Editing Samus (SSBM)

|tier        = B+

|ranking      = 11

'''Samus''' ({{ja|サムス|Samusu}}, ''Samus'') is a [[starter]] character in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]''. Returning as a veteran from the previous game, Samus, similarly to {{SSBM|Link}}, reprises her role as a short-ranged fighter with numerous ranged options.

Samus is ranked 11th on the current tier list, placing her in the B+ tier, a significant improvement from her 8th (out of 12) position in ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' This is mainly due to her effective projectiles, supplementing her KOing power and her approaches. She also has a good air game that is complemented by a versatile back aerial. Samus' recovery is among the best in the game; her bomb jumps, ability to wall jump, grappling beam, and heavy weight all contribute to making her among the toughest characters to KO horizontally. She also possesses techniques exclusive to her, such as the [[Super Wavedash]] and [[Samus's extended grapple|Extended Grapple]], that aid her approach on opponents. However, she is floaty, allowing her to be easily juggled and KO'd vertically. She is also highly susceptible to combos in general, due to being floaty, heavy, and tall in stature. Her primary combo starter, her grab, is also very laggy if it misses, though it can be extended in the NTSC version. Regardless, Samus has decent matchups all-around in the current metagame.

Samus is a unique character. Although a tall heavyweight, she is unusually floaty, uncharacteristic of characters in her weight class. Her high weight (only being lighter than {{SSBM|Bowser}} and {{SSBM|Donkey Kong}}) lets her have amazing horizontal survivability. Her slow falling speed (the second slowest in the game, tied with {{SSBM|Zelda}}) allows her recovery to travel more distance and gives her better potential combo game. However, it also makes her more susceptible to vertical KOs, even with her high weight, and it also gives her a poor SHFFL.

Arguably Samus's most valuable asset is her high range. While lacking a disjointed hitbox, Samus has a variety of long-reaching attacks and long-ranged projectiles that can assist with her ground-based approach. [[Charge Shot]] can quickly become one of her most powerful attacks, while her Missiles can act as both an approach option when non-tapped and as a powerful finisher when tapped. Samus's average traction and low falling speed also grant her a long wavedash that can mesh well with her long-ranged smash attacks, as well as her modestly-ranged tilts; assuming the player has particularly good timing, Samus also has access to the longest wavedash in the game, the [[Super Wavedash]], which can also potentially surprise enemies due to its speed. While laggy, Samus sports one of the longest [[grab]]s in the game, and a technique that is unique to the [[NTSC]] release of the game can allow her to extend its reach by three, in addition to allowing it to home in on enemies.

Samus's recovery is also among the longest and most flexible in all the game. While [[Screw Attack]] grants relatively little horizontal and vertical distance, its multiple hitboxes can potentially frustrate edgeguarders. Samus, however, owns arguably more options for her recovery than any other character in the game. Her average air speed and low falling speed aid her approach toward ledges, while her natural ability to [[wall-jump]] can aid her recovery on stages with walls underneath the ledge, such as [[Fountain of Dreams]] or {{SSB|Dream Land}}. Samus's down special, her [[Bomb (Samus)|bombs]], can allow her to bomb-jump onto the stage without the loss of jumps, and her grab air can allow her to enter "safe zones" underneath the stage, as well as acting another long recovery technique. Owing to these variety of options, edgeguarding against Samus can be extremely difficult, especially for characters with poor recoveries. For Samus herself, this long recovery also grants her a powerful edgeguarding game of her own, aided by her fast and powerful neutral and back aerial attacks.

Samus also has a very good defensive game; despite her shield leaving her legs exposed, which can leave her vulnerable to [[shield stab]]bing, and having a poor roll due to its low speed, she still has very strong defensive options. For one, she has one of the best [[Crouch cancel]]s in the game, due to her high weight, and having very good options out of it, such has her down smash and down tilt. Her screw attack also offers a quick and difficult-to-punish out of shield option, due to being invincible for the first couple frames of the move which helps her when getting pressured. It can also work as a combo breaker, but this can be risky if missed. Her nair is also a good combo breaking tool, due to being decently quick (frame 5) and being powerful. Her defensive game is also complimented by her amazing horizontal survivability and great recovery, which allow Samus to frequently live to very high percents against characters without strong vertical finishers (and sometimes characters with them).

