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| {{ArticleIcons|ultimate=y}} | | {{ArticleIcons|ssbu=y}} |
| {{Disambig2|Pichu's appearance in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''|the character in other contexts|Pichu}} | | {{Future release}} |
| | {{disambig2|Pichu's appearance in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''|the character in other contexts|Pichu}} |
| {{Infobox Character | | {{Infobox Character |
| |name = Pichu | | |name = Pichu |
| |image= {{tabber|title1=Normal|content1=[[File:Pichu SSBU.png|x250px]]|title2=Spiky-eared Pichu|content2=[[File:SSBU Spiky Pichu.png|x247px]]}} | | |image = [[Image:Pichu SSBU.png|250px|Pichu]] |
| |game = SSBU | | |game = SSBU |
| |ssbgame1 = SSBM | | |ssbgame1 = SSBM |
| |availability = [[Unlockable character|Unlockable]] | | |availability = [[Unlockable character|Unlockable]] |
| |tier = C+
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| |ranking = 53
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| }} | | }} |
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| | '''Pichu''' is a playable character in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''. It was confirmed on June 12th, 2018. |
| REMINDER: Our Manual of Style states that all Pokémon are to use gender-neutral pronouns.
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| '''Pichu''' ({{ja|ピチュー|Pichū}}, ''Pichu'') is a playable character in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''. It was confirmed alongside {{SSBU|Jigglypuff}} and the rest of the returning roster on June 12th, 2018 during E3 2018. While Pichu remains a close [[clone]] of {{SSBU|Pikachu}}, it is not classified as an Echo Fighter. As such, Pichu is classified as [[Fighter number|Fighter #19]]. | |
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| {{s|wikipedia|Satomi Kōrogi}}, Pichu's voice actress from the ''Pokémon'' anime and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'', reprises her role with new voice clips. In addition, the 'spiky-eared' variant of Pichu (who appears as a playable character in ''Ultimate'' via Pichu's [[Alternate costume (SSBU)#Pichu|alternate costumes]]) is also voiced by Kōrogi rather than {{s|wikipedia|Shoko Nakagawa}}, who originally voiced the aforementioned 'spiky-eared' variant in the ''Pokémon'' anime's twelfth film, ''[[bulbapedia:M12|Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life]]''.
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| Pichu is ranked 53rd out of 82 on the current tier list, placing it in the C+ tier. This is a significant improvement over its low tier placement in ''Melee'', where it was ranked 22nd out of 26. Pichu boasts good combo ability and great KO power, with its fast [[falling speed]] aiding in its combo potential. It is also very hard to hit due to its small hurtbox and good mobility.
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| However, Pichu is hindered by critical flaws. Its biggest flaw is being the [[weight|lightest]] character in the game. This combined with it taking [[recoil]] damage when using [[electric]] moves makes Pichu a "glass cannon" and can be KO'd earlier than any other character. Its fast falling speed makes it more susceptible to combos despite being so light.
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| Pichu's representation in tournaments has changed throughout ''Ultimate''{{'}}s metagame. At launch, Pichu was often seen as a contender for the best character in the game thanks to the drastic buffs it received, such as greatly reduced recoil damage and a fast [[forward tilt]] that can KO opponents around 100%, which led to a large playerbase spearheaded by {{Sm|VoiD}} and {{Sm|Nietono}}. However, [[List of updates (SSBU)#3.1.0|update 3.1.0]] gave Pichu major nerfs, making it more of a high-risk, high-reward character and leading many to deem it inferior to Pikachu. Despite this, Pichu continues to see moderate success from dedicated mains, most notably {{Sm|NaetorU}} and {{Sm|Yone_pi}}.
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| ==How to unlock==
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| Complete one of the following:
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| *Play [[VS. match]]es, with Pichu being the 34th character to be unlocked.
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| *Clear {{SSBU|Classic Mode}} with {{SSBU|Pikachu}} or any character in its unlock tree, being the last character unlocked after {{SSBU|Mr. Game & Watch}}.
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| *Have Pichu join the player's party in [[World of Light]].
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| With the exception of the third method, Pichu must then be defeated on [[Pokémon Stadium 2]]. In World of Light, it is fought on the [[Ω form]] of [[Prism Tower]].
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| ==Attributes==
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| REMINDER: Our Manual of Style states that all Pokémon are to use gender-neutral pronouns.
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| Pichu is a character of extremes. As a clone of Pikachu, many of its attributes are similar, such as its even smaller size and quick mobility, though with a few noticeable differences. Pichu is the [[weight|lightest]] character in the game, has fast [[walk]]ing and above average [[dash]]ing speeds with average [[traction]], above average [[jump]]ing force, average [[air speed]] but being tied for the ninth highest [[air acceleration]], and fast [[falling speed]] while being tied for the fifth highest [[gravity]]. However, it has the lowest [[fast fall]] multiplier in the game, causing its fast-falling speed to be average. Overall, these attributes give Pichu a slightly slower grounded approach than Pikachu, make its aerials not [[autocancel]] as easily and makes it more vulnerable to combos, but also gives it a much faster ground-to-air and air-to-ground approach, making its mobility as reliable as Pikachu's own.
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| The primary difference between Pichu and Pikachu is the former's [[recoil damage]] on its [[electric]]ity-based attacks. All of Pichu's attacks with an electric effect ([[forward tilt]], [[forward smash|forward]] and [[down smash]] attacks, [[forward aerial|forward]], [[back aerial|back]] and [[down aerial]]s, [[forward throw]], and all special moves except {{b|Thunder|Pokémon}} if the lightning bolt doesn't strike Pichu) deal recoil damage to itself, which makes it less feasible for Pichu to overuse these attacks. To compensate for this, many of Pichu's electric attacks have either increased damage, knockback (in some cases both), or versatility. This makes it less feasible for Pichu to overuse these attacks in situations that would require their use for best results, as it could put it in a spot where the opponent may even KO Pichu with a strong enough move. Conversely, it increases the reward Pichu would receive if it can land said moves, and due to these moves increasing Pichu's percentage, this means Pichu can make effective use of [[rage]] to KO an opponent with more ease, provided it can survive long enough.
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| Much like Pikachu, all of Pichu's moveset aspects are solid overall, possessing very fast frame data overall and great utility throughout its moveset. An example of this is its incredibly capable aerial game. [[Neutral aerial]] is Pichu's fastest [[out of shield]] option, on top of not having much ending or landing lag, making it a viable edgeguarding option. Forward aerial deals the highest damage of Pichu's aerials and has very strong combo potential, while only having decent recoil damage. Up aerial, while being Pichu's least damaging aerial, also retains very strong vertical combo capabilities. Down aerial is Pichu's main move to [[meteor smash]], and the late hit also lasts for a long while, making it another great edgeguarding tool, while also having only decent recoil damage. Finally, back aerial deals less damage than forward aerial, but is also Pichu's strongest aerial, a very good edgeguarding tool, only has decent recoil damage like its forward and down aerials, and plays a major component on Pichu's looping combos; by repeatedly performing a full jump while using a back aerial and comboing into a tilt attack (most notably up tilt) to repeat the process, Pichu can [[zero-to-death combo]] the opponent, though the timing for each move is very strict.
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| Pichu's main (but not sole) ways to set up the opponent into its strong aerial game consist of its [[up tilt|up]] and [[down tilt]]s, and [[up throw|up]] and [[down throw]]s: both tilts are excellent combo starters, with down tilt even comboing into aerials at very high percentages, while up and down throw allow Pichu to pummel the opponent for more damage due to them being followed up from a grab; up throw is also infamous for comboing into Thunder for a reliable KO set-up. This gives Pichu a strong combo game, with many ways to start, extend or end combos much like Pikachu, though due to its moves' nature, Pichu's combo game is usually shorter-lived in exchange for raw damage.
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| Aside from its up and down tilts, in regards to its grounded game, it also has some interesting and useful options: forward tilt trips opponents at low percentages, can 2-frame, and has above average power at high percentages, making it a very useful set-up tool. Forward smash has the highest power of its standard moveset, lasts for a long while and, due to its multi-hit nature, can KO at an even lower percentage. [[Up smash]] is a decent anti-air that leaves Pichu's ears [[intangible]], though it lacks in power. On the other hand, Pichu's [[neutral attack]] is mainly used for locking opponents due to its very weak knockback, and [[dash attack]] is mostly used as a fast punish option and its low power can actually allow it to combo, though it can be risky. Its grab game is also decent - while its grabs are short-ranged, they are very fast and have the lowest ending lag in the game. As mentioned above, up and down throws have useful combo potential, with down throw usually reserved for horizontal combos, whereas up throw leads into vertical combos and can lead into Thunder as a KO set-up. Meanwhile, forward throw is Pichu's strongest throw, barely KOing at realistic percentages near the edge, which makes it a passable kill throw.
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| Pichu's special moveset is also varied and versatile. [[Thunder Jolt]] is a useful projectile that can reliably pressure an opponent's shield, on top of dealing low knockback and high damage (especially if started in the air). Its low ending lag also allows it to set-up into Pichu's moves if it lands during its last frames of activity. Thunder is Pichu's other projectile, though the lightning bolt itself doesn't deal much damage. As such, its primary purpose is to use the cloud's meteor smash properties to combo opponents into the shockwave part of the move when the bolt strikes Pichu - this deals the most damage to Pichu out of all its moves if this happens, so it should be used sparingly. [[Skull Bash]] and [[Agility]] serve as Pichu's recovery moves, and give it an amazing, long-distanced and unpredictable recovery - of the two, Agility deals high recoil damage if both dashes are used, but nevertheless travels an incredibly long distance and is very unpredictable due to each dash being able to be inputted in multiple directions, potentially making Pichu very hard to properly edgeguard or 2-frame. Skull Bash, on the other hand, is mostly used to extend Pichu's recovery, but it also ties in as part of Pichu's "glass cannon" playstyle as it can be charged; unlike Pikachu's own version, Pichu's fully charged Skull Bash deals immense knockback when fully charged, this being Pichu's strongest option out of a shield break.
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| Thanks to Pichu's attributes, one of its key strengths is its playstyle versatility - depending on the situation, it can make use of its moveset to adapt and play accordingly. Pichu's great mobility, compact size and useful projectile give it an impressive neutral game and make it slippery, allowing it to play defensively, by virtue of using a bait-and-punish oriented playstyle that allows it to avoid the opponent's attacks and gradually poke at them or outright break through their offense. However, if the situation arises, Pichu can nevertheless play very aggressively, as it also has one of the best advantage states in the game by virtue of its raw damage, excellent frame data and impressive combo ability, allowing it to pressure the opponent into commiting and retaliating accordingly, and almost all of its aerials have some sort of edgeguarding potential, which can quickly lead into a lost stock.
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| In spite of these strengths, Pichu still has a myriad of critical flaws, some of which are shared with Pikachu, but much more pronounced; the most notable of these is its immense frailty. While its offstage survivability is incredible thanks to its recovery's long distance and unpredictability, it has an awful survivability overall due to its ludicrously low weight, resulting in it being very easily KO'd off of a stray hit as long as the move is decently strong, and the existence of rage further pronounces this issue. Its very fast falling speed and gravity also leave it pretty vulnerable to combos (although its neutral air can remedy this issue), meaning that Pichu can also be easily put in KO percentage from one or two combos. Adding insult to injury, the recoil damage Pichu suffers from using its electric attacks can rack up very quickly if it overuses said moves, which is a flaw no other character has at the level of Pichu (some characters have only one move that can deal recoil damage), and can potentially throw it into a much more devastating position if it happens. As a result of all these issues, in spite of its excellent recovery and great mobility, Pichu's disadvantage state is poor, and if Pichu isn't able to KO the opponent, they can easily turn the tables on it, which can easily and quickly lead to a lost stock just as Pichu can potentially and quickly end one.
