Editing Sora (SSBU)

|image = {{tabber|title1=Kingdom Hearts|content1=[[File:Sora SSBU.png|250px]]|title2=Kingdom Hearts II|content2=[[File:Sora-Alt 1 SSBU.png|250px]]|title3=Dream Drop Distance|content3=[[File:Sora-Alt 2 SSBU.png|250px]]|title4=Kingdom Hearts III|content4=[[File:Sora-Alt 3 SSBU.png|250px]]|title5=Timeless River|content5=[[File:Sora-Alt 4 SSBU.png|250px]]}}

'''Sora''' ({{ja|ソラ|Sora}}, ''Sora'') is a playable character in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''. He was officially announced during ''[[Mr. Sakurai Presents#Battling with Sora|The Final Mr. Sakurai Presents]]'' on October 5th, 2021 as the sixth and final [[Downloadable content (SSBU)|downloadable character]] from {{h2|Downloadable content (SSBU)|Fighters Pass Vol. 2}}, and was released on October 18th, 2021 (October 19th in time zones east of the Americas) as part of Challenger Pack 11. During the presentation, [[Masahiro Sakurai]] confirmed that Sora was the actual winner of the [[Smash Bros. Fighter Ballot]], aligning with the statement that {{SSB4|Bayonetta}} was the winner among "negotiable and realizable characters."<ref name=SakuraiPresents/> Sora is the fourth fighter from a [[Square Enix]] published/developed series (after {{SSBU|Cloud}}, {{SSBU|Hero}}, and {{SSBU|Sephiroth}} respectively), as well as the first and only fighter from [[Disney]]. Sora is classified as [[Fighter number|Fighter #82]], the last fighter number of the [[newcomer]]s and the overall roster.

{{iw|wikipedia|Haley Joel Osment}} and {{iw|wikipedia|Miyu Irino}}, Sora's main English and Japanese voice actors as of the original ''Kingdom Hearts'', reprise their roles in the English and Japanese releases of ''Ultimate'' respectively, with their portrayals being re-purposed from ''{{iw|khwiki|Kingdom Hearts Re:coded}}'' and ''{{iw|khwiki|Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance}}''.

 

Sora is ranked 18th out of 82 on the current [[tier list]], placing him in the A tier. Sora possesses a highly dominant aerial game, characterized by an extremely long-distanced [[double jump]] that allows him to chase opponents above him, and a number of aerial attacks that sport great power and [[hitbox]] coverage. Most distinct among Sora's combat prowess is his possession of an array of [[natural combo]]s that, when used in conjunction with his unique double jump, allow Sora to perform extensively damaging combo loops via the [[instant double jump]] and [[SHFF]] techniques. Sora can initiate these combo loops reliably thanks to a host of great combo starters both in the air and on the ground, and many of them also have routes that lead into KOs. A prevalent trait among all of Sora's attacks is their high amount of active frames, granting him considerable margin of error when timing precise attacks in advantageous situations, and also allows him to [[tech-chase]] and cover [[edge]] options with relative ease. His special moves grant him a considerable amount of utility; [[Magic]] cycles through multiple projectiles that offer him pressure tools in the neutral game, {{b|Counterattack|Sora}} allows Sora to interrupt any melee attack, and [[Aerial Sweep]] functions as a potent high-rising KO option. He sports an immaculate recovery that complements his flexible off-stage presence, and can mix up his approaches through the use of [[Sonic Blade]]. In contrast to the majority of his fellow swordfighters, Sora also possesses a great grab game: each of his grabs are fast, while his down throw and back throw are reliable for starting combos and KOing outright, respectively.

 

However, Sora is not without flaws. His biggest weakness is his range; while swordsmen are typically characterized by sacrificing frame data in favor of having more range, Sora possesses one of the shortest effective ranges for a swordsman in the roster while still maintaining typical swordsman flaws, which makes spacing much harder for him than other characters of his archetype. This is compounded by his suboptimal air speed, floatiness, and slow double jump, making it challenging for him to weave in and out of enemy threat range while throwing out attacks, as well as escaping disadvantage. Sora is also a [[Weight|lightweight]], and thus susceptible to being KO'd at early percentages by stronger characters. His special attacks, despite their well-rounded traits, have a few inconvenient quirks that the player has to circumvent; these include Magic needing to cycle through each of its spells instead being able to be used freely (with Thundaga in particular being a weaker move to use in neutral), Counterattack not being able to be [[B-reverse|B-reversed]] or detect attacks behind Sora (outside of an incoming hitbox overshooting and thus activating it) and its reflector being situational, and Sonic Blade losing range when it is shielded.

 

Overall, Sora is considered a respectable fighter at a competitive level who must exercise care in his defensive play to reap the rewards of his high overall damage output, extensive combo potential, and potent KO potential. Although initial results were lukewarm outside of some strong performances that took place right after his release, Sora has since gained a sizeable playerbase and several noteworthy performances thanks to dedicated players such as {{Sm|Kameme}}.

Sora's side special, [[Sonic Blade]], functions similarly to [[Quick Attack]]: when it is initiated near an opponent, Sora faces them and performs a dashing thrust; otherwise, he continues to move in the direction the Control Stick is held in. If the special attack button is tapped, Sora dashes forward once, but if directions are continuously inputted, Sora strikes up to three times instead. Pressing the special attack button during the input phase will cause Sora to automatically aim at the nearest opponent. While lacking in KO power, the lock-on version of the attack sports decently strong knockback and can set up an advantage situation if connected.

His up special, Aerial Sweep, functions very similarly to [[Spin Attack]], and is a multi-hitting attack with strong KO power and decently fast startup (frame 9), giving Sora a decent [[out of shield]] option. A key difference with the aforementioned Spin Attack is that Aerial Sweep propels Sora upward, regardless of whether it is used on the ground or in the air. It can also transition into Sonic Blade if the move input is performed near the jump's apex, which grants Sora a noticeably long-distanced recovery in the process.

