Pikachu (SSB4)

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Pikachu in Super Smash Bros. 4
Universe	Pokémon
Other playable appearances	in SSB in Melee in Brawl
Availability	Starter
Final Smash	Volt Tackle

Pikachu (ピカチュウ, Pikachū) is a playable character in Super Smash Bros. 4. It retains its special moves of Thunder Jolt, Quick Attack, Thunder, and Skull Bash. Pikachu's appearance has been updated to match the most recent Pokémon games (such as the Generation V and VI main series games and PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure) and the Pokémon anime episodes; its model has been altered, and continues the trend of being gradually less chubby with each additional appearance. Pikachu is additionally significantly more brightly colored.

Changes from Brawl

• Skull Bash travels farther when charged.
• Up tilt and up aerial both have drastically less ending lag. The former also has much lower knockback scaling, making it more useful at lower percentages.
• Sweetspotted dash attack is much stronger.
• Neutral aerial deals much more damage when sweetspotted; it deals 16% as opposed to the 12% it dealt in Brawl.
• Forward aerial has reduced landing lag, and is more powerful to the point where it has KO potential offstage.
• Down smash is much harder to SDI out of.
  • It has higher ending lag.
• Forward smash, forward tilt, up aerial, and back aerial deal less damage.
• Down throw appears to have higher knockback growth, limiting its followup options.
• Pikachu's Quick Attack can not be cancelled into the ground anymore, removing the possibility of the QAC technique.
• Volt Tackle deals less damage and knockback.
  • It lasts slightly longer.
  • It appears to be slower, though it is more controlled.
• Thunder has shorter vertical range, and is generally harder to hit with.
  • It can now meteor smash opponents who touch the upper part of the bolt near the cloud, quickly sending the opponent back down to Pikachu and allowing a tech-chase or followups.
  • However, this makes successful Thunderspikes harder to land.

The following moves are visually unchanged:

• Neutral attack
• Up tilt
• Forward tilt
• Dash attack
• Up smash
• Forward aerial
• Down aerial
• Thunder Jolt
• Down taunt
• Side taunt
• Up taunt
• Pikachu retains the ability to crawl.

Special Moves

In Super Smash Bros. 4, special moves can be swapped out for different variants, but a few of Pikachu's have been known. It retains its original special moves as well as its final smash. These are Pikachu's special moves:

Special Move	Basic	Custom 1	Custom 2
Neutral Special	Thunder Jolt	Thunder Wave	ThunderShock
Side Special	Skull Bash	Shocking Skull Bash	Heavy Skull Bash
Up Special	Quick Attack	Meteor Quick Attack	Quick Feet
Down Special	Thunder	Self-Generation	Great Thunder
Final Smash	Volt Tackle

