Pokémon Change: Difference between revisions

|image={{tabber|title1=Squirtle to Ivysaur|tab1=[[File:Squirtle Down B SSBU.gif|300px|300px]]|title2=Ivysaur to Charizard|tab2=[[File:Ivysaur Down B SSBU.gif|300px]]|title3=Charizard to Squirtle|tab3=[[File:Charizard Down B SSBU.gif|300px]]}}

 

===Zero Switching===

A technique known as "zero switching" can be performed on horizontally moving platforms, which allows a Pokémon to switch out while leaving the player free to react immediately after the next Pokémon is switched in. To perform the technique, the player must initiate Pokémon Change while standing on the edge of a [[platform]] that is moving out from under them (such as the left edge of the [[Smashville]] platform when it is moving right). If done properly, the next Pokémon will appear in the air, leaving the player free to immediately input any aerial action. The zero switch also gives Squirtle and Ivysaur two midair jumps instead of one upon reappearance. Zero switchings are commonly used competitively to avoid the high ending lag that results from switching normally (since the move cannot be started in midair, but this technique allows it to at least be ended in midair).

ZeroSwitchSquirtle.gif|Squirtle Zero Switching to Ivysaur.

Ivysaurzeroswitch.gif|Ivysaur Zero Switching to Charizard.

Charizardzeroswitch.gif|Charizard Zero Switching to Squirtle.

In ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'', stamina is absent, allowing the use of one Pokémon without penalty. Pokémon Change can now be performed in mid-air and has a much faster switch time from not being subject to load times. This reduces the risk of switching Pokémon, greatly improving their synergy with one another. It also improves recovery options, as Charizard maintains its extra midair jump, and Ivysaur's [[Vine Whip]] no longer causes [[helpless]]ness should it miss the [[edge]].

However, Pokémon Change now has a cooldown of approximately two seconds. It can be skipped by using another special move, which overrides the Pokémon Trainer's recall animation, and no longer resets [[stale move negation]].

Pokémon Change grants intangibility frames on frame 1-25. This never changes despite the Skill List noting that spamming the move increases vulnerability.

While the phrase "Pokémon Change" itself is only an official term in the Japanese name, it describes the act of switching out a Pokémon mid-battle. It is a crucial tactic in the games, both in-game and competitively, and takes place before all other actions for that turn, unless the change was initiated by a move such as {{iw|bulbapedia|Baton Pass|move}}. {{iw|bulbapedia|Pursuit|move}} is an exception to this, as it is designed to counter switching. In the games, as switching takes up the user's turn, the benefits of switching in a Pokémon to face a target it is effective against must be weighed against the risks of being hit hard, setup on, or simply out-predicted by the opponent.

{{clear}}

Brawl Pokemon Change.jpg|{{SSBB|Pokémon Trainer}} swapping his Pokémon [[Pokémon Stadium 2]].

**Another instance of this happening in [[The Subspace Emissary]] is while the Trainer is left outside the elevator, where he will not respawn until some floors bellow; but even once he does respawn, switching is unavailable.

{{Multiple Special Moves|Pokémon Trainer|Squirtle}}

{{Multiple Special Moves|Ivysaur|Charizard}}