compared to other chargeable projectiles, and starting at mid percentages, will stun opponents long enough for her to be able to follow up. [[Plasma Whip]], her side special, is a long-ranged attack with very strong utility: tapping the button will cause the move to become a multi-hitting KO option that KO's starting at 140% if fresh, while holding the button will cause the move to hit once and knock foes upward. While this version is less suited for offense and has more lag, it still has utility for setting up combos. [[Boost Kick]], her up special, travels merely average distance as a recovery, but compensates with having many options that follow up into it (such as neutral and up aerials, Paralyzer and [[Flip Jump]]'s burying sweetspot), while the last hit is strong enough to KO earlier than her forward smash and her strongest move overall. Finally, her down special, [[Flip Jump]], is a 45° acrobatic jump that does not render her helpless in the air, while its followup kick can meteor smash foes in the air or bury them on the ground, and is fast enough that it will often leave slower characters (such as {{SSBU|Ganondorf}}) in dangerous situations. It also grants [[intangibility]] on frames 3-12, making it an excellent tool for getting out of disadvantage.  

Zero Suit Samus is not without flaws, however. Perhaps her most infamous flaw lies in her defense: while her recovery is among the most effective in ''Ultimate'' due to her abundance of recovery options, fast air speed, and high jumps, her aforementioned weight and tall frame give her very poor endurance, while her recovery options (except for Flip Jump) are linear and fairly straightforward to edgeguard, which can make her recovery predictable. This flaw is further stressed with her fast falling speed, as it is easy for characters with sufficiently fast combo attacks (including {{SSBU|Mario}} and {{SSBU|Pichu}}) to perform combos on her (although her frame 2 air dodges can somewhat alleviate this issue).

Her ground game, despite its strengths, is also flawed. While her tilts have passable range, and her up and down smashes are good for followups and KO confirms, her forward smash has high end lag for an attack of its kind and is not strong or consistent enough to KO reliably, making it arguably her worst move. Her dash attack cannot reliably combo due to its high ending lag, and her down smash, despite its followup potential, is unsafe on hit at low percentages due to its low hitlag and knockback, meaning that the paralyzed opponent(s) can generally act before she can follow up.

Zero Suit Samus's out-of-shield game can also be rather problematic. While Boost Kick is very fast at frame 6 and can KO very early at the ledge, it lacks sufficient range in front of her and has a very hard time punishing cross-ups out of shield. While the aerial version has more range, it also costs 3 extra frames to start up (due to her jumpsquat) and as such is less reliable. Her up smash acts as a solid out of shield option due to its decent horizontal range but is still merely frame 10, which while fast for an up smash, is only average startup for an out of shield option. Her rather high short hop also causes her aerials to be unviable out of shield outside of forward aerial on certain characters, and her grab by default is very slow. As such, ZSS's out of shield game suffers immensely if the opponent spaces against her shield well.

Finally, while her grab game has some utility, it is still notably flawed. As her throws only deal passable damage at best, while up throw is her only KO throw (and not a particularly potent one at that), they are only generally used to deal damage if other close-range moves are stale. Her grab in general is also very laggy in startup and end lag, meaning that despite its long range, it is easy to punish from any sufficiently fast attack if it misses. Lastly, the nerfs to her down throw, which was easily her best throw from ''Smash 4'', make her grab game more suited for direct offense instead of damage racking strings, giving it limited utility overall.

In the end, Zero Suit Samus retains much of her playstyle from ''Smash 4'', being a hit-and-run character with a strong punish game, while the transition from ''Smash 4'' to ''Ultimate'' has improved her overall mobility and [[neutral]] tools at the cost of her potent [[Combo|ladder combos]] and overall KO power.

Zero Suit Samus was previously considered a dominating top tier character throughout the lifetime of ''SSB4'' (6th out of 55 characters), with a combination of excellent mobility, impressive recovery and a highly deadly punish game that could easily turn the tables on a careless opponent. Likely as a result of this, Zero Suit Samus has received a mix of buffs and nerfs in the transition to ''Ultimate'', but was nerfed overall.

Zero Suit Samus significantly benefits overall from the universal changes to gameplay mechanics. The faster movement speed further enhances her already excellent mobility, improving her approach and as such, her "hit and run" playstyle. The changes to [[air dodge]] mechanics improves her juggling capabilities, while not affecting her as much thanks to her great recovery and options to escape pressure. The universally reduced landing lag and more limited [[out of shield]] options allow her to retain some of her setups while improving on her mediocre neutral game, one of her most notable weaknesses in ''SSB4''.

