Zoroark
| Zoroark | |
|---|---|
 Zoroark's official artwork from Pokémon Black and White. | |
| Games | SSB4 Ultimate |
| Move | Fury Swipes |
| Japanese voice actor | Hitomi Nabatame |
| Article on Bulbapedia | Zoroark (Pokémon) |
| “ | This creature attacks rivals like lightning with Fury Swipes. Zoroark finishes off by slamming its opponent down to the ground. | ” |
| —Super Smash Bros. 4 Official Site | ||
Zoroark (ゾロアーク, Zoroark) is a Dark-type Pokémon introduced in the series' fifth generation. It is known as the Illusion Fox Pokémon.
In Super Smash Bros. 4
As a Poké Ball Pokémon
Zoroark appears as a Poké Ball and Master Ball Pokémon. When summoned, the entire screen turns darker, and Zoroark will pause before teleporting behind an opponent, attempting to hit them with a slash. The initial trapping slash can be safely shielded; if Zoroark fails to catch an opponent, it will teleport and try again several times.
On hit, the opponent gets sent to the top of the screen, where Zoroark pelts them with repeated Fury Swipes before slamming its target to the ground. Its combo does 15 hits for a total of 38%, while the finisher can KO at high percentages. Overall, the attack is very similar to some Final Smashes like Great Aether and Secret Ninja Attack, although it is noticeably weaker, and the final hit can usually be safely teched unlike these final smashes.
In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, before being able to appear, Zoroark needs to be unlocked by clearing 10-Man Smash once.
CPU players will hold their shields up for long periods of time when Zoroark is summoned, presumably in an attempt to avoid being hit by the initial slash. They will do this even if Zoroark isn't close, allowing human players to deal an easy shield break.
Smash Balls will not appear while Zoroark is on the battlefield and vice versa, to prevent Final Smashes that drag opponents to the top of the stage (such as Great Aether) from clashing with Zoroark.
Trophy information
In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Zoroark's trophy is part of the Legend of Pokémon Black & Pokémon White Trophy Box.
- Zoroark
This Dark-type Pokémon will protect its home and anyone it cherishes by creating illusions to fluster opponents. When it uses Fury Swipes, it will vanish from view and then suddenly appear next to its targets, launching them upward. It will then finish them off by sending them crashing back down.
This Dark-type Pokémon is a powerful illusionist, and uses its power to confuse any that would threaten its home and loved ones. When it uses its Fury Swipes attack, it vanishes, then reappears next to an opponent and sends them flying into the air. It then slashes at them furiously before slamming them into the ground.
: Pokémon Black and Pokémon White (03/2011)
: Pokémon Black 2 and Pokémon White 2 (10/2012)
In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
As a Poké Ball Pokémon
Zoroark is set to reprise its role as a Poké Ball Pokémon in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. It appears to have the same behaviour as it did in Smash 4.
Origin
Zoroark is a Dark-type Pokémon introduced in Generation V, and was the very first Generation V Pokémon ever revealed, being a main character in the movie Zoroark: Master of Illusions. It evolves from Zorua starting at level 30. It and Zorua are only available in Black and White by using event Pokémon, though it can be found in the wild in Pokémon X and Y: its original rarity might be the reason for its ability to appear out of a Master Ball in Super Smash Bros. 4. Zorua and Zoroark have the signature Ability Illusion, which allows them to pose as the last Pokémon in the party they belong to while retaining their moveset and typing until they are hit by an attack.
Fury Swipes is a common physical Normal-type move introduced in Generation I. It has 80% accuracy and hits the target 2-5 times with 18 base power for every hit. Zoroark can learn it at level 13 when still a Zorua, or via Move Reminder.
Trivia
- Goldeen and Zoroark are the only Pokémon that can come out of Master Balls that are not Legendary Pokémon.
- Despite it not actually being a Legendary, Zoroark's trophy appears in the Legend of Pokémon Black & Pokémon White Trophy Box.
- Zoroark's appearance as a supposed legendary Pokémon in Smash is probably referencing its significance alongside legendary Pokémon in the Pokémon movie, Zoroark: Master of Illusions. Unown and Lucario are also often mistaken as a legendary because of the movies they appeared in.
- There was formerly a glitch where if Zoroark were to attack a character protected by a Back Shield, the final hit of its attack wouldn't connect, leaving the target spinning in midair indefinitely until they were hit by an attack, as seen here.
- Previously, the claw swipes were considered projectiles, so they could be completely negated by a character wearing a Franklin Badge, who would only take damage from the final hit. This is no longer true as of update 1.0.8.
- If said character would have taken the final hit from the attack, they would be inflicted ~80% and subsequently meteor smashed, with the hit being impossible to tech.
- Zoroark will not target a character that is standing on a steep slope (such as the hills on Yoshi's Island (Melee)). If all possible opponents are on slopes, Zoroark will simply stand idly until an opponent leaves the slope or it vanishes after time expires.