Despite having a good approach on the ground, Samus's aerial approach suffers due to her strange variety of attributes. Her below average falling speed and high jumps give her a poor SHFFL, despite the presence of low ending lag for her aerials when L-canceled. Her low falling speed also can prevent her from quickly pursuing enemies that have been knocked into the ground; as such, Samus can have particular difficulty in comboing fast-fallers, even with her variety of throws. Tying into this, Samus's grab is extremely laggy and can easily be punished if she fails to grab an opponent with it.

==Changes from ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]''==

Samus has been significantly [[buff]]ed from ''Smash 64'' to ''Melee'', as she was considered to fare poorly in Smash 64 due to her poor approach and lack of reliable combos. She is often considered the most buffed character from ''Smash 64'' to ''Melee'' along with {{SSBM|Jigglypuff}}. Most of her attacks have received significantly better frame data, such as a faster neutral attack and forward tilt.

 

*{{change|The graphical upgrades of the Nintendo GameCube give Samus a more proportionate build. Her power suit is more detailed and she has a more glossy visor.}}

*{{change|Samus has a new taunt. While Samus still lifts her arm cannon up, she performs a more elaborate pose and she no longer shakes her arm cannon while it is up.}}

*{{change|Samus's blue team costume is now available for selection in regular gameplay instead of being locked to team battles.}}

*{{change|Samus has a new [[teeter]]ing animation where she balances on her left foot.}}

*{{buff|Samus [[walk]]s faster (0.9067 (27.2) → 1).}}

*{{nerf|Samus [[dash]]es much slower (1.8 (54) → 1.4), going from the 4th fastest out of 12 characters to the 11th slowest out of 26.}}

*{{nerf|Samus' [[traction]] is slightly lower (0.0667 (2) → 0.06). Compared with the returning veterans, however, her traction is significantly lower, making it harder for her to punish [[out of shield]].}}

*{{change|Samus' [[air speed]] is slightly slower than her Japanese and North American ''Smash 64'' counterparts, but slightly faster than her Australian and European ''Smash 64'' counterparts (0.933 (28, JPN/NA) / 0.867 (26, AUS/EUR) → 0.89).}}

*{{nerf|Samus' [[air acceleration]] is significantly lower (0.1 (3) → 0.0325), making it the slowest.}}

*{{nerf|Samus [[jump]]s extremely lower (49.4 (1482) → 34.464), hindering her vertical recovery and ability to chase opponents above her.}}

**{{change|Samus's [[short hop]] is drastically lower (33.2267 (996.8) → 22.75). Compared with the returning veterans, however, her short hop is much higher, going from the 3rd highest out of 12 characters to the highest out of 26.}}

*{{change|Samus' [[gravity]] is slightly higher (0.0633 (1.9) → 0.066), going from the lowest to the second lowest.}}

*{{buff|Samus' [[fast fall]]ing speed is faster (2.233 (67) → 2.3). The difference between her falling speed and fast falling speed is higher (increase: 59.5% → 64.3%).}}

*{{nerf|Samus is significantly [[weight|lighter]] (117.391304 (0.92) → 110), hindering her endurance.}}

*{{change|Samus is smaller (model size multiplier: 1x → 0.88x). This makes her harder to hit but reduces the range of her attacks.}}

*{{buff|[[Roll]]s have a longer duration (frames 4-23 → 4-30).}}

*{{buff|Rolls have less ending lag (FAF 46 → 45) although they are still the slowest rolls.}}

**{{buff|Neutral attack has less startup lag (frame 4 (hit 1)/7 (hit 2) → 3/5).}}

**{{buff|The first hit has less ending lag (FAF 22 → 18).}}

**{{buff|The second hit has higher base knockback (10 → 15).}}

**{{change|The second hit has a new animation where Samus swings her arm cannon downwards much sooner. The hitboxes do not become active until Samus is already moving her cannon downwards.}}

