Quick Attack: Difference between revisions

After a short delay, Pikachu moves in a straight line in the direction in which the player's control stick is tilted, or upwards if it is not tilted. A [[tilt]] of the [[control stick]] in a different direction will cause another, similar burst. The high speed of this makes Pikachu extremely difficult to hit, but it is exposed at the beginning (at least after ''Smash 64''), middle, and end moments, when it briefly holds still. Quick Attack requires much practice before players can effectively take advantage of its two-direction functionality.  

:{{Main|Pikachu (SSB)/Up special}}

Unlike other special moves, Quick Attack deals no [[damage]]. However, it is considered one of the best recovery options overall in the game. The move travels a very long distance and since Pikachu can angle it and use it twice, Quick Attack is an extremely flexible and diverse recovery tool, giving Pikachu many options when using the move, to allow it to return back to the stage from great distances. Quick Attack is able to [[edge sweetspot|sweetspot the edge]] from almost any distance within the move's range and Pikachu can easily aim for the edge in order to grab it and avoid any lag the move would otherwise have. Pikachu can even extend Quick Attack's distance if they player lets go of the control stick after a warp. If this happens, Pikachu will retain the momentum from the warp. These traits also allows Pikachu to go far out from the edge to edgeguard, further than any other character can go and Pikachu will still be able to make it back to the stage. Pikachu is completely [[intangible]] during Quick Attack's startup which not only aids its recovery potential but it also allows Quick Attack to be used as an effective tool to escape disadvantage. The move's intangibility frames allows Pikachu to easily escape combos or shield pressure using Quick Attack. Even when Pikachu is not intangible, it is difficult to hit during Quick Attack's warps, making it hard to punish if Pikachu uses it effectively. The move's intangibility combined with its generous ability to snap edges, allows Pikachu to [[ledge-stall]] indefinitely, which is very difficult to punish. It can also go through a portion of the wall in Pikachu's [[Break the Targets]] stage strangely.

:{{Main|Pikachu (SSBM)/Up special}}

[[File:QAMelee.jpg|thumb|Quick Attack in ''Melee''.]]

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:{{Main|Pikachu (SSBB)/Up special}}

In ''Brawl'', Quick Attack is slightly slower and it has less range than in ''Melee''. The move is particularly more laggy in the [[landing lag]] department as the move no longer [[auto-cancel]]s once Pikachu enters free fall and the move now suffers from [[RCO lag]], making Pikachu much easier to punish once it lands. However, Quick Attack is still a great recovery tool and Pikachu has gained a new powerful technique with Quick Attack called [[Quick Attack Cancel]]ling. If Pikachu hits the ground with Quick Attack and hits jump, Pikachu will jump, ignoring the ending lag Pikachu would otherwise receive. The technique is considered a staple for Pikachu's metagame in [[competitive play]] as it allows Pikachu to effectively approach with Quick Attack and it can be used as a powerful [[lock]]ing tool against a missed [[tech]].

If Pikachu takes a [[Poison Mushroom]] or is shrinking from a [[Super Mushroom]] during the first step of Quick Attack, it will perform an [[Superjump|extra-high jump]]. This is assumed to be a glitch. [http://youtube.com/watch?v=9H2BNOEK41M]

:{{Main|Pikachu (SSB4)/Up special}}

Quick Attack returns as Pikachu's up special move in ''Super Smash Bros. 4''. Its hitboxes now launch vertically and are quite a bit stronger which removes Quick Attack's locking potential however, the second hit can now be used as a combo starter. A noticeable downside Quick Attack has received in ''Smash 4'' is that standard Quick Attack cancelling is no longer possible, although Pikachu can still edge cancel Quick Attack. Regardless, it still remains an important tool for Pikachu's approach and it is still one of Pikachu's most useful moves, as well as one of the best recovery tools in the game.

:{{Main|Pikachu (SSBU)/Up special}}

Quick Attack once again serves as Pikachu's up special in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''. It is functionally similar to its ''Smash 4'' incarnation, and there is now a red arrow before Pikachu uses the move, indicating what direction Pikachu will travel. One notable downside the move has received however is that Pikachu can no longer edge cancel the Quick Attack, which hinders its utility when used near a ledge. Despite this, Quick Attack remains an important approach option for Pikachu and it has seen a couple of improvements. The main improvements the move has received is that it no longer suffers from RCO lag and Pikachu's body does not stretch as much when using it, making Pikachu harder to hit when it is using it. As a result, it remains one of Pikachu's best tools, as well as retaining its status as one of the best recovery tools in the game.