She has also directly received some useful buffs. [[Down tilt]], arguably her worst move in ''SSB4'', has reduced ending lag that gives it combo potential, and her up smash has reduced base knockback with significantly increased knockback scaling, turning it into a reliable all-purpose attack with combo potential at low percentages and KO power at high ones. Aside from her lost ability to string lengthy and devastating punishes off of a down throw, Zero Suit Samus' grab game has been improved as a whole — her grab, previously one of the laggiest in the game, has been sped up, making it less risky to use; [[forward throw]] sends opponents in a lower angle, granting it the ability to set up [[tech-chasing]]; and [[up throw]] has increased knockback, granting her an emergency KO move at high percentages.

Finally, her special moveset has seen many improvements, as [[Paralyzer]] charges and fires shots faster, while [[Plasma Whip]] has had some of its lost KO power from ''Brawl'' restored and has a new version where opponents can be sent towards her for new setups if the button is held. [[Flip Jump]] executes faster in the air, both the jump and footstool stomp have less ending lag, and the manual kick can be inputted faster, which allows her to combo into it from her neutral aerial much more consistently and take stocks at very early percentages.

However, despite these changes, Zero Suit Samus has received some significant nerfs that generally halt the buffs she received. The most notable direct nerfs were to her outstanding punish game, which while still potent, has been toned down as a whole: her [[down throw]] has more knockback and ending lag, losing almost all its combo potential past extremely low percentages; [[up aerial]] has more ending lag, and both her down smash and Flip Jump's bury hitbox (especially the former) have less hitstun and knockback, worsening several of her setup moves and making it more difficult to capitalize on them and on KO confirms. Furthermore, the changes to the knockback physics make it more difficult for her to string her moves into the other. As a result of this, her combo game is significantly less varied and effective, now requiring Zero Suit Samus to utilize her improved mobility in order to land hits.

 

Zero Suit Samus's recovery, previously one of the best in the game, was also nerfed, as Plasma Whip takes much longer to grab an edge and has reduced tether range. Her KO ability, one of her previous weaknesses, has also been further defined due to the nerfs to [[forward smash]]'s sourspots and forward aerial's power, back aerials and [[Boost Kick]]'s hitboxes, and Boost Kick's reduced knockback (unless started from the ground), making it much harder for her to score KOs. Finally, in terms of indirect changes, while the faster mobility is a boon to Zero Suit Samus, it also allows many other characters to keep up with her and thus catch her more easily than before, slightly weakening her already problematic disadvantage.

 

In the end, Zero Suit Samus' nerfs have made her "hit and run" gameplan shift completely from ''SSB4''. She plays less linear thanks to a wider array of options, as opposed to her more polarized kit in ''SSB4'', though while she retains many of her advantages from the previous game and still possesses devastating punishes, her watered down combo game makes her early punish game and advantage less oppressive than before, now requiring her to play a much more patient neutral game, using her mobility to weave in and out and more carefully punishing mistakes, lest she be put at a disadvantage. She has also received slight nerfs through game updates, though these haven't drastically affected her viability. However, this all culminates in Zero Suit Samus performing worse than in ''SSB4''.

Zero Suit Samus has received a mix of buffs and nerfs via game updates, but has been nerfed overall. Patch 2.0.0 nerfed her forward smash by adding a sourspot at close range while her Flip Jump has reduced base knockback, hindering her ability to KO aerial opponents at an early percentage from a back throw.

|neutralname=Level Chop ({{ja|レベルチョップ|Reberu Choppu}}) / Gun Hook ({{ja|ガンフック|Gan Fukku}}) / Elbow Smash ({{ja|エルボースマッシュ|Erubõ Sumasshu}})

|ftiltname=Spin Kick ({{ja|スピンキック|Supin Kikku}})

|utiltname=Headstand Kick ({{ja|ヘッドスタンドキック|Heddosutando Kikku}})

|dtiltname=Ground Sweep ({{ja|グラウンドスイープ|Guraundo Suīpu}})

|dashname=Jumping Kneebutt ({{ja|ジャンピングニーバット|Janpingu Nībatto}})

|fsmashname=Jet Boot Kick ({{ja|ジェットブーツキック|Jetto Būtsu Kikku}})

|usmashname=Shocker String ({{ja|ショッカーストリング|Shokkā Sutoringu}})

|dsmashname=Slant Paralyzer ({{ja|スラントパラライザー|Suranto Pararaizā}})

|nairname=Whip Guard ({{ja|ウィップガード|Wippu Gādo}})

|fairname=Twice Kick ({{ja|トワイスキック|Towaisu Kikku}})