***{{buff|This allows the move to hit in front of Samus much sooner which makes the first hit connect more reliably into the second hit in theory (although this is compensated by the universal decrease to hitstun).}}

**{{nerf|The second hit has a shorter duration (frames 7-11 → 5-7).}}

**{{nerf|The second hit has slightly more ending lag (FAF 30 → 31).}}

**{{buff|Forward tilt has less startup (frame 7 → 6) and ending lag (FAF 32 → 30).}}

**{{buff|Forward tilt now has a hitbox on Samus' back leg.}}

**{{nerf|Forward tilt has a shorter duration (frames 7-11 → 6-8).}}

**{{nerf|Up-angled forward tilt deals less damage (12% → 11%).}}

**{{nerf|Forward tilt can no longer be angled slightly up or down.}}

**{{nerf|Up tilt now only hits opponents when Samus drops her leg, increasing its startup lag and shortening its duration (frames 8-23 (early)/24-28 (late) → 14-17).}}

***{{buff|However, the removal of the rising hit greatly improves the move's safety, with the move no longer being easily punishable on hit.}}

***{{buff|Additionally, the move has much less startup lag compared to the previous second hit (frame 25 → 14).}}

**{{buff|Up tilt has a shorter total duration (FAF 44 → 35).}}

**{{buff|Up tilt has higher base knockback (5 → 40).}}

***{{nerf|However, this also hinders its KO and edgeguarding potential against grounded opponents.}}

**{{buff|Up tilt has slightly larger hitboxes (5u/5u → 5.0778u/5.0778u) and the foot hitbox has been moved further away from Samus (x offset: 6 → 6.2496).}}

**{{nerf|Up tilt deals less damage against aerial opponents (13% → 12%).}}

**{{change|Samus has a new down tilt: a quick downwards cannon strike that fires a small explosion as opposed to a simple low sweep.}}

**{{buff|Down tilt has less startup lag (frame 8 → 6).}}

***{{nerf|However its total duration was unchanged, giving it more ending lag.}}

**{{buff|Down tilt deals more damage (13% → 14%).}}

**{{change|Down tilt has more base knockback but less knockback scaling (10 (base), 100 (scaling) → 80/60).}}

***{{buff|This makes the move much safer at lower percents and improves its KO potential near the blast zone.}}

***{{nerf|However, this hinders its overall KO potential.}}

**{{buff|Dash attack has less ending lag (FAF 41 → 38).}}

**{{buff|Dash attack deals more knockback (0 (base), 100 (scaling) → 22/105).}}

**{{buff|The clean hit deals more damage (12% → 13%) which along with the previous change, significantly improves its KO potential.}}

**{{buff|Dash attack has larger hitboxes (3.66u → 5.0778u (clean)/4.3u (late)), which overall gives the move more range relative to Samus despite the hitbox being positioned closer to Samus (x offset: 0.533 → 0).}}

**{{nerf|The late hit deals less damage (10% → 9%).}}

**{{nerf|Dash attack no longer deals extra shield damage (1 → 0).}}

**{{nerf|Forward Smash deals much less damage (20%/18%/16% → 15%/14%/13%) without full compensation on its knockback (15 (base), 100 (scaling) → 30/104). This hinders its KO potential; especially the up angled version.}}

**{{nerf|Forward smash has more ending lag (FAF 42 → 44).}}

**{{nerf|Forward smash can no longer be angled slightly up or down.}}

**{{buff|Up smash has less startup (frame 17 → 12) and ending lag (FAF 60 → 58).}}

**{{change|The angles for the first four hits have been altered (80° → 130° (hit 1)/120° (hit 2)/90° (hit 3)/85° (hit 4)).}}

**{{change|The first four hits deal less knockback (22 (base), 100 (scaling) → 50/50 (hit 1), 35/50 (hit 2), 25/50 (hit 3), 30/50 (hit 4)).}}

***{{buff|When combined with its lower damage, these changes allow up smash to connect more reliably.}}

**{{nerf|Up smash deals much less damage (10% (hits 1-5)/50% (total) → 4% (hits 1-3)/5% (hit 4)/6% (hit 5)/23% (total)). The final hit's knockback was not fully compensated (22 (base), 100 (scaling) → 50/120), hindering its KO potential unless used near the upper blast zone.}}

