Mario (SSBM): Difference between revisions

{{disambig2|Mario's appearance in ''Super Smash Bros. Melee''|the [[clone]] of Mario, see {{SSBM|Dr. Mario}}; and for the semi-clone of Mario, see {{SSBM|Luigi}}, and for the character in other contexts|Mario}}

|tier = E

'''Mario''' ({{ja|マリオ|Mario}}, ''Mario'') returns as a [[starter character|starter]] character in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]''. He was announced at [[E3]] 2001. He also has a [[clone]], {{SSBM|Dr. Mario}}, whom with he shares a lot of attributes and special moves.

Charles Martinet reprises his role as Mario, albeit via recycled voice clips from ''Super Mario 64''.

Mario is ranked 15th out of 26 on the current tier list, placing him in the E tier. This is very similar to his previous ranking in ''Smash 64'', where he is ranked 7th out of 12. It also places him four places lower than his clone {{SSBM|Dr. Mario}} at 11th place and two places lower than his younger brother {{SSBM|Luigi}}. Like in ''Smash 64'', Mario acts as a well-rounded character, with average attributes across the board. He has above average comboing ability due to the somewhat low knockback and the angles at which his moves tend to send on, and a very versatile grab game: his powerful back throw can KO most opponents with ease and [[gimp]] some recoveries, while his up and down throws can [[chain-grab]]. Mario also has a solid [[edge-guarding]] game, with a solid projectile in his [[Fireball]], and his [[Cape]] which can easily and efficiently gimp almost every other character's recovery. Mario, however, lacks a reliable finisher, with many moves with aforementioned low knockback with the exception of his forward and down smash. His recovery is also predictable and short, though he can extend it, which leaves him vulnerable to being gimped by characters such as {{SSBM|Jigglypuff}}. His mediocre range also leaves him with trouble against characters with disjointed hitboxes such as {{SSBM|Marth}}. Overall, Mario has average matchups in tournament play, with favorable matchups against most lower tiered characters though having disadvantageous matchups against higher tiered characters, especially against those who can either gimp or outrange him.

Mario, however, suffers from some KOing problems. He lacks particularly powerful or reliable finishers; while his forward smash has good range, coupled with a very visible and easy to land sweetspot, his other smashes are rather short ranged. Additionally, while Mario's back throw is strong, it requires grabbing the opponent first; this can be a challenge, due to Mario's poor grab range. Mario's single meteor smash is also rather unwieldy and risky to use.

Overall, Mario could be considered to be a poor-man's Marth. While both characters have great combo ability and a similar recovery, Marth has a much easier time finishing off opponents as well as having longer range in his attacks and his grab range making it much easier for Marth to chain-grab fast-fallers compared to Mario.

==Changes from ''[[Smash 64]]''==

As for his nerfs, Mario's damage output has been decreased and his KO power has been considerably decreased as many of his previous KO moves have been greatly weakened making it far more difficult for Mario to KO his opponents. In particular, his new forward aerial, while now capable of meteor smashing and losing its sourspot, is much slower and weaker and has less range. His strongest KO moves (his forward and down smashes) while faster now have sourspots making them more difficult to use effectively. While Mario has a few new options to recover such as his cape and [[wall jump]], his recovery is overall worse (especially when relative to the cast) as his air speed is slower, he falls faster, his fireballs are smaller making them a worse option to wall out opponents while recovering and his [[Super Jump Punch]] travels less distance making him easier to edgeguard.

Overall, Mario is largely a much weaker character as his damage output is lower, his combo game is weaker in some aspects and many of his previous KO moves can no longer KO under 90-120%. In exchange, his attacks are much faster and his grounded movement has been improved especially due to the introduction of wavedashing. Mario remains in a similar spot on Melee's tier list and he overall struggles against higher tiered characters limiting his success in competitive play.  

*{{change|The higher quality of the [[Nintendo GameCube]] console allows for a more detailed appearance of Mario. His physique looks much more similar to its official art, while his red cap and shirt are slightly darker and the seams on his overalls are more accentuated.}}

*{{change|Mario gains a new [[victory pose]]: he makes a fire and when the fire disappears, Mario strikes a pose. It replacing his hopping victory pose in ''Smash 64''.}}

*{{buff|Mario [[walk]]s faster (0.3 → 1.1).}}

*{{buff|Mario [[dash]]es faster (44 → 1.5).}}

*{{nerf|Mario's initial dash is slower (54 → 1.5) and covers less distance.}}

*{{nerf|Mario's [[air speed]] is slightly slower (30 → 0.86).}}

*{{change|Mario [[falling speed|falls]] faster (44 → 1.7), improving his vertical endurance but making him easier to combo.}}

