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Palutena (SSBU): Difference between revisions
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|ssbgame1 = SSB4 | |ssbgame1 = SSB4 | ||
|availability = [[Unlockable character|Unlockable]] | |availability = [[Unlockable character|Unlockable]] | ||
|tier = | |tier = A | ||
|ranking = | |ranking = 16 | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Palutena''' ({{ja|パルテナ|Parutena}}, ''Palutena'') is a playable character in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''. She was officially revealed on [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L93H7YC-83o June 12th, 2018] alongside fellow {{uv|Kid Icarus}} representatives {{SSBU|Pit}} and {{SSBU|Dark Pit}}, as well as the rest of the [[veteran]]s. Palutena is classified as [[Fighter number|Fighter #54]]. | '''Palutena''' ({{ja|パルテナ|Parutena}}, ''Palutena'') is a playable character in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''. She was officially revealed on [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L93H7YC-83o June 12th, 2018] alongside fellow {{uv|Kid Icarus}} representatives {{SSBU|Pit}} and {{SSBU|Dark Pit}}, as well as the rest of the [[veteran]]s. Palutena is classified as [[Fighter number|Fighter #54]]. | ||
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Brandy Kopp and {{s|wikipedia|Aya Hisakawa}} reprise their roles as the voice of Palutena in the English and Japanese versions of the game. In addition to their portrayals being re-purposed from ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]'', they also provide new [[Palutena's Guidance]] conversations for every veteran not present in ''SSB4'', [[Downloadable content (SSB4)#Fighters|the downloadable fighters of ''SSB4'']], the base roster newcomers of ''Ultimate'', and {{SSBU|Piranha Plant}}. | Brandy Kopp and {{s|wikipedia|Aya Hisakawa}} reprise their roles as the voice of Palutena in the English and Japanese versions of the game. In addition to their portrayals being re-purposed from ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]'', they also provide new [[Palutena's Guidance]] conversations for every veteran not present in ''SSB4'', [[Downloadable content (SSB4)#Fighters|the downloadable fighters of ''SSB4'']], the base roster newcomers of ''Ultimate'', and {{SSBU|Piranha Plant}}. | ||
Palutena is ranked | Palutena is ranked 16th out of 82 on the current [[tier list]], placing her in the A tier. This is a huge improvement over her 44th out of 54 placement in ''SSB4''. Palutena is one of the most improved veterans from the transition to ''Smash 4'' and ''Ultimate'' due to the engine of ''Ultimate'' complementing her unique strengths. Her aerials are a core part of her neutral due to her high aerial mobility and their effective traits: they both start and extend combos, most notably with her neutral aerial, which is commonly considered one of the best moves in the game due to its overall utility for starting combos, comboing into itself, high active frames and KOing at very high percents. Her back air is great for retreating and mid-range combat due to the invincibility of the shield and priority, while up air is an amazing disjointed multi-hit that functions as a juggle tool and KO option. Her grab game is also impressive due to its above-average reach and her decent set of throws. Overall, this results in her having one of the best advantage states in the game. Her specials also have seen noteworthy improvements: [[Autoreticle]] is useful for interrupting midrange approaches or recoveries, [[Explosive Flame]] is effective for general zoning and for halting approaches, [[Warp]] makes her difficult to edgeguard consistently, and her [[Reflect Barrier]] functions as a simultaneous [[counterattack]] and [[reflection|reflector]] that enhances her already strong defense. | ||
