Pichu (SSBU): Difference between revisions

|tier = C+

|ranking = 53

Pichu is ranked 53rd out of 82 on the current [[tier list]], placing it in the C+ tier. This is a significant improvement over its low-tier placement in ''Melee'', where it was ranked 22nd out of 26. Pichu boasts good combo ability and great KO power, with its fast [[falling speed]] assisting in its combo potential. It is also difficult to hit due to its small hurtbox and good mobility.

Much like Pikachu, all aspects of Pichu's moveset are solid overall, possessing exceptional frame-data overall and great utility throughout its moveset. An example of this is Pichu's excellent aerial game. [[Neutral aerial]] is Pichu's fastest [[out of shield]] option, on top of lacking much ending and/or landing lag, making it a viable edgeguarding option. [[Forward aerial]] deals the highest damage of Pichu's aerials and has fantastic combo potential, while only possessing decent recoil damage. His [[up aerial]], while being Pichu's least damaging aerial, also retains powerful vertical combo capabilities. [[Down aerial]] is Pichu's primary means to [[meteor smash]], and the late hit also lasts for a long while, making it another great edgeguarding tool, while also possessing only decent recoil damage. Finally, [[back aerial]] deals less damage than forward aerial, but is also Pichu's strongest aerial, an excellent edgeguarding tool, only has decent recoil damage (like its forward and down aerials), and plays a major component on Pichu's looping combos; by repeatedly performing a full jump while using a back aerial and comboing into a tilt attack (most notably up tilt) to repeat the process, Pichu can [[zero-to-death combo]] the opponent, though the timing for each move is very strict. As a cherry on top, all of Pichu's aerials are capable of [[auto-cancel]]ing out of a short hop.

Since its absence from previous installments, Pichu was infamous for being considered by far the worst [[clone]] in ''Melee'', largely due to its catastrophic endurance, recoil damage and vulnerability to chain grabbing, giving it among the worst matchups in the game, which was intentional due to being designed as an intentional "joke character". Most likely as a result of this, Pichu has been drastically buffed in its transition to ''Ultimate'', making it the most buffed among all characters transitioning from ''Melee''.

Pichu's [[recoil damage]] has been somewhat toned down from ''Melee'', making its [[electric]]al attacks less of a detriment for usage. Its mobility has overall improved as well, as its [[walk]]ing, [[dash]]ing and [[air speed]]s have increased, and its [[air acceleration]] has increased substantially. It can also [[crawl]] now, enabling Pichu to approach more easily while being able to dodge certain projectiles. While its endurance is still the worst in ''Ultimate'' as it is lighter than even {{SSBU|Jigglypuff}}, its [[weight]] was nevertheless increased, allowing it to survive a little bit longer.

The changes to the engine's mechanics in ''Ultimate'' universally benefit Pichu as well. The weakening of [[SDI]] makes its multi-hitting moves harder to escape and thus much more consistent, and the changes to [[air dodge]]ing mechanics make it safer to perform one to escape combos and give it one of the fastest in the game. The implementation of [[rage]], coupled with its small stature, allows Pichu to benefit from it thanks to its electric attacks' high knockback, in addition to said attacks' recoil damage indirectly putting it out of range of KO setups it would have otherwise suffered from.

Despite the several buffs it received, Pichu also received a few nerfs. Some of its strongest KO options, such as its forward and up smashes, were significantly weakened in terms of knockback, while its neutral aerial, previously considered the best move in its entire kit, was weakened in both its damage output and knockback. Its grounded attacks are less effective for [[edgeguarding]], as its down tilt, down smash and dash attack now send opponents at a much higher and undesirable angle. Additionally, more of Pichu's attacks (examples being its forward tilt and back aerial) emit electricity, meaning that more of its moves cause recoil damage; while this allows Pichu to build up rage more easily in comparison to the other fighters, it allows Pichu to be knocked out even more quickly, which is further compounded by its atrocious weight and fast-falling speed making it vulnerable to combos, despite its small hurtbox.

A few of the gameplay mechanic changes have been injurious for Pichu. The removal of [[chain grab]]bing in ''SSB4'' and ''Ultimate'' removes Pichu's chain grab with its [[up throw]], greatly reducing its damage-racking potential against fast-fallers. Lastly, despite the benefits it gains from rage, the introduction of the aforementioned mechanic causes Pichu's survivability to be ironically slightly more prevelant than before, as heavily damaged characters can make usage of it to turn the tables on Pichu should it fail to KO its opponent at a relatively low percentage.

