Editing Mario (SSBM)

{{ArticleIcons|ssbm=y}}

{{disambig2|Mario's appearance in Super Smash Bros. Melee|the [[clone]]s of Mario, see [[Luigi (SSBM)]] and [[Dr. Mario (SSBM)]]; and for the character in other contexts|Mario}}

|name         = Mario

|image       = [[File:Mario SSBM.jpg|Mario]]

|symbol       = preBrawl

|game         = Melee

|ssbgame1     = SSB

|ssbgame2     = SSBB

|ssbgame3     = SSB4

|tier         = A

|ranking     = 14

{{cquote|''A well-rounded hero who boasts a balance between offense and defence.'' <br>|cite=Description from ''Melee's'' manual.}}

'''Mario''' ({{ja|マリオ}}, ''Mario'') is a [[starter character|starter]] character in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]''. He was announced at [[E3]] 2001. He returns from ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' without strong buffs or nerfs.

Mario is ranked 14th on the current tier list in the A tier, placing him in the center, along with his brother {{SSBM|Luigi}} and five places below his clone, {{SSBM|Dr. Mario}}. Mario acts as a well-rounded character, with average weight, falling speed and other such attributes. Mario has above-average comboing ability, and a very versatile grab game; his powerful back throw can [[gimp]] recoveries, and his down throw can [[chain-grab]]. Mario also has decent [[edge-guarding]], with [[Fireball]] (a solid projectile), and his [[Cape]] which can easily and efficiently gimp almost every other character's recovery. Mario, however, lacks a reliable finisher, and his recovery is predictable and short, though he can extend it.

[[File:Mario's Recovery Options.gif|thumb|Mario using his various recovery options to recover onto the stage.]]

As a character, Mario falls under the archetype of being of an average character, with no particularly strong or weak traits; Indeed, in terms of [[weight]], [[falling speed]], [[air speed]], size, and [[dashing|dash]] speed, Mario tends to fall in the middle of these attributes.

One of Mario's strengths is his rather good combo ability. While not having an extremely high air or falling speed, Mario can easily and efficiently combo most other characters in the air; Mario has plenty of low-lag, low-knockback aerials, and the addition of a long [[wavedash]] and fast ground attacks give Mario plenty of combo potential. Mario also has a good [[SHFFL]].

Mario also has a surprisingly good grab game. Despite a rather poor grab range, Mario's throws are notable for their versatility; his forward and backward throws can easily set up gimp KOs, especially the latter, while his up and down throws can act as combo starters.

Mario, however, suffers from some KOing problems. As he is designed to be a beginner character, Mario lacks particularly powerful or reliable finishers; while his forward smash has good range, coupled with a very visible and easy to land sweetspot, his other smashes are rather short ranged. Additionally, while Mario's back throw is strong, it requires grabbing the opponent first; this can be a challenge, due to Mario's poor grab range. Mario's single meteor smash is also rather unwieldy and risky to use.

When making the transition from ''Smash 64'' to ''Melee'', Mario was neither strongly [[buff]]ed nor strongly [[nerf]]ed. Overall, Mario is largely a much weaker character, proof as many of his previous killers, such as his up and down smashes, can no longer KO under 90-120%. However, his attacks are much faster, giving him better combo ability.

*{{buff|Walking and dashing speed has been increased.}}

*{{buff|Mario can now [[wall-jump]], aiding his recovery.}}

*{{buff|[[Wavedashing]] improves Mario's movement options.}}

*{{buff|Neutral attack does more damage; hits 1 and 3 deal 1% more each.}}

*{{buff|Neutral attack hits 1 and 2 now have [[set knockback]], allowing the third hit to connect reliably.}}

*{{nerf|Dash attack deals less damage and knockback.}}

*{{change|Dash attack now knocks opponents behind Mario.}}

*{{buff|Up tilt is faster and combos more reliably at lower percentages.}}

*{{nerf|All tilts deal less damage and knockback.}}

*{{buff|New forward smash is faster, stronger, and deals a little more damage, and it also has more [[range]].}}

*{{buff|Up smash has significantly less start-up and ending lag.}}

*{{nerf|Up smash is much weaker and deals less damage, no longer being one of Mario's reliable KO moves and is no longer the strongest up smash (being surpassed by {{SSBM|Pikachu}}'s).}}