Sora's down special, {{b|Counterattack|Sora}}, works as both a [[counterattack]] and a [[reflector]], similarly to [[Counter/Reflect Barrier|Counter / Reflect Barrier]], [[Gut Check]], and [[Rebel's Guard / Tetrakarn / Makarakarn|Tetrakarn / Makarakarn]]. Uniquely among said moves is that projectiles get reflected behind Sora rather than in front of him. While this makes the move ineffective as a direct reflector, it grants him some defense against characters with both reflectors and projectiles (such as {{SSBU|Mario}}, {{SSBU|Mewtwo}}, and {{SSBU|Hero}}). Unlike other counterattacks in the game, Sora's counterattack interrupts any direct attack of the opponent by putting them in a [[rebound]] state, which gives it the ability to prevent even invincible attacks like [[Wonderwing]], however one downside with the counterattack is that it will only register attacks from the front. Although Sora's counter special has fewer active frames and slightly more startup than other swordfighters like {{SSBU|Marth}}, Sora can interrupt the ending lag at frame 52, much quicker than most other counterattacks, making it less punishable.

One of Sora's most defining traits across his moveset are the presence of lingering hitboxes. Almost all of Sora's grounded moves and aerials, as well as select specials like Blizzaga, feature an extensive number of active frames, granting Sora a fair degree of safety when it comes to throwing out attacks and intercepting opponents. Many of these attacks also cover a plethora of angles, though these are perhaps most notable in his aerials as a result of Sora's aforementioned ability to negate his upward momentum through fast falling. Because of this, Sora has a deadly [[juggling]] game and can keep opponents above him trapped in disadvantage for extended periods of time.

When combining the fixed knockback of several of his single hit natural combo strings with the unique traits of his jump, these traits open up potent combo loops through the usage of the [[instant double jump]] technique, allowing Sora the ability to cancel his attacks and hit confirm into longer combos, stronger attacks, and even KOs. As a result of these factors, Sora has a number of ways to cover tech chases, air dodges, and multiple committal ground and aerial recovery options when he is pushing advantage, in particular sporting a strong edge trapping game, and in many cases they may be the difference maker between an opponent's survival and them being KO'd.

However, for as many strengths as Sora has, he also has several flaws. His low weight and below-average falling speed make him very susceptible to vertical KOs. Despite his high amount of active attack frames, he has below-average frame data on his moveset, making it hard for him to escape from combos. With all of these factors considered, he is particularly susceptible to wall of pain combos, as he has no realistic ways of defending himself.

Sora's range is arguably his biggest weakness. Despite being a swordsman, the {{iw|khwiki|Kingdom Key}}'s range is among the shortest of any weapon in ''Ultimate''. This leaves Sora at a disadvantage against other fighters who sport disjointed ranges, such as {{SSBU|Shulk}} and {{SSBU|Sephiroth}} (especially given their respective sword attacks). When combined with his aforementioned frame data, he is unable to keep maximum distance from other characters as effectively as other spacing-oriented characters (such as Marth and {{SSBU|Simon}}) and can result in opponents being able to chase him down more easily.

Despite his grabs being quick, they also suffer from abysmal range like many other swordfighters, but to an even larger extent; Sora's standing grab, in particular, is tied with {{SSBU|Pikachu}}'s for one of the worst grab ranges among the entire cast. This means Sora needs to rely on a lot of defensive play to convert into his advantage state, spacing aerial attacks and using Magic attacks like Firaga as neutral coverage. His lackluster range and mobility also limit his disadvantage somewhat, forcing him to rely on certain momentum-stalling moves like Magic attacks and down aerial to maneuver his way back into neutral.

Lastly, Sora's special moves all have certain unique flaws that force him to maintain a patient playstyle. Magic cannot freely swap between its spells (unlike other multi-weapon attacks, such as {{SSBU|Peach}}'s forward smash), forcing him to repeatedly use his spells to cycle through the most optimal one for a given situation. Transitioning also leaves Sora vulnerable since he cannot move on the ground until his current spell concludes, making him whiff punishable unless the player mitigates it through aerial usage. Since all three spells are projectiles they can also be reflected, though this is suboptimal against Thundaga. Sonic Blade slows down slightly upon hitting a shield (although given the short amount of time it takes to transition between hits, punishing the move can prove to be difficult), while Sora cannot input any actions if the move concludes in the air, making him very vulnerable. Aerial Sweep does not hit behind Sora on startup, and Sora is vulnerable to meteor smashes since the move does not hit directly above him. Counterattack's aforementioned ineffectiveness against projectiles makes it infeasible for reflected projectiles to KO opponents. Like [[Scintilla]] and Gut Check, it also leaves the area directly behind Sora unprotected.

Overall, Sora's playstyle is reminiscent of {{SSBU|Jigglypuff}} where his light weight and somewhat lackluster direct range force him to play very patiently in order to get the most out of his combos and strong air game. His ability to reliably edge-guard the majority of the cast alongside his wide array of combo routes give him the potential to KO at very early percentages. However, he must be very careful to not overextend or whiff too much as he has the potential to be KO'd at very early percentages.

Sora received no major changes in game updates by virtue of being the final [[DLC]] [[fighter]] and the development team not having enough time to properly observe player behavior and apply any necessary tweaks before sunsetting active development. The only change he received was in update 13.0.1, where his jab reset animation was adjusted to match the rest of the cast.

 

'''{{GameIcon|ssbu}} {{SSBU|13.0.1}}'''

*Sora can [[crawl]].

*Sora has a [[Double jump#Delayed double jumps|special double jump]] that propels him in a floatier, curved trajectory with significantly more height. This trait is shared with {{SSBU|Ness}}, {{SSBU|Mewtwo}}, {{SSBU|Lucas}}, and {{SSBU|Kazuya}}.

*The [[List of swords#Kingdom Key|Kingdom Key]]'s hits generate a cartoony star effect and a unique hit sound, emulating the {{iw|khwiki|Kingdom Key}}'s hit effects from the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series. The cartoony star effects are carried over for when Sora uses bladed battering items, such as [[Death's Scythe]]'s neutral and dash attacks, as well as all attacks that use the [[Beam Sword]] and [[Killing Edge]].

