Simon (SSBU)

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Simon in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Universe	Castlevania
Availability	Unlockable
Final Smash	Grand Cross

“	Simon Lashes Out!	”
—Introduction Tagline

“	The protagonist of Castlevania. He uses his holy whip, Vampire Killer, to perform a smash attack with long reach. He also uses projectiles like an axe, holy water and cross.	”
—Super Smash Blog, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Official Site

Simon (シモン, Simon) is a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. He was announced as a newcomer alongside Richter, Chrom, Dark Samus, and King K. Rool during a Nintendo Direct on August 8th, 2018. Keith Silverstein, Simon's English voice actor in Castlevania: Judgement reprises his role as Simon in English versions of the game. Hideo Ishikawa, who voices Simon in DreamMix TV World Fighters reprises his role as Simon in the Japanese version. Simon is classified as fighter #66.

How to unlock

Complete one of the following:

• Play VS. matches, with Simon being the 18th character to be unlocked.
• Clear Classic Mode with Link or any character in his unlock tree, being the third character unlocked after Ice Climbers.
• Have Simon join the player's party in World of Light.

With the exception of the third method, Simon must then be defeated on Dracula's Castle.

Attributes

• Simon's design is based on his appearance from the older Castlevania games, most noticeably on the X68000 release of Castlevania Chronicles with some elements from Super Castlevania IV, such as his shoulder pad and the spiked bracelet he wears on his upper arm. His idle animation, walk, and jump are all inspired from the original Castlevania, though his backwards jump and roll are taken from Richter's backflip and backdash animations respectively. Simon can also crawl, much like he could in Super Castlevania IV. Simon is also less talkative than Richter.
• Simon is a heavyweight with slow movement and a fast falling speed.
• Simon's main weapon is his fully upgraded "Vampire Killer" whip which he uses in the Castlevania games, giving him tremendous reach for many moves, but noticeable startup lag as a result. He has the longest average reach of any fighter in the game, though this is compensated by his whip having narrow hitboxes.
• Simon is tied with Richter and Snake for having the worst air acceleration in the game, a nod to his inability to adjust his airspeed in the original Castlevania. Unlike his game of origin, however, he is still capable of adjusting his airspeed to some degree.
• Some of Simon's attacks have unique sound effects taken from his original series. His whip uses the lashing and striking sounds from some of the old Castlevania games, while his uppercut attack uses the sound effect from Symphony of the Night.
• Much like how Richter borrows moves originally from Simon, Simon borrows moves from Richter, such as his Jumping Slide and Blade Dash techniques.

Moveset

• Simon can crawl.
• Alongside his forward smash, both Simon's forward aerial and back aerial can be angled up and down. This is based on the directional whip mechanics from Super Castlevania IV.
• Simon's whip, the Vampire Killer, possesses a sweetspot at the tip of the chain where the spiked ball is.
• Simon's forward aerial, back aerial, and up aerial all act as tether recoveries, allowing them to be used for recovery but also cancels the attacking part of the move while it is it progress.

The following damage percentages were calculated without the damage multiplier that is active during one-on-one fights.

Full hop damage numbers are shown. Hover over the percentage numbers for short hop damage numbers (due to short hops having a 0.85% damage modifier). Note: All numbers are listed as base damage, without the 1v1 multiplier.

