Ganondorf (SSBB): Difference between revisions

|ranking = 38

}}

Ganondorf is ranked dead last on the ''Brawl'' [[tier list]], in 38th place out of the 38 characters in the game. This is a significant drop from his position on the ''Melee'' tier list, where he ranked 14th out of 26, and is tied with [[Ganondorf (SSBU)|his later iteration from ''Ultimate'']] as his worst placement in the ''Smash'' series to date. Ganondorf's few strengths include high power throughout his moveset, respectable endurance, strong [[momentum cancelling]] capabilities, fearsome [[edgeguard]]ing abilities, access to the most powerful [[meteor smash]] in the game in his [[down aerial]], and a great [[semi-spike]] in his [[up aerial]]. Ganondorf has also gained a new combo starter in [[Flame Choke]] and a superjump glitch in the [[Flight of Ganon]].

However, these strengths are eclipsed by a slew of significant flaws. Ganondorf's overall mobility and frame data are among the slowest, if not the slowest in the game, with {{SSBB|King Dedede}} just barely beating him. His [[recovery]] is possibly his biggest flaw, being one of the worst recoveries in ''Brawl''; he has the third-lowest double [[jump]] in the game, [[Flame Choke]] covers minimal horizontal distance and is easily edge-guarded due to its slow speed and lack of protection, and aerial [[Wizard's Foot]] no longer restores his double jump. In particular, [[Dark Dive]] is likewise slow, and its newly added hitbox at the move's climax is not sufficient enough to defend from edge-guarding, while it has also lost all of its KO power and now KOs past the [[Sudden Death]] range (300%), allowing opponents to hit Ganondorf out of it as soon as the move completes. His useful chain-grab options, the changes to [[hitstun]], and his overall moveset were all heavily nerfed from ''Melee'', severely weakening his KO and combo ability. Additionally, many of his moves either have large sourspots (his [[forward aerial]], for example) or cannot KO at realistic percentages (like his aforementioned [[Dark Dive]]). Also, the loss of [[L-cancelling]] has harmed him far more than any other character in ''Brawl'', as he is no longer able to safely use his powerful, yet laggy aerials for general usage. Most of Ganondorf's attacks either have poor [[reach]] for a character of his size or possess inconveniently placed [[hitbox]]es, putting him at a serious disadvantage against characters with long reach or disjointed hitboxes (like {{SSBB|Marth}}, {{SSBB|Snake}}, or {{SSBB|Ike}}). In addition, his [[grab]] is not only slow, but also the shortest-reaching grab in the series, which combines with his slow attacks to give him poor [[out of shield]] options. While his great weight gives him strong endurance potential, it also makes him susceptible to [[chain grabs]] and combos (with a few being capable of [[zero-death]]ing him outright). Plus, his shield is unusually small, making it vulnerable to [[shield stab]]bing, similar to {{SSBB|Donkey Kong}}. Finally, his lack of any projectile makes him easily [[camping|camped]] and leaves him with little approach options or the ability to force approaches.

==How to unlock==

Ganondorf's overall moveset has received an overhaul from ''Melee''. While he still shares some moves from {{SSBB|Captain Falcon}}, he has received different animations and moves that now make him a semi-clone rather than a full clone.

On the other hand, he did receive a few notable buffs. His [[air speed]] is much faster (although still among the slowest), his forward tilt now [[semi-spike]]s and is effective against enemies with weak recoveries, his up and down tilts have significantly improved range, and he now has the highest damaging forward throw in the game. [[Warlock Punch]] and aerial [[Wizard's Foot]] are much stronger, and [[Dark Dive]] now has a hitbox at the move's climax that provides decent protection against edgeguarders, along with being able to grab ledge-hangers. Arguably the biggest buff he received is a new side special, [[Flame Choke]], which gives Ganondorf a combo starter and tech-chasing move. However, none of these are significant enough to counterbalance the nerfs he had received, while most of these moves were also nerfed as well.

