Ganondorf (SSBM): Difference between revisions

'''Ganondorf''' ({{ja|ガノンドロフ|Ganondorofu}}, ''Ganondorf'') appears as an unlockable playable character in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]''. His design (and model) is directly taken from his appearance from the SpaceWorld 2000 [[Nintendo GameCube|GameCube]] tech demo, which is itself based on his appearance in his original Gerudo form from ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time]]''. Ganondorf is a [[clone]] of {{SSBM|Captain Falcon}}, and as such, he fights in a brawler style similar to Captain Falcon, but in a slower, more powerful manner.

Ganondorf currently ranks 14th in the C+ tier on the ''Melee'' [[tier list]], which is his best placement in the series. Ganondorf boasts extreme power, good reach, decent [[chaingrab]]bing ability, and very useful aerials, including the strongest [[meteor smash]] in the game in his down aerial. He also has several effective edgeguarding options including the aforementioned down aerial, both the strong and weak hitboxes of his up aerial, and his back aerial. Nonetheless, Ganondorf has extreme flaws to counteract these great strengths as well. He has a bad neutral game due to his poor [[dash dance]] and lack of non-committal approaching moves, forcing Ganondorf players to rely more on reads and baits, and the punishes that come with them. However, Ganondorf is also very susceptible to punishes himself, as he is easily [[combo]]ed and [[chaingrab]]bed due to his size and weight, and is very easily edgeguarded due to his very predictable (albeit long) recovery; however, the latter would be among the worst should the aerial Wizard's Foot be absent during the process. He is also vulnerable to projectiles and has few ways to deal with characters that outrange him or have very fast attacks. Because of this, while Ganondorf has good [[matchup]]s against characters ranked lower than him, and a few high tiers reliant on wavedashing for movement, he struggles to maintain ground against top-tier characters, such as {{SSBM|Fox}} and {{SSBM|Sheik}}.

==How to unlock==

==Attributes==

***{{buff|It has higher base knockback than the Gentleman (20 → 30).}}  

***{{nerf|It has more ending lag than Falcon's Jab 1 (IASA 16 → 19).}}

**{{change|It has an [[electric]] effect.}}

*[[Forward tilt]]:

*[[Up tilt]]:

**{{buff|Up tilt deals significantly more damage (13% → 27%) with drastically higher base knockback (50 → 110), able to KO from center under 25% and at 0% near ledges and is thus the strongest tilt in the game.}}

**{{change|Up tilt has a wind effect while the leg is lifted up and an explosive effect that deals flame damage when the leg strikes the ground.}}

*[[Down tilt]]:

**{{buff|It autocancels earlier (frame 34 → 26).}}

**{{nerf|Both hits have shorter durations (7-12 → 7-8 (hit 1), 20-29 → 20-21 (hit 2)).}}

*[[Forward aerial]]:

**{{change|Forward aerial has a different animation: an arcing downward punch.}}

==Version history==

The [[PAL]] version of ''Melee'' nerfed two of Ganondorf's aerials, with his forward aerial no longer being a reliable KO move (although it can combo into itself better), and his down aerial dealing less knockback and damage (while still remaining the strongest meteor smash in the game.)

''For a gallery of Ganondorf's hitboxes, see [[Ganondorf (SSBM)/Hitboxes|here]].''

[[File:GanondorfAerialAttacksSSBM.png|thumb|Ganondorf's aerial attacks]]

{{MovesetTable

|game=SSBM

|neutralcount=1

|neutral1dmg=7% (hand), 8% (body)

|neutraldesc=A quick palm strike that [[Electric|shocks]] enemies on contact. Has KO potential at higher damages, but since he jabs directly in front of him, some smaller characters can easily duck under it. It hits on frame 3, making it Ganondorf's fastest attack. It is often used in combos with his other attacks, especially his down aerial.

|ftiltangles=3

|ftiltupdmg=12-14%

|ftiltdowndmg=10-12%

|ftiltdesc=Kicks his foot out forward. Has great speed and range for a powerful tilt (3rd most powerful forward tilt in the game), but is short in duration (3 frames). This attack is often used to space away opponents due to its speed, range, and power. The upward angled-variant is excellent at stuffing out jump-ins and is Ganon's most consistent anti-air option and fastest grounded kill move. The downward variant is helpful for sniping ledges, particularly against [[Fox Illusion]] and [[Falco Phantasm]]. Overall a very versatile and powerful spacing tool and one of the better forward tilts in the game.

