Luigi (SSB4): Difference between revisions

Charles Martinet's portrayal of Luigi from ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' was repurposed for ''Smash 4''.<ref name="treehouseday3">[http://www.twitch.tv/nintendo/b/537795858 Nintendo Treehouse: Live @ E3 2014 -- Day 3]</ref>

Luigi's attributes have also improved. In addition to a much faster [[dash]]ing speed, his air game and aerial mobility benefit from his much faster [[fast falling]] speed; higher [[gravity]]; lower [[short hop]]; and higher [[jump]]. Lastly, Luigi's [[recovery]] remains unpredictable and long-distanced, as [[Green Missile]] and [[Luigi Cyclone]] are both risky to intercept.

==Changes from ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''==

Luigi's overall mobility has been improved, especially on the ground. His [[dash]] speed is noticeably faster, his [[fast fall]]ing speed is higher and his [[air speed]]/traction are also marginally higher, making it easier for him to approach. Luigi also possesses a stronger grab game. His grabs are faster and have more range, and his down throw has now become an extremely powerful combo starter due to the changes to hitstun canceling/DI, making it easier and more rewarding for Luigi to utilise his grabs.

Luigi's aerial [[Luigi Cyclone]] has also seen some improvements as an attack, as it connects more reliably and its final hit is stronger near the upper blast zone. Its loop hitboxes also have increased knockback and they can meteor smash opponents, which makes the move even more effective at edgeguarding opponents. Luigi Cyclone can now fairly easily edgeguard characters with poor recoveries (and even some characters with stronger recoveries such as {{SSB4|Bayonetta}}) at very low percents, which Luigi can set up with his down throw and down aerial. As a result of these changes, Luigi Cyclone is now a highly effective edgeguarding tool and a solid vertical KO move, rather than being an unreliable KO move and a situational edgeguarding tool.

However, Luigi also received some nerfs, with Luigi receiving more nerfs overall. His overall frame data is worse with a handful of his attacks having shorter durations, increased startup or ending lag, or all of the above. A fair amount of Luigi's attacks also have reduced range, with multiple attacks having smaller hitboxes and losing hitboxes in certain cases. Luigi's damage output is also lower overall, which hinders the KO potential of numerous moves including up tilt, forward smash, up smash, the front hit of down smash, all of his aerials except for back aerial (especially neutral and down aerials, and even back aerial now has a much weaker sourspot on its clean hit and it has increased ending/landing lag), back throw and [[Super Jump Punch]]. In some cases such as with his aerials and up tilt, this does act as a double edged sword, as it does also improve their combo potential but with most of his grounded moves, this purely acts as a hinderance (although the introduction of [[rage]] can compensate for this, and Luigi's solid weight means that he can build up rage fairly easily). This overall results in Luigi's KO potential going from being highly solid (especially considering his frame data) to now being closer to average, especially since numerous returning veterans had improved KO potential overall, unlike Luigi.

Luigi was initially considered to be a top tier in earlier versions of the game (especially after the Wii U version was released), due to his powerful punish game. After version 1.1.1 however, Luigi did receive a nerf to his down throw which noticeably hindered him. In earlier versions, his down throw was identical to its ''Brawl'' counterpart (besides its animation), but it was far more effective due to the changes to hitstun canceling and DI, as it was an excellent combo throw at lower percents, and it even had KO setups at higher percents, which worked at an extremely large percentage range. In 1.1.1, the throw had decreased base knockback, which improved its followup potential at lower percents, but it had significantly increased knockback scaling, which greatly hindered its followup potential at higher percents, and in turn, it made his KO setups far more precise. This made the throw much worse at higher percents, which considerably hindered Luigi overall. Aerial Luigi Cyclone also received reduced KO power in the patch and this along with the changes to shields in the same patch did not help him either.

