Editing Pichu (SSBU)

{{recent release}}

{{disambig2|Pichu's appearance in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''|the character in other contexts|Pichu}}

|image = [[File:Pichu SSBU.png|250px]]

{{cquote|''Pichu is back after 17 years! Pichu's electric attacks have greater range and do more damage than its other attack types – but they also damage Pichu.''|cite=[https://www.smashbros.com/en_US/blog/ Super Smash Blog]|source=[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Official Site]]}}

Pichu's voice actress from ''Melee'' and the ''Pokémon'' anime, {{s|wikipedia|Satomi Kōrogi}}, reprises her role with new voice clips.

*Clear {{SSBU|Classic Mode}} with {{SSBU|Pikachu}} or any character in its unlock tree, being the seventh character unlocked after {{SSBU|Mr. Game & Watch}}.

With the exception of the third method, Pichu must then be defeated on [[Pokémon Stadium 2]].

Just like in Melee, Pichu's electrical attacks hurt itself, unlike Pikachu. Many of Pichu's attributes such as its run speed, air speed, fall speed, etc. are now different when compared to Pikachu. In addition, most of Pichu's animations have been given slight adjustments, tweaks, or even 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. Many of Pichu's moves are now also functionally different such as down tilt making him even more unique. However, unlike previous clones, Pichu was not given many new unique moves to differentiate him from Pikachu. Only forward tilt, up smash, neutral aerial, and edge attack are unique to Pichu. Overall, this puts Pichu in a unique position where one could argue he is still a clone of Pikachu, but one could also argue he now has enough new moves and animations to make him a semi-clone.

*{{change|Pichu's on-screen appearance, idle animations, taunts and victory poses are all different from Pikachu's.}}

*{{change|In general, most of Pichu's animations are either slightly or completely different than Pikachu's. This includes Pichu's attacking and non-attacking animations.}}

**{{change|Other arbitrary animations such as [[Home-Run Bat]] swing and using shooting items are also different.}}

*{{nerf|Pichu runs slower than Pikachu (2.039 → 1.892).}}

*{{buff|Pichu's air speed is faster than Pikachu's (0.957 → 1.029).}}

*{{buff|Pichu falls much faster than Pikachu (1.55 → 1.9). However, its fast falling speed is only very slightly faster (2.48 → 2.5).}}

**{{nerf|Pichu's falling speed and fast falling speed are completely unaltered from ''Melee''. Combined with its light weight, this makes Pichu easy to both combo and KO.}}

*{{nerf|Pichu is significantly lighter than Pikachu (79 → 62), giving it inferior horizontal endurance.}}

*{{change|Pichu's attacks are generally stronger compared to Pikachu's, though some have identical strength and others are weaker.}}

*{{change|Pichu is slightly smaller than Pikachu, reducing its range and hurtbox.}}

*{{nerf|Dash attack deals less damage than Pikachu's.}}

*{{nerf|All of Pichu's tilts have shorter reach than Pikachu's.}}

*{{change|Forward tilt has Pichu kick its feet upward rather than out.}}

**{{nerf|Because of this, it cannot be angled.}}

*{{change|Pichu's down tilt has vertical knockback whereas Pikachu's has horizontal knockback.}}

*{{change|All three of Pichu's smash attacks have different charging animations and slightly different attacking animations.}}

**{{buff|All of them deal more damage than Pikachu's smash attacks.}}

*{{change|Forward smash strikes multiple times instead of once.}}

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

*{{change|Pichu's up smash is an upward headbutt, whereas Pikachu's is a tail flip.}}

**{{nerf|It has less range.}}

*{{change|Pichu's down smash has diagonal knockback, unlike Pikachu's horizontal knockback.}}

*{{change|Pichu's neutral aerial is a somersault in the air, whereas Pikachu's is an electrical charge.}}

**{{change|Neutral aerial does not have an electric hitbox, and only hits once.}}

*{{change|Pichu uses its tail for it's back aerial and does not strike a pose at the end.}}

**{{nerf|Back aerial does less damage.}}

**{{nerf|Back aerial has an electric hitbox and therefore inflicts recoil damage.}}

*{{nerf|Up aerial does less damage.}}

====Throws/other attacks====

*{{change|All of Pichu's grabbing animations are slightly different than Pikachu's.}}

*{{change|Edge attack has Pichu climbing up then flicking its tail out.}}

*{{buff|[[Thunder Jolt]] is faster than Pikachu's version and travels slightly farther.}}

*{{buff|[[Skull Bash]] can be charged for a longer period of time, is more powerful when fully charged, and travels a significantly longer distance than Pikachu's.}}

**{{nerf|Skull Bash has more ending lag than Pikachu's.}}

**{{change|Pichu's charging animation for Skull Bash is different.}}

*{{nerf|Unlike Pikachu's [[Quick Attack]], Pichu's [[Agility]] inflicts neither damage nor knockback, but causes recoil.}}

