Lucario (SSB4)

Lucario in Super Smash Bros. 4
Universe	Pokémon
Other playable appearance	in Brawl
Availability	Starter
Final Smash	Mega Evolution

Lucario (ルカリオ, Lucario) is a playable character in Super Smash Bros. 4. It was announced on January 31st, 2014, six years to the day of the year that Super Smash Bros. Brawl was released in Japan; according to an extra post on the Miiverse reveal, this timing was done to commend the Brawl developers for succeeding in adding Lucario to said game.

For its appearance in Super Smash Bros. 4, Lucario is voiced by Daisuke Namikawa in Japanese and Sean Schemmel in English, the latter of whom replaces Bill Rogers from Brawl and voiced the Lucario in Lucario and the Mystery of Mew. As in Brawl, Lucario is also voiced in the SSB4's language in Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Attributes

Lucario's attributes are overall balanced. It has below average walking speed and dashing speed, while having above average weight and falling speed, as well as average air speed, gravity and air acceleration and the highest traction. It is also able to crawl and one of the only four characters that can wall cling.

Lucario possesses a unique gameplay mechanic that no other character in the game has: aura. Aura appears as blue, wispy energy and is used in every single move Lucario performs. Aura is a damage multiplier, starting from 0.66x and capping at 1.7x when Lucario is at 190%. This means that, even though most of Lucario's moves have high knockback scaling, their power is extremely low with low aura, and insufficient to KO until well beyond 100% from center stage. Conversely, Lucario's moves have incredible power at high aura, while many of them easily surpass every other character's at max aura, including Bowser's and Ganondorf's. In addition, with the introduction of the rage mechanic, Lucario's attacks deal even more knockback, complimenting their already high power. Its grab game receives huge benefits as well. Since Lucario's pummel is the fastest in the game, it can deal large amounts of damage at high percents. Its up throw has low base knockback, and can combo effectively at most percents. It is also the most damaging when Lucario's aura is high, making up for its increased power. Its forward throw is one of the fastest throws in the game, as well as one of the the strongest with high aura. Its back throw is very powerful, and also a semi-spike, making it excellent for edge-guarding and tech-chasing.

Other strengths of Lucario include a very useful special moveset. Aura Sphere is a strong projectile very similar to the Charge Shot. However, since its size and power are affected by aura, it is much more dangerous at high percents. Its high damage output when fully powered up also lets it outprioritize most moves in the game. Force Palm shoots a blast of aura forward, with its range and power increasing with aura. If used at point-blank range, the move is treated as a grab, bypassing shields, and has immense power with enough aura. Extreme Speed is Lucario's recovery move, and is able to cover extremely long distances if Lucario has taken much damage, making it virtually impossible to gimp. It also has a hitbox at the end of its animation, enabling it to ward off edge-guarders if the need arises. Finally, Double Team is Lucario's counterattack. It is the strongest counter in the game with enough aura and plenty of range, possessing decent active frames- but it is also fairly slow, allowing opponents to block or dodge if they have activated with a low-lag attack.

Lucario is not without flaws. Although it possesses a heavier weight than more than half the roster, it's only slightly better than the average and it's relative floatiness can make it easy to combo, while it's lighter weight compared to heavy hitters also makes it susceptible to early knockouts by powerful characters like Bowser or Ganondorf, which can prevent it from utilizing high aura effectively once it loses a stock. These shortcomings make Lucario poor at aggressive, risky playstyles, and instead favor more patient, defensive and opportunistic approaches. Its combo game is usually reliant on throws, as most other combo moves have either very limited follow-up options or have awkwardly positioned hitboxes. Lucario's swiftest attacks lack KO capabilities for the most part, while its strongest attacks have moderate startup and ending lag, and are punishable when abused. Lucario's aura requires keeping in mind how to approach based on his damage- combo potential diminishes as Aura rises, until most of its combo-oriented moves are too strong to be chained together reliably even against the heaviest characters. Finally, Extreme Speed is not without its downsides- at high aura, the risk of overshooting the stage when performed close to one end is possible. As an attack the move is difficult to hit with, since Lucario can only damage the opponent head-on; has very high ending and landing lag unless the player lands properly with it; and possesses limited range and virtually no KO ability at low percentages, while having only moderate knockback at high percentages at best.

