Editing Pichu (SSBM)

{{ArticleIcons|ssbm=yes}}

:''This article is about Pichu's appearance in [[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]. For other uses, see [[Pichu]]. Also, for information about the character of whom Pichu is a [[clone]], see [[Pikachu (SSBM)]].''

|name         = Pichu

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

|symbol       = preBrawl

|game         = Melee

|tier         = G

|ranking     = 25-26}}

{{cquote|''Compared with Pikachu, Pichu is a tad more nimble and a little more difficult to hit.''|quotecite=Description from Pichu's trophy.}}

'''Pichu''' (Japanese: {{ja|ピチュー}}, ''Pichū'') is a [[Pokémon]] character in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]''. It is unlocked by completing [[Event 37: Legendary Pokemon|Event Match 37: Legendary Pokémon]] or by playing 200 vs. matches. Pichu is the "baby" Pokémon of [[Pikachu]], and in Melee this is realized by him being a smaller, lighter, and faster [[clone]] of Pikachu.

Pichu is currently ranked 25th/26th (lowest tied with Kirby) in the G tier due to the fact that it has poor range, most characters can easily chain throw it despite it being small and being the lightest character in the game, which is another huge flaw, and it takes damage from its own attacks. Pichu, however, is not completely worthless; it has a surprisingly good grab game, as well as a decent air game and a slew of powerful attacks. Regardless, Pichu suffers from abysmal matchups, and it has the highest amount of unwinnable matchups of any character in any ''Smash'' game, having a total of twelve. By comparison,  [[Kirby (SSBM)|Kirby]] has seven, [[Ganondorf (SSBB)|Ganondorf]] (who is the lowest on the tier list for ''Brawl'') has six, and [[Bowser (SSBM)|Bowser]], the second lowest on Melee's tier list, has five. Furthermore, Pichu has no advantageous matchups, with three being even (against [[Yoshi (SSBM)|Yoshi]], [[Kirby (SSBM)|Kirby]] and [[Bowser (SSBM)|Bowser]]).

==Unlocking==

To unlock Pichu, players have to complete [[Event 37: Legendary Pokémon]] or take part in 200 VS. matches. Upon completing either criterion, the player will fight against Pichu on Pokémon Stadium, with "Battle Theme" playing.

[[File:Pichu.jpg|thumb|right|]]

Pichu as a character falls under the archetype of being nimble, yet relatively weak; indeed, while slightly stronger than {{SSBM|Pikachu}} in some cases, it still has some aspects that are faster than Pikachu, such as higher acceleration and a slightly faster falling speed. Due to its high traction and average falling speed, Pichu has a rather short wavedash; low-lag, fast aerials also give Pichu a good SHFFL, identical to Pikachu.

One of Pichu's main advantages is its perhaps surprising power. While its smashes and tilts are all of short range, all are unusually powerful considering Pichu's small frame. Its up smash and forward smash contain incredible power, possibly KOing characters reliably at as little as 70 to 80 percent, while its down smash semi-spikes opponents and has invincibility frame. Pichu's [[Skull Bash]] also has surprising power and distance when charged; at full power, it almost guarantees a KO at many percentages, and it makes a good recovery option to boot.

Pichu also has a surprisingly good air and grab games. Pichu has plenty of options in the air, including an up air that can easily continue combos and other aerials that can easily deal damage. Pichu also has good grab game; its forward and back throws can knock opponents off stage or set up combos, while its up and down throws can potentially start chain throws.

Pichu can also easily manoeuvre around stages, with very low landing lag, a small frame and a rather fast dash, as well as decent jumping power.

Pichu's greatest flaw, however, is the recoil damage it gets from using almost any of its attacks involving electrical hitboxes. In almost all of Pichu's attacks, at least one percent of damage is directly inflicted onto it, and because of Pichu's light weight, it acts as an extreme detriment to its gameplay; for merely recovering, for instance, Pichu gains four percent directly. Due to Pichu's incredibly light weight (the lightest in the game), this can stack up quickly against Pichu, making it more and more vulnerable by merely attacking the foe. As such, Pichu players need to strike a balance between electric and non-electric attacks; Pichu, however, is reliant on electric attacks for most of its KO and comboing moves.

Additionally, Pichu suffers from large range problems. All of its best and most powerful attacks are very close to its body, making it tough for Pichu to KO or inflict damage easily. Pichu, however, does have access to two projectiles ([[Thunder Jolt]] and [[Thunder]]), but both cause recoil damage and have little KO potential; Thunder Jolt, however, does force opponents into the air, but Thunder itself only attacks above Pichu. Pichu's grab game is also heavily hampered by its short range, at the third shortest in the game.

====[[Ground attack]]s====

=====Normal=====

*[[Neutral attack]]- Jabs its head forward, can chain into itself. Quite fast, can infinite against some characters on walls. 1-2% per jab.

*[[Forward tilt]]- Shoves both of its feet forward. Low range and knockback, though a fast move. 8% damage.

*[[Up tilt]]- Swipes its tail in an arch above it. Very low range and somewhat slow, though sets up for aerial combos and follow ups. 6% damage.

*[[Down tilt]]- Swipes its tail in front of it. Short ranged, but can act as a good method for spacing. 7% damage.

