Pikachu (SSBU)
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Pikachu in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | |
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Universe | Pokémon |
Other playable appearances | in SSB in Melee in Brawl in SSB4 |
Availability | Starter |
Final Smash | Volt Tackle |
“ | This fierce fighter uses electric moves like Thunder Jolt and Thunder. Pikachu Libre is one of the alternate costumes and you can tell she's female by the shape of her tail. | ” |
—Super Smash Blog, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Official Site |
Pikachu (ピカチュウ, Pikachu) is a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. It was confirmed on June 12th, 2018. As in SSB4, Ikue Ōtani's portrayal of Pikachu from Brawl was repurposed for Ultimate.
Changes from Super Smash Bros. 4
Aesthetics
Pikachu's model features a more subdued color scheme. It more closely resembles its appearance in recent mainline Pokémon games.
Pikachu is more expressive than before. It now appears angry during many attacks.
Pikachu's cheeks now flash white during electric attacks.
A female Pikachu, which has a heart-shaped tail, has been added as an alternate costume with two swaps - one wearing Moon's Casual Cap from Pokémon Sun and Moon and another wearing the Libre costume from Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. These replace its white and cyan costumes from the previous game.
Pikachu always faces the screen regardless of which direction it turns. This also causes its moveset to be mirrored.
Pikachu only waves once during its side taunt, shortening its duration. Down taunt is also faster.
Attributes
Like all characters, Pikachu's jumpsquat animation now takes three frames to complete.
Pikachu's air speed is faster.
Ground attacks
Neutral attack has more range.
Forward tilt deals more damage when angled up.
Forward tilt has slightly more end lag.
Forward tilt now has an electric effect.
Up tilt deals less damage and has more end lag.
Up tilt has a new animation, with Pikachu scooting its backside up to hit with its tail.
Down tilt deals more damage.
Down tilt has an altered animation, with Pikachu's tail standing more upright at the end.
Dash attack has less end lag, and the sweetspot deals more damage.
Forward smash has more ending lag.
Up smash deals less knockback.
Down smash has less end lag.
Down smash deals less damage.
Aerial attacks
Neutral aerial is a completely new attack that has Pikachu emitting an electric surge around itself, similar to Mewtwo's neutral aerial.
This new neutral aerial hits multiple times, has better combo ability, and has much less landing lag than the previous one.
Forward aerial deals more damage if all hits connect, and the final hit deals more knockback.
Back aerial has more startup lag, and the final hit deals less damage and knockback.
Back aerial executes more quickly and has less landing lag.
Back aerial has an altered ending animation, with Pikachu spreading out its limbs in a more upright position.
Down aerial can meteor smash opponents.[1]
Down aerial has more end lag.
Throws/other attacks
Standing and dash grab having increased start-up lag and ending lag.
Forward throw deals more damage.
Forward throw has slightly more vertical knockback, which may help with edge guarding but hinders combos.[2]
Up throw deals more damage.[3]
Up throw has slightly altered knockback, reducing its follow up potential.
Down throw deals less damage.
Special Moves
Aerial Thunder Jolt deals more damage.
Grounded Thunder Jolt has slightly less startup lag.
Uncharged Skull Bash deals slightly more damage and has less end lag
Skull Bash causes Pikachu to bounce back when it hits an opponent, making it safer to use.
Skull Bash travels a shorter distance.
Quick Attack now has an angle indicator to telegraph Pikachu's trajectory. This may help prevent missed directional inputs, but also makes Pikachu's movement more predictable.
Quick Attack deals slightly more knockback, launching opponents more effectively but reducing its combo potential.
Thunder deals more knockback.
Thunder has more startup lag and end lag.
The electricity discharged when Thunder strikes Pikachu is yellow rather than blue and causes Pikachu to flash with a dark tint, then glow a bright yellow.
Volt Tackle now involves Pikachu dashing quickly forward while surrounded by a ball of electricity. If the move connects, Pikachu speeds around the stage at different angles, racking up damage before launching opponents with an electric blast at the end of the move.
If Volt Tackle misses, Pikachu may self-destruct.
Alternate costumes

Gallery
Female Pikachu taunting with Pokémon Trainer on Battlefield.
Dashing towards Mario on Tortimer Island.
Performing its down aerial above Diddy Kong on Arena Ferox.
Golden with Squirtle and Ivysaur on Pokémon Stadium 2.
Pikachu Libre using its down throw on Little Mac in the Boxing Ring.
Wearing a Rocket Belt alongside Pichu in Mario Galaxy.
With Pichu and Raichu on Yoshi's Island.
Character Showcase Video
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Trivia
- This is the first time Pikachu was not the first Pokémon character to be explicitly announced for a new Smash title, with Mewtwo being confirmed before it.
- Pikachu's pose in its official artwork resembles its front sprite in the Generation III Pokémon games.
- In the E3 demo of the game, Pikachu's portrait used its in-game model as opposed to its official artwork. This was also the case with Link, Mario and Villager. This has since been fixed.