===Aesthetics===

*{{change|Due to the aesthetic used in ''SSB4'', Luigi has a sleeker design, and his overall color scheme is more vibrant. His overalls' pant legs are also no longer rolled up around his ankles. Altogether, these changes make Luigi appear virtually identical to his appearance as of ''{{s|mariowiki|Super Mario 3D Land}}''.}}

*{{change|Luigi is significantly more expressive. He now smiles during his defeated/[[Results screen#No Contest screen|No Contest]] animation, sports a toothy grin during [[Fireball]], the last hit of his neutral attack, and [[Luigi Cyclone]], smiles nervously during his pivot grab, sports an oohing expression during Luigi Cyclone's loop hits, appears alarmed during his down aerial and [[screen KO]], and winces depressingly during his back and up aerials, standing and dash grabs, back throw, and childish punching [[victory pose]]. Luigi also sports humorously quirky expressions during his [[sidestep]] and up [[taunt]].}}

*{{change|Luigi's chest now always faces the screen, regardless of the direction he’s facing, mirroring his animations. For example, Luigi's up smash animation is reversed, with his head facing away from the screen rather than towards it.}}

*[[Neutral attack]]:

**{{buff|All three hits of neutral attack now always launch opponents in the direction Luigi is facing. This allows the move to connect more reliably into the later hits if Luigi hits the opponent from behind.}}

**{{nerf|The first hit has more ending lag (FAF 16 → 19), hindering its [[jab cancel]] potential (particularly into Super Jump Punch).}}

**{{buff|The second hit has a new animation where Luigi keeps his fist out for longer. This gives the second hit more consistent range, as Luigi no longer moves his arm back on the move's second active frame.}}

***{{nerf|However, this also makes the move more susceptible to whiff punishment, as Luigi takes longer to return to his original position and he no longer sways backwards.}}

**{{buff|The third hit has a slightly different animation where Luigi jumps much further forward when he performs the hip thrust, increasing its range.}}

***{{nerf|However, this also makes Luigi more susceptible to punishment if the move is whiffed or shielded.}}

*[[Forward tilt]]:

**{{buff|Forward tilt's near hitboxes are slightly larger (3.84u/3.36u → 4u/3.4u).}}

***{{nerf|However, this also hinders its [[lock]]ing potential, especially at higher percents.}}

**{{change|Forward tilt now always launches opponents in the direction Luigi is facing.}}

***{{nerf|However, this also hinders down tilt's combo potential, and it prevents the move from tripping much sooner (80 KB → 60).}}

***{{nerf|Additionally, this also hinders down tilt's edgeguarding potential.}}

**{{nerf|Down tilt has a lower trip chance (35% → 25%) which along with its altered angle, make it far less likely to trip and even when it does, the opponent will be sent further away, limiting Luigi's followup options.}}

**{{nerf|Down tilt no longer moves Luigi forward (horizontal momentum: 1.2 → 0), reducing its range.}}

*[[Dash attack]]:

**{{change|Dash attack's hits now use a sound effect unique to them, rather than using the sound effect for [[Green Shell]]s and [[Red Shell]]s.}}

**{{buff|The loop hit's angles have been altered (361° → 65°/10°), allowing them to connect more reliably into each other, especially when combined with their altered knockback.}}

***{{nerf|However, these new angles put the opponent into the air, which allows them to [[SDI]] upwards, which grounded opponents could not previously do.}}

**{{nerf|The final hit has a higher [[hitlag]] multiplier (1× → 2.5x), making it much easier to [[DI]].}}

*[[Item#Types of items|Battering item]] dash attack:

*[[Forward smash]]:

**{{change|Non-angled forward smash launches opponents at a slightly lower angle (55° → 53°).}}

**{{change|Forward smash now has a [[Slash#Stab|stab]] effect instead of a [[slash]] effect.}}

**{{nerf|Forward smash has marginally smaller hitboxes (3.84u/4.32u/2.4u → 3.8u/4.3u) and the body hitbox has been removed.}}

**{{nerf|The up angled version has significantly higher ending lag (FAF 29 → 42), now matching the other angles, like it did prior to ''Brawl''.}}

**{{nerf|The feet hitbox is smaller (4.8u → 4.5u), with the first hit's foot hitbox being positioned closer to Luigi (z offset: 12 → 11).}}