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| Another of Pichu's most notable flaws is that while its very small size results in it being slippery, it also results it in having deceptively short range (much shorter than Pikachu), requiring it to be pretty close to the opponent in order to rack up damage, which can be risky. Pichu's mobility, very quick frame data and useful projectile in Thunder Jolt can help remedy this, but the prevalence of many characters with faster mobility and/or disjoints can still give it trouble at approaching, and Thunder Jolt's recoil damage makes it unfeasible for Pichu to keep the opponent away for too much, forcing it to approach and further exacerbating its range issues, despite its reliable moveset. Furthermore, despite its moveset's higher consistency in regards to power, Pichu's range issues mean it can often have difficulty landing its otherwise powerful KO moves and set-ups, as the former aren't disjointed (with the sole exception, forward smash, still having short range), and the latter are very limited, possessing only up throw to Thunder at mid-high and high percentages, and down tilt to down aerial near the edge at mid-percentages. Pichu's edgeguarding ability, while respectable, pales in comparison to Pikachu's due to its attributes resulting in Pichu not having as much air time as Pikachu can, though this is slightly mitigated by its moves' stronger knockback.
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| Lastly, although its moveset is versatile, a few of Pichu's attacks still lack some notable kind of utility. Down smash, although covering on both sides of Pichu, has unremarkable range, deals recoil damage and unlike Pikachu, sends at a disappointing angle for KOing, with its higher power compared to Pikachu failing to compensate. Forward throw can have difficulty at KOing the opponent at realistic percentages due to the fact Pichu will usually find itself using it to set-up an edgeguard, whereas back throw's sole purpose is shared with forward throw.
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| Overall, like Pikachu, Pichu is best described as a quintessential glass cannon but sacrifices weight and attack range for more power and speed. While Pikachu can control the neutral game more aggressively and has more flexibility in its combos, Pichu is able to function in a variety of playstyles that range from a defensive, bait-and-punish oriented playstyle to a more aggressive, rushdown oriented one whenever it is needed. However, Pichu's atrocious endurance and recoil damage means that an aware opponent can dominate Pichu just as easily as it can also dominate the opponent. While both characters have similar playstyles, they differ significantly in execution, as Pichu's recoil damage requires the player to make very mindful use of their resources at hand. When mastered, however, a skilled Pichu can potentially end stocks in a fingersnap before they can end its own.
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| ==Differences from {{SSBU|Pikachu}}==
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| REMINDER: Our Manual of Style states that all Pokémon are to use gender-neutral pronouns.
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| As in ''Melee'', the primary difference between Pichu and Pikachu is the former's [[electric]] attacks all inflict recoil damage. Many of Pichu's attributes, such as its mobility and significantly lighter [[weight]], differ from those of Pikachu. In addition, most of Pichu's attack and non-attack animations were given slight adjustments and overhauls in order to differentiate them from Pikachu's; for example, all of Pichu's [[smash attack]] charging animations are now completely different from Pikachu's. Almost all of Pichu's moves are also functionally different, such as [[down tilt]] or [[neutral aerial]], making it even more unique. However, unlike previous clones, Pichu was not given many new unique moves to differentiate it from Pikachu, as the only fully unique moves it has are its forward tilt, [[up smash]], neutral aerial, and [[edge attack]].
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| All of these differences give Pichu more pronounced strengths and weaknesses when compared to Pikachu.
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| Pichu is capable of killing more reliably than Pikachu at earlier percentages. Some of its attacks also deal more damage than Pikachu's, but the only ones with a significant difference are its [[back aerial]] and the aerial version of [[Thunder Jolt]]. Otherwise, the damage output between the two is largely the same or with only a 1–2% difference, while some of Pikachu's attacks, like its [[dash attack]], [[up aerial]], and {{b|Thunder|Pokémon}}, are stronger than Pichu's. Regardless, this makes Pichu's KOing ability and damage-racking game superior to Pikachu's overall, despite the latter being shorter-lived compared to Pikachu's.
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| Pichu's frame data is also better on average, with its biggest advantages being on its forward tilt, [[down smash]], and Thunder. However, there are some attacks like [[back aerial]] and [[Skull Bash]] where Pichu's frame data is worse, and only Pichu's up and down aerials autocancel in a short hop, whereas all of Pikachu's aerials can do so. Additionally, with the exception of neutral aerial, almost every other attack in Pichu's moveset has inferior range to Pikachu's equivalent attacks, including all of its tilts and smash attacks, its up aerial and Thunder.
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| Pikachu and Pichu's combo games are very different, with Pikachu's being much more diverse, but Pichu's being shorter lived in exchange for more damage. Pichu does not have access to Pikachu's neutral aerial, which is an incredible combo tool, and Pichu cannot chain four back aerials into each other at low percents to immediately start an edgeguard. Pichu's down throw has less advantage and stops being a combo tool earlier, and its forward aerial has less advantage and hits two times less, making it worse for dragdown combos. It also lacks Quick Attack as a combo starter and its up aerial does not have the weak hit that Pikachu's does, making it impossible to perform up aerial bridges that can carry opponents to the blast line with Pichu. Both Pikachu and Pichu have loops that use their neutral or back aerials respectively, but Pikachu's version works on more characters, is more resilient to SDI and is less situational, whereas the only advantage Pichu's version has is that it can rarely transition into a KO immediately. It also deals more damage per loop, but this is not very important as Pikachu can do more loops than Pichu in a row, making the total damage output roughly the same. However, there are some upsides to Pichu's combo game over Pikachu's: its up tilt and up aerial combo for longer, and it has more combos into Thunder to take stocks. Down tilt is also a significantly better combo starter due to its frame data and launch angle, but it has mediocre range, making it difficult to use.
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| Finally, Pichu is extremely light and is a fast-faller with high gravity, which notoriously makes it much easier to combo and KO. Its recoil damage, while slightly toned down compared to ''Melee'', further exacerbates Pichu's already bad survivability.
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| ====Aesthetics====
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| *{{change|Pichu's [[on-screen appearance]], [[idle animation]]s, [[taunt]]s and [[victory pose]]s are all different from Pikachu's.}}
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| *{{change|In general, almost all of Pichu's animations are either slightly or completely different than Pikachu's. This includes Pichu's attacking and non-attacking animations.}}
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| **{{change|Common animations such as air dodge, back roll, and backflip are all different.}}
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| **{{change|Other miscellaneous animations (such as [[Home-Run Bat]] swing, sleeping, stunned, using shooting items, etc) are also different.}}
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| ====Attributes====
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| *{{nerf|All of Pichu's [[electric]]al attacks inflict [[recoil damage]].}}
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| *{{nerf|Pichu [[run]]s slower than Pikachu (2.039 → 1.892).}}
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| *{{nerf|Pichu's [[traction]] is lower than Pikachu's (0.132 → 0.11), making it harder for Pichu to punish [[out of shield]].}}
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| *{{nerf|Pichu's [[roll]]s travel less distance than Pikachu's.}}
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| *{{nerf|Pichu's [[wall jump]] grants much less height than Pikachu's, going from the third best to the sixth worst.}}
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| *{{buff|Pichu's [[air speed]] is faster than Pikachu's (0.957 → 1.029).}}
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| *{{change|Pichu falls much faster than Pikachu (1.55 → 1.9). However, its fast falling speed is only very slightly faster (2.48 → 2.5).}}
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| **{{nerf|The difference between Pichu's falling speed and fast falling speed is much lower than Pikachu's (increase: 60% → 31.579%), which makes it more predictable when landing and gives it fewer options in the air.}}
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| *{{change|Pichu's [[gravity]] is much higher then Pikachu's (0.095 → 0.14).}}
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| *{{nerf|Pichu is significantly [[weight|lighter]] than Pikachu (79 → 62). Combined with its high falling speed and gravity, this notoriously makes Pichu much easier to combo and KO than Pikachu.}}
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| *{{nerf|Pichu's ears have a larger hurtbox than Pikachu's, which means it is slightly easier to hit a standing Pichu than a standing Pikachu.}}
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| **{{nerf|Pichu is also taller than Pikachu when crouching and crawling. This means Pichu cannot crouch under some projectiles and attacks, like {{SSBU|Wolf}}'s Blaster, whereas Pikachu can.}}
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| *{{buff|Due to Pichu's higher falling speed and gravity, its [[air dodge]]s have less ending lag than Pikachu's (neutral: [[FAF]] 51 → 43; directional: FAF 85 → 71 (side), 110 → 89 (up), 70 → 60 (down)).}}
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| *{{buff|Pichu's ears are intangible during its shielding and shield dropping animations.}}
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| ====Ground attacks====
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| *[[Neutral attack]]:
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| **{{buff|Neutral attack has one frame less ending lag (FAF 18 → 17).}}
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| **{{nerf|It deals more knockback (12/18 base/20/30 scaling → 10/20/60/60), which causes it to hit less often before being pushed out of range or pushing the opponent off an edge.}}
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| **{{nerf|It has less horizontal range due to having two hitboxes instead of three.}}
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| **{{change|It does not have a sweetspot or a sourspot, which means it deals less damage when close to the opponent, but more damage when farther away from the opponent (1.4%/1.2%/1% → 1.2%).}}
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| *[[Forward tilt]]:
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| **{{change|Forward tilt consists of two kicks, one after the other, in an upward arcing motion whereas Pikachu's is a two legged kick.}}
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| **{{buff|Forward tilt deals more knockback (15 base/100 scaling → 5/130), KOing around 5% earlier than the upwards angled variant of Pikachu's version.}}
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| **{{buff|It has less startup lag with a significantly longer duration (frames 6-8 → 5-12) and less ending lag (FAF 30 → 25).}}
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| **{{buff|It always causes the opponent to [[trip]] at low percents.}}
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| **{{nerf|It cannot be angled, making it near impossible to hit aerial opponents.}}
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| **{{nerf|It deals consistent and less damage (10% (angled up)/9% (unangled)/8% (angled down) → 8%).}}
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| **{{nerf|It causes recoil damage (1%).}}
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| **{{nerf|It has less horizontal range.}}
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| *[[Up tilt]]:
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| **{{buff|Up tilt has less ending lag (FAF 27 → 24).}}
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| **{{buff|It deals less knockback (40 base/120 scaling → 32/105) and sends at a more vertical angle (105° → 95°), which combined with the previous change improves its combo potential.}}
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| **{{nerf|Its middle hitbox is smaller, reducing its general range (hitbox sizes: 2.0u/3.8u/3.5u → 2.0u/2.8u/3.6u). This also means that a few characters, like {{SSBU|Kirby}}, can crouch under Pichu's version, but not under Pikachu's. <ref>https://twitter.com/DatDereKirby/status/1081040257397579777</ref>}}
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| *[[Down tilt]]:
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| **{{change|Down tilt has more base knockback (12 → 40), less knockback scaling (100 → 50) and sends at a vertical angle instead of using the [[Sakurai angle]] (361° → 80°/100°), which makes it a significantly better combo starter, but removes its edgeguarding and [[lock]]ing potential as well as its ability to [[trip]].}}
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| **{{buff|It has more range below Pichu, making it easier to 2-frame opponents with.}}
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| **{{nerf|It has less horizontal range.}}
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| *[[Dash attack]]:
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| **{{buff|Dash attack has one frame less ending lag (FAF 36 → 35).}}
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| **{{buff|It has an additional hitbox on Pichu's torso, making it more likely for the attack to clank instead of losing to other attacks.}}
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| **{{buff|It has a longer hitbox duration (frames 6-8 (clean)/9-12 (late) → 6-9/10-15).}}
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| **{{nerf|It has smaller hitboxes on the head (5.0u/4.0u → 4.6u/3.0u).}}
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| **{{nerf|It does not have a shieldstun multiplier of 1.8×, making it less safe on shield despite having one frame less of ending lag.}}
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| **{{nerf|The clean hit deals less damage (11% → 8%).}}
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| ***{{buff|The above 2 changes result in less shield pushback, allowing it to [[cross up]] shields.}}
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| **{{change|The clean hit deals less knockback (70 base/88 scaling → 60/100), while the late hit has less base knockback (100 → 60), but more knockback scaling (50 → 80). This allows for the move to combo more reliably, but greatly reduces its KO potential.}}
