Ganondorf (PM)

Ganondorf in Project M and Project+
Universe	The Legend of Zelda
Base game appearance	Brawl
Moveset inspiration	Ganondorf (SSBM), Ganondorf (SSBB)
Alternate costume	Ocarina of Time Ganondorf

Ganondorf's Ocarina of Time Costume in Project M 3.5

Ganondorf is a playable character in the Brawl mod Project M. He was buffed significantly in Project M after being mostly reverted to his Melee version. However, some Brawl attributes were maintained, and part of his moveset was changed to make him more well-rounded.

Attributes

Ganondorf is overall greatly buffed from Melee and Brawl. Most of his favorable traits from Melee return, along with Brawl's Flame Choke, restoring his recovery, speed, and combo and K.O.ing ability back to its prime. Some of his more powerful moves have been given less ending lag or greater reach, many late weak hitboxes were removed, and his less often used moves have either been sped up drastically (up tilt) or removed entirely in favor of adding a more practical move (Warlock Punch to Dead Man's Volley/Drift, though one of his taunts can be used as an attack which possesses similar properties to the Warlock Punch). His animation and special move overhaul make him a slightly more accurate representation of his appearance in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Now equipped with a reflector that doubles as a floating maneuver, and decent speed combined with his menacing power, he has the potential to be one of the best characters in the game. However, despite his buffs, he is not invincible and can easily be overwhelmed by faster or combo-heavy opponents.

Changes from Melee and Brawl to PM

Ganondorf's new Neutral Special.

Ganondorf using his sword.

Aesthetics

• Ganondorf now uses his laughing SFX during his on-screen appearance.
• Most of his aesthetics were altered. He uses his dashing and grounded Wizard's Foot animations from Melee. Sweetspot of forward aerial produces a darkness effect while back aerial produces an electric effect. Dark Dive now makes Ganondorf briefly flash purple during the uppercut portion. Both back aerial and neutral attack now also use a different "punch" SFX similar to that of his side taunt. His sidestep and rolling dodges make him flicker and glow purple during his intangible frames. His forward tilt looks similar to Brawl's animation, but he retreats his leg instead of dropping it. His forward smash resembles a faster Warlock Punch animation.

Attributes

• Dashing speed has reverted to that of Melee, which is noticeably faster than Brawl's run speed.
• Midair jumping height slightly increased; Ganondorf can now edge hop more easily onto the stage.
• Sidestep dodge has been sped up; it is now tied for the fastest sidestep in the game.

Ground attacks

• Neutral attack was reverted back to its Melee incarnation. While its reach was reduced and it no longer has its slightly stronger sweetspot, it has significantly faster start-up and its lowered knockback values make the move much more combo friendly.
• Forward tilt can be angled like it could in Melee, and has improved horizontal reach and less ending lag.
• New up tilt: Shock Stomp. Ganondorf lifts his foot, then quickly brings it down an electric stomp of high hitbox duration. Lasts for about 60 frames, and hits twice, much like Captain Falcon's up tilt in Smash 64, with the second hit having strong power and knockback, enough to reliably KO under 100%. It also deals up to 30% damage (3% more than the Brawl up tilt). This new up tilt is much faster and deals slightly more total damage than the original Volcano Kick.
  • New up tilt is significantly weaker in terms of knockback and has no vacuum effect.
• Down tilt has less ending lag.
• Dash attack has its faster speed from Melee and now be canceled in to a long DACUS.
  • Dash attack's knockback values were not adjusted for the much faster falling speeds, making it a bit less effective and reliable at KOing (with it now KOing around the 115-145% range, about 25% later than in Brawl).
• Up smash reverted back to the stronger and faster double-hitting "tornado kick" from Melee. It also has slightly wider hitboxes and the second kick deals slightly more damage.
• Down smash reverted back to its Melee form, being much faster, stronger, hitting more vertically, and its two hits linking together more effectively.
• Forward smash is slightly weaker unless it is angled upward, and it additionally produces more vertical knockback, slightly weakening its KOing ability, especially against fast fallers.