Update {{SSBU|11.0.0}} buffed Pichu by reversing some of the nerfs it received in update 3.1.0, reducing the amount of recoil damage Pichu receives with some electric attacks. On top of that, its ear-hurtboxes received intangibility during the strong hit of its neutral aerial, making it a slightly safer option in the air.

Overall, Pichu fares much worse than it did when ''Ultimate'' launched. While Pichu is still far stronger than its ''Melee'' iteration, the nerfs it received has led to its tournament representation and results to drastically decline and it is now considered to be a high-tier or mid-tier character at best in comparison to its top-tier status in the early metagame.

|neutraldesc=[[bulbapedia:Headbutt (move)|Performs a quick headbutt]]. Possesses similar properties as Pikachu's jab, though it can link a few more hits before pushing the opponent out of range. It also inflicts less shieldstun and has one frame less ending lag. While it has minimal startup lag by coming out on frame 2 and can [[jab lock]], it cannot combo into itself easily due to opponents falling out of the move easily when spammed and being able to punish Pichu for the move. Pichu's other moves, such as down tilt or dash attack, are better options since Pichu lacks a finisher for its jab.

|ftiltdesc=Plants itself on its upper paws and performs a left-legged {{s|wikipedia|horse kick}} vertically in front of itself, and then performs a right-legged horse kick. It has minimal startup lag (comes out on frame 5) and ending lag, yet it is one of the strongest forward tilts in ''Ultimate'', KOing middleweights at around 128% near the edge of Final Destination, making it one of Pichu's most viable KOing options in its kit. Can make opponents [[trip]] at low percents. The hitbox lasts surprisingly long, as Pichu kicks with one foot before kicking with the other, and while the second hitbox is smaller, it is not a [[sourspot]]. Cannot be angled as it could in ''Melee''.

|utiltdesc=An overhead tail swipe, beginning from behind Pichu. An excellent combo starter, comboing into itself at low percents and into Pichu's aerials at medium to high percents. It is a great combo tool, but its short range prevents it from being a viable anti-air.

|dtiltdesc=Sweeps its tail in front of itself while crouching. It has good horizontal reach and minimal ending lag, making it somewhat spammable. Unlike Pikachu's down tilt, Pichu's down tilt is also useful for leading to combos due to its minimal knockback scaling and vertical launching angle, comboing into an up tilt at low to medium percents, or an aerial even at very high percents.

|dashdesc=A {{s|wikipedia|battering ram}}. The early hitbox deals moderate damage and good knockback, allowing it to KO middleweights around 163% on Final Destination. It also has a fairly low startup lag (frame 6), and the early hitbox lasts deceptively long. Additionally, it is relatively safe on shield due to its ability to [[cross-up]] shields, although it can still be punished by quick out-of-shield options, and the clean hitbox must be landed against a shielding opponent in order to cross them up. However, the late hitbox lacks KO potential at reasonable percents, and the move's high ending lag prevents either hit from comboing. Less ending lag, albeit less shieldstun compared to Pikachu's dash attack. It also has an hitbox on Pichu's torso.

|fsmashdesc=Rears its head back before leaning forward, launching a short jolt of electricity from its cheeks. It comes out on frame 16, the slowest start-up among all of Pichu's smash attacks. Unlike Pikachu's forward smash, Pichu's forward smash is multi-hitting and lacks sourspots and/or sweetspots. It also boasts more strength and less ending lag relative to the hitbox's duration, which gives it more reliability and safety compared to Pikachu's. However, it has less range. The final hit is one of the strongest forward smashes in ''Ultimate'', being able to KO {{SSBU|Mario}} at 80% at the edge of Final Destination. Additionally, it has low ending lag (16 frames), which gives it good safety on shield.

|usmashdesc=An upward-arcing headbutt. Pichu's ears become [[Intangibility|intangible]] throughout the hitbox's active duration. Due to hitting on frame 9, it is disproportionately quick for a smash attack. It is a decent anti-air tool with pseudo-disjointed range due to Pichu's ears being intangible while the hitbox is active, similar to {{SSBU|Mario}}'s up smash. Due to its power being drastically lowered since ''Melee'', however, it is now Pichu's weakest smash attack and possesses rather mediocre power for a smash attack, KOing Mario effectively starting at around 126% on Final Destination. In addition, its high ending lag makes it risky and punishable without wise usage.

|dsmashdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSBU|1.5}} (hits 1-4), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBU|8}} (hit 5), 1.3% recoil

|dsmashdesc=Discharges electricity while spinning around, shocking opponents in the process. It is tied with Pichu's up smash for dealing the second-highest damage out of all its smash attacks, dealing up to 14%. It KOs middleweights around 89% at the edge of Final Destination with no DI. Compared to Pikachu's down smash, it has much less ending lag and boasts more strength, but it is easier to DI and is worse for edgeguarding due to its heightened angle, which causes it to KO slightly later, KOing middleweights at around 106% at the edge of Final Destination with good DI. It has the least startup out of all its smash attacks, coming out on frame 8, but its 27 frames of ending lag make it punishable if performed unwisely. As well as up and forward smashes, neutral aerial can combo into this move to confirm a KO. Pichu also gains [[invincibility]] at frames 7-10.

|nairdesc=An aerial {{s|wikipedia|cartwheel}}. It has the properties of a [[sex kick]]. It is a quick [[out of shield]] option and, when compared to Pikachu's, it is more effective for KOing and possesses more range and less ending lag. If landing the clean hitbox, it can KO middleweights at around 158% at the edge of Final Destination without [[rage]]. It is one of Pichu's most versatile tools in its kit; being useful for breaking out of combos due to its almost nonexistent startup (frame 2), and a minimal amount of ending lag (12 frames). It is notorious for its ability to be [[fast fall|fast-falled]] to drag the opponent down and extend combos, and being a very quick out-of-shield option at frame 2. It can be fast-falled to combo into all of its tilts, a grab, and a smash attack due to its minimal ending lag. It [[auto-cancel]]s in a short hop, although is slightly safer when not auto-canceled, possessing 2 less frames of landing lag compared to Pikachu's.

|fairdesc=Spins forward with an electrically charged head, shocking opponents. It has moderate startup lag (frame 10) and hits 4 times. Possesses low landing and ending lag (15 frames), making it an effective [[spacing]] option. Unlike Pikachu's forward aerial, it covers Pichu's whole body and utilizes the [[autolink angle]], connecting better in comparison. It deals impressive damage (up to 14%, if all the hits connect) and combo into itself at low percents, while also being good for edgeguarding and leading to  a [[wall of pain]] at lower precents. The multiple hits and long duration make it an effective short hopped aerial to pressure the opponent's shield and potentially [[shield poke]]. Due to its lenient amount of ending lag, it is an excellent combo and edgeguarding option and can combo into grab sometimes, or connect into a dash attack to KO at higher percents.

|bairdesc=Spins around horizontally in a skydiver position while infusing electricity in a similar fasion of Pichu's [[down smash]], hitting multiple times. Can combo at low percentages and edgeguard at higher percents, like Pichu's [[forward aerial]]. It has miniimal startup lag, coming out on frame 4 with a long active duration, relatively low ending lag (24 frames) and can hit all around Pichu. However, it is burdened with poor range, only hitting opponents close to Pichu. To compensate, it is a great edgeguarding tool at high precents while being a useful combo starter at low percents. Additionally, the final hit boasts incredible power for an aerial attack of its kind, as it KOs middleweights at around 126% at the edge of Final Destination.

|uairdesc=An overhead tail swipe, beginning from behind Pichu. Extremely fast, coming out on frame 4, with minimal ending lag (17 frames) as it auto-cancels with less landing lag compared to Pikachu's up aerial and is interruptible at frame 27. It is useful for juggling or comboing into itself and other aerials, or into Thunder at certain percentages.

|dairdesc=Performs an electricity-infused barrel roll downwards. Possesses the capability to [[meteor smash]] opponents during the clean hit, which has a generously long duration (four frames), and, although with strict timing, it can auto-cancel in a short hop. Pichu's ears become intangible for the entire duration of the clean hit (frames 14-17). The late hit has good coverage in Pichu's body. It has low ending lag with 23 frames of vulnerability, but it is the highest of Pichu's aerials. Like Pikachu's, it also has a landing hitbox.

|grabdesc=Leans forward and reaches out single-handed. Possesses a range of approximately Pichu's body width, being somewhat short-ranged. Due to possessing the lowest amount of ending lag across the cast and extremely quick startup (frame 6), however, Pichu's grabs are the fastest in the game.

|pummeldesc=Shocks the opponent. It has above-average power and moderate speed.

|fthrowdesc=Places the opponent on its back and shocks them by infusing electricity onto them, launching them forward. Pichu's strongest throw, as it starts KOing middleweights at around 153% near the edge of Final Destination. Aside from KOing, it is also effective at starting edgeguards.