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| **{{buff|The clean hit sends at a more vertical angle (60° → 70°). This makes it better for combos.}}
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| *[[Forward smash]]:
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| **{{change|Forward smash strikes multiple times instead of once. This causes it to deal less damage (12% → 8%) but more knockback if the opponent gets hit by the attack late.}}
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| **{{buff|It does not have an early or late hit, causing it to consistently deal the maximum possible knockback.}}
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| **{{buff|It has a longer hitbox duration (frames 15-29 → 16-33). The total duration is identical, effectively reducing its ending lag.}}
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| **{{buff|The last hit deals more knockback (60 base/75 scaling → 68/123), KOing around 10% earlier than the sweetspot of Pikachu's version.}}
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| **{{nerf|It has slightly more startup lag (frame 15 → 16).}}
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| **{{nerf|It causes recoil damage (2%).}}
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| **{{nerf|It has significantly less horizontal range.}}
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| *[[Up smash]]:
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| **{{change|Up smash is an upward arcing headbutt, similar to Mario's up smash, whereas Pikachu's is a tail flip. This means that the hitbox starts behind Pichu and moves forwards, whereas Pikachu's starts in front and moves backwards.}}
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| **{{buff|It does not have a mid or late hit, causing it to consistently deal the maximum possible damage and knockback.}}
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| **{{buff|Pichu's ears are intangible while the move's hitboxes are active.}}
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| **{{buff|It has less startup lag (frame 10 → 9).}}
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| **{{buff|It has a large hitbox on Pichu's head and a smaller one on its torso instead of three small hitboxes, giving it more range in front of Pichu.}}
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| **{{nerf|It deals less knockback (50 base/89 scaling → 40/15 base/85 scaling), making it KO nearly 20% later than Pikachu's sweetspot and about 10% later than the middle sourspot.}}
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| **{{nerf|It has less range above and behind Pichu.}}
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| **{{nerf|It has a significantly shorter hitbox duration (frames 10-17 → 9-11), which also causes it to have two frames more ending lag despite the shorter total duration (FAF 45 → 41).}}
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| *[[Down smash]]:
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| **{{buff|Down smash has significantly less ending lag (FAF 66 → 51).}}
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| **{{buff|Pichu is intangible for 4 frames, starting 1 frame before the hitboxes come out.}}
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| **{{buff|It deals more damage if all hits connect (13% → 14%) and the last hit deals more damage (3% → 8%), increasing its KO potential despite having lower knockback values (51 base/192 scaling → 45/150).}}
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| **{{nerf|It causes recoil damage (1.3%).}}
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| **{{nerf|It hits one time less with the same duration, which means the rehit rate is slower. This makes it easier to escape the attack by using [[DI]] to go down and [[tech]]ing on the ground.}} <ref>https://twitter.com/DuckySSB/status/1107817485359898624</ref>
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| **{{nerf|It takes longer to hit enemies behind Pichu than those who are in front of it, whereas Pikachu has better range in both directions that is always completely covered.}}
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| **{{nerf|It has less range below Pichu, making it harder to hit enemies at the ledge, even with the final hit.}}
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| **{{change|Pichu moves slightly forward and then backward while using its whole body to attack, unlike Pikachu, who stays in place and uses its tail.}}
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| **{{buff|It uses a large extended hitbox. Combined with Pichu's movement, this gives it noticeably more horizontal range and allows it to cover a wider area compared to Pikachu's version.}}
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| **{{change|The final hit sends at a more vertical angle (37° → 50°).}}
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| ***{{change|This causes it to KO earlier from center stage and across the stage, but later from near the edge and makes it less desirable for edgeguarding.}}
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| | |
| ====Aerial attacks====
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| *[[Neutral aerial]]:
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| **{{change|Neutral aerial is a somersaulting cartwheel, whereas Pikachu's is an electrical charge. It does not have an electric hitbox and only hits once.}}
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| **{{buff| Due to being a single hit, it deals more damage than the final hit of Pikachu's version (3.5% → 7%), and thus, it has more knockback.}}
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| **{{buff|Unlike Pikachu's neutral aerial, its hitbox is extended and moves along with Pichu, giving it more range and better coverage around it despite the hitbox being smaller (5.5u looping hits, 6.0u final hit → 4.0u).}}
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| **{{buff|It has a longer hitbox duration (frames 3-22 → 3-9 (clean), 10-27 (late)), reducing its ending lag by four frames despite the longer total duration (FAF 39 → 40).}}
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| **{{buff|It has less landing lag (9 frames → 7).}}
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| **{{buff|It grants [[intangibility]] to Pichu's ears during the clean hit.}}
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| **{{buff|Due to its horizontal launch angle, single-hit nature, and higher power, it is significantly more effective at [[edgeguarding]].}}
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| **{{nerf|It cannot be used to perform the dragdown combos, loops and kill setups that Pikachu can do with its neutral aerial due to its single hit.}}
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| **{{nerf|It deals less damage (8.9% → 7% (clean), 5% (late)).}}
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| **{{nerf|It does not [[auto-cancel]] in a short hop due to Pichu's higher gravity and faster fall speed.}}
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| *[[Forward aerial]]:
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| **{{change|Every hit of forward aerial deals the same damage, whereas Pikachu deals less damage with the first hits, but more with the last hit.}}
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| **{{buff|Its loop hits connect more reliably due to using the [[autolink angle]] (35°/310°/60°/290° → 366°) and having a lower [[SDI]] multiplier (1.3× → 1×).}}
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| **{{buff|It deals more damage if all hits connect (11.8% → 14%).}}
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| **{{buff|It has two large hitboxes covering Pichu's entire body for all hits instead of four small hitboxes for the looping hits and a slightly disjointed large one on the head and a smaller one at the torso for the final hit.}}
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| **{{buff|The final hit has a lower hitlag multiplier (1.5x → 1x), making it harder to SDI/DI strategically.}}
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| **{{nerf|It hits two fewer times with the same duration, which means that the rehit rate is slower and dragging opponents down with it is harder.}}
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| **{{nerf|It causes recoil damage (1.5%).}}
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| **{{change|The last hit deals less damage (4.8% → 3.5%) with more base knockback but less knockback scaling, (40 base/154 scaling → 55/140), causing it to have overall less knockback and reducing its KO potential, but making it better for combos and racking up damage when combined with it higher damage output.}}
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| **{{nerf|It does not auto-cancel in a short hop due to Pichu's higher gravity and faster fall speed, reducing its combo potential and safety.}}
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| *[[Back aerial]]:
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| **{{buff|Back aerial deals significantly more damage if all hits connect (8.6% → 12.5%).}}
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| **{{buff|It has a longer duration (frames 4-25 → 5-31).}}
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| ***{{change|However, the attack hits as often as Pikachu's version, which means the rehit rate is slower. This makes escaping the attack easier, but allows it to drag opponents down more easily for edgeguarding and combos.}}
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| **{{nerf|It has an electric hitbox and therefore causes recoil damage (1.5%).}}
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| **{{nerf|It has more startup (frame 4 → 5) and ending lag (FAF 44 → 55).}}
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| **{{change|It does not have a landing hitbox, hindering its safety, but making it easier to follow up when landing with the move.}}
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| **{{nerf|It does not auto-cancel in a short hop due to Pichu's higher gravity and faster fall speed, reducing its combo potential and safety.}}
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| **{{change|The last hit deals less damage (3.6% → 2.5%), but has significantly more base knockback (40 → 70) and launches at a lower angle (45° → 42°), which increases its KO potential, but reduces its combo potential at low to mid percentages.}}
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| *[[Up aerial]]:
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| **{{buff|Up aerial has less landing lag (14 frames → 11).}}
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| **{{nerf|It deals consistent damage instead of having a clean and a late hit, but also deals less damage (6%/5% (clean), 4% (late) → 4%).}}
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| **{{nerf|It has less range, due to only possessing 2 hitboxes instead of 3, and them being smaller (4u/5u/4u → 2.8u/3.6u).}}
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| **{{change|It deals less knockback (50 base/113 scaling → 70/70), which alongside its lower damage increases its combo potential, but reduces its KO potential.}}
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| **{{change|It sends at a more vertical angle (68° (clean), 55° (late) → 80°), making it easier to combo, especially into Thunder, but also removing the up air bridges Pikachu can do at mid percents.}}
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| *[[Down aerial]]:
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| **{{change|Pichu's ears are intangible during the first 4 frames down aerial is active, but are exposed for the remainder of the attack and point downwards rather than fold back like in its forward aerial, making them more vulnerable.}}
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| **{{buff|Its clean hit has a longer duration with the late hit having a shorter duration instead (frames 14-15 (clean)/16-26 (late) → 14-17/18-26).}}
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| **{{buff|Its late hit has more knockback scaling (84 → 100), improving its KO potential.}}
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| **{{buff|Its late hit has an additional hitbox on Pichu's torso instead of only having a hitbox on the head. The head hitbox is also bigger and more disjointed.}}
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| **{{nerf|It causes recoil damage (1.5% (aerial hitbox), 0.5% (landing), total: 2%).}}
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| *Comparison of Pichu's loops (with back aerial) and Pikachu's loops (with neutral aerial):
| |
| **{{buff|Pichu deals more damage per loop.}}
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| **{{nerf|Pichu's loops are more situational, because they can only be started in a full hop and are completely impossible near platforms, whereas Pikachu can start them in a short hop and guarantee them after a grab or up tilt, while still being able to do a few loops even with platforms nearby.}}
| |
| **{{nerf|SDI has a bigger effect on Pichu's back aerial than on Pikachu's neutral aerial, which makes it significantly easier to escape Pichu's loops than Pikachu's. This also means Pikachu can do more loops in a row than Pichu without the opponent falling out.}}<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFsrqhXYFLQ</ref>
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| ====Throws and other attacks====
| |
| *[[Grab]]s:
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| **{{buff|All grabs have less startup (frame 7/10/11 (standing/dash/pivot) → 6/8/9) and ending lag (FAF 37/45/40 → 32/40/37).}}
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| **{{nerf|Standing grab has slightly less range (hitboxes: 4.0u → 3.3u (grounded opponents), 2.0u → 1.65u (aerial opponents)).}}
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| *[[Pummel]]:
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| **{{buff|Pummel deals more damage (1% → 1.4%).}}
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| **{{nerf|It has more hitlag (12 frames → 14), slightly increasing its duration.}}
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| **{{nerf|It causes recoil damage (0.1%).}}
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| **{{nerf|Its hitbox is smaller (7.0u → 4.7u) and closer to Pichu (offset: X: 0/Y: 9/Z: 9 → 0/8.2/8.6), making it harder to hit bystanders.}}
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| **{{change|It knocks bystanders upwards instead of away (angle: 361 → 80)}}
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| *[[Forward throw]]:
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| **{{buff|Forward throw's final hit deals much more damage (2% → 6%) with base knockback not fully compensated (55 → 45), causing it to KO at high percents. The move also deals more total damage (10% → 12%).}}
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| **{{nerf|Forward throw's collateral hitbox is smaller (6.72u → 5.5u) and closer to Pichu (offset: X: 0/Y: 12/Z: 4.8 → 0/8.5/4.7), making it harder to hit bystanders with.}}
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| ***{{buff|However, due to the hitbox being lower down, it is easier to hit short fighters at point blank range.}}
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| **{{nerf|It causes recoil damage (0.8%).}}
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| *[[Back throw]]:
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| **{{nerf|Back throw has less base knockback (85 → 75), reducing its KO potential, to the point of being almost entirely absent.}}
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| *[[Up throw]]:
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| **{{change|Up throw has significantly less knockback scaling (129 → 45), allowing it to combo into Thunder at very high percents much better, but also removing its KO potential by itself.}}
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| **{{buff|The first hit deals more damage (3% → 5%), increasing its total damage (8% → 10%).}}
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| **{{buff|The first hit has a lower hitlag multiplier (1.6x → 1x), making the throw execute faster.}}
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| **{{nerf|The collateral hitbox is smaller (5.5u → 4.7u), making it harder to hit bystanders.}}
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| **{{nerf|It has more base knockback (48 → 90), reducing its combo potential at low percents.}}
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| *[[Down throw]]:
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| **{{buff|Down throw deals more damage (5% → 8%).}}
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| **{{buff|The throw itself deals less damage (5% → 4%), reducing its knockback growth and allowing it to combo for longer, despite a slightly lower launch angle (83˚ → 80˚).}}
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| **{{nerf|It releases the opponent much earlier due to not inflicting hitlag (frame 38 → 26) and has comparatively more ending lag (FAF 52 → 47). This makes it harder to DI, but also noticeably reduces its combo potential.}}
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| ====Special moves====
| |
| *[[Thunder Jolt]]:
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| **{{buff|Thunder Jolt deals more damage (6%/5%/4% → 7%/6%/5% (grounded), 4.8% → 10% (aerial)) and consistent damage to both grounded and aerial opponents.}}
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| ***{{change|However, its negative shield damage is higher (-2.5/-2/-1.5 → -3/-2.5/-2 (grounded), -1.9 → -4.5 (aerial)), causing it to not deal more shield damage despite the increased damage.}}
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| **{{buff|It has more base knockback (18 → 25 (grounded), 35 → 50 (aerial)), improving its edgeguarding potential and allowing it to be used for tech-chasing if initiated in the air.}}
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| **{{buff|Its projectiles are bigger (3.0u/1.8u → 4.0u/3.0u (grounded), 3.0u → 4.0u (aerial)).}}
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| **{{buff|It has one frame less startup lag (frame 19 → 18).}}
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| ***{{nerf|However, its total duration is identical, giving it one frame more ending lag.}}
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| **{{nerf|It causes recoil damage (0.7%).}}
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| **{{change|Grounded Thunder Jolts travel faster, which makes them harder to avoid, but also makes it harder to follow behind them for added pressure.}}
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| **{{change|Grounded Thunder Jolts bounce closer to the ground, which makes it impossible to crouch beneath them, but also reduces their vertical range, which makes jumping above them less of a commitment.}}
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| **{{change|Aerial Thunder Jolts move at a more downwards angle (-58˚ → -64˚), and travels faster (speed 2 → 2.4).}}
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| *[[Skull Bash]]:
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| **{{buff|Skull Bash deals much more damage when fully charged (21.4% → 33%).}}
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| **{{buff|It has altered knockback (40 base/78 scaling → 15/90), improving its KO potential}}
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| **{{nerf|It takes significantly longer to fully charge (80 frames → 150).}}
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| **{{nerf|It has more ending lag in the air (FAF 75 → 87) and on hit (FAF 22 → 26).}}
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| **{{nerf|It deals less damage when uncharged (6.2% → 4%) and when the smash input is used (10% → 7.87%).}}
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| **{{nerf|It causes recoil damage (1.8%).}}
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| **{{nerf|Pichu's ears stick out while flying, making it somewhat exposed.}}
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| **{{nerf|The move has a smaller hitbox (4u → 3.2u), reducing its range.}}
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| **{{nerf|Due to the hitbox using the electric effect, it deals more hitlag, making it easier to DI.}}
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| **{{change|It travels a significantly longer distance. While this makes it better for recovery and allows it to hit opponents from further away, it also makes edgeguarding with it much riskier when coupled with its higher ending lag, as Pichu is more likely to self-destruct if it misses.}}
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| *[[Agility]]:
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| **{{buff|Agility travels a longer distance (55u (first)/49.5u (second) → 66.4u/59.76, total 104.5u → 126.16u).}}
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| **{{nerf|It does not have a hitbox and therefore inflicts neither damage nor knockback, removing a burst option and combo starter from Pichu's arsenal and making its recovery less safe. It also travels slower (speed: 11 → 8.3), further reducing its safety.}}
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| **{{nerf|It causes recoil damage (0.9% (first zip), 1.4% (second zip), total: 2.3%).}}
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| *{{b|Thunder|Pokémon}}:
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| **Cloud:
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| ***{{buff|Thunder's cloud has less startup lag (frame 13 → 9).}}
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| ***{{buff|It has a bigger hitbox (6.0u → 7.0u).}}
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| ***{{change|The cloud appears closer to Pichu (y offset: 105 → 100).}}
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| ***{{change|It uses [[weight-independent]] knockback.}}
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| ***{{nerf|The bolt travels faster (speed: 4 → 4.9), making the spiking hitbox less likely to connect into the discharge due to not having its knockback compensated.}}
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| **Lightning Bolt:
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| ***{{buff|Thunder's lightning bolt has less startup lag (frame 13 → 9).}}
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| ***{{nerf|It deals less damage (8% → 4%) with no compensation on knockback.}}
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| ***{{change|It launches at a higher angle (70° → 94°) and uses weight-independent knockback. However, this does not aid in its combo or juggling potential due to its high ending lag and lower knockback.}}
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| ***{{change|It travels faster.}}
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| ****{{buff|This makes it harder to react to.}}
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| ****{{nerf|If the lightning bolt hits Pichu, its hitbox has a shorter duration.}}
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| ****{{nerf|If the lightning bolt misses Pichu, the bolt will disappear on the ground more quickly, giving it more ending lag, despite the FAF being identical.}}
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| ****{{nerf|Creating a wall with the lightning bolt for edgeguarding is less effective.}}
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| **Discharge:
| |
| ***{{buff|Thunder's discharge has less startup lag (frame 34 → 26) with identical ending lag, shortening its duration (FAF 75 → 67).}}
| |
| ***{{nerf|It deals slightly less damage (15% → 14%).}}
| |
| ***{{nerf|It causes considerable recoil damage (3.5%).}}
| |
| ***{{nerf|It has a smaller hitbox (13.0u → 11.0u). This also makes it harder to hit enemies at the ledge with it.}}
| |
| ***{{change|It has more base knockback (70 → 90), but lower knockback scaling (77 → 65), causing it to KO earlier from near the edge, but later from center stage. Pikachu's Thunder starts dealing more knockback than Pichu's at 75%.}}
| |
| ***{{change|It always sends the opponent in the direction Pichu is facing. This makes it more reliable, but also means using DI correctly to survive longer against it is easier.}}
| |
| *[[Volt Tackle]]:
| |
| **{{buff|Volt Tackle deals more damage (1.5% → 1.6% (loop), 20% → 21% (final)) and knockback.}}
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| **{{nerf|Volt Tackle causes massive recoil damage (0.45% (charge loop), 0.2% (attack loop), 3.5% (final), total 12.4%).}}
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|
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|
| ==Changes from ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]''== | | ==Changes from ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]''== |
| <!--
| | Like in ''Melee'', Pichu damages itself when using electric attacks. It is also no longer a [[clone]], as it is not labeled as an Echo Fighter. Unlike [[Dr. Mario (SSBU)|Dr. Mario]] and (possibly) [[Young Link (SSBU)|Young Link]] however, it is not clear if it is a semi-clone or a completely unique fighter this time around. |
| REMINDER: Our Manual of Style states that all Pokémon are to use gender-neutral pronouns.
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| -->
| |
| Since its absence from previous installments, Pichu was infamous for being by far the worst clone character in ''Melee'' due to its status as an intentional "joke character", largely due to its very low weight, recoil damage and vulnerability to chain grabbing, giving it very poor matchups and leading to its bottom-tier perception. Most likely as a result of this, Pichu has been significantly buffed in its transition from ''Melee'' to ''Ultimate''.
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| Pichu's mobility has overall improved; its [[walk]]ing, [[dash]]ing and [[air speed]]s, as well as its [[air acceleration]], have been increased, and it can now [[crawl]], enabling Pichu to approach more easily while being able to dodge certain projectiles. Pichu's combo game is noticeably more varied as a result of its improved mobility, many of its ground moves and some of its aerials dealing less knockback and/or sending at more desirable angles, and its multi-hit moves being significantly more consistent due to the weakening of [[SDI]]. Its weight was also increased, allowing it to survive for longer, though its endurance is still the overall worst in the game. [[Agility]] also travels a slightly longer distance, significantly improving its offstage survivability. | | ===Aesthetics=== |
| | *{{change|Pichu's design and it proportion now matches the latest games in the Pokémon franchise. Its colors are more vibrant and it's much more expressive than in ''Melee.''}} |
| | *{{change|Pichu now has squash and stretch in its animations, giving it a bouncy feel.}} |
| | *{{change|Many of Pichu's attacks now have new animations differing from its moveset in ''Melee''.}} |
| | *{{change|Pichu has a new taunt akin to {{SSBU|Pikachu}}'s up taunt, except it humorously becomes dizzy afterwards.}} |
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|
| Despite the many buffs it received, Pichu also received a few nerfs. Some of its strongest kill options, such as its forward and up smashes, have been significantly weakened in terms of knockback, while its neutral aerial, previously considered by many to be its best move, has also been weakened in both its damage output and knockback. Its grounded attacks are also less effective for edgeguarding, as its down tilt, down smash and dash attack now send opponents at a much higher angle. Additionally, more of Pichu's attacks (examples being its forward tilt and back aerial) emit electricity, meaning that more of its moves cause recoil damage; while this allows Pichu to build up rage more easily in comparison to the other fighters, it allows Pichu to be knocked out even more quickly, which is further compounded by its atrocious weight and fast-falling speed making it vulnerable to combos, despite its small hurtbox.
| | ===Ground attacks=== |
| | *{{buff|Forward tilt can [[trip]] opponents.}} |
| | *{{nerf|Forward tilt has an [[electric]] effect, thus causing [[recoil damage]] to Pichu.}} |
|
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|
| Pichu's recoil damage has seen some noticeable changes. Some of its [[electric]] attacks deal reduced recoil damage ([[forward smash]], [[forward aerial]], [[pummel]], [[Thunder Jolt]] and Agility), making these moves less of a detriment to use; particularly, forward aerial is a less commital attack and its pummel is much more useful for racking up damage. Conversely, [[down aerial]], [[Skull Bash]] and [[Thunder]]'s shockwave hitbox deal more recoil damage (though down aerial's landing hit deals less damage to compensate), making them riskier to use. Additionally, more of Pichu's moves now have an electric effect, namely its [[forward tilt]], [[down smash]] and [[back aerial]]; as a result, both their KO power and risk have been generally increased. In bulk, Pichu's moves generally deal less recoil damage than in ''Melee'', allowing it to utilize them more frequently, with down aerial's newfound meteor smash hitbox compensating for its higher risk, and it has many more KO options as a result of them receiving an electric effect. However, its higher abundance of electric attacks and dearth of regular moves generally compensates for the lower recoil Pichu's other moves inflict; moreover, Thunder is a riskier KO option, and while a fully charged Skull Bash's extreme power compensates for its recoil, the uncharged version is now more polarizing as a recovery move.
| | ===Special moves=== |
| | | *{{buff|{{b|Thunder|Pokémon}} [[meteor smash]]es targets hit high above Pichu and into the electric blast, akin to Pikachu's.}} |
| Aside from the changes to SDI, the changes to the engine's mechanics are both benefitial and detrimental to Pichu, but were beneficial overall. The changes to [[stale-move negation]] make its multi-hit moves deal consistent damage as opposed to less damage, which makes its forward smash, forward aerial, back aerial and down smash (the latter two now being multi-hit moves) more reliable for racking up damage and KOing. The removal of [[edgehogging]] in favor of [[ledge trump|ledge trumping]] and the changes to [[air dodge]]s make Pichu much harder to edgeguard and thus improves its survivability, while Pichu can now use an air dodge to escape combos, sporting one of the fastest in the game; however, they also make it slightly harder for Pichu itself to edgeguard opponents, forcing it to KO them through raw power more often. The removal of [[chain grab|chain grabbing]] significantly improves Pichu's endurance at low percentages, no longer being as much of an easy victim to unavoidable damage into a KO, but it also means it can no longer chaingrab with its up throw, hindering its damage-racking potential against fast-fallers (though its improved combo game compensates for this). Finally, the implementation of [[rage]], coupled with its small stature, allows Pichu to make highly effective use of it thanks to its electric moves' high knockback, in addition to said attacks' recoil damage indirectly putting it out of range of KO setups it would've otherwise suffered from, but it also makes its endurance at higher percentages just as atrocious as in ''Melee'' should it fail to KO the opponent.
