Olimar (SSBB)

This article is about Captain Olimar's appearance in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. For other uses, see Captain Olimar and Pikmin (species).

Olimar
Olimar
Universe	Pikmin
Appears in	SSBB
Availability	Starter
Tier	B (10)

Olimar, also known as Pikmin & Olimar (ピクミン＆オリマー Pikumin ando Orimā) is a playable character from the Pikmin series in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Olimar's fighter design in Brawl is collectively comprised of Captain Olimar himself, the main character of Pikmin, as well as his band of polychromatic Pikmin, coming in red, blue, yellow, purple, and white. Olimar is very weak on his own, and needs Pikmin to do smash attacks, most aerial attacks, and all throws. Each Pikmin has different effects for certain attacks. When Olimar plucks some Pikmin, they will all have a leaf on their head. After a certain period of time, their leaf will change into a bud, and later into a flower. All Pikmin are unaffected by bumpers. In the original Pikmin games, Olimar is actually only 4 centimeters tall (including antenna), so he had to have his size increased for Brawl. Olimar is the only character in the game to have no voice at all, but in Pikmin games, he is shown to have a voice which he announces his name and various grunts.

Olimar ranks 10th on the current tier list, putting him in the B tier. He is a quick-hitting, high-powered character with great match-ups and aerial game. According to the official character matchups chart, like King Dedede, he has a good advantage to Solid Snake.

Pikmin types and effects

Red Pikmin

• Delivers the most damage with aerials and has the second highest knockback.
• Deals fire damage.
• Immune to fire, including explosions.
• Drowns instantly.
• Great meteor smash.
• More likely to appear from cloth floors.

Yellow Pikmin

• Slightly larger attack range (particularly on the Up Smash, both vertically and horizontally).
• Travel higher and slower than other Pikmin when thrown.
• Deals electric damage.
• Immune to electric attacks.
• Dair sweet spot; when hit, it will meteor smash. Otherwise, it will have more upwards knockback.
• More likely to appear from metallic floors.

Blue Pikmin

• Does more damage and knockback when used in throws (enough to KO).
• Bigger grab range than other Pikmin.
• More durable than average.
• Immune to water attacks.
• Can swim forever and does not drown (all other Pikmin will drown).
• Decent meteor smash.
• Best Pikmin to use for the Pikmin Chain.
• More likely to appear from water-based floors (such as ice or clouds).

Purple Pikmin

• Smallest attack range and slowest attack speed; doesn't go very far when thrown.
• Slow and big, making it easier to hit.
• Most health of all Pikmin.
• Delivers the highest amount of knockback, although not always the most damage.
• Very powerful in Pikmin Chain.
• Capable of both knocking the opponent off the ledge and grabbing the ledge.
• Slams into enemies instead of latching on when thrown.
• Does great knockback on down throws (due to weight of Purple Pikmin dropping onto foes).
• Excellent up throw capability.
• Good meteor smash.
• More likely to appear from certain metal or stone floors.

White Pikmin

• Flies very far when thrown.
• Faster than other Pikmin.
• Normal attacks do little damage and knockback, but are faster than other Pikmin.
• Good side smash combo at low percentages; Olimar can hit the opponent twice in a row with two white Pikmin S-Smashes due to their low knockback.
• Very little health, easily killed.
• Pummel damage is much higher than other Pikmin.
• Has slight meteor smash.
• Deals poison damage.

• Pikmin 080111b.jpg

  A Red Pikmin

• 

  A Yellow Pikmin

• 

  A Blue Pikmin

• 

  A Purple Pikmin

• 

  A White Pikmin

Attributes

Olimar is a very unique character. All but six of his attacks rely on Pikmin to perform, each with unique characteristics and suitability to each type of move. As such, it is difficult to quantify the effectiveness of any particular class of Olimar's moves. In general, the Pikmin can do severe damage if not dealt with, they can block some moves (like Ike's Quick Draw and Ness' PK Thunder), they can allow some of Olimar's attacks to continue even if he is hit, and they can combine to become a long tether. In addition, if Pikmin are ordered correctly, Olimar can have powerful throws (using Blue Pikmin) and having the longest grab range in the game when having a White or Blue Pikmin, great aerials (Red, Yellow, and Purple), and do lots of damage with the Pikmin Throw (White). Olimar generally has quick, long-lasting attacks, including his useful down aerial meteor smash, and he is the smallest character in the game along with Squirtle, a factor that is aided by his Pikmin Order's launch resistance should opponents be looking to KO him. He can also be very difficult to approach if wielding many Pikmin. Finally, Olimar's primary three Pikmin (Red, Yellow and Blue) are each immune to certain types of attacks (fire, electricity, and water respectively), making them more difficult to kill in certain matchups.

