Banjo & Kazooie (SSBU): Difference between revisions

Banjo & Kazooie are ranked 62nd out of 82 on the current [[tier list]], placing them in the C- tier and making them the lowest ranking characters from Fighters Pass Vol. 1. The duo have some notable strengths, such as a strong projectile mixup game: their numerous projectiles such as [[Egg Firing / Breegull Blaster]] and [[Rear Egg]] grant the duo some effective setups and followup potential, with the ability to constantly knock opponents around and lead into combos if used properly. Egg Firing generates long-duration eggs that can disrupt approaches or [[gimp]] recoveries, and Rear Egg has niche ability to break out of combos or extend the duo's [[recovery]]. The duo's signature move [[Wonderwing]] is a long-duration dash with [[invincibility]] that is very powerful, has potential to be combo'd into, and can beat out almost every option other than [[grab]]s, giving them a safe recovery option and a powerful (albeit committal) reversal in disadvantage. Most of the duo's attacks feature [[disjointed]] hitboxes due to Kazooie, giving them some adequate range for close quarters. Their tilts all serve some purpose, with forward tilt being a safe poking tool, down tilt functioning as an amazing [[2 frame punish]] and [[edgeguarding]] option thanks to its long duration and range, and up tilt being a powerful anti-air and KO move, with low enough endlag to combo into itself at low percents. Their smash attacks are also adequate with forward smash having good range, up smash as a functional out-of-shield option, and down smash simultaneously hitting on both sides with equal strength. They has some solid aerials with forward air as a viable KO tool, back air as a spacing or edgeguarding option that can combo, and neutral air as a get-off-me tool. Finally, their status as a heavyweight, along with their three midair jumps and ability to extend their recovery with Rear Egg, gives the duo higher-than-average survivability, and Kazooie's dash speed grants the duo surprisingly fast long-distance movement. Overall, the pair has some solid strengths to control the flow of the game.

However, Banjo and Kazooie have some noticeable flaws. Most of their attacks have problematic hitboxes which can make general combat quite unwieldy, such as up tilt (which does not hit in front of the duo) or neutral aerial (which has dragdown hitboxes, but is very unpredictable as to where the opponent lands). In addition, their frame data is generally unimpressive, with their landing lag also being rather high, which gives them limited attacks that can be thrown out in neutral since very few have consistent followups or good reward, and also giving them few safe KO options. Their most intricate combos usually require a lot of technical skill, with effective usage of Rear Egg and Breegull Blaster combos being quite difficult to perform. Finally, their damage output is relatively low, and when combined with the aforementioned problems usually means their gameplan is limited to neutral exchanges. Their other problems include their weight, which makes them combo food for a lot of the cast, and their general movement, which is unimpressive outside of Kazooie's dash due to Banjo's slow walk speed, low traction, and poor air speed/jump height. Wonderwing is incredibly risky despite its perks, is designed to be out-prioritized by grabs, is limited to up to five feathers per stock, and is still slow enough to be reacted to. Finally, the duo's throw game is passable, as only back throw has the ability to directly KO, while down throw is very inconsistent despite [[bury]]ing opponents, which is unusual for a throw of its type (such as similar throws shared by {{SSBU|King K.Rool}} and {{SSBU|Snake}}).

Overall, Banjo and Kazooie function as an unusual mix of a heavyweight and a zoner: most of their gameplan revolves around picking openings granted by their projectiles, although their general inconsistencies tend to make them considered relatively weak for their archetype. Due to their issues, Banjo and Kazooie has seen minimal representation throughout the course of ''Ultimate''’s lifespan, with most of their results coming from early during their release, such as from {{Sm|Tweek}} and {{Sm|Raito}}. In the post-pandemic era, {{Sm|Toriguri}} has brought about some of the best results and wins the duo has ever had, with some major top 8 performances worldwide and

[[Shock Spring Jump]] functions as Banjo & Kazooie's [[up special]]. It is a decent vertical recovery move that does not render them helpless and preserves their double jumps; it can be charged to increase its travel distance, and when used in the air, the Shock Spring Pad itself possesses a damaging hitbox that can be used to [[gimp]] some recoveries. Shock Spring Jump can also be used on-stage to jump higher than Banjo & Kazooie's full hop height, allowing it to come in handy when anti-airing opponents above the duo or when retreating from foes underneath. [[Rear Egg]], their [[down special]], has Kazooie lay an explosive Grenade Egg behind them. It bounces in an unpredictable fashion due to its shape and launches opponents upward. The Grenade Egg also functions as an item; it is catchable and throwable despite its much shorter fuse compared to similar explosive-related attacks. All of these properties make Rear Egg an incredibly versatile projectile that can be used for ledgetrapping, comboing, camping, and neutral game control in general. Overall, their four specials have impressive utility with both physical and projectile options.