Lucario's custom moves can give it notable benefits. Snaring Aura Sphere has a wind effect that pulls opponents in and moves slower, essentially re-purposing the move from a spacing and camping tool to a stage control and edge-guarding tool. Piercing Aura Sphere moves much faster, hits at a lower angle and goes straight through opponents, making it even better at spacing and camping, but at the cost of its immense power. The aptly named Long-Distance Force Palm has less power but more range, allowing Lucario to strike distant opponents more easily. The grab is also stronger and a semi-spike, making it lethal in any situation. Ride the Wind gives the full distance at any percent, as well as greatly improved maneuverability. Lastly, Glancing Counter is noticeably weaker, but Lucario will always able to attack, even if it is not hit.

Changes from Brawl

Lucario has received a mix of buffs and nerfs in the transition from Brawl to SSB4. The influence of Lucario's aura has been increased, giving it a better recovery and increased range on some of its attacks, as well as significantly increasing its power when it has taken damage. However, Lucario's combo game has been nerfed on many attacks, such as Force Palm and its neutral, forward and down aerials. While its aura cap has been increased and thus makes it slightly easier to KO at max aura, Lucario's attacks depend on aura much more so than in Brawl. As a result, they deal slightly less damage and knockback at low aura. Lucario's smash attacks are also slower, have less utility, and are harder to land. As a result of its dependency of high aura to secure KOs, Lucario has become much more of a "high-risk, high reward" character than in Brawl. Lucario has a relatively small playerbase with above average low-level results, but sparse high-level results. This makes it difficult to determine whether or not Lucario has been buffed or nerfed overall.

Aesthetics

• Like many of the other characters in SSB4 that come from cartoonish franchises, Lucario has a less realistic and more sleek appearance than it did in Brawl. Its fur is less accentuated and its proportions are more akin to its recent three-dimensional appearances in Pokédex 3D Pro and Pokémon X and Y.
• Up taunt now has more aura visuals.

Attributes

• Lucario is lighter (100 → 99).
• Lucario dashes faster (1.414 → 1.4847).
• Lucario's air speed is faster (0.987 → 1.01).
• Lucario falls faster (1.2 → 1.56).
• Lucario's gravity increased (0.0625 → 0.084), decreasing its overall endurance.
• Lucario's increased gravity and falling speed make more susceptible to combos. However, it remains one of the more difficult characters to combo.
• Aura's effects are much stronger overall.
• All of Lucario's attacks are now affected by aura, regardless of whether they are actually aura-based or not.
• Lucario's aura stacks with the rage mechanic, giving it even more KO potential when at high percents.

Ground attacks

• All standard ground attacks deal slightly less damage depending on the strength of its aura.
• Lucario has a new dash attack, a flying kick. It covers more ground and its speed and animation are both much faster compared to the previous dash attack.
• Up tilt is much faster and has gained more KO potential.
• All smash attacks' animations have slightly changed. Instead of making a full movement, Lucario stays in place and/or continuously trembles like all other characters do.
• All smash attacks are slightly slower, which in particular hinders its forward smash.
• Forward smash lacks its lingering hitbox and does not hit behind Lucario.
• Up smash deals more damage (13% → 18% (clean), 9% → 16%/13% (late)). It also now hits twice, allowing it to KO grounded opponents more reliably.
• Up smash's animation has been slightly changed. Lucario now crouches when performing it.

Aerial attacks

• All aerials are faster.
• Neutral and down aerials deals less damage (18% → 14% (neutral), 16% → 11% (down)).
• Neutral aerial has decreased range and no longer has a lingering hitbox.
• Forward aerial deals 1% more damage (5% → 6%).
• Forward aerial has slightly increased base knockback at 0%, making it harder to use in combos.
• Sweetspotted back aerial deals 3% more damage (12% → 15%).
• Up aerial deals 1% more damage (10% → 11%).
• Down aerial's ending lag has been decreased almost entirely.