***{{nerf|When combined with its much lower damage output and the changes to shields, this drastically hinders the move's shield pressuring potential; no longer leading to a guaranteed shield break if all hits connect.}}

**{{buff|Down smash has less startup (frame 8 → 6) and ending lag (FAF 50 → 45).}}

**{{buff|The front hit has much more base knockback but less knockback scaling (35 (base), 80 (scaling) → 110/50). This improves its KO potential unless used from a very long distance away from the upper blast zone.}}

**{{buff|The back hit deals more damage (14% → 15%).}}

**{{nerf|The back hit deals less knockback (35 (base), 80 (scaling) → 90/40).}}

*{{nerf|All aerials [[auto-cancel]] later (frame 28 → 35 (neutral), frame 28 → 47 (forward), frame 17 → 31 (back), frame 20 → 34 (up), frame 13 → 34 (down)), although despite this, she is, along with Ness and Luigi, one of the few returning veterans who can still auto-cancel all of her aerials in a [[short hop]].}}

**{{nerf|When combined with the weakening of [[L-canceling]] and the changes to shields, this hinders the combo potential and safety of her aerials, as well as removing the guaranteed [[shield break combo]]s Samus previously had with her aerials.}}

**{{nerf|Neutral aerial has more startup lag (frame 4 → 5).}}

**{{nerf|Neutral aerial deals less damage (16% (clean)/13% (late) → 14%/10%), hindering its KO potential.}}

**{{buff|Neutral aerial has less ending lag (FAF 50 → 40).}}

**{{buff|Neutral aerial has a longer duration (frames 4-27 → 5-29).}}

**{{buff|Forward aerial has less startup (frame 5 → 4) and ending lag (FAF 52 → 50).}}

***{{nerf|However, Samus can no longer perform two forward aerials in a short hop due to her lower short hop.}}

**{{buff|The final hit has increased base knockback (0 → 20), improving its KO potential.}}

**{{nerf|Forward aerial has a new animation which is slightly longer than the previous animation (51 frames → 55).}}

**{{change|Samus's has a new back aerial with a new animation where she performs a reversed back kick and looks in front of her instead of behind her.}}

**{{nerf|Back aerial has more startup lag with a shorter duration due to no longer possessing a late hit (frames 5-8 (clean)/9-17 (late) → 9-12).}}

**{{nerf|Back aerial has less vertical [[range]].}}

**{{nerf|Back aerial now consists of a sweetspot and a sourspot. The sourspots cover Samus' leg and deal 10% (like the previous late hit) while the sweetspot deals 14% and is positioned on Samus' foot with the lowest hitbox ID.}}

**{{nerf|Back aerial deals less knockback (0 (base), 145 (scaling) → (30/42)/100). This hinders its KO potential, no longer being the strongest back aerial.}}

**{{buff|Back aerial has less ending lag (FAF 40 → 37).}}

**{{buff|Up aerial has less startup (frame 6 → 5) and ending lag (FAF 40 → 39).}}

**{{buff|Up aerial now has a proper final hit (which existed in ''Smash 64'' but it never spawned due to its hitboxes ending the same frame they should have come out), greatly improving it safety and utility.}}

**{{change|The final hit has altered knockback (0 (base), 150 (scaling) → 40/120) and an altered angle (80° → 361°) compared to the previous unused final hit.}}

**{{buff|Down aerial deals more damage (14% → 16%) and has higher base knockback (0 → 30), being the fifth strongest meteor smash in ''Melee''.}}

**{{nerf|As with almost every meteor smash from ''Smash 64'' to ''Melee'', down aerial has drastically increased startup lag with a shorter duration (frames 4-12 → 18-22).}}

***{{buff|However, its total duration was not fully compensated, giving it less ending lag.}}

**{{nerf|Down aerial has a longer total duration (FAF 40 → 49) and a longer animation (39 frames → 54).}}

***{{nerf|Altogether, these changes prevent Samus from performing two down aerials in a short hop (which also means that she can't auto-cancel a second down-aerial in a short hop or even a full hop).}}

