Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Balanced Brawl

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Balanced Brawl, or BBrawl, is a hack of Super Smash Bros. Brawl designed by Thinkaman and Amazing Ampharos with the goal of balancing characters in competitive Brawl with as few changes to core physics as possible. It is normally loaded using Smash Stack by comex so it is playable on any Wii, hacked or not. More information, videos, downloads, setup instructions, and chat can be found on the Balanced Brawl website.

Universal Changes

Unlike Brawl+, none of the core physics have been changed:

  • Character movement is the same.
  • Hitbox sizes are the same for all characters.
  • No stages are frozen.

Features

  • Increased character balance.
  • Increased stage viability.
  • Infinites like jab lock, slipping, footstool, and grab release are removed.
  • Characters experience less lag when escaping from grabs with an aerial grab release, which prevents aerial grab release followups, most notably on Wario.
  • Viability of planking is significantly reduced. Each time a character grabs the ledge, a counter increments. If a character grabs five times or more, they will perform an automatic ledge climb. The counter is reset if the character enters hitstun, is grabbed, is KO'd, or put under another harmful effect (such as being frozen). Grabs using tethers do not count.
  • Water stalling is also greatly reduced. The limit for water entries uses the same counter as ledge grabs and once it reaches seven, entering the water will cause the character to automatically drown.
  • No random tripping. Moves that trip the opponent such as bananas will still trip.
  • Very few changes to timing.
  • Certain glitches like the landing lag glitch and others were removed.

Stage Changes

Character changes

When Balanced Brawl was started, the creators decided to balance all the characters towards a power level about equal to that of Diddy Kong in standard Brawl. This meant some characters received several changes, while others did not need more than minor tweaks. Most characters were generally buffed, and only a few were nerfed.

Bowser

Captain Falcon

  • Buff Many attacks like forward tilt, up tilt, down tilt, neutral aerial, and forward aerial all do slightly more damage. Forward tilt has more knockback and up tilt hits at a lower angle,
  • Buff Forward smash angled up and down smash second hit are more powerful.
  • Buff Back throw is more powerful.
  • Buff Pummel does 3% damage and has an electric effect.
  • Buff Falcon Punch has 19% heavy armor.
  • Buff Falcon Dive and aerial Raptor Boost do slightly more damage and have more knockback.
  • Buff Aerial Raptor Boost no longer sends Captain Falcon into helpless state on hit.
  • Buff Falcon Kick is ravamped and now safe on hit.
  • Buff Ending lag of Falcon Kick on the ground can be canceled into other special moves.
  • Change Non-down throws have slightly adjusted knockback.
  • Change Grounded Raptor Boost does 2% more damage and shield damage, but less powerful.
  • Change Jab 3 has slightly more knockback.
  • Change Down tilt revamped.

Diddy Kong

  • Buff Dash attack links to the final hit better.
  • Change The explosion of Peanut Popgun now damages enemies.

Donkey Kong

  • Buff Jab combo links better.
  • Buff Forward aerial can be auto-canceled.
  • Buff Forward tilt is more powerful.
  • Buff Head Butt on aerial enemies hits at a lower angle and always safe on hit.
  • Buff Hand Slap does 1% more damage.
  • Nerf Down tilt has more SDI.
  • Change Cargo down throw has slightly adjusted knockback.
  • Change Dash attack hits at a lower angle.
  • Grab release animation was kept at 20 frames.

Falco

  • Buff Back throw lasers hit opponents back toward Falco, leading to many tricks.
  • Buff Falco Phantasm and Fire Bird ending lag can be canceled into a wall jump.
  • Nerf Down throw is no longer a chain grab.

Fox

  • Buff Fox Illusion ending lag can be canceled into a jump or wall jump in the air.
  • Buff Fox Illusion has more knockback and does more shield damage.
  • Change Rapid jab has slightly more knockback.

Ganondorf

  • Buff Forward tilt now has super armor.
  • Buff Up tilt vacuum now deals 1% up to four times.
  • Buff Down tilt always trips enemies.
  • Buff Down smash properly links both hits. The second kick deals 2% more damage with higher knockback.
  • Buff Forward aerial can be auto-canceled.
  • Buff Up throw deals 2% more damage.
  • Buff Back throw deals 1% more damage.
  • Nerf Back throw has less knockback.
  • Change Down throw has less knockback scaling but more base knockback.
  • Buff Pummel deals 3% more damage and is now the most damaging pummel (deals 5%).
  • Change Pummel has a darkness effect.
  • Buff Warlock Punch has super armor and does significantly more shield damage.
  • Buff Aerial Flame Choke deals 2% more damage.
  • Buff Dark Dive has super armor while throwing, does 4% more damage, and throws enemies at a much lower angle making it safe on hit. The uppercut of Dark Dive deals 16% more damage with significantly higher knockback, making it a significantly powerful KO move.
  • Buff Wizard's Foot is invincible while rushing. The grounded version's initial hitbox deals 3% more damage while the sourspot deals 1% more damage with more knockback. The aerial version's initial hitbox grounds enemies, and the landing impact has significantly less knockback while its angle is changed to knock enemies forward instead of upward, making it more reliable at follow-ups.
  • Nerf Grounded Wizard's Foot's initial hitbox as well as all hitboxes of Aerial Wizard's Foot have less knockback.