Throws/other attacks

• Grab is slightly faster.
• Pummel is significantly faster, now being the fastest and arguably the best pummel in the game.
• Forward and down throws deal less damage (10% → 8% (forward), 10% → 7%).
• Up throw deals 5% more damage (6% → 11%).

Special moves

• Aura Sphere deals less damage (13.125% → 11.385% (lowest aura), ≈18.75% → 17.25% (low to high aura), 26.25% → 29.325% (max aura)).
• Aura Sphere can achieve larger sizes, with its max size now being even larger than Lucario itself. The projectile itself is deals more knockback and can KO earlier.
• Aura Sphere has altered visuals. Smoke now appears behind Lucario as the projectile is fired.
• Aura Sphere has an altered sound effect while being charged.
• Reverse Aura Sphere now slightly pushes Lucario backward, making it safe to use off-stage as a mindgame.
• Force Palm's non-grab blast is faster, larger and considerably increased knockback, all of which scale with Aura.
• Force Palm's increased knockback reduces the amount of follow-ups Lucario previously had, such as utilizing multiple Force Palms in succession. The grabbing portion of Force Palm is also escapable when Lucario has low aura.
• Force Palm's animation has been changed. Lucario also leans more forward with its body facing more sideways, with its following arm placed high and behind itself and doing a stomping gesture while releasing the blast. The non-grab blast looks flame-like rather than a mass of energy.
• Extreme Speed is now affected by aura, allowing it to cover considerable distances at high aura, with range comparable to Brawl's at 0%.
• Extreme Speed now does damage at the end of its animation, which can KO opponents if both they and Lucario are at high percents.
• Extreme Speed now has two seconds of ending lag if it ends in the air, making it much easier to punish. This can be avoided by ending the move on the ground or making Lucario hit the stage face-first.
• Extreme Speed's animation has slightly changed. The streams of aura emitted from Lucario's paws are now opaque and whitish blue instead of cyan and transluscent, while the streams near its legs are whitish blue instead of indigo.
• Double Team's power and range have increased.
• Double Team's animation has slightly changed. When successful, Double Team causes Lucario's eyes to glow yellow and sees Lucario fly higher above the ground when counterattacking.
• Lucario has a new Final Smash, Mega Lucario. Lucario undergoes Mega Evolution and becomes Mega Lucario, which results in its aura multiplier being increased to 1.8x regardless of its damage prior to Mega Evolving and gaining resistance to both flinching and launching throughout its duration. Unlike Aura Storm, Mega Lucario enables Lucario to move around freely, instead of forcing it to be stationary at the top of the screen. However, Mega Lucario's duration is not fixed like Aura Storm's, as Mega Lucario will end earlier if Lucario takes damage while Mega Evolved.

Update history

It is debatable whether Lucario has been buffed or nerfed directly by game updates. Due to the shieldstun increase in 1.1.1, Lucario can now attempt to break shields by using Aura Sphere on the ledge with the opponent putting shielding so the opponent falls for an unavoidable KO if they do not attempt to SDI out of the move. However, this is very situational and has not been used frequently at high-level play.

1.0.4

• Lucario's helpless get-up animation has increased ending lag: 36 frames → 60.
• Extreme Speed and Extreme Speed Attack's second hit's ending lag increased: 0 frames → 8.
• Extreme Speed Attack's first hits ending lag increased: 0 frames → 5.

1.0.5

• Fixed a glitch where Extreme Speed could be used to cancel hitstun.

1.0.6

• Fixed a landing lag glitch for Extreme Speed.

1.0.8

• Neutral attack's first hit's knockback growth decreased. This allows it to connect better with its second hit.

1.1.1

• Glancing Counter's hitbox angle altered: 58° → 65°.
• Glancing Counter's ending lag decreased by 7 frames.