***{{nerf|This combined with the first hit's higher startup has noticeably reduced its range, with the move no longer being significantly disjointed during its first active frame.}}

**{{nerf|Down smash deals less damage (17% (feet)/16% (body) → 15%/14%). The first hit did not see full compensation on its knockback scaling (80 → 85), hindering its KO potential.}}

**{{nerf|The second hit launches opponents at a lower angle (70° → 60°), hindering its KO potential and making it more susceptible to DI.}}

**{{nerf|Neutral aerial has more landing lag (10 frames → 14).}}

**{{nerf|Neutral aerial has smaller hitboxes, especially the late hit (4.5u/4.5u (both) → 4.5u/4u (clean), 3u/2.5u (late)).}}

***{{buff|However, this also significantly improves its combo potential.}}

**{{nerf|The clean hit has a shorter duration (frames 3-6 → 3-5).}}

**{{nerf|Forward aerial has a new, longer animation (34 frames → 39), increasing the amount of time Luigi cannot grab ledges after performing the move.}}

*[[Back aerial]]:

**{{buff|The clean hit's leg hitbox is marginally larger (5.76u → 5.8u).}}

**{{nerf|Back aerial has more landing lag (12 frames → 16).}}

**{{nerf|Back aerial has a shorter initial auto-cancel window (frames 1-5 → 1-2).}}

**{{nerf|The late hit has smaller hitboxes (4.5u/5.76u → 4u/5u).}}

*[[Up aerial]]:

**{{change|Clean up aerial deals less damage (13% → 11%). This improves its combo potential, but hinders its KO potential.}}

*[[Down aerial]]:

**{{buff|The late hit's foot hitbox is larger (5u → 5.2u).}}

**{{nerf|Down aerial has more landing lag (12 frames → 20).}}

***{{buff|However, this also significantly improves its combo potential.}}

**{{nerf|The clean hit has a much smaller hitbox (3.3u/5u/5u → 2.5u).}}

**{{buff|Back floor attack has less startup lag (frame 20 → 19).}}

*[[Edge attack]]:

***{{nerf|This new animation keeps Luigi on the ground, which along with it now using one static extended hitbox, reduces edge attack's vertical range.}}

**{{buff|Edge attack has less startup lag (frame 24 → 20).}}

**{{change|Fireball’s sound effect is lower pitched and the fireballs have seen a slight visual update.}}

**{{nerf|Fireball has more ending lag (FAF 41 → 44).}}

*[[Green Missile]]:

**{{buff|Green Missile has less ending lag in the air (FAF 31 (ending animation) → 26).}}

**{{buff|Inputting Green Missile with a smash input gives it a slight charge, reducing the total amount to time to reach full charge, much like in ''Melee''.}}

**{{buff|Green Missile's hitbox has been positioned slightly further forward (x offset: 0 → 1).}}

**{{nerf|Green Missile no longer grants intangibility when it is released.}}

**{{nerf|Green Missile has a smaller hitbox (4.32u → 4.2u).}}

**{{nerf|Green Missile can no longer auto-snap the ledge, significantly hindering its recovery potential.}}

**{{nerf|Green Missile's charge can no longer be held indefinitely. Upon being at full charge after a second, Luigi will stop charging and catch his breath. This prevents Luigi from using Green Missile to infinitely stall opponents, and he can be punished during the ending animation.}}

**{{buff|Super Jump Punch's sweetspot is positioned further out (z offset: 1 → 7 (grounded)/5.5 (aerial)), improving its range despite no longer being attached to Luigi's head.}}

**{{buff|Aerial Super Jump Punch has a slightly larger sweetspot (2.4u → 2.7u).}}

**{{nerf|Super Jump Punch's already high landing lag has been significantly increased (45 frames → 67).}}

**{{nerf|The grounded version's sweetspot is smaller (2.4u → 2.2u).}}

**{{nerf|Despite having an increased height multiplier (0.95x → 1x), Super Jump Punch covers significantly less vertical distance (especially on the ground), hindering its recovery potential.}}

