Editing Meta Knight (SSBB)

{{ArticleIcons|ssbb=y|featured=y}}
{{disambig2|Meta Knight's appearance in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''|the character in other contexts|Meta Knight}}
{{Infobox Character
|name         = Meta Knight
|image        = [[File:Meta Knight.jpg|250px|Meta Knight]]
|game         = SSBB
|availability = [[Starter character|Starter]]
|tier         = S   
|ranking      = 1
}}
Unveiled at [[E3]] 2006, '''Meta Knight''' ({{ja|メタナイト}}, ''Meta Naito'') is a character in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''.  Originally from the [[Kirby (universe)|Kirby universe]], Meta Knight joins the brawl as a starter character who wields his short sword [[Galaxia]] as his primary weapon. The Galaxia has lightning fast speed and can break the sound barrier.

Meta Knight is notable for being at the top of the ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' tier list due to the very high speed of his attacks, having many attacks with transcending [[priority]], many recovery options that grant him a long, relatively safe and unpredictable recovery, effective [[Wall of pain]] options, [[KO]] moves that are both agile and reliable, and incredible matchups; Meta Knight has no overall disadvantageous match ups along with three other characters from the Smash series, and currently only {{SSBB|Pikachu}} is considered to have even matchups with him.

This does not mean he has no disadvantages, however. Meta Knight is a lightweight character, meaning he is knocked out fairly easily, especially against characters with many high-power attacks such as {{SSBB|Snake}}. He is also subject to certain chaingrabs such as {{SSBB|Marth}}'s [[grab release]] combos due to his poor [[air speed]] and unique grab-release animation which can more often than not result in an inescapable grab release to dair combo. Meta Knight also lacks a projectile attack and must make unsafe approaches to inflict damage.

Due to his incredible fighting prowess, general unpopularity in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' community (he was and is considered "[[broken]]" among many), negligible weaknesses and over-centralisation of the [[metagame]], Meta Knight is banned since January 9th, 2012, in the Unity Ruleset. This makes Meta Knight the only character in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series who has been banned from a standardized tournament ruleset.

==Attributes==
[[File:E3mk.PNG|thumb|right|Meta Knight, as seen in the first trailer for ''Brawl'' at E3 2006.]]
Meta Knight is a small character, roughly the same size and shape as [[Kirby (SSBB)|Kirby]] (although Meta Knight has a cape that transforms into a pair of bat-like wings) and with the same weight as [[Pikachu (SSBB)|Pikachu]]. With proper [[directional influence]] and partial [[momentum canceling]], he can be hard to KO, despite his light weight. Meta Knight's small size and low weight mean that he is difficult to chaingrab, but a few characters can chaingrab or grab release combo him because of his poor, short air release (the third worst behind Wario and Squirtle when including small characters). Meta Knight's dash speed and rolls are quite swift (fastest shield roll in the game), but his lateral aerial movement outside of a glide or any special move is very poor, being the third worst out of the entire cast, tied with Ivysaur.

Meta Knight's wings provide him with five midair jumps and the ability to [[glide]] twice (by pressing and holding the jump button and then using his up special). His moveset is mostly comprised of fast, short-to-long-ranged moves with his sword Galaxia, which deal relatively low damage and knockback, but can combo effectively at low percentages. The low power is compensated for by the fast speed and minimal lag of most of the attacks, allowing Meta Knight to easily set up combos and rack up damage, not to mention that only his dash attack and glide attack does not have transcending [[priority]].

In particular, his [[Mach Tornado]] (neutral special) can quickly accrue up to 26% damage on the opponent if performed correctly. Another example can be seen in his up aerial, which when combined with his multiple jumps can combo into itself to 30% or more damage and/or other moves because of its speed and reliability. Some of his attacks, such as his Down Smash and Up Tilt, have a sweetspot at the tip of sword (resembling Marth´s sweetspot on most of his attacks) that does more damage and knockback. Many of Meta Knight's multi-hit attacks (such as his Forward- and Back- aerials, Forward Tilt, Up Smash and Mach Tornado) are useful in racking up damage, but can all be escaped with proper [[Smash DI]]. Meta Knight's most reliable KO moves are his Down- and Forward- Smashes, Glide Attack, Neutral-aerial and Shuttle Loop. Meta Knight is one of only two characters (the other being [[Sonic (SSBB)|Sonic]]) whose all special moves can be used for recovery, giving him an unpredictable recovery and  making him extremely difficult to edgeguard. A common mistake many beginners tend to make is using Meta Knight's specials and accidentally veering off stage, helpless, resulting in him falling to his death.