| | *{{change|Like with Pikachu's Thunder, the electricity discharged when the lightning from strikes Pichu is yellow rather than blue, and has Pichu flash with a dark tint.}} |
| | | *{{change|Pichu now bounces back after connecting with [[Skull Bash]]. This makes it better for hit-and-run but worse for approach.}} |
| Overall, Pichu is no longer an intentional "joke character" like in ''Melee''; instead, it is now a very polarized glass cannon, akin to a min-maxed version of {{SSBU|Pikachu}}. It has a drastically stronger punish game, more varied KO options, many of its moves deal generally less recoil damage, and it retains its excellent frame data, but it also has less range on average and thus a more commital approach. Pichu's buffs additionally fail to completely alleviate its glaring weaknesses, with the biggest being its fragility, despite its higher weight and improved survivability. Game updates have also nerfed Pichu, and optimizations to several characters have resulted in it not performing as well as on release. Nevertheless, Pichu's buffs greatly outweigh its nerfs, and it has heavily improved compared to ''Melee'', being one of the most buffed characters in the transition to ''Ultimate''.
| | *{{change|Pichu now has a [[Final Smash]], which is similar to Pikachu's: it has Pichu dash quickly around the stage at different angles while surrounded in a ball of electricity, then launching opponents with an electric blast at the end of the move as the ball disappears.}} |
| | |
| {{SSB4 to SSBU changelist|char=Pichu}}
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| | |
| ==Update history== | |
| Possibly due to its dominating status in competitive play during the early metagame of ''Ultimate'', Pichu was greatly nerfed in game updates. Although its pummel was slightly buffed in update {{SSBU|2.0.0}}, it received several significant nerfs in update {{SSBU|3.1.0}}. Pichu's hurtbox is larger, forward smash has more ending lag, its infamously strong forward tilt has less knockback scaling, and almost all of its electric attacks deal more recoil damage, noticeably worsening its already abysmal endurance.
| |
| | |
| Update {{SSBU|11.0.0}} buffed Pichu by reversing some of the nerfs, reducing the amount of recoil damage Pichu receives with some of the electric attacks that were affected in 3.1.0. On top of that, its ear hurtboxes received intangibility during the strong hit of its neutral aerial, making it a slightly safer option in the air.
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| | |
| Overall, Pichu fares considerably worse than it did when ''Ultimate'' launched. While Pichu is still far stronger than its ''Melee'' iteration, the nerfs it received has led to its tournament representation and results to noticeably decline and Pichu is now generally considered to be a mid-tier character at best.
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| '''{{GameIcon|ssbu}} {{SSBU|2.0.0}}'''
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| {{UpdateList (SSBU)/2.0.0|char=Pichu}}
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| '''{{GameIcon|ssbu}} {{SSBU|3.0.0}}'''
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| {{UpdateList (SSBU)/3.0.0|char=Pichu}}
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| '''{{GameIcon|ssbu}} {{SSBU|3.1.0}}'''
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| {{UpdateList (SSBU)/3.1.0|char=Pichu}}
| |
| | |
| '''{{GameIcon|ssbu}} {{SSBU|7.0.0}}'''
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| {{UpdateList (SSBU)/7.0.0|char=Pichu}}
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| '''{{GameIcon|ssbu}} {{SSBU|10.1.0}}'''
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| {{UpdateList (SSBU)/10.1.0|char=Pichu}}
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| '''{{GameIcon|ssbu}} {{SSBU|11.0.0}}'''
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| {{UpdateList_(SSBU)/11.0.0|char=Pichu}}
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| ==Moveset==
| |
| *Pichu can [[Crawling|crawl]] and [[wall jump]]. | |
| ''For a gallery of Pichu's hitboxes, see [[Pichu (SSBU)/Hitboxes|here]].''
| |
| | |
| {{MovesetTable | |
| |game=SSBU
| |
| |neutralname=Headbutt ({{ja|ずつき|Zutsuki}}) | |
| |neutralcount=1
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| |neutral1dmg=1.2%
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| |neutraldesc=[[bulbapedia:Headbutt (move)|Does a quick headbutt]]. Has similar properties as Pikachu's jab, though it can link a few more hits before pushing the opponent out of range. Also has less shieldstun.
| |
| |ftiltname=Double-Footed Sweep ({{ja|りょうあしばらい|Ryō Ashibarai}})
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| |ftiltdmg=8%, 1% recoil
| |
| |ftiltdesc=Plants itself on its upper paws and kicks with one foot upward in front of itself, and then the other. Very fast (comes out on frame 5) and has very low ending lag, yet it has above average power and can KO at high percents. Can make opponents [[trip]] at low percents. The hitbox last surprisingly long, as Pichu kicks with one foot and then the other, and while the second hitbox is smaller, it doesn't count as a sourspot. Cannot be angled as it could in ''Melee''.
| |
| |utiltname=Tail Attack ({{ja|しっぽアタック|Shippo Atakku}})
| |
| |utiltdmg=5%
| |
| |utiltdesc=Swipes its tail above its body in an arc. Can combo into itself at low percents, or into an aerial at mid to high percents.
| |
| |dtiltname=Tail Sweep ({{ja|あしばらい|Shippo Barai}})
| |
| |dtiltdmg=6%
| |
| |dtiltdesc=Swipes its tail in front of itself. Has very low knockback scaling, allowing it to combo into up tilt at low to mid percents, or an aerial even at very high percents.
| |
| |dashname=Running Headbutt ({{ja|ジャンプずつき|Janpu Zutsuki}}, ''Jump Headbutt'')
| |
| |dashdmg=8% (clean), 6% (late)
| |
| |dashdesc=Jumps and headbutts forward. Less ending lag but less shieldstun compared to Pikachu's. It also has a hitbox on Pichu's torso.
| |
| |fsmashname=Thundershock ({{ja|ショートでんげき|Shōto Dengeki}}, ''Electrical Short'')
| |
| |fsmashdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSBU|2}} (hits 1-5), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBU|8}} (hit 6), 2% recoil
| |
| |fsmashdesc=Launches a short jolt of electricity from its cheeks. Comes out on frame 16 and is a multihit attack. Stronger than Pikachu's version, does not have sourspots and has less ending lag relative to the hitbox, but has much less range.
| |
| |usmashname=Headbutt ({{ja|ヘッドバット|Heddobatto}})
| |
| |usmashdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSBU|14}}
| |
| |usmashdesc=Does an upward headbutt. Pichu's ears become [[Intangibility|intangible]] on frames 9-11. Comes out on frame 9, making it quick for a smash attack. However, its knockback is rather poor for a smash attack.
| |
| |dsmashname=Electric Flower ({{ja|ねずみはなび|Nezumi Hanabi}}, ''Mouse Fireworks'')
| |
| |dsmashdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSBU|1.5}} (hits 1-4), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBU|8}} (hit 6), 1.3% recoil
| |
| |dsmashdesc=Discharges electricity while quickly spinning in place. Compared to Pikachu's, it has much less ending lag and it is overall stronger, but it's easier to DI and is worse for edgeguarding due to its angle. Pichu also gains invincibility at frames 7-10.
| |
| |nairname=Pichu Spin ({{ja|ピチュースピン|Pichū Supin}})
| |
| |nairdmg={{ShortHopDmgSSBU|7}} (clean), {{ShortHopDmgSSBU|5}} (late)
| |
| |nairdesc=An aerial cartwheel. It is a quick out of shield option and, when compared to Pikachu's, it is more effective for KOing and has more range and less ending lag. Autocancels in a full hop, but is slightly safer when not autocanceled, having 2 less frames of landing lag compared to Pikachu's.
| |
| |fairname=Electric Drill ({{ja|でんげきドリル|Dengeki Doriru}})
| |
| |fairdmg={{ShortHopDmgSSBU|3.5}} (hits 1-4), 1.5% recoil
| |
| |fairdesc=Does a forward barrel roll. Unlike Pikachu's, it covers Pichu's whole body and uses the autolink angle, connecting better. It deals impressive damage (14% if all the hits connect) and combo into itself at low percents, while also being good for edgeguarding.
| |
| |bairname=Electric Glider ({{ja|でんげきグライダー|Dengeki Guraidā}})
| |
| |bairdmg={{ShortHopDmgSSBU|2}} (hits 1-5), {{ShortHopDmgSSBU|2.5}} (hit 6), 1.5% recoil
| |
| |bairdesc=Does an electric spin similar to its down smash. Can combo at low percentages and edgeguard at higher percents, just like forward aerial. Decent knockback, making it an effective KO option.
| |
| |uairname=Tail Chop ({{ja|しっぽはたき|Shippo Hitaki}})
| |
| |uairdmg={{ShortHopDmgSSBU|4}}
| |
| |uairdesc=Flicks its tail above itself. Good for combos, especially into Thunder. Autocancels in a short hop with less landing lag than Pikachu's version.
| |
| |dairname=Electric Screw ({{ja|でんげきスクリュー|Dengeki Sukuryū}})
| |
| |dairdmg={{ShortHopDmgSSBU|13}}, {{ShortHopDmgSSBU|4}} (landing), 1.5% recoil after startup, 0.5% recoil landing (can land before startup)
| |
| |dairdesc=Does a downward barrel roll. Has the capability to meteor smash opponents during the clean hit, which has a generously long duration (four frames), and, although with strict timing, it can autocancel in a short hop. Pichu's ears become intangible for the entire duration of the clean hit(frames 14-17). The late hit has good coverage in Pichu's body.
| |
| |grabname=Grab ({{ja|つかみ|Tsukami}})
| |
| |grabdesc=Quickly leans forward and grabs with one arm. Has a range of approximately Pichu's body width, being somewhat short-ranged. Its grabs are the fastest in the game.
| |
| |pummelname=Grab Electric Shock ({{ja|つかみでんきショック|Tsukami Denki Shokku}})
| |
| |pummeldmg=1.4%, 0.1% recoil
| |
| |pummeldesc=Shocks the opponent. Average speed, while dealing marginally more damage than other similar pummels. It shares this distinction with {{SSBU|Piranha Plant}}. Compared to Pikachu, it is stronger while only being marginally slower. | |
| |fthrowname=Electric Throw ({{ja|でんきなげ|Denki Nage}})
| |
| |fthrowdmg=1.5% (hits 1-4), 6% (throw), 0.8% recoil
| |
| |fthrowdesc=Places the opponent on its back and shocks them, sending them forward. Pichu's strongest throw, it starts KOing middleweights at around 153% near the edge of [[Final Destination]].
| |
| |bthrowname=Submission ({{ja|じごくぐるま|Jigoku Gurama}}, ''Hell Wheel'')
| |
| |bthrowdmg=9%
| |
| |bthrowdesc=Does a backwards somersault with the opponent, then flings them behind itself. Pichu's second strongest throw, but it can only KO middleweights starting at around 181% at the edge of Final Destination.
| |
| |uthrowname=Heading ({{ja|ヘディング|Hedingu}})
| |
| |uthrowdmg=5% (hit 1), 5% (throw)
| |
| |uthrowdesc=Tosses foe up and headbutts them. Can infamously combo into {{b|Thunder|Pokémon}} making it a reliable finisher between medium and high percents.