At his purest, Olimar is about damage. Aside from Purples, all his Pikmin can be continuously thrown at the opponent until they are up close, constantly racking up the damage, while Olimar has two Pikmin-less moves capable of sucking in the opponent for more damage in his up-tilt and neutral-air. Pikmin Throw is the most damaging projectile in the game (White Pikmin can do up to 36% damage each). Also note that Olimar's f-smash, side special, and grab all look alike, making it difficult to tell what he is doing. He can also continuously guard himself with long-lasting/reaching moves for the opponent to run into, in their hurry to stop having Pikmin assault them. Olimar is arguably the best shield-grabber in the game, with his grab range being fantastic on all Pikmin except the Purple ones; the range is good enough to make up for the slight lag of the grab as opponents are occasionally too far away to take advantage of the grab attempt (unless they've sidestepped). On the downside, Olimar gains no launch resistance from grabs. Olimar is excellent at popping the opponent into the air for aerial damage with his fast, deceptively ranged (in front) up-smash, best performed with a Yellow Pikmin for max range. From there, he has a long-lasting up-air which serves as both a superb defence above him, as well as an excellent way to harass opponents returning to the ground, and it cancels quick enough to throw up another up-air, an up-smash, or a Pikmin Chain should they be more to the front of Olimar. Like Falco, even good players can count on a good Olimar taking the first 50% or so of a stock without a problem, especially if d-tilt, Olimar's best setup move regardless of percent, hits.

Olimar's not bad at killing, either. Rarely can an opponent facing an Olimar predict which Pikmin is coming next, or how, so surprise Purples and Reds on potent moves like his f-air, b-air, d-air, d-smash, f-smash, u-smash, and Pikmin Chain can cause serious problems. Forward smash in particular is deadly, due to its range, power (especially when it's a Purple Pikmin), and how difficult it is to punish. Blue Pikmin-based back and forward throws, along with Purple Pikmin-based down and up throws, are also cause for concern due to their killing ability.

Though he has significant strengths, he does have his drawbacks. Olimar is completely dependent on Pikmin for his smashes, grabs, specials, and four of five aerials, so if he has no Pikmin nearby, these moves have no hitboxes, leaving him in serious trouble. When Olimar has no pikmin, only 6 of his attacks have hitboxes. This problem is heightened as Olimar loses all his Pikmin when he is KO'd, making him predictable for the first few seconds of every stock (save for the first) because most Olimar players will most likely use Pikmin Pluck for their invincibility frames instead of attacking. All pikmin (excluding Blue ones) drown in the water. This can make him vulnerable when fighting on stages such as DK Island: Jungle Japes and Summit. However, this does not apply when water is shallow enough to walk on (like that found in Rumble Falls). He is also very light and a floaty character. His floatiness causes him to be easy to juggle for most characters, especially since his neutral-air is not designed for defense. His mobility is also slow in both air and on ground.

Olimar's biggest problem is his abysmal recovery. Although his double jump is decent, he relies on a tether recovery to save himself because of his poor air speed. While the tether increases in size depending on how many Pikmin are in Olimar's line, it is utterly useless against edge-hoggers and puts him into helpless. This can be averted by having the Purple Pikmin in front to hit the enemy while edgehogging and grab the ledge, but the Purple Pikmin must be last in the Pikmin line-up.