Meta Knight lacks a projectile, but his Mach Tornado can neutralize most opponents' projectiles (since most of them don't do 10% or more damage). He is also mobile enough to avoid many of them. Other abilities include his ability to use his [[Dimensional Cape]] for mind games, Wing Dashing (an ability shared but more effectively used by [[Pit (SSBB)|Pit]] and [[Charizard (SSBB)|Charizard]]) which involves canceling the attack and the landing lag while sliding forward, leaving him completely free to use another attack or defend himself, and having two excellent [[approach attack]]s: Mach Tornado and Drill Rush, giving him a very unpredictable approach game. Meta Knight's [[Final Smash]], [[Galaxia Darkness]], can be difficult to land and does little damage and knockback compared to other characters' Final Smashes. It can, however, hit numerous enemies. Final Smashes are banned in the vast majority of tournaments, and as such has little impact on his metagame.

==Moveset==
===Ground attacks===
====Normal====
*[[Neutral attack]] - When held, Meta Knight yells and executes a lightning-fast series of slashes that also attack enemies behind him. Does 10% damage when just tapping the attack button. Start-up of 7 frames. Can set-up a down-smash if buffered right.
*[[Dash attack]] - Does a running kick. His only attack (other than all of his throws, excluding the back throw) that does not use his sword. When MK attacks with his foot, it does 6%. When the body hits it does 8% damage. Hits on frame 5-11.
*[[Forward tilt]] - Slashes twice in front of him, then once upwards. Only pressing the attack button once will cause Meta Knight to perform only the first hit; press it twice more to slash the second and third times. 1st slash does 4% damage, second slash does 3% and the last does 5%, inflicting 12% total. Start-up of 3 frames. At higher percentages, it's difficult (if not impossible) to connect all three hits since the first hit has enough knockback scaling to prevent the other hits from connecting.
*[[Up tilt]] - Stabs upward. Inflicts 10%. Decent vertical knockback, and in some cases at higher percentages, makes up for his up smash's weak vertical knockback, although it must sweetspoted to KO. Hitbox out on frame 8. Sweetspot is in the tip of the sword which it can also KO under 150%.
*[[Down tilt]] - Thrusts his sword across the ground. Good for tripping (which sets up a grab or other follow-up), deceptive range (has more range then Marth´s down tilt, though only by a few pixels), very fast (start-up is 3 frames only), and it can be used to Pseudo Crawl. Does usually 4% to 6% damage.

====Smash====
*[[Forward smash]] - Pulls his sword back for a second, then slashes in front of him. Has below average knockback, but it's his strongest move in terms of knockback. This is Meta Knight's only slow attack, although that's only the start-up which is 24 frames, it has a very fast charge release and has very little ending lag, less cooldown than his down smash. Does 15-21%.
*[[Up smash]] - Slashes above him three times. Like [[Link (SSBB)|Link's]] up smash, but much faster, less range and less damage/knockback. Does 4% each slash, in total 12% (9% damage uncharged). Low knockback, but can KO at high percentages. First slash has a start-up of 8 frames, the second slash hits on frame 12 and the final slash hits on frame 17.
*[[Down smash]] - Slashes in front of him, then behind. Arguably his best kill move due to its extremely fast speed. One of the non-dragging down smashes that second hit attack has higher knockback than first hit. Front slash does 12-15%, and back slash does 15-18%. First hit on frame 5-6, second hit on frame 10-11. Does more damage and knockback if hit with the tip of the sword.
====Other====
*[[Ledge attack]] - Slashes with blade. 8% damage.
*100% ledge attack - Gets up slowly, then slashes with blade. 10% damage.
*[[Floor attack]] - Slashes on either side of himself. 6%, both slashes.

