Mii Brawler (SSBU): Difference between revisions

The Mii Brawler has received a large mix of buffs and nerfs in the transition to ''Ultimate'', and it is ambiguous to whether they have been overall buffed or nerfed. The Mii Brawler has been the most extensively modified of the Mii Fighters, especially in terms of custom moves. With height and weight now being fixed, the Mii Brawler now has set attributes, now being a [[weight|middleweight]] fast faller with high mobility and effective close combat abilities, making their playstyle along the lines of other combo-oriented "footsies" fighters like {{SSBU|Mario}} or {{SSBU|Squirtle}}.

In terms of move changes, aside from some animation changes that set their moves apart from other characters, the Brawler's standard moveset has been overall buffed. Their moves' functionality has not been altered significantly, with quality-of-life changes like forward tilt losing its sourspot, forward aerial being faster and connecting better, and moves such as their smash attacks and back aerial getting moderate to high increases in knockback. Similarly to the other Mii Fighters, the Brawler's default special moves have been buffed exponentially, with them being the largest recipient of the Brawler's buffs: [[Shot Put]] has less endlag and sends at a lower angle that makes it more useful, Onslaught has increased KO potential overall, Soaring Axe Kick covers slightly more distance and the descending part now has to be manually inputted, and Head-On Assault can now KO and deals increased shield damage. These changes give them a larger abundance of powerful moveset choices, fixing one of the Brawler's former weaknesses and allowing the Brawler to function just as effectively without altered customs.

The Brawler is the Mii Fighter to have the biggest access to entirely new special moves: each directional input (neutral, side, up, down) has a new special move that replaces another: [[Ultimate Uppercut]] was replaced by [[Flashing Mach Punch]], a powerful multi-hit move; [[Headache Maker]] was replaced by [[Suplex]], a damaging [[grab|command grab]]; [[Piston Punch]] was replaced by [[Thrust Uppercut]], a variant with more recovery potential and combo ability but less KO power; and [[Foot Flurry]] was replaced by [[Counter Throw]], a unique [[counterattack]] with low cooldown, short counter frames, and a retaliating hit in the form of a [[grab]]. Each of these moves now give the Brawler a new option to handle several different situations.

However, the Mii Brawler has also received notworthy nerfs, which arguably counterbalance their buffs. The Brawler's set attributes are a double-edged sword, as their lower weight, slower air speed, and higher falling speed and gravity, makes them easier to both combo and KO and removes their neutral aerial's ability to autocancel from a short hop. Additionally, some of the Brawler's best moves have been nerfed: down throw's higher knockback scaling limits followups after mid percents, vastly reducing the KO power of their combo strings and preventing the Brawler from KOing as early as 85% through throw combos. The Brawler's best followup options from down throw also have weaker KO potential, since [[Helicopter Kick]] now only kills at ledge and Thrust Uppercut's knockback is lower compared to Piston Punch. As a result, the Brawler's KO setups have actually been reduced, since they now only serve to rack up damage instead of KOing.

Despite Soaring Axe Kick's vastly improved utility and distance, some of the Brawler's other recovery choices have been nerfed in distance, making the Brawler's recovery less reliable than before: Onslaught travels a reduced distance if performed in the air, [[Burning Dropkick]] now has a fixed distance and cannot be charged (which also reduces its utility) and [[Feint Jump]] travels at a more downward angle, which when combined with the Brawler's increased fall speed and gravity gives the move less distance. The Brawler's [[approach]] options have also been reduced due to the removal of [[Ultimate Uppercut]] and [[Foot Flurry]], the former removing a [[super armor]] option in exchange for invincibility when [[Flashing Mach Punch]] connects, and the latter removing one of their only approaching attacks in exchange for a counterattack in [[Counter Throw]]. Lastly, the Brawler also retains some of their former weaknesses from ''Smash 4'', such as a below-average [[neutral game]] due to their poor range, unreliable aerials for approaching and only passable projectile, an inconsistent combo game, slightly below-average frame data for a fighter of their playstyle, trouble at landing their powerful KO options, and a predicable recovery.

Overall, the changes to the Mii Brawler's moveset allow more of their special moves to shine while granting them better utility, though at the cost of their strongest tools being streamlined, and the extreme changes their special moves have gained means the Brawler has to take advantage of their buffed special moves to counteract the nerfs to their potent down throw combos. Due to these factors, the Brawler is arguably the weakest of the three Mii Fighters, although they have received consistent and notable buffs throughout patches, unlike the other Mii Fighters. Overall, their viability compared to the cast and, more significantly, their impact on the metagame, are still yet to be determined due to their low representation and amount of results.