Editing Dr. Mario (SSB4)

|name         = Dr. Mario

|image       = [[Image:Dr. Mario SSB4.png|250px|Dr. Mario]]

|game         = SSB4

|ssbgame1     = SSBM

|tier = G

|ranking = 45

'''Dr. Mario''' ({{ja|Dr. マリオ|Dokutā Mario}}, ''Dr. Mario'') is a playable character in ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]''. He was officially confirmed on October 9th, 2014 alongside {{SSB4|Dark Pit}} in a post-release announcement. Dr. Mario was originally planned to be an alternate costume of {{SSB4|Mario}}, but was spun off into being a separate character late in development. Dr. Mario is also the first of three ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'' characters that were cut from ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' to return for ''Super Smash Bros. 4'' alongside {{SSB4|Roy}} and {{SSB4|Mewtwo}}. Like in his debut appearance, Dr. Mario must be unlocked, whereas Roy and Mewtwo must be [[DLC|download]]ed. Dr. Mario retains his moveset from ''Melee'' and gains a [[Final Smash]] called [[Doctor Finale]], which is a stronger version of Mario's [[Mario Finale]] that, instead of streams of fire, has him hurl two massive [[Megavitamins]] across the screen. He is once again voiced by Charles Martinet, albeit via Mario's voice clips from ''Brawl'' as well as being less vocal than his normal counterpart.

Dr. Mario is ranked 45th out of 56 on the [[tier list]], placing him at the bottom of G tier and thus making him the lowest ranked low-tier character. This is a vast drop from his 11th out of 26 ranking in ''Melee'', where he was ranked higher than [[Mario (SSBM)|his normal counterpart in that same game]]. While Dr. Mario overall has more relative power compared to his appearance in ''Melee'', he is noticeably slower and sluggish, traits that were intentionally done to differentiate him from {{SSB4|Mario}}. He also sports a weaker [[recovery]] and combo game, which has resulted in him suffering from poor representation and below average results. Despite this, Dr. Mario has gained status as a niche character in competitive play, courtesy of professionals such as {{Sm|2ManyCooks}} and {{Sm|Nairo}} expanding his metagame by showing that he can still be used in certain match-ups.

*Clear {{SSB4-3DS|Classic Mode}} as Mario on difficulty 4.0 or higher.

Dr. Mario must then be defeated on [[Mushroomy Kingdom]].

Dr. Mario must then be defeated on [[Delfino Plaza]].

Dr. Mario is a [[clone]] of Mario: he is of average weight and stature and can [[wall jump]] just like his normal counterpart. However, while sharing animations and overall design, he functions a bit differently due to his difference in speed and power and now fights like a stronger, yet slower version of {{SSB4|Mario}}, like he was originally intended to be in ''Melee''. As a result, his mobility is subpar overall, as his [[jump]]ing force, [[walking]], [[dash]]ing and [[air speed]]s and [[air acceleration]] are slower in comparison to Mario, with all of them being 0.82 times his original counterpart's original values, while sharing the same [[traction]], [[falling speed]] and [[gravity]] with the former. Compared to Mario, however, his entire moveset deals noticeably more damage, as the majority of his attacks have a 1.12x multiplier on his attacks (except his forward and back aerials), making Dr. Mario's damage output above average compared to Mario, which is just average.

Not only does Dr. Mario's moveset possess a higher damage output, but he also posseses increased knockback overall throughout his moveset. This means Dr. Mario is notably more efficient at KOing in comparison to Mario, with all of his smash attacks, his forward and back aerials, and his [[Super Jump Punch]] being excellent KO moves. As a result, his [[punish]] game is very capable once he finds the proper opening. Other noticeable differences he posseses are seen in his specials: [[Megavitamins]] are stronger than Mario's [[Fireball]] and have less damage falloff over distance traveled. However, the angle between the two attacks are more clear cut with Megavitamins traveling further in the air without landing, and bouncing twice instead of three times. [[Super Sheet]] covers more vertical distance than Mario's [[Cape]], but it doesn't stall him in midair like it did in ''Melee''. Instead, [[Dr. Tornado]] is now used as a bigger part of his recovery, since it grants Dr. Mario some good horizontal distance if the button is mashed enough. It is also important to notice unlike Dr. Mario's Tornado, Mario's Tornado plays as his down aerial. Lastly, [[Super Jump Punch]] acts more like {{SSB4|Luigi}}'s version of the move, with high power at the base and a sourspot throughout the rest of its duration instead of a multiple hitting attack, making it an amazing [[out of shield]] option and a good KO move, though unlike Luigi's Super Jump Punch, it is considerably weaker and sends the opponent on a horizontal trayectory in exchange for being less punishable since it has less ending and landing lag. In terms of playstyle, Dr. Mario's combo game is also very different than Mario's, as it is harder overall to score more attacks without correct reads; while he has a higher output in damage overall, his slower movement speed, the increased knockback of his attacks and different angle on his up aerial can noticeably hinder his ability to chain hits together in quick succession, especially against lightweight characters, which makes Dr. Mario's combo game have poor flexibility. Despite this, his down tilt is his most versatile combo starter, particularly against medium and heavyweights and certain fastfallers. It can chain into either Super Jump Punch, Dr. Tornado, his neutral attack, up smash, forward tilt, or up tilt; the latter can also chain into itself as reliably as Mario's, though less times compared to his original counterpart. It should be noted, however, that due to the aforementioned knockback of his tilt attacks, down tilt-initiated combos are easier to perform on heavyweights and fast-fallers, and down tilt has poor reach overall, making down tilt combos a bit rare, and his down throw is much worse at comboing than Mario's.