*{{buff|Pichu's Agility travels further.}}

*{{nerf|{{b|Thunder|Pokémon}} does less damage than Pikachu's.}}

*{{buff|Thunder is faster than Pikachu's version.}}

*{{nerf|[[Volt Tackle]] causes recoil damage, as with Pichu's other electric attacks.}}

**{{buff|Despite this, it deals more damage than Pikachu's version.}}

Pichu has been buffed in its transition from ''Melee'' to ''Ultimate''. It benefits slightly from the implementation of rage, as its electrical attacks can now slowly increase its knockback with the recoil damage it receives from them, and can potentially allow it to escape certain kill confirms that would otherwise KO it. Pichu's recoil damage itself has been toned down from ''Melee'' making its electrical attacks less of a detriment to use. Its mobility has overall improved as well, as its walking, dashing, and air speed have increased, and its air acceleration has increased substantially. It can also crawl now, allowing Pichu to approach more easily while being able to dodge certain projectiles. Pichu also benefits from the weakening of [[SDI]] as its multi-hit attack are much more reliable. On another note, while its endurance is still the worst in the game as it is lighter than even {{SSBU|Jigglypuff}}, its weight was nevertheless increased, allowing it to survive a little bit longer. Pichu's offense has become much more effective and oppressive, allowing it to become more of a glass cannon character than an intentional "joke character."

Despite the many buffs it received, Pichu also received a few nerfs. Some of Pichu's strongest kill options such as forward smash and up smash have been significantly weakened in terms of knockback while its neutral aerial has also been weakened in both its damage output and knockback. Pichu can also no longer chain grab with its up throw greatly reducing its damage racking potential against fast fallers. Pichu's 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. Lastly, more of Pichu's moves use electricity meaning that more of its moves cause recoil damage.

*{{change|Pichu's design and proportions now match the latest games in the ''Pokémon'' franchise. Its colors are more subdued than they were in ''Melee''.}}

*{{change|Pichu is much more expressive. Like {{SSBU|Pikachu}}, its eyes become swirls when [[dazed]], a detail derived from the ''Pokémon'' anime from when a Pokémon faints. It also looks angry when dashing. Pichu also now has squash and stretch in its animations, giving it a more bouncy feel than in ''Melee''.}}

*{{change|Pichu's stance is now mirrored as it faces more on the screen regardless of the direction it turns towards.}}

*{{change|Pichu has a new idle animation where it wobbles left to right then looks back to twitch its tail.}}

*{{change|Pichu now has an [[on-screen appearance]] and an up [[taunt]]. Its up taunt is very similar to Pikachu's up taunt, except it humorously becomes dizzy afterwards. Its left-facing taunt from ''Melee'' is now its side taunt and its right-facing taunt is now its down taunt.}}

*{{change|Pichu's goggles and ribbon alternate costumes no longer have a neck scarf. Pichu has also received five new alternate costumes.}}

*{{change|Pichu is much more vocal, with more voice lines during certain attacks, or when hurt.}}

*{{change|Pichu now has a [[Boxing Ring]] title, which is "Shockingly Adorable."}}

*{{buff|Pichu [[dash]]es much faster (1.72 → 1.892) although relative to the cast, it now has the 25th fastest dash speed out of 78 characters compared to the 5th fastest out of 26 characters.}}

*{{buff|Pichu's [[air speed]] is higher (0.85 → 1.029).}}

*{{buff|Pichu's [[air acceleration]] is much higher (0.05 → 0.1) going from being the 12th highest out of 26 characters to the 9th highest out of 78 characters.}}

*{{buff|Pichu is [[weight|heavier]] (55 → 62), which improves its survivability, though it still remains the lightest character in the game.}}

*{{change|Pichu's [[gravity]] is higher (0.11 → 0.14).}}

*{{buff|The removal of [[chain grab]]s immensely aids Pichu's endurance and longevity.}}

**{{nerf|However, this also removes some chain grabs Pichu was capable of performing on fast-fallers.}}

*{{buff|[[Forward smash]]'s hits connect more reliably than in ''Melee'', where it could be [[SDI]]ed out of before the finishing hit.}}

*{{buff|Forward smash's final hit deals more damage (6% → 8%) and the multi-hits deal consistent damage due to changes to [[stale-move negation]].}}

*{{nerf|Forward smash deals less knockback hindering its KO potential.}}

*{{nerf|[[Up smash]] deals less damage (16% → 14%) hindering its KO potential.}}

*{{buff|Up smash now has intangibility on Pichu's ears.}}

*{{buff|[[Down smash]] has more KO potential and deals more damage (13% → 14%).}}

*{{change|Down smash is now a multi-hit move with an electric effect making it more similar to Pikachu's down smash.}}