*Upon Sora landing the final hit in [[Stamina Mode]], a slow-motion zoom effect occurs that fades the screen to white before the [[Announcer]] says "Game!" This is a callback to the visual effects seen when landing the finishing blow against a major enemy in the ''Kingdom Hearts'' games.<ref name=SakuraiPresents>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-q6Gz_4Yqc Super Smash Bros.™ Ultimate – Battling with Sora – Nintendo Switch]</ref> If Sora KOs more than one opponent with the final blow, the Announcer will instead say "Game!" first while the slowdown takes place after. If both Sora and his opponent are offscreen when the slowdown is supposed to occur, [[Finish Zoom]] will happen instead.

''For a gallery of Sora's hitboxes, see [[Sora (SSBU)/Hitboxes|here]].''

 

|neutral1dmg=2.8%

|neutral2dmg=2.6%

|neutral3dmg=4.2%

|neutraldesc=A lunging downward strike, followed by a forward thrust, followed by a spinning outward strike. Unlike other neutral attacks, holding the attack button will automatically transition into the second and third hits. Its first hit comes out at frame 5, and it has a hitbox that extends so high above Sora that it can even hit opponents on the lower platforms of {{SSBU|Battlefield}}. This perk also makes it useful for catching jumps. Although it deals respectable damage, the third hit is weak, and the move's overall frame data is rather lacking. It resembles the standard attack combo as it appears in [[khwiki:Kingdom Hearts (game)|the original ''Kingdom Hearts'']].

|ftiltdmg=7.2% (single), 5.2% (combo)

|ftilt3dmg=6.4%

|ftiltdesc=An upward strike. Part of a 3-hit combo: if tapped or held, he then performs a forward thrust and a lunging downward strike. A bit slower than his neutral attack, but much stronger. Uniquely for a [[natural combo]], the first hit launches the opponent away if it is canceled, but continuing with the second hit allows the rest of the hits to connect. When canceled, the first hit deals more damage and knockback, to the point that it KOs at high percentages while near the edge. Holding the attack button is recommended if the player wishes to use the 3-hit combo, as tapping it is not as consistent and may stop on the first hit. Its first hit heavily resembles the {{iw|khwiki|Slapshot}}.

|utiltdmg=0.8% (hits 1-5), 1.2% (hit 6), 4.6% (hit 7)

|utiltdesc=Twirls the {{iw|khwiki|Kingdom Key}} overhead before catching it. Deals multiple hits, similarly to {{SSBU|Palutena}}'s up tilt. Although its vertical range is lacking, the first hit has a hitbox in front of Sora that launches an opponent into the subsequent hits, similarly to {{SSBU|Sephiroth}}'s up tilt. Its final hit's launching angle and knockback make it reliable for starting combos at low percentages, and decent for setting up aerial pressure beginning at medium percentages. It resembles one of Sora's actions when performing the "Reflect" {{iw|khwiki|Reaction Command}} against Final {{iw|khwiki|Xemnas}} in ''{{iw|khwiki|Kingdom Hearts II}}'', the {{iw|khwiki|Tornado}} as it appears in ''{{iw|khwiki|Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories}}'', and the {{iw|khwiki|Chain Rave}}.

|dtiltdmg=5.2%

|dtiltdesc=A kneeling inward swipe. Alongside down throw, it is one of Sora's most reliable combo starters. At low percentages, it can combo into neutral attack, forward tilt, up tilt, forward smash and up smash, depending on DI. At medium to high percentages, it can combo into neutral, forward and up aerials. Its up smash combo is able to connect until KO percentages, though this can be avoided with inward DI.

|dashdmg=9.6% (clean), 7.6% (mid), 7.2% (late)

|dashdesc=A modified [[Wikipedia:Dropkick#Baseball slide|baseball slide]]. It propels Sora a fairly long distance, which makes it effective both as a burst option and as a [[2 frame punish]]. Although situational, its clean hit can KO at very high percentages while near the edge. It heavily resembles the {{iw|khwiki|Sliding Dash}} as it appears in ''{{iw|khwiki|Kingdom Hearts Final Mix}}''.

|fsmashdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSBU|15.4}} (clean), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBU|13.8}} (late)

|fsmashdesc=A lunging, outward strike. Compared to the rest of Sora's moveset, it is very strong, thus making it a go-to finisher. Like {{SSBU|Toon Link}}'s forward smash, its range can be rather misleading; in Sora's case, it is because the clean hit lasts for only 2 frames, and its hitboxes have very mediocre horizontal range. KOs Mario at 74% at the edge. It resembles the {{iw|khwiki|Rising Strike}}.

|usmashdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSBU|0.6}} (hit 1), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBU|14.6}} (hit 2)

|usmashdesc=An upward thrust that emits a burst of [[Magic (type)|magical]] {{iw|khwiki|light}} at the tip of the Kingdom Key. Like up tilt, it has a hitbox in front of Sora that launches opponents into the main hit. However, this hitbox cannot hit prone opponents. The second hit is quite large and has a sweetspot at the tip of the Kingdom Key that deals more knockback. As a trade-off, the second hit does not have much horizontal range. In addition to having decent startup (hitting at frame 11), it is among the stronger up smashes in the game, KOing Mario at 100% from ground level, though it does possess considerable ending lag. It resembles the {{iw|khwiki|Magic Flash}}.

|dsmashdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSBU|15.2}} (near), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBU|14.2}} (far)

|dsmashdesc=Hops and then thrusts the Kingdom Key into the ground, emitting a shockwave. The sweetspot is near the Kingdom Key, whereas the sourspot is the remainder of the shockwave. Like {{SSBU|King K. Rool}}, {{SSBU|Ridley}} and {{SSBU|Incineroar}}'s down smashes, Sora's hurtbox shifts upward during his hop, allowing him to evade attacks with low hitboxes. It also renders Sora [[intangible]] upon startup, making it even easier to evade opposing attacks. However, the hop makes the attack slow to start, thus making it more effective for edge getups or reads. The sweetspot is powerful enough to KO Mario at 82% while near the edge and inflicts considerable shield damage. To match its animation, the Kingdom Key's hitbox actually enters the ground upon hitting it, which allows it to hit through shallow surfaces. On the other hand, the sourspot is less effective for KOing. It heavily resembles two similar downward plunging attacks from his home series, namely {{iw|khwiki|Finishing Leap}} and {{iw|khwiki|Land Crash}}.