**{{nerf|Down aerial's angle has been slightly altered (-90° → 270°), which along with the introduction of [[meteor cancel]]ling, significantly hinders its reliability.}}

*{{buff|Samus now has a [[grab aerial]], giving her an extra attack and recovery option.}}

===Throws/other attacks===

**{{buff|Grabs have less startup lag (frame 20 → 18) and ending lag (FAF 100 → 95 (standing), 75 (dash)).}}

**{{buff|Standing grab has a longer duration (frames 20-38 → 18-20/21-37).}}

***{{nerf|However, Samus' new dash grab has a shorter duration (frames 20-38 → 18-20/21-33).}}

**{{buff|Samus now has an exploit known as the [[Extended grapple]] technique, which allows her to greatly increase the range of her Grapple Beam, as well as allowing her grab to home into opponents.}}

***{{nerf|However, these grabboxes are no longer attached to the grapple beam, giving the grab deceptively short range during its first three active frames.}}

*[[Forward throw]]:

***{{buff|However, this also gives the throw less ending lag as its total duration was unchanged.}}

**{{nerf|Forward throw deals much less damage (16% → 9%) and knockback (90 (base), 60 (scaling) → 50/45), drastically hindering its KO potential to the point where it is no longer a viable KO option.}}

*[[Back throw]]:

***{{nerf|This gives the opponent more time to DI the throw.}}

***{{buff|However, this also gives the throw less ending lag as its total duration was unchanged.}}

**{{nerf|Back throw deals much less damage (18% → 8%) and knockback (90 (base), 60 (scaling) → 50/42), immensely hindering its KO potential to the point where it is no longer a viable KO option.}}

**{{buff|Fully charged Charge Shot deals more shield damage (1 → 3).}}

**{{change|Samus no longer performs a small jump after using aerial Charge Shot. This makes it riskier to use off stage but safer to use on stage.}}

**{{nerf|Charge Shot's projectile now only lasts 70 frames as opposed to having an infinite duration until it hits something or goes off screen.}}

**{{nerf|Charge Shot deals less damage from levels 1-4 and when it is fully charged (6% (level 1)/9% (level 2)/12% (level 3)/15% (level 4)/26% (fully charged) → 5%/8%/11%/14%/25%).}}

**{{nerf|Charge Shot deals less knockback at all levels:}}

***{{nerf|0 (base), 100 (scaling) → 14/42 (uncharged).}}

***{{nerf|0 (base), 100 (scaling) → 32/62 (level 5).}}

***{{nerf|0 (base), 100 (scaling) → 36/66 (level 6).}}

***{{buff|However, this also makes it much easier for Samus to cancel her charge shot without going into shield.}}

**{{change|Like all characters, Samus now has a side special. In her case, Missile. Holding the button releases a Homing Missile, which slowly follows the opponent for a short while and then explodes when it either makes contact or when it reaches it maximum duration. Tapping the button releases a Super Missile, which flies in a straight line and is much faster and stronger than the Homing Missile. The move auto-cancels on landing. As a result, Samus has an additional projectile, improving her camping potential.}}

**{{buff|Aerial [[Screw Attack]] grants much more height, improving its recovery potential.}}

**{{buff|The first hit of grounded Screw Attack has altered knockback (120/110 (base), 1 (set), 0 (scaling) → (130/100)/0/100), allowing it to KO at higher percents, while still being to link into the rest of the move.}}

**{{change|The final hit of Screw Attack now launches opponents vertically (361° → 70°).}}

**{{change|Screw Attack now relies on momentum for how much horizontal distance it covers.}}

***{{buff|This allows to grounded version to cover more horizontal distance in the direction Samus is facing.}}

***{{nerf|However, this makes the aerial version cover less horizontal distance, as well as making it much harder to travel backwards.}}

