Sephiroth (SSBU): Difference between revisions

|tier = A+

|ranking = 27

{{Cquote|Sephiroth Descends to Battle!|cite=Introduction Tagline}}

Sephiroth is ranked 27th out of 82 on the current [[tier list]], placing him at the end of the A+ tier. Sephiroth's greatest strengths are his great KO power and long range; the latter of which is courtesy of his [[Masamune]], which grants him the ability to apply constant pressure to his opponents without having to risk fighting in close-quarters combat. Sephiroth's [[Winged Form]] also grants him increased attack power, higher mobility, [[super armor]] on his [[smash attack]]s, and a second [[double jump]] throughout the form's duration.

However, Sephiroth has some glaring weaknesses. His very light [[weight]] and tall hurtbox collectively make him easy to hit and KO in a similar vein to {{SSBU|Mewtwo}}. Sephiroth's long range also comes at the cost of sluggish frame data and the Masamune's hitboxes being very narrow to compensate for their long range. Lastly, the Winged Form is a high-risk, high-reward [[fighter ability]]: due to being a comeback-oriented mechanic, it requires Sephiroth to be at a noticeable disadvantage in order to be accessed, and upon dissipating, it will be able to be reactivated only after Sephiroth is KO'd.

Despite his shortcomings, Sephiroth is seen as a high tier in the current metagame, with players such as {{Sm|KEN}}, {{Sm|Ned}}, and {{Sm|Tweek}} showing what he is capable of.

|ssdesc=Snaps his fingers to emit a thin, short-ranged surge of dark energy at the opponent. If it connects, spheres of dark energy will orbit the opponent, then home in on them and explode after the spheres make at least two revolutions around the character. The initial surge can be charged, increasing its damage and range while creating more spheres on hit. An uncharged surge creates only one sphere, whereas a fully charged surge will create three spheres; up to five spheres can orbit an opponent at once. Sephiroth can also quickly turn 180° before firing Shadow Flare by quickly flicking the control stick in the opposite direction, similarly to [[B-reversing]]. The spheres can also hit bystanders while they orbit around the opponent, with each sphere being able to collide twice before disappearing. The spheres can be reflected and absorbed. If [[Pocket]]ed, the sphere is thrown as a standard projectile. In comparison to Sephiroth's other moves, Shadow Flare is very spammable, thanks to its fairly low interruptibility, and it pierces through enemy projectiles without being destroyed, making it capable of negating any projectile within its priority range despite the initial hit's low damage. As a result, it can be used frequently without fear of retaliation, and allows him to set up follow-ups or condition the opponent into picking an option. However, the move has very low safety in close quarters even on hit due to it causing minimal hitstun and shield damage.

|fsdesc=Performs a diagonally upward slash while saying {{ja|星に帰れ|Hoshi ni kaere.}} ("Return to the Planet.") Up to 3 opponents hit by the slash will be trapped in a cutscene where Sephiroth transforms into Safer∙Sephiroth (his final boss form) to summon Meteor and trigger a supernova, wiping out the world and causing random status effects to foes who are not KO'd. These status effects include an automatic [[shield break]], being [[timer|slowed down]], having reversed controls (indicated by a [[Ramblin' Evil Mushroom|mushroom]] on the victim's head), having a [[flower]] planted on the victim's head, being put to [[sleep]], or simply using the darkness effect alongside more knockback than usual (albeit still below-average for a Final Smash). Fighters caught in the Final Smash face toward him with their backs to the camera, much like Cloud and his party do in his final boss battle in ''Final Fantasy VII''. The attack is also based on the attack of the same name in ''Final Fantasy VII''. Once the move successfully concludes, Sephiroth assumes his fighting stance from ''Final Fantasy VII'' and then performs an animation based on his victory pose as a guest party member during the Nibelheim flashback.

*{{Sm|KEN|Japan}} - Co-mained Sephiroth alongside {{SSBU|Sonic}} and is the best Sephiroth player in the world. He is the only Sephiroth player to win a major, doing so at {{Trn|Battle of BC 4}} and using the character for all of top 8. However, he has since relegated the character to a secondary or occasional counterpick.

*{{Sm|M4E|Italy}} - The best Sephiroth player in Europe and a top 10 player in Europe for the first half of 2023. He has placed highly at several European events, including 3rd at the superregional {{Trn|ICARUS 2023}}, 5th at the superregional {{Trn|GLORY 3}}, and 25th at the majors {{Trn|VCA 2022}} and {{Trn|King Of Fields 95 3}}.

*{{Sm|Ned|USA}} - The best Sephiroth player in the world in 2021 and currently uses the character alongside {{SSBU|Cloud}} and {{SSBU|Pokémon Trainer}}. He was the first Sephiroth player to place well at an offline event, placing 2nd at the superregional {{Trn|InfinityCON Tally 2021}}. He has also placed 5th at the major {{Trn|Rise 'N Grind}} and 9th at the major {{Trn|Port Priority 6}} and the supermajor {{Trn|Super Smash Con 2022}}.

*{{Sm|Sriks|Australia}} - The best Sephiroth player in Australia. He has seen strong results outside of Australia with Sephiroth, including placing 4th at the superregional {{Trn|BOSS BATTLES: Phase 1}}, 17th at the major {{Trn|Ultimate WANTED 4}}, and 33rd at the supermajor {{Trn|Kagaribi 9}}, notably upsetting {{Sm|Miya|p=Honshu}} in the latter tournament.

*{{Sm|Tweek|USA}} - Uses Sephiroth as a secondary alongside {{SSBU|Diddy Kong}} or as a counterpick. He has placed 5th at {{Trn|CEO 2022}} with solo-Sephiroth and 2nd at {{Trn|Mainstage 2022}}, {{Trn|Scuffed World Tour}} and {{Trn|Smash Ultimate Summit 6}} with Sephiroth as a secondary.

Following the return of offline competitive play, opinions on Sephiroth mellowed out as players identified how his light weight, tall stature, and unimpressive frame data were noticable weaknesses. In addition, many players believed Sephiroth was more difficult to consistently play at a top level than most fighters, which led Sephiroth to garner a rather small playerbase compared to other top-tier fighters. Despite this, Sephiroth's overall representation remained strong thanks to performances from players such as {{Sm|KEN}}, Ned, and {{Sm|Tweek}}, all of whom have achieved respectable placements and wins at majors while using Sephiroth; this was most notably demonstrated by KEN's win at {{Trn|Battle of BC 4}} where he used only Sephiroth throughout the top 8. However, these results were either set back by the players' inconsistency with the character or were complemented with other characters. For example, KEN mostly played {{SSBU|Sonic}} at Battle of BC 4 prior to top 8, while his Sephiroth became less consistent as time went on, including going 1-2 at the invitational {{Trn|L'Odyssée - Chant I}}; he has since regulated Sephiroth to an occasional counterpick. Overall, Sephiroth's smaller playerbase compared to other top-tier characters, as well as his general inconsistency at higher level play, has led many to consider him as just a high-tier character, which is reflected in his placement on the current tier list, where he is ranked 27th.

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