|nairdmg={{ShortHopDmgSSBU|3.8}}

|nairdesc=A somersaulting strike. Part of a 3-hit combo: if tapped or held, he then performs an upward strike and a downward strike. Each hit causes him to float slightly, similarly to {{SSBU|Bayonetta}}'s forward aerial. The first hitbox has a wide, lasting hitbox, allowing it to be used out of a short hop to initiate aerial combos. While the first hit reaches all the way behind Sora, the back hit (after the Kingdom Key is directly under Sora) does not chain properly into the second and third hits, as it has an altered angle that knocks opponents away. Falling during either the first or second hit allows Sora to extend his combo using other moves, including forward smash for a KO combo at around 100%. Hitting all three hits usually requires Sora to stay in place, as the opponent may fall out if he drifts forward. Repeatedly using the first two hits can let Sora constantly juggle an opponent offstage, and thus exhaust their recovery options. Its first hit resembles the {{iw|khwiki|Air Spiral}}.

|fairdmg={{ShortHopDmgSSBU|4.8}}

|fairdesc=A downward strike. Part of a 3-hit combo: if tapped or held, he then performs an upward strike and a somersaulting strike. Each hit causes him to float slightly, similarly to Bayonetta's forward aerial. Falling during the first two hits allow Sora to extend his combo using other moves. Hitting all 3 hits usually requires Sora to drift forward; this property easily allows it to drag opponents near the side blast lines. The third hit deals decent diagonal knockback, making it extremely effective as an offstage finisher. The first hit can be canceled by fast falling, which can combo into forward smash for a KO combo at around 100%.

|bairdmg={{ShortHopDmgSSBU|13.2}}

|bairdesc=Turns around to perform an outward strike. Its respectable damage output and decent knockback make it a useful KO option, as it KOs Mario at 104% at the edge. Its relatively low landing lag also allows it to be used for a [[wall of pain]] in some situations.

|uairdmg={{ShortHopDmgSSBU|12.2}}

|uairdesc=Backflips to perform an overhead arcing strike. It has surprisingly high knockback, making it a strong KO option especially due to Sora's high aerial mobility, and allows it to KO out of a down throw or down tilt. Its hitbox remains active until the very end of the strike, similarly to {{SSBU|Roy}}'s up aerial. When coupled with its relatively low landing lag, its final frames can reliably and quite easily initiate combos while Sora is falling, such as into Aerial Sweep.

|dairname=Hurricane Blast<ref name=SakuraiPresents/> ({{ja|ハリケーンピリオド|Harikēn Piriodo}}, ''Hurricane Period'')

|dairdmg={{ShortHopDmgSSBU|9.8}} (hit), 5.5% (landing)

|dairdesc=[[khwiki:Hurricane Winder|Backflips rapidly and repeatedly while holding the Kingdom Key horizontally in front of himself in order to perform a buzzsaw-like series of strikes]]. Upon landing, Sora poses with the Kingdom Key against his shoulder. It is a [[stall-then-fall]] and has a long-lasting hitbox. Sora can recover if he uses the move offstage, so long as he does not initiate it at the edge. As a result, the move is an effective yet risky edge-guarding option, since Sora can go extremely deep offstage with it and then use his double jump, Aerial Sweep, and/or Sonic Blade in order to recover. KOs Mario at 154% while at ground level.

|grabname=Grab ({{ja|つかみ|Tsukami}})

|grabdesc=Reaches out with one hand. Sora's grab range is poor, even compared to other swordfighters. However, it has quick startup.

|pummelname=Grab Hilt Strike ({{ja|つかみ柄なぐり|Tsukami Gara Naguri}})

|pummeldmg=1.3%

|pummeldesc=Hits the opponent with the Kingdom Key's hilt. Average power and speed.

|fthrowdmg=5% (hit), 3% (throw)

|fthrowdesc=Swings the Kingdom Key downward teeth-first. Due to its mediocre power making it unsuitable for KOing, it is best suited for creating space and setting up edge-guards.

|bthrowdmg=11.8% (throw), 7.6% (collateral)

|bthrowdesc=A [[wikipedia:Professional wrestling throws#Giant swing|giant swing]]. It can deal collateral damage to bystanders and is an effective KO option at reasonable percentages. It KOs Mario at 120% near the edge. It heavily resembles the {{iw|khwiki|Blow-off}}, and vaguely resembles the second portion of the "Merge" Reaction Command from ''{{iw|khwiki|Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix}}''.

|uthrowdmg=6.8%

|uthrowdesc=Heaves the opponent upward with his free hand. KOs Mario at 182% and somewhat earlier on platforms, which makes it better suited for initiating juggles. It can also start reaction-based combos at low percentages, though these are not guaranteed. It resembles the first portion of the "Merge" Reaction Command from ''Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix''.

|dthrowdmg=4.6%

|dthrowdesc=A one-handed body slam. Alongside down tilt, it is one of Sora's most reliable combo starters. It can combo into aerials at various percentages, and even dashing up smash at low percentages. It vaguely resembles the "Fail-Safe" Reaction Command in ''Kingdom Hearts II''.

|floorfdmg=7%

|floorfdesc=Spins around and swings the Kingdom Key behind himself, then in front of himself while getting up.

|floorbdmg=7%

|floorbdesc=Spins around and swings the Kingdom Key behind himself, then in front of himself while getting up.

|floortdmg=5%

|floortdesc=Spins around and swings the Kingdom Key behind himself, then in front of himself while getting up.

|edgedmg=9%

|edgedesc=Crawls forward from the edge and thrusts the Kingdom Key at a low angle.