*{{nerf|[[Down smash]] has an electric effect, dealing recoil damage to Pichu. It also has more startup lag (frame 7 → 8) and its new angle hinders its edgeguarding potential.}}

*{{change|All aerials except [[back aerial]] have less landing lag (12 frames → 7 (neutral), 15 frames → 12 (forward), 18 frames → 11 (up), 26 frames → 22 (down)) however due to the removal of [[L-canceling]], their landing lag was not fully compensated.}}

*{{nerf|[[Neutral aerial]] deals less damage (12/9% → 7/5%) hindering its KO potential and has a slightly shorter duration (frames 3-28 → 3-27).}}

*{{buff|[[Forward aerial]] does considerably less recoil damage to Pichu (1% per hitbox → 1% total).}}

*{{nerf|Back aerial now has an electric effect, causing recoil damage to Pichu. It also has more startup lag (frame 4 → 5).}}

*{{buff|Back aerial is now a multi-hit move with better combo potential and more knockback on its last hit, giving it slightly higher KO potential. It also has less ending lag (frame 60 → 55).}}

*{{buff|[[Up aerial]] deals more knockback and has slightly less ending lag (frame 28 → 27).}}

*{{buff|[[Down aerial]]'s sweetspot deals more damage (12% → 13%), the landing hit no longer has set knockback and Pichu's ears now have intangibility during the strong hit. Down aerial can now also [[auto-cancel]] in a short hop.}}

*{{nerf|Down aerial's late hit has slightly lower knockback slightly weakening its KO potential. The new sweetspot is also less effective at KOing opponents on stage.}}

*{{buff|Grab range has been increased.}}<!--this bullet point used to say "seems to have been increased;" if it's wrong, remove it-->

*{{buff|Pichu's grabs are faster (frame 7 → 6 (standing), frame 11 → 8 (dash)). Dash grab also has slightly less ending lag (frame 41 → 40).}}

*{{nerf|Standing grab has slightly higher ending lag (frame 31 → 32).}}

*{{buff|[[Pummel]] is faster and deals much less recoil damage (1% → 0.1%).}}

*{{nerf|Pummel deals less damage (3% → 1.4%).}}

*{{buff|[[Forward throw]] deals more damage (9% → 12%) and causes less recoil damage (1% → 0.5%).}}

*{{change|[[Back throw]] has a different animation.}}

*{{nerf|The removal of chain grabbing significantly hinders forward throw, [[up throw]] and [[down throw]]'s damage racking potential.}}

*{{nerf|Down throw deals less damage (10% → 8%) and deals higher knockback hindering its combo potential while still lacking KO potential.}}

*{{change|All throws except forward throw no longer have an electric effect.}}

*{{buff|[[Skull Bash]] causes Pichu to bounce back when it hits an opponent, making it safer to use.}}

*{{buff|Uncharged Skull Bash deals more damage (5% → 7.8%).}}

*{{nerf|Skull Bash deals more recoil damage (1% → 1.5%).}}

*{{nerf|Fully charged Skull Bash deals less damage (39% → 33%) hindering its KO potential.}}

*{{buff|[[Agility]] travels further and does less recoil damage (1/3% → 0.6/1.4%). It also has less ending lag when it used into the ground.}}

*{{change|Red arrows now appear when using Agility to show the angle Pichu will travel in.}}

*{{buff|{{b|Thunder|Pokémon}} [[meteor smash]]es targets hit high above Pichu and can drag them down into the launching hit, as with Pikachu's version of the move. It is also much faster than Pikachu's variant.}}

*{{change|Thunder now passes through the stage. While this lets Pichu use it as a close range attack under platforms and such, it also means Pichu can hurt itself doing so.}}

*{{change|Like with Pikachu's Thunder, the electricity discharged when the lightning strikes Pichu is now yellow rather than blue and has Pichu flash with a dark tint, and does not cry if struck.}}

*{{change|Pichu now has a [[Final Smash]], [[Volt Tackle]], which is nearly identical 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. It also causes recoil damage, unlike Pikachu's version of the move.}}

|neutralname=&nbsp;

|neutraldesc=Does a quick headbutt.

 

|ftiltname=&nbsp;

|ftiltdmg=8%, 0.7% recoil

|ftiltdesc=Plants itself on its upper paws and kicks both its feet forward. Can make opponents [[trip]] at low percents. Cannot be angled as it could in ''Melee''.

|utiltname=

|dtiltname=

 

|dashname=

|dashdesc=Jumps and headbutts forward.