===Aerial Attacks===
*[[Neutral aerial]] - Slashes while spinning in a circle. Similar to Pikachu's neutral aerial. Surprisingly powerful. Can hit twice for a total of 19% damage. Good Out-of-Shield option because of its speed (frame 3) and power.
*[[Forward aerial]] - Slashes in front of him three times. Can perform a [[wall of pain]] variation. First slash does 3%, second does 3%, and last does 4% damage. Altogether inflicts 10%. Start-up of 6 frames.
*[[Back aerial]] - Like his fair, but behind him and more slowly. To compensate for the slower slashes, this move has slightly more knockback. However, it still has almost no start-up lag (7 frames, only slower than his fair by one frame) and the first two hits while landing set-ups a down smash on many characters. First slash does 3%, second does 3%, and the last does 4%. Altogether does 10% damage.
*[[Up aerial]] - Slashes above him very quickly, has decent knockback. Shortest ending lag aerial in the game and one of the fastest moves in the game (frame 2). Great for juggling opponents into the upper blast line. Does 6% damage. If tap jump is set to "on", Meta Knight will rise up with each slash. The distance varies depending on how many of Meta Knight's jumps remain. It can chain into itself at low percentages.
*[[Down aerial]] - Slashes below him very quickly. Sends the opponent at a horizontal trajectory and is quite deadly offstage, especially against opponents with poor horizontal recovery. Does 7-9% damage. Hits on frame 4.
*[[Glide Attack]] - Slashes in front of himself. A fairly powerful move with great vertical knockback. Inflicts 12% damage. Hits on frame 5.

===Grabs & Throws===
*[[Pummel]] - Jabs opponents with his wings' claws. A slow pummel. Does 3%.
*[[Forward throw]] - Kicks the opponent in front of him. A very fast throw. Does 8-10% damage.
*[[Back throw]] - Teleports and slashes the opponent behind him. 10% damage and good knockback. Good for putting opponents off-stage.
*[[Up throw]] - Like Kirby's: jumps into the air holding his foe, and then crashes down. The differences are that this throw doesn't create an explosion, like Kirby's, and has less launch power. Can KO at very high percentages. 12%-13% damage.
*[[Down throw]] - Stomps on opponent multiple times, then ends by slamming down on him/her. It is much like Kirby's down throw, except it's slower and does horizontal knockback. Does 12% damage. Depending on the opponent´s DI, it can be followed by other attacks, even another grab at low-percentages on fast-fallers.

===[[Taunt]]s===
Both his side and down taunts provoke battle. This is because he would always challenge Kirby to an honorable fight.
*Up taunt - Wraps himself in his cape, as if teleporting via his down special, while scoffing.
*Down taunt - Spreads his wings while shouting  "Come!".
*Side taunt - Says "Fight me!", while examining his sword, slashing twice, and finally pointing his sword in front of him.

===[[Idle poses]]===
*He glances behind him.
*Puts his cape around him and back.

====On Screen Appearance====
*Warps in with his cape.

=== Brawl Manual Description ===
A rival to Kirby who boasts mach-speed sword attacks that overwhelm opponents.

===Special moves===
{{Special Moves|game=SSBB|char=Meta Knight}}

==In competitive play==
===Matchups===
{{SSBBMatchupTable|metaknight=yes}}

===Banning of Meta Knight===

It had been intensely debated if Meta Knight should be banned from tournaments, due to his perceived "brokeness" and over-centralisation. This initially started when a well known rumor in the Smash community was Meta Knight was banned in Italian tournaments; this was later proven false, though the Italian Smashboards did ask Smashers if they believed that Meta Knight should be banned. This rumor, however, eventually caused another surge of players who wanted to ban Meta Knight in other regions. The controversy got to the point where the Smash Back Room held a poll to see if Smashers wanted to completely ban the character; "Pro-Ban" won the poll, but did not win a significant majority (that is, more than 66%), and Meta Knight ended up not being banned on a large scale [http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?t=242903].