Moveset

Olimar-Only Attacks

Normal

• Neutral attack - Olimar headbutts twice, but hits three times. The antenna on his head deals slight damage, but not knockback. 15% damage (the last 10% is on the final hit, which connects with opponents in front of, above and behind Olimar, in that order).
• Dash attack - Olimar does sort of a tripping cartwheel. 11% damage. Primarily vertical knockback.
• Strong Side - Olimar kicks both legs forward, falling to the ground. 6% damage and decent knockback at higher percentages.
• Strong Up - Olimar jumps a little and spins in place, hitting multiple times. The last hit has significant knockback. Similar to his neutral aerial. 11% damage. Higher priority than his up smash.
• Strong Down - Olimar does a headbutt along the ground and gains slight distance. 8% damage. Minimal knockback, combos well into up-tilt/smash early on, and is an excellent setup move at higher percents. Helmet antenna will do 2% damage and knockback if it connects by itself.

Aerial

• Neutral Aerial - Olimar spins in place, hitting multiple times. The last hit has significant knockback. 12% damage.

Pikmin Attacks

All of the Following moves use the next Pikmin in the line to perform the given attack, and the knockback and damage are dependent on the Pikmin type. That Pikmin then goes to the back of the line. Same happens for grabs. Generally, Olimar's aerial moves have higher priority if used earlier (Particularly his up aerial, which interrupts virtually everything if used early enough).

• Forward smash - throws a Pikmin in front of him, it deals damage and knockback, rather than latching on, having great knockback if the Pikmin is purple. A weak hit will occur if the Pikmin connects as it falls, making this move good for edge-guarding, but the Pikmin will die if thrown off the edge.
• Up Smash - Tosses a Pikmin a short distance in to the air. Olimar's fastest smash, has surprising forward range.
• Down Smash - Throws out Pikmin a short distance to either side (uses the next two in order). Has no vertical knockback, making it useful against heavyweights and/or characters with short horizontal recovery (i.e. Ganondorf or Marth).
• Forward Aerial - Smacks a short range with a Pikmin. Swings in an arc.
• Back Aerial - Similar to the forward aerial, only behind Olimar and more of a horizontal arc. Will deal a powerful blow to enemies close in front of Olimar in the first few frames.
• Up Aerial - Throws a Pikmin a short distance over his head (multi-hit, with the last hit having some knockback). Ideal KO move when used with a red Pikmin.
• Down Aerial - Holds a Pikmin under himself. Short ranged. The first few frames can spike being strongest the red Pikmin and weakest the white Pikmin, but the sweet spot for spiking is diagonally below the Captain. Can spike at low percents depending on weight of character and recovery trajectory/length.

Grabs & Throws

Olimar himself does not do grabbing and throwing, instead he has the next Pikmin in order dash forwards and do the grabbing and throwing for him. (This is an extended grab.) All Pikmin have decent grabbing range, having the longest grab range in the game the White, Blue and Red Pikmin, except for the Purple Pikmin.

• Pummel - Pikmin attacks. Red Pikmin and White Pikmin deal their respective damages.
• Forward Throw - Pikmin leaps into the air, latches onto the opponent, and then pushes itself off.
• Back Throw - Pikmin latches onto opponent and jumps backwards while slamming them into the ground.
• Up Throw - Pikmin leaps into the air (while holding opponent), turns the opponent upside-down, then slams them into the ground.
• Down Throw - Pikmin slams opponent on ground, then jumps quite high, to jump on top of opponent. Can be used to chaingrab fastfallers and heavyweights, like King Dedede.

Special Moves

Taunts

Up: Jumps joyfully as if he had gained a new part for the Dolphin. Similar to the Ice Climbers' up taunt.
Side: Lays down on the ground as if he were asleep, then rolls over and gets up. Similar to Pikachu's down taunt.
Down: Plants feet and spins his hips twice.

Matchups

Super Smash Bros. Brawl Character Matchups

Avg.

Role in the Subspace Emissary

In SSE, Olimar's Pikmin count is reset to 3 every time he spawns (either through someone else's fall or walking through a door).