Ice Climbers

  • Buff Smash attacks and aerials are slightly more powerful.
  • Buff Dash attack is slightly more powerful and does slightly more shield damage.
  • Buff Squall Hammer with both Ice Climbers is invincible.
  • Nerf Ice Climbers can no longer chaingrab with their throws.
  • Change The partner has new AI behavior. Attempting a forward tilt results in a dash attack, an up tilt results in a jump, and a down tilt results in a dash grab with a four frame delay. Attempting to do any throw results the partner in doing an up throw.
  • Change Down aerial falls faster with the lead Ice Climber than the partner.
  • Change Down aerial can be auto-canceled and is interruptible.
  • Change Tilt's knockback has been adjusted. Up tilt and down tilt hit at different angles. Down tilt no longer trips.
  • Throws for both Climbers do more damage.
  • Change Dash attack and aerials for the partner do more damage and have adjusted knockback.
  • Change Both Ice Climbers' pummel do 2% damage, but it is slightly slower.

Ike

  • Buff Neutral aerial has significantly less cool down and can be auto canceled earlier, preventing the risk of a SD.
  • Buff Eruption has 19% heavy armor during the charge.
  • Buff Counter attack is invincible 2 more frames.
  • Buff Quick Draw is significantly faster and no longer sends Ike into helpless state, improving his recovery and preventing Ike from being juggled. In additon, it's more useful as a momentum canceling move.
  • Change Back and forward throw are no longer abusive against walls but more useful near edges and do 1% more damage.

Jigglypuff

  • Buff Jab combo links better.
  • Buff Aerial game improved. Neutral aerial, back aerial, up aerial all do 1% more damage. Down aerial does more shield damage.
  • Buff Up throw, down throw, forward smash, and Pound do 1% more damage.
  • Buff Dash attack hits at a lower angle.
  • Buff Down smash is a more powerful KO move.
  • Buff Rollout's turn around animation can be canceled with a pivot grab. The helpless spinning state can also be canceled after a while, lowering the risk of a SD.
  • Buff Sing hits more during its animation.
  • Buff Rest does more damage, but has knockback compensation. The move also heals Jigglepuff 10% later in the animation.
  • Buff If the attack button is held when activating Rest, Jigglypuff does "Fake Rest," which looks identical to Rest, but can be interrupted at anytime. The move does 1% damage and has little knockback. Healing doesn't apply to Fake Rest.
  • Buff Side taunt gives Jigglypuff an item. Half the time it gives a Smoke Ball, and the other half is divided between Mr. Saturn, Springs, Hotheads, Pitfalls, and Freezies. The taunt also ends more quickly.
  • Change Back aerial and down throw have adjusted knockback.
  • Change Down throw has special graphic effects when throwing Peach.

King Dedede

  • Buff Jet Hammer rockets King Dedede forward upon use. The fully charged version sends him significantly further.
  • Change Down throw is no longer a chain grab but now an excellent tech chase.

Kirby

  • Buff Neutral aerial is more powerful and ends more quickly, preventing the risk of a SD.
  • Buff Copy throw does 10% and has more knockback. Swallowing of Copy is invincible.
  • Buff Aerial Hammer Swing can grab ledges from the front after the first hit.
  • Buff Up throw and aerial Stone do slightly more damage.
  • Buff Balanced Brawl changes to neutral specials also apply to Kirby’s Copy version.
  • Nerf Rapid jab has more SDI.
  • Change Jab 2 has slightly more knockback.

Link

  • Buff Jab combo links better.
  • Buff Forward tilt, down tilt, forward smash second hit, forward aerial second hit, and grounded Spin Attack are all more powerful KO moves.
  • Buff Gale Boomerang does 1% more damage.
  • Buff Hero's Bow arrows have much more knockback.
  • Buff Aerial spin Attack can be canceled into the tether attack later in the animation, improving his recovery. Link will enter his helpless state if he does not grab the ledge or land on the stage.

Lucario

  • Buff Dash attack, forward tilt, down tilt, and all smashes all do 1% more damage.
  • Buff Force Palm projectile is more powerful.
  • Buff Double Team attack is unblockable.