|utiltdmg=27%

|utiltdesc=Lifts up and charges his leg, then brings it down in a violent explosion. It has extremely long start-up, taking over a second to come out and nearly two seconds to finish. Though it is very powerful; it can OHKO from its extremely high base knockback if landed by an edge. It is by far the most powerful tilt in the game, and can KO even earlier than the [[Warlock Punch]], but its abhorrent start-up combined with its deceptively poor reach limit it to only a niche ledge-trap or shield-break punish.

|dtiltdmg=12%

|dtiltdesc=Does a quick low sweep kick. Long reach, and is rewarding on hit; it can combo into most aerials for a KO. Rather slow when compared to other down tilts and extremely vulnerable to [[Crouch cancel|crouch cancelling]]. Can KO at very high percentages. Fourth most powerful down tilt in the game.

|dashdmg=14% (clean), 10% (late)

|dashdesc= A quick shoulder tackle. Poor combo potential, but a great burst option with decent damage output. Much more rewarding if reversed, setting up for comboes if timed right.  This is the second most powerful dash attack in the game, beaten only by {{SSBM|Samus}}.

|fsmashangles=3

|fsmashupdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|24}}

|fsmashdowndmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|20}}

|fsmashdesc=Lunges forward, thrusting out his elbow. Great reach thanks to how far forward Ganon steps during the thrust; it can outrange other pokes and occasionally even {{SSBM|Marth}}'s forward smash, but its poor start-up and cooldown render it catastrophically unsafe on block and very easy to punish. Despite being hard to Dl, forward smash can struggle to kill, especially on fastfallers, and is generally outclassed by his two other smash attacks.

|usmashdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|22}} (hit 1), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|19}} (hit 2)

|usmashdesc=A 540 kick. It has three unique hitboxes; the first on his pelvis sends sideways with strong knockback, great for calling out high recoveries; the second is located on his thigh and is fairly rare to land, but links into the second hit to deal nearly 40%. The final hit covering his foot sends up with great knockback, consistently killing even fast-fallers below 100%. Up smash has great priority, making it a great anti-air and callout for shorthops and aerials from ledge, and is surprisingly safe on shield (-7). This move isn't without its flaws however; it loses to most ground attacks, has slow, reactable start-up and is extremely susceptible to low profiling. Knockback wise, this is the 5th most powerful up smash in the game, if only the first kick connects (only beaten by {{SSBM|Pikachu}}, {{SSBM|Fox}}, {{SSBM|Sheik}}, and {{SSBM|Peach}}).

|dsmashdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|8}} (hit 1), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|14}} (hit 2 leg), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|12}} (hit 2 foot)

|dsmashdesc=Kicks on either side of him. One of Ganon's best launchers and his fastest smash attack in terms of startup. The first hit chains into the second, and the second hit sends upward, making down smash into an aerial a viable kill confirm on fastfallers. The first hit can rarely fail to link properly and send the opponent at a deep semi-spike angle, setting them up for an edgeguard. The move's biggest flaw is its noticeable blindspot below Ganon's leg, allowing characters that pancake their hurtboxes (e.g {{SSBM|Marth}} to dodge under the move and punish him. If only the second hit connects, this is the second most powerful down smash in the game, only beaten by {{SSBM|Marth}}.

|nairdmg=12% (hits 1-2)

|nairdesc=Two quick mid-air kicks. Both kicks have high knockback (especially the second kick, capable of KOing under 130%), and can deal very high damage when landed in succession. The first hit can be used as a niche poke and has limited killpower and combo ability on poor DI, but rarely links into the second kick even at low percents; it's completely impossible to do so past ~25%. It's possible to land the second kick without the first one, which is occasionally useful to deter reckless approaches, but requires correct timing. With both kicks, it is the second strongest neutral aerial in the game (exceeded by {{SSBM|Mr. Game & Watch}}'s).

|fairdmg=17%

|bairdmg=16%

|uairdmg=13%/12% (clean), 12%/10% (mid), 8%/6% (late)

|uairdesc=Does a flip kick, covering a large arc above him. Knockback direction depends on which angle the foe was hit in. If Ganondorf is facing away from the opponent and the attack hits with the sourspot at the tip of his foot, the opponent will be [[semi-spike]]d, with low damage but extremely high hitstun. This is the sixth most powerful up aerial in the game (Bowser, Fox, Kirby, Peach, and Zelda respectively surpasses him in this regard).

|dairdmg=22% (NTSC), 21% (PAL)

|dairdesc=[[Stomp (archetype)|Stomp]]s both his feet downwards, with an [[electric]] effect. An extremely powerful [[meteor smash]], and an excellent [[SHFFL]] option, with a massive hitbox that covers Ganondorf's entire body and is able to hit opponents below platforms. It is the most powerful meteor smash in the game and is overall the most powerful aerial in the game. It is capable of setting up combos at low percentages when used against grounded opponents, and serves as a great finisher on grounded opponents at high percentages. This attack has [[Priority#Transcendent_priority|transcendent priority]].

