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 F.L.U.D.D., 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, and Blue Pikmin are immune to it.

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.

Greninja will use water-based attacks in Super Smash Bros. 4, but it is unknown if water will return as its own element in those games.

List of water attacks

Character	Move	Type	Effect
Kirby	Can copy Water Gun		(uncharged) (charged)
Mario	F.L.U.D.D.
Squirtle	Up smash
	Down smash
	Neutral air
	Water Gun		(uncharged) (charged)
	Waterfall
Hydro Jyk		n/a

Trivia

• There are no stickers that provide resistance to water-effect attacks, meaning that unless Battering-resistance stickers cover both effects (seeing as they use some of the same visual effects), Hydro Jyks are the only enemy whose attack cannot be guarded against by stickers.