|nsdmg=Firaga: 5.6% (clean), 5.2% (mid), 4.8% (late)<br/>Thundaga: 5.2% (each hit)<br/>Blizzaga: 2.4%/3.6% (particle), 1.8% (melee)

|nsdesc=Casts 1 of 3 different magic spells ({{iw|khwiki|Firaga}}, {{iw|khwiki|Thundaga}} and {{iw|khwiki|Blizzaga}}), with each use cycling through the spells in the list according to the command icon above his [[damage meter]]. The spell list does not reset upon Sora being KO'd, and each first midair use of each spell causes Sora to stall his descent, allowing for a maximum of 3 stalls before landing. Firaga is a fireball that travels horizontally and, when tapped, can be launched continuously. Firaga acts as a conventional projectile and is capable of [[lock]]ing, though it does not have high knockback and does not travel very far. Firaga also has high hitstun and relatively low ending lag, allowing it to be used as part of combos. Thundaga generates 3 thunderbolts that descend in front of Sora in a subsequent order, which can result in them comboing into each other. The thunderbolts cover less distance in the air, but are very effective for edge-guarding or coverage in front of Sora due to their vertical range and proximity to one another. The final bolt KOs Mario at the edge at 155%, though it can potentially KO significantly earlier offstage if the opponent is hit by the upper half of the first two bolts. Blizzaga fires a short-ranged,  conical stream of ice crystals; like [[Blizzard]], it has a very high chance of freezing opponents and granting an opening, even if only 1 segment of Blizzaga connects. Blizzaga can also combo into Aerial Sweep and KO at around 120%. All 3 moves are counted as energy [[projectile]]s, and can thus be [[absorb]]ed, [[reflect]]ed and [[Pocket]]ed. However, the Pocketed versions are unwieldy to use, since they are either weak or possess vertical hitboxes.

|ssdmg=5.2% (hit 1, lock-on hits 2-3), 3% (free aim hits 2-3)

|ssdesc=[[khwiki:Sonic Blade|A high-speed thrust]]. Like [[Quick Attack]], Sonic Blade allows Sora to change his travel trajectory more than once in order to increase his travel distance by moving to the chosen direction, with a maximum of three thrusts. The first thrust will always travel horizontally. Holding different buttons lets Sora control his travel: If the directional keys are held, Sora aims towards that direction. If the special button is held, the move automatically locks onto the nearest enemy with a target and automatically tracks them, while slightly increasing the knockback of the final hit. Letting go of the directional keys and special buttons cancels the move early. Each thrust travels less distance and increases the ending lag, though its combined distance grants Sora a good recovery. However, it is rather slow, making it interruptible by opponents. Sora is rendered [[helpless]] at the end of the move.

|usdmg=3.8% (hit 1), 2.1% (hits 2-6), 4.6% (hit 7)

|usdesc=[[khwiki:Aerial Sweep|Leaps in a spinning motion to perform a series of alternating inward and outward strikes]]. Although it is very similar to [[Spin Attack]], Aerial Sweep deviates from it by propelling Sora into the air, even if it is initiated on the ground. Its last hit has impressively high knockback, which makes it a potent KO option. It can also function as a combo finisher, which can KO early in the air, especially due to Sora's effective aerial prowess. KOs Mario at 112% when initiated from the ground. However, its hitboxes are slightly inconsistent to the point that they are not guaranteed to link together, and opponents can fall out of it. Aerial Sweep also grants Sora a strong recovery, thanks to its ability to be canceled into Sonic Blade to maximize his recovery distance if it is used right before it renders Sora [[helpless]].

|dsdmg=9% (minimum), 1.5× (counter) 1.4× (reflection)

|dsdesc=[[khwiki:Counterattack|Parries]] and then [[counterattack]]s any incoming attacks with an upward strike. Against non-projectile attacks, Sora briefly rears back while the victim is momentarily thrown off balance in the form of their [[grab release]] animation (similarly to [[Blade Counter]]) before he retaliates with the upward swing. Against projectiles, Sora immediately retaliates and reflects the projectile with a 1.4× damage multiplier. However, it is unique as it deflects projectiles behind him, meaning it is mainly used to negate projectiles in 1-on-1 situations unless the opponent is close enough to get hit by the Kingdom Key's strike. Like [[Gut Check]] and [[Scintilla]], the counter detection for Counterattack is placed in front of Sora, which can leave him vulnerable to attacks from behind. However, unlike those moves, Counterattack does not check for the direction of the attack. As a result, hitboxes that reach the detection box from behind can still trigger Counterattack and cause Sora to automatically turn around. The counterattack staggering enemies is a reference to gaining a {{iw|khwiki|Tech Point}} when {{iw|khwiki|Guard}}ing in the original ''Kingdom Hearts''.

|fsdmg=16% (initial, direct), 7% (initial, late), 24% (cutscene), 10% (ending)

|fsdesc=Fires a beam of magical light from the tip of the Kingdom Key that summons a huge {{iw|khwiki|Keyhole}}. Anyone trapped inside is locked behind by a ''Super Smash Bros.'' variant of the {{iw|khwiki|Door to Darkness}}, and Sora seals the Keyhole with the same beam, causing the Door to explode. Any opponents whose damage has accumulated to 100% by the time the explosion occurs is automatically KO'd.

|rtrac = 77-77

|rairfric = 33-38

 

 

===[[On-screen appearance]]===

*{{iw|khwiki|Glide}}s in from the background, lands, and hops happily while hoisting the Kingdom Key in the air before assuming his battle stance.

SoraOnScreenAppearanceSSBU.gif|Sora's on-screen appearance.

*'''Up taunt''': Casts {{iw|khwiki|Stopga}}, {{iw|khwiki|Aeroga}}, or {{iw|khwiki|Curaga}}, which cycle similarly to Magic. However, these spells are merely aesthetic and do not have any effect on gameplay. Sora calls out "Time!" ({{ja|時よ！|Toki yo!}}, ''O' Time!''), "Wind!" ({{ja|風よ！|Kaze yo!}}, ''O' Wind!''), and "Heal!" ({{ja|癒しよ！|Iyashi yo!}}, ''O' Healing!'') for each respective spell.

*'''Side taunt''': Faces the screen and twirls his Kingdom Key in front of himself while grunting. This resembles one of his victory animations in the {{iw|khwiki|Olympus Coliseum}}.

