Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Pikachu (SSBU)

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This article is about Pikachu's appearance in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. For the character in other contexts, see Pikachu.
Pikachu
in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Pikachu SSBU.png
PokemonSymbol.svg
Universe Pokémon
Other playable appearances in SSB
in Melee
in Brawl
in SSB4
Availability Starter
(Unlockable in World of Light)
Final Smash Volt Tackle
Pikachu (SSBU)
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. Pikachu is classified as fighter #08.

As in SSB4, Ikue Ōtani's portrayal of Pikachu from Brawl was repurposed for Ultimate.

Changes from Super Smash Bros. 4

Aesthetics

  • Change Pikachu has a more subdued color scheme. It more closely resembles its appearance in recent mainline Pokémon games.
  • Change Pikachu is more expressive. It now appears angry during many attacks.
  • Change Pikachu's cheeks flash white when it uses electric attacks.
  • Change Pikachu always faces the screen regardless of which direction it turns, causing all of its animations to be mirrored.
  • Change Pikachu only waves once during its side taunt, shortening its duration. Down taunt is also faster.
  • Change Two new costumes featuring the female Pikachu design, which has a heart-shaped tail, have been added. These replace its white and cyan costumes from SSB4.

Attributes

  • Buff Like all characters, Pikachu's jumpsquat animation now takes 3 frames to complete (down from 4).
  • Buff Pikachu dashes faster.
  • Buff Pikachu's air speed is faster.

Ground attacks

  • Buff Neutral attack has slightly increased range.
  • Buff Forward tilt deals more damage when angled up.
    • Nerf Forward tilt has slightly more endlag.
    • Change Forward tilt now has an electric effect.
  • Nerf Up tilt has more endlag.
    • Buff Up tilt deals more damage.
    • Change Up tilt has an altered animation, with Pikachu scooting its backside up to hit with its tail.
  • Buff Down tilt deals slightly more damage and knockback.
    • Change Down tilt has an altered animation, with Pikachu's tail standing more upright at the end.
  • Buff Dash attack's sweetspot deals more damage and knockback.
    • Buff Dash attack has less endlag.
  • Buff Forward smash has increased range.
    • Nerf Forward smash has more endlag.
  • Nerf Up smash deals less knockback.
  • Buff Down smash deals more damage.
    • Buff Down smash has less endlag.

Aerial attacks

  • Buff All aerials have less landing lag (Neutral: frame 24 → 9, Forward: 15 → 12, Back: 30 → 18, Up: 24 → 14, Down: 40 → 22).
  • Change Neutral aerial is a new attack that has Pikachu emitting an electric surge around itself, hitting multiple times, similar to Mewtwo's neutral aerial.
    • Buff Neutral aerial is more useful for starting combos.
  • Buff Forward aerial deals more damage if all hits connect.
    • Buff Forward aerial's final hit deals more knockback.
    • Buff Forward aerial has much less startup and endlag, allowing it to combo into itself.
  • Buff Back aerial's animation is quicker.
    • Nerf Back aerial has more startup.
    • Change Back aerial's final hit deals less knockback. This improves its combo potential but makes it a worse KO option.
    • Change Back aerial has an altered ending animation, with Pikachu spreading out its limbs while in a more upright position.
  • Buff Up aerial deals more damage.
  • Buff Down aerial can meteor smash opponents.
    • Nerf Down aerial has more endlag.

Throws/other attacks

  • Change Pikachu now grabs and pummels with one hand.
  • Nerf Standing grab and dash grab having more startup and endlag.
  • Buff Forward throw deals more damage.
    • Change Forward throw has slightly more vertical knockback.[1] This makes it more useful as an edgeguard setup but reduces its combo potential.
  • Buff Up throw deals more damage.[2]
    • Nerf Up throw has slightly altered knockback, reducing its combo potential.
  • Nerf Down throw deals less damage.

Special Moves

  • Thunder Jolt:
    • Buff Aerial Thunder Jolt deals more damage.
    • Buff Grounded Thunder Jolt has slightly less startup.
  • Skull Bash:
  • Quick Attack:
    • Change Quick Attack now has an angle indicator to telegraph Pikachu's trajectory. This may help prevent missed directional inputs but makes Pikachu's movement more predictable.
    • Change Quick Attack deals slightly more knockback, launching opponents more effectively but reducing its combo potential.
  • Thunder:
    • Buff Thunder deals more knockback.
    • Buff Thunder deals slightly more damage.
    • Nerf Thunder has more startup and endlag.
    • Change Thunder produces a yellow rather than blue lightning bolt. When struck by the bolt, Pikachu glows a bright yellow while flashing a dark tint.
  • Volt Tackle:
    • Change Volt Tackle now involves Pikachu dashing forward quickly while surrounded by a ball of electricity. If this initial attack connects, Pikachu traps the opponent in place and speeds around the stage at different angles, racking up damage before launching opponents with an electric blast at the end of the move.
    • Buff Volt Tackle is easier to control, now requiring only a single button press rather than having to control Pikachu's slippery movement.
    • Nerf Pikachu can no longer chase down opponents if the initial attack misses. Pikachu may also self-destruct.

Classic Mode: I Choose You!

Pikachu fights against other Pokémon on various Pokémon stages.

Round Opponent Stage
1 Pokémon Trainer Saffron City
2 6 Jigglypuffs Pokémon Stadium 2
3 Pichu and Spiky-eared Pichu Prism Tower
4 Lucario Spear Pillar
5 Greninja Kalos Pokémon League
6 Incineroar Pokémon Stadium
Bonus Stage
Final Mewtwo, then Master Hand Final Destination

Note: A Maxim Tomato appears after defeating Mewtwo in the final round.

Role in World of Light

Pikachu was among the fighters summoned to the cliffside to fight an army of Master Hands.

During the opening cutscene, Pikachu was present when Galeem unleashed his beams of light. While attempting to run away, Pikachu was noticed by Sonic, who slowed down for Pikachu in an attempt to save it. However, both of them were vaporized and placed under Galeem's imprisonment along with the rest of the fighters, except for Kirby.

Alternate costumes

Pikachu Palette (SSBU).png

Gallery

Character Showcase Video

<youtube>7LfEvnLc3mI</youtube>

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.
  • Pikachu's alternate costume featuring goggles has been removed and returned to Pichu, who was the original owner of said palette swap in Melee.

References