There are some things Dr. Mario shares with Mario, however: like his original counterpart, he boasts an effective grab game, with his forward throw being an excellent move to edgeguard, his back throw KOing at high percentages, his up throw being a viable move to put aerial pressure and his down throw being able to combo into Super Jump Punch if timed correctly, though very rarely due to its high knockback and Dr. Mario's low jumping force. Regardless, it is difficult to punish except at very low percents. His aerial game is also above average: his neutral aerial is a reverse-sex kick, meaning it has lower knockback at the start, but higher knockback throughout the rest of the attack. It also comes out extremely fast, which makes him hard to combo, and it can lead into another move when late due to its low landing lag. His back aerial is also fast and powerful, making it a viable KOing option near the edge, as well as being a viable move for edge-guarding, making it his best aerial. His forward aerial, though slow in execution, is the third strongest of its kind when sweetspotted, and a tremendously powerful punishing option. His up and down aerials, however, are different from Mario's in terms of utility, and in the latter's case, entirely: up aerial sends into a more horizontal angle and has much less knockback, making it his most gimmicky and difficult to chain aerial move at low percents, while down aerial is a drill kick with considerable startup but higher duration, making it better than Mario's down aerial to avoid getting juggled. His grounded game has also some utility: as stated above, his down tilt can combo into many moves and his up tilt can chain into itself, his neutral attack is among the fastest in the game, and all of his smash attacks have great power.

Dr. Mario's flaws are significantly more noticeable when compared to Mario's. While he boasts excellent KO power, his actual KOing ability is inconsistent as he posseses no guaranteed KO set-ups like Mario. Many characters outperform him in several areas, such as {{SSB4|Donkey Kong}} having more power, Luigi having greater combo versatility, {{SSB4|Villager}} and {{SSB4|R.O.B.}} having strong zoning abilities, {{SSB4|Captain Falcon}} having better mobility and {{SSB4|Shulk}} having greater range. Out of these attributes, his most problematic ones are the latter two: his poor range and mobility. His much slower mobility compared to Mario gives him problems at [[approach]]ing the opponent to land a move, which is further compounded by the fact he posseses poor range on his attacks, and prevents him from fighting at a safe distance more than Mario.

The problems do not end here, however, as his slow mobility compounds his most glaring weakness: his poor recovery. Dr. Mario's lower jumping force, air speed and air acceleration combined with the lower distance compared to Mario's in Super Jump Punch give him a short, predictable recovery. Unlike Mario, however, he can extend it by making use of Dr. Tornado, which allows him to gain slightly better horizontal distance compared to Mario. However, his recovery gains noticeably less vertical distance compared to the latter, even when he wall jumps, which leaves him vulnerable to most meteor smashes as they may send him low enough to lose a stock. As a result, he is among the characters that suffers the most when trying to get back to the stage, and even though he may not need to use his second jump to recover, any attack strong enough (most notably [[semi-spike]]s) may send him too far away to recover back to the stage.

Dr. Mario significantly benefits when [[custom moves]] are turned on. Like his standard counterpart, his custom moves define the fundamentals of customization, but in his case, some of them allow him to cover up his most significant flaws more noticeably than that of Mario's. Fast Capsule deals less damage and barely causes flinching, but covers more range at a much faster pace, improving his already decent projectile game. Mega Capsule has less range and is much slower, but deals repeated damage and lingers after being shot, allowing it to shut down many approaches from characters that lack projectiles and can be followed up with his other moves. Breezy Sheet provides him more safety when fighting near the edge at a slight cost of damage, while Shocking Sheet gives him an extra KOing option that has decent speed, though it cannot reflect projectiles. Ol' One-Two gives him an extremely powerful KOing option that can KO at very low percentages at the cost of further hampering Dr. Mario's already poor recovery. Both Super Jump and Soaring Tornado considerably improve his sub-par recovery game. Soaring Tornado also has the benefit of making Dr. Mario an incredible edge-guarder due to its consistent windbox effect, how soon its hitbox can KO, even from the center of the stage, and how it is consistently powerful throughout its hitbox duration, unlike most other lingering hitboxes. His only bad custom move seems to be Clothesline Tornado, which hampers his recovery without giving him a better damage racking move and having less utility overall.

Overall, Dr. Mario is like he was intended to be ever since ''Melee'': a slower, yet much stronger version of Mario. These traits make him a bit of a slow, yet fairly powerful glass cannon, as he is able to dish out huge damage and send the opponent far away, but cannot afford to receive such, resulting in him having to utilize a much more patient playstyle in comparison to his normal counterpart. As a result, Dr. Mario's essential tactics to succeed include avoiding edge-guarding if possible and remaining on stage more often than not, capitalizing on predictions by punishing an opponent's openings with his powerful attacks and effective grab game, and wisely using his few, limited combos to rack up damage. His faults outweigh his strengths, and due to this, Dr. Mario has poor tournament representation and results, though he does have a few notable players to his credit, such as {{Sm|2ManyCooks}}, {{Sm|Atomsk}} and {{Sm|Nairo}}.