*'''Down taunt''': Hops while raising his fist in the air and saying "Here we go!" ({{ja|行くよ！|Iku yo!}}, ''Let's go!''). This resembles his animation after successfully hitting star-marked notes in ''{{iw|khwiki|Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory}}''.

*Twirls the Kingdom Key around, adjusting his hands as necessary to hold it again.

*Looks around, referencing how he looks around when engaged in combat in the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series.

SSBUSoraIdle1.gif|Sora's first idle pose.

SSBUSoraIdle2.gif|Sora's second idle pose.

!{{{name|}}}

!Cheer (All versions)

|[[File:Sora Cheer SSBU.ogg|center]]

|Soooo - ra!

*'''Left:''' Hops while raising his fist in the air, similarly to his down taunt. Upon landing, he spins the Kingdom Key around, and then rests it on his shoulder while saying "Yes." ({{ja|良し|Yoshi}}, ''Alright.'') This is similar to one of his victory animations when he wins a round in one of the cups from the {{iw|khwiki|Olympus Coliseum}} area in the original ''Kingdom Hearts'', which in turn resembles [[Cloud Strife]]'s victory animation in ''Final Fantasy VII''. The pose at the end is similar to the one he assumes in [[:File:Sora KH1.png|Tetsuya Nomura's artwork]] from ''Kingdom Hearts'' and, by extension, his P1/P5 fighter renders. Uniquely, if Sora uses his Timeless River costume, he'll briefly close his eyes after resting his Kingdom Key on his shoulder.

*'''Up:''' Swings the Kingdom Key forward once, then twirls it while turning around before resting it on his shoulder while showing his back toward the screen. This is also another one of his victory animations in the Coliseum, which in turn references {{iw|khwiki|Squall Leonhart}}'s victory pose in ''Final Fantasy VIII''.

*'''Right:''' Thrusts the Kingdom Key forward and turns it (as if locking/unlocking something), then quickly spins it around and points it upward while holding it with both hands. This slightly resembles the summoning animations in ''Kingdom Hearts''.

 

[[File:KingdomHeartsSeriesVictoryThemeUltimate.ogg|thumb|An orchestrated rendition of "{{iw|khwiki|Hand in Hand}}", the second battle theme of {{iw|khwiki|Traverse Town}} in the original ''Kingdom Hearts''. It was confirmed in the ''[[Mr. Sakurai Presents#Battling with Sora|Battling with Sora]]'' presentation that the arrangement for the victory theme was handled by {{iw|wikipedia|Yoko Shimomura}}, the song's original composer.<ref name=SakuraiPresents/>]]

 

==In [[competitive play]]==

<!--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 -->

 

 

 

On the other hand, despite Zackray dropping the character, Sora saw continued success in Japan thanks to the efforts of {{Sm|Kameme}}, who began playing Sora when the character was released and became a regular threat at majors. Kameme's success with the character, especially after placing 2nd at {{Trn|Glitch - Regen}}, also improved Sora's reputation in North America, with more players believing he was a viable, yet uncommon character in the metagame. As such, Sora was ranked 31st on the first tier list in the lower end of high-tier.

Following the first tier list, Sora's reputation only grew as Kameme began seeing even more success with the character; although he was never able to win a major with Sora, he had come close many times. In addition, several other Sora players began rising in the metagame, most notably {{Sm|Raarchyor}}, who made his name known globally after double-eliminating {{Sm|Glutonny}} at {{Trn|Cora Smash Cup @Massy}} and placing 9th at {{Trn|Ultimate Fighting Arena 2023}}. Thanks to his improved representation, Sora rose significantly on the second tier list, now ranking 18th in the A-tier.

[[File:SSBU Congratulations Sora.png|thumb|Sora's congratulations screen.]]

In reference to the {{uv|Kingdom Hearts}} series, Sora's opponents are analogous to various antagonists featured in his home series. This theme is further reinforced by Rounds 1 through 6 being [[Stamina Mode]] battles (in reference to the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series' hit points system) and each Round playing a song from the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series (regardless of what universe the stage originates from).

|1||{{CharHead|Link|SSBU|hsize=20px|color=Black}} and {{CharHead|Young Link|SSBU|hsize=20px|color=Black}}||[[Hollow Bastion]]||''{{SSBUMusicLink|Kingdom Hearts|Fragments of Sorrow}}''||Stamina battle. Sora has 100 HP, whereas [[Dark Link]] and Dark Young Link have 50 HP apiece.<br>Dark Link and Dark Young Link represent the two battles against {{iw|khwiki|Riku}} at {{iw|khwiki|Hollow Bastion}} in the original ''Kingdom Hearts'', the second of which saw Riku possessed by the game's antagonist, {{iw|khwiki|Ansem, Seeker of Darkness}}.

|2||{{CharHead|Mr. Game & Watch|SSBU|hsize=20px}} (normal-sized ×5, large ×2, giant ×1)||[[Skyworld]] ([[Battlefield form]])||''{{SSBUMusicLink|Kingdom Hearts|Night of Fate}}''||Horde battle.<br>Sora has 100 HP, whereas the normal-sized Mr. Game & Watches have 20 HP, the large ones have 50 HP, and the giant one has 70 HP.<br>The Mr. Game & Watches represent {{iw|khwiki|Shadow}}, {{iw|khwiki|Neoshadow}}, and {{iw|khwiki|Invisible}} Heartless. The stage references {{iw|khwiki|Olympus}} in ''Kingdom Hearts III''.

|3||{{CharHead|Cloud|SSBU|hsize=20px|color=Advent}}||[[Coliseum]]||''{{SSBUMusicLink|Kingdom Hearts|Shrouding Dark Cloud}}''||Stamina battle. Sora and Cloud have 100 HP apiece.<br>This Round references Sora's battle against {{iw|khwiki|Cloud}} at the {{iw|khwiki|Olympus Coliseum}} in the original ''Kingdom Hearts''. Cloud uses his "Cloudy Wolf" alternate costume from ''Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children'', which he also wears for his appearance in ''Kingdom Hearts II''.