Despite these many strengths, Palutena is not without her flaws. Despite her excellent air game, her ground game is below average for a top tier, having slow and unsafe tilts and committal smash attacks. She also has trouble securing stocks at high percents due to her KO moves being fairly predictable (like Explosive Flame) or easily staled due to overuse (back aerial). Palutena's main combo starters are also unsafe on shield and thus forces her to mix up her gameplan and neutral. Finally, her recovery is completely reliant on Warp, which has no active hitbox and can be consistently [[two frame|two frame punished]]. | Despite these many strengths, Palutena is not without her flaws. Despite her excellent air game, her ground game is below average for a top tier, having slow and unsafe tilts and committal smash attacks. She also has trouble securing stocks at high percents due to her KO moves being fairly predictable (like Explosive Flame) or easily staled due to overuse (back aerial). Palutena's main combo starters are also unsafe on shield and thus forces her to mix up her gameplan and neutral. Finally, her recovery is completely reliant on Warp, which has no active hitbox and can be consistently [[two frame|two frame punished]]. | ||
Overall, Palutena is a simple but effective character at all levels of play, with well-rounded abilities and few overwhelming weaknesses. She has often been considered a top-tier contender since the release of the game, and has been one of the most popular characters in competitive play, with results spearheaded by {{Sm|Nairo}} in the early metagame and a multitude of other Palutena players since, including {{Sm| | Overall, Palutena is a simple but effective character at all levels of play, with well-rounded abilities and few overwhelming weaknesses. She has often been considered a top-tier contender since the release of the game, and has been one of the most popular characters in competitive play, with results spearheaded by {{Sm|Nairo}} in the early metagame and a multitude of other Palutena players since, including {{Sm|Jagaimo}}, {{Sm|Lui$}}, and {{Sm|Raflow}}. | ||
==How to unlock== | ==How to unlock== | ||
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Although a number of Palutena's moves have the potential to KO at reasonable percentages, she can still struggle to score KOs due to her options being either somewhat risky or situational. Her smash attacks are very punishable due to their significantly high amounts of overall lag to offsetting their impressive power. Explosive Flame and, to a lesser extent, back aerial are also easily punishable if whiffed due to their ending lag. Up aerial relies on Palutena being underneath her opponent. Furthermore, while Palutena's recovery is decent in its distance, Warp leaves her helpless and lacks a hitbox to protect her; when combined with the fact that Palutena is a tall character, her recovery can be exploited easily by opponents who know how to intercept Warp. | Although a number of Palutena's moves have the potential to KO at reasonable percentages, she can still struggle to score KOs due to her options being either somewhat risky or situational. Her smash attacks are very punishable due to their significantly high amounts of overall lag to offsetting their impressive power. Explosive Flame and, to a lesser extent, back aerial are also easily punishable if whiffed due to their ending lag. Up aerial relies on Palutena being underneath her opponent. Furthermore, while Palutena's recovery is decent in its distance, Warp leaves her helpless and lacks a hitbox to protect her; when combined with the fact that Palutena is a tall character, her recovery can be exploited easily by opponents who know how to intercept Warp. | ||
Despite this, Palutena is generally considered at worst a high tier character due to her versatility, well-roundedness and relatively easy combo game. Her lack of overwhelming weaknesses means that there are few opponents she struggles against | Despite this, Palutena is generally considered at worst a high tier character due to her versatility, well-roundedness and relatively easy combo game. Her lack of overwhelming weaknesses means that there are few opponents she struggles against. | ||
==Changes from ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]''== | ==Changes from ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]''== | ||