Dr. Mario received some of the most recognizable changes out of any veteran in his transition from ''Melee'' to ''SSB4'', with all of his changes gearing him towards what he was intended to be in ''Melee'': a slower, yet stronger Mario. However, this results in Dr. Mario being considerably [[nerf]]ed overall in the transition, due to the nerfs to his speed and mobility decreasing his ability to neutral game and approach despite having [[Megavitamins]] as a projectile. Many of his moves were also nerfed; notable examples include his forward aerial and forward smash now requiring sweetspots to actually be effective, while his Megavitamins have a decreased damage output. The changes in physics from ''Melee'' have also removed many of Dr. Mario's set-ups into those potential sweetspots, making his punish game much less effective as well, despite remaining strong. Furthermore, [[Dr. Tornado]] was also nerfed in that its vertical coverage has decreased when used in the air and [[Super Sheet]] no longer stalls him in the air at all. As a result, and when combined with his lower jumps, this forces him to using his new wall jump for recovery mix-ups and thus makes him very easy to edge-guard and significantly hinders his recovery.

However, Dr. Mario has been buffed in other regards; some of his moves have increased range, while the universal change to units of distance benefits his match-ups against characters who countered him in the past such as {{SSB4|Marth}}, though not as much as his normal counterpart. His already high power is also even higher than it was in ''Melee'', due to the strengthening of some of his attacks' sweetspots. These changes, however, do not compensate for the noticeable decreases to his mobility. As a result, he is the only ''Melee'' veteran to have been truly nerfed in his transition, as fellow veterans {{SSB4|Mewtwo}} and {{SSB4|Roy}} have been buffed to high degrees, either due to game updates or being improved outright upon returning, respectively.

*{{change|Dr. Mario's design has been updated to include the red tie he has had since ''Dr. Mario 64'', while still retaining his black pants from ''Melee''. However, his pants are now rolled up, revealing their lighter insides. His hair is a slightly lighter shade of brown and his head mirror's band is now black. Additionally, his stethoscope is now black instead of blue like it was in ''Melee''.}}

*{{change|Dr. Mario now has an [[on-screen appearance]].}}

*{{change|Dr. Mario has a new idle pose. He pounds his fist into his open palm.}}

*{{change|Dr. Mario has a new victory pose, replacing the one he shared with {{SSBM|Mario}} in ''Melee''. He now rubs his chin with his hand, as if examining a patient or being in deep thought.}}

*{{change|Dr. Mario has the same stance as Mario when holding a light item.}}

*{{change|Dr. Mario is slightly smaller.}}

*{{change|Dr. Mario is lighter (100 → 98), with his [[weight]] now being identical to {{SSB4|Mario}}'s since ''Brawl''. While this slightly hinders his survivability, it makes him slightly less susceptible to combos.}}

*{{nerf|Dr. Mario [[walk]]s slower (1.1 → 0.902).}}

*{{nerf|Dr. Mario [[dash]]es slower (1.5 → 1.312).}}

*{{buff|Dr. Mario's [[air speed]] is slightly faster (0.9 → 0.943), though it is still significantly slower than Mario's.}}

*{{change|Due to the physics change in ''SSB4'', Dr. Mario's [[falling speed]] is slower (1.7 → 1.5) and his [[gravity]] is lower (0.095 → 0.08715). Compared to the other veterans, Dr. Mario's survivability is still balanced.}}

*{{nerf|Dr. Mario's traction has been lowered (0.6 → 0.45), now being identical to Mario's. This makes hinders his punishment ability, especially when [[out of shield]].}}

*{{buff|Dr. Mario can now [[wall jump]].}}

*{{nerf|While Dr. Mario has an overall higher damage output than Mario, most of his moves deal slightly less damage due to the decrease in Mario's overall damage output.}}

*{{change|Backward jump's animation has changed. Dr. Mario now backflips three times, as opposed to once.}}

*{{nerf|Neutral attack deals less damage (4% (hit 1)/3% (hit 2)/6% (hit 3) → 2.8%/1.68%/4.48%).}}

*{{buff|Neutral attack has a consecutive jab and is faster.}}

*{{nerf|All tilt attacks deal less damage (9% (upward angled)/8% (non-angled)/7% (downward angled) → 7.84% (all angles) (forward), 10% (clean)/8% (late) → 7.056% (up), 9% → 7.84% (body)/5.6% (foot) (down)).}}

*{{buff|Forward tilt is faster.}}

*{{change|Up tilt no longer launches the opponent forward if they are hit in front of Dr. Mario. Instead of having different launching trajectories depending on where it hits them, it now launches them upward no matter where it hits them. This improves its combo potential, but hinders its versatility.}}

*{{buff|Down tilt is faster, improving its [[spacing]] potential at close range.}}

*{{change|Down tilt now slightly launches opponents upward instead of behind Dr. Mario, improving its combo potential but removing its edgeguarding set-up potential.}}

*{{nerf|Dash attack deals less damage (9% (clean)/8% (late) → 8.96%/6.72%).}}

*{{buff|Due to the changes to the charged smash attack formula, fully charged forward and up smashes deal more damage.}}

*{{buff|Non-angled and downward angled forward smash deal more damage (19% → 19.04% (non-angled), 18% → 19.6112% (downward)) and have increased range.}}

*{{nerf|Upward angled forward smash deals 0.008% less damage (20% → 19.992%).}}

*{{nerf|Forward smash has decreased knockback (30 (base)/97 (scaling) → 25/96), increased start-up and ending lag. It also received a sourspot located at Dr. Mario's hand that deals less damage (20% → 16.464% (upward angled), 19% → 15.68% (non-angled), 18% → 16.1504% (downward angled)).}}

