Pound

"Strike" redirects here. For the Canadian Sheik player, see Smasher:Strike.

Pound
Pound being used in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
User	Jigglypuff
Universe	Pokémon
Article on Bulbapedia	Pound (move)

Pound (はたく, Strike) is Jigglypuff's neutral special move in Super Smash Bros. and side special move from Melee onward.

Overview

Pound is a quick, short-ranged punch that sends Jigglypuff forward a short distance. While using the move, Jigglypuff will vocalize "Puff!" with its arm out in front of it while punching. Pound is very useful when recovering, as it can be used between jumps to give Jigglypuff more horizontal distance. This technique is required to beat Jigglypuff's Board the Platforms in Super Smash Bros. In Smash 4, Pound has lost some of its horizontal distance, limiting its recovery abilities.

While useful for mobility, Pound also has offensive uses due to its sex kick properties and high shield damage. Due to its lingering hitbox, Pound stays out longer than one might expect, which often causes opponents to drop their guard too early at times. In certain situations, this can serve as a set-up for Jigglypuff's powerful Rest attack. Its usefulness against shields is particularly useful due to Jigglypuff's constant aerial playstyle, and can punish opponents who overuse shields in an attempt to punish Jigglypuff out of shield. In Smash 4, Pound significantly benefits from the removal of damage reduction on shields, allowing it to bring shields to a near sliver of health.

In the original, the move always launched opponents at a diagonal angle behind Jigglypuff. In Melee, Pound either knocks opponents vertically if used at a close range, or sends them at a slightly more horizontal angle than in the original game if it hits afterwards, while in Brawl, the angles are the opposite of Melee. The move does a maximum of 13% damage in the original and Melee, and 11% in Brawl and Smash 4.

In SSB, Pound has more ending lag than in the later games, making the technique less effective and harder to master. However, as it is Jigglypuff's neutral special in this game, Kirby can copy the move and use this same technique, giving him a better recovery as he can use Final Cutter for additional height. In Brawl and Smash 4, after using all of Jigglypuff's midair jumps, CPUs use this move repeatedly until they recover, or are eventually KO'd.

Rising Pound

Pound performed repeatedly in Melee. Note how Jigglypuff travels a large horizontal distance while losing almost no height and using no jumps.

As pressing up quickly after using Pound causes Jigglypuff to gain height, and the move does not put it into helpless state, Pound gives Jigglypuff a gigantic horizontal recovery. This technique is known as a "rising Pound". Contrary to popular belief, this is not infinite, as the ending lag causes Jigglypuff to end up slightly lower than its original position. However, it still gives it a great advantage in stalling, being able to go under many stages and go to the other side. It is also possible to perform a "falling Pound" by pressing down instead of up after using Pound, which instead moves Jigglypuff slightly downwards.

Instructional quotes

instruction booklet		Pound does serious damage, and it can also help as a recovery move.
instruction booklet		Slap your opponents so hard they fly straight into the air.
Move List		Steps forward and slaps opponents so hard they fly straight into the air.

Customization

Special Move customization was added in Super Smash Bros. 4. These are the variations:

1. Pound	2. Sideways Pound	3. Pound Blitz
"Step forward and slap your opponent so hard they fly straight into the air."	"Slap opponents, and launch them sideways."	"A lunging strike that sends you sliding across the ground. Can hit multiple times."

1. Pound: Default.
2. Sideways Pound: A somewhat altered version of Pound. The startup and ending lag is increased somewhat, and the move does less damage (11% -> 7%) and shield damage (20 -> 10 ground, 0 air), while also halting Jigglypuff's momentum almost entirely with no movement at all for the aerial version. However, the move is now a semi-spike, improving its edgeguarding and gimping potential.
3. Pound Blitz: The Pound is now a multi-hit. Additionally, Jigglypuff slides further while using the move, and it has a larger hitbox, improving its usage for recovery and significantly boosting its range. However, it deals slightly less damage if all hits connect, is less effective on shields and has noticeably increased startup and ending lag, making it somewhat of a commitment, as well as less safe.

Origin

Pound in Generation VI Pokémon games

Introduced in Generation I, Pound is a physical Normal-type attack that is learned at start or at a low level by many Pokémon, similar to both Tackle and Scratch. Due to its very low base power and the existence of superior Normal-type attacks, players as a result will typically replace Pound with more powerful and effective moves that their Pokémon learn later as they level up. Jigglypuff can learn it at a very low level in all generations.

Gallery

• 

  Pound in SSB.

• 

  Pound in Melee.

• 

  Pound in Brawl.

• 

  Pound in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.

• 

  Pound in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

• 

  Pound as shown by the Move List in Ultimate.

Trivia

• Pound is one of six special moves to have its directional input changed throughout the series. The other five are Boomerang, PK Fire, Rock Smash, Reflect Barrier and Explosive Flame.
  • Of the three neutral special moves that became side special moves from the jump to Super Smash Bros. Melee, Pound is the only one that isn't a projectile.
• Prior to Smash 4, this is Jigglypuff's only special move where it doesn't face the screen when performed while facing left.

Jigglypuff's special moves

Neutral special	Pound	Rollout
Side special	—	Pound
Up special	Sing
Down special	Rest
Final Smash	—		Puff Up