		Name	Damage	Description
Neutral attack			2%	Swings the Vampire Killer twice while holding it lengthwise, with his left hand holding its chain. Mashing the attack button quickly will cause Simon to rapidly spin the whip to damage opponents, with a final uppercut that sends opponents away. If not done quickly enough, Simon will cancel the first two hits, ending the attack and leaving him vulnerable. This move is Simon's fastest option up close. If the attack button is held down instead, Simon will hold out the Vampire Killer, and it can then be manually twirled around. This attack is based on his Whip Twirl from Super Castlevania IV, and it is functionally similar to Sheik's Chain in Melee and Brawl. The chain deals minor damage in this way, but can cancel very weak projectiles that collide with it. The spiked ball of the chain is its sweetspot, which deals more damage and sends opponents away.
			2%
			1.5% (spiked ball), 1% (chain)
			0.5% (loop), 2.5% (end)
Forward tilt			12% (spiked ball), 10% (chain)	Simon's iconic whip strike, first introduced in the original Castlevania. It has high range for its speed, and low ending lag. This makes it useful for general spacing. However, only the initial whip lash deals damage, and opponents can crouch under it. The tip of the chain deals more damage, and can KO at around 120% at the edge of Final Destination. If the attack button is held, Simon will transition into the Whip Twirl, identical to his neutral attack.
Up tilt			10% (whip), 2% (close)	A quick whip twirl in a lasso-like fashion that covers above his head. The earliest hitbox starts slightly above Simon's face, and moves left and right once. Provides excellent coverage above Simon, granting it good pressuring capabilities against aerial opponents. It can also potentially chain into itself more than once at low percents. However, it has no grounded hitboxes beside him whatsoever, making it risky against grounded opponents. The move also has a very weak hitbox when the chain first comes out, though it has no typical use.
Down tilt		Sliding	5% (hit 1), 7% (hit 2), 3.5% (hit 2, late)	A slide kick based on Richter Belmont's Slide and Jumping Slide from Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. The first hit is incapable of KOing even at 999%, but if the button is pressed again, Simon does a jumping kick that carries his momentum, comboing from the first hit. The jump deals less damage late, and is capable of jumping off platforms and edges. The first hit allows Simon to slide under projectiles or high hitboxes. The second hit can KO beginning at 140% from the edge of Final Destination.
Dash attack			1.7% (hits 1-5), 3.5% (end)	A dashing attack while twirling the Vampire Killer beside himself. Based on Richter Belmont's Blade Dash from Symphony of the Night. The dash covers half of Final Destination. Capable of destroying weak projectiles, but extremely damaged opponents may be knocked out before the final hit.
Forward smash			18% (spiked ball), 16% (chain), 14% (chain, close)	Rears back before performing a long-ranged whip crack while taking a step forward. Can be angled. Has tremendous reach, being the longest non-projectile forward smash in the game (outperforming Corrin, Mii Gunner, and Shulk). Deals the most damage at the tip of the chain, and less when up close. The sweetspot can KO as early as 57% from the edge of Final Destination, is safe on shield due to its sheer distance, and deals respectable damage to shields. The rest of the move is punishable on shield, and opponents can crouch under the chain.
Up smash			16% (spiked ball), 14% (chain)	A vertical whip crack. It has immense vertical range, but its hitbox is incapable of hitting anyone directly beside Simon or the chain. Due to its high ending lag, this makes the move suited solely for aerial targets. While hard to hit, the sweetspot can KO as early as 67% on Final Destination. It can combo from up throw at 0-30%, though opponents can DI away from this.
Down smash			16% (spiked ball), 14% (chain), 12% (chain, close)	Drags the Vampire Killer across the ground from forward to back. Impressive overall range like his other smash attacks, and also deals less damage up close in a similar fashion. Both hits do the same amount of damage, with the first hit being rather fast. The sweetspot KOs as early as 85% from the edge of Final Destination. If not sweetspotted, the move is punishable.
Neutral aerial			1% (hits 1-6), 4% (end)	Twirls the Vampire Killer around his body. Lacks the range of his usual moves, but deals multiple hits and can protect Simon from being pursued aerially. Has slightly deceptive range due to the twirling graphic, and only covers one character length around him. The looping hits send at the autolink angle, allowing a falling neutral aerial to combo into a grab, neutral attack, or other moves.
Forward aerial			12% (spiked ball), 10% (chain), 2% (body)	Rears back and performs a long-ranged whip crack. It can be angled slightly upward and downward at roughly a 20 degree angle; if angled down, the move can hit grounded opponents. Excellent range, allowing it to hit distant targets easily. However, the hitboxes are slim and have a short duration, while the move has some startup, requiring precise use. Has low ending lag, allowing Simon to double jump and perform another aerial if done from a short hop. Also can be used as a tether recovery, which is useful as Simon has no horizontal recovery options otherwise. The sweetspot can KO from 125% at the edge of Final Destination.