*{{change|Uncharged up smash now deals consistent damage (16% (clean)/13% (late) → 15.68%).}}

*{{nerf|Down smash deals less damage (18% (sweetspot front)/17% (sourspot front), 15% (sweetspot back)/13% (sourspot back) → 11.2% (front)/13.44% (back)).}}

*{{change|Down smash's knockback has been altered (50 (base)/75 (scaling) → 30/100), which makes it stronger at medium to high percentages, but not enough to compensate at low percentages. Its sweetspot and sourspot hitbox positions have also been reversed, making the front hit weaker and the back hit stronger.}}

*{{nerf|Neutral, forward, up, and down aerials all deal less damage (10% (early)/14% (clean) → 5.6%/8.96% (neutral), 17% (sweetspot)/16% (sourspot) → 11.2% (early)/16.8% (clean)/10.08% (late) (forward), 10% → 7.84% (up), 16.38% (all hits connect) → 10.976% (down).}}

*{{nerf|Forward aerial has decreased knockback overall (50 (sweetspot base)/40 (sourspot base)/100 (scaling) → 30 (early base)/95 (early scaling), 30 (clean base)/102 (clean scaling)). It also received a late hitbox that deals less damage (10.08%) and knockback (20 (base)/95 (growth)).}}

*{{buff|Back aerial deals more damage (8% (clean)/7% (late) → 13.44%/7.84%) and has altered knockback (43 (base)/65 (scaling) → 10/95), improving its KO potential.}}

*{{nerf|Back aerial has an altered angle (28° → [[Sakurai angle]]), removing its ability to [[semi-spike]] and thus hindering its edgeguarding ability.}}

*{{change|Back aerial's animation has changed. It is now identical to Mario's back aerial since ''Brawl''.}}

*{{buff|Up aerial has increased base knockback (0 → 9).}}

*{{change|Up aerial has an altered angle (45° → 55°).}}

*{{buff|Down aerial has received a landing hitbox like [[Mario Tornado]], which deals 2.24%. It also has increased knockback, which includes its landing hitbox (50 (base)/160 (scaling) having more knockback than Mario Tornado's landing hitbox. Its loop hits also launch opponents at the [[Autolink angle|auto-link angle]], making it much harder to SDI out of.}}

===Throws/other attacks===

*{{nerf|The removal of [[chain grab]]bing hinders Dr. Mario's grab game and damage racking ability.}}

*{{buff|Grabs' ranges have increased.}}

*{{buff|Pummel deals 0.64% more damage (3% → 3.64%).}}

*{{buff|All of Dr. Mario's throws have decreased ending lag.}}

*{{nerf|Forward, up and down throws deal less damage (9% → 8.96% (forward), 8% → 7.84% (up), 6% → 5.6% (down)).}}

*{{buff|Back throw deals more damage (12% (throw)/8% (collateral) → 12.32%/8.96%).}}

*{{nerf|Back throw has decreased knockback (80 (base)/72 (scaling) → 70/60), much like Mario's back throw since ''Brawl''. However, it is still one of the strongest throws in the game.}}

*{{buff|Front and back floor attacks deal more damage (6% → 7.84%).}}

*{{change|Due to the introduction of [[trip]]ping, Dr. Mario now has a floor attack when he trips.}}

*{{change|Dr. Mario no longer has a slow edge attack.}}

*{{change|Fast edge attack now deals consistent damage (8% (legs)/6% (body) → 7.84%).}}

*{{nerf|[[Megavitamins]] deal less damage (8% → 5.6% (early)/4.48% (late)).}}

*{{buff|Megavitamins are slightly larger, cover more range and are no longer [[absorb]]able.}}

*{{change|Megavitamins are much brighter and they appear to be smaller, but more rounded. {{GameIcon|ssb4-u}}They also lack a translucent half.}}

*{{nerf|[[Super Sheet]] deals less damage (10%/12% → 7.84%).}}

*{{change|Aerial Super Sheet no longer stalls Dr. Mario, removing its recovery potential but giving Dr. Mario a new approach tool.}}

*{{buff|[[Super Jump Punch]] does 0.44% more damage and now consists of clean and late hitboxes, with the clean hitbox being strong enough to KO reliably before 150% from the center of the stage and around 100% at the edge, improving its KO, combo and [[tech-chase|tech-chasing]] potentials. Super Jump Punch can also be moved in the opposite direction landing its clean hitbox, which potentially gives Dr. Mario the ability to hit multiple opponents with the clean hitbox and to possibly avoid being punished after landing it.}}

*{{nerf|Super Jump Punch can no longer be canceled and has increased [[landing lag]]. While Mario's Super Jump Punch's vertical distance increased, Dr. Mario's retains its vertical distance from ''Melee''.}}

*{{nerf|[[Dr. Tornado]] deals less damage (13% (all ground hits connect)/14% (all aerial hits connect) → 8.736% (all hits connect)) and aerial Dr. Tornado's vertical distance has decreased due to its lengthier animation.}}

*{{buff|Dr. Tornado has decreased start-up and ending lag, allowing for a double jump sooner for recovery. Its duration has slightly increased and it is harder to escape from. Its last hit is also stronger, KOing reliably at 100% off-stage.}}

*{{change|Dr. Mario has a [[Final Smash]], [[Doctor Finale]]. Aesthetically, it functions exactly the same as Mario's [[Mario Finale]], but uses two massive Megavitamins instead of two massive streams of fire.}}

