Sora (SSBU): Difference between revisions

|image = {{tabber|title1=Kingdom Hearts|content1=[[File:Sora SSBU.png|250px]]|title2=Kingdom Hearts II|content2=[[File:Sora-Alt 1 SSBU.png|250px]]|title3=Dream Drop Distance|content3=[[File:Sora-Alt 2 SSBU.png|250px]]|title4=Kingdom Hearts III|content4=[[File:Sora-Alt 3 SSBU.png|250px]]|title5=Timeless River|content5=[[File:Sora-Alt 4 SSBU.png|250px]]}}

|tier = A

|ranking = 18

'''Sora''' ({{ja|ソラ|Sora}}, ''Sora'') is a playable character in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''. He was officially announced during ''[[Mr. Sakurai Presents#Battling with Sora|The Final Mr. Sakurai Presents]]'' on October 5th, 2021 as the sixth and final [[Downloadable content (SSBU)|downloadable character]] from {{h2|Downloadable content (SSBU)|Fighters Pass Vol. 2}}, and was released on October 18th, 2021 (October 19th in time zones east of the Americas) as part of Challenger Pack 11. During the presentation, [[Masahiro Sakurai]] confirmed that Sora was the actual winner of the [[Smash Bros. Fighter Ballot]], aligning with the statement that {{SSB4|Bayonetta}} was the winner among "negotiable and realizable characters."<ref name=SakuraiPresents/> Sora is the fourth fighter from a [[Square Enix]] published/developed series (after {{SSBU|Cloud}}, {{SSBU|Hero}}, and {{SSBU|Sephiroth}} respectively), as well as the first and only fighter from [[Disney]]. Sora is classified as [[Fighter number|Fighter #82]], the last fighter number of the [[newcomer]]s and the overall roster.

Sora is ranked 18th out of 82 on the current [[tier list]], placing him in the A tier. Sora possesses a highly dominant aerial game, characterized by an extremely long-distanced [[double jump]] that allows him to chase opponents above him, and a number of aerial attacks that sport great power and [[hitbox]] coverage. Most distinct among Sora's combat prowess is his possession of an array of [[natural combo]]s that, when used in conjunction with his unique double jump, allow Sora to perform extensively damaging combo loops via the [[instant double jump]] and [[SHFF]] techniques. Sora can initiate these combo loops reliably thanks to a host of great combo starters both in the air and on the ground, and many of them also have routes that lead into KOs. A prevalent trait among all of Sora's attacks is their high amount of active frames, granting him considerable margin of error when timing precise attacks in advantageous situations, and also allows him to [[tech-chase]] and cover [[edge]] options with relative ease. His special moves grant him a considerable amount of utility; [[Magic]] cycles through multiple projectiles that offer him pressure tools in the neutral game, {{b|Counterattack|Sora}} allows Sora to interrupt any melee attack, and [[Aerial Sweep]] functions as a potent high-rising KO option. He sports an immaculate recovery that complements his flexible off-stage presence, and can mix up his approaches through the use of [[Sonic Blade]]. In contrast to the majority of his fellow swordfighters, Sora also possesses a great grab game: each of his grabs are fast, while his down throw and back throw are reliable for starting combos and KOing outright, respectively.

Although Sora's early representation was sporadic, he saw a rise in results courtesy of significant placements by top players, such as {{Sm|Kameme}}, {{Sm|HIKARU}} and {{Sm|Raarchyor}}. Overall, Sora is considered a respectable fighter at a competitive level who must exercise care in his defensive play to reap the rewards of his high overall damage output, extensive combo potential, and potent KO potential.

Sora received no major changes in game updates by virtue of being the final [[DLC]] [[fighter]] and the development team not having enough time to properly observe player behavior and apply any necessary tweaks before sunsetting active development. The only change he received was in update 13.0.1, where his jab reset animation was adjusted to match the rest of the cast.

|dsmashdesc=Hops and then thrusts the Kingdom Key into the ground, emitting a shockwave. The sweetspot is near the Kingdom Key, whereas the sourspot is the remainder of the shockwave. Like {{SSBU|King K. Rool}}, {{SSBU|Ridley}} and {{SSBU|Incineroar}}'s down smashes, Sora's hurtbox shifts upward during his hop, allowing him to evade attacks with low hitboxes. It also renders Sora [[intangible]] upon startup, making it even easier to evade opposing attacks. However, the hop makes the attack slow to start, thus making it more effective for edge getups or reads. The sweetspot is powerful enough to KO Mario at 82% while near the edge and inflicts considerable shield damage. To match its animation, the Kingdom Key's hitbox actually enters the ground upon hitting it, which allows it to hit through shallow surfaces. On the other hand, the sourspot is less effective for KOing. It heavily resembles two similar downward plunging attacks from his home series, namely {{iw|khwiki|Finishing Leap}} and {{iw|khwiki|Land Crash}}.

On the other hand, despite Zackray dropping the character, Sora saw continued success in Japan thanks to the efforts of {{Sm|kameme}}, who by mid-2022 had achieved multiple top 8 placements with the character, and {{Sm|komorikiri}}, who has achieved respectable placements regionally despite being semi-active. kameme especially was able to travel to North America for several tournaments and placed top 8 at almost all of them. kameme's success with the character helped improve Sora's reputation in North America: currently, the general perception of Sora is that he is a viable, yet unpopular character in the metagame with {{Sm|ESAM}} and kameme both ranking him in top tier, though time will tell how he fares in the long run. He was ranked 31st on the first tier list, but thanks to the efforts of his playerbase, Sora rose to 18th on the second and current tier list, landing in the A Tier.

|2||{{CharHead|Mr. Game & Watch|SSBU|hsize=20px}} (normal-sized ×5, large ×2, giant ×1)||[[Skyworld]] ([[Battlefield form]])||''{{SSBUMusicLink|Kingdom Hearts|Night of Fate}}''||Horde battle.<br>Sora has 100 HP, whereas the normal-sized Mr. Game & Watches have 20 HP, the large ones have 50 HP, and the giant one has 70 HP.<br>The Mr. Game & Watches represent {{iw|khwiki|Shadow}}, {{iw|khwiki|Neoshadow}}, and {{iw|khwiki|Invisible}} Heartless. The stage references {{iw|khwiki|Olympus}} in ''Kingdom Hearts III''.

|3||{{CharHead|Cloud|SSBU|hsize=20px|color=Advent}}||[[Coliseum]]||''{{SSBUMusicLink|Kingdom Hearts|Shrouding Dark Cloud}}''||Stamina battle. Sora and Cloud have 100 HP apiece.<br>This Round references Sora's battle against {{iw|khwiki|Cloud}} at the {{iw|khwiki|Olympus Coliseum}} in the original ''Kingdom Hearts''. Cloud uses his "Cloudy Wolf" alternate costume from ''Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children'', which he also wears for his appearance in ''Kingdom Hearts II''.

**He hovers above the ground while [[dash]]ing, which is similar to his {{iw|khwiki|Glide}} ability; in the original ''Kingdom Hearts'', his glide stops upon reaching the ground, but later titles allow him to glide across the ground for faster movement.

**Unlike in the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series, Sora's P1 and P5 renders have him hold the {{iw|khwiki|Kingdom Key}} so that the teeth face upward, in contrast to how the teeth face downward in his other renders and his P1 fighter spirit. This is to reflect [[:File:Sora KH1.png|his 2D artwork]] from the original ''Kingdom Hearts'', in which he holds the Kingdom Key similarly.