Pikachu (SSB): Difference between revisions

Pikachu ranks 1st on the [[tier list]], its best placement in the series due to having many overwhelming advantages: its mobility is among the best, with fast [[walking]], [[dashing]], and [[air speed]]s, though its [[falling speed]] is slightly below average. Pikachu is notable for its amazing offstage and [[edgeguarding]] game, with fast and powerful [[aerial]]s that can also combo well with or without certain other moves, along with a [[recovery]] on [[Quick Attack]] that covers a long distance while also being unpredictable, as well as having some [[invincibility frame]]s and the ability to easily [[edge sweetspot|sweetspot the edge]]. While its attacks are generally fast, it has a few rather powerful moves, though its moveset is overall more [[combo]]-oriented. This is evident in its solid ground game, with an {{mvsub|Pikachu|SSB|up tilt}} that can rack up large damage by chaining into itself and can easily combo into virtually any other move as well, along with powerful [[smash attack]]s and an exceedingly powerful {{mvsub|Pikachu|SSB|back throw}}. It also has a [[projectile]] in its [[Thunder Jolt]], as well as {{b|Thunder|Pokémon}}, which is notable for being able to KO near the upper [[blast line]] very early; the [[Thunderspike]] technique can easily set this up.

Despite this, Pikachu's strengths exceed its weaknesses, and it has held the best tournament results in [[competitive play]], alongside good representation. Pikachu's prowess in ''Smash 64'' is considered undisputed to such a great extent that it is considered to have the best matchup spread of any character in the game, with Pikachu's only potentially difficult matchups being against {{SSB|Captain Falcon}} and {{SSB|Yoshi}} which are typically considered to either be even or slightly winning for Pikachu in the North American version of the game.

The move's intangibility on startup also gives the move utility in a ton of other areas, such as escaping fake combos and as an [[Out of shield]] option to avoid shield pressure. Pikachu even has the ability to stall on the ledge infinitely, as Quick Attack can snap to the ledge and due to Quick Attack's intangibility frames, Pikachu can stall at the ledge almost completely intangibly, being the only character in the game who can do so. Quick Attack overall is one of the best moves in the entire game (despite its lack of a hitbox) due to its incredible recovery potential as well as its high utility and mixup potential.  

[[File:SSB64 Greenhouse Combo.gif|thumb|{{Sm|Isai}} performing the [[Greenhouse combo]].]]

*{{Sm|Josh Brody|USA}} - The best solo Pikachu player in the United States. He has been ranked in the top 10 for ''Smash 64'' throughout 2019 to 2022. Won multiple tournaments as a solo Pikachu player such as {{Trn|The Big House 9}} and {{Trn|Super Smash Con: Fall Fest}} and having wins over many established players such as Prince, KeroKeroppi, and JaimeHR.  

*{{Sm|Jam|UK}} - The best ''Smash 64'' player in Europe. He won one of the most notable European tournaments with {{Trn|Fête}} and also placed 5th at {{Trn|B.E.A.S.T 7}}. He is also one of the most notable European players to have attended some large North American tournaments and gave some tough competition, seen with his 2nd place finish at {{Trn|Hitstun 6}} where he took sets from {{Sm|Zero|p=Texas}}, Josh Brody, and {{Sm|CTG}}.

*{{Sm|kysk|USA}} - The best ''Smash 64'' player during 2019 and one of the best players of the game overall. He was considered one of the first Japanese players to heavily utilize counterpicking at a high level, doing so at many points with his Pikachu. Won a multitude of tournaments in 2019 with Pikachu as a secondary character. He also won {{Trn|Kanto Fall 2019}} and placed 4th at {{Trn|Kansai 2018}} with solo Pikachu.

*{{Sm|Mariguas|Mexico}} - One of the best Pikachu players of all time. His tournament win with {{Trn|Get On My Level 2017}} where he double-eliminated Isai, as well as other strong placements such as 4th at {{Trn|Super Smash Con 2016}} and 5th at {{Trn|GENESIS 3}} made him a top 10 player from 2016-2017. He retired from the game in 2018.

*{{Sm|Maha|Japan}} - The second best solo Pikachu from Japan behind wario. His best placement to date is 2nd at {{Trn|Japan Smash Cup 2017}}, beating {{Sm|Fukurou}} and {{Sm|Wangera}} at the event. Additionally, he has amassed a number of top 8s at many Kanto tournaments.

*{{Sm|Robert|USA}} - One of the best Pikachu players in the United States in recent years, being ranked 8th back on the [[2019-2020 Smash 64 Power Rankings]]. He has won multiple tournaments such as {{Trn|Shine 2019}} and {{Trn|Smashtoberfest}} and made major placements such as 3rd at {{Trn|The Big House 9}} and 4th at {{Trn|Keystoned II}}. His list of wins include {{Sm|Shalaka}}, {{Sm|tacos}}, and Josh Brody.

*{{Sm|Sensei|USA}} - Considered the second best player in North America during the mid-2000s and early 2010s and co-mained Pikachu and {{SSB|Fox}}. He made 2nd place finishes at {{Trn|MELEE-FC Diamond}} and {{Trn|Zenith 2013}} and made top 6 at {{Trn|Apex 2012}} and {{Trn|Apex 2013}}.

===Tier placement and history===

{{incomplete|Documentation of the reasoning behind Double Pikachu being banned, and the rough date where this was standardised.}}

In Doubles, even in [[Smash Remix]] tournaments, double Pikachu is often banned, due to very little reason not to use both.<ref>[https://docs.google.com/document/d/1T99G_p8Nis5jwF2Y_r2zHEKvm0iKgz9jGVbEafkKl30/edit?usp=sharing Xanadu Origins Ruleset; stacked event where Double Pikachu was banned]</ref> Additionally, while allowed on his own, {{SSB|Kirby}} is often banned from being used alongside Pikachu, seen at tournaments such as [https://www.start.gg/tournament/battle-at-the-border-23/ Battle at the Border].

==In Single-player==

==Description==

==References==

{{reflist}}

{{SSBCharacters}}

{{Pokémon universe}}