Lucas

  • Buff Jab combo does 12% damage total.
  • Buff Up tilt does 1% more damage and has knockback compensation.
  • Buff Back aerial and up throw do slightly more damage.
  • Buff Down smash is more powerful on later hits.
  • Buff Up smash no longer has SDI.
  • Buff PK Fire does 12% damage.
  • Buff PK Freeze hits more favorably.
  • Buff PK Thunder body attack connects multiple hits better.
  • Buff Spotdodge recovers 3 frames faster. (Like other “fast” spotdodges.)
  • Buff Standing, running, and pivot grab's grab box is 3 frames longer.
  • Buff Grab release animation has been synchronized to normal 30 frames, no longer letting Lucas be vulnerable to grab release.
  • Change Down tilt and down aerial slightly revamped.

Luigi

  • Buff Fireballs have significantly less cool down.
  • Buff Dash attack reliably links all hits. Early hits of dash attack trips and the final hit does more damage.

Mario

  • Buff Up smash, down smash, and back throw are all more powerful KO moves.
  • Buff Forward aerial meteor is much more powerful.
  • Buff Down aerial links to the final hit better.
  • Buff Fireballs do 6% damage.
  • Buff Super Jump Punch can be canceled into a wall jump, like in Melee, but at any point of the jump.
  • Change Down tilt revamped.

Marth

  • Nerf Down tilt has more SDI.
  • Nerf Forward aerial does slightly less damage but 1% shield damage at the base.

Meta Knight

Mr. Game and Watch

  • Buff Grab release glitch is gone.
  • Buff Jab combo links better.
  • Nerf Down tilt has more SDI.
  • Change The damage of each hit in back aerial has been adjusted.

Ness

  • Buff Jab combo links better.
  • Buff Forward aerial, back aerial, and dash attack do more shield damage.
  • Buff Down throw does 14% damage.
  • Buff Forward smash does slightly more damage.
  • Buff Up smash and down smash are more reliable.
  • Buff PK Fire pillar traps better.
  • Buff PK Flash is more powerful.
  • Buff Grab release animation has been synchronized to normal 30 frames, no longer letting Ness be vulnerable to grab release.

Olimar

  • Buff Pikmin Chain does slightly more damage and has adjusted knockback depending on which color of the pikmin connects.

Peach

  • Buff Back aerial and neutral aerial do 1% more damage, with the latter hitting a lower angle.
  • Buff Golf club and frying pan in forward smash, forward throw, and Peach Bomber are all more powerful.
  • Buff Peach Bomber can be canceled into any other move, air dodge, or double jump.
  • Nerf Down throw is less of a chain grab.

Pikachu

  • Buff Dash attack, forward tilt, and up throw all do 1% more damage.
  • Buff Forward aerial and down aerial do more shield damage.
  • Buff Forward smash’s distant hit is more powerful and hits at a higher angle.
  • Buff The charging of Skull Bash can be canceled by shielding, dodging, or grabbing.
  • Nerf Forward throw and down throw are no longer chain grabs, but the latter is more useful at high damages.
  • Nerf Down tilt has more SDI.

Pit

  • Buff Jab combo links better.
  • Buff Dash attack and down smash are more powerful. Down smash second hit hits at a lower angle.
  • Buff Up tilt has less knockback to set up tricks.
  • Buff Forward tilt is has slightly more knockback and does 1% more damage.
  • Buff Neutral and forward aerial do slightly more damage.
  • Buff Grab release glitch is gone.
  • Change Forward throw is no longer a chain grab but now a high damage kill move.

Pokémon Trainer

Charizard

  • Buff Jab combo links better.
  • Buff Glide has 7% heavy armor and the attack is a much better kill move.
  • Buff Forward aerial's no flinch hit does 2% more damage.
  • Buff Forward smash and down smash are more powerful.
  • Buff Back aerial does more shield damage with the first hit and is more powerful with the sweetspot.
  • Buff Down throw launches at a different angle.

Ivysaur

  • Buff Down aerial gives Ivysaur a noticeable momentum boost upward, improving his recovery. The attack also does 6% more damage.
  • Buff Back aerial does almost double damage.
  • Buff Down smash is more powerful.
  • Buff Bullet Seed initial hit no longer has SDI, making it harder to escape.

Squirtle

  • Buff Water Gun has significantly more pushback.
  • Buff Squirtle is no longer vulnerable to grab release.

R.O.B.

  • Buff Down throw has lower knockback, leading to many tricks.
  • Buff Forward tilt has adjusted knockback and hits at a different angle.
  • Buff Up throw is more powerful.
  • Buff Robo Beam fully charged does 10% damage.
  • Buff Arm Rotor hits every 9 frames instead of every 10.
  • Nerf Down tilt has more SDI.
  • Change Forward tilt has adjusted knockback and hits at a different angle.