Back aerial			12% (spiked ball), 10% (chain), 2% (body)	Rears back and performs a long-ranged whip crack behind himself. Identical damage, properties and usage as forward aerial, and can also be aimed up and down. Like forward aerial, Simon can double jump and perform another aerial if done from a short hop, and it also acts as a tether recovery. Has more knockback growth despite the similar damage, with the sweetspot KOing from 110% at the edge of Final Destination.
Up aerial			12% (spiked ball), 10% (chain), 2% (body)	Rears back and performs a long-ranged whip crack directly above him. Functionally identical to forward and back aerials in all aspects apart from attack direction and the inability to be angled. Like forward and up aerials, Simon can double jump and perform another aerial if done from a short hop, and it also acts as a tether recovery, covering around the same distance as Uppercut. The sweetspot KOs from 100% while in the air.
Down aerial			12%, 7% (late)	A stall-then-fall divekick, based on the ability both Simon and Richter can obtain in Castlevania: Harmony of Despair. Goes downward at a diagonal angle, with the early frames being a meteor smash. If hit, Simon will bounce back with a flourish; the sweetspot easily combos into several moves, including forward or back aerials at medium percents, or Uppercut at 100% or above as a KO combo.
Grab			—	Reaches with his left arm. Notably, while Simon can use his whip as a tether recovery, he does not use it to grab opponents.
Pummel			1.2%	Knees the opponent.
Forward throw			7%	Spins once and flings the opponent forward. If the opponent misses a tech, it can be followed up with forward smash, forward tilt or dash attack at 0%. Tech rolls can be caught with Axe. Simon's strongest throw, capable of KO'ing from 125% at the edge of Final Destination.
Back throw			7%	Flings the opponent backwards with both arms. Has the same combos as forward throw, but it is weaker for KOing, as it does so from 145% at the edge of Final Destination.
Up throw			6% (hit 1), 4% (hit 2)	Heaves the opponent into the air before lashing at them with the Vampire Killer. Can initiate combos at 0% such as into up smash, or start aerial juggles. At higher percents, it can set up into up aerial for a KO.
Down throw			8%	A chokeslam. Like forward and back throws, it can follow up with forward smash or forward tilt at 0%, or cover tech rolls with Axe.
Forward roll Back roll Spot dodge Air dodge		—	—
Techs		—	—
Floor attack (front) Floor getups (front)			7%	Kicks behind, then in front of himself.
Floor attack (back) Floor getups (back)			7%	Kicks behind, then in front of himself.
Floor attack (trip) Floor getups (trip)			5%	Kicks behind, then in front of himself.
Edge attack Edge getups			9%	Kicks forward while getting up.
Neutral special		Axe	15%	Throws an axe projectile that travels at a high parabolic arc. The angle can be changed by holding forward or back before throwing. Simon's aerial momentum is stopped once he throws the axe. Extremely high startup lag, with the axe's angle making it ineffective to use conventionally. However, it deals high damage and knockback while also going through solid terrain, giving it powerful edgeguarding capabilities. Its high freeze frames also give it very limited followup ability. The axe can KO grounded opponents from 140% on Final Destination.
Side special		Cross	6%, 8% (smash thrown), 5% (returning)	Flings a silver cross projectile that functions similarly to Boomerang, including the ability to be smash-thrown to fly further and deal more damage. Unlike Boomerang, the Cross makes no attempt to return to Simon, and only flies straight forward and back. The Cross reaches the edge of Final Destination if thrown from the middle, and will travel to the other edge if left uncaught. Only one Cross can be out, and Simon can catch it upon returning. This is generally Simon's main stage-control tool to interrupt approaches and initiate combos. Simon may occasionally say "Begone!"
Up special		Uppercut	2% (hit 1), 1.5% (hit 2-5), 6% (hit 6)	A rising uppercut with the Vampire Killer in hand. Simon's main recovery move, though its poor height and Simon's limited air mobility makes it difficult to use as a recovery. Functions better as an attack, as it starts up quickly, can punish aerial opponents, and combos reliably from down aerial. KOs rather late on the ground, though it can KO much earlier as an aerial combo finisher as early as 120%. However, it has significantly lower range compared to Simon's other attacks.
Down special		Holy Water	2.9% (flask), 1.3% (flames, hits 1-8)	Drops a flask of Holy Water diagonally downwards. Once it hits the ground or an opponent, the flask bursts and unleashes a pillar of red flames. Only one flask or pillar of flame can exist at one time. If the flask is caught, it will become an item that opponents can use against Simon. It can also be reflected or perfect shielded to affect the Simon who threw it. Has similar functionality as PK Fire, keeping opponents trapped within the projectile and in position for a followup, and lacks a final stronger hit.
Final Smash		Grand Cross	3% (trapping hit), 10% (final hit)	Summons a large coffin in front of him, which traps opponents that touch it the moment it appears. If successful, Simon grabs the coffin with the Vampire Killer's chain, swings it in a wide arc and hauls it skywards, then unleashes the devastating Grand Cross technique while flexing, blasting the coffin with magical crosses and sending the victims flying. Extremely powerful, able to KO as early as 25%.