***{{nerf|It deals less damage (16% (grounded)/14% (aerial) → 12.01%/11.01%).}}

**{{nerf|If Samus is hit out of Screw Attack, she will now lose the charge for her Charge Shot.}}

**{{buff|Bomb no longer disables Samus' midair jump.}}

**{{buff|Bomb travels more horizontal distance when used on the ground.}}

**{{buff|If Samus hits the explosion of her bombs, she will now bounce up while she's still in her morph ball (known as a bomb jump). Samus can immediately act out of a bomb jump, significantly improving Bomb's utility. Because of bomb jumping, Bomb is an even greater recovery option (especially when combined with Samus' new air dodge and grab aerial) and it has more utility as a pressuring tool.}}

***{{buff|Bomb jumping also gives Samus access to [[Super wavedash]]ing, allowing Bomb to now be used as a movement option.}}

**{{nerf|Bombs deal less damage (9% → 4% (contact)/4% (explosion)/7% (total)) and have decreased knockback scaling (65 → 45).}}

**{{nerf|Bombs have a shorter duration before they explode (frames 10-114 → 10-82).}}

***{{buff|However, the latter point improves Bomb's utility on stage.}}

==Version history==

|neutralname=Straight ({{ja|ストレート|Sutorēto}}) / Cannon Hammer ({{ja|アームキャノンハンマー|Āmu Kyanon Hanmā}}, ''Arm Cannon Hammer'')

|neutraldesc=A quick jab followed by an axe-like jab with her arm cannon. The second hit can be easily [[shield]]ed or [[shield grab]]bed, making it difficult to connect both hits.

|ftiltname=Spin Kick ({{ja|スピンキック|Supin Kikku}})

|utiltname=Heel Kick ({{ja|ヒールキック|Hīru Kikku}})

|dtiltname=Earth Blaster ({{ja|アースブラスター|Āsu Burasutā}})

|dashname=Shoulder Tackle ({{ja|ショルダータックル|Shorudā Takkuru}})

|fsmashname=Cannon Lunge ({{ja|キャノンランジ|Kyanon Ranji}})

|usmashname=Cover Fire ({{ja|ヘルファイア|Herufaia}}, ''Hellfire'')

|usmashdesc=Fires five bursts in an arc above herself, with the final hit dealing below-average knockback. Beginning hits often don't combo into the final hit.

|dsmashname=Spinning Leg Sweep ({{ja|スピニングレッグスイープ|Supiningu Reggu Suīpu}})

|nairname=Chozo Kick ({{ja|鳥人族キック|Chōjinzoku Kikku}})

|fairname=Aerial Fire ({{ja|エアリアルヘルファイア|Eariaru Herufaia}}, ''Aerial Hellfire'')

|bairname=Flying Back Kick ({{ja|フライングバックキック|Furaingu Bakku Kikku}})

|uairname=Drill Kick ({{ja|ドリルキック|Doriru Kikku}})

|dairname=Meteor Cannon ({{ja|メテオールキャノン|Meteōru Kyanon}})

|zairname=[[Grappling Beam]] ({{ja|グラップリングビーム|Gurappuringu Bīmu}})

|grabname=Grappling Beam ({{ja|グラップリングビーム|Gurappuringu Bīmu}})

|grabdesc=Sends out her Grapple Beam to catch the opponent. It is the longest grab in the game.

|pummelname=Chozo Chop ({{ja|鳥人チョップ|Chōjinzoku Choppu}})

|fthrowname=Beam Throw ({{ja|ビームスロー|Bīmu Surō}})

|bthrowname=Reverse Beam Throw ({{ja|リバースビームスロー|Ribāsu Bīmu Surō}})

|uthrowname=Beam Launch ({{ja|ビーム打ち上げ|Bīmu Uchiage}})

|dthrowname=Beam Slam ({{ja|ビームスラム|Bīmu Suramu}})

|nsdesc=When the [[B button]] is pressed, Samus will start charging a ball of energy that gets larger, stronger, and faster the more charged it is. Pressing the B button during the charge will cancel the charge and fire the shot, while pressing the [[L]] or [[R button]] will cancel the charge and allow Samus to store her current charge. This can be resumed by pressing B again. When fully charged, it has KO potential. If used in the air, Samus will immediately fire the shot, regardless of its charge level and how long B is held for.

|usdesc=Shoots up into the air while spinning around rapidly via the "Screw Attack" ability from the ''Metroid'' series. It consists of multiple hits, though it does very little knockback, with its primary use being a [[recovery]] move, giving decent vertical distance. As with most multi-hit moves that operate similarly, it can be [[SDI]]'d out of rather easily. If Samus is hit during Screw Attack's animation, Her charge shot will be lost.

|desc-2=Shoots multiple shots while kneeling, and finishes with a pose.

|desc-3=Punches twice, then fires from her Arm Cannon.