Palutena | Palutena was previously a lower-tiered character in ''SSB4'' due to a myriad of factors, such as terrible frame data in relation to power and weight (which also resulted in a deficient grounded game), a predictable offensive game with few reliable options, general trouble at KOing, poor disadvantage state, and an infamously dysergic [[special moves]]et. Being designed with [[character customization]] in mind, custom special moves were able to vastly improve her strengths, but they required for character customization to be turned on to be able to use them unlike the [[Mii|Mii Fighters]], resulting in the inability to use them in regular gameplay and limiting her to her default special moveset. Most likely owing to the removal of custom moves and her previous poorly regarded status, Palutena has been rebalanced significantly to work without custom moves in her transition from ''SSB4'' to ''Ultimate''; though while initially considered to be dramatically buffed during the game's release, game updates have given her some noticeable nerfs that have reduced her viability. Regardless, Palutena is still considered to be significantly buffed overall. | ||
Palutena's most notable improvements are indirect, as she benefits from the gameplay changes to the engine to a far greater degree than most of the cast. The universal increases to mobility have not only improved her already high [[dash|run speed]], but particularly give her much faster [[air speed|air]] and [[falling speed]]s compared to ''SSB4'' (though the former is still below-average), improving her air-to-ground transitioning. The reduced [[landing lag]] in all aerials further improves her already impressive aerial game, heightening their spacing and combo potential. The increased [[shieldstun]] on attacks makes Palutena's own moves much safer on shield, while the changes to [[perfect shield]]ing now allow Palutena to more easily retailate against opposing attacks, while not reducing her own moves safety on shield due to the aforementioned higher shieldstun and her moves' multi-hit nature making them risky to perfect shield. The weakening of [[rage]] improves Palutena's endurance, and now allows her to take advantage of it much easier. The changes to [[air dodge]]s have significantly improved her juggling and edgeguarding potential combined with her respectable aerial moves, and the reintroduction of directional air dodging now let her use one to escape pressure or slightly extend her recovery. Finally, the changes to the [[Sakurai angle]] to be lower, while being a buff shared widely around the cast, have turned her [[back throw]] into a highly effective KO throw. | |||
Palutena | In terms of direct changes, Palutena has also received several notable improvements. Some of her standard moves have seen hitbox increases, which increases her melee range and makes attacks using her staff much more reliable at connecting. Her sluggish ground moves have been sped up, with her [[forward tilt|forward]] and [[up tilt]]s having faster startup, and almost all of her moves (aside from up and [[down tilt]]s) receiving less ending lag. Down tilt, particularly, has much better [[edge|2 framing]] potential thanks to its longer range and duration, and sends at a more favorable angle for combos when hitting aerial opponents. Her [[smash attacks]] have had their utility further increased; [[up smash]] lasts significantly longer, while [[forward smash|forward]] and [[down smash]] possess increased power as well as stronger, more reliable windboxes, which combined with their lower ending lag makes them harder to punish at long range. | ||
[[ | Her already capable aerial moveset was also improved. [[Neutral aerial]] now always sends at the direction Palutena is facing and deals less knockback; in combination with the reductions to landing lag, this turns the move into a fearsome combo starter and general all-purpose attack. [[Forward aerial|Forward]], [[up aerial|up]] and [[down aerial]]s deal more damage, with both the former and latter, as well as [[back aerial]], dealing more knockback. Down aerial also lasts for an additional frame, no longer being one of worst meteor smashes in the game. | ||
Palutena's special moveset has also seen various drastic enhancements that have put it in-line with the rest of the cast. [[Autoreticle]]'s detection lasts significantly longer, and each projectile has faster startup, deals more damage and travels faster. {{b|Counter|Palutena}} and [[Reflect Barrier]] have been merged into one move; the former activates when blocking a physical attack, while the latter activates to reflect projectiles. As a whole, the move has faster startup, lasts longer and has less ending lag in all aspects; individually, Counter has slightly more knockback (though it remains the weakest counterattack knockback-wise), while Reflect Barrier activates immediately and has a much higher damage multiplier, no longer being the weakest reflector in the game. In place of Reflect Barrier, Palutena's side special is now [[Explosive Flame]]; in addition to giving Palutena an additional move, the move has less ending lag, deals more damage and knockback, and can be summoned at two distances, increasing its versatility. | |||