*{{change|Dr. Mario's victory poses, idle poses, on-screen appearance and taunts are different.}}

*{{change|Dr. Mario's idle stance is identical to Mario's, albeit slower.}}

*{{change|Dr. Mario is less vocal.}}

*{{buff|Due to almost all of his attacks (except for forward and back aerials) using a multiplier of 1.12x on their damage outputs, Dr. Mario is stronger overall compared to Mario.}}

*{{nerf|Due his walking, dashing and air speeds and air acceleration using a multiplier of 0.82x as well as his lower jumps, Dr. Mario is significantly less mobile compared to Mario.}}

*{{nerf|Dr. Mario does not crouch as low as Mario.}}

*{{buff|Neutral attack's first two hits deal higher knockback, making it easier to [[jab cancel]] with.}}

*{{nerf|Neutral attack has increased ending lag (20 frames → 23 (hit), 22 frames → 25 (hit 2), 34 frames → 36 (hit 3)) and cannot [[jab reset]].}}

*{{buff|Forward tilt has a longer duration (2 frames → 3).}}

*{{buff|Dash attack launches opponents vertically instead of obliquely, which makes it better for combos at low percentages.}}

*{{nerf|Forward smash has less range.}}

*{{change|Dr. Mario's forward smash's sweetspot is on his arm, while Mario's is on the [[flame]]. This means that Dr. Mario has to be closer to the opponent to land the sweetspot.}}

*{{change|Forward smash is an [[electric]] attack rather than a flame attack.}}

*{{buff|Up smash has a longer duration (4 frames → 5). It also launches opponents at a horizontal angle instead of a vertical angle, which allows it to combo into itself at low percentages when uncharged and thus improves its combo potential in comparison to Mario's.}}

*{{nerf|Up smash's altered knockback (30 (base)/95 (scaling) → 0/117) and horizontal angle hinders its KO potential.}}

*{{nerf|All aerials have increased landing lag (10 frames → 12 (neutral), 26 frames → 28 (forward), 12 frames → 16 (back), 12 frames → 14 (up), 19 frames → 21 (down)).}}

*{{change|Neutral aerial deals more damage and knockback the longer it is active, whereas Mario's functions oppositely.}}

*{{buff|Neutral aerial can jab reset until around 40%.}}

*{{nerf|Neutral aerial has a shorter duration (27 frames → 25).}}

*{{nerf|Early forward aerial deals 0.8% less damage (12% → 11.2%).}}

*{{buff|Clean and late forward aerial deal more damage (14% (clean)/10%(late) → 16.8%/10.08%).}}

*{{change|Clean and late forward aerial have shorter and longer durations respectively (4 frames (clean)/6 frames (late) → 3/7).}}

*{{change|Sweetspotted forward aerial launches the opponent at a diagonal angle instead of [[meteor smash]]ing them.}}

*{{buff|Back aerial deals more damage (10.5% (clean)/7% (late) → 13.44%/7.84%) and its duration is longer (2 frames (clean)/3 frames (late)/5 frames (overall) → 3/5/8).}}

*{{buff|Up aerial has a longer animation. However, this results in the move having a longer duration (5 frames → 9) and decreased ending lag (24 frames → 20).}}

*{{nerf|Up aerial launches opponents at a horizontal angle and has less knockback despite its higher damage output (10 (base)/135 (scaling) → 9/100), hindering its juggle and combo potentials compared to Mario's.}}

*{{change|Dr. Mario retains his [[Drill (archetype)|drill kick]] as his down aerial, while Mario's has been [[Mario Tornado]] since ''Brawl''. As a result, Dr. Mario's down aerial launches the opponent at a different angle compared to Mario's.}}

*{{nerf|Despite its higher damage output, down aerial's last hit deals less damage and much less knockback than Mario Tornado (80 (base)/100 (scaling) → 50/120). It also has increased start-up (3 frames → 11) and ending lag (13 frames → 27) and less vertical range.}}

===Grabs and throws===

*{{buff|Back throw is slightly stronger than Mario's despite its lower knockback scaling (66 → 60).}}

*{{nerf|Down throw has altered knockback (40 (base)/90 (scaling) → 75/45), hindering its follow-up potential at low percentages compared to Mario's without properly compensating it at higher percentages.}}

*{{buff|[[Megavitamins]] cannot be [[absorb]]ed due to being classified as physical projectiles rather than energy projectiles like Mario's [[Fireball]].}}

*{{change|Megavitamins bounce twice while Fireball bounces three times.}}

*{{buff|Super Sheet has decreased ending lag (16 frames → 14) and its reflection hitbox has a longer duration (15 frames → 17).}}

*{{change|Super Sheet has more vertical range but less horizontal range than [[Cape]].}}

*{{change|Aerial Super Sheet does not stall Dr. Mario.}}

*{{buff|Dr. Mario's Super Jump Punch deals more knockback than Mario's and it has a longer duration (9 frames → 17).}}

*{{change|Dr. Mario's Super Jump Punch only has two hitboxes and deals more damage at the start of the attack, just like {{SSB4|Luigi}}'s.}}

*{{nerf|Dr. Mario's Super Jump Punch covers less vertical distance than Mario's.}}

*{{change|Dr. Mario's Super Jump Punch has a different sound effect than Mario's when it hits an opponent.}}

*{{change|Dr. Mario retains [[Dr. Tornado]] as his down special.}}

*{{change|Dr. Tornado is purely offensive rather, while [[F.L.U.D.D.]] is purely defensive.}}

