Ganondorf (SSBU)

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Ganondorf in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Universe	The Legend of Zelda
Other playable appearances	in Melee in Brawl in SSB4
Availability	Unlockable
Final Smash	Ganon, The Demon King

“	His new design matches his appearance in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time! Now he uses his sword for all his smash attacks. He's a bit slimmer then [sic] he was before, but his Warlock Punch is devastating! For his final smash he transforms into Ganon, The Demon King and quickly charges forward.	”
—Super Smash Blog, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Official Site

Ganondorf (ガノンドロフ, Ganondorf) is a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Ganondorf is classified as fighter #23.

Takashi Nagasako reprises his role as Ganondorf after having previously voiced the character in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Super Smash Bros. Melee.

Changes from Super Smash Bros. 4

NOTE: SmashWiki is not speculative. Please refrain from adding detailed data values derived from pre-release gameplay footage, such as the E3 demo. Such data (damage values, launch trajectories, frame data, etc.) are subject to change before the official release.

Ganondorf was granted some of the most notable changes during the transition from Super Smash Bros. 4 to Ultimate. His design is now based off of his appearance in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and many of his moves feature different animations; notably, he now utilizes his sword from the Space World 2000 tech demo for his smash attacks, decloning them entirely from those of his semi-clone Captain Falcon.

As a stand-alone character, though, Ganondorf has been significantly buffed in Ultimate. Like Bowser from Brawl to Smash 4‚ most of his weaknesses were at least made better, as his mobility, while still rather lacking, is still faster overall, and his overall range is much better. Additionally, he benefits from many of the universal changes in Ultimate, as the decreased landing lag on his aerials and being able to dash cancel into his relatively fast forward and down tilts significantly improve his approach.

Aesthetics

• Ganondorf's appearance is based off of his original design from Ocarina of Time. He bears a close resemblance to his official art from Ocarina of Time 3D.
• Ganondorf's initial dash and running animations were altered, with his arms positioned further out to the side.
• Ganondorf's on-screen appearance now shows him stepping out of a liquid-like vortex of darkness.
• All attacks that utilize darkness have more intense particle effects.
• Ganondorf has new victory animations:
  • The first has him flip his cape before pumping his fist.
  • The second has him levitate in the air, land on the ground while punching his palm, and then reel back before thrusting his hand towards the screen.
  • The third has him flip his cape before laughing wickedly. [1]

Attributes

• The universal 3-frame jumpsquat heavily improves Ganondorf's ground-to-air transitioning, down from 7 frames.
• The universal ability to dash cancel into any ground attack greatly benefits Ganondorf, allowing him to use his relatively quick forward tilt and down tilt while approaching.
• Ganondorf dashes faster, now being nearly on par with his Melee speed. His initial dash animation is both faster and goes a longer distance.
• Ganondorf jumps higher and has greater air speed.
• Ganondorf is heavier, now weighing more than Charizard.

Ground attacks

• Neutral attack deals slightly more damage and no longer has a sourspot.
• Forward tilt and down tilt deal slightly more damage.
• Up tilt is significantly faster, with fewer startup frames and less end lag.
  • Up tilt now has Ganondorf longer holds up his leg with his hand similar to its animation in Melee, and now has a flame effect on his foot during startup.
• All of Ganondorf's new smash attacks involve his sword from the Space World 2000 tech demo.
• Forward smash:
  • Ganondorf has a new forward smash: a downward sword slash, similar to Ike's.
  • Forward smash has disjointed hitboxes and overall vastly increased reach. It can now cover overhead.
  • Forward smash deals slightly more damage.
  • Forward smash has more startup and ending lag.
  • Forward smash has a shorter duration.
• Up smash:
  • Ganondorf has a new up smash: an overhead sword swing from front to back, similar to Ike's.
  • Up smash has fewer startup frames and more active frames.
  • Up smash has greatly improved range. It has a disjointed hitbox and covers around Ganondorf's body, now being able to hit behind him.
  • Up smash has more ending lag and interrupts significantly later, removing its ability to bait opponents into approaching.
• Down smash:
  • Ganondorf has a new down smash: a forward hilt thrust that leads into a backwards stab, similar to Cloud's.
  • Down smash's second hit sends opponents at a semi-spike angle, improving its edgeguarding potential.
  • Down smash's second hit has slightly fewer startup frames and less end lag.
  • Down smash's lower hitbox placement allows it to hit most crouching opponents and lowers Ganondorf's hurtbox.
  • The hitbox on the first hit that previously sent opponents away from the second hit has been removed, allowing both hits to connect more reliably.
  • Down smash's first hit deals slightly less damage.