Samus

  • Buff Jab combo links better.
  • Buff Down tilt and forward smash are more powerful KO moves.
  • Buff Down aerial and dash attack are slightly more powerful.
  • Buff Back throw and forward throw are more powerful with the latter launching at a lower angle.
  • Buff Charge Shot and Bombs do slightly more damage. Stage 7 of Charge Shot is much more powerful.
  • Buff Homing Missiles do 8% damage. Super Missiles have much more knockback.
  • Buff Pummel hitbox is bigger, fixing a glitch where it couldn't hit Bowser at times.
  • Nerf Tether attack does 1% less damage, but has knockback compensation.
  • Change Forward tilt and down smash have adjusted knockback.
  • Change Down throw and up throw have adjusted knockback.

Sheik

  • Buff Jab combo links better. Sheik’s jabs also have less ending lag and her rapid jab does more shield damage.
  • Buff Dash attack hits more favorably.
  • Buff Down tilt is more powerful.
  • Buff Down aerial does 1% more damage and hits upward.
  • Buff Forward throw launches at a lower angle.
  • Buff Needles in Needle Storm each do 4% damage.
  • Buff Transform is significantly faster.
  • Change Chain Jacket glitch removed.
  • Change Forward tilt does 2% more damage, but is less of a locking move.
  • Change Forward smash reliable links both hits, but the final hit is slightly less powerful.

Snake

  • Buff Down smash is more powerful.
  • Buff Grab release glitch is gone.
  • Nerf Forward tilt does 1% less damage on each hit.
  • Nerf Jab 3 is much weaker and jab 2 has more knockback.
  • Nerf Up tilt is a less powerful KO move.
  • Nerf Down throw does 2% less damage.

Sonic

  • Buff Dash attack and up aerial second hit does 1% more damage.
  • Buff Down aerial does 2% more damage and works like Mr. Game and Watch's Key. It can be slowfalled and air controlled.
  • Buff Neutral aerial is more powerful and safe on hit.
  • Buff Up smash is more reliable.
  • Buff Down throw launches at a lower angle.
  • Buff Sonic's spring in Spring Jump spikes enemies down and does 1% more damage.
  • Buff Grab release glitch is gone.
  • Change Down tilt revamped

Toon Link

  • Buff Jab combo links better.
  • Buff Forward smash and down smash reliably connects both hits.
  • Buff Grounded Spin Attack does more damage and has less SDI.

Wario

  • Buff Wario is no longer vulnerable to aerial grab release.
  • Nerf Forward smash and up aerial do slightly less damage.
  • Nerf Down throw is no longer a chain grab.
  • Change Pummel makes coins appear, as well as the SFX.

Wolf

  • Buff Jab combo links better.
  • Buff Forward tilt is more powerful.
  • Buff Neutral aerial does slightly more damage and now safe on hit.
  • Buff Back throw and forward throw do slightly more damage.
  • Buff Fire Wolf connects multiple hits better and does more damage. The move can also be canceled into a wall jump.
  • Buff Wolf Flash aerial ending can be canceled into a jump or wall jump, improving his recovery.

Yoshi

  • Buff Dash attack and Egg Lay do slightly more damage.
  • Buff Tilts do 1% more damage and have knockback compensation.
  • Buff Aerials do more shield damage.
  • Buff Down smash is significantly more powerful.
  • Buff Grab game is better. Pummel does 3% damage and up throw and down throw do 3% damage.
  • Buff Stars in Yoshi Bomb do 7% damage and have slightly more knockback.
  • Buff Egg Roll has 7% heavy armor and transcendent priority. In addition, it no longer sends Yoshi into helpless state, making Egg Roll much more useful for a momentum canceling move.
  • Nerf Yoshi can no longer chain grab with grab release.

Zelda

  • Buff Jab combo hits more favorably and imparts a flower on enemies.
  • Buff Forward tilt ends quicker and can lead to many tricks.
  • Buff Up tilt hits a higher angle.
  • Buff Forward smash is more powerful and has less SDI.
  • Buff Down smash is slightly more powerful, especially the second hit.
  • Buff Neutral aerial does more damage.
  • Buff Back throw is a KO move.
  • Buff Farore's Wind reappereance is invincible.
  • Buff Nayru's Love lets Zelda move forward and backward, improving her approach. Normal attacks and grabs can also be used earlier.
  • Buff Din's Fire no longer sends Zelda into helpless state.
  • Buff Transform is significantly faster.
  • Change Farore's Wind and Nayru's Love revamped.
  • Change Down tilt slightly revamped.

Zero Suit Samus

  • Buff Jab combo links better.
  • Buff Down tilt does 2% more damage.
  • Buff Forward smash is more powerful.
  • Buff Paralyzer does 1% more damage.
  • Buff Emerge from armor ends quicker.
  • Buff Forward throw does more damage.
  • Nerf Foward throw is no longer a chain throw.
  • Nerf Down smash no longer loops with itself against fastfallers.