Moveset

		Name	Damage	Description
Neutral attack			2.5%	Lucario performs the kham choui, a downward sweeping punch in Shaolin Kung Fu, followed by a palm thust and then followed by a high kick.
			2%
			3%
Forward tilt			4% (hit 1), 6% (hit 2)	A palm thrust. Even though Lucario only uses one of its paws, the attack hits twice.
Up tilt			6% (foot), 5% (leg)	A crescent kick. Can reliably combo into itself while Lucario is at low aura.
Down tilt			5%	A shin kick, similarly to Ganondorf's down tilt.
Dash attack			8% (clean), 6% (late)	A flying kick.
Forward smash			16% (clean), 13% (late)	A double palm thrust, which releases a small blast of aura. When Lucario is at full power and highly damaged, it is the strongest and the most damaging forward smash in the game, dealing 38% damage when sweetspotted and fully charged. It is a one-hit KO when at max aura and performed near the ledge or the center of Final Destination.
Up smash			4% (hit 1), 14% (clean sweetspot hit 2), 12% (clean sourspot hit 2), 9% (late hit 2)	An upward palm thrust, which releases two blasts of aura even though Lucario only uses one paw. When both hits connect, are sweetspotted, fully charged, and Lucario is at max aura, it is one of the strongest up smashes in the game and the most damaging smash attack in the game, dealing 42% damage.
Down smash			14%	Crouches and fans its arms out at both sides to perform a palm thrust at both of its sides, which releases two blasts of aura. One of the strongest down smashes in the game when Lucario is at max aura.
Neutral aerial			8% (hit 1), 6% (hit 2)	Spins in midair while emitting aura from its paws.
Forward aerial			6%	Performs a modified crane kick. Can be used as a follow-up twice after its down throw.
Back aerial			15%	Slightly twists backward and performs a palm thrust to release a blast of aura. High horizontal knockback, it is the strongest back aerial and one of the strongest aerials in the game when Lucario is at max aura, KOing opponents under 50%. However, it has rather long start-up.
Up aerial			11% (clean), 6% (late)	Leans backward and performs a front kick upward. One of the strongest up aerials in the game, KOing opponents at 70% onward when Lucario is at max aura.
Down aerial			5% (hit 1), 6% (hit 2)	Stomps twice. Unlike in Brawl, this move no longer stalls Lucario's descent.
Grab			—	Clinches the opponent.
Pummel			1%	Sends a surge of aura through the opponent. The fastest pummel in the game and one of the best pummels in the game if Lucario is highly damaged.
Forward throw			8%	Shoves opponent forward. One of the strongest forward throws in the game when Lucario is at max aura. This is also the fastest throw in the game.
Back throw			10%	Performs the Tai otoshi, a Judo throw. The most damaging back throw in the game and a viable KOing option when Lucario is at max aura.
Up throw			5% (hit 1), 6% (throw)	Performs an uppercut, launching the opponent upward. Other opponents next to Lucario are dealt high knockback. The most damaging throw in the game when Lucario is at max aura, dealing 18% damage total.
Down throw			7%	Holds the opponent over its head and then slams them into the ground. Can lead into its neutral, up or forward aerials at low aura and while opponents are at low to medium percents, although light characters can avoid these combos.
Forward roll Back roll Spot dodge Air dodge		—	—
Techs		—	—
Floor attack (front) Floor getups (front)			7%
Floor attack (back) Floor getups (back)			7%
Floor attack (trip) Floor getups (trip)			5%
Edge attack Edge getups			7%	A double palm thrust, which releases small blasts of aura.
Neutral special	Default	Aura Sphere	17.25% (fully charged)	Lucario charges its aura into a condensed sphere. Pressing the special button again will cause Lucario to fire it. Increases in size and deals more damage the more damage Lucario has.
	Custom 1	Snaring Aura Sphere	14.5% (fully charged)	A slower Aura Sphere that has an additional vacuum effect that pulls opponents towards the Aura Sphere itself. Has extra ending lag deals slightly less damage. Two uncharged Snaring Aura Spheres can exist on-screen at the same time.
	Custom 2	Piercing Aura Sphere	6.75% (fully charged)	A faster Aura Sphere that passes through opponents, but deals considerably less damage.
Side special	Default	Force Palm	11.875% (projectile sweetspot), 7.5% (projectile sourspot), 13% (throw), 6% (escape)	Fires a stream of aura that increases in range the more damaged Lucario is. If the opponent is close to Lucario, the move acts like a grab, with Lucario grabbing the opponent and then striking them with an aura-infused palm thrust at point-blank range.
	Custom 1	Advancing Force Palm	10% (projectile sweetspot), 7% (projectile sourspot), 10% (throw), 6% (escape)	Functions similarly to Force Palm, but it moves Lucario forward, has more start-up and deals slightly less damage.
	Custom 2	Long-Distance Force Palm	7.4% (projectile sweetspot), ≈4.23% (projectile sourspot), 13% (throw), 6% (escape)	Has more range than Force Palm, but deals less damage.
Up special	Default	Extreme Speed	6%	Lucario launches itself in a predetermined direction by blasting steams of aura from its paws. Has a hitbox at end of the move. Like Force Palm's blast range, Extreme Speed's range increases the more damaged Lucario is.
	Custom 1	Ride the Wind	0%	A slower, non-damaging Extreme Speed with more control over Lucario's trajectory.
	Custom 2	Extreme Speed Attack	4% (hit 1), 7% (hit 2)	Has shorter range than Extreme Speed, but damages opponents at any point it makes contact with them.
Down special	Default	Double Team	11%	Lucario performs a kata. If Lucario is attacked, it will disappear and counterattack with a flying kick from behind the attacker.
	Custom 1	Glancing Counter	10%	Dodges attacks but allows Lucario to produce a hitbox, albeit a weaker one, even if it is not attacked.
	Custom 2	Stunning Double Team	1% (hits 1-2), 1%	Functions similarly to Double Team, with the added effect of being able to stun opponents. However, it deals considerably less damage.
Final Smash		Mega Lucario	—	Lucario undergoes Mega Evolution and becomes Mega Lucario. Mega Lucario's aura multiplier is increased to 1.8x regardless of how much damage it had prior to Mega Evolving and it gains resistance to both flinching and launching throughout its duration. Its duration decreases if takes damage while Mega Evolved.