Aerial attacks

• All aerials have significantly reduced landing lag.
• Forward aerial has increased range due to Ganondorf leaning further forward as he punches.
  • Forward aerial's auto-cancel window was restored.
• Back aerial deals more damage.
  • Back aerial's animation no longer has Ganondorf crossing his legs.
• Up aerial:
  • Up aerial has Ganondorf kick with his right leg instead of his left.
  • Up aerial has more startup frames.
  • Up aerial's hitbox no longer hits below Ganondorf, significantly weakening its gimping potential and removing its jab reset combos.
• Down aerial has Ganondorf lean back slightly as he stomps, similar to its animation in Melee.

Throws/other attacks

• Standing grab has more range.
  • Standing grab has slightly more startup frames and end lag.
  • Ganondorf now grabs with his left hand and has an altered dash grab animation.
• Pummel is much faster.
  • Pummel deals less damage.
• Ganondorf has a new forward throw: an uppercut.
• Up throw deals more damage.

Special Moves

• Warlock Punch:
  • Warlock Punch deals more damage and knockback.
• Flame Choke:
  • Grounded Flame Choke has less end lag, significantly improving its combo potential and allowing more possible follow-ups on missed techs; in particular, a combo into down tilt is now guaranteed against all characters.
  • Grounded Flame Choke stops when it reaches a ledge, making it safer to use.
  • Grounded Flame Choke deals more damage.
  • Aerial Flame Choke can now be escaped by button mashing and is scaled with the opponent's damage percentage, significantly hindering Ganoncide's utility at low percentages.
• Dark Dive:
  • Dark Dive deals more damage.
  • Dark Dive deals more knockback and launches opponents at a lower angle.
  • Dark Dive's grab release has less end lag.
  • Opponents grab released by trading attacks with Dark Dive now receive damage.
  • Dark Dive's attack now causes a vibrant burst of purple magic rather than a fiery explosion.
• The landing lag glitch on Flame Choke and Dark Dive have been fixed.
• Wizard's Foot:
  • Grounded Wizard's Foot deals more damage, and its late hits are just as strong as the early hit.
  • Grounded Wizard's Foot no longer has a blindspot.
  • Grounded Wizard's Foot travels faster and has significantly less end lag, making it safer to use at low percentages and giving the move combo potential.
  • Aerial Wizard's Foot can no longer be teched by opponents during the initial hit.
  • Wizard's Foot's animation is closer to how it appeared in Melee.
• Beast Ganon:
  • Ganondorf's Final Smash, Beast Ganon, is now based on his bipedal form from Ocarina of Time. Instead of slamming the ground with his body, Beast Ganon slashes with his swords before rushing forward. When Ganondorf activates his Final Smash, the Triforce of Power briefly flashes on the back of his hand.

Role in World of Light

Ganondorf was absent in the World of Light trailer, though he presumably became a spirit alongside the rest of the galaxy (sans Kirby) when Galeem unleashed its beams of light.

Alternate costumes

Gallery

• 

  Ganondorf idling on Coliseum.

• 

  Striking Marth on Arena Ferox.

• 

  Idling on Bridge of Eldin.

• 

  Running from Ness and a Bomber on Gaur Plain.

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  Idling with Zelda on Hyrule Castle.

• 

  Performing Demon King Ganon on Arena Ferox.

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  Idling with Link and Zelda on Great Plateau Tower.

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  Struck by Bayonetta on Mario Galaxy.

• 

  Taunting with Captain Falcon on Temple.

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  Being put to sleep by Jigglypuff on Town and City.

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  Trapped by Toon Link's Triforce Slash.

• 

  Taunting with all Zelda veterans on Great Plateau Tower.

• 

  Idling towards the Moon on Bridge of Eldin.

• Ganondorf(SSBU)WarlockPunch.png

  Striking Sheik (the latter barely visible except for her lower legs) with his Warlock Punch.

Character Showcase video

<youtube>Q7pzoLQlrsM</youtube>

Trivia

• Ultimate marks the first time in the Smash series that Ganondorf utilizes a sword in his base moveset.
• The voice clip played during Ganondorf's down smash features him shouting "Oooh-yah!", which was a clip that went unused in Melee. The clip also made an appearance in Brawl as Ganondorf's Wii Remote selection sound.
• Ganondorf's entry on the official Super Smash Blog has a grammatical error, using the word "then" instead of the correct "than." Also, the words "Final Smash" are lowercase instead of uppercase like in other fighter entries.