Palutena (SSB4): Difference between revisions

|ranking = 44

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'''Palutena''' ({{ja|パルテナ|Parutena}}, ''Palutena'') is a playable character in ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]''. She was revealed on June 10th, 2014 during Nintendo's [[Electronic Entertainment Expo|E3]] Digital Event.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GisRY6h100U&ab_channel=Nintendo Play Nintendo - Nintendo E3 Digital Event]</ref>

Update [[1.0.4]] made up and down tilts faster, to the point that the latter is now one of her safest grounded attacks. However, it also fixed a useful glitch on Counter that effectively removed its mindgame potential, and shortened her pivot grab's range. Update [[1.0.6]] removed another beneficial glitch on Super Speed, where the momentum would be maintained after [[Jump-canceling|jump-canceled]] attacks. Update [[1.0.8]] further improved up tilt by increasing its damage output and improving its hitbox placements. Update [[1.1.0]] brought a mix of buffs and nerfs: it increased down tilt and neutral aerial's hitbox sizes, increased forward aerial's damage output, and decreased her grabs' ending lag, yet effectively significantly hindered forward tilt's damage racking potential by removing its re-hit rate.

Lastly, update [[1.1.5]] brought some other useful buffs by increasing the damage outputs of her neutral attack, neutral aerial and forward aerial, which improved her damage racking potential and combo game. Ultimately, Palutena's abundant buffs are arguably counterbalanced by the few nerfs she received. As a result, her position relative to the cast is debatable, mostly because of other characters also receiving very useful buffs from game updates, such as {{SSB4|Samus}}, {{SSB4|Charizard}}, {{SSB4|Lucina}}, and {{SSB4|Mewtwo}}.

{{MovesetTable

|game=SSB4

|neutralcount=1

|neutralinf=y

|neutralinfdmg=0.8% (loop), 3.5% (last)

|neutraldesc=Thrusts her staff forward to emit a blast of light from its orb that hits multiple times, followed by an upward swipe. It is Palutena's best ground attack and arguably one of the best neutral attacks in the game, thanks to its spacing, damage racking and [[jab cancel]]ing potential. Jab cancel follow-ups include itself and standing/dash grabs at low to high percentages, and neutral aerial, back aerial, and smash attacks at very high percentages. Its neutral infinite's finisher is useful for spacing, thanks to its extremely high knockback scaling. Due to it hitting on frame 8, however, it is tied with {{SSB4|Wario}}'s neutral attack for the fourth slowest in the game. Its neutral infinite also has high ending lag.

|ftiltdmg=6% (staff's head), 4% (staff's tail)

|ftiltdesc=Telekinetically twirls her staff in front of herself. Hitting with the staff's tail can make it hit twice altogether, while its long duration and good range can allow it to punish [[sidestep]]s and backward [[roll]]s. It has [[Priority#Moves that cannot rebound|anti-rebounding priority]], which means that it will not suffer ending lag if it collides with an attack that does not have [[transcendent priority]]. Due to it hitting on frame 17, however, it is her slowest tilt attack. When coupled with its high ending lag and long duration, it is very punishable.

|utiltdmg=1.2% (hits 1-6), 2.5% (hit 7 staff's head), 1.5% (hit 7 staff's tail)

|utiltdesc=Kneels and telekinetically twirls her staff overhead. Unlike forward and down tilt, it has KO potential, thanks to its last hit's head hitbox having extremely high knockback scaling. Its last hit's head hitbox KOs middleweights at 154%/143% (''3DS''/''Wii U'') from anywhere on {{SSB4|Final Destination}}. Despite having a relatively low hitbox, it has deceptively decent vertical range, lowers Palutena's hurtbox even more than her [[crouch]] does, and has anti-rebounding priority. Due to it hitting on frame 10, it has the lowest start-up out of her tilt attacks. However, when this is coupled with its long duration, it is nevertheless punishable. In addition, its minimal horizontal range makes it unable to hit small, grounded characters like {{SSB4|Kirby}}.

|dtiltdmg=8.5% (grounded opponents, staff's head/tail on aerial opponents), 5% (staff's handle on aerial opponents)

|dtiltdesc=Kneels and telekinetically twirls her staff along the ground in front of herself. In addition to its anti-rebounding priority, it has the shortest duration and lowest ending lag out of her tilt attacks. It can be used for edge-guarding and spacing, or to punish sidesteps. However, its noticeable start-up lag makes it more situational than her neutral attack in regard to spacing.

