Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Pichu (SSBU)

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This article is about Pichu's appearance in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. For the character in other contexts, see Pichu.
Pichu
in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
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PokemonSymbol.svg
Universe Pokémon
Other playable appearance in Melee


Availability Unlockable
Final Smash Volt Tackle
Pichu (SSBU)
“ Pichu is back after 17 years! Pichu's electric attacks have greater range and do more damage than its other attack types – but they also damage Pichu. ”
—Super Smash Blog, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Official Site

Pichu (ピチュー, Pichu) is a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. It was confirmed on June 12th, 2018. Pichu is classified as fighter #19.

Satomi Kōrogi, Pichu's voice actress from the Pokémon anime and Melee, reprises her role with new voice clips.

How to unlock

Complete one of the following:

  • Play VS. matches, with Pichu being the 34th character to be unlocked.
  • Clear Classic Mode with Pikachu or any character in its unlock tree, being the last character unlocked.
  • Have Pichu join the player's party in World of Light.

With the exception of the third method, Pichu must then be defeated on Pokémon Stadium 2.

Differences from Pikachu

As in Melee, Pichu is significantly lighter than Pikachu, and all of its electric attacks inflict recoil damage. Many of Pichu's attributes, such as its run speed, air speed, fall speed, etc. are now different when compared to Pikachu. In addition, most of Pichu's attack and non-attack animations have been given slight adjustments and overhauls in order to differentiate them from Pikachu's; for example, all of Pichu's smash attack charging animations are now completely different from Pikachu's. Almost all of Pichu's moves are also functionally different, such as down tilt or neutral air, making it even more unique. However, unlike previous clones, Pichu was not given many new unique moves to differentiate it from Pikachu, as the only fully unique moves it has are its forward tilt, up smash, neutral aerial, and edge attack.

These changes give Pichu some new strengths, but also a lot of weaknesses when compared to Pikachu.

Overall, Pichu can kill more reliably than Pikachu and at earlier percentages. Some of its attacks also deal more damage than Pikachu's, but the only ones with a significant difference are its back aerial and the aerial version of Thunder Jolt. Otherwise, the damage output between the two is largely the same or with only a 1–2% difference, while some of Pikachu's attacks, like its dash attack, up aerial and Thunder, are stronger than Pichu's.

Pichu's frame data is also better on average, with its biggest advantages being on its forward tilt, down smash and Thunder. However, there are some attacks like back aerial and Skull Bash where Pichu's frame data is worse, and only Pichu's up and down aerials auto-cancel in a short hop, whereas all of Pikachu's aerials can auto-cancel in a short hop. Additionally, with the exception of neutral aerial, almost every other attack in Pichu's moveset has inferior range to Pikachu's equivalent attacks, including all of its tilts and smash attacks, its up aerial and Thunder.

Pichu is extremely light and is a fast-faller with high gravity, which notoriously makes it much easier to combo and KO. The recoil damage gimmick, while toned down compared to Melee, still makes Pichu's already bad survivability even worse. Pichu is also forced to play very aggressively and cannot camp as well as Pikachu can due to its recoil damage. It also does not have access to Quick Attack either, removing a vital approach and burst option from its arsenal.

Lastly, Pikachu and Pichu's combo games are very different, with Pikachu's being much more diverse. For instance, Pichu does not have access to Pikachu's neutral aerial, which is an incredible combo tool, and Pichu cannot chain four back aerials into each other at low percents to immediately start an edgeguard. Pichu's down throw has less advantage and stops being a combo tool earlier, and its forward aerial has less advantage and hits two times less, making it worse for dragdown combos. Pichu also lacks Quick Attack as a combo starter and its up aerial does not have the weak hit that Pikachu's does, making it impossible to perform up air bridges that carry opponents to the blastzone with Pichu. Both Pikachu and Pichu have loops that use their neutral or back aerials respectively. Even there, Pikachu's version is likely better, because it works on more characters, is more resilient to SDI and is less situational, whereas the only advantage Pichu's version has is that it can rarely transition into a KO immediately. It also deals more damage per loop, but this is not very important because Pikachu can do more loops than Pichu in a row, making the total damage output roughly the same.

However, there are some upsides to Pichu's combo game over Pikachu's: its up tilt and up aerial combo for longer, and it has more combos into Thunder to take stocks. Down tilt is also a better combo starter, but it has very low range, making it hard to use.

All in all, both characters have many upsides and downsides compared to each other. Pichu has earned more successful tournament results so far, but it is debatable as to which character is truly the better choice. Both of them are capable of great results and have fared well in the metagame, and if there truly is an advantage to picking one over the other, it is negligible at most.