*[[Dash attack]]- A basic dash attack, sticks its head out and trips mid-dash. 8% damage.

=====[[Smash attack]]s=====

*[[Forward smash]]- Launches a short jolt of electricity from its cheeks. Very powerful finisher, kills at somewhat low %s. Incredible knockback when fully charged, KOs light characters at very low damages near the edge. However, this attack can be SDI'd out of. Several hits that add up to 12% uncharged, 16% fully charged. Always has a 2% damage recoil regardless of charge time. One of the strongest side smash attacks.

*[[Up smash]]- Headbutts upwards, good finisher. 16% uncharged, 20% fully.

*[[Down smash]]- Quickly spins in place. It has more range than it appears and has invincibility frames, as well as powerful. 13% uncharged, 17% fully charged.

*[[Ledge attack]]- Gets up and flips its tail. 8% damage.

*[[Forward aerial]]- Jolts many electrical shocks from its cheeks. Around 7% damage if all hitboxes land. Has a 4% recoil damage regardless if the move hits or not.

*[[Back aerial]]- Flips to its rear many times, though only has one hitbox. Relatively high ending and landing lag. 9% damage.

*[[Up aerial]]- Flips up and thrusts its tail, sets up many combos on fast fallers. Lacks semi-spike properties. 4% damage.

====[[Grab]]s & [[throw]]s====

*[[Forward throw]]- Puts foe on its back and zaps him or her. 9% damage to foe, 1% recoil damage to Pichu.

*[[Back throw]]- Does many rolls backwards and tosses foe. 9% damage. Does not suffer recoil, although the attack deals electricity.

*[[Up throw]]- Tosses foe up and headbutts them with electricity. 10% damage to foe and oddly no recoil damage to Pichu, even though the attack consists of electricity.

*[[Down throw]]- Launches foe to floor and zaps him or her. 10% damage to foe and, just like its Up Throw, no recoil damage whatsoever.

===[[Special move]]s===

{{Special Moves|char=Pichu|game=SSBM}}

==[[Matchup]]s==

{{SSBMMatchupTable|pichu=yes}}

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

In Classic Mode, Pichu can appear as an ordinary fighter in one on one battles, as an ally or as an opponent alongside Kirby or Pikachu, as the sole opponent in a multi-character battle or as a metal opponent in the second to last stage. Barring the metal fight, Pichu always appears on [[Pokémon Stadium]], with its alternate music ''Battle Theme'' playing.

*'''[[Event 49: All-Star Match Deluxe]]''': Pichu is the third opponent fought in this series of staged battles. The selected character battles him on the [[Pokémon Stadium]] stage with a stock of 2 while Pichu has 1. With a timer of four minutes, the player must defeat it and the other five characters one-by-one with the overall time and damage: {{SSBM|Dr. Mario}}, {{SSBM|Falco}}, {{SSBM|Young Link}}, {{SSBM|Roy}} and {{SSBM|Ganondorf}}.

 

===Ending images===

File:PichuClassicMode.jpg|Classic Mode.

File:PichuAdventureMode.jpg|Adventure Mode.

File:PichuAllStarMode.jpg|All-Star Mode.

==Trophy descriptions==

In addition to the normal trophy about Pichu as a character, there are two trophies about it as a fighter, unlocked by completing the [[Adventure Mode|Adventure]] and [[All-Star Mode]]s respectively with Pichu on any difficulty:

:'''Pichu''' ''(Smash Red)''

:''Compared with Pikachu, Pichu is a tad more nimble and a little more difficult to hit. Those are the only two advantages, however, and since Pichu damages itself when it uses electrical attacks, it's best suited for handicapped matches. Even though Pichu's tough to catch, it's easy to throw its tiny frame great distances.''

:'''Pichu''' ''(Smash Blue)''

:''Pichu is the lightest character in Super Smash Bros. Melee, and it's top of the class in weakness, too! For Pichu, it's all about scampering here and there to pick up items that will help it survive. The first warp in Agility causes 1 point of damage to Pichu, and the second causes 3, so try to limit the number of times you use the move.''

*Up & B: [[Agility]]

*Down & B: [[Thunder]]

*Pichu has two [[taunt]]s: when facing left, it will do a dance, when facing right, it will lie down. This feature is shared with [[Captain Falcon (SSBM)|Captain Falcon]].

*When Pichu crouches, it falls asleep. This is clear because its eyes are closed and bubbles come out of its mouth, similar to when Jigglypuff uses its [[Rest]] attack, although Pichu will awake instantly when the player presses any other button.

*Other than ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'', or by using Volt Tackle, Pichu had never been hurt by using electrical attacks in other games, although they could faint from overuse of their electricity in animé, as seen in the [[bulbapedia:Pikachu Short|Pikachu Short]] that coincided with the third ''Pokémon'' movie.

*Pichu, along with [[Roy (SSBM)|Roy]] and [[Mr. Game & Watch (SSBM)|Mr. Game & Watch]], are the only characters in ''Melee'' to have an attack that can damage themselves.

**{{SSBM|Kirby}} can also damage himself if he copies either Roy's or Pichu's moves.

*While Pichu can use both Skull Bash and Agility in ''Melee'', it couldn't learn either of these moves in the ''Pokémon'' games.

[[Category:Characters (SSBM)]]

[[Category:Pokémon universe]]