Aerial attacks

• Neutral aerial's hits are easier to link into each other, and the move autocancels sooner, allowing it to be autocanceled in a short hop fast fall. The first kick comes out faster, and the second kick has also been reverted back to its Melee power, though it retains its Brawl sourspot.
• Forward aerial's frame data has been reverted to back to its faster and much less laggy Melee version. It retains the Brawl sourspot, but it was decreased in size and now has the strength of his Melee f-air, with the sweetspot retaining its Brawl power. The move also has slightly more reach.
• Back aerial given its stronger Melee knockback and longer hitbox duration. It also has less ending lag, allowing it to be autocanceled in a short hop fast fall.
• Down aerial's late weak hitboxes have been removed, and the hitboxes as a whole are slightly larger. It also has slightly less ending lag, which allows it to still autocancel in a short hop as it can in Brawl. It additionally no longer has transcendent priority, which now allows it to cancel out projectiles.

Grabs, throws, and other

• Grabbing reach from Brawl was slightly improved.
• Up throw has less base knockback, so it can now be effectively followed up on, as well as chain throw fast fallers.
• Down throw's knockback scaling was weakened, and has its Melee trajectory of throwing the opponent right next to Ganondorf, allowing it to chain throw and setup very effectively.
• Forward and back throws are significantly worse; the latter inflicts less damage than in Brawl, and both are less effective for getting opponents offstage, with the latter no longer being capable of KOing at very high damages.
• Down taunt can be held to make Ganondorf attack with his sword. It has the same startup, damage and knockback as his Warlock Punch but it has much greater range and has super armor right before it hits. The damage is at its highest at the tip of the sword where it makes a small explosion on the ground.
  • The sword swing cannot be reversed, nor can it be used in the air like Warlock Punch could.

Special moves

• New neutral special: Dead Man's Volley & Drift. Using this move in the air causes him to float for one second, like Peach and Mewtwo. Using it while floating or on the ground will have him flip his cape, reflecting projectiles. This improves Ganondorf's recovery and his fighting chance against projectile users.
• Grounded Flame Choke deals more damage, plus it travels faster and farther. Additionally, if Ganondorf falls off an edge with the move, he will go into the ending animation instead of instantly becoming helpless, allowing him to still grab the ledge within the game's new physics.
• Aerial Flame Choke deals slightly more damage and now inflicts caught opponents with a weak set knockback meteor smash, causing them to weakly bounce up instead of being immediately floored; this leads to it having guaranteed followups (especially if the opponent doesn't tech), and is overall much easier to followup. In addition, if Ganondorf performs a Sacrificial KO with it when him and his opponent are on their last stock, he'll always win now (unlike in vBrawl where it results in either a Sudden Death or loss for Ganondorf).
  • Grounded Flame Choke can now be teched, removing its guaranteed followups from Brawl.
• Dark Dive has slightly faster start-up, and its power has been drastically increased, with it dealing slightly more damage than the Melee version while being able to reliably KO under 150%, which also now prevents opponents from being able to attack Ganondorf out of the move. The throw also completes much faster, giving caught opponents much less time to react and DI.
• Wizard's Foot has its late weak hitboxes removed for both grounded and aerial versions, and its power has been increased to being slightly stronger than its Melee version, reliably KOing around 115%. Aerial Wizard's Foot also restores Ganondorf's midair jump and spikes opponents for its entire duration as it did in Melee, significantly improving Ganondorf's recovery and equipping him with a deadly edge guard.
  • Ganondorf can no longer perform the Flight of Ganon.

Revisions

v2.1

• Fixed one of Ganondorf's up tilt hitboxes so that when the explosion occurs it is likelier to hit.
• Forward tilt has its animations adjusted, and the angled up version can now properly hit enemies standing on upper platforms.
• Flame Choke causes Ganondorf to go into the aerial ending animation when slipping off an edge with it, allowing to grab the edge and come back to the stage.
• Down smash kicks hit at the proper frames apart now, so the second kick doesn't whiff as easily.
• Ledge attacks now match those of Melee.
• Adjusted Ganondorf's Dark Dive physics and grab hitboxes to be closer to Melee's.
• Dash attack can slip off edges like in Melee.
• Back and up aerial's ranges now match those of Melee.
• Down throw's animation was adjusted.