However, while receiving far more buffs, Palutena has also seen some notable nerfs that have changed her playstyle, most notably to her [[neutral attack]] and grabs. The former can no longer [[jab cancel]] due to its angle being homogenized to connect into the infinite, removing many of its guaranteed set-ups into other moves such as dash attack, grab and some of her aerials. For the latter, despite pivot grab's longer range, both standing and dash grab possess less range (especially the former) and all grabs share the same increased startup and ending lag as with the rest of the cast. Her down throw is also less advantageous due to the changes to hitlag on it and has slightly more knockback, reducing its advantage and combo potential beyond low percents despite its reduced ending lag and more favourable angle. The universal slowdown of shield grabs only exacerbate this, further weakening Palutena's [[out of shield]] and grab games, the former of which was the crux of her defense in ''SSB4''. Moreover, her dash attack and back aerial's invincibility frames no longer cover her entire body after startup, instead only covering her arm, making both attacks less effective at contesting approaches. | |||
While she has seen mostly benefits from the revamped game physics, a few changes have also hurt Palutena. Aside from the universal nerfs to grabs, the introduction of [[dash-canceling]] is overall detrimental to her, as it allows many characters to pressure her more effectively, while her grounded moves are still slow compared to her aerial moves. The smaller [[edge#edge sweet spot|edge sweetspots]] render [[Warp]] much easier to intercept and 2-frame, which combined with her less floaty air physics and the changes to air dodges, makes her easier to edgeguard. Most egregiously, however, the removal of custom moves means she is no longer able to utilize them to her advantage to improve her special moveset. | |||
Palutena's buffs have improved her | In the end, Palutena's buffs have exponentially improved her predictable, inconsistent offense, and her improved aerial mobility and the revamped gameplay mechanics allow her to take advantage of her streamlined moveset while compensating for most of her nerfs. She now possesses reliable options for most kinds of situations, allowing her to adapt to many kinds of playstyles depending on the opponent. However, her weaker grabs have neutered her defense, and her survivability is slightly worse, which forces her to adapt to the opponents' options through a more offensive playstyle. She also retains some of her weaknesses from ''SSB4'', such as slow grounded attacks, trouble at KOing the opponent, predictable out of shield game, somewhat linear approach, and a mediocre disadvantage state, especially offstage. Game updates have also handed Palutena some impactful nerfs, including the aforementioned nerf to her grab; combined with various characters gaining buffs through said updates, the introduction of DLC characters, and general metagame optimizations, her overall viability is slightly worse than at launch. All in all, however, Palutena is drastically better in ''Ultimate'' than she was in ''SSB4'', being one of the most buffed characters among the returning cast, and a fairly strong choice in competitive play. | ||
{{SSB4 to SSBU changelist|char=Palutena}} | {{SSB4 to SSBU changelist|char=Palutena}} | ||
==Update history== | ==Update history== | ||
Palutena | Likely due to her dominant status during the early metagame, Palutena was nerfed overall via game updates. | ||
Update {{SSBU| | Update {{SSBU|2.0.0}} made Warp safer to recover with, and reduced neutral aerial's hitlag, making it harder to SDI. In {{SSBU|3.0.0}}, she received an universal nerf to her projectiles' shield damage, on par with the rest of the cast, which made [[Autoreticle]] and [[Explosive Flame]] are less effective for shield pressure when used in conjunction. | ||