|bthrowdesc=Rolls backward before launching the opponent with a tomoe nage, a judo throw. Pichu's second-strongest throw, but it drastically pales in terms of power compared to Pichu's forward throw, as it starts KOing middleweights at around 181% at the edge of Final Destination. It is excellent for setting up edgeguards, as it has high base knockback and the animation means opponents near the center will end up being launched near the edge. It is potentially based on [[bulbapedia:Submission (move)|Submission]], a Fighting-type move that Pikachu could learn in Generation 1 games.

|uthrowdesc=Heaves the opponent onto its head and headbutts it upwards. A good combo throw at lower precentages. Can infamously combo into {{b|Thunder|Pokémon}}, making it a reliable finisher between medium and high percents. However, in comparison to Pikachu's up throw, it has drastically less power, which prevents it from KOing at realistic precentages, but gives its KO setup with Thunder much more consistency compared to Pikachu.

|dthrowdesc=Plants the opponent on the ground and performs a [[wikipedia:Professional wrestling throws#Senton|senton]]. A good combo starter comboing into all of Pichu's aerial attacks from low to medium percents, allowing Pichu to easily start combos.

|floorfdesc=Spins in a full rotation to sweep with its tail at both sides.

|floorbdesc=Spins in a full rotation to sweep with its tail at both sides.

|floortdesc=Thrusts its tail on both sides of itself while getting up.

|edgedesc=Performs a cartwheel and flicks its tail out while climbing up.

|nsdesc=Pichu's primary [[projectile]]. Fires a jolt of electricity forward. Compared to Pikachu's, it is quicker, bigger and stronger. It also travels forward while bouncing along the ground, and can also travel up walls, below the edge, and along ceilings, making it a strong edgeguarding and [[2 frame punish|2-framing]] tool. If performs in the air, it will travel diagonally down instead and will deal more damage. Disappears after around 3 seconds. It is useful for [[gimp]]ing certain recoveries. Deals less damage the farther it travels. A versatile projectile, as it deals good damage and moves quickly, assisting Pichu in controlling the neutral game. When it hits the stage or a platform, it sticks to it, looping across it until its lifespan is over or it hits the bottom of a soft platform. This allows Pichu to run alongside it to approach, cover several grounded options, and assit it in getting out of the corner.

|ssdesc=[[bulbapedia:Skull Bash (move)|Charges up before launching forward at a high velocity]]. It can be charged up to increase damage, knockback, and distance. Useful for horizontal recovery and can sweetspot the ledge, but leaves Pichu vulnerable due to being fairly slow, and the hitbox being within its hurtbox. If inputted like a smash attack, it immediately starts with some charge. When fully charged or close to full charged, it boasts high KO power and disproportional damage output. The move can also have utility to extend Pichu's recovery, though it does endure some lag. Compared to Pikachu's Skull Bash, Pichu's Skull Bash deals more damage and covers more distance at full charged, but deals less damage without charge, require a longer time to fully charge, inflicts recoil damage and has more ending lag.

|usdesc=Pichu's primary means of [[recovery]]. [[bulbapedia:Quick Attack (move)|Zips overhead at high speeds]]. It can be angled; if angled in a different direction after the first time it is performed, Pichu will use it again. It covers great distances and can be unpredictable with correct usage, but Pichu goes into [[helpless]]ness after using it. In comparison to Pikachu's Quick Attack, Agility travels at a farther distance. However, it lacks damage and Pichu suffers recoil damage.

|dsdesc=[[bulbapedia:Thunder (move)|Calls down a bolt of lightning from the sky]]. If the bolt strikes Pichu, it will create an electric explosion around itself, dealing massive knockback and granting Pichu intangibility for 10 frames. If an opponent is struck near the top of the bolt or at the cloud, they are launched down into Pichu and will get hit by the discharge as well; otherwise, they are launched upwards. Possesses high ending lag if the bolt doesn't strike Pichu. The thunderbolt becomes active on frame 9, but there is a long gap before the discharge, and thus, it is easy to attack Pichu before the thunderbolt hits it and is very vulnerable to counters. The projectile comes out on frame 2, and can be useful for breaking combos. The beginning of the bolt has a meteor effect and deals more damage than the rest of the bolt. When the bolt hits Pichu, a shockwave is generated and has excellent KO potential. In comparison to Pikachu's Thunder, Pichu's Thunder has less startup, but deals less damage and knockback overall and causes recoil damage. The thunderbolt travels faster than Pikachu's, giving it both positives and negatives: this makes it easier to land, but Pichu will be more vulnerable.