 

*{{change|Dr. Mario uses Ties as defensive [[Equipment]] instead of Overalls.}}

Although his core problems have not been addressed, Dr. Mario has received a handful of buffs nonetheless. Updates [[1.0.4]] and [[1.0.6]] improved his forward aerial's knockback and damage output, enabling it to score KOs easier and making it more viable either as a [[short hop]]ped on-stage attack, or as an edge-guarding option. Update [[1.1.0]] slightly improved his up smash by giving it one extra frame, as well as making it capable of scoring KOs easier near edges due to increasing its knockback. Like {{SSB4|Mario}}, however, the changes on shieldstun in [[1.1.1]] make it slightly harder for him to use his patient playstyle effectively, as the increased shieldstun makes it harder for him to punish out of shield. This change, however, also benefits him due to his overall damage output being higher than Mario's, which makes his most powerful moves much safer on shield when compared to his normal counterpart.

*{{buff|Up smash's horizontal knockback increased, making it more effective at KOing while near an edge.}}

*{{buff|Sweetspotted forward aerial deals 1.12% more damage|15.68%|16.8%.}}

*{{buff|Up smash's duration increased|4 frames|5, making its duration match its animation.}}

*{{buff|Clothesline Tornado deals more damage|8%|10%/12%.}}

*{{buff|Clothesline Tornado's sweetspot's hitbox size increased.}}

*{{change|Sweetspotted Clothesline Tornado's knockback altered|60 (base)/120 (scaling)|100/70.}}

*Except for his forward and back aerials, Dr. Mario's attacks deal exactly 1.12 times more damage than Mario's attacks due to using a multiplier.[http://smashboards.com/threads/complete-hitbox-frame-data-for-every-character-now-with-ko-percents.383550/] This does not apply to items or reflected attacks.

|neutralname= 

|neutraldesc=Two alternating jabs followed by a forward kick. The first two hits have set vertical knockback, allowing Dr. Mario to potentially perform jab cancel follow-ups, such as a [[grab]]. Originates from ''Super Mario 64''.

|ftiltname= 

|ftiltdesc=A reverse roundhouse kick. Low KO potential, but can be used to space opponents and serve as a defensive move.

|utiltname= 

|utiltdesc=A spinning uppercut. Can be followed up by itself or an aerial attack. Can KO around 160%. Originates from ''Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars''.

|dtiltname= 

|dtiltdesc=A legsweep. Dr. Mario's most reliable combo starter, it can be followed up by any ground attack at low percentages or an aerial and [[Super Jump Punch]] until high percentages.

|dashname= 

|dashdesc=A {{s|wikipedia|dropkick}} variation of a baseball slide. Launches the opponent at a purely vertical angle and has a fair amount of ending lag.

|fsmashname= 

|fsmashdesc=A palm thrust that produces a small blast of electricity. It has longer range than in ''Melee'', but now has a sweetspot at Dr. Mario's arm. Can KO at 92% depending on where it lands.

|usmashname= 

|usmashdesc=An upward headbutt. Its purely diagonal knockback makes it great for combos at low percentages. Dr. Mario's head is intangible while the hitboxes are active and it possesses more range than Mario's, being able to hit opponents behind him.

|dsmashname= 

|dsmashdesc=A double legsweep performed from a flare, an acrobatic technique used in breakdancing and gymnastics. A very fast, yet very powerful [[semi-spike]]. Excellent for [[edgeguarding]] and KOing. Originates from ''Super Mario 64''.

|nairname= 

|nairdesc=A flying kick. Like in ''Melee'', it is a "reverse [[sex kick]]", with the late dealing more damage and knockback. Its clean hit is good for breaking combos, while the late hit is great for edgeguarding. Similar to the one Mario used in ''Super Mario 64''.

|fairname= 

|fairdesc=Winds up his arm and punches downward. Unlike Mario's, it does not [[meteor smash]], but instead deals incredibly high diagonal knockback if sweetspotted, to the point where it is the third strongest forward aerial in the game. Great for edgeguarding and can sometimes be used immediately after a down throw. KOs at 109% from the stage's center.

|bairname= 

|bairdesc=A dropkick. Its combination of high speed and high knockback make it effective in edgeguarding or a [[reverse aerial rush]]. KOs at 124% near the edge if hit clean.

|uairname= 

|uairdesc=A backflip kick. Launches the opponent upward at a purely diagonal angle and is decent for juggling opponents at low percents.

|dairname= 

|dairdmg=1.904% (loop hits), 3.36% (last hit), 2.24% (landing)

|dairdesc=Does a diagonal corkscrew dropkick. A [[Drill (archetype)|drill]]. The last hit deals diagonal knockback, unlike Mario's.

|grabname= 

|grabdesc=

|pummelname= 

|pummeldesc=A headbutt. Although moderately slow, its damage is surpassed only by {{SSB4|Olimar}}'s White Pikmin pummel and {{SSB4|Shulk}}'s [[Monado Arts|Buster]]-boosted pummel.

|fthrowdesc=Spins the opponent around once and tosses them forward. At certain percents it can be followed up with a dash attack or an aerial attack. Can be useful for forcing opponents off-stage.

|bthrowname= 

|bthrowdesc=Spins the opponent by their legs three times while damaging bystanders. While it has lost some of the knockback it had in ''Melee'', it remains a very strong throw and can KO near the edge around 135%. Originates from ''Super Mario 64''.