Overall, Palutena fares | Update {{SSBU|7.0.0}} granted Palutena a mix of buffs and nerfs, but nerfed her overall; her neutral aerial saw the most nerfs, with its looping hits altered to make them much less effective for drag-down setups and removing its infinite combo on itself on platforms against large characters, and its weaker knockback makes it a much less effective option at high percentages; the latter change did, however, make the move slightly more effective for combos at low to mid percentages. Down throw's increased knockback worsened its combo potential, notably neutering her KO confirm into back aerial. Despite this, her down smash and up tilt's last hit were made stronger. | ||
Update {{SSBU|8.0.0}} nerfed her Final Smash by making it easier to avoid due to its slowdown period and range being shortened. {{SSBU|11.0.0}}, however, brought more significant nerfs to her standard moveset; her dash attack and forward aerial were made less safe by increasing their ending lag and landing lag, respectively. Most notably, however, her standing grab's infamous range was shortened considerably; this noticeably worsened her already mediocre out of shield game, and even makes some mispaced attacks harder to punish. | |||
Overall, these changes have affected Palutena's viability, as she fares worse than she did at ''Ultimate''{{'}}s launch. However, she still remains a very viable character. | |||
'''{{GameIcon|ssbu}} {{SSBU|2.0.0}}''' | '''{{GameIcon|ssbu}} {{SSBU|2.0.0}}''' | ||
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|fsdmg=2.4% (hits 1-12), 12% (final) | |fsdmg=2.4% (hits 1-12), 12% (final) | ||
|fsdesc=Illuminates her staff's orb and twirls around repeatedly before firing a {{iw|icaruspedia|Black Hole}} from her staff's orb, after which she quickly retreats off-stage in order to fire a {{iw|icaruspedia|Mega Laser}} into the Black Hole. The Black Hole does not deal damage, but [[pull]]s opponents within a 45 unit radius (about 0.5u smaller than the distance between the platforms of [[Small Battlefield]]) into itself and places them in a [[tumbling]] state. Conversely, the Mega Laser hits multiple times before concluding with a final hit that launches the opponent and dissipates the Black Hole. | |fsdesc=Illuminates her staff's orb and twirls around repeatedly before firing a {{iw|icaruspedia|Black Hole}} from her staff's orb, after which she quickly retreats off-stage in order to fire a {{iw|icaruspedia|Mega Laser}} into the Black Hole. The Black Hole does not deal damage, but [[pull]]s opponents within a 45 unit radius (about 0.5u smaller than the distance between the platforms of [[Small Battlefield]]) into itself and places them in a [[tumbling]] state. Conversely, the Mega Laser hits multiple times before concluding with a final hit that launches the opponent and dissipates the Black Hole. | ||
}} | |||
===Stats=== | |||
{{Attributes | |||
| cast=89 | |||
| weight=91 | rweight=59-60 | |||
| dash=2.035 | rdash=25-27 | |||
| run=2.077 | rrun=17 | |||
| walk=1.271 | rwalk=17 | |||
| trac=0.106 | rtrac=50-54 | |||
| airfric=0.01 | rairfric=40-51 | |||
| air=1 | rair=59-60 | |||
| baseaccel=0.01 | rbaseaccel=15-87 | |||
| addaccel=0.105 | raddaccel=1-3 | |||
| gravity=0.12 | rgravity=15-20 | |||
| fall=1.55 | rfall=53-56 | |||
| ff=2.48 | rff=51-54 | |||
| jumpsquat=3 | rjumpsquat=1-88 | |||
| jumpheight=35.9 | rjumpheight=18 | |||
| shorthop=17.3 | rshorthop=23-24 | |||
| djump=35.9 | rdjump=27 | |||
}} | }} | ||
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*Looks away while crossing her staff and shield in front of herself, during which she briefly emits her halo. | *Looks away while crossing her staff and shield in front of herself, during which she briefly emits her halo. | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
SSBUPalutenaIdle1.gif|Palutena's first idle pose | SSBUPalutenaIdle1.gif|Palutena's first idle pose. | ||
SSBUPalutenaIdle2.gif|Palutena's second idle pose | SSBUPalutenaIdle2.gif|Palutena's second idle pose. | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