However, the duo has numerous other considerable weaknesses to balance their strengths. Outside of their dash attack, up tilt, smash attacks, forward aerial, back aerial, down throw, back throw, close-range Breegull Blaster and Wonderwing, Banjo & Kazooie's potential to KO can be somewhat limited despite their status as a heavyweight fighter. Many of their moves are unremarkable among their weight class in terms of power, and unlike other fighters with poor KOing abilities, Banjo & Kazooie have a fairly limited combo game. The duo's range is also unremarkable, despite Kazooie's lack of a hurtbox, which means that they will sometimes have issues trading blows with conventional swordfighters. Similarly to {{SSBU|Wario}}, Banjo himself has a wide hurtbox, and the duo is susceptible to combos and juggles due to their heavy weight, slow air speed, low jump height, and lack of fast escape options. Their overall mobility is unorthodox; their excellent run speed is offset by their poor initial dash speed, which is tied for the 5th slowest, their high vertical recovery options are hampered by their low jumps, poor air speed, and fast falling speed, and their grounded mobility is hindered by their [[traction]] being tied with the {{SSBU|Mii Gunner}}'s for the lowest in the game.

|nairdesc=Kazooie's [https://banjokazooiewiki.com/wiki/Wing_Whack Wing Whack]. Functions similarly to {{SSBU|Pit}} and {{SSBU|Dark Pit}}'s shared neutral aerial, with this move's looping hitboxes even sharing the exact same properties as those of that move. Has rather slow startup (frame 10) relative to its damage output and knockback. Compared to Pit's neutral aerial, the combination of this move's slower startup with its surprisingly high landing lag (15 frames), inability to autocancel from a short hop, and the final hit's strangely diagonal launch angle makes it far less useful for starting, extending or finishing combos. It has immense utility for approaching and interrupting vulnerable recoveries, although this is counterbalanced by the final hit's low knockback scaling and aforementioned diagonal launch angle. Its looping hits can drag opponents downwards to follow into most of the duo's grounded moves, although this can be difficult due to the move's aforementioned high landing lag and the looping hits' unpredictable launching trajectory; the move itself is also a very reliable followup from down throw or to finish a Breegull Blaster close-range egg ladder combo. [[Autocancel]]s from a full hop.

|bairdesc=An aerial three-hit version of Kazooie's Rat-a-Tat Rap. The first hit comes out on frame 8. It has a good overall range and startup, making it a reliable aerial for edgeguarding. The first two hits use the [[autolink]] angle; while it has extremely high landing lag (18 frames), making combos from the first two hits read-dependent, forward tilt is a decently reliable followup on most fighters. Autocancels from a short hop.

|uairdesc=Kazooie flaps her wings upwards in a scissoring motion, similarly to {{SSBU|Sonic}}'s up aerial. Hits twice, with the first hit leading to the second. Has a wide hitbox with good range, with the first hit being able to hit grounded opponents if performed while the duo is falling. Additionally, it is fast in general (frame 7) while also being interruptible extremely early; this allows the duo to perform up to four up aerials while using their jumps, similarly to {{SSBU|Meta Knight}}'s up aerial strings. Easily juggles into itself at low to medium percentages, and can potentially lead into other aerials. Even further boosting its utility is that its first hit can set up KO confirms into forward smash, forward aerial and Wonderwing on landing. However, it has very low hitstun due to its low damage and slightly higher ending lag compared to other weak up aerials, making the move easily escapable. The first hit may also occasionally launch opponents away from the second hit, and the move is extremely weak, having almost no KO potential even at extremely high percentages.

|dairdesc=Kazooie's [https://banjokazooiewiki.com/wiki/Beak_Buster Beak Buster]. It is a [[stall-then-fall]] that meteor smashes at its beginning, with the later hitboxes dealing slightly diagonal vertical knockback. The move has a very weak landing hit that has little use aside from granting minimal protection. The move lasts for an extremely long time, often making off-stage use an inevitable [[self-destruct]], though it is possible to recover if it is used from high enough. It is mostly useful for returning to stage quickly, as the non-meteor smashing hitbox is unable to KO past realistic percentages. The move's high landing lag (27 frames) greatly limits its combo potential.