*{{nerf|Down smash damage output now consists of 16% in front and 10/12% behind Mario, instead of 17% regardless of what part of the attack hits.}}

====Aerial Attacks====

*{{buff|Neutral aerial has much higher knockback scaling.}}

*{{buff|New back aerial is more useful for [[edgeguarding]] and also has less start-up lag.}}

*{{buff|New forward aerial can now meteor smash.}}

*{{nerf|New forward aerial is much more laggy and a less reliable [[edgeguarding]] move overall (and being much weaker as well), and has less combo potential. Now being one of the weakest forward aerial.}}

*{{nerf|New back aerial deals less damage and has lower knockback.}}

*{{nerf|Up aerial deals 1% less damage. The sourspot is also no longer able to combo into moves such as itself and up smash as easily.}}

*{{nerf|Down aerial has a much lower maximum damage output (from 24% in ''Smash 64'' to 10% in ''Melee''),it can only hit the target 7 times instead of 8, and is no longer a [[meteor smash]]. It can also no longer setup moves such as up aerial and up tilt as easily.}}

*{{change|Up aerial angle changed from 80/70 to 55.}}

*{{buff|Mario can now [[chaingrab]] using up and down throws.}}

*{{buff|Mario's side special "[[Cape]]" gives him a additional recovery option while in the air. It is also use as an edgeguarding tool.}}

*{{buff|Mario Tornado strikes faster.}}

*{{buff|Fireballs has less ending lag and it travels faster.}}

*{{nerf|[[Fireball]]s are smaller and deal 1% less damage.}}

*{{nerf|[[Super Jump Punch]] gains much less recovery distance.}}

*{{nerf|[[Mario Tornado]] no longer meteor smashes. it also can only hit 7 times instead of 14 and deals 10% damage instead of 14%.}}

<imagemap>File:MarioAerialAttacksSSBM.png|thumb|Mario's aerial attacks. Click on one of them to see their respective subpage.

rect 180 240 127 180 [[Mario (SSBM)/Down aerial]]

|neutralname=Left Jab, Right Cross, Toe Kick

|neutraldesc=Two weak punches followed by a stronger forward kick. Originates from Mario's standard combo in ''[[Super Mario 64]]''.

|neutral1dmg=2-3%

|neutral2dmg=1-2%

|neutral3dmg=4-5%

|ftiltname=Plumber Kick

|ftiltdesc=Kick straight forward, good speed, though it has short [[range]] and is lacking in power.

|utiltname=Uppercut

|utiltdesc=Punches upwards. Good [[juggling]] move, as well as a rather good [[combo]] starter. Looks similar to the second hit of Mario's Mega Glove combo in ''{{s|mariowiki|Super Mario RPG}}''.

|dtiltname=Leg Sweep

|dtiltdmg=8%

|dtiltdesc=Kneels down and sweeps his leg low to the ground. Very low knockback. At percentages below 100%, this move is very weak and barely stuns the foe. Above 100%, however, this move can be easily followed with a forward smash for a quick KO, though the move's short range makes this unreliable.

|dashname=Slide

|dashdmg=9% clean, 6% late

|dashdesc=Slides on the ground feet first. Knocks the opponent diagonally behind him. Very similar animation to Mario's dashing attack from ''Super Mario 64''.

|fsmashname=Fire Glove

|fsmashupdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|19}} (sweetspot), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|15}} (sourspot)

|fsmashsidedmg= {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|18}} (sweetspot), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|11}} (sourspot)

|fsmashdowndmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|17}} (sweetspot), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|13}} (sourspot)  

|fsmashdesc=Launches a blast of fire from his palm. The move is relatively quick and powerful. (13th most powerful forward smash in the game, KO percentage wise). When fully charged, sweetspotted, and angled up, it can KO at 72%. Note that hitting the opponent with Mario's arm instead of the blast of fire is the sourspot, and is weaker. The sweetspot has [[Priority#Transcendent_priority|transcendental priority]].

|usmashname=Lead Headbutt

|usmashdesc=Headbutts upward. A fast, strong move with more range behind Mario than in front.

|dsmashname=Breakdance Sweep

|dsmashdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|16}} (Front), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|10}} (Back)

|dsmashdesc=Does a breakdancing kick. Extremely fast, one of Mario's stronger moves. Is Mario's crouching attack from ''Super Mario 64''.