==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 -->

:''Any number following the Smasher name indicates placement on the [[2019 MPGR]], which recognizes the official top 100 players in the world in [[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]. "HM" indicates an honorable mention on the 2019 MPGR.''

*{{Sm|Cyr|France}} - One of the best players in France and known as the best Samus in Europe before becoming inactive, placing 3rd at {{Trn|Avalon IV}}, 5th at {{Trn|Epita Smash Arena 5}}, and 17th at {{Trn|Heir 3}}. He notably took {{Sm|Armada}}'s Peach to last stock.

*{{Sm|Darrell|USA}} - One of the best Samus players in the early 2010s. Placed top 64 at a multitude of majors/supermajors in his local area of NorCal and around the West Coast such as 9th at {{Trn|Kings of Cali}}, 25th at {{Trn|EVO 2013}}, and 33rd at {{Trn|GENESIS 7}}. He notably defeated {{Sm|Hax$}} at {{Trn|Revival of Melee 7}}.

*{{Sm|Daydee|Sweden}} - The current best Samus in Europe. He continued to hold results at a similar caliber to Cyr, placing 5th at {{Trn|Heir 5}} defeating {{Sm|Professor Pro}}, 13th at {{Trn|Syndicate 2017}}, and 17th at {{Trn|B.E.A.S.T 7}} defeating {{Sm|dizzkidboogie}}. Placed 8th on the [[European Melee Power Rankings]].

*{{Sm|Duck|USA}} - One of the best Samus players of all time. Arguably was one of the most consistent Samus players at top level, placing multiple top 12 placements at majors/supermajors such as 9th at {{Trn|EVO 2018}} and {{Trn|GENESIS 6}}. Has multiple wins over top 10 players such as {{Sm|Hungrybox}} and {{Sm|Leffen}}. Placed 14th on the [[2018 MPGR]] before dropping Samus in favor of {{SSBM|Sheik}}.

*{{Sm|HugS|USA}} - Known as one of the best Samus players of all time before becoming inactive. He was usually the highest placing Samus player at MLG events and made 2nd place at {{Trn|EVO World 2007}}, the closest a Samus player has come to winning a supermajor. He remained one of the best Samus players past the Golden Age and era of the [[Five Gods]], placing 7th at {{Trn|GENESIS 5}}, 9th at {{Trn|EVO 2015}}, and placing 46th on the [[2019 MPGR]].

*{{Sm|Morsecode762|USA}} - Better known for his [[Project M]] {{PM|Samus}} and is currently the best active Samus player despite rarely competing. During 2023, he defeated {{Sm|Cody Schwab}} at {{Trn|The Big House 11}}, one of the biggest bracket upsets of the year. Outside of this, he also defeated {{Sm|Jmook}} at {{Trn|Get On My Level 2023}} and placed 9th, the best Samus supermajor of that year. He is currently ranked 18th on the [[SSBMRank 2023]].

*{{Sm|Nanashi|Japan}} - The best Samus in Japan prior to his inactivity, perviously ranked 8th on the [[Japan SSBM Rank 2018]]. In his country, he notably has taken sets over {{Sm|aMSa}}, won multiple locals, and placed 3rd at {{Trn|KSB 2016}}. Internationally, he has made top 32 at a few notable majors such as 17th at {{Trn|Kings of Cali 4}} and 25th at {{Trn|CEO 2014}}.  