**{{nerf|Luigi has less air control while using Super Jump Punch (1 → 2).}}

**{{nerf|Luigi falls faster while using Super Jump Punch (1.22 → 1.5).}}

**{{nerf|Luigi can now fast fall during Super Jump Punch's ascent, which will reduce its height even further.}}

***{{nerf|Altogether, these changes significantly hinder its safety on stage (making it harder to utilise platforms or to drift to the ledge), and they significantly hinder its recovery potential.}}

*[[Luigi Cyclone]]:

***{{buff|The higher knockback on the aerial version also improves its edgeguarding potential.}}

***{{nerf|However, the far hitboxes on the grounded version can often send opponents away from Luigi, hindering its reliability from far range.}}

***{{nerf|Additionally, landing with the aerial version will often put the opponent in a [[tech]] situation, where the opponent can tech and avoid the final hit (and potentially punish Luigi).}}

**{{buff|The loop hits have a higher rehit rate (8 → 6), which allows the aerial version to now hit 4 times, like the grounded version.}}

**{{buff|The final hit deals more knockback (60 (base), 115 (scaling) → 80/(130 (grounded)/120 (aerial))), improving the grounded version's KO potential despite its lower damage.}}

**{{buff|Luigi Cyclone has increased air speed (0.8 → 1.3).}}

**{{nerf|Luigi Cyclone has more startup (frame 7 → 10) and ending lag (FAF 81 → 90).}}

**{{nerf|The grounded version has a shorter duration (frames 7-33 → 10-33).}}

**{{nerf|Luigi Cyclone has reduced ground speed (2.35 → 1.9).}}

**{{nerf|Repeated special presses grant Luigi Cyclone less vertical momentum (0.9 → 0.7) and its maximum rising speed is lower (2.0 → 1.8). This makes button mashing to increase Luigi Cyclone's height less effective, hindering its recovery potential.}}

**{{nerf|The grounded loop hits lost one of their body hitboxes.}}

**{{nerf|The final hit sends opponents at a less favourable angle (90° → 70°/90° (grounded)70°/89° (aerial)). The 70° hitboxes in particular hinder the move's KO potential (especially in the air) and they make the move more susceptible to DI.}}

**{{nerf|The aerial version's final hit's lower hitbox has been positioned higher (y offset: 0 → 2), reducing its range below Luigi.}}

*[[Final Smash]]:

|fsmashdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|15}}

|fsmashdesc=A knifehand thrust. In addition to being Luigi's most damaging smash attack, it has very high knockback growth and can be angled like his forward tilt. While near the edge of {{SSB4|Final Destination}}, it KOs middleweights at 99%/91% (''3DS''/''Wii U'') when angled upward, and at 101%/92% (''3DS''/''Wii U'') when not angled or angled downward. However, it hits on frame 12, which is the highest amount of startup lag out of Luigi's smash attacks. It also has moderate ending lag and very short range, although the latter can be somewhat alleviated with [[pivoting]], thanks to Luigi's pivot being tied with {{SSB4|Little Mac}}'s as the second longest in the game.

|usmashdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|14}} (head), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|12}} (body)

|usmashdesc=An upwards arcing headbutt, similar to {{SSB4|Mario}}'s up smash. It hits on frame 9, which is quite fast for a smash attack, and launches opponents at a vertical angle towards Luigi. Like Mario and {{SSB4|Dr. Mario}}'s up smashes, it renders his head [[intangible]] throughout its duration. Unlike theirs, however, it consists of a sweetspot and a sourspot. It can also function well as a [[slide smash]], thanks to Luigi's very low traction. Its sweetspot is located on Luigi's head and is strong enough to KO middleweights at 121%/112% (''3DS''/''Wii U'') from anywhere on Final Destination. However, its sourspot, which is located on his torso, is unreliable for KOing because of its much weaker power.

|fthrowdmg=9%

|fthrowdesc=Spins the opponent around once and throws them forward. Very fast and Luigi's second most damaging throw, but has very minimal utility outside of dealing damage and setting up edge-guards at high percents. Due to being a weight dependent throw, it can also combo into dash attack against most lightweights with momentum conserved from a dash grab, though this only works at very low percents and is less reliable than down throw combos.