v2.5b

• Flame Choke's top grab box fixed to affect grounded opponents, so he doesn't miss opponents on platforms.
• Down throw increased slightly in knockback growth.
• Jab and down aerial have new electric graphical effects.
• Warlock Punch is now reversible. Its turn occurs slightly later than in Brawl, but can be performed up to four times.
• Flame Choke has its darkness hit effects restored.
• Dark Dive's launch fire hit effects were restored.

v2.6b

• Initial dash animation length increased by 1 frame to match Melee, also improving moonwalk distance slightly.
• Dash attack adjusted to use Brawl's damage and knockback values.
• Up tilt (Volcano Kick) replaced with new, electric stomp attack, which is weaker in knockback, but much faster and of practical use.
• Neutral aerial's first kick has less base knockback and higher angle to be slightly better as a combo starter and combo into second hit more often.
• Forward smash's angles adjusted in damage, power, and trajectory so there is more reason to use them over up angled, while previously the move was superior in all 3 angles.
• T-pose bug with his Final Smash is fixed.
• Ganondorf's magical effects now illuminate his body.
• Warlock Punch's additional turns can be prevented by holding the special button.

v3.0

• Dark Dive's startup is slightly faster.
• Wizard Foot's damage increased on both ground and air kicks; knockback compensated to be the same. The move is now also reversible.
• Ganondorf is now always KO'd first when performing a Sacrificial KO with Flame Choke.
• Forward air's animation was polished. Active frames begin and terminate one frame earlier to better match the animation.
• Down air's animation was polished.

v3.02

• Ganondorf is now always KO'd last when suiciding with Flame Choke.
• Aerial Wizard's Foot can be ledge-canceled.
• Up and down aerial item throw animations' heights have been adjusted.

v3.5

• Ganondorf received a new Neutral special, "Dead Man's Volley/Drift". When used in the air it allows him to float. When used on the ground or while already floating, it allows him to reflect projectiles with a flip of his cape. Despite this new change, Kirby still copies the Warlock Punch.
• Down taunt can be used as an attack when held. It has the same startup, damage, and knockback as his Warlock Punch except it has greater range and has super armor right before it hits. The damage is at its highest at the tip of the sword where it makes a small explosion on the ground.
  • The sword swing cannot be reversed, nor can it be used in the air like Warlock Punch could.
• Neutral aerial has slightly less endlag and start-up (first active frame from 7 to 5 frames).
• Forward throw deals more damage (from 9% to 13%).
• Back throw has less endlag.
• Aerial Flame Choke is no longer techable on final hit.
• Sidestep dodge has been sped up; it is now tied for the fastest sidestep in the game.
• Down throw's chain grabbing and set-up capabilities have been toned down due to its slightly higher knockback scaling (from 40 to 45).
• Forward tilt has slightly less reach and less knockback.
• Up smash has slightly more endlag.
• Forward smash animation now resembles his Warlock Punch.
• Forward throw now gives off darkness effects.
• Back aerial has a new animation.
• All of Ganondorf's dodging animations have new magical animations, with purple overlays and a brief stutter.

Moveset

Up to date as of version 3.5.