**{{change|Neutral attack now has a hitbox on the arm that deals 7%.}}

**{{buff|Neutral attack has more reach and significantly more knockback (30 (base), 100 (scaling) → (40/30)/105), allowing the sweetspot to KO under 125%-150% near the ledge.}}

**{{change|Neutral attack now uses Ganondorf's right arm instead of his left.}}

*[[Dash attack]]:

*[[Forward tilt]]:

**{{buff|Ganondorf has a new forward tilt: a front kick. It launches enemies at a [[semi-spike]] angle ([[Sakurai Angle|361°]] → 22°), making it good against characters with poor recoveries.}}

**{{change|Ganondorf has a new forward tilt with battering [[item]]s like the [[Beam Sword]], which is similar to one of his attacks in ''Twilight Princess''.}}

*[[Up tilt]]:

**{{buff|Ganondorf has a new down tilt: a low front kick. It has slightly more reach, now being slightly disjointed.}}

*[[Forward smash]]:

**{{change|Forward smash has 1 frame more start-up but with 1 frame more duration (frame 20-24 → 21-26), making it no longer hit opponents before he completely thrusts his elbow outward but makes the attack's hitbox linger more, which may surprise Ganondorf's opponents.}}

*[[Up smash]]:

*[[Down smash]]:

**{{buff|Down smash has slightly faster startup (frames 19 → 16).}}

===Aerial attacks===

*[[Neutral aerial]]:

**{{buff|Both hits of neutral aerial have longer hitbox durations (hit 1: 7-8 → 7-13, hit 2: 20-21 → 20-32) with [[sex kick]] properties.}}

**{{nerf|Forward aerial auto-cancels much later (frames 34 → 55), no longer doing so in a full hop.}}

**{{nerf|Forward aerial has a new, longer animation (44 frames → 59) where Ganondorf doesn't lean as forward as he did previously, reducing its range and increasing the amount of time Ganondorf cannot grab ledges after performing the move.}}

*[[Back aerial]]:

**{{buff|Back aerial has less landing lag (25 frames → 22).}}

*[[Grab]]s:

**{{buff|Grabs have slightly less ending lag (FAF 31 (standing)/41 (dash) → 30/40).}}

**{{buff|Standing grab's furthest grabbox is positioned further away from Ganondorf (z offset: {{rollover|7.5933|7.0308 x 1.08)|y}} → 8). When combined with its larger size, this gives it more range.}}

**{{nerf|Ganondorf's grabs have a new animation where Ganondorf reaches his arm out further. This means that while his grabs have more lateral range, they have less range relative to Ganondorf, with his grabs no longer covering his entire hand. This hinders the safety of his grabs.}}

|ftiltdmg=13% (foot), 12% (leg)

|ftiltdesc=Leans back while forcefully thrusting one leg forward. Good low angle horizontal knockback with a semi-spike trajectory. Despite its semi-spike ability, it deals the lowest knockback out of all of Ganondorf's tilts. It is similar to a kick used by Ganondorf himself and other large, sword-wielding enemies in ''The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess''.

|utiltdmg=27% (leg), 19%/17% (explosion)

|utiltdesc=Ganondorf lifts his leg before smashing it down in an explosion. Has [[vacuum]] properties dealing huge damage and knockback if it connects, and it does very high damage on shields. Considered the slowest start-up tilt and the slowest move overall with a total of 81 frames of startup, but also the strongest if hit with the sweetspot. Can KO at low percentage if used very close to the edge and the opponent doesn't utilize DI and [[momentum canceling]].

|fsdmg=10% (grounding), 10% (stomp), 45% (charge)

|fsdesc=Ganondorf becomes his beast form and rams into the opponent. Opponents too close upon initiation are buried, while those otherwise in front will be paralyzed.

}}

==In [[competitive play]]==

===Most historically significant players===

:''See also: [[:Category:Ganondorf players (SSBB)]]

*Zelda (Ocarina of Time): [Flame] Resistance +18

*'''[[Event 31: The Ultimate Bodyguard]]''': As {{SSBB|Marth}}, the player must defend {{SSBB|Zelda}} and defeat two Ganondorfs on [[Castle Siege]]. During the third background change, Zelda will transform into {{SSBB|Sheik}} and assist Marth.