*{{change|Mario's [[gravity]] is higher (2.7 → 0.095).}}

**{{nerf|As a result, his jumps are lower.}}

*{{buff|Mario can now [[wall jump]], aiding his recovery.}}

*{{buff|The introduction of [[air dodging]] benefits Mario as he can now [[wavedash]]. His wavedash is overall solid due to his short jumpsquat/average traction improves his movement options.}}

**{{buff|Both the first and third hits deal more damage (2%/4% → 3%/5%).}}

**{{buff|The first and second hits now have [[set knockback]], allowing the third hit to connect more reliably.}}

**{{change|The third hit can now [[clang]].}}

**{{nerf|It has lower base knockback (10 → 6).}}

***{{nerf|The down angled variant now has very weak set knockback (1), making it extremely punishable at any percentage.}}

**{{buff|Up tilt has less startup (frame 5 → 4) and ending lag (FAF 42 → 30) and combos more reliably at lower percentages.}}

**{{nerf|It has a shorter duration (frames 5-16 → 4-12).}}

**{{change|Its knockback has been altered (0 (base), 150 (scaling) → 26/125), hindering its KO potential but improving its juggling potential.}}

**{{nerf|It deals less damage (12% → 8%).}}

**{{nerf|It deals less knockback (0 (base), 100 (scaling) → 10/80).}}

**{{nerf|It lasts a shorter duration (frames 5-11 → 5-8).}}

**{{change|Its knockback has been altered (361° → 80°), now launching opponents vertically instead of the [[Sakurai angle]].}}

***{{nerf|However, its duration is one frame shorter.}}

**{{nerf|It has more base knockback but lower knockback scaling (16/10 (base), 100 (scaling) → 70/50) hindering its KO potential.}}

**{{change|It now knocks opponents behind Mario (361° → 110°).}}

**{{buff|It has less startup (frame 16 → 12) and ending lag (FAF 54 → 42).}}

**{{buff|It now has a sweetspot that deals more damage (18% (up)/17 (side)%/16% (down) → 19%/18%/17%).}}

***{{nerf|Its sourspots deals less damage (18% (up)/17 (side)%/16% (down) → 15%/11%/13%).}}

**{{nerf|Both the sweetspots and sourspots deals less knockback (30 (base), 100 (scaling) → 25/95 (sweetspot)/96 (sourspot)).}}

**{{buff|The animation change gives the move more horizontal range than before.}}

**{{nerf|However, Mario no longer performs a small jump, reducing its vertical range.}}

**{{buff|It has significantly less ending lag (FAF 60 → 40).}}

**{{nerf|It has more startup and a shorter hitbox duration (frames 7-15 → 9-11).}}

**{{nerf|It deals less damage (19% → 15%).}}

**{{nerf|It deals less knockback (26 (base)/120 (scaling) → 32/97) no longer being one of Mario's reliable KO moves and is no longer the strongest up smash (this title now belongs to {{SSBM|Pikachu}}).}}

**{{buff|Down smash has less startup (frame 8 → 5) and ending lag (FAF 45 → 38).}}

**{{nerf|It deals less damage (17% → 16% (front), 12%/10% (back)).}}

**{{nerf|It deals less knockback (20 (base)/100 (scaling) → 40/75 (front), 35/75 (back)) greatly hindering its KO potential and making the back hit now weaker than the front hit.}}

*{{nerf|Forward, up and down aerials [[auto-cancel]] later (frame 26 → 43 (forward), frame 11 → 16 (up), frame 32 → 33 (down). Due to his faster falling speed, Mario can no longer auto-cancel neutral, forward or down aerials in a short hop which is hindered further by the weakening of [[L-canceling]].}}

**{{buff|Neutral aerial has higher base knockback (15 (clean)/0 (late) → 20/15).}}

**{{buff|It has less ending lag (FAF 50 → 46).}}

**{{nerf|It deals less damage (14% (clean)/11% (late) → 12%/10%).}}

**{{nerf|It has a shorter duration (frames 3-36 → 3-32).}}

**{{change|Mario has a new forward aerial: an overhanded downward swing with an enlarged fist.}}

**{{buff|It is [[meteor smash]] (361° → 280°) and lacks a sourspot.}}

**{{nerf|It has noticeably more startup lag with a shorter duration (frames 11-26 → 18-22) and has much more ending lag (FAF 40 → 60).}}

**{{nerf|The introduction of meteor canceling makes the move less reliable for [[edgeguarding]].}}

**{{nerf|It deals less damage (16% → 15%).}}

**{{nerf|It deals less knockback (10 (base), 100 (scaling) → 30/70), and has less combo potential, now being one of the weakest forward aerials.}}

**{{buff|It has less startup lag with a longer duration (frames 10-19 → 6-17) and ending lag (FAF 40 → 29) making it a more effective tool for [[edgeguarding]] and [[wall of pain]]s.}}