Taunts

• Up Taunt: Lucario folds its arms and then extends them while growling and radiating a surging, flame-like field of Aura around itself.
• Side Taunt: Lucario extends its right arm forward, growls, and emits a small burst of aura from its paw.
• Down Taunt: Lucario performs a kata that is very similar to the one performed during Double Team.

Idle Poses

• Lucario stretches both arms out, one on each side, slowly lowers its body, and enters its regular stance again.
• Lucario moves its arms in a circular motion before returning to its normal stance.

Cheer

Lu - cario!

On-Screen Appearance

Lucario enters the stage while radiating a surging, flame-like field of aura around itself and then slowly falls to the ground.

Victory Fanfare

A small excerpt of the music that would play on the title screen of Pokémon Red, Blue and Green Versions, a track which would go on to become the Pokémon Main Theme, which also appears as a standalone track in Brawl. It is shared with Pikachu, Charizard, Jigglypuff, Greninja, and Mewtwo.

Victory Poses

• LucarioPose1WiiU.png
• LucarioPose2WiiU.png
• LucarioPose3WiiU.png

• Moves its paws in front of itself and then clasps them together before saying "The aura is with me!"
• Extends both arms forward and next to each other, then does a Fujian White Crane-like stance while saying "Behold the power of aura."
• Performs a kata where it leans forward while extending its left arm forward and keeps its right arm to its side, while aura briefly surges from its body.

In Competitive Play

Official Custom Moveset Project

Character	Custom sets available
Lucario	2111	3111	1112	2112	3112
	1211	2211	1121	3121	1311

Notable players

•  Azen
•  Day
•  Gomamugitya
•  Junebug
•  Kamicario
•  Loota
•  Shiny

In Event Matches

Solo Events

• All-Star Battle: Brawl: Lucario is one of the opponents fought in this event. All characters debut from Brawl and reappeared in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.
• Aura Mastery: Lucario (starting with 200% damage) must defeat a team of invisible Sheik and invisible Wii Fit Trainer in a 2 stock battle.
• Fire-Type Frenzy: Charizard must defeat Greninja, Lucario, and Pikachu all appearing after another.
• Pokémon Battle: Greninja must defeat a team of Pikachu, Charizard, and Lucario in a 1 stock battle.