|bairname=Sobat ({{ja|ソバット|Sobatto}})

|uairname=Air Kick ({{ja|エアキック|Ea Kikku}})

|dairname=Slash Dive ({{ja|スラッシュダイブ|Surasshu Daibu}})

|zairname=Aerial Plasma Whip ({{ja|空中プラズマウィップ|Kūchū Purazuma Wippu}})

|grabname=Grab ({{ja|つかみ|Tsukami}})

|pummelname=Grab Kneebutt ({{ja|つかみニーバット|Tsukami Nībatto}})

|fthrowname=Short Kick ({{ja|ショートキック|Shōto Kikku}})

|bthrowname=Kick Throw ({{ja|キックスルー|Kikku Surū}})

|uthrowname=Hold Somersault Kick ({{ja|ホールドサマーソルトキック|Hōrudo Samāsoruto Kikku}})

|dthrowname=Knee Stamp ({{ja|ニースタンプ|Nī Sutanpu}})

SSBUZeroSuitSamusIdle1.gif|Zero Suit Samus's first idle pose.

SSBUZeroSuitSamusIdle2.gif|Zero Suit Samus's second idle pose.

|Ze - ro - Suit! Sa - mus! || Saaaa - mus Ze - ro! || Sa - mus! nul'-kostyum! || Ze - ro Su - it Sa - mu - s!

<!--This character has a ten player limit for this section. Before adding and/or removing a player, read these guidelines: https://www.ssbwiki.com/SmashWiki:Notability#%22Most_historically_significant_players%22_guidelines -->

''See also: [[:Category:Zero Suit Samus players (SSBU)]]''

*{{Sm|Exodia|Canada}} - One of the best Zero Suit Samus players in Canada. Placed 1st at both {{Trn|Animethon 26}} and {{Trn|Salt Flats 2020}}, 2nd at {{Trn|Smash at The Comic Strip: Punching Up}}, 3rd at {{Trn|SKL: Prairie Pummel}}, and 5th at {{Trn|Battle of BC 3}} with wins over players such as {{Sm|Big D}}, {{Sm|Ouch!?}}, and {{Sm|Alphicans}}. Ranked 18th on the [[Smash Canada Rankings Ultimate]].

*{{Sm|Kuro|Japan}} - The best Zero Suit Samus player in Japan pre-quarantine. Placed 1st at {{Trn|Umebura SP 6}}, 7th at both {{Trn|EGS Cup 2}} and {{Trn|Umebura SP 7}}, and 17th at both {{Trn|Umebura SP 3}} and {{Trn|Umebura SP 4}}. Ranked 18th on the [[Fall 2019 PGRU]].

*{{Sm|Marss|USA}} - The best Zero Suit Samus player in the world and one of the overall best players in the world prior to the pandemic. Placed 1st at {{Trn|GENESIS 7}}, 3rd at {{Trn|Pound 2019}}, {{Trn|MomoCon 2019}}, and {{Trn|Mainstage}}, and 4th at {{Trn|Super Smash Con 2019}}. Ranked as high as 3rd on the [[Spring 2019 PGRU]] and is currently ranked 24th on the [[LumiRank 2023]].

*{{Sm|melon|Canada}} - One of the best Zero Suit Samus players in Canada. Placed 7th at {{Trn|VORTEX}}, 13th at {{Trn|Play With Heart}}, 17th at {{Trn|The Big House 9}}, and 33rd at both {{Trn|CEO 2019}} and {{Trn|Frostbite 2020}} with wins over players such as {{Sm|MVD}}, {{Sm|MuteAce}}, and {{Sm|Lui$}}. Ranked 12th on the [[Smash Canada Rankings Ultimate]]. Online, placed 13th at both {{Trn|The Quarantine Series: Major Tournament 1}} and {{Trn|Get On My Line 2020}}. Ranked as high as 1st on the WWR, and was last ranked 32nd on the [[Wi-Fi Warrior Rank v6]].

*{{Sm|Nairo|USA}} -  Used Zero Suit Samus as a secondary alongside {{SSBU|Palutena}}, and was considered one of the best Zero Suit Samus players in the world but has since become inactive. Placed 1st at {{Trn|Let's Make Big Moves}}, 4th at both {{Trn|Let's Make Moves}} and {{Trn|2GG: Prime Saga}}, and 5th at {{Trn|MomoCon 2019}}. Ranked 4th on the [[Fall 2019 PGRU]].