|nairname=Plumber's Boot

|nairdmg=12% maximum

|nairdesc=A [[sex kick]]. Mario sticks his foot out in front of him. As with other sex kicks, it does weaker damage and knockback the later it hits. 9th most powerful neutral aerial in ''Melee'' and is overall the 7th most powerful sex kick.

|fairname=Plunger

|fairdesc=Punches in front of him with an enlarged fist. Slow, predictable and has high [[ending lag]], but it is a [[meteor smash]], with no sourspot. Still, it's relatively weak and not very reliable to use for an [[edgeguard]], but can be used to send opponents into his Forward Smash.

|bairname=Drop Kick

|bairdmg=10%

|bairdesc=Kicks backward. Fast, good for [[spacing]] and edgeguarding.

|uairname=Bicycle Kick

|uairdesc=Does a flip kick upward. Good move for juggling and comboing, but has low knockback.

|dairname=Drill Kick

|dairdmg=10% (Total)

|dairdesc=Mario spins around in the air repeatedly, a multi-hit [[drill]] attack. Hits 7 Times.

|grabname=

|pummelname=Clutch Headbutt

|pummeldmg=2-3%

|fthrowname=Heave-Ho

|fthrowdesc=Spins around once, and throws his opponent forward, with decent knockback.

|bthrowname=Airplane Swing

|bthrowdmg=12%

|bthrowdesc=Similar to his throw against Bowser in ''Super Mario 64''; spins around three times and throws his opponent backward. Surprisingly high knockback, can hit enemies mid swing. One of the strongest throws in the game, also being the fourth most powerful back throw. It can KO under 150% near the [[edge]].

|uthrowname=Mario Launch

|dthrowname=Down the Drain

|dthrowdesc=Throws his opponent on the ground. At lower to mid percentages, it can chaingrab characters with moderate falling speeds (such as {{SSBM|Pikachu}}), and at high to very high percentages, it can chaingrab fastfallers.

|floorbname=

|floorfname=

|edgefname=

|edgefdmg=8%

|edgesname=

|edgesdesc=Slowly gets up then does a kick attack, looking similar to his forward tilt angled down.

|nsdesc=Throws a fireball as a [[projectile]], which travels forward and loses momentum with each bounce. Because of this, they are best used in the air, and at higher locations. They can be [[spam]]med, though with some difficulty, and are a decent way to [[approach]]. The move can be more efficient when used in the air, falling to meet the enemy at ground level, while still moving, and negating lag.

|ssdmg=10%

|usdmg=12% (Total)

|usdesc=Does a jumping uppercut diagonally upward, being a multi-hit attack that causes {{s|mariowiki|coin}}s to fly out of the opponent. Mainly a recovery move. Additionally, if used while Mario is directly next to a wall and the [[control stick]] is flicked backward at the apex of the jump, the move will be cancelled into a [[wall jump]] without making Mario [[helpless]], like the move normally does. It is also a great out-of sheild option. Hits 12 times for 1% each.

|dsdmg=14% (Total)

|dsdesc=Does a multi-hit spinning attack, very similar to the {{s|mariowiki|Spin Jump}} from ''Super Mario World''. The final hit knocks the opponent straight up, and the move can rack damage, though it has some [[ending lag]]. It can be used for recovery by [[button mashing|rapidly tapping]] the [[B button]], though this requires fast reflexes. Hits 8 times and has transcendent_priority.

==In [[Competitive play]]==

===[[Character matchups (SSBM)|Matchups]]===

{{SSBMMatchupTable|mario=yes}}

===Notable players===

:''See also: [[:Category:Mario professionals (SSBM)]]''

*{{Sm|A Rookie|USA}}

*{{Sm|Green Mario|USA}}

*{{Sm|KoopaTroopa895|USA}}

*{{Sm|Mango|USA}} (under "Scorpion Master")