However, talks about banning Meta Knight later surged, which can be contributed to the increasing trend of players using Meta Knight taking a large majority of the top results. Such an example is [[KTAR 6]], where 6 of the top 8 placers used Meta Knight. Recently revealed data that shows Meta Knight has won over 50% of total tournament earnings in tournaments that have more than 30 entrants <ref>http://allisbrawl.com/blogpost.aspx?id=119563</ref>, and the overall increasing centralisation Meta Knight is causing in Brawl's metagame are also contributing factors; some characters, such as {{SSBB|R.O.B.}} and {{SSBB|Pit}}, saw significant dropping in the tier list due in large part to their poor matchups against Meta Knight. As to prevent other characters from becoming unviable, this led to players having to find techniques solely for dealing with Meta Knight; [[Marth (SSBB)|Marth]] players, for instance, formed the grab release to dair combo, which is notable for exclusively working on Meta Knight.

In response to this, the Unity Ruleset Committee introduced experimental rules in the recent ruleset update; one of the new suggested rules is a ban on Meta Knight<ref>http://www.smashboards.com/showpost.php?p=13213667&postcount=3</ref>. 

Another poll was conducted in the start of September of 2011; this time, however, "Pro-Ban" won the poll with 75%. Shortly after the results were tallied, on September 30th, 2011, the Unity Ruleset Committee announced the official ban of Meta Knight from both singles and doubles play. The ban is set to be implemented on January 9th, 2012. <ref>http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?p=13439900</ref>

The Meta Knight banning controversy ended up being made fun of on the Back Room for ''Melee''; in a newer ruleset update, they sarcastically added that Meta Knight was banned from all ''Melee'' tournaments.

==Role in the [[Subspace Emissary]]==
It is revealed that before the events of the Subspace Emissary, Meta Knight was attacked by the Subspace Army, who had the intent of taking the [[Halberd]]. He was able to hold them off until [[King Dedede]] attacked him, causing him to lose his ship.

[[File:Subspace metaknight.PNG|frame|Meta Knight in the ''[[SSE]]'']]
When Meta Knight is first featured in the [[Subspace Emissary]], he attacks a lone [[Marth (SSBB)|Marth]] outside of a large castle. He quickly learns that Marth is not his enemy when they are both surrounded by [[Primid]]s. After a successful battle, both warriors chase the [[Ancient Minister]], who is carrying a [[Subspace]] bomb. Both are unsuccessful in their attempts in destroying the bomb (Meta Knight's left wing was shot by the Ancient Minister's laser, forcing him to land and change to his cape to extinguish the flame); luckily, [[Ike (SSBB)|Ike]] appears and uses his [[Aether]] to catch the Minister off guard and destroy the bomb. With the bomb destroyed, all three head back to the castle to clear out any remaining Primids.

Later, they are all seen traveling the wastelands together and battling [[Galleom]]. Meta Knight then saves [[Lucas (SSBB)|Lucas]] and an unconscious [[Pokémon Trainer (SSBB)|Pokémon Trainer]] from a giant free-fall after they defeat the same boss. Meta Knight then begins to ascend a large cliff face, followed by the [[Ice Climbers (SSBB)|Ice Climbers]] (who see his ascent as a racing challenge), in order to reach the [[Battleship Halberd]]. At the summit, [[Lucario (SSBB)|Lucario]] challenges Meta Knight to a sparring duel. To the relief of the Ice Climbers, the winner revives the loser, having no hostile feelings. The Halberd then crashes into the side of the mountain in an attempt to destroy the defeated [[Great Fox]], which is being held by the arm of the [[Combo Cannon]]. Meta Knight and Lucario quickly board the Halberd, while the Ice climbers fall off the summit, into the canyon.

The pair run into [[Snake (SSBB)|Solid Snake]] while on board and join forces with him to take back the Halberd. After rescuing [[Peach (SSBB)|Peach]] and [[Zelda (SSBB)|Zelda]], the trio continues on to the control deck. There they discover that the ship is being piloted by a gang of [[Shadow Bug]] [[Mr. Game & Watch (SSBB)|Mr. Game & Watches]]. Snake runs towards them and throws them all out of the window and onto the bridge, who fuse together to form a gigantic metallic monster called [[Duon]]. Once Duon is defeated, Mr. Game & Watch joins the group, along with Peach, [[Sheik (SSBB)|Sheik]], [[Fox (SSBB)|Fox]], and [[Falco (SSBB)|Falco]].  (Meta Knight remains in the Halberd's control center and does not take part in the battle.)