*{{Sm|shky|Japan}} - One of the best Zero Suit Samus players in Japan. Placed 2nd at {{Trn|Maesuma TOP 1}}, 4th at {{Trn|Kagaribi}}, 7th at {{Trn|EVO Japan 2020}}, 9th at {{Trn|Umebura SP 4}}, and 17th at both {{Trn|Umebura Japan Major 2019}} with wins over players such as {{Sm|Gackt}}, {{Sm|Kameme}}, and {{Sm|Kuro}}. Ranked 18th on the [[Japan Player Rankings]].

*{{Sm|sirjon|Germany}} - The best Zero Suit Samus player in Europe. Placed 2nd at {{Trn|Unismash 7: Ultimate Birthday}}, 3rd at {{Trn|Calyptus Cup X: Powwer Up}}, 4th at {{Trn|Calyptus Cup X: Purple Age}}, 25th at {{Trn|Albion 4}}, and 33rd at {{Trn|Syndicate 2019}} with wins over players such as {{Sm|Light|p=Germany}}, {{Sm|Space}}, and {{Sm|Flow}}. Ranked 21st on the [[European Smash Rankings]].

*{{Sm|Yamanyon|Japan}} - Placed 7th at {{Trn|EGS Cup}}, 17th at {{Trn|Umebura SP 3}}, and 25th at {{Trn|Umebura Japan Major 2019}}, {{Trn|Umebura SP 5}}, and {{Trn|Umebura SP 6}} with wins over players such as {{Sm|Lea}}, {{Sm|Kuro}}, and {{Sm|Raito}}. Ranked 62nd on the [[Japan Player Rankings]].

===Tier placement and history===

Zero Suit Samus had a lukewarm reception when ''Ultimate'' was released, as she was seen to be considerably nerfed from her last appearance, where she was a top-tier character. Many of her tools were watered down, most notably her throw combos and ladder setups. However, this lukewarm reception was reversed thanks to the myriad of outstanding results from Zero Suit Samus players. In particular, {{Sm|Marss}} established himself as one of the best players in the world after winning a few majors, while Japanese majors often saw many Zero Suit Samus players place highly, including but not limited to {{Sm|Kuro}}, {{Sm|Choco}}, and {{Sm|shky}}. As a result of these strong results, the general consensus believed the character to be a solid top tier, with players such as {{Sm|Maister}} as well as many top players in Japan even arguing the character could be one of the best in the game.

However, the post-pandemic metagame saw a notable shift in Zero Suit Samus's reception. For one, she received nerfs to some of her best moves, hindering her combo game and KO potential; the nerfs were great enough to cause some players, including Marss and shky, to believe the character was no longer one of the best in the game. In addition, her best players slowly became less active or started to perform worse than before. In particular, Marss began shifting his focus towards content creation while Kuro and Choco began struggling to make it into the top 32 at majors. As a result, Zero Suit Samus's representation declined, from having top 10 representation in 2019 to not even breaking top 30 by 2022. The nerfs to her strongest tools and decline in results and representation mellowed out opinions on the character, with most players no longer considering her to be a top-tier.

This opinion is reflected in her placement on the first tier list, where she was ranked 26th in the high tier while also dropping down to the bottom of high tier at 30th on the second tier list. This surprisingly also marks the first time that she was ever ranked below her suited counterpart.

Zero Suit Samus's opponents are largely characters who use tether grabs or recoveries, like her. The only exception is Little Mac, who represents the theme of "wires" by using his wireframe outfit.

|6||{{Head|Little Mac|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Wire}} (x3) {{Head|Little Mac|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Green}} (x3) {{SSBU|Little Mac}}||[[75m]] ([[Battlefield form]])||''{{SSBUMusicLink|Other|Tunnel Scene - X}}''||Horde Battle. Items do not appear.<br>The stage is also made of wires, and the music track references how the Game Boy game ''X'' has wireframe graphics.

{{clr}}

==In Spirit Battles==

|Jade

*For unknown reasons, Zero Suit Samus's taunt voice clips are not present in the Sound Test, making her the only character with this distinction.

*Zero Suit Samus' character showcase video, unlock battles, and Classic Mode credits use "Theme of Samus Aran, Space Warrior" from ''[[Super Metroid]]'', a game where the Zero Suit did not yet exist. This may be a reference to how Samus would appear in various states of undress during the game's ending sequence, as ''Theme of Samus Aran, Space Warrior'' serves as the end credits theme for that game.

*Unusually, the angled variants of Zero Suit Samus's forward smash do not cause the flames effects on her boot to terminate after the second kick.

*On the [[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Official Site|official site]], Zero Suit Samus's blue shorts costume is placed before the orange shorts costume, while in-game, the order of the two is swapped.