Captain Olimar's Pikmin are attacking a huge R.O.B. (even the Purple Pikmin are latched on to the Giant R.O.B., unlike in the game where they slam on to the enemy); however, they are so weak they do no damage. The R.O.B. simply spins around, and all the Pikmin that were on him fly in all directions. Most of them die. Captain Olimar starts shivering in fear at the huge robot. A red Pikmin walks up to Olimar and taps him on the side. Olimar turns around and the red Pikmin points out the Blue Falcon speeding their way. Captain Falcon jumps out of the Blue Falcon and then Falcon Punches the huge robot right in the face. The R.O.B. then falls back destroyed. Captain Falcon lands back on the ground while doing a slide similar to the Falcon Kick. However, while he is sliding on the ground, he accidentally hits the remaining Pikmin and kills all of them except the red one next to Olimar. Captain Falcon just stands there striking a pose while Captain Olimar just watches as the wind blows a leaf by. Olimar and Falcon decide to team up to fight the Subspace Army.

Olimar in the SSE

Upon reaching the edge of the Isle of Ancients, they witness Diddy Kong attacking some Primids and rescuing Donkey Kong. Falcon and a reluctant Olimar then decide to join forces with the Kongs, and upon reaching them, the Primids return with backup. Donkey, Diddy, Falcon, and Olimar manage to fight them off before they see off Falco Lombardi, who had helped Diddy in bringing him to the large Cargo that DK was held on.

The Cargo takes Olimar and his crew inside the Subspace Bomb Factory, and they begin to move through it. They eventually find the Ancient Minister, along with Pikachu and Samus Aran. A hologram of Ganondorf suddenly appears and commands the R.O.B.s in the room to detonate the Subspace Bombs in the room so he could create a large enough hole in space to fit a Subspace Gunship through. The Ancient Minister reveals himself to be the leader of the R.O.B.s and helps the other heroes defeat the Subspace underlings that Ganondorf sent out. Olimar, along with R.O.B. and the rest, escapes from the island before it is sucked into Subspace. All of the heroes then unite to take down the Subspace Gunship and enter Subspace. Olimar contributes by putting his ship, the Hocotate, at the heroes disposal. His excellent piloting allows him to avoid the huge ship's turrets until Kirby destroys it. Unfortunately, Olimar and the others were doomed to be turned into trophies by Tabuu.

However, hope comes in the form of King Dedede, who created some badges that revive trophies into the original fighter. Olimar is rescued by Dedede and his team consisting of Luigi, Ness (and Kirby). With everyone revived, they are able to take down Tabuu and save the world.

Olimar can perform a glitch with Pikmin Throw in the Great Maze. In the Halberd stage with the elevator, if one throws Pikmin down the hole after one destroys the blocks, they will be stuck in spinning mode and eventually die unless one hits the other bomb blocks.

In SSE, in the first cutscene with Olimar there are no White Pikmin on the Giant R.O.B. In fact, only two White Pikmin appear in the entire SSE.

Costume Gallery

File:Alt-olimar.jpg

Olimars different colors in SSBB

Trivia

• In the Home-run Contest, Olimar can only use Purple Pikmin, mainly because the other Pikmin can't grab Sandbag anyway.
• As soon as Olimar's tether latches onto a ledge, Olimar will hold his arms out in a "T" (blind position) , the position used by game producers while designing characters.
• If Olimar gets hit, his eyes pop out. (a reference to Pikmin 2.)
• Olimar's eyes do not glow yellow when he obtains a Smash Ball, even when his eyes bug out after being hit.
• When giant or tiny, Pikmin's voices do not change pitch while being thrown or when they die, although they do change when Olimar plucks them. Oddly, a Pikmin's voice changes when Kirby throws a Pikmin.
• Olimar holds the world record for Level 1 Target Smash (3.90 seconds).
• There is minor visual glitch involving the Purple Pikmin's death animation. It can easily be done on the Waiting Room stage. Pluck a Pikmin in the center of the stage, and run off the edge, fast fall and die (this is so you can see the Pikmin die on the stage). Repeat until you pluck a Purple Pikmin. When you die, the Pikmin will die also, but the Purple ghost will not appear. This can happen other times during fights, etc.
• Olimar's face is not visible when he's in metal form, as his helmet becomes metal.
• Olimar, along with Samus, R.O.B., and Mr. Game and Watch are the only characters that dont talk or make vocal noises.

External links

• Combo video by Magzillas
• Pikmin & Olimar's page at the Smash Bros. DOJO!!
• Olimar Character Guide at SWF
• Olimar Community