|4||{{CharHead|Robin|SSBU|hsize=20px}} (normal-sized ×1, large ×1) and {{Head|Robin|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Female}} Robin||[[Kalos Pokémon League]]||''{{SSBUMusicLink|Kingdom Hearts|Hollow Bastion}}''||Stamina battle. Sora has 100 HP, whereas the Robins have 50 HP apiece.<br>This Round references the events of ''{{iw|khwiki|Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories}}''. The Robins represent {{iw|khwiki|Organization XIII}}, with the female representing {{iw|khwiki|Larxene}}, the normal-sized male representing {{iw|khwiki|Vexen}}, and the large male representing {{iw|khwiki|Marluxia}}. The stage references {{iw|khwiki|Castle Oblivion}}, which is the game's primary setting.

|5||Giant {{CharHead|Ganondorf|SSBU|hsize=20px|color=White}}||[[Find Mii]] ([[Ω form]])||''{{SSBUMusicLink|Kingdom Hearts|Destiny's Force}}''||Stamina battle. Sora and Ganondorf have 100 HP apiece.<br>Giant Ganondorf represents the {{iw|khwiki|Darkside}} Heartless fought at the destruction of {{iw|khwiki|Destiny Islands}}, which is further referenced by Destiny's Force being played like in the original ''Kingdom Hearts''. Ganondorf's alternate costume also vaguely resembles {{iw|khwiki|Xehanort}}, the white-haired overarching antagonist of the [[khwiki:Kingdom Hearts (series)|''Kingdom Hearts'' series]]. The stage could also reference the Keyblade Graveyard, where Xehanort is fought in ''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep'' and ''Kingdom Hearts III''.

|6||Metal {{CharHead|Sora|SSBU|hsize=20px}}||Hollow Bastion (Dive to the Heart, Sora's Station)||''{{SSBUMusicLink|Kingdom Hearts|Destati}}''||Stamina battle. Sora and the CPU Sora have 100 HP apiece.<br>This Round references Riku's battle against the {{iw|khwiki|Armored Ventus Nightmare}} in ''{{iw|khwiki|Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance}}''. Metal Sora references {{iw|khwiki|Ventus}}' {{iw|khwiki|Keyblade Armor}} protecting him before being turned into a {{iw|khwiki|Nightmare}}. Metal Sora will also use Sora's default appearance, albeit while clad in metal, even if the player is also using Sora's default appearance.

|Final||{{SSBU|Master Hand}} and {{SSBU|Crazy Hand}}||{{SSBU|Final Destination}}||''{{SSBUMusicLink|Kingdom Hearts|Destati}}'' ||Both Hands are fought, regardless of the difficulty selected. <!--Please DO NOT add a description of what the Hands represent unless you have a reliable source for the claim. SmashWiki is not speculative.-->

[[Credits]] roll after completing Classic Mode. Completing it as Sora has ''{{SSBUMusicLink|Kingdom Hearts|Blast Away! -Gummi Ship II-}}'' accompany the credits, in reference to the Gummi Ship sections in the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series.

Sora's default fighter spirit can be obtained by completing {{SSBU|Classic Mode}} as Sora. It is also available periodically for purchase in the shop for 300 Gold, but only after Sora has been downloaded. Unlocking Sora in World of Light allows the player to preview the first spirit below in the Spirit List under the name "???". As a fighter spirit, it cannot be used in Spirit Battles and is purely aesthetic. His ''Kingdom Hearts II'', ''Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance'', ''Kingdom Hearts III'', and Timeless River outfits have fighter spirits of their own, available through the shop. Each fighter spirit has an alternate version that replaces them with their artwork in ''Ultimate''.

==In Spirit Battles==

|{{SpiritTableName|Roxas|iw=khwiki|size=64}}

|''KINGDOM HEARTS'' Series

|{{SpiritTableName|Ventus|iw=khwiki|size=64}}

|''KINGDOM HEARTS'' Series

|{{SpiritTableName|Kairi|iw=khwiki|size=64}}

|''KINGDOM HEARTS'' Series

|N/A

|-

|{{Head|Sora|g=SSBU|s=50px|cl=White}}

Sora Trailer.png|Sora shaking hands with {{SSBU|Mario}} in front of the fiery [[Super Smash Bros. logo|''Super Smash Bros.'' logo]].

SSBUStainedGlass01.jpg|Sora's Station of Awakening.

SSBUWebsiteSora1.jpg|Sora assuming a readied stance on [[Hollow Bastion]].

SSBUWebsiteSora3.jpg|Sora using [[Blizzaga]] on [[Ice Climbers (SSBU)|Popo]] on Hollow Bastion.

SSBUWebsiteSora4.jpg|Sora using [[Sonic Blade]] toward [[Metal Face]] on [[Gaur Plain]].

SSBUWebsiteSora6.jpg|Sora using the third hit of his neutral aerial on {{SSBU|Bowser}}.

SSBUSoraMonochrome.jpg|Sora with {{SSBU|Kirby}}, {{SSBU|Mr. Game & Watch}}, and {{SSBU|Link}} on [[PictoChat 2]].

SSBUSoraCloudSephy.jpg|Sora with {{SSBU|Cloud}} and Sephiroth on [[Midgar]].

SSBUSoraMarioCloudSephy.jpg|Sora fighting Mario, Cloud, and Sephiroth at Hollow Bastion.

SSBUSoraDuckDog.jpg|Sora interacting with {{SSBU|Duck Hunt}} on {{SSBU|Battlefield}}.

SSBUSoraAndPuff.jpg|Sora waking up next to {{SSBU|Jigglypuff}} on [[Cloud Sea of Alrest]].

SSBUSoraCFalconZSSamus.jpg|Sora, {{SSBU|Captain Falcon}}, and {{SSBU|Zero Suit Samus}} facing off against the [[Dark Emperor]] at [[Find Mii]].

All Fighters from Fighters Pass Vol 2.jpg|Sora alongside all of the other DLC fighters of {{h2|Downloadable content (SSBU)|Fighters Pass Vol. 2}}.

*Sora's fighter tagline, "Sora Is Finally Here!", is a reference to both his massive and long-term popularity as a fighter candidate, and his status as the final fighter of ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''{{'}}s roster.

*Sora is referred to within the game files with the codename "trail".