| |
| |dthrowname=Hip Press ({{ja|ヒッププレス|Hippu Puresu}})
| |
| |dthrowdmg=4% (hit 1), 4% (throw)
| |
| |dthrowdesc=Places opponent on the ground, then jumps on them. Can combo into an aerial at low to mid percents.
| |
| |floorfname=
| |
| |floorfdmg=7%
| |
| |floorfdesc=Does a full rotation sweep with its tail.
| |
| |floorbname=
| |
| |floorbdmg=7%
| |
| |floorbdesc=Does a full rotation sweep with its tail.
| |
| |floortname=
| |
| |floortdmg=5%
| |
| |floortdesc=Swings its tail on both sides of itself.
| |
| |edgename=
| |
| |edgedmg=9%
| |
| |edgedesc=Climbs up then flicks its tail out.
| |
| |nsname=Thunder Jolt
| |
| |nsdmg=7% (short distance), 6% (medium distance), 5% (long distance), 10% (air), 0.7% recoil
| |
| |nsdesc=Pichu's main projectile. Fires a jolt of electricity forward. Compared to Pikachu's, it is faster, bigger and stronger. It also travels forward while bouncing along the ground, and can also travel up walls, below the edge, and along ceilings, making it a strong edgeguarding and 2 framing tool. If used in the air, it will travel diagonally down instead and will deal more damage. Disappears after around 3 seconds. Can be used to gimp certain recoveries. Deals less damage the farther it travels.
| |
| |ssname=Skull Bash
| |
| |ssdmg=4% (uncharged), 7.8% (uncharged smash input), 33% (fully charged), 1.8% recoil
| |
| |ssdesc=Charges and, when the B button is released, fires itself forward like a missile. When fully charged or close to fully charged, it has KO power. The move can also be used to extend Pichu's recovery, though it does have some lag. Compared to Pikachu's Skull Bash, Pichu's Skull Bash deals more damage and covers more distance when fully charged, but deals less damage when uncharged, takes longer to fully charge, causes recoil damage and has more endlag.
| |
| |usname=Agility
| |
| |usdmg=0%, 0.9% recoil (warp 1), 1.4% recoil (warp 2)
| |
| |usdesc=Pichu's primary recovery move. Moves at warp speed in two directions that can be selected via the control stick. Compared to Pikachu's Quick Attack, Agility travels farther. However, it deals no damage and Pichu suffers recoil damage.
| |
| |dsname=Thunder (Pokémon){{!}}Thunder
| |
| |dsdmg=14% (shockwave), 4% (thunderbolt), 6% (thunderbolt meteor), 3.5% recoil
| |
| |dsdesc=Summons a thundercloud from which a lightning bolt comes down and strikes Pichu. The start of the bolt has a meteor effect and deals more damage than the rest of the bolt. When the bolt hits Pichu, a shockwave is generated that has the potential to KO. Pichu also gains intangibility for 10 frames if it connects, just like Pikachu. Compared to Pikachu's Thunder, Pichu's Thunder has less startup but deals less damage and knockback overall and causes recoil damage. The thunderbolt travels faster than Pikachu's version, giving it both positives and negatives: this makes it easier to land, but Pichu will be more vulnerable.
| |
| | |
| |fsname=Volt Tackle
| |
| |fsdmg=0.3% (6 hits during startup), 1% (initial hit), 1.6% (loop), 21% (launch), 3.2% recoil (startup), 0.2% recoil (loop), 3.5% recoil (launch)
| |
| |fsdesc=Pichu turns into a ball of electricity and dashes forward. Any opponents hit are knocked into the center of the screen where Pichu furiously tackles them from multiple directions then releases a powerful electric blast in the center. If the dash doesn't hit an opponent, the final smash is ended early. It causes a large amount of recoil damage, but is overall stronger than Pikachu's version.}}
| |
| | |
| ===Stats===
| |
| | |
| {{Attributes | |
| | cast=89
| |
| | weight=62 | rweight=89
| |
| | dash=1.98 | rdash=30-35
| |
| | run=1.892 | rrun=28
| |
| | walk=1.302 | rwalk=13-14
| |
| | trac=0.11 | rtrac=39-47
| |
| | airfric=0.0075 | rairfric=67-75
| |
| | air=1.029 | rair=49-51
| |
| | baseaccel=0.01 | rbaseaccel=15-87
| |
| | addaccel=0.09 | raddaccel=7-10
| |
| | gravity=0.14 | rgravity=5-6
| |
| | fall=1.9 | rfall=6
| |
| | ff=2.5 | rff=50
| |
| | jumpsquat=3 | rjumpsquat=1-88
| |
| | jumpheight=36.75 | rjumpheight=15
| |
| | shorthop=17.43 | rshorthop=21
| |
| | djump=36.02 | rdjump=25
| |
| }}
| |
| | |
| ===[[Announcer]] call===
| |
| {{audio|Needs announcer calls from other languages.}}
| |
| <gallery>
| |
| Pichu English Announcer SSBU.wav|English/Japanese/Chinese | |
| </gallery>
| |
| | |
| ===[[On-screen appearance]]===
| |
| *Jumps out from a Poké Ball and waves both hands in the air with joy before landing, saying "Pichu!" in the process (the same voice clip used for its side taunt).
| |
| <gallery>
| |
| PichuOnScreenAppearanceSSBU.gif|Pichu's on-screen appearance
| |
| </gallery>
| |
| | |
| ===[[Taunt]]s===
| |
| *'''Up taunt''': Charges up with electricity, similar to {{SSBU|Pikachu}}'s up taunt, but falls back dazed at the end.
| |
| *'''Side taunt''': Jumps up and waves at the camera, saying "Pichu!" This was its left-facing taunt in ''Melee''.
| |
| *'''Down taunt''': Squirms around on the ground, saying "Pichu!" This was its right-facing taunt in ''Melee''.
| |
| <gallery>
| |
| SSBUPichuTaunt1.gif|Pichu's up taunt.
| |
| SSBUPichuTaunt2.gif|Pichu's side taunt.
| |
| SSBUPichuTaunt3.gif|Pichu's down taunt.
| |
| </gallery>
| |
| | |
| ===[[Idle pose]]s===
| |
| *Turns and looks at its tail, twitching it.
| |
| *Looks around itself excitedly.
| |
| <gallery>
| |
| SSBUPichuIdle1.gif|Pichu's first idle pose.
| |
| SSBUPichuIdle2.gif|Pichu's second idle pose.
| |
| </gallery>
| |
| | |
| ===[[Crowd cheer]]===
| |
| <div class="tabber">
| |
| <div class="tabbertab" title="English, Japanese/Chinese, Italian, Dutch, French">
| |
| {| class="wikitable" border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1"
| |
| |-
| |
| !{{{name|}}}
| |
| !Cheer (English)
| |
| !Cheer (Japanese/Chinese)
| |
| !Cheer (Italian)
| |
| !Cheer (Dutch)
| |
| !Cheer (French)
| |
| |-
| |
| ! scope="row"|Cheer
| |
| |{{NTSC}} [[File:Pichu Cheer English NTSC SSBU.ogg|center]] <br> {{PAL}} [[File:Pichu Cheer English PAL SSBU.ogg|center]]||[[File:Pichu Cheer Japanese SSBU.ogg|center]]||[[File:Pichu Cheer Italian SSBU.ogg|center]]||[[File:Pichu Cheer Dutch SSBU.ogg|center]]||{{NTSC}} [[File:Pichu Cheer French NTSC SSBU.ogg|center]] <br> {{PAL}} [[File:Pichu Cheer French PAL SSBU.ogg|center]]
| |
| |-
| |
| ! scope="row"|Description
| |
| |Pi - chu! || Pichu! || Pi - chu! *claps 3 times* || Pi - chu! || Pi - chu! Pi - chu!
| |
| |}
| |
| </div>
| |
| <div class="tabbertab" title="German, Spanish, Russian, Korean">
| |
| {| class="wikitable" border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1"
| |
| |-
| |
| !{{{name|}}}
| |
| !Cheer (German)
| |
| !Cheer (Spanish)
| |
| !Cheer (Russian)
| |
| !Cheer (Korean)
| |
| |-
| |
| ! scope="row"|Cheer
| |
| |[[File:Pichu Cheer German SSBU.ogg|center]]||{{NTSC}} [[File:Pichu Cheer Spanish NTSC SSBU.ogg|center]] <br> {{PAL}} [[File:Pichu Cheer Spanish PAL SSBU.ogg|center]]||[[File:Pichu Cheer Russian SSBU.ogg|center]]||[[File:Pichu Cheer Korean SSBU.ogg|center]]
| |
| |-
| |
| ! scope="row"|Description
| |
| |Pi - chu! Pi - chu! Piiiiii! || Este Pichu! Este Pichu! E! E! || Pichu! Pichu! || Pi - chu!
| |
| |}
| |
| </div>
| |
| </div>
| |
| | |
| ===[[Victory pose]]s===
| |
| *'''Left:''' Cheers twice (facing to the right first and the left second), jumps thrice while spinning, and poses with its left hand raised, chanting "Pichu, Pichu!"
| |
| *'''Up:''' Jumps three times, with the third jump, which is done while spinning, being higher than the first two. While in midair, Pichu waves both of its arms. After landing, Pichu raises both of its arms and arches towards its left side. During the pose, Pichu says "Pi-Pi-Pichu!" in sync with each jump.
| |
| *'''Right:''' Charges electricity, making itself fall over, then stands up and winks while scratching its head.
| |
| [[File:PokemonSeriesVictoryThemeUltimate.ogg|thumb|A small excerpt of the title theme of ''Pokémon Red, Blue, Yellow, and Green Versions'', a track which would go on to become the ''Pokémon'' main theme and the title theme for the entire series.]]
| |
| <gallery>
| |
| PichuVictoryPose1SSBU.gif
| |
| PichuVictoryPose2SSBU.gif
| |
| PichuVictoryPose3SSBU.gif
| |
| </gallery>
| |
| | |
| ==In [[competitive play]]==
| |
| ===Most historically significant players===
| |
| <!--This character has a ten player limit for this section. Before adding and/or removing a player, read these guidelines: https://www.ssbwiki.com/SmashWiki:Notability#%22Most_historically_significant_players%22_guidelines -->
| |
| | |
| ''See also: [[:Category:Pichu players (SSBU)]]''
| |
| | |
| *{{Sm|Blacktwins13|Canada}} - One of the best Pichu players in North America after Pichu's nerfs, although he often played other characters alongside Pichu such as {{SSBU|Roy}} and {{SSBU|Mario}}. During ths time, he most notably placing 2nd at {{Trn|Rising Stars at EGLX 2019}} defeating {{Sm|ESAM}} and 9th at {{Trn|Shine 2019}} defeating {{Sm|Goblin}}. Although he eventually picked up {{SSBU|Pyra}} and {{SSBU|Mythra}}, he remains one of the few players from the early metagame who still plays Pichu, placing 25th at {{Trn|Get On My Level 2023}} with primarily Pichu and defeating {{Sm|Riddles}} with Pichu at {{Trn|Gourmet Bash 3}}.
| |
| *{{Sm|NaetorU|France}} - One of the best Pichu players in the post-online metagame who was the definitive best in 2023. He was first known for placing 7th at {{Trn|COLOSSEL 2022}} defeating {{Sm|Bloom4Eva}} along the way, and since then had some of of the best Pichu performances since the early metagame, including placing 13th at {{Trn|Ultimate Fighting Arena 2023}} defeating {{Sm|MkLeo}} and 17th at {{Trn|Tera}} defeating {{Sm|Cosmos}}, as well as wins over players such as {{Sm|Lea}} at {{Trn|Double Down 2022}} and {{Sm|Kola}} at {{Trn|GENESIS 9}}. He was ranked 89th on the [[UltRank 2022]], the first solo-Pichu player ranked globally during this period.