|dashdmg=9% (clean), 5% (late)

|dashdesc=Rams into the opponent with her shield. Due to it hitting on frame 6, it is one of the fastest dash attacks in the game. It also has deceptive range, thanks to it slightly boosting Palutena. Thanks to its clean hitbox's high knockback scaling, it can function as a situational KOing option; it KOs middleweights at 157%/145% (''3DS''/''Wii U'') while near the edge of Final Destination. Its clean hitbox also grants partial [[invincibility]] to Palutena's body on frames 4-15. However, its high ending lag makes it very punishable.

|fsmashdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|16}} (near), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|13}} (far), — (tip)

|usmashdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|16}} (base), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|12}} (middle), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|9}} (top)

|usmashdesc=Conjures a cyan beam of light that erupts from the ground. It has the highest vertical range of any up smash in the game, and the second highest vertical range of all up smashes in the series, surpassed only by {{SSBB|Snake}}'s. It has three hitboxes: one at the base of the beam, one at the middle, and one at the top. Its high vertical range and base hitbox's great KO potential make it very useful for edge-guarding. Its base hitbox KOs middleweights at 102%/94% (''3DS''/''Wii U'') from anywhere on Final Destination. Although its middle hitbox deals slightly less damage, it also KOs reliably; it KOs aerial middleweights at 117%/106% (''3DS''/''Wii U'') from anywhere on Final Destination. Due to it hitting on frame 18, and having both 42 frames of ending lag and very minimal horizontal range, it is best suited as a punishment option. In addition, its top hitbox KOs noticeably later because of its average damage output.

|dsmashdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|15}} (near), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|13}} (far), — (tip)

|nairdmg=1.7% (loop), 5% (last)

|nairdesc=Telekinetically spins her staff around herself. Its loop hits have the [[Autolink angle|auto-link angle]], which makes it reliably trap opponents. When coupled with its long duration, it is a great pressuring and juggling option against opponents in the air or on platforms. Its last hit's extremely high knockback scaling also allows it to function as a decent edge-guarding option, and combo into grounded or other aerial attacks at low percentages.

|fairdmg=9%

|fairdesc=A flying kick. Its long range and low landing lag make it one of her most reliable spacing options. When coupled with its ability to be auto-canceled when [[SHFF]]'d, it also boasts good combo potential at low to medium percentages; follow-ups include itself, neutral attack, standing/dash grab, and dash attack. However, it has a very short duration and high ending lag.

|bairdmg=12% (shield), 9% (arm)

|bairdesc=Rotates her body to slam her shield into the opponent. Due to it hitting on frame 8, it is tied with up aerial as her second fastest aerial. It also has the second lowest amount of landing lag out of her aerials, and can be auto-canceled from a short hop. When these traits are coupled with its shield hitbox's respectable damage and high knockback scaling, it is one of Palutena's most viable KOing options. Its shield hitbox KOs middleweights at 135%/123% (''3DS''/''Wii U'') while near the edge of Final Destination. Like dash attack's clean hitbox, it grants partial invincibility around her body, but does so for its entire duration instead of for several frames. However, it has very high ending lag and a very small sourspot on her arm that deals less damage. Due to having its hitboxes positioned only on her shielded arm, it can also potentially miss an opponent that is too close to her.

|uairdmg=1% (hits 1-4), 5% (hit 5)

|uairdesc=Twirls while emitting her halo. Due to it hitting on frame 8, it is tied with back aerial as her second fastest aerial. Like neutral aerial, it has a long duration, hits multiple times and its last hit has extremely high knockback scaling. These traits allow it to reliably pressure aerial opponents above Palutena, and make it one of her most viable KOing options. Its last hit KOs middleweights at 104%/95% (''3DS''/''Wii U'') while near the upper blast line of Final Destination. However, it has a noticeable amount of ending lag. Due to having more interruptible frames than auto-canceling frames, it also cannot be auto-canceled at all, even a few frames after its animation ends. Despite this, its auto-cancel issue can be mitigated by using another attack with less ending lag, such as forward aerial, before Palutena lands on solid ground.

|dairdmg=9%

|dairdesc=A downward roundhouse kick. Unlike other meteor smashes, it will always meteor smash aerial opponents, thanks to its consistent hitbox. Conversely, it will obliquely launch grounded opponents, which allows it to be used as a punishment option from [[out of shield]] when SHFF'd. Due to it hitting on frame 10 and having the highest ending lag of any aerial attack in the game, it is her slowest aerial and thus very punishable. In addition, it only lasts for only 1 frame, has very minimal horizontal range, and cannot auto-cancel unless used from a jump. As a result of its flaws, it is unarguably Palutena's least effective aerial attack.