|bthrowdmg=10% (throw), 6% (collateral)

|bthrowdesc=A [[wikipedia:Professional wrestling throws#Giant swing|giant swing]]. Luigi spins the opponent around while holding them by their legs three times before throwing them backwards. It can hit other opponents while spinning, which deals minor damage and knockback. It is Luigi's most damaging throw and his only one with KO potential, as it KOs middleweights at 151%/145% (''3DS''/''Wii U'') while near the edge of Final Destination. Based on the throw [[Mario]] uses against [[Bowser]] in ''Super Mario 64'', which Luigi himself used in ''Super Mario 64 DS''.

|uthrowdmg=8%

|uthrowdesc=Heaves the opponent directly overhead with both hands. Like his forward throw, it is fast, but has very minimal utility outside of dealing damage. Its only other benefits are setting up into a forward aerial, up aerial or [[Luigi Cyclone]] against lightweights and fast-fallers at low percents.

|dthrowdmg=6%

|dthrowdesc=Shoves the opponent under himself and {{s|mariowiki|Ground Pound}}s them. It is Luigi's most useful throw and one of the most effective combo starters in the game, thanks to its below-average base knockback, average knockback growth and mostly vertical angle. It can combo reliably against any opponent: in regard to middleweights, follow-ups include forward smash at 0%-10%; up tilt, up smash, any aerial attack and Luigi Cyclone at low percentages; forward and back aerial at medium percentages; and up aerial at medium to high percentages. Although its combo potential wanes past 100% and/or while Luigi is affected by a high level of rage, Luigi Cyclone can also function as a mix-up against an opponent's air dodge at high percentages, and can even KO if they are hit by it close enough to the upper blast line.

|ssc2name=Quick Missile

|ssc2dmg=≈5.15% (uncharged), ≈20% (fully charged), 20% (misfired)

|usdefname=Super Jump Punch

|usdefdmg=25% (grounded sweetspot), 20% (aerial sweetspot), 1% (sourspot)

|dtauntdmg=2%

|dtauntdesc=Bashfully kicks to the ground. Its high fixed knockback value makes it a very potent meteor smash, allowing it to potentially OHKO a ledge-hanging opponent. However, it is held back by pitiful reach and slow start-up lag.

}}

===[[Announcer]] call===

<gallery>

Luigi English Announcer SSB4-SSBU.wav|English/Japanese/Chinese

</gallery>

|char=Luigi

|image-up=LuigiUpTauntSSB4.gif

|desc-down=Bashfully kicks the ground while sighing. It deals 2% on contact, but also has drastically different effects depending on the opponent's position. If it hits an opponent that is hanging on an edge or is off-stage, it will powerfully [[meteor smash]] them. Conversely, if the opponent is on-stage, it weakly launches them vertically. It is similar to the animation Luigi performs when he loses a {{s|mariowiki|minigame}} in ''{{s|mariowiki|Mario Party 2}}''.}}

|set10=3231

}}

===Most historically significant players===

<!--This character has a ten player limit for this section. Before adding and/or removing a player, read these guidelines: https://www.ssbwiki.com/SmashWiki:Notability#%22Most_historically_significant_players%22_guidelines -->

===Tier placement and history===

==[[Trophies]]==

==In [[Event Match]]es==

==Trivia==

*Luigi's official artwork is based on his side [[taunt]].

*[[Beta elements (SSB4)|Early in ''SSB4''{{'}}s development]], Luigi could [[wall jump]]. However, this was scrapped in the final release.

*In {{for3ds}}, the "Luigi (With Poltergust 3000)" trophy is titled erroneously. The Poltergust that Luigi is wielding in that trophy is actually the {{s|mariowiki|Poltergust 5000}} from ''{{s|mariowiki|Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon}}'', as shown by it having both a slightly different canister and the {{s|mariowiki|Strobulb}} equipped. This was fixed for the [[PAL]] region's version.

*Due to Luigi's head coming forward into the [[Hitbox#Hitboxes in three dimensions|z-axis]] when he [[crouch]]es, he can avoid certain projectiles that go behind his head.

==References==