In the PAL version of the game, this move deals slightly less damage with a small decrease to knockback, but still remains a very powerful meteor smash.

|pummeldmg=3%

|pummeldesc=Knees the opponent.

|fthrowdmg=5% (hit 1), 4% (throw)

|fthrowdesc=Punches foe in front. Its only use is setting up edgeguarding situations at high percentages.

|bthrowdmg=5% (hit 1), 4% (throw)

|bthrowdesc=Brings foe behind him and kicks. Can set up edgeguards at high percentages.

|uthrowdmg=4% (hit 1), 3% (throw)

|uthrowdesc=Knocks his foe above him. Excellent set up for juggles and platform pressure, and can be an effective chain-grab against fast fallers until high percentages, but its high endlag makes it somewhat clunky to start setups with

|dthrowdmg=7%

|dthrowdesc=Takes foe and slams them into the floor. Another throw well-suited for juggling. Can also chain-grab characters with average falling speeds until around 90%, and fast-fallers to about 130%. Can combo into jab then down aerial on [[Space animal]]s around 50%. Comboes into all aerials at higher percentages and is one of Ganon's most common bread-and-butter kill confirms.

|ssname=Gerudo Dragon

|ssdmg=17% (Ground), 16% (Air)

|usname=Dark Dive

|usdmg=1% (hits 1-4), 15% (release), 6% (breakout)

|dsdmg=15% (ground), 14% (air), 12% (landing)

|dsdesc=On the ground, Ganondorf rushes forward with his leg extended, dealing great knockback for the whole duration of the move, but leaving him extremely open, especially on shield. In the air, he plummets to the ground at a sharp angle. If Ganondorf comes into contact with the ground whilst this move is active, a shockwave is generated the frame after landing. Both the kick and the shockwave are spikes-giving them utility as devastating-albeit niche-edgeguarding tools, particularly against [[Donkey Kong (SSBM)|Donkey Kong]] and [[Bowser (SSBM)|Bowser]]. This move has the odd property of rewarding Ganondorf's second jump back, making it an essential tool in his recovery.

}}

===Most historically significant players===

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

*{{Sm|RockCrock|USA}} - Along with Kage, he was one of the strongest solo Ganondorf players during the late 2000s. Placed high at early CEO events and 33rd at {{Trn|GENESIS}}. The technique known as [[Tech Check]] was formerly named after him. Became semi-active before being banned from competitive play due to sexual misconduct allegations.

*{{Sm|Tipman|USA}} - Florida Ganondorf main mostly active in the mid 2000's with high placings at {{Trn|MLG Orlando 2006}}. Known for popularizing the utility of {{Mvsub|Ganondorf|SSBM|up aerial|poss=y}} as a semi-spike, which led to the technique sometimes being referred to as the "Tipman spike."

===In {{SSBM|Classic Mode}}===

[[File:GanondorfIntro.png|thumb|Ganondorf's unused intro image.]]

===In [[Adventure Mode]]===

*Ganondorf is tied with the {{SSBM|Ice Climbers}} for the world record in the [[Home-Run Contest]]. Ganondorf is also the only character that can break the max distance in the Home-Run Contest without the use of a [[glitch]] or [[Action Replay]] (the Ice Climbers have to utilize the [[freeze glitch]] to break the max distance).

*When Ganondorf's trophies are viewed under the "night"/"dark" background in the Trophy Gallery, his eyes glow. He is the only character whose trophy holds this trait.

*Ganondorf is the only clone whose original character ({{SSBM|Captain Falcon}}) is from [[F-Zero (universe)|a different series]].

**Sakurai did not plan to include Ganondorf as a playable character in ''Melee'', only including him later in development because his body had a very similar build to Captain Falcon's, allowing him to be easily added on as a last minute clone of Captain Falcon.

==References==

{{reflist}}

==External links==

{{SSBMCharacters}}

{{Zelda universe}}