|fthrowdesc=Banjo faces away and Kazooie performs a double-footed stretch kick. The move's generally horizontal launch angle, along with its somewhat decent base knockback, makes it useful for creating space between Banjo & Kazooie and their opponent on-stage, as well as setting up edgeguards and potentially also tech-chases.

|uthrowdesc=Banjo throws the opponent overhead and Kazooie pecks them upwards. The move has high ending lag after the opponent is thrown, has no true follow-ups, and cannot KO opponents. It is generally considered to be Banjo & Kazooie's worst throw.

|floortdesc= Banjo claps behind and then in front of himself. One of the only attacks to use a "slap" sound effect, with the others being [[Pound]] and {{SSBU|Peach}}/{{SSBU|Daisy}}'s shared neutral attack. Unlike those moves, the "slap" sound effect plays even if Banjo does not successfully hit any opponents.

|nsdesc=For '''Egg Firing''', Banjo gets down on all fours while Kazooie spits out an egg. These eggs will obey gravity, bounce off the ground and linger for quite some time (around the length of half of Final Destination) before breaking on their own, and become weaker as time passes. It is a slow-moving projectile, similar in function to moves such as [[Fireball]]. It also stalls the duo's vertical momentum slightly if used in midair.<br><br>If the special button is held, the duo will instead perform the '''Breegull Blaster''', where Banjo takes Kazooie out of his backpack and uses her in a manner similar to the [[Super Scope]]. In this mode, pressing either attack button will cause Kazooie to quickly fire smaller and weaker eggs that travel in a straight line and as far as a third of Final Destination's length; subsequent eggs gradually deal less damage. These smaller eggs cause minimal flinching at long range and weak vertical knockback at close range. Banjo can move and triple jump freely while in this mode, and can turn around (the latter is not possible while firing). Crouching or shielding will put Kazooie away, which has minimal ending lag. Notably, Breegull Blaster is a very effective combo move if the close-range vertically-launching egg hitbox is landed, with close-range eggs comboing into more close-range eggs among other things. Breegull Blaster also has a KO confirm into up tilt at high percentages.<br><br>Due to the mechanics of this move, Egg Firing can only be done repeatedly if the player button mashes, since holding the button transitions into the Breegull Blaster. To compensate for the lack of a dash while Kazooie is out, Banjo's walking speed is 10% faster than normal when Breegull Blaster is being used (although the duo maintain their two midair jumps).

*{{Sm|Toriguri|Japan}} - The best Banjo & Kazooie player of all-time, and the only solo-Banjo & Kazooie player to place top 8 at a major, doing so at {{Trn|Maesuma TOP 14}}, {{Trn|Maesuma TOP 15 "FINAL"}}, and {{Trn|Battle of BC 6}}.

Banjo & Kazooie were initially met with a mildly positive reception due to their strong and flexible moves (such as forward aerial, forward tilt, smash attacks, [[Wonderwing]], and [[Rear Egg]]), their ability to zone and edge trap effectively, and their versatile recovery. However, the duo's flaws, including their below-average speed, problems with juggling and scoring KOs, fairly noticeable lag on their moves, and a barely adequate grab game, were also noted. This has led to Banjo & Kazooie garnering below-average results compared to the rest of the cast, although they had some notable success from players such as {{Sm|huto}}, {{Sm|Raito}}, and {{Sm|Trela}}; {{Sm|Tweek}} also utilized Banjo & Kazooie at {{Trn|Glitch 7 - Minus World}}, although he promptly dropped them following that tournament. As a result, the early consensus posited the duo within the lower end of high tier at best and within the mid tier at worst.  

However, by the end of 2019, Banjo & Kazooie saw a decline in both results and reception, with many players dropping the duo. Many players believe that they are only at their strongest in an online environment due to the input lag benefitting their most useful attacks. Conversely, others believe that Banjo & Kazooie fluctuate between the lower end of the mid tier and the low tier. Although Banjo & Kazooie are generally considered respectable fighters, their viability as a solo main has been questioned due to their best players often co-maining them or using them as a secondary. Despite this perception, {{Sm|Toriguri}} has managed to consistently achieve success at major tournaments while using Banjo & Kazooie as his sole main ever since the early metagame. Overall, Banjo & Kazooie are ranked 62nd on the current tier list, which posits them as lower end mid tier fighters.