Pikachu (SSBU)

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Pikachu in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Universe	Pokémon
Other playable appearances	in SSB in Melee in Brawl in SSB4
Availability	Starter
Final Smash	Volt Tackle

“	This fierce fighter uses electric moves like Thunder Jolt and Thunder. Pikachu Libre is one of the alternate costumes and you can tell she's female by the shape of her tail.	”
—Super Smash Blog, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Official Site

Pikachu (ピカチュウ, Pikachu) is a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. It was confirmed on June 12th, 2018. Pikachu is classified as fighter #08.

As in SSB4, Ikue Ōtani's portrayal of Pikachu from Brawl was repurposed for Ultimate.

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.

Aesthetics

• Pikachu has a more subdued color scheme, and it more closely resembles its appearance in recent mainline Pokémon games.
• Pikachu is more expressive. It now appears angry during many attacks.
• Pikachu's cheeks flash white when it uses electric attacks.
• Pikachu always faces the screen regardless of which direction it turns, causing all of its animations to be mirrored.
• Pikachu only waves once during its side taunt, shortening its duration. Down taunt is also faster.
• Two new costumes featuring the female Pikachu design, which has a heart-shaped tail, have been added. These replace its white and cyan costumes from SSB4.
  • The first costume features Selene's casual cap from Pokémon Sun and Moon.
  • The second costume features the Libre costume from Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.

Attributes

• Like all characters, Pikachu's jumpsquat animation now takes three frames to complete (down from 4).
• Pikachu dashes much faster.
• Pikachu's air speed has increased.

Ground attacks

• Neutral attack has slightly increased range.
• Forward tilt deals more damage when angled up.
  • Forward tilt has slightly more end lag.
  • Forward tilt now has an electric effect.
• Up tilt has more end lag.
  • Up tilt no longer deals consistent damage.
  • Up tilt has an altered animation, with Pikachu scooting its backside up to hit with its tail.
• Down tilt deals slightly more damage and knockback.
  • Down tilt has an altered animation, with Pikachu's tail standing more upright at the end.
• Dash attack's sweetspot deals more damage and knockback.
  • Dash attack has less end lag.
• Forward smash has increased range.
  • Forward smash has more end lag.
• Up smash deals less knockback.
• Down smash has less end lag and deals more damage.

Aerial attacks

• Neutral aerial is a new attack that has Pikachu emitting an electric surge around itself, hitting multiple times, similar to Mewtwo's neutral aerial.
  • Neutral aerial has less landing lag and is more useful for starting combos.
• Forward aerial deals more damage if all hits connect, and the final hit deals more knockback.
• Back aerial's animation is quicker.
  • Back aerial has more startup frames.
  • Back aerial's final hit deals less knockback, making it a worse KO option but better for combos.
  • Back aerial has an altered ending animation, with Pikachu spreading out its limbs while in a more upright position.
• Down aerial can meteor smash opponents.
  • Down aerial has more end lag.
• Up aerial deals more damage but combos the same.

Throws/other attacks

• Standing grab and dash grab having more startup frames and end lag.
  • Pikachu now grabs and pummels with one hand.
• Forward throw deals more damage.
  • Forward throw has slightly more vertical knockback. This hinders its combo potential but may help with edgeguarding.
• Up throw has slightly altered knockback, reducing its combo potential.
  • Up throw deals more damage.
• Down throw deals less damage.

Special Moves

• Thunder Jolt:
  • Aerial Thunder Jolt deals more damage.
  • Grounded Thunder Jolt has slightly fewer startup frames.
• Skull Bash:
  • Uncharged Skull Bash deals slightly more damage and has less end lag.
  • Skull Bash causes Pikachu to bounce back when it hits an opponent, making it safer to use.
  • Skull Bash travels a shorter distance.
• Quick Attack:
  • Quick Attack now has an angle indicator to telegraph Pikachu's trajectory. This may help prevent missed directional inputs but also makes Pikachu's movement more predictable.
  • Quick Attack deals slightly more knockback, launching opponents more effectively but reducing its combo potential.
• Thunder:
  • Thunder deals more knockback.
  • Thunder deals slightly more damage.
  • Thunder has more startup frames and end lag.
  • Thunder produces a yellow lightning bolt rather than blue and causes Pikachu glow a bright yellow while flashing a dark tint.
• Volt Tackle
  • Pikachu's Final Smash, Volt Tackle, now involves Pikachu dashing forward quickly while surrounded by a ball of electricity. If this initial attack connects, Pikachu traps the opponent in place and speeds around the stage at different angles, racking up damage before launching opponents with an electric blast at the end of the move.
  • Volt Tackle is easier to control, now requiring only a single button press rather than having to control Pikachu's slippery movement.
  • Pikachu can no longer chase down opponents if the initial attack misses. Pikachu may also self-destruct.

Role in World of Light

Pikachu was among the fighters summoned to the cliffside to fight an army of Master Hands.

Pikachu was present when Galeem unleashed its beams of light. While attempting to run away, Pikachu was noticed by Sonic who slowed down for Pikachu in an attempt to save it. Both of them were vaporized and transformed into spirits along with the rest of the fighters, except for Kirby.

Alternate costumes

Gallery

• 

  Official render of Pikachu Libre.

• 

  Female Pikachu taunting with Pokémon Trainer on Battlefield.

• 

  Performing its down tilt on Summit.

• 

  Dashing towards Mario on Tortimer Island.

• 

  Performing its down aerial above Diddy Kong on Arena Ferox.

• 

  Golden with Squirtle and Ivysaur on Pokémon Stadium 2.

• 

  Pikachu Libre using its down throw on Little Mac in the Boxing Ring.

• 

  With multiple Pikachu, Pichu, and Incineroar on Paper Mario.

• 

  Wearing a Rocket Belt alongside Pichu in Mario Galaxy.

• 

  With Pichu and Alolan Raichu on Yoshi's Island.

• 

  Pikachu, Link, Bowser and Inkling being attacked by Rathalos on Tortimer Island.

Character Showcase Video

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Trivia

• This is the first time Pikachu was not the first Pokémon character to be explicitly announced for a new Smash title, with Mewtwo being confirmed before it.
• Pikachu's pose in its official artwork resembles its front sprite in the Generation III Pokémon games.
• In the E3 demo of the game, Pikachu's portrait used its in-game model as opposed to its official artwork. This was also the case with Link, Mario and Villager. This has since been fixed.
• While Pikachu has possessed a goggles alternate costume since Brawl, it has been removed and returned to Pichu, who was the original owner of said palette swap.