*'''[[Event 33: Advent of the Evil King]]''': As Ganondorf, the player must defeat {{SSBB|Link}}, {{SSBB|Zelda}} and {{SSBB|Pit}} on [[Temple]].

*'''[[Event 40: The Final Battle]]''': The player selects any character and must defeat {{SSBB|Bowser}}, {{SSBB|King Dedede}}, and Ganondorf on {{SSBB|Final Destination}}.

*'''[[Co-Op Event 13: Blades of the Quick and Mighty]]''': {{SSBB|Marth}} and {{SSBB|Ike}} must defeat {{SSBB|Link}}, {{SSBB|Meta Knight}}, and Ganondorf on [[Temple]].

*'''[[Co-Op Event 14: The Dark Guardians]]''': Ganondorf and {{SSBB|Wolf}}, who are tiny, must defeat a giant {{SSBB|Donkey Kong}} and a giant {{SSBB|Charizard}} on [[New Pork City]].

*'''[[Co-Op Event 20: The Final Battle for Two]]''': Both players select a character and must defeat {{SSBB|Bowser}}, {{SSBB|Wario}}, {{SSBB|King Dedede}}, {{SSBB|Wolf}}, {{SSBB|Meta Knight}} and Ganondorf on {{SSBB|Final Destination}}.

*'''[[Co-Op Event 21: The True All-Star Battle]]''': Both players select a character and take on the entire roster on {{SSBB|Battlefield}}.

==[[Trophies]]==

*Though Ganondorf can be the first character unlocked by completing Classic Mode as Link or Zelda on Hard difficulty, he is one of the last characters to be unlocked by playing the Subspace Emissary, as the mode's antagonists are among the last characters to join the player's party.

**He and Wario are the only characters in ''Brawl'' when going through the Subspace Emissary that is neither unlocked by simply clearing a level, nor defeated in a secret room.

*While {{SSBB|Ike}} has the most meteor smashes in ''Brawl'', two of them are impossible to land on aerial opponents. Because of this, Ganondorf is tied with {{SSBB|Diddy Kong}} for having the most meteor smashes landable on aerial opponents, with four.

*Ganondorf and {{SSBB|R.O.B.}} are the only unlockable characters in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' to be unlocked on a [[stage]] that is not from their respective universes. Ganondorf is unlocked on Final Destination, and R.O.B is unlocked on [[Mario Bros.]] Ganondorf is also the only unlockable character in ''Brawl'' to be fought on a {{uv|Super Smash Bros.}} universe stage ({{SSBB|Final Destination}}) when unlocking. In ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'', {{SSBM|Ganondorf}} along with {{SSBM|Falco}} and {{SSBM|Mewtwo}}, were all fought on a ''Super Smash Bros.'' universe stage (making it three unlockable characters to be unlocked on a stage from the ''Super Smash Bros.'' universe instead of their respective universe), though Falco was fought on {{SSBM|Battlefield}} when unlocking. Ganondorf and Mewtwo were both fought on {{SSBM|Final Destination}} before getting unlocked.

*Ganondorf is one of the few known characters to have an obvious error in his moveset coding - his forward aerial cannot be autocanceled, but the coding of the move shows that it was intended to do so; this was caused by using the wrong type of timing function. It was also meant to have a third, disjointed hitbox like in ''Melee''.

*In a Japanese television show, Masahiro Sakurai played as Ganondorf in a versus match.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hayhkV1zGVA]</ref>

**Strangely enough, in the game ''Hyrule Warriors'', Ganondorf's ''Twilight Princess'' costume is clearly based on his appearance in ''Brawl'' due to the lack of his glowing chest wound and possessing a hemmed cape instead of a tattered cape.

*Ganondorf, the {{SSBB|Ice Climbers}}, {{SSBB|Meta Knight}}, {{SSBB|Mr. Game & Watch}}, and {{SSBB|Samus}} are the only characters whose icon in the Subspace Emissary and the Sticker menu is not based on their renders.