On-screen appearance

• Appears on screen surrounded by light.

Taunts

• Holds the Vampire Killer in the air, coiled up.
• Holds the Vampire Killer lengthwise and spins it around himself twice.
• Cracks the Vampire Killer on the ground next to him, saying "Come!"

Victory poses

• Holds the coiled Vampire Killer in the air before lashing it out against the ground while spinning once. The ending pose appears similar to promotional art for Castlevania Chronicles.
• Shouts "I vanquished the darkness!" as he whips the ground around him twice before holding the Vampire Killer taut.
• Jumps up to grab a Magic Crystal then whips forward. Simon will then continuously whip and jump as the camera cuts to a side view, referencing a phenomenon when the A and B buttons are held after collecting an orb in the original Castlevania.

Role in World of Light

Simon was among the fighters that were summoned to fight against the army of Master Hands.

During the opening cutscene, Simon was present on the cliffside when Galeem unleashed his beams of light. He was vaporized offscreen and placed under Galeem's imprisonment along with the other fighters, excluding Kirby. A puppet fighter cloned from him is later seen with ones cloned from Villager, Captain Falcon and other fighters.

He is later seen alongside several other fighters, as they make their final stand against Galeem and Dharkon.

Alternate costumes

Reveal trailer

<youtube>3VrbkoWUyIg</youtube>

Gallery

• 

  Simon and Richter artwork, as posted on the official Japanese Konami Twitter account.

• 

  Simon's splash art.

• 

  Simon's fighter card.

• 

  Simon on Palutena's Temple.

• 

  Simon using his down smash on the Great Plateau Tower.

• 

  Simon in his Super Castlevania IV-inspired costume next to Richter on Coliseum.

• 

  Simon about to throw his Axe at Bowser on Hyrule Castle.

• 

  Simon holding a bottle of Holy Water next to Young Link on Figure-8 Circuit.

• 

  Simon throwing his Cross on Mario Galaxy.

Character showcase video

<youtube>RY7WL-n1atg</youtube>

Trivia

• Simon's render is based off of the boxart of the original Castlevania, now turned to face the side and with the Vampire Killer in front of him.
  • It also slightly resembles Mario's render pose in Brawl, albeit mirrored horizontally.
• Simon is the first character to be introduced in the same installment as his clone since Melee, where Marth was added to the roster along with his clone, Roy.
  • He is also the first third party character to ever have a clone.
• The screenshot of Simon holding an axe in front of Bowser is a reference to Super Mario Bros., where the axe is used to defeat Bowser and his imposters in castle levels.
• In the August 8, 2018 Nintendo Direct, the words: "Richter originated some of these moves. So, Simon also echoes Richter!" are seen on the bottom. Sakurai also mentions that because some of Simon's moves originate from Richter, it's "hard to say who's really echoing who".
• Like King Dedede, Lucina, King K. Rool, and Richter, Simon's name is pronounced differently between the different international versions of Ultimate. The Japanese version places extra emphasis on the first syllable of Simon's name (and pronouncing it "she" instead of "sigh"), and pronounces the end as "moan" instead of "mon".
• Simon is the only playable character introduced in Ultimate to have an Echo Fighter.
• In Simon's reveal trailer, he creates flames with the Holy Water into some Food items next to Link, a reference to the cooking mechanic featured in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
• Simon is one of the few characters to speak during a KO: his alternate KO line has him mutter "Curses!".