Meta Knight takes back control of the Halberd and reunites with the members from other groups. The aircraft of the other heroes is placed inside the Halberd, which heads towards the [[Subspace Gunship]] with all of the Super Smash Bros heroes on board (except for [[Wolf (SSBB)|Wolf]], [[Toon Link (SSBB)|Toon Link]], [[Jigglypuff (SSBB)|Jigglypuff]], [[Sonic (SSBB)|Sonic]], [[Ness (SSBB)|Ness]], [[King Dedede (SSBB)|King Dedede]] and [[Luigi (SSBB)|Luigi]]). After using the Subspace Battleship's main cannon to create another Subspace portal, [[Ganondorf (SSBB)|Ganondorf]] spots the Halberd on the horizon and orders the battleship to open fire. The Halberd is struck down, but the heroes are able to escape on board [[Samus (SSBB)|Samus]]'s Gunship, [[Captain Falcon (SSBB)|Captain Falcon]]'s [[Falcon Flyer]], [[Olimar (SSBB)|Olimar]]'s Hocotate ship, and Falco's [[Arwing]]. Kirby destroys the Subspace Battleship by slicing through it is with the [[Dragoon]] racing machine and the heroes enter Subspace to pursue Ganondorf and [[Bowser (SSBB)|Bowser]].

Meta Knight is turned into a trophy by [[Tabuu]] along with the rest of the Super Smash Bros heroes upon their entrance into Subspace. He is later revived by Kirby. He rejoins the others in the fight against Tabuu.

Interestingly, when Meta Knight is first seen confronting Marth, he appears out of the Subspace portal produced by the bomb. It is unknown how he ended up in subspace like this. 
===Exclusive Stickers===
The following stickers can be used only by Meta Knight or by a select few including him:
*Bonkers: [Weapon] Attack +16
*Cell Phone: [Slash] Resistance +4
*Dyna Blade: Launch Resistance +46
*Gordo: [Throwing] Attack +5
*Hot Head: [Flame] Attack +10
*King Dedede & Kirby: [Specials: Direct] Attack +21
*King Dedede (Kirby Super Star): [Leg] Attack +28
*Kirby (Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards): [Body, Spin] Attack +22
*Kirby (Kirby Air Ride): [Arm, Leg] Attack +17
*Maxim Tomato: Maxim Tomato Effect +50
*Meta Knight: [Slash] Attack +32
*Meta Knight Ball: Launch Power +8
*Nruff: [Body, Spin] Attack +5
*Starman (Kirby: Squeak Squad): Launch Power +33
*Whispy Woods: [Weapon] Attack +4

==[[Palette swap (SSBB)#Meta Knight|Costume Gallery]]==
[[File:Alt-metaknight.jpg|frame|center|Meta Knight's various costume changes]]

==Trivia==
*Meta Knight is one of the few characters in ''Brawl'' to lack a meteor smash other than [[Footstool Jump]]s.
*Meta Knight is the only character that is able to glide twice.
*Meta Knight is the only character to have been placed in their own tier above every other character on the [[tier list]].
*Meta Knight is one of only three characters in ''Brawl'' able to perform three aerials in one short hop, the others being [[Lucario (SSBB)|Lucario]] and [[Luigi (SSBB)|Luigi]].
*Out of all the ''Kirby'' characters, Meta Knight is the only one to speak in complete sentences.
*Meta Knight's eyes never close, but they do change in size.
*Despite ranking at the top of the tier list, Prima Official Game Guides only rated Meta Knight a 6/10 in terms of fighting prowess.
**Conversely, {{SSBB|Ganondorf}}, the character with the lowest tier position, has the same score.
*Meta Knight's victory theme is an electric guitar variant of the Kirby victory theme shared by Kirby and King Dedede, making him the only ''Brawl'' character to have a victory theme different from other members from the same series. 

==External links==
*[http://www.smashbros.com/en_us/characters/metaknight.html Meta Knight's page at Smash Bros Dojo!!]
*[http://www.smashbros.com/en_us/characters/metaknight.html#2nd Special Move Set]
*[http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?t=123840 Meta Knight Character Guide at SWF]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldJyDJP8mbQ Video of Meta Knight's hitboxes]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{SSBBCharacters}}
{{Kirby universe}}
[[Category:Characters (SSBB)]]
[[Category:Kirby universe]]
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