| |
| *{{Sm|NAKAT|USA}} - One of the best Pichu players in North America during the first half of 2019, ranking 26th on the [[Spring 2019 PGRU]]. His best run to date was at {{Trn|Smash 'N' Splash 5}}, where he defeated {{Sm|Nairo}}, {{Sm|Mr.E}}, and {{Sm|Rivers}} to place 7th; he also notably placed 9th at {{Trn|Smash Factor 8}} and 13th at {{Trn|Umebura SP 3}}. He became less active in the fall and played a mix of Pichu and {{SSBU|Sora}} in the post-online metagame before going inactive in 2022.
| |
| *{{Sm|Nietono|Japan}} - One of the best Pichu players of all-time, ranking as high as 27th on the [[Fall 2019 PGRU]]. He is the only Pichu player to win a major, doing so at {{Trn|Umebura SP 3}}, and has also placed 7th at both {{Trn|Umebura SP 6}} and {{Trn|Umebura SP 7}}. He continued to main Pichu in the post-online metagame, notably placing 3rd at {{Trn|Maesuma TOP 8}}, but slowly began playing other characters until he dropped Pichu entirely by 2023.
| |
| *{{Sm|RFang|USA}} - One of the best Pichu players in the world in the second half of 2019, ranking 45th on the [[Fall 2019 PGRU]] and notably performing well mostly as a solo-main in spite of Pichu's nerfs. He is best known for his run to 7th at {{Trn|The Big House 9}} defeating {{Sm|Light|p=Connecticut}} and {{Sm|WaDi}}, and had also placing 3rd at {{Trn|2GG: Grand Tour - South Carolina}} defeating {{Sm|Kola}} and 4th at {{Trn|Tri-state Showdown: Fall 2019}} defeating {{Sm|Nairo}}. He stopped competing during the online metagame and has only made a few offline appearances since.
| |
| *{{Sm|VoiD|USA}} - Pichu's primary representative in the first few months of competitive play and one of the best Pichu players of all-time. He is the only Pichu player ever ranked in the top 10, ranking 9th on the [[Spring 2019 PGRU]] thanks to runs such as 2nd at {{Trn|GENESIS 6}} and 5th at both {{Trn|MomoCon 2019}} and {{Trn|Smash 'N' Splash 5}}. Following Pichu's nerfs, he began playing other characters instead and dropped the character in favor of {{SSBU|Sheik}} right before the pandemic.
| |
| *{{Sm|Yone_pi|Japan}} - One of the best Pichu players since 2024. Although he had been active earlier and had performed well regionally, 2024 marked his breakout year, with him placing 7th at {{Trn|Sumabato SP 47}} defeating {{Sm|Miya|p=Honshu}}, the best Pichu performance since {{Trn|Maesuma TOP 8}}. He has since followed it up with several other strong major performances, most notably placing 7th at {{Trn|Sumabato SP 52}} and 9th at both {{Trn|UltCore Third}} and {{Trn|Sumabato SP 50}}. He is ranked 57th on the [[LumiRank 2024.1]], the highest-ranking solo-Pichu player since the early metagame. | |
| | |
| ===Tier placement and history===
| |
| In contrast to its ''Melee'' counterpart, where it is considered one of the worst characters in the game, Pichu was commonly viewed as one of the best, if not the best, characters in the game in the early metagame. This was due to its small size and powerful KO moves, which included back air, {{b|Thunder|Pokémon}}, and its infamous forward tilt. These strengths made Pichu one of the most popular characters in the first few months of the competitive scene, ranking 7th for representation between January and June 2019, and Pichu saw a plethora of strong results from players such as {{Sm|NAKAT}}, {{Sm|Nietono}}, and {{Sm|VoiD}}, all of whom were ultimately ranked top 50 on the [[Spring 2019 PGRU]].
| |
| | |
| However, update {{SSBU|3.1.0}} increased Pichu's size and nerfed the power of its forward tilt, while increasing the amount of recoil damage on nearly all of its electric attacks. The nerfs were significant enough to stagnate Pichu's playerbase, as many of its best players either began playing other characters (VoiD) or stopped attending events (NAKAT). Although this period still saw several notable Pichu results from Nietono and {{Sm|RFang}}, Pichu's playerbase began shrinking as other players started to consider Pichu as inferior to {{SSBU|Pikachu}}. In spite of some of the nerfs being reverted in update {{SSBU|11.0.0}}, this decline continued through the online and post-online metagames, with RFang becoming inactive and Nietono dropping the character entirely, and although this period also saw the rise of {{Sm|NaetorU}}, Pichu remained scarce in top-level play. As such, Pichu saw one of the harshest declines out of any character in ''Ultimate'', with the community reassessing it to be a mid-tier character at best. This was reflected in the first tier list, where Pichu was ranked 55th as an upper-mid tier character; although it moved up to 53rd on the second tier list, its overall score was lower than in the first tier list.
| |
| | |
| Despite this severe drop in perception, Pichu is still unanimously considered to be significantly more viable than its ''Melee'' iteration.
| |
| | |
| =={{SSBU|Classic Mode}}: Lightweight Fracas==
| |
| [[File:SSBU Congratulations Pichu.png|thumb|Pichu's congratulations screen.]]
| |
| Pichu fights against opponents that are [[Weight|lightweight]]s like itself, on stages that take place in the sky.
| |
| | |
| {|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
| |
| !Round!!Opponent!!Stage!!Music!!Notes
| |
| |-
| |
| |1|| {{CharHead|Jigglypuff|SSBU|hsize=20px}}||[[Pokémon Stadium 2]]||''{{SSBUMusicLink|Pokémon|Pokémon Center - Pokémon Red / Pokémon Blue}}''||
| |
| |-
| |
| |2|| {{CharHead|Squirtle|SSBU|hsize=20px}}||[[Peach's Castle]]||''{{SSBUMusicLink|Pokémon|Road to Viridian City - Pokémon Red / Pokémon Blue}}''||Squirtle's {{SSBU|Pokémon Trainer}} is absent.
| |
| |-
| |
| |3|| {{CharHead|Mr. Game & Watch|SSBU|hsize=20px}}||[[Skyworld]]||''{{SSBUMusicLink|Kid Icarus|Underworld}}''||
| |
| |-
| |
| |4|| {{CharHead|Olimar|SSBU|hsize=20px}}||[[Pilotwings]]||''{{SSBUMusicLink|Other|Light Plane (Remix)}}''||
| |
| |-
| |
| |5|| {{CharHead|Kirby|SSBU|hsize=20px}} and {{CharHead|Meta Knight|SSBU|hsize=20px}}||[[Skyloft]]||''{{SSBUMusicLink|Kirby|Butter Building (for 3DS / Wii U)}}''||This battle is a free-for-all.
| |
| |-
| |
| |6|| {{CharHead|Mewtwo|SSBU|hsize=20px}}||[[Prism Tower]]||''{{SSBUMusicLink|Pokémon|Pokémon Red / Pokémon Blue Medley}}''||
| |
| |-
| |
| |colspan="5"|[[Bonus Stage]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |Final||{{SSBU|Master Hand}}||{{SSBU|Final Destination}}||''{{SSBUMusicLink|Super Smash Bros.|Master Hand}}'' <small>(Less than 7.0 intensity)</small><br>''{{SSBUMusicLink|Super Smash Bros.|Master Hand / Crazy Hand}}'' <small>(Intensity 7.0 or higher)</small>||On intensity 7.0 and higher, {{SSBU|Crazy Hand}} fights alongside Master Hand.
| |
| |}
| |
| | |
| [[Credits]] roll after completing Classic Mode. Completing it as Pichu has ''{{SSBUMusicLink|Pokémon|Pokémon Gold / Pokémon Silver Medley}}'' accompany the credits.
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| {{clr}}
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| | |
| ==Role in [[World of Light]]==
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| [[File:WoL-19Pichu.jpg|thumb|Finding Pichu in World of Light|left]]
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| Although Pichu has been absent from the World of Light opening cutscene, it was vaporized and later imprisoned alongside the rest of the fighters (sans {{SSBU|Kirby}}) when [[Galeem]] unleashed his beams of light.
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| | |
| To access Pichu, the player must enter the [[Power Plant]] sub-area and reach it on a platform with the use of two Zapfish, where it can then be challenged and recruited.
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| {{clrl}}
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| | |
| ===Fighter Battle===
| |
| {|class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
| |
| |-
| |
| !style="width:5%;"|No.
| |
| !style="width:5%;"|Image
| |
| !Name
| |
| !Type
| |
| !Power
| |
| !Stage
| |
| !Music
| |
| |-
| |
| |19
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| |[[File:Pichu SSBU.png|center|64x64px]]
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| |Pichu
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| |{{SpiritType|Attack}} <center>{{color|#dc1029|Attack}}</center>
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| |7,500
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| |[[Prism Tower]] ([[Ω form]])
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| |''{{SSBUMusicLink|Pokémon|Pokémon Red / Pokémon Blue Medley}}''
| |
| |}
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| {{clr}}
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| | |
| ==[[Spirit]]==
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| Pichu's Fighter Spirit can be obtained by completing {{SSBU|Classic Mode}}. It is also available periodically for purchase in the shop for 300 Gold, but only after Pichu has been unlocked. Unlocking Pichu in World of Light allows the player to preview the spirit below in the Spirit List under the name "???". As a Fighter Spirit, it cannot be used in Spirit Battles and is purely aesthetic. Its Fighter Spirit has an alternate version that replaces it with its artwork in ''Ultimate''.
| |
| | |
| <center>
| |
| <gallery>
| |
| SSBU spirit Pichu.png|410. '''''Pichu'''''
| |
| </gallery>
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| </center>
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| | |
| ==In Spirit Battles==
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| ===As the main opponent===
| |
| {|class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;"
| |
| ! colspan=4|Spirit
| |
| ! colspan=7|Battle parameters
| |
| |-
| |
| ! style="width:5%;"|No.
