Duck Hunt: Difference between revisions

|lastappearance    = ''{{s|mariowiki|WarioWare Gold}}'' (2018)

|species      = Dog (dog)<br/>Duck (duck)

|gender      = Male <!--The tip for Duck Jump in Smash 4 refers to the dog as male: "The duck grabs the dog and carries him through the air. Once started, this move can't be stopped." and the duck can also be confirmed male simply by its appearance. -->

'''Duck Hunt''' ({{ja|ダックハント|Dakkuhanto}}, ''Duckhunt''), known in [[PAL]] regions as '''Duck Hunt Duo''', is the name of a playable tag team composed of the hunting dog and a duck from the NES light gun game, ''{{s|wikipedia|Duck Hunt}}''.

[[File:Duck_Hunt_Dog_Duck.PNG|thumb|100px|left|In-Game Sprite of the Dog holding a duck in ''Duck Hunt'']] Throughout ''Duck Hunt'', the goal is to shoot all of the ducks with a limited amount of bullets and time. By plugging a controller into the player 2 slot in the NES, a duck can be controlled to a limited extent by another player.

===As a playable character===

''Super Smash Bros. 4'' marks both the third appearance of the ''Duck Hunt'' universe, and the debut of [[Unlockable character|unlockable]] representatives for said universe. [[Masahiro Sakurai]] stated that the inclusion of playable ''Duck Hunt'' representatives was influenced by that respective game's worldwide sales numbers, and his feeling that the ''Duck Hunt'' universe had not been viable for such representation until ''SSB4''.<ref>[http://www.gamnesia.com/news/sakurai-explains-duck-hunts-inclusion-in-smash Sakurai Explains Duck Hunt's Inclusion in Smash]</ref> Like the {{uv|Ice Climber}} universe, the ''Duck Hunt'' universe's playable representatives (the hunting dog and a duck) function as a tag team that is referred to by their home game's name.<ref>[https://www.smashbros.com/en_US/blog/index.html?pageCount=2 Super Smash Blog page 2]</ref> Duck Hunt were the final ''Smash 4'' base game [[newcomer]]s to be officially revealed.

Three of Duck Hunt's [[special move]]s also reference other "Light Gun Series" games contemporary to their home game. Their neutral special involves a tin can from the "Trick Shot" game mode in ''[[wikipedia:Hogan's Alley (video game)|Hogan's Alley]]''; their down special involves the gunmen from the NES game ''{{s|wikipedia|Wild Gunman}}''; and their [[Final Smash]] collectively involves a flock of ducks from ''Duck Hunt'', the cardboard cutouts from the ''Hogan's Alley'', and the gunmen from ''Wild Gunmen''. Outside of these moves, their smash attacks also make use of the {{s|wikipedia|NES Zapper}}.

Duck Hunt are currently ranked 30th out of 55 on the [[tier list]], placing them at the top of the D tier, and rendering them the highest ranking mid-tier characters. Duck Hunt's projectiles make them capable at stage control and zoning, with [[Trick Shot]] being the most useful due to its remote controllable property. They also have a good air game, as their sweetspotted neutral aerial, up aerial and sweetspotted back aerial are capable KOing options, while their forward aerial is useful for [[edge-guarding]] and spacing. However, their KO potential is very inconsistent, due to having a very small number of KOing options and because of their smash attacks' very awkward hitbox placements making them liable to fail at landing all of their hits.

Although [[Duck Jump]] is a maneuverable recovery move that grants a decent amount of vertical and horizontal distance, it is slow and unprotected, which leaves Duck Hunt wide open to edge-guarding and forces them to use the dog's [[wall jump]] more often than not. Their reliance on projectiles is also highly ineffective against characters who can counteract them, such as those with [[Reflection|reflectors]] and especially against {{SSB4|Rosalina & Luma}}, who can completely nullify their projectiles with [[Gravitational Pull]].

Despite having a small playerbase, Duck Hunt have nevertheless managed to achieve decent results at regional and national tournaments, thanks to {{Sm|Raito}}, {{Sm|Brood}}, {{Sm|You3}}, {{Sm|ImHip}} and {{Sm|Dandy Penguin}}.

===As a playable character===

Duck Hunt have received a mix of buffs and nerfs in the transition to ''Ultimate''. Duck Hunt's infamously unreliable smash attacks now connect much more reliably (though their final hits may still fail to connect in rare instances), thus significantly improving their once-notoriously inconsistent KO potential. Each of Duck Hunt's special moves have also gained particular buffs. Trick Shot deals more damage and knockback, travels farther, has less ending lag, and can now be hit while it is in midair. Clay Shooting has improved combo potential, thanks to it keeping the opponent in place upon contact and having less ending lag. Duck Jump can now be canceled with an attack or air dodge after 50 frames, similarly to [[Winged Pikmin]]. Lastly, Wild Gunman deals more damage, fires faster, and has less ending lag.

Although Duck Hunt received some nerfs, most notably to their neutral infinite, clean neutral aerial and down aerial, they have nevertheless managed to attain decent results in competitive play in spite of their small playerbase: Wisdom and Ozone tied for 5th at [[Paradigm Shift 2019]], while Raito and Vintendo placed 5th and 25th, respectively, at [[EVO 2019]].

*The duo are the first pair of animal fighters consisting of a mammal and a bird, later followed by [[Banjo & Kazooie]].

**This similarity is referenced in Banjo & Kazooie's reveal trailer.