Quick Attack
| Quick Attack | |
|---|---|
 Quick Attack in Super Smash Bros. | |
| User | Pikachu |
| Universe | Pokémon |
| Article on Bulbapedia | Quick Attack (move) |
| “ | Tilt File:GCN ControlStick.png immediately before moving to control direction. | ” |
| —Melee's instruction manual | ||
| “ | Move at ultra-high speed. Tilt the Control Stick very quickly in any direction before Pikachu moves to change its direction. | ” |
| —Brawl's instruction manual | ||
| “ | Dash up to twice in the directions of your choosing. | ” |
| —Smash for 3DS's foldout | ||
| “ | Attacks quickly in any direction. Can change direction midmove to move a second time. | ” |
| —Description from Ultimate's Move List | ||
Quick Attack (でんこうせっか, Lightning Speed) is Pikachu's up special move.
Overview
General
After a short delay, Pikachu moves in a straight line in the direction in which the player's control stick is tilted, or upwards if it is not tilted. A tilt of the control stick in a different direction will cause another, similar burst. The high speed of this move renders Pikachu nearly invulnerable, but it is exposed at the beginning, middle, and end moments, when it briefly holds still. Quick Attack requires much practice before players can effectively take advantage of its two-direction functionality.
In Super Smash Bros.
Unlike other special moves, Quick Attack deals no damage. However, it is considered one of the best recoveries options overall in the game. Pikachu is notable for having one of the most diverse recoveries as well. Pikachu has multiple invincibility frames during the beginning and middle. It is possible to attack Pikachu only before and after the bursts. Given this, Pikachu can ledge-stall indefinitely. The range of this move also allows Pikachu to go far out from the edge to edgeguard. It is also possible to travel with almost no change in direction between bursts. Quick Attack is even able to sweetspot the edge from almost any distance within the move's range. Pikachu can alternate between taunts and Quick Attack, each canceling the other. Pikachu can also use the move to escape situations such as escaping from a combo. Seemly, it can also go through a portion of the wall in Pikachu's Break the Targets stage.
In Super Smash Bros. Melee
Super Smash Bros Melee's Quick Attack is for the most part similar to the attack in Super Smash Bros. Unlike the original, Melee's deals 1-3% damage per hit to characters Pikachu passes through and has fewer invincibility frames. The attack has a huge range, but the second jump requires a minimum rotation of 38 degrees. New developments suggest that it may be possible to jump twice in the same direction, however. Pikachu can also cancel the move, like in Smash 64.
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Pikachu can deal light damage to characters it passes through, being stronger in damage (5%, if hit twice by Pikachu pulling a 180°), but it has less range than in Melee. Thus, people often use Skull Bash as an additional recovery move. It has more invincibility frames by the edge, however. Pikachu's Quick Attack can also be cancelled into the ground, called QAC'ing. The technique is considered a staple for Pikachu's metagame in competitive play and it is seen as a main way for Pikachu to approach many characters.
If Pikachu takes a Poison Mushroom or is shrinking from a Super Mushroom during the first step of Quick Attack, it will perform an extra-high jump. This is assumed to be a glitch. [1]
In Super Smash Bros. 4
Quick Attack returns as Pikachu's up special move in Super Smash Bros. 4. However, Quick Attack canceling is no longer possible on flat surfaces; it can only be done on slopes or the edges of platforms. Regardless, it still remains an important tool for Pikachu's approach.
Customization
Special Move customization was added in Super Smash Bros. 4. These are the variations:
| 1. Quick Attack | 2. Meteor Quick Attack | 3. Quick Feet |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
| "A fast attack in any direction. Change direction midmove to move a second time." | "A Quick Attack with a meteor effect, Potent at the start and when changing direction." | "Doesn't move twice, but moves much farther than Pikachu's other up specials." |
- Quick Attack: Default.
- Meteor Quick Attack: Has lower recovery distance and moves slower than the normal Quick Attack, but adds meteor effects to the move. More effective at the start of the move and while changing directions.
- Quick Feet: Only moves once, but travels much farther.
Meteor Quick Attack
Quick Feet
Origin
Quick Attack is a physical Normal-type attack introduced in Generation I in the Pokémon games. It's a rather weak move, with a low base power similar to Tackle and Pound. Unlike these other moves, it has a +1 priority, meaning it will go before other moves unless the opponent uses a move whose priority is higher. Pikachu learns Quick Attack by leveling up and can be learned among early levels in any Pokémon game.
In the main Pokémon games, Quick Attack is commonly depicted as a single quick dash towards the foe. Pikachu's Quick Attack in the Super Smash Bros. series instead has an unique trail of electrical bubbles, which also deal electric damage, despite the attack being Normal-type in the origin games. In a similar matter, Skull Bash in Melee also has an electrical property attack despite not being an Electric-type attack.
Gallery
Quick Attack in Melee.
Quick Attack in Brawl.
Quick Attack in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.
Middle of the Quick Attack animation in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.
Quick Attack as shown by a Skill Preview in Ultimate.
Trivia
- This is one of 2 up specials that initially didn't do damage, but does in the next Smash game. The other is Extreme Speed.
- Coincidentally, both are offensive Normal-type moves with boosted priority used by Pokémon.
- Quick Attack is one of three up special moves that always uses up the character's double jump in Brawl and Smash 4 regardless if the player saved it before use, despite the near-universal change across all other characters that allows them to use their double jump after their up special move if they are hit out of it. The other two up special moves are Hydro Pump and Spin Attack.