*Sora's moveset was designed primarily to emphasize the aerial combat and tightly timed combos within the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series.<ref>[https://twitter.com/KodyNOKOLO/status/1450859017685848067 Kody NOKOLO on Twitter: "Sora’s playstyle in his games emphasizes aerial combat and tight timing for combos. It doesn’t exactly translate 1 to 1, but you might be able to get some of that feeling in Smash."]</ref>

*According to [[Masahiro Sakurai]], Sora and Challenger Pack 11 as a whole were not originally planned for Fighters Pass Vol. 2. The decision to extend Fighters Pass Vol. 2 from five Challenger Packs to six was made after a chance meeting with a Disney executive at a "certain game award venue" and successfully negotiating Sora's inclusion.<ref>https://twitter.com/pushdustin/status/1450855113015267339</ref>

*Several of Sora's promotional images contain references to the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series:

**Sora appearing on [[Tortimer Island]] is a reference to his birthplace, the {{iw|khwiki|Destiny Islands}}.

**Sora attacking [[Metal Face]] references the {{iw|khwiki|Guard Armor}}, a recurring {{iw|khwiki|Heartless}} boss.

**Sora fighting {{SSBU|Sephiroth}} on [[Coliseum]] references their encounter at the {{iw|khwiki|Olympus Coliseum}}. However, Sora is wearing his ''Kingdom Hearts II'' outfit in the picture despite only fighting Sephiroth at the Olympus Coliseum in the original ''Kingdom Hearts''.

**Sora standing next to {{SSBU|Duck Hunt}} references his allies {{iw|khwiki|Goofy}} and {{iw|khwiki|Donald Duck}}, who are also a dog and duck duo.

**Sora waking up next to {{SSBU|Jigglypuff}} is a reference to {{iw|khwiki|Meow Wow}}, a balloon-like monster known as a {{iw|khwiki|Dream Eater}} that features the characteristics of both a cat and a dog. Meow Wow was Sora's first companion in ''Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance'', and even returned as a {{iw|khwiki|Summon}} in ''Kingdom Hearts III'', being the first one that he obtains.

**While holding [[crate]]s, he holds them above his head, as he does when carrying [[khwiki:Props|crates and barrels]] in the original ''Kingdom Hearts''.

**His swimming and ladder climbing animations are effectively carried over from the original ''Kingdom Hearts''.

**When holding one-handed [[item]]s, his stance changes so that he holds the Kingdom Key with his raised right arm and the item in his left, while tapping his left foot, resembling his {{iw|khwiki|Valor Form}}'s battle stance. Both his tiptoeing and [[walk]]ing animations are altered to match.

***If the item is a battering item, Sora's animations for his neutral attack, forward tilt, dash attack, and forward smash will also change to resemble Valor Form's various dual-wielding attacks.

**When teching on a wall, Sora performs a similar animation to when performing a wall bounce while utilizing {{iw|khwiki|Flowmotion}} in ''Dream Drop Distance''.

**Sora's jumping animation replicates his jumping animation from the original ''Kingdom Hearts'', and his backwards double jump animation replicates his {{iw|khwiki|High Jump}} animation from ''Kingdom Hearts II''.

*{{SSBU|Mario}} tossing the {{iw|khwiki|Kingdom Key}} to summon Sora and both of them shaking hands at the end of his reveal trailer are references to them being the first and last [[Fighter number|numbered fighters]] on ''Ultimate''{{'}}s roster, respectively.

**The connection between both characters is also much more intricate beyond this. According to Tetsuya Nomura, the director of the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series, the 3D graphics and sandbox-style gameplay of ''{{iw|mariowiki|Super Mario 64}}'' inspired him to create a game similar to it. Upon being told that the only characters that could rival [[Mario]] in regard to popularity would have to be from a company like Disney, Nomura took this to heart and sought to implement Disney characters into his game after Disney approved Squaresoft's usage of their characters for such a project. Ultimately, this turn of events led to the groundwork of the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series' gameplay and story.<ref>[https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Iwata-Asks/Iwata-Asks-Nintendo-3DS-Third-Party-Game-Developers/Vol-11-KINGDOM-HEARTS-3D-Dream-Drop-Distance-/1-The-Impact-of-Super-Mario-64/1-The-Impact-of-Super-Mario-64-839624.html Iwata Asks | 1. The Impact of Super Mario 64]</ref>

*Sora's reveal trailer has different lip syncing between the English and Japanese versions. When he flies by the camera to chuckle in the Japanese version, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jqhp4M1lMTw&t=121s his mouth is already open]. In the English version, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82Q2XTJ8jWk&t=121s he grins before chuckling]. This goes along with the lip-syncing changes in most English versions of ''Kingdom Hearts''.

*Each of Sora's official renders resemble his official artworks from each respective iteration of ''Kingdom Hearts''. Said renders are also used for his fighter spirits.

**Unlike in the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series, Sora's P1 and P5 renders have him hold the {{iw|khwiki|Kingdom Key}} so that the teeth face upward, in contrast to how the teeth face downward in his other renders and his P1 fighter spirit. This is to reflect [[:File:Sora KH1.png|his 2D artwork]] from the original ''Kingdom Hearts'', in which he holds the Kingdom Key similarly.

*Despite having his proportions from the original ''Kingdom Hearts'', Sora's stance and crouch height resemble his battle pose from ''Kingdom Hearts II'' and ''Kingdom Hearts III''.

*Sora is the third DLC character in ''Ultimate'' whose voice clips are repurposed from another game, following {{SSBU|Banjo & Kazooie}} and {{SSBU|Min Min}}.

*When facing to the left, Sora's up and side taunts feature him smoothly turning towards the screen for the animation; when facing to the right, he instead snaps into position.

*Sora, {{SSBU|Meta Knight}}, {{SSBU|Inkling}}, {{SSBU|Joker}}, {{SSBU|Hero}}, {{SSBU|Banjo & Kazooie}}, {{SSBU|Sephiroth}}, {{SSBU|Pyra}}, and {{SSBU|Mythra}} are the only fighters who use their walking animation when navigating through the map in [[World of Light]].

[[Category:Third-party characters]]