*{{Sm|Plup|USA}} - Reached 6th on the [[2016 SSBMRank]] with Samus, and was formerly regarded as the world's best Samus player by many before he switched to {{SSBM|Sheik}} in early 2015. He has since switched mains to {{SSBM|Sheik}} and {{SSBM|Fox}}, but did return to the character on a few occasions, notably placing 5th at {{Trn|Shine 2017}} going solo Samus and 4th at {{Trn|Shine 2018}} going mostly Samus. Plup's Samus is also known for his set against {{Sm|Leffen}} at {{Trn|EVO 2015}} which is considered one of the most iconic Samus sets in ''Melee'' history.

*{{Sm|TheSWOOPER|USA}} - The best Samus player in 2022. He peaked at 33rd on the [[SSBMRank 2023]]. He holds some of the best wins with Samus in the post-Slippi era with Cody Schwab, {{Sm|SluG}}, and {{Sm|Aklo}} and had the best supermajor performance since Duck's 9th at {{Trn|GENESIS 6}} with {{Trn|Pound 2022}} where he also placed 9th.

*{{Sm|Wes|USA}} - Considered the "Father of Samus", becoming the first notable Samus player and innovating her metagame. He was formerly the best Samus with HugS in the Golden Age of Melee; he still competes occasionally in New York. Some of his best results during his peak were 5th at {{Trn|Tournament Go 5}} and 7th at {{Trn|MLG DC 2005}}.

Samus’s large number of buffs from her transition from ''64'' to ''Melee'' was immediately noticed by players, and was reflected by her high rankings in initial tier lists, hovering around 6th and 9th. This was primarily due to her improved projectile game, additional combo options, and improved recovery. Although she has a smaller playerbase than most high-tier mains, her representation and performances from dedicated mains such as {{Sm|HugS}} allowed her to remain in the higher tiers for many years. Unfortunately, innovations in other characters's metagames have been discovered, and professionals have adapted to Samus's defensive fighting style that rendered her zoning game less effective. This has resulted Samus dropping in placements through recent Melee tier lists. In the current metagame, {{Sm|Plup}} rarely uses her in high-level tournaments, and {{sm|Duck}} has recently dropped her in favor of Sheik. As it stands, while her zoning game remains effective against the meta, her declining presence in tournaments and increasing competitive prospects towards other top-tiers has made her fare worse against the rest of the cast compared to the early metagame, and as a result she currently sits at 11th place at the bottom of B+ tier.

==In 1-P Mode==

===[[Adventure Mode]]===

*'''[[Event 17: Bounty Hunters]]''': The player plays as Samus, “allied” with Captain Falcon and must defeat {{SSBM|Bowser}} before Captain Falcon does on [[Jungle Japes]]. The event results in failure if Captain Falcon delivers the finishing blow, if Bowser [[Self-destruct|self-destructs]], or if Samus dies.

==[[Trophies]]==

|name=Samus Aran

|desc=This intergalactic bounty hunter's full name is Samus Aran. Clad in a Power Suit made by the Chozo race and infused with their enhanced blood, she cleared the planet Zebes of a Metroid infestation. Samus is an orphan, the sole survivor of a Space Pirate raid that destroyed an Earth colony named K-2L.

|gamelist={{Trophy games|game1=Metroid|release1=8/89}}

|game=Melee

|name=Samus Aran

|image=Samus Trophy (Smash).png

|desc=Samus has an abundance of projectile weapons, making her a long-distance attack specialist. The most powerful weapon in her arsenal is her Charge Shot, but be warned: it can be reflected. Her Missiles have homing capabilities, but when fired as Smash Attacks, they fly on a straight trajectory and have boosted power.

|gamelist=:B: Charge Shot

:Smash B: Missile

|name=Samus Aran

|image=Samus Trophy (Smash 2).png

|mode=All Star

|desc=While Samus's arsenal of missile weapons is indeed formidable, her enemies are in for a rude awakening if they guard against nothing else. Her Grappling Beam captures foes and latches on to walls, and the Screw Attack drags foes upward in a series of spins that doubles as a recovery move. Samus can also use her Bombs to perform Bomb Jumps.

|gamelist=:Up & B: Screw Attack

SSBM Samus HQ.jpg|Official artwork of Samus.