 

|fsmashname=&nbsp;

|fsmashdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSBU|2}} (hits 1-5), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBU|8}} (hit 6), 1.5% recoil

|fsmashdesc=Launches a short jolt of electricity from its cheeks.

|usmashname=

|usmashdesc=Does an upward headbutt.

|dsmashname=

|dsmashdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSBU|1.5}} (hits 1-4), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBU|8}} (hit 6), 0.8% recoil

|dsmashdesc=Discharges electricity while quickly spinning in place.

|nairname=

|nairdesc=Somersaults in the air. A quick out of shield option.

|fairname=

|fairdmg={{ShortHopDmgSSBU|3.5}} (hits 1-4), 1% recoil

|fairdesc=Does a forward barrel roll. Can combo into itself at lower percents.

|bairname=

|bairdmg={{ShortHopDmgSSBU|2}} (hits 1-5), {{ShortHopDmgSSBU|3.5}} (hit 6), 1.0% recoil

|bairdesc=Does an electric spin similar to its down smash.

|uairname=

|uairdesc=Flicks its tail above itself.

|dairname=

|dairdmg={{ShortHopDmgSSBU|13}}, {{ShortHopDmgSSBU|4}} (landing), 1% recoil after startup, 0.5% recoil landing (can land before startup)

|dairdesc=Does a downward barrel roll. Has the capability to meteor smash opponents.

|grabname=

|grabdesc=Quickly leans forward and grabs with one arm. Has a range of approximately Pichu's body width.

|pummelname=

|pummeldesc=Shocks the opponent.

|fthrowname=

|fthrowdmg=1.5% (hits 1-4), 6% (throw), 0.5% recoil

|fthrowdesc=Places the opponent on its back and shocks them, sending them forward.

|bthrowname=

|bthrowdesc=Does a backwards somersaults with the opponent, then flings them behind itself.

|uthrowname=

|uthrowdesc=Tosses foe up and headbutts them. Can combo into [[Thunder (Pokémon)|Thunder]] at certain high percents, like Pikachu's.

|dthrowname=

|floorfname=

|floorbname=

|floortname=

|edgename=

|nsdmg=7% (short distance), 6% (medium distance), 5% (long distance), 10% (ball), 0.4% recoil

|nsdesc=Pichu's main projectile. Fires a jolt of electricity forward. It travels forward while bouncing along the ground, and can also travel up walls, below the edge, and along ceilings. If used in the air, it will travel diagonally down instead. Disappears after around 3 seconds. Can be used to gimp certain recoveries. Deals less damage the farther it travels.

|ssdmg=7.8-33%, 1.5% 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 and causes recoil damage.  

|usdmg=0%, 0.6% recoil (warp 1), 1.4% recoil (warp 2)

|dsdmg=14% (shockwave), 4% (thunderbolt), 6% (thunderbolt meteor), 3% 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 than has the potential to KO. Compared to Pikachu's Thunder, Pichu's Thunder has less startup and endlag but deals less damage overall and causes recoil damage.

|fsdmg=0.3% (over 6 hits during startup), 1% (initial tackle hit), 1.6% (successive hits), 21% (final blast), 3.2% recoil (startup), 0.2% recoil (each hit), 3.5% recoil (final blast)

|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.

Pichu fights against opponents that are [[Weight|lightweight]]s like itself.

{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"

|1||{{SSBU|Jigglypuff}}||[[Pokémon Stadium 2]]||Pokémon Center - Pokémon Red / Pokémon Blue||

|2||{{SSBU|Squirtle}}||[[Peach's Castle]]||Road to Viridian City - Pokémon Red / Pokémon Blue||Squirtle's {{SSBU|Pokémon Trainer}} is absent.

|3||{{SSBU|Mr. Game & Watch}}||[[Skyworld]]||Underworld||

|4||{{SSBU|Olimar}}||[[Pilotwings]]||Light Plane||

|5||{{SSBU|Kirby}} and {{SSBU|Meta Knight}}||[[Skyloft]]||Butter Building (for 3DS / Wii U)||This battle is a free-for-all.

|6||{{SSBU|Mewtwo}}||[[Prism Tower]]||Pokémon Red / Pokémon Blue Medley||

|colspan="5"|Bonus Stage

|Final||{{SSBU|Master Hand}}||{{SSBU|Final Destination}}||Master Hand||On intensity 7.0 and higher, {{SSBU|Crazy Hand}} fights alongside Master Hand, and the track ''Master Hand / Crazy Hand'' plays during the battle.

Although Pichu does not appear in 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.

To access Pichu, the player must enter a power plant-sub area and reach it on a platform, where it can then be challenged and recruited.

===Character Showcase Video===

<youtube>9ZD89yfBCyE</youtube>

*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.

*One of the poses Pichu strikes in its new taunt resembles its trophy from {{for3ds}}.

*Pichu is the only veteran absent from ''SSB4'' to not appear in the full group artwork version of the box cover.

*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 implied gender.

*As of ''Ultimate'', Pichu is the only character who takes damage while using their Final Smash.

**This also makes Pichu the only character so far that can take damage from all of its special moves.