Shulk (SSB4): Difference between revisions

'''Shulk''' ({{ja|シュルク|Shuruku}}, ''Shulk'') was unofficially revealed as a playable character in ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]'' alongside {{SSB4|Bowser Jr.}} and {{SSB4|Ganondorf}} via [[Leak#ESRB leak|leaked videos]] from footage used by ESRB to rate the game before being formally confirmed on August 29th, 2014. His official reveal came along with the announcement of ''Xenoblade Chronicles 3D'', the "new" Nintendo 3DS port of his game ''Xenoblade Chronicles''.  

Shulk is a character of many talents, arguably having one of the most unique fighting styles in ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]''. As popularly advertised, his signature weapon - the Monado - gives him a wide variety of abilities via the [[Monado Arts]], allowing him to mix up his play style throughout the match. Overall, Shulk has somewhat similar attributes to [[Marth]]; his sword is long, relatively powerful sword, and can launch opponents farther upon certain conditions, such as the [[tipper]] (although Shulk's "tipper" is the middle of the Monado). Also, his weight and range are nearly identical, except Shulk's seems to become even longer in some instances, such as his smash attacks.  

Shulk also has a powerful aerial game, possessing aerials with little to no landing lag, and can use them very effectively to [[approach]] and space opponents with his enormously disjointed range. His ground game is not bad either, as his smashes have decent power when sweetspotted even without being boosted by the Monado Arts, and some of them, such as forward smash, can surprise opponents with the sudden extension of the Monado's beam blade. His [[Vision]] has moderately fast start-up for a [[counter]], and it has the longest time frame in the game for a counterattack of its kind.  

His flaws are small, yet still noticeable; [[Air Slash]] provides only mediocre vertical distance, and [[Back Slash]] cannot even [[sweetspot]] ledges. Also, his speed in both the air and ground is not the best, leaving him vulnerable to quick attacks from characters such as {{SSB4|Sonic}}, although his down smash can help provide a bubble from either speedy fighters or roll-spammers. However, most of these flaws can be addressed through the Monado Arts. His [[recovery]] problems can nearly be fixed through the Jump Art; when he cannot keep up with an opponent,the Speed Art is always there to keep him light on his toes, and the Shield Art can keep him alive for a much longer time against heavy hitters. Also, in the occasional times when he has trouble [[KO]]ing, the Smash Art can score a KO absurdly early, with the Buster Art also being a great option to rack up enormous damage early on; for example, with the Buster Art, his forward smash can do about 24% uncharged, which is on par with {{SSB4|Ganondorf}}. Nonetheless, Shulk has many of the same problems as {{SSB4|Lucario}} - although his attacks (and other various abilities) are potent with the Arts activated, as are Lucario's with his [[Aura]], his other traits (similar to Lucario's high damage) are drastically toned down. For example, with the Smash Art activated, he can be KOed as early as {{SSB4|Jigglypuff}} can, and the Shield Art makes it hard for him to gain any significant percent on the enemy. Furthermore, when the Arts are not activated, he is merely average in most areas, yet in most cases, it is simple to equip or change them at the beginning of a stock or on-the-fly.  

Shulk is specialized by long reach and power equally, able to attack opponents from a distance. Shulk uses the Monado as his weapon, which can attack from long range using its beam properties. The Monado does more damage and knockback on some attacks if it hits from the middle of the beam blade rather than from the tip of the beam blade.

|neutraldesc=A punch, kick, upward slash combo. Very similar to [[Ike]]'s.

|ftiltdesc=Shulk swings the Monado in front of him inward. Slight ending lag. Deals good knockback at high percentages while using the Smash Art.

|utiltdesc=Shulk jumps and does a fast, overhead sword swipe uppercut. A good anti-air technique. Can be used to rack up damage when combined with the up throw while using the Buster Art, and a powerful surprise KO move at high percents while using the Smash Art, able to KO middleweights at 120%.

|dtiltdesc=A reasonably fast downward swipe with good range, making it a safe out of shield option. Good knockback with the Smash Art at high percents, though not as powerful as Shulk's up or forward tilt.

|dashdesc=Swipes the Monado forward. One of Shulk's KO moves when under the Smash Art.

|fsmashdesc=A long stab using the Monado's beam blade with slight ending lag. It looks akin to his Slit Edge Art from ''Xenoblade Chronicles''. Like his up smash, the move has two hits, the first from the Monado itself and the second from the beam blade. The move has slightly more knockback scaling if angled up. Can KO middleweights at 115% (95% with the Smash Art).

|usmashdesc=Shulk smashes the hilt of the Monado to the ground, causing the beam to strike upward. There are two hits to this move, the first being when Shulk slams the Monado down, and the second from the beam blade. The first hit has a small horizontal range, but can easily connect to the second hit if it lands. KOs at 111% (88% with the Smash Art.)

|dsmashdesc=A high-range spinning slash with long start-up and ending lag where Shulk drags the Monado three times around him along the ground. The move is capable of hitting five times, with each hit dealing less damage, though it is prohibitively difficult to have it strike the same opponent even twice (but under those conditions it is a solid knockback/damage attack). Useful against roll-spammers, who will more than likely get hit by the second or third hit. First hit KOs at 125% (101% with the Smash Art).

|uairdesc=Shulk holds the Monado above him and the beam blade strikes upward. Solid juggling tool.

|dairdesc=Shulk holds the Monado below him and the beam blade strikes downward. The first hit of the move does little knockback, but can easily connect to the second hit, which [[meteor smash]]es if [[sweet spot|sweetspotted]]. The sweetspot is located at the middle of the Monado's beam blade, though difficult to connect in the air.

|fthrowdesc=Shulk pulls the opponent towards him before slashing them with an uppercut from the Monado. Can combo into a short hopped forward air with the Speed Art.

|bthrowdesc=Shulk pulls the opponent behind him and stabs their midsection with the Monado in a reverse grip. Can be used to land a Back Slash with the Buster Art, though it is tricky to do on alert players who air dodge frequently.

|uthrowdesc=Heaves the opponent in the air and stabs their chest. Can be followed with up tilts, especially with the Buster Art.