**{{nerf|It deals less damage (16% (clean)/10% (late) → 11%/9%) greatly hindering the clean hit's KO potential. However, although the sourspot's base knockback was compensated (0 → 7).}}

***{{nerf|Despite this, Mario can no longer perform two up aerials in a short hop due to his higher fall speed and lower short hop.}}

**{{nerf|It deals less damage (12% → 11%).}}

**{{nerf|It has a shorter duration (frames 2-11 → 4-9).}}

**{{nerf|It has reduced knockback scaling (120 → 100).}}

**{{change|Its knockback angle has been changed (80° (clean), 70° (late) → 55°). This improves its edgeguarding potential but hinders its juggling and combo potential.}}

**{{change|It also no longer has a weaker late hit.}}

***{{nerf|This prevents it from comboing into moves such as itself and up smash as easily.}}

**{{buff|Down aerial has less ending lag (FAF 39 → 38).}}

**{{buff|Down aerial now has a landing hitbox.}}

**{{nerf|Mario can also no longer perform another aerial after it in a short hop.}}

**{{nerf|Due to hitting seven times instead of eight, it has a much lower maximum damage output (24% → 10%).}}

**{{nerf|It is no longer a meteor smash (-70° → 94°), removing its edgeguarding potential and making it connect less reliably. Additionally, it no longer setups into other moves such as up aerial and an up tilt as easily due to its new angle along with L-canceling being less effective.}}

===Grabs and throws===

*{{buff|Mario now has a [[pummel]], [[up throw]] and a [[down throw]], increasing his options out of a grab. He can also [[chaingrab]] characters with said throws.}}

*{{nerf|Grabs have more startup lag (frame 6 → 7 (standing), 11 (dash)) and ending lag (FAF 16 → 31 (standing), 41 (dash)).}}

*{{nerf|Forward throw deals less damage (12% → 9%) and knockback (80 (base), 70 (scaling) → 60/65).}}

*{{nerf|Back throw deals less damage (16% (throw)/12% (collateral) → 12% (throw)/10% (collateral)) and knockback (70 (base), 70 (scaling) → 80/65), making it much weaker.}}

**{{buff|Fireball has less startup (frame 16 → 14) and ending lag (FAF 46 → 44) and travels faster.}}

**{{nerf|Fireballs are smaller and deals less damage (7% → 6%).}}

**{{change|Like the rest of the returning cast from ''Smash 64'', Mario now has a side special. In his case, it is Cape.}}

**{{buff|Cape has the ability to reflect projectiles and characters, allowing him to deal better with [[camp]]ing and gives him a deadly edgeguarding tool. It also gives him a additional recovery option while in the air.}}

**{{buff|Super Jump Punch can now be canceled with a wall jump near the apex of the move, further aiding Mario's recovery.}}

**{{nerf|It deals slightly less damage (15% → 14%).}}

**{{nerf|Its [[intangibility]] has more startup (frame 2 → 3).}}

**{{nerf|Its gains much less distance, worsening its recovery potential.}}

**{{change|The first few hits (110 (set) → 130) and final hit (0 (base), 170 (scaling) → 40/140) have altered knockback.}}

**{{buff|The last hit no longer has set knockback (120 (base), 0 (scaling) → 60/115), allowing it to KO at high percentages.}}

**{{nerf|Due to hitting up to 8 times instead of 14, it has a lower damage output (14% → 10%).}}

**{{nerf|It has more startup lag (frame 1 → 8).}}

**{{nerf|The first hit deals no knockback and there's now a small delay before the last hit, allowing foes to escape the attack more easily. Due to these changes, the move is now considered nearly useless outside of recovering, and as a situational vertical launcher.}}

===PAL differences===

Mario was nerfed in the [[PAL]] version of ''Melee'' although due to many characters ranked above him being nerfed, his viability remains similar overall.  

*{{change|Mario is slightly lighter (100 → 98).}}  

|neutralname= 

|ftiltname= 

|utiltname= 

|dtiltname= 

|dashname= 

|fsmashname= 

|fsmashdowndmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|17}} (fire), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|13}} (arm)  

|usmashname=Lead Headbutt

|dsmashname= 

|nairname= 

|fairname=Meteor Knuckle

|bairname= 

|uairname= 

|dairname= 

|grabname=

|pummelname= 

|fthrowname= 

|bthrowname=Airplane Swing

|uthrowname= 

|dthrowname= 

|desc-us=Ma-ri-o!

|desc-jp=Ma-ri-o!

|desc-2=Makes fire explode from his palm and strikes a pose.  

==In [[Competitive play]]==

===Notable players===

*{{Sm|A Rookie|USA}} - Widely considered to be the best Mario player in the world.