*{{Sm|SchlimmShady|Germany}}

Very early in the ''Melee'' [[metagame]], when few players knew the potential of now-top tier characters, Mario was considered one of the best characters in the game, ranking as high as 5th on the first tier list. This could be attributed to Mario's simple but effective [[combo]] setups, strong attacks, low learning curve, and lack of any outstanding drawbacks due to being well-rounded, as well as his extendable [[recovery]]. As the metagame advanced, however, Mario's average statistics were magnified as the potentials for many other superior characters, such as {{SSBM|Peach}}, {{SSBM|Captain Falcon}}, and the {{SSBM|Ice Climbers}}, were discovered. This caused Mario to slowly slip down the tier list as time progressed, as well as lose significant placing in large tournaments; eventually, {{Sm|Mango}} (under the alias "Scorpion Master") was the only person who placed anywhere significant with him, but even he rarely placed high enough to earn money from playing Mario, cashing in at 25th place at [[Apex 2010]] instead of his usual top 8 placements when using better characters. On the current tier list, he ranks 14th place at the very bottom of the A tier; in an ironic twist of fate, his clone, {{SSBM|Dr. Mario}}, and semi-clone, {{SSBM|Luigi}}, who were once widely considered worse than Mario, have surpassed him in ranking.

==In single-player modes==

===In [[Classic Mode]]===

In Classic Mode, Mario can appear as an ordinary opponent, as an ally or opponent in the team battles, alongside either {{SSBM|Bowser}} or {{SSBM|Peach}}, as a giant opponent, as a member of a multi-character battle, or as a metal character. In Mario's appearances, he either appears on [[Princess Peach's Castle]] or [[Rainbow Cruise]]. On a team with Bowser, he appears on {{SSBM|Battlefield}} and with Peach, he appears on [[Mushroom Kingdom II]].

In the game's Adventure Mode, Mario teams up with {{SSBM|Peach}} against the player in the second part of the first stage, taking place on Princess Peach's Castle. If the player finished the previous segment, [[Mushroom Kingdom (Adventure Mode)|Mushroom Kingdom]], with the remaining time registering 2 in the seconds digit, {{SSBM|Luigi}} will take his place in a cutscene that will trigger right before this battle.  

===In [[All-Star Mode]]===

===Event Matches===

Mario is featured in the following [[event match]]es:

*'''[[Event 1: Trouble King]]''': The player plays as Mario against {{SSBM|Bowser}} on the Battlefield stage, with a 2-minute time limit and both players having 2 stock each.

*'''[[Event 10: All-Star Match 1]]''': Mario is the first opponent the player must fight in this series of staged battles. Their character battles him on the {{SSBM|Yoshi's Island}} stage, and the player's character has 2 stock while Mario has 1. With a timer of four minutes, the player must defeat him and the other four characters with the overall time and life the player has: {{SSBM|Donkey Kong}}, {{SSBM|Yoshi}}, Peach, and Bowser.

*'''[[Event 19: Peach's Peril]]''': As Mario teamed up with Peach with 1 stock each, the player must ensure both of the characters survive the vicious assaults of the enemy Bowser on the {{SSBM|Final Destination}} stage for one minute. Score is determined by how many times the player can KO Bowser in this time frame, as he has infinite stock.

*'''[[Event 22: Super Mario 128]]''': This match pits the player's 1-stock character in a wild endurance match on the Mushroom Kingdom II stage, where they must battle 128 tiny Marios that rain down from the sky and come at the player five at a time. Each Mario is light in the extreme, so just about any attack from any character will KO a Mario.

*'''[[Event 31: Mario Bros. Madness]]''': The player's character battles a team of Mario and Luigi in a 2-minute unlimited-stock match in the [[Mushroom Kingdom (SSBM)|Mushroom Kingdom]] stage. Whoever gets the most KOs wins, much like in a standard time-match.

*'''[[Event 38: Super Mario Bros. 2]]''': In this match, the player's character must battle against Mario, Luigi, and Peach in an unlimited-time 2-stock match on Mushroom: Kingdom II. The odds may seem especially stacked against the player, but the opponent team is subject to friendly fire. The character selection and stage are a direct throwback to the original ''Super Mario Bros. 2'', an NES sequel to ''Super Mario Bros.''

===Ending Images===

File:MarioAllStarMode.jpg|All-Star Mode.

 

==Trophy descriptions==

 

 

 

File:Mario Trophy Melee.png|Classic

File:Mario Trophy (Smash).png|Adventure

File:Mario Trophy (Smash 2).png|All-Star

[[File:Mario Palette (SSBM).png|frame|center|Mario's palette swaps in SSBM]]

''For this subject's image gallery, see [[Mario (SSBM)/Gallery|the gallery page]].''

[[Category:Mario (SSBM)]]