	Name	Damage	Description
Neutral attack		7% (hand), 8% (body)	Ganon does a quick one hit punch with lightning properties.
Forward tilt		14%/13%/12% (high foot/leg/body), 13%/12%/11% (mid foot/leg/body), 12%/11%/10% (low foot/leg/body)	Ganon quickly kicks the opponent with a large force. Can be angled.
Up tilt		8% (early), 22%/20% (foot/body)	Ganon does a very quick stomp on the opponent. Weaker than the original up tilt, but much quicker.
Down tilt		12%	Ganon does a kick to the opponent.
Dash attack		15% (clean), 10% (mid), 8% (late)	Ganon charges at the opponent, and forcefully rams into them.
Forward smash		24% (high), 22% (mid), 20% (low)	Ganon winds up a large amount of darkness and releases it all in one deadly back-handed punch. Resembles the Warlock Punch.
Up smash		22% (hit 1), 19% (hit 2) (41% total)	Ganon does a double kick upwards. Deadly knockback, and also the most damaging up smash.
Down smash		8% (hit 1), 12%/14% (hit 2 foot/leg) (22% max damage)	Ganon kicks around him. The first kick combos into the second kick.
Neutral aerial		12%/7% (hit 1 clean/late), 12%/7% (hit 2 clean/late) (24% max damage)	Ganon does two mid-air kicks.
Forward aerial		17%	Ganon punches the opponent with deadly force and knockback. Great finisher.
Back aerial		16%	Ganon does a back-handed punch. Faster than his forward air, but with weaker knockback.
Up aerial		12%/13% (clean foot/leg), 10%/12% (mid foot/leg), 6%/8% (late foot/leg)	Ganon does a bicycle kick into the air.
Down aerial		22%	Brings down an electric stomp. The most powerful meteor smash in the game, though unlike Captain Falcon's down aerial, it cannot spike opponents.
Grab		—	Grabs the opponent.
Pummel		3%	Ganon knees the opponent with a quick speed.
Forward throw		5% (hit), 8% (throw) (13% total)	Ganon punches the opponent forwards.
Back throw		5% (hit), 4% (throw) (9% total)	Ganon does a forceful kick backwards.
Up throw		4% (hit), 3% (throw) (7% total)	Ganon punches the foe upwards into the air.
Down throw		7%	Ganon throws the opponent forcibly on the ground.
Floor attack (front)		6%	Ganon flips himself to kick in the front and back.
Floor attack (back)		6%	Ganon does a spinning double kick.
Floor attack (trip)		5%	Ganon spins around to kick those who are near.
Edge attack (fast)		10%	Ganon gets up and does a fast kick.
Edge attack (slow)		10%	Ganon does a slow slap to the opponent.
Neutral special	Dead Man's Volley & Drift	5% (cape flip)	On the ground, Ganon will swing his cape, reflecting projectiles at twice their original speed. Using it once in mid air will make him float, and using it again will make him perform the volley.
Side special	Flame Choke	Ground: 12% (hit), 1% (release), Air: 1% (hits 1-6), 7% (release)	On the ground, Ganon slides forward stretching his hand. Once the attack connects with an enemy, he puts them up, chokes and releases them onto the ground. In the air, Ganon grabs the opponent and slams them into the ground, weakly bouncing them upwards, and as a recovery move it can sweetspot ledges. If there is no ground, there will be a self-destruct for both players. Can be used for edgehogging. The move can fall off edges if used too close to them, but Ganondorf can then grab them and come back to the stage. This can be still be dangerous, though, as he will fall helpless and SD if the edge is ungrabbable.
Up special	Dark Dive	2% (hits 1-4), 10% (release), 7% (uppercut)	Ganon grabs onto the opponent and unleashes electricity onto them, then launches them with an explosion. If he grabs an opponent with the move, he doesn't fall helpless and can use it again. The grab attack inflicts 4 electric hits of 2% damage that can damage nearby foes, then the explosion deals 10% with a flame effect. Ganondorf can receive damage when grabbing an opponent, but cannot be knocked out of the move. If he misses, he will then perform an uppercut that launches enemies upwards and can punish edge-hoggers, while possesing a large edge sweet spot.
Down special	Wizard's Foot	17% (both versions), 8% (landing)	Ganon launches with a dark kick forward, or diagonally downwards when used in midair. The grounded version acts as a strong horizontal finisher, while the aerial version spikes opponents, yielding early KOs against recovering ones if they fail at dodging the attack. The midair version also restores Ganondorf's double jump, extending his recovery, and has a landing hitbox that bounces foes upwards. The grounded version can fall off edges and bump into walls; in the latter case, Ganondorf will flip backwards and suffer a great amount of lag.
Final Smash	Beast Ganon	10% (grounding), 10% (stomp), 45% (charge)	Ganondorf becomes his beast form and rams into the opponent. Opponents can become stuck in the ground, or paralyzed in midair. Usually a one-hit KO.

In competitive play

Notable players

•  Arty
•  Darkrain
•  Hungry Headcrab
•  Junebug
•  Kage
•  Mr. Brandandorf
•  n0ne
•  Spider Sense
•  Vex Kasrani

Alternate costumes

Ganondorf has an alternate costume based on his appearance in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Melee.

The set comes with recolors for team battles, as well as a purple recolor; his Ocarina of Time color scheme was replaced to make room.

Ganondorf's alternate costumes in PM

External links

• Project M character page