*{{Sm|Eggz|USA}} - Notably defeated [[Noobking]], [[Deva]], [[Hero Sublime]], [[Silent Wolf]], [[Balloon]], [[Jamo]], [[Bladewise]], and [[Gimpyfish]]

*{{Sm|Mango|USA}} - Once mained Mario under the tag "Scorpion Master". Continues to utilize Mario as an occasional counterpick, particularly against {{Sm|Axe}}.

*{{Sm|Matt Deezie|USA}} - Former Mario main, best in the world when active.

*{{Sm|Maverick|USA}} - Best Mario in Florida

*{{Sm|PPMD|USA}}

*{{Sm|SchlimmShady|Germany}} - Formerly the best Mario player in Europe prior to switching to Captain Falcon.

Very early in the ''Melee'' [[metagame]], when few players knew the potential of now-top tier characters, Mario was considered one of the best characters in the game, ranking as high as 5th on the first tier list. This could be attributed to Mario's simple but effective [[combo]] setups, strong attacks, low learning curve, and lack of any outstanding drawbacks due to being well-rounded, as well as his extendable [[recovery]]. As the metagame advanced, however, Mario's average statistics were magnified as the potentials for many other superior characters, such as {{SSBM|Peach}}, {{SSBM|Captain Falcon}}, and the {{SSBM|Ice Climbers}}, were discovered. This caused Mario to slowly slip down the tier list as time progressed, as well as lose significant placing in large tournaments; eventually, {{Sm|Mango}} (under the alias "Scorpion Master") was the only person who placed anywhere significant with him, but even he rarely placed high enough to earn money from playing Mario, cashing in at 25th place at [[Apex 2010]] instead of his usual top 8 placements when using better characters. On the current [[tier list]], he ranks 15th place in the E tier; on the other hand, his clone {{SSBM|Dr. Mario}} and semi-clone {{SSBM|Luigi}}, who were once widely considered worse than Mario, have surpassed him in ranking. In today's metagame, some players, such as Shroomed, believe Mario could potentially be better than Doctor Mario, due to his faster aerials, better recovery, and longer reach and disjoint in some of his attacks, such as Forward Smash and Down Smash, and {{Sm|A Rookie}} has represented the character with many strong placements. Otherwise, many people still place him below many characters and the whole metagame of Mario has remained stagnant.

==In [[Solo#1-P_Mode|1-P Mode]]==

==Trophies==

:'''Mario'''

:''Known worldwide as Mr. Nintendo, Mario uses his incredible jumping ability to thwart the evil Bowser time after time. While he's best known as a hero, Mario has played many roles, including racer, doctor, golfer, and villain. His tastes have changed over 20 years of gaming; he long ago swapped the colors of his shirt and overalls.''

:*''[[Donkey Kong (game)|Donkey Kong Arcade]] 1981

:'''Mario''' [<span style="color:#FF0000">Smash</span>]

:''Mario is a character without any glaring weaknesses and plenty of strong attacks: he's even equipped with a Meteor Smash. He's a straightforward character who'll reflect the actual skills of the player. Mario's Cape will turn other characters in the opposite direction and can also reflect missile weapons.''

:*B: Fireball

:*Smash B: Cape

:'''Mario''' [<span style="color:#0000FF">Smash</span>]

:''Mass determines how easily a character can be sent flying, as well as a character's physical strength: Mario's mass is the standard upon which other Smash fighters are measured. His Super Jump Punch sends foes skyward in a shower of coins, while the Mario Tornado pulls in nearby foes, spins them silly, and scatters them every which way.''

:*Up & B: Super Jump Punch

:*Down & B: Mario Tornado

 

Mario Trophy (Smash).png|[<span style="color:#FF0000">Smash</span>]

Mario SSBM art.png|Alternate artwork of Mario.

Mario Landing SSBM.jpg|Mario landing on [[Corneria]].

MarioTornadoMelee.jpg|Performing [[Mario Tornado]] on [[Brinstar]].

Mario SuperJumpPunchSSBM.jpg|Hitting {{SSBM|Ness}} with a [[Super Jump Punch]] on {{SSBM|Kongo Jungle}}.

Ssbmmario4.jpg|Tossing a [[Fireball]] on [[Onett]].

Mario Cape Kirby SSBM.jpg|Flipping {{SSBM|Kirby}} with his [[Cape]] on [[Mute City]].

Mario Forward Smash Image SSBM.jpg|Performing his [[forward smash]].

*Mario's taunt also expands his hitbox size, getting hit during the taunt animation causes Mario to automatically transform to back to his normal size.

*Mario, {{SSBM|Peach}}, {{SSBM|Yoshi}}, {{SSBM|Link}}, {{SSBM|Young Link}}, {{SSBM|Kirby}}, {{SSBM|Falco}}, and {{SSBM|Pikachu}} are the only characters whose portraits on the [[character select screen]] match their [[character artwork|official artwork]].