|fsdesc=[[bulbapedia:Volt Tackle (move)|Surrounds itself with electricity before dashing forwards]]. If it connects, Pichu will barrage the opponents caught with repeated strikes in this form before launching them with a powerful electric blast. If the dash misses, Volt Tackle finishes early. It causes a large amount of recoil damage, but is compensated by possessing increased overall power in comparison to Pikachu's Volt Tackle.}}

*Jumps out from a Poké Ball and waves both hands in the air with joy before landing, yelling "Pichu!" in the process (the same voice-clip heard in Pichu's side taunt).

*'''Up taunt''': Charges up with electricity, similar to {{SSBU|Pikachu}}'s up taunt, but falls back dazed when finishing.

*'''Side taunt''': Jumps up and waves at the camera, yelling "Pichu!" This was its left-facing taunt in ''Melee''.

*Turns around and looks at its tail, twitching it.

*Looks around itself excitedly while twitching its ears.

*'''Left:''' Cheers twice (facing to the right first and the left second), jumps thrice while spinning, and poses while {{s|wikipedia|fist pump}}ing with its left hand, chanting "Pichu, Pichu!"

*'''Up:''' Jumps three times, with the third jump, which is done while spinning, being higher than the first two. While in midair, Pichu waves both of its arms. After landing, Pichu raises both of its arms and arches towards its left side. During the pose, Pichu chants "Pi-Pi-Pichu!" in sync with each jump.

*'''Right:''' Charges electricity, causing itself fall over, dazed, then stands up and winks while scratching its head while smiling.

In contrast to its ''Melee'' counterpart, where it is considered one of the worst characters in the game, Pichu was commonly considered one of the best characters in the game in the early metagame, if not the game's absolute strongest fighter in ''Ultimate''. This is due to its small size, quick mobility and powerful KO potential, with most of its KO options including back aerial, {{b|Thunder|Pokémon}}, and its infamous forward tilt. These strengths allowed Pichu to have a strong playerbase, with players such as {{Sm|VoiD}}, {{Sm|NAKAT}}, {{Sm|Nietono}}, and {{Sm|Captain L}} performing spectacularly on a national level.

However, patch {{SSBU|3.1.0}} increased its size and nerfed the power of its forward tilt, while increasing the amount of recoil on almost all of its electric attacks. In addition to progressively more players learning how to play the matchup, several players considered Pichu to be inferior to {{SSBU|Pikachu}}, and its representation and results ended up declining as a result, with several of its best players either dropping the character (Captain L) or relegating it to either a co-main or secondary (VoiD). Although patch {{SSBU|11.0.0}} reverted some of those nerfs, it failed to change most players' opinions on the character. However, Pichu's strengths and received buffs have prevented players from switching their opinions of considering Pichu a fairly strong competitive threat, similar to Pikachu; with continuously declining results both during and after the [[COVID-19|COVID-19 pandemic]], most of the community currently considers Pichu to be a high-tier or mid-tier character at best, ranking 55th on the first tier list before rising up to 53rd on the second and current tier list as a mid-tier. Nevertheless, Pichu is still widely considered to be drastically more viable than its ''Melee'' iteration.

Although Pichu has been absent from the opening cutscene of World of Light, it was vaporized and later imprisoned alongside the rest of the fighters (sans {{SSBU|Kirby}}) when [[Galeem]] unleashed his beams of light.

To access Pichu, the player must enter the [[Power Plant]] sub-area and reach it on a platform using two Zapfish, where it can then be challenged and recruited.

*As of ''Ultimate'', Pichu is the only character in any game who receives damage while using their Final Smash (excluding characters that affords free movement and be attacked during their Final Smash, such as {{SSBU|Ice Climbers}} and {{SSBU|Inkling}}).

**Because of this, Pichu is the only character that can take damage from all of its special moveset, in both ''Melee'' and ''Ultimate''.

*Despite fighting lightweight characters, {{SSBU|Fox}}, {{SSBU|Pikachu}}, {{SSBU|Sheik}} and {{SSBU|Zero Suit Samus}} are absent from Pichu's Classic Mode route.

*Discounting fighters who do not make an appearance in any spirit battles, Pichu, {{SSBU|Banjo & Kazooie}}, and {{SSBU|Daisy}} are the only fighters who do not possess an Ace or Legend-type spirit in spirit battles.