Pichu (SSBM): Difference between revisions

Pichu is ranked 22nd on the current Melee tier list, placing it in the D tier. Pichu has solid overall movement, complemented with some very quick attacks and an excellent neutral air, along with good [[chaingrab]]bing ability. Pichu also boasts an exceptional shield for its size, making Pichu difficult to [[shield stab]] - particularly due to its relatively stubby damagable collision bubbles. However, all of Pichu's strengths are severely outweighed by its weaknesses. It has poor range and incredibly poor endurance due to its light weight, and is unusually prone to chaingrabs itself despite its small size, due to the high amount of [[hitstun]] it sustains, as a result of being the game's lightest character. It also takes [[recoil damage]] from its electric-based moves, including its own recovery move [[Agility]], further hampering its defensive game in a way that is unlike any other character in the game, aside from [[Roy (SSBM)|Roy]]'s fully charged [[Flare Blade]]. This is likely Pichu's greatest flaw, although a playstyle deadset on minimizing recoil [[damage]] can be developed. As a result, Pichu suffers from poor matchups - with nearly the entire cast taking advantage of its fragility, poor range and somewhat vulnerable [[recovery]] overall, although it covers a great distance. Historically, Pichu was considered to have the worst matchup spread in the game, with no universally agreed upon winning matchups. However, its perception has mildly improved over time, due to developments in its metagame partially because its unexpectedly fast frame data was initially undervalued. Regardless, Pichu's survivability remains absolutely atrocious, drastically hampering the effectiveness of any metagame developments.

Pichu has a rather high technical learning curve, compared to many other very low-tier characters, frequently requiring particularly fast reaction time, and takes advantage of small, fringe benefits it has - such as being tied with [[Fox]] for having the best ledgedash [[ledgedash|GALINT]] ('''G'''rounded '''A'''ctionable '''L'''edge '''Int'''angibility) in the game. Pichu's learning curve is further exacerbated by the fact that many of its moves have niche, but noteworthy, applications in specific matchups, alongside underexplored, or situational techniques. For example, Agility's single frame of landing lag can be exploited as a burst movement option, allowing Pichu to traverse the [[stage]] more quickly.

Although no longer considered a contender for the worst character competitively, Pichu was intended to be a uniquely bad character in general, with its trophy descriptions mentioning Pichu as "''top of the class in weakness''" and "''best suited for handicapped matches.''" This was confirmed in a development news update, shortly after the game's release.<ref>''[http://sourcegaming.info/2015/09/24/meleepichusite/ News Flash! Smash Bros. Dojo: Pichu]'' (translated 2015-09-24; [https://www.nintendo.co.jp/n01/n64/software/nus_p_nalj/smash/flash/1211/index.html original] posted 2001-12-11)</ref> While considered an unviable character at the highest level of play, [[Codeman]] has ironically demonstrated it is possible for Pichu to place respectably well in a [[major]] tournament.

Pichu possesses a significantly larger grab range than Pikachu. With its smaller size, this results in Pichu's grab game being mildly safer and harder to punish than Pikachu's. Otherwise, throw follow ups and chain grab opportunities are near identical. Interestingly, Pichu is the only character in ''Melee'' who can perform a rear clinch, due to its grab range extending slightly behind the neck. This niche functionality could be compared to a [[pivot grab]], albeit with minuscule range to compensate for significantly easier execution and slightly faster start up.