|uthrowname= 

|uthrowdesc=Heaves the opponent high into the air with both hands. Decent against fast-fallers for aerial follow-ups.

|dthrowname= 

|dthrowdesc=Slams the opponent into the ground. Launches the opponent much higher than Mario's down throw and has low knockback scaling, allowing for aerial follow-ups more easily.

|floorfdesc=Gets up then kicks behind himself and then in front of himself.

|floorbdesc=Gets up then punches behind himself and then in front of himself.

|floortdesc=Kicks behind him, then in front of him while getting up.

|edgedesc=Does a somersault and then dropkicks upward from a supine position.

|nsdefdesc=Throws a {{s|supermariowiki|Megavitamin}}. Megavitamins follow a bouncing arc, similarly to Mario's [[Fireball]], although Megavitamins' arc is unique and allows them to cover different angles. Unlike Mario's Fireball, they cannot be absorbed.

|nsc1desc=Quickly throws a weaker Megavitamin that flies straight ahead, similarly to {{SSB4|Fox}} and {{SSB4|Falco}}'s [[Blaster]]s. It deals lower damage and hitstun, but it can be easily spammed due to its faster speed.

|nsc2desc=Throws a slow but large Megavitamin that will damage any opponent it hits in its predetermined path until it vanishes. Unlike the other two variations, it does not disappear upon impact. It has slow start-up and ending lag, but can potentially be followed-up with several other moves.

|ssdefdmg=7.84%

|ssdefdesc=Waves a defensive sheet that reflects projectiles and reverses enemies. It has more vertical range than Mario's, but covers less horizontal distance compared to his. Unlike in ''Melee'', the Super Sheet no longer stalls his momentum in midair, removing its recovery potential.

|ssc1desc=The sheet discharges electricity, which destroys projectiles instead of reflecting them. It deals noticeably more damage and knockback, to the point that it can KO at high percentages, but has more [[ending lag]].

|ssc2dmg=5.6%

|ssc2desc=The sheet emits a small gust of wind, pushing opponents backward in addition to turning them around. It deals slightly less damage while also having more [[ending lag]].

|usdefdesc=A strong, jumping uppercut. It travels less distance than Mario's and only hits once, but can be [[sweetspot]]ted for extra damage like Luigi's. Has KO potential starting at 140% on middleweight characters and at around 100% near the edge.

|usc1desc=Provides more distance than the standard Super Jump Punch, at the cost of dealing no damage.

|usc2desc=Deals more damage and much stronger knockback, but at the cost of having noticeably less recovery distance. This uppercut hits twice, first at the start and then at its apex.

|dsdefdmg=1.344% (loop hits), 3.36% (last hit)

|dsdefdesc=Rapidly spins around, trapping opponents and damaging them with a series of [[Wikipedia:Professional wrestling attacks|discus clotheslines and spinning backfists]] before launching them. Dr. Mario can move around on the ground while spinning, and can hover in the air by repeatedly pressing the special button while using it. While the move has a start-up of 10 frames and has some considerable [[ending lag]], it has quite some range that allows it to beat out attacks. Gains KO potential at around 130% near the edge. Because of its high knockback scaling, it can be used as a risky but efficient edgeguarding option. Likely based on the {{s|mariowiki|Spin Jump}} that originated in ''Super Mario World''.

|dsc1desc=Spins even faster to propel himself into the air. It has much greater vertical mobility, but at the cost of horizontal movement. The hitboxes are replaced with a wind hitbox except for the last hit, which has much more knockback than Dr. Tornado. When coupled with its considerably better vertical coverage, it is much more efficient at edgeguarding than Dr. Tornado, as it can KO as low as 30% when near the edge and around 85% at the center of the stage.

|dsc2dmg=8.96% (loop hits), 8.96% (last hit)

|dsc2desc=A slower variation that deals higher horizontal knockback, but at the cost of having noticeably less recovery distance.

|fsdmg=3.36% (bigger Megavitamin), 2.24% (smaller Megavitamin)

|fsdesc=Throws two massive Megavitamins, which move forward and spiral outward, creating exploding capsule effects as they travel across the stage. Aesthetically, it functions identically to [[Mario Finale]], albeit with giant Megavitamins replacing the streaming flames. It deals more damage than Mario Finale.

|desc=A large stack of Megavitamins appear on stage. Another Megavitamin then lands on the top, causing a chain reaction which disintegrates the entire stack, revealing Dr. Mario behind them. Initially, Dr. Mario stands in a thinking pose with his eyes closed, but opens his eyes with a surprised expression once the Megavitamins disappear.

|desc-up=Grinds his shoe on the ground.

|desc-side=Pulls out a randomly colored Megavitamin, rolls it down his arm, uses his shoulder to toss it into the air, then catches it. This taunt returns from ''Melee''.

|desc-down=Pounds his shoulder with his fist.}}

|desc-1=Sways his head from right to left.

|desc-2=Punches his left hand into his open palm.

|victory-desc=A flourished remix directly from ''Brawl'' based on the sound clip that would play when Mario reaches the end of a level in ''{{s|supermariowiki|Super Mario Bros.}}''

|desc-1=Throws out two randomly colored [[Megavitamins]], dusts off his gloves and then pulls out two more Megavitamins that are the same color as the ones he threw.

|desc-2=Holds out his stethoscope and points it straight, then to his left and then straight again.

|desc-3=Rubs his chin while appearing to be thinking about something, then faces the screen while continuing to rub his chin. This replaces his "Here we go!" victory animation from ''Melee''.