Co-Op Events

• Pokémon Multi Battle!: Pikachu and Charizard must defeat a team of Lucario and Greninja, then a team of Pikachu and Charizard each appearing after one opponent is defeated. Lucario can appear if Pikachu dies.
• The Ultimate Battle: Two players select characters and must defeat the entire roster.

Trophies

Lucario

A Fighting/Steel-type Pokémon that excels in combat through the reading and manipulation of Aura. As Lucario takes more damage, its attacks grow in strength. At maximum power, Lucario deals triple damage and its Aura Sphere is particularly devastating! Foes won't even know what hit them!

This Fighting- and Steel-type Pokémon can sense the movements of its enemies using its Aura abilities, and is even said to be able to see enemies when they're invisible. As it takes damage, its attacks grow in strength. At maximum power, its deals triple damage, which can make its Aura Sphere attack a real force to be reckoned with!

: Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl (04/2007)

: Pokémon X and Pokémon Y (10/2013)

Lucario (Alt.)

Lucario's up special Extreme Speed will send this Pokémon soaring on the path you choose. Lucario flies farther the more damage it's taken. Lucario makes use of its Aura for the side special Force Palm. At extremely close range, Lucario will grab an enemy first, dealing additional damage.

The Extreme Speed up special sends Lucario rushing in your chosen direction, and you can adjust the flight path mid-air. Also, the more damage Lucario takes, the further it will go. For the Force Palm side special, Lucario attacks with its Aura. Using it while close to an enemy adds a grab to the move and deals extra damage.

: Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl (04/2007)

: Pokémon X and Pokémon Y (10/2013)

Mega Evolution (Lucario)

In Lucario's Final Smash, it Mega Evolves into Mega Lucario. The attacks it can use don't change, but its Aura abilities become more powerful than ever, letting it deal more damage and launch opponents farther. It can also resist being launched by other fighters, but the more attacks it takes, the sooner it will transform back.

For Lucario's Final Smash, it Mega Evolves into Mega Lucario. The attacks it can use don't change, but its Aura abilities become more powerful than ever, letting it deal even more damage and launch opponents even further. It can also resist being launched by other fighters, but the more attacks it takes, the less time the Final Smash lasts.

• 

  Classic (3DS)

• LucarioAllStarTrophy3DS.png

  Alt. (3DS)

• 

  Classic (Wii U)

• 

  Alt. (Wii U)

• 

  Mega Lucario

Alternate costumes

Gallery

• 

  Lucario in the Nintendo Direct from April 8th, 2014.

• 

  Lucario's amiibo, which is exclusive to Toys 'R' Us.

• 

  The pic of the day shown during Lucario's reveal.

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  Close up of Lucario's down smash.

• MegaLucarioWiiU.png

  Lucario as Mega Lucario in SSB4.

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  Lucario charging an Aura Sphere.

• 

  Using its down smash to hit both Mario and Link at once.

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  Lucario air dodging while Mario and Mega Man initiate an attack on the Yellow Devil.

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  Neutral attack hit 3, while Wii Fit Trainer performs a pose.

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  Using Double Team against Link.

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  Lucario teetering while King Dedede approaches from behind with Jet Hammer.

• 

  Lucario sleeping under a tree produced by Villager.

• 

  Using ExtremeSpeed on the Rainbow Road stage.

• 

  Lucario using ExtremeSpeed with charged-up aura.

• 

  Lucario performing its up taunt in the 3DS version.

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  A picture showing off the difference between a low level and high level Aura Sphere.

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  Lucario next to Palkia, a Poké Ball Pokémon.

• 

  Using Double Team against Marth.

• 

  Lucario using its back aerial.

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  Lucario, Charizard, Greninja, and Pikachu.

Trivia

The Lucario error on the Super Smash Bros. official Facebook page

• On the Super Smash Bros. official Facebook page, Lucario was first listed as originating from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl on the GBA, even though the games were actually released on the Nintendo DS. This was later fixed.
• Lucario is one of two Pokémon to not have a custom move share its name with an actual Pokémon attack, the other being Greninja.
• Lucario's Alt. Trophy in the Wii U version bears a resemblance to Mewtwo's Alt. Trophy in the Wii U version; both show the character in a dark alternate costume charging their neutral special.