|grabdesc=Telekinetically clinches the opponent. Palutena's overall grab range is above-average: her standing grab is the fourth longest ranged non-[[tether grab]] in the game, while her pivot grab also has impressive range. However, her dash grab has a slight amount of ending lag.

|pummeldmg=3.1%

|pummeldesc=A small blast of light. Moderately slow, but tied with {{SSB4|Sheik}}'s for the sixth most damaging pummel in the game.

|fthrowdmg=9%

|fthrowdesc=Slightly curls herself and then telekinetically pushes the opponent forward. It is Palutena's second most damaging throw, but only has utility as an edge-guard set-up.

|bthrowdmg=10%

|bthrowdesc=Telekinetically lifts the opponent and then performs an inverted version of the [[wikipedia:Arabesque (ballet position)|Arabesque]], a ballet position, to fling the opponent backward. It is Palutena's most damaging throw, and her only throw that KOs at reasonable percentages. It is also useful for setting up an edge-guard. It KOs middleweights at 156%/146% (''3DS''/''Wii U'') while near the edge of Final Destination.

|uthrowdmg=8%

|uthrowdesc=Telekinetically heaves the opponent upward. Despite having high base knockback, its average damage output and below-average knockback scaling make it unreliable at KOing without the use of a highly elevated [[platform]], such as {{SSB4|Battlefield}}'s top platform. As a result, it is better suited for setting up aerial pressure.

|dthrowdmg=5%

|dthrowdesc=Telekinetically slams the opponent onto the ground. It is Palutena's most useful throw, thanks to its high base knockback, very low knockback growth, and diagonal launching angle. Depending on the opponent's DI, it can combo into any of her aerials, most notably up aerial. At high percentages, its up aerial combo is a reliable KO combo against almost the entirety of the cast, similarly to {{SSB4|Zelda}}'s own respective combo. Its back aerial combo also has decent KO potential, but must be used with a [[reverse aerial rush]]. In comparison, its down aerial combo requires both a successful read of the opponent's air dodge, and the opponent failing to DI properly. It can also combo into up smash, although it has the same requirements as the down aerial combo. However, down throw's combos are susceptible to DI, and it loses its effectiveness while Palutena has high [[rage]].

|usdefname=Warp

|usdefdmg=—

|usc1name=[[Jump Glide]]

|usc1dmg=—

|usc2name=[[Rocket Jump]]

|usc2dmg=12% (grounded), 10% (aerial)

|dsdefname=Counter

|dspage=Counter (Palutena)

|fsdmg=— (Black Hole), 2.4% (Mega Laser hits 1-12), 12% (Mega Laser hit 13)

|fsdesc=Illuminates her staff's orb and twirls around repeatedly before firing a Black Hole from her staff's orb, after which she quickly retreats off-stage in order to fire a Mega Laser into the Black Hole. The Black Hole does not deal damage, but [[pull]]s the opponent into itself and places them in a [[tumbling]] state. Conversely, the Mega Laser hits multiple times before concluding with a final blast that launches the opponent and dissipates the Black Hole. It is strong enough to KOs middleweights at 35% while near the edge of Final Destination in the ''3DS'' version.

}}

===[[Crowd cheer]]===

===[[Victory pose]]s===

==In [[competitive play]]==

===[[Official Custom Moveset Project]]===

{{OfficialCustomMoves

|set10=2323

}}

===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 -->

''See also: [[:Category:Palutena players (SSB4)]]''

==[[Trophies]]==

{{Trophy/Fighter

|name=Palutena

}}

{{clrl}}

==[[Alternate costume (SSB4)#Palutena|Alternate costumes]]==

|{{Head|Palutena|g=SSB4|s=50px|cl=Purple}}

|}

==Gallery==

*{{for3ds}} marks the first ever game that Palutena is playable.

*Oddly, Palutena's internal files of voice clips for her smash attack uses the same three-number codes (e.g. "003" in case of "Goddess wings!" voice clip) used for special moves, Final Smashes, and [[on-screen appearance]]s of veteran characters as well as {{SSB4|Rosalina & Luma}}'s [[Launch Star]], instead of using the "attack" descriptor that smash attacks usually share with neutral attack, tilt attacks, dash attack, aerial attacks, and floor attacks.

==References==