| |
| ! style="width:5%;"|Image
| |
| ! Name
| |
| ! Series
| |
| ! Enemy Fighter(s)
| |
| ! style="width:5%;"|Type
| |
| ! style="width:5%;"|Power
| |
| ! Stage
| |
| ! Rules
| |
| ! Conditions
| |
| ! Music
| |
| |-
| |
| |468
| |
| |{{SpiritTableName|Ampharos|size=64}}
| |
| |''Pokémon'' Series
| |
| |•Giant {{SSBU|Pichu}} {{Head|Pichu|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Band}}
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| |{{SpiritType|Attack}}
| |
| |4,500
| |
| |[[Prism Tower]] ([[Battlefield form]])
| |
| |•Hazard: Zap Floor
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| |•The floor is electrified<br>•The enemy is giant
| |
| |{{SSBUMusicLink|Pokémon|Pokémon Gold / Pokémon Silver Medley}}
| |
| |-
| |
| |507
| |
| |{{SpiritTableName|Rotom|size=64}}
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| |''Pokémon'' Series
| |
| |•{{SSBU|Pichu}} {{Head|Pichu|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Cyan}}×2
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| |{{SpiritType|Grab}}
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| |3,800
| |
| |[[PictoChat 2]] ([[Battlefield form]])
| |
| |•Item: [[Lightning]]
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| |•The enemy's electric attacks have increased power
| |
| |{{SSBUMusicLink|Pokémon|Battle! (Wild Pokémon) - Pokémon Diamond / Pokémon Pearl}}
| |
| |-
| |
| |541
| |
| |{{SpiritTableName|Dedenne|link=y|size=64}}
| |
| |''Pokémon'' Series
| |
| |•{{SSBU|Pichu}} {{Head|Pichu|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Cyan}}
| |
| |{{SpiritType|Attack}}
| |
| |2,000
| |
| |[[Pokémon Stadium 2]] ([[Battlefield form]])
| |
| |•Hazard: Zap Floor
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| |•The floor is electrified<br>•The enemy favors neutral specials<br>•Only certain Pokémon will emerge from Poké Balls (Dedenne)
| |
| |{{SSBUMusicLink|Pokémon|Battle! (Wild Pokémon) - Pokémon X / Pokémon Y}}
| |
| |-
| |
| |554
| |
| |{{SpiritTableName|Togedemaru|link=y|size=64}}
| |
| |''Pokémon'' Series
| |
| |•{{SSBU|Pichu}} Team {{Head|Pichu|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Spiky}}×4
| |
| |{{SpiritType|Shield}}
| |
| |1,500
| |
| |[[Prism Tower]]
| |
| |•Item: [[Unira]]
| |
| |•The enemy favors down specials<br>•Only certain Pokémon will emerge from Poké Balls (Togedemaru)<br>•The enemy is easily distracted by items
| |
| |{{SSBUMusicLink|Pokémon|Battle! (Wild Pokémon) - Pokémon Sun / Pokémon Moon}}
| |
| |-
| |
| |744
| |
| |{{SpiritTableName|Fronks|size=64}}
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| |''WarioWare'' Series
| |
| |•Tiny {{SSBU|Pichu}} Team {{Head|Pichu|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Cyan}}×4
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| |{{SpiritType|Shield}}
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| |1,900
| |
| |[[WarioWare, Inc.]] (hazards off)
| |
| |N/A
| |
| |•Take your strongest team into this no-frills battle
| |
| |{{SSBUMusicLink|WarioWare|Mike's Song}}
| |
| |-
| |
| |805
| |
| |{{SpiritTableName|Yellow Pikmin|customname=[[Pikmin (species)|Yellow Pikmin]]|size=64}}
| |
| |''Pikmin'' Series
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| |•Tiny {{SSBU|Pichu}} Team {{Head|Pichu|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=White}}×12 (10 HP)
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| |{{SpiritType|Attack}}
| |
| |4,100
| |
| |[[Garden of Hope]] ([[Battlefield form]])
| |
| |•Hazard: Zap Floor
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| |•The floor is electrified<br>•[[Stamina battle]]<br>•The enemy favors neutral air attacks
| |
| |{{SSBUMusicLink|Pikmin|Main Theme - Pikmin (Original)}}
| |
| |-
| |
| |1,045
| |
| |{{SpiritTableName|Zapfish|size=64}}
| |
| |''Splatoon'' Series
| |
| |•{{SSBU|Pichu}} Team {{Head|Pichu|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Spiky}}×4
| |
| |{{SpiritType|Shield}}
| |
| |2,500
| |
| |[[Prism Tower]] ([[Battlefield form]])
| |
| |•Hazard: Zap Floor
| |
| |•The floor is electrified
| |
| |{{SSBUMusicLink|Splatoon|Octoweaponry}}
| |
| |-
| |
| |1,334
| |
| |{{SpiritTableName|Great Sabrecub|customname=Great Sabrecub|size=64}}
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| |''DRAGON QUEST'' Series
| |
| |•{{SSBU|Pichu}} {{Head|Pichu|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Spiky}} (60 HP)<br>•Giant {{SSBU|Pikachu}} {{Head|Pikachu|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Female}} (120 HP)
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| |{{SpiritType|Attack}}
| |
| |2,900
| |
| |[[Gaur Plain]] ([[Ω form]])
| |
| |•Item: [[Soccer Ball]]
| |
| |•Defeat the main fighter to win<br>•[[Stamina battle]]<br>•The enemy shields often
| |
| |{{SSBUMusicLink|Dragon Quest|Marching through the Fields}}
| |
| |}
| |
| | |
| ===As a minion===
| |
| {|class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;"
| |
| ! colspan=4|Spirit
| |
| ! colspan=7|Battle parameters
| |
| ! colspan=1|Inspiration
| |
| |-
| |
| ! style="width:5%;"|No.
| |
| ! style="width:5%;"|Image
| |
| ! Name
| |
| ! Series
| |
| ! Enemy Fighter(s)
| |
| ! style="width:5%;"|Type
| |
| ! style="width:5%;"|Power
| |
| ! Stage
| |
| ! Rules
| |
| ! Conditions
| |
| ! Music
| |
| ! Character
| |
| |-
| |
| |782
| |
| |{{SpiritTableName|Chaotix|size=64}}
| |
| |''Sonic The Hedgehog'' Series
| |
| |•{{SSBU|Sonic}} {{Head|Sonic|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Purple}}<br>•{{SSBU|Pichu}} {{Head|Pichu|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Cyan}}<br>•{{SSBU|King K. Rool}} {{Head|King K. Rool|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Blue}}
| |
| |{{SpiritType|Grab}}
| |
| |1,600
| |
| |[[Windy Hill Zone]]
| |
| |•Invisibility
| |
| |•The enemy is invisible
| |
| |{{SSBUMusicLink|Sonic The Hedgehog|Sonic Heroes}}
| |
| |[https://sonic.fandom.com/wiki/Charmy_Bee Charmy Bee]
| |
| |}
| |
| | |
| ==[[Alternate costume (SSBU)#Pichu|Alternate costumes]]==
| |
| {|style="margin:1em auto 1em auto;text-align:center"
| |
| |-
| |
| |colspan=8|[[File:Pichu Palette (SSBU).png|link=Palette swap (SSBU)#Pichu|1000px]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |{{Head|Pichu|g=SSBU|s=50px}}
| |
| |{{Head|Pichu|g=SSBU|s=50px|cl=Cyan}}
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| |{{Head|Pichu|g=SSBU|s=50px|cl=Red}}
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| |{{Head|Pichu|g=SSBU|s=50px|cl=Grey}}
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| |{{Head|Pichu|g=SSBU|s=50px|cl=Blue}}
| |
| |{{Head|Pichu|g=SSBU|s=50px|cl=Spiky}}
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| |{{Head|Pichu|g=SSBU|s=50px|cl=White}}
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| |{{Head|Pichu|g=SSBU|s=50px|cl=Band}}
| |
| |}
| |
| | |
| ==Gallery==
| |
| <gallery>
| |
| Pichu amiibo.png|Pichu's [[amiibo]].
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| SSBU Pichu Number.png|Pichu's fighter card.
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| Pichu unlock notice SSBU.jpg|Pichu's unlock notice.
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| Pokémon Smash Bros.png|Artwork of all playable Pokémon characters and Poké Ball Pokémon, as posted by the official Pokémon Twitter account.
| |
| SSBUWebsitePichu1.jpg|Taunting in [[Great Bay]].
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| SSBUWebsitePichu2.jpg|Taunting on [[Green Greens]].
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| SSBUWebsitePichu3.jpg|Using its [[up smash]] next to {{SSBU|Mewtwo}} on [[Spear Pillar]].
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| SSBUWebsitePichu4.jpg|Pichu using its up smash on {{SSBU|Wario}} on [[Pilotwings]].
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| SSBUWebsitePichu5.jpg|Pichu using its [[Final Smash]], [[Volt Tackle]], on {{SSBU|Mega Man}} on [[Pokémon Stadium]].
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| SSBUWebsitePichu6.jpg|Using a [[Rocket Belt]] with {{SSBU|Pikachu}} in [[Mario Galaxy]].
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| SSBUWebsiteIncineroar4.jpg|With multiple Pichu, Pikachu, and {{SSBU|Incineroar}} on [[Paper Mario]].
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| SSBUWebsiteRosalina6.jpg|A [[Taunt|dazed Pichu]] next to {{SSBU|Rosalina}} in [[The Great Cave Offensive]].
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| SSBUWebsiteRyu6.jpg|Pichu taunting at {{SSBU|Ryu}} failing to perform a [[Hadoken]].
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| SSBUWebsiteZelda4.jpg|Pichu [[sleeping]] next to {{SSBU|Zelda}} on [[Tortimer Island]].
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| SSBUWebsiteRaichu2.jpg|With Pikachu and Alolan [[Raichu]] on {{SSBM|Yoshi's Island}}.
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| </gallery>
| |
| | |
| ===Fighter Showcase Video===
| |
| {{#widget:YouTube|id=9ZD89yfBCyE}}
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| | |
| ==Trivia==
| |
| *Pichu and {{SSBU|Young Link}} share the longest gap between playable appearances in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series, with seventeen years between ''Melee'' and ''Ultimate''. This has been noted by both of their ''Super Smash Bros.'' blog's "Today's Fighter" descriptions.
| |
| *Pichu, {{SSBU|Dr. Mario}}, and Young Link are the only non-Echo Fighters who are full clones.
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| *One of the poses Pichu strikes in its new taunt resembles [[:File:PichuTrophy3DS.png|its trophy]] from {{for3ds}}.
| |
| **Pichu can also be seen with a similar pose in the [[:File:SSBU Panoramic.png|panoramic artwork]].
| |
| *Pichu is the only veteran absent from ''SSB4'' to be absent from the [[:File:SSBU Key Art.png|full group artwork version of the box cover]].
| |
| *Pichu is the only veteran who is unaffected by the new universal 3-frame [[jumpsquat]]; in ''Melee'', its jumpsquat animation also took three frames to complete.
| |
| *Pichu's [[fast fall]] provides the smallest change to its falling speed when compared to any other fighter. It increases its fall speed by only 31.579%, compared to the usual 60%.
| |
| *One of Pichu's [[Alternate costume (SSBU)#Pichu|alternate costumes]] is the {{s|bulbapedia|Spiky-eared Pichu}} from ''[[bulbapedia:M12|Arceus and the Jewel of Life]]'' and [[bulbapedia:Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver|''Pokémon HeartGold'' and ''SoulSilver'']]. Being one of a kind, the Spiky-eared Pichu is female, making it the only one of Pichu's alternate costumes with an implicit gender.
| |
| **''Ultimate'' also marks the first 3D appearance of Spiky-eared Pichu.
| |
| **For unknown reasons, unlike other characters represented through alternate costumes, such as [[Alph]], the [[Koopalings]], and even [[Pikachu Libre]], Spiky-eared Pichu does not have an obtainable Fighter Spirit of her own.
| |
| **Similar to {{SSBU|Pikachu}}, who, among the [[Original 12]], is the only one to technically be considered a completely different character via two of its alternate costumes, Pichu is also the only character among ''[[Melee]]'s'' newcomers that can be considered a completely different character via one of its costumes (That being the spiky-eared variant, which is confirmed to be female).
| |
| *As of ''Ultimate'', Pichu is the only character in any game who takes damage while using their Final Smash (excluding characters that can move around freely and be attacked during their Final Smash such as {{SSBU|Ice Climbers}} and {{SSBU|Inkling}}).
| |
| **In a Stamina match, Pichu cannot be KO'd by its Final Smash, as its HP will never go below 0.1 while the Final Smash is active.
| |
| **Because of this, Pichu is the only character that can take damage from all of its special moves, in both ''Melee'' and ''Ultimate''.
| |
| *Spiky-eared Pichu's [[damage meter]] portrait protrudes to the right the most out of every fighter.
| |
| *Pichu is the only Pokémon character absent in {{SSBU|Pokémon Trainer}}'s Classic Mode route.
| |
| *Despite fighting lightweight characters, {{SSBU|Fox}}, {{SSBU|Pikachu}}, {{SSBU|Sheik}} and {{SSBU|Zero Suit Samus}} do not appear in Pichu's Classic Mode route.
| |
| *Discounting fighters who do not appear in any spirit battles, Pichu, {{SSBU|Banjo & Kazooie}}, and {{SSBU|Daisy}} are the only fighters who do not possess an Ace or Legend-type spirit in spirit battles.
| |
| *Interestingly, Pichu's ''Ultimate'' artwork was used for the Junior tab on the now shut-down Pokémon TV app.
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| | |
| ==References==
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| {{reflist}}
| |
|
| |
|
| {{SSBUCharacters}} | | {{SSBUCharacters}} |
| {{Pokémon universe}} | | {{Pokémon universe}} |
| [[Category:Pichu (SSBU)| ]]
| | |
| [[Category:Pokémon (SSBU)]]
| | [[Category:Pichu (SSBU)]] |
| [[Category:Spirits]] | |
| [[es:Pichu (SSBU)]]
| |
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