Pikachu (SSB)
- This article is about Pikachu's appearance in Super Smash Bros. For other uses, see Pikachu.
| Pikachu | |
|---|---|
Pikachu
| |
| Universe | Pokémon |
| Appears in | SSB SSBM SSBB |
| Availability | Starter |
| Tier | Top (1) |
Pikachu (ピカチュウ, Pikachū) is a starter character and is notorious for his high priority aerials, good edgeguarding ability, and superb recovery. A versatile character with very few weaknesses, a player opposing a Pikachu should never rush straight at the opponent as its aerials can out-prioritize and out-range almost any move. It is currently ranked number one on the tier list.
Description
Pikachu
Mouse PKMN
Height 1'4"
Weight 13lbs
When several of these Pokémon gather, their electricity could cause lightning storms.
(Pokédex excerpt)
Works: Pokémon (GB)
Atributes
Pikachu is a very quick character with high-priority moves, great finishers, a projectile that can be used for approach, and a powerful Back throw. His Thunder Jolt is a relatively underused attack, but can be used for approach. Quick Attack is arguably the best Triple Jump in Super Smash Bros., and for good reason, it can be extended be incredibly useful in recovery situations, or as a resort to leave battle to evade an attack to start a combo. His edgeguarding abilities are very impressive, adding to his infinite edge stall. Pikachu is also known for 3 great combo starters, forward-throw, f-air, and d-air, forward throw for starting combos with the other moves. His attacks, most notably f-smash have strange hitboxes, and f-smash is an excellant finisher as well. To add to his small size, his comboing ability is amazing, most notably Thunder-spiking, which involves using an up smash, and while the opponent is high enough, hit them with Thunder, the only attack in the game with infinite vertical range. Forward tilt, like most others in an exceptional combo in U-smash.
The problems Pikachu faces are small, but still noticeable. He is easily comboed, along with the fact he is light weight, despite usually being able to get out of bad situatings with his high priority attacks. He also has low range, especially on grabs. HIs up-b, despite its invincibilty frames and wonderful range, leaves Pikachu vulnerable. If you can get over these small issues, Pikachu will be a huge asset.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Quick dash and jumps
- Small size
- Very versatile, long, and quick recovery
- Possesses an infinite edge stall
- Has invincibility frames during its up B
- High priority aerials, many of which have invisible hitboxes
- Very good edgeguarding
- Has a projectile
- Disjointed forward smash
- Abusable grab
- Good at juggling
- Down-B capable of attacking an opponent far above you
Cons
- Fairly easily comboed
- Light and floaty, thus easy to KO
- Has a vulnerability during the up B
- Most moves have relatively low reach
Normal Moves
A Attacks
- A - headbutt-2%
- Rapid A - '2%, then 1% per headbutt, without proper di, this can break a shield against a wall
- Forward tilt - light kick-9%*
- Down tilt - tail sweep-12%, normally used against walls/against certain people's recoveries (Fox, Captain Falcon, Samus, etc.)
- Up tilt - Vertical Kick-8%, a very fun move with very high priority. can combo multiple times without the opponent escaping, simple to combo with up smash and up tilt etc.
- Forward smash - Thunder jolt-16%, very high priority, one of the best killing moves, can be slightly aimed up/down but barely
- Down smash - Break dance-16/14% (forward hit 16, back hit 14), a less used and slightly less powerful version of the forward smash, randomly used (mindgames)
- Up smash - Flip-14% very powerful, similar to falcon but more range, slower, and with more lag, can combo multiple ones with heavy chars also using up tilt and it into aerials and down b, a good killing move, high priority
- Dash attack - Sliding Headbutt-8% barely used, can be used for finishing but BARELY
- Nair - Aerial Kick-14% a combo starter for pros, made better by isai*, a combo starter/finisher, high priority and powerful hit box
- Fair - aerial thunder jolt-6 hits, 2%/hit, a combo starter
- Bair - Back Kick-14%, very powerful, a combo ender/starter, high priority
- Dair - downward jolt-10-12, 3 on ground if not shuffzed%
- Uair - upward tail-8% depending on area of tail, a comboer
Throws
- Forward throw-14%
- Back throw-18%
Special Moves
Combos and General Strategy
Extended Quick Attack
Pikachu's already long up B can be extended even farther by letting the analog stick snap back to neutral position before the end of the second quick attack. This can also be used on the first quick attack but runs a high risk of missing the second quick attack.
Extended Quick Attack 2 (Or Sing & Dash)
If Jigglypuff is using her Up-B (Sing), and you Quick attack into it, your recovery blasts off into a quick burst of speed which reaches a farther range, and moves faster. However, This technique is practically useless, due to the fact that to get into a situation where it would be advantagous to do this, and then to pull it off correctly, while a Jigglypuff just happens to be singing, is extremely low.
Thunder-Spiking
Launching the opponent straight up (usually with an Up smash) and using Thunder (Pikachu's Down B) is called "Thunder-Spiking." Thunder-Spiking is usually used as a combo finisher. Unlike Pikachu's Thunder in Super Smash Bros. Melee, Thunder in Super Smash Bros. has infinite vertical range. This technique allows Pikachu to get a vertical kill at around 40% damage sooner than just a normal Up smash.
Costume Gallery
| Fighters in Super Smash Bros. | |
|---|---|
| Fighters | Captain Falcon · Donkey Kong · Fox · Jigglypuff · Kirby · Link · Luigi · Mario · Ness · Pikachu · Samus · Yoshi |