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*{{Sm|Abadango|Japan}} - Plays a variety of characters including Palutena, and was one of the best Palutena players in Japan in the early metagame. He won the major {{Trn|Umebura SP 4}} using Palutena for a set, and has also placed 2nd at the major {{Trn|EGS Cup 3}} using solo-Palutena. He has since dropped the character. | *{{Sm|Abadango|Japan}} - Plays a variety of characters including Palutena, and was one of the best Palutena players in Japan in the early metagame. He won the major {{Trn|Umebura SP 4}} using Palutena for a set, and has also placed 2nd at the major {{Trn|EGS Cup 3}} using solo-Palutena. He has since dropped the character. | ||
*{{Sm|Chag|Mexico}} - One of the best Palutena players in the world in 2021 and 2022 | *{{Sm|Chag|Mexico}} - One of the best Palutena players in the world in 2021 and 2022 and one of Mexico's best players during this time. He is most known for placing 5th at {{Trn|Glitch 8.5 - Konami Code}} defeating {{Sm|Maister}} and at {{Trn|Mainstage 2021}} defeating {{Sm|Sparg0}} and {{Sm|Glutonny}}, as well as defeating {{Sm|Tweek}} at {{Trn|Smash Ultimate Summit 4}}. | ||
*{{Sm|Chase|USA}} - | *{{Sm|Chase|USA}} - Although active in the early metagame, he is best known for his performances in the post-online metagame and is one of the best Palutena players in North America since 2023, most notably placing 7th at {{Trn|MAJOR UPSET}} defeating {{Sm|Ouch!?}} and at {{Trn|Crown the Third}} defeating {{Sm|Tea}} and {{Sm|Light|p=Connecticut}}. | ||
*{{Sm|Gen|USA}} - | *{{Sm|Gen|USA}} - The second-best Palutena player in North America's early metagame, most notably placing 4th at {{Trn|Defend the North 2019}} defeating {{Sm|Light|p=Connecticut}} and 9th at {{Trn|Glitch 7 - Minus World}} defeating {{Sm|Salem}}. He continued to place well in the post-online metagame, including 9th at {{Trn|Let's Make Big Moves 2023}} and 9th at {{Trn|Let's Make Moves Miami}}, but has attended less majors than before. | ||
*{{Sm|Jagaimo|Japan}} - | *{{Sm|Jagaimo|Japan}} - The best solo-Palutena player in Japan, initially known in-region for strong placements such as 9th at {{Trn|EVO Japan 2020}} and 13th at {{Trn|Umebura SP 7}} in the early metagame. He gained further recognition in 2023, becoming one of the best Palutena players during this time thanks to placements such as 5th at {{Trn|DELTA 4}} defeating {{Sm|Asimo}} and at {{Trn|DELTA 5}} defeating {{Sm|Shuton}}, as well as defeating {{Sm|Miya|p=Honshu}} at {{Trn|Kagaribi 9}}. | ||
*{{Sm|Lui$|USA}} - | *{{Sm|Lui$|USA}} - Picked up Palutena in the online metagame and has continued to player her since, becoming one of the best Palutena players in the world from 2021 and 2022 where he placed top 8 at several majors, including placing 5th at {{Trn|Port Priority 6}} and {{Trn|Low Tide City 2022}} as well as 7th at {{Trn|Riptide}} and {{Trn|Mainstage 2022}}. Since then, he continues to be one of the best Palutena players in North America, winning the superregional {{Trn|Gateway Legends 2023}} and defeating {{Sm|MkLeo}} at {{Trn|Watch The Throne}}. | ||
*{{Sm|Nairo|USA}} - The best Palutena player of all-time and the only player | *{{Sm|Nairo|USA}} - The best Palutena player of all-time and the only Palutena player with multiple major wins, winning {{Trn|Suplex City Smash}}, {{Trn|Mainstage}}, and {{Trn|Let's Make Big Moves}}. He is also the only Palutena player ever ranked in the top 10, ranking 4th on the [[Fall 2019 PGRU]]. He has since retired following controversies surrounding his conduct. | ||
*{{Sm|Raflow|France}} - | *{{Sm|Raflow|France}} - One of the best Palutena players in the post-online metagame as well as one of Europe's best players during this time, initially known for being the first player to eliminate Glutonny's {{SSBU|Wario}} at a European tournament. He has placed highly at several events since then, including 3rd at {{Trn|Ultimate Fighting Arena 2023}} defeating {{Sm|MkLeo}}, 5th at {{Trn|Tera}}, and 17th at {{Trn|GENESIS X}} defeating {{Sm|Miya|p=Honshu}}. | ||
===Tier placement and history=== | ===Tier placement and history=== | ||
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|•The enemy is easily distracted by items | |•The enemy is easily distracted by items | ||
|{{SSBUMusicLink|Animal Crossing|The Roost - Animal Crossing: Wild World}} | |{{SSBUMusicLink|Animal Crossing|The Roost - Animal Crossing: Wild World}} | ||
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|957 | |957 | ||