==In competitive play==

===Notable players===

<!--If you are planning to add a player you consider to be notable, please provide tournament results in some shape or form in the edit summary (be it a link to a results thread or bracket of placing high in a tournament of other notable players or a video of them beating a notable player). Winning tournaments without notable players present is generally not enough to warrant a spot.-->

:'''Dr. Mario'''

::{{flag|ntsc}} ''In the 1990 puzzle game Dr. Mario, Mario threw on a white coat and decided to take a shot at that whole "medicine" thing. In this game, he's a balanced fighter who can throw Megavitamin capsules and nimbly deflect blows with his Super Sheet. He's not quite as quick as normal Mario, but his attacks deal a bit more damage.''

::{{flag|pal}} ''In Dr. Mario, released in Europe in 1991, Mario threw on a white coat and decided to have a bash at the whole medicine thing. In this game, he's an all-rounder who can throw Megavitamin capsules and nimbly deflect blows with his Super Sheet. He's not quite as quick as normal Mario, but his attacks deal a bit more damage.''

{{Trophy games|console1=NES|game1=Dr. Mario 10/1990|console2=Wii|game2=Dr. Mario Online Rx 05/2008}}

 

:'''Dr. Mario (Alt.)'''

::{{flag|ntsc}} ''Mario and Dr. Mario are only slightly different. Basically, Dr. Mario is stronger, but his MD slows his speed and lowers his jump. He also has a move Mario doesn't: Dr. Tornado, a down special that can trap opponents before launching them. You can move left and right while doing it and press the button repeatedly to rise into the air.''

 

::{{flag|pal}} ''Mario and Dr. Mario are only slightly different. Basically, Dr. Mario is stronger, but his heavy coat affects his speed and jumping. He also has a move Mario doesn't: Dr. Tornado, a down special that can trap opponents before launching them. You can move left and right while doing it and press the button repeatedly to rise into the air.''

 

{{Trophy games|console1=NES|game1=Dr. Mario 10/1990|console2=Wii|game2=Dr. Mario Online Rx 05/2008}}

::''In Dr. Mario's Final Smash, he spreads his arms wide and then lets loose a pair of giant vitamin capsules that spiral through the air, taking out any pesky "viruses" in their path. The wide range makes it tough for foes to avoid, and opponents they strike will take multiple hits, possibly even being pushed right off the screen!''

DrMarioTrophy3DS.png|Classic (3DS)

DrMarioAllStarTrophy3DS.png|Alt. (3DS)

DrMarioTrophyWiiU.png|Classic (Wii U)

DrMarioAltTrophyWiiU.png|Alt. (Wii U)

DrFinaleTrophyWiiU.png|[[Doctor Finale]]

* '''[[All-Star Battle: Secret]]''': Dr. Mario is one of the characters fought in this event.

* '''[[Doctor Schmoctor]]''': Dr. Mario appears as Wario's opponent and Wario is constantly taking damage due to a Lip's Stick flower on his head.

* '''[[Viral Visitors]]''': Player 1 controls Dr. Mario and Player 2 controls Peach, and they must defeat four "unmasked Meta Knight" Kirby alternatives within the time limit.

* '''[[The Ultimate Battle]]''': Dr. Mario is one of the opponents in the event.

SSB4 - Dr. Mario Screen-1.jpg|In fighting stance.

SSB4 - Dr. Mario Screen-2.jpg|Fighting {{SSB4|Charizard}}.

SSB4 - Dr. Mario Screen-3.jpg|Fighting {{SSB4|Mega Man}}.

SSB4 - Dr. Mario Screen-5.jpg|With {{SSB4|King Dedede}}, {{SSB4|Kirby}} and {{SSB4|Wii Fit Trainer}}.

SSB4 - Dr. Mario Screen-6.jpg|Attacking {{SSB4|Fox}}.

SSB4 - Dr. Mario Screen-7.jpg|Taunting with {{SSB4|Little Mac}} and {{SSB4|Captain Falcon}}.

SSB4 - Dr. Mario Screen-8.jpg|Using [[Doctor Finale]].

SSB4 - Dr. Mario Screen-9.jpg|His [[on-screen appearance]].

SSB4 - Dr. Mario Screen-10.jpg|Using [[Megavitamins]] on two Kirbys as a nod to the {{s|mariowiki|virus}}es from his [[Dr. Mario (game)|eponymous game]].

*Dr. Mario's shirt and tie are done up in his official artwork, but in gameplay, his collar is open and tie is loose.

*Dr. Mario and {{SSB4|Lucina}} are the only characters who are not playable in a solo event unless selected.

*Dr. Mario is the only character to have two [[List of challenges (SSB4-Wii U)|challenges]] exclusive to him in ''Super Smash Bros. for Wii U''.

*Dr. Mario is one of the five unlockable veterans that do not appear in {{forwiiu}}'s [[opening movie]]. The other four are {{SSB4|Falco}}, {{SSB4|Mr. Game & Watch}}, {{SSB4|R.O.B.}} and {{SSB4|Wario}}.

*Dr. Mario and {{SSB4|Lucario}} are the only characters that lack a [[meteor smash]] of any kind.

<!--Stop adding Meta Knight and other characters to this trivia point above, as his down throw and back aerial have unconventional meteor smashes, so they count. Seriously.-->

*Dr. Mario is the only clone to not share the same idle animations as the character he is cloned from.