Water (type)

Squirtle's up smash is an example of a water attack

There are a few attacks in the Smash Bros. series that are water-based. Squirtle is the only character to have water damage in its attacks (and Kirby, as he can copy one of said moves). Mario also has a water attack through FLUDD, but it deals no damage.

Due to the mechanics of Brawl's hitboxes, water can be both a type and an effect. It is currently believed that the difference is this:

• The Water type is what causes attacks to be powered up by water stickers.
• The Water effect is what causes type effectiveness; that is, it deals 1.1x knockback to Charizard and 0.9x knockback to Ivysaur.

The distinction between these two states is a result of the separation of "attacks that use water to deal damage" and "attacks that should be involved in type effectiveness"; this seems to be done so that certain moves will not participate in type effectiveness without being excluded from being powered up by water stickers (for example, so weak fixed-knockback moves are no easier or harder to escape).

Out of all the effects in Brawl, water is one of the most useful in the Subspace Emissary - it deals extra damage to fire-based enemies, some mechanical enemies (particularily the R.O.B. Squad), and about half of the bosses.

List of water attacks by characters

• Kirby - can copy Water Gun
• Mario - F.L.U.D.D. (Weapon-type, Water-effect)
• Squirtle - up smash (Water-type, Water-effect), down smash (Water-type, Water-effect), neutral air (Water-type, Normal-effect), Water Gun (Water-type, Normal-effect when uncharged, Water-effect when charged), Waterfall (Water-type, Water-effect)

List of water attacks by enemies

• Hydro Jyk (Water-effect)

Trivia

• There are no stickers that provide resistance to water-effect attacks, meaning that unless Battering-resistance stickers covers both effects, Hydro Jyks are the only enemy whose attack cannot be guarded against by stickers.