Moveset

		Name	Damage	Description
Neutral attack		Headbutt	1%	Does a very quick headbutt with negligible damage and knockback. Can be used rapidly if the A button is held, allowing it to deal more damage and potentially trip opponents.
Forward tilt	↗	Pika Kick	10%	Plants itself on its upper paws and kicks its lower paws in front of its body. The move has increased knockback when angled up, but has a chance to trip when angled down.
	→		{{{ftiltsidedmg}}}
	↘		8%
Up tilt		Tail Smack	5%	Swings its tail above its body in an arc. A very fast attack with low base knockback and scaling, which can reliably set up into its aerials.
Down tilt		Tail Sweep	6%	Sweeps its tail in front of itself. Is very quick in terms of both startup and ending lag. Has a change of tripping opponents.
Dash attack		Running Headbutt	10% clean 6% late	Jumps forwards, headbutting. Very laggy and easily punished if whiffed, but has high knockback, allowing it to KO near the edge at very high percentages.
Forward smash		Thundershock	15% cheeks 18% inside jolt 12% jolt tip	Rears back, then ejects an attached jolt of electricity from its cheeks while leaning forwards. In terms of knockback, this move is far stronger when hit inside the jolt, and is weakest when hit with Pikachu's cheeks during startup.
Up smash		Tail Somersault	13% tail start 14% body 11% late 7% tail end	A quick backflip while using its tail to attack. This move is slightly stronger when hit close during startup.
Down smash		Electric Flower	13% (all hits)	Spins around in place repeatedly whilst surrounded with electricity. A multi-hit move with decent power but punishable ending lag.
Neutral aerial		Pika Roll	8% clean 5% late	Curls up in a ball and repeatedly somersaults. Extremely fast startup with good horizontal knockback, making it a good aerial finisher or a useful edgeguarding move. Can be auto-cancelled when performed alongside a non fast-fell short hop, otherwise high landing lag.
Forward aerial		Electric Drill	1-9%	Does a constant forward aileron roll while surrounded by electricity. The move consists of multiple hits, with the final one dealing decent horizontal knockback. The first few hits have little landing lag, which can potentially set up into a grounded move or grab.
Back aerial		Glider	4-9%	Spins in a manner similar to its down smash, but without electrical effects. The move consists of multiple hits, with the final one dealing decent knockback. Has high ending lag and very high landing lag if not used alongside a full hop.
Up aerial		Tail Chop	5% front 4% back	Swiftly swings its tail above itself in an arc. Extremely quick with low knockback, this move can combo into itself or set up into a neutral aerial. Can be auto-cancelled when performed alongside a non fast-fell short hop, otherwise some landing lag.
Down aerial		Electric Screw	12% main 4% landing	Does a constant downwards aileron roll while surrounded by electricity. A lingering single hit with decent horizontal knockback, this move can be auto cancelled in a short hop. If Pikachu lands during the attack's duration it causes a small shockwave to appear around him, which deals little damage at the cost of high landing lag.
Grab		Grab	—	A quick, short-ranged grab.
Pummel		Electric Shock	1-2% per pummel	Zaps the opponent. A quick pummel.
Forward throw		Electrocution	10%	Places the opponent on its back and shocks them, sending them forward. A multi-hit move. Can set up running up smashes and neutral aerials at very low percentages.
Back throw		Submission	9%	Does backwards somersaults with the opponent, then flings them behind itself. Best used near the edge to put the opponent into an edgeguarding situation.
Up throw		Skull Headbutt	4%	Places the opponent on its head, then headbutts them upward. Does not have many followup options and does low damage, with a down throw usually being a better option.
Down throw		Slam	8%	Places the opponent on the ground, then jumps on them. Consists of multiple hits. Can set up neutral and up aerials at very low percentages.
Forward roll Back roll Spot dodge Air dodge		—	—
Techs		—	—
Floor attack (front) Floor getups (front)
Floor attack (back) Floor getups (back)
Floor attack (trip) Floor getups (trip)
Edge attack Edge getups		{{{edgename}}}	{{{edgedmg}}}	{{{edgedesc}}}
Neutral special	Default	Thunder Jolt	6%	Fires a jolt of electricity forward. Pikachu's main projectile, and a very useful move for keeping onstage opponents at bay and threatening offstage recoveries. Travels forward whilst bouncing along the ground, and can also travel up walls, below the edge, and along ceilings. If used in the air, it will travel diagonally down instead. Disappears after around 3 seconds.
	Custom 1	{{{nsc1name}}}	{{{nsc1dmg}}}	{{{nsc1desc}}}
	Custom 2	{{{nsc2name}}}	{{{nsc2dmg}}}	{{{nsc2desc}}}
Side special	Default	Skull Bash	6% (uncharged) 22% (fully charged)	Charges and, when the B button is released, fires itself forward like a missile. When fully charged or close to fully charged, it has KO power. Primarily used as a recovery move, as it gains a lot of horizontal distance (especially when charged) and does not leave Pikachu helpless. On the ground, it has high landing lag and is very punishable.
	Custom 1	{{{ssc1name}}}	{{{ssc1dmg}}}	{{{ssc1desc}}}
	Custom 2	{{{ssc2name}}}	{{{ssc2dmg}}}	{{{ssc2desc}}}
Up special	Default	Quick Attack	2% per warp	Moves at warp speed in two directions that can be selected via the control stick. Pikachu's main recovery move, and a quick, unpredictable move at that. The second warp is optional, but if used, the direction must be 45 degrees different than the first direction to work. Leaves Pikachu helpless when used in the air.
	Custom 1	{{{usc1name}}}	{{{usc1dmg}}}	{{{usc1desc}}}
	Custom 2	{{{usc2name}}}	{{{usc2dmg}}}	{{{usc2desc}}}
Down special	Default	Thunder	15% (shockwave) 8% (bolt)	Causes a large thunderbolt to come down on itself. The move is laggy in general, though the shockwave around Pikachu does very high damage and knockback. The bolt itself does moderate vertical knockback, allowing the Thunderspike technique, though this is very difficult to land. The move also has a meteor smash hitbox near the thundercloud that sends opponents straight down, allowing potential combos, though landing it in a favourable position for this is difficult.
	Custom 1	{{{dsc1name}}}	{{{dsc1dmg}}}	{{{dsc1desc}}}
	Custom 2	{{{dsc2name}}}	{{{dsc2dmg}}}	{{{dsc2desc}}}
Final Smash		[[{{{fsname}}}]]	{{{fsdmg}}}	{{{fsdesc}}}

Palette swaps

Gallery

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  Pikachu's appearance during the Smash Direct.

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  Pikachu's appearance during E3 2013.

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  Pikachu using Thunder Jolt.

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  Pikachu uses Skull Bash.

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  Pikachu uses Thunder.

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  Pikachu in the 3DS version of the game.

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  Mario, Pikachu, Bowser and Pit on a red plane in Wuhu Island.

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  Pikachu behind Mega Man.

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  Pikachu sitting.

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  Pikachu along with a Luma, and Starfy.

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  Pikachu with Toon Link and Kirby

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  Pikachu with Mega Man.

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  Footstooling Donkey Kong.

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  Behind Donkey Kong.

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  Pikachu using Thunder to meteor smash an aerial Bowser and followup with an up smash.

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  Lucario, Charizard, Greninja, and Pikachu.