Aesthetics

  • Change Pichu's on-screen appearance, idle animations, taunts and victory poses are all different from Pikachu's.
  • Change In general, almost all of Pichu's animations are either slightly or completely different than Pikachu's. This includes Pichu's attacking and non-attacking animations.
    • Change Common animations such as air dodge, back roll, and backflip are all different.
    • Change Other miscellaneous animations (such as Home-Run Bat swing, sleeping, stunned, using shooting items, etc) are also different.

Attributes

  • Nerf All of Pichu's electrical attacks inflict recoil damage.
  • Nerf Pichu runs slower than Pikachu (2.039 → 1.892).
  • Nerf Pichu's traction is lower than Pikachu's (0.132 → 0.11), making it harder for Pichu to punish out of shield.
  • Nerf Pichu's rolls travel less distance than Pikachu's.
  • Nerf Pichu's wall jump grants much less height than Pikachu's, going from the third best to the sixth worst.
  • Buff Pichu's air speed is faster than Pikachu's (0.957 → 1.029).
  • Change Pichu falls much faster than Pikachu (1.55 → 1.9). However, its fast falling speed is only very slightly faster (2.48 → 2.5).
    • Nerf The difference between Pichu's falling speed and fast falling speed is much lower than Pikachu's (increase: 60% → 31.579%), which makes it more predictable when landing and gives it fewer options in the air.
  • Change Pichu's gravity is much higher then Pikachu's (0.095 → 0.14).
  • Nerf Pichu is significantly lighter than Pikachu (79 → 62). Combined with its high falling speed and gravity, this notoriously makes Pichu much easier to combo and KO than Pikachu.
  • Nerf Pichu's ears have a larger hurtbox than Pikachu's, which means it is slightly easier to hit a standing Pichu than a standing Pikachu.
    • Nerf Pichu is also taller than Pikachu when crouching and crawling. This means Pichu cannot crouch under some projectiles and attacks, like Wolf's Blaster, whereas Pikachu can.
  • Buff Due to Pichu's higher falling speed and gravity, its air dodges have less ending lag than Pikachu's (neutral: FAF 51 → 43; directional: FAF 85 → 71 (side), 110 → 89 (up), 70 → 60 (down)).
  • Buff Pichu's ears are intangible during its shielding and shield dropping animations.

Ground attacks

  • Neutral attack:
    • Buff Neutral attack has one frame less ending lag (FAF 18 → 17).
    • Nerf It deals more knockback (12/18 base/20/30 scaling → 10/20/60/60), which causes it to hit less often before being pushed out of range or pushing the opponent off an edge.
    • Nerf It has less horizontal range due to having two hitboxes instead of three.
    • Change It does not have a sweetspot or a sourspot, which means it deals less damage when close to the opponent, but more damage when farther away from the opponent (1.4%/1.2%/1% → 1.2%).
  • Forward tilt:
    • Buff Forward tilt deals slightly more knockback (15 base/100 scaling → 5/130), KOing around 5% earlier than the upwards angled variant of Pikachu's version.
    • Buff It has less startup lag with a significantly longer duration (frames 6-8 → 5-12) and less ending lag (FAF 30 → 25).
    • Buff It always causes the opponent to trip at low percents.
    • Nerf It cannot be angled, making it near impossible to hit aerial opponents.
    • Nerf It deals consistent and less damage (10% (angled up)/9% (unangled)/8% (angled down) → 8%).
    • Nerf It causes recoil damage (1%).
    • Nerf It has less horizontal range.
  • Up tilt:
    • Buff Up tilt has less ending lag (FAF 27 → 24).
    • Buff It deals less knockback (40 base/120 scaling → 32/105) and sends at a more vertical angle (105° → 95°), which combined with the previous change improves its combo potential.
    • Nerf Its middle hitbox is smaller, reducing its general range (hitbox sizes: 2.0u/3.8u/3.5u → 2.0u/2.8u/3.6u). This also means that a few characters, like Kirby, can crouch under Pichu's version, but not under Pikachu's. [1]
  • Down tilt:
    • Change Down tilt has more base knockback (12 → 40), less knockback scaling (100 → 50) and sends at a vertical angle instead of using the Sakurai angle (361° → 80°/100°), which makes it a significantly better combo starter, but removes its edgeguarding and locking potential.
    • Buff It has more range below Pichu, making it easier to hit enemies at the ledge.
    • Nerf It cannot cause the opponent to trip.
    • Nerf It has less horizontal range.
  • Dash attack:
    • Buff Dash attack has one frame less ending lag (FAF 36 → 35).
    • Buff It has an additional hitbox on Pichu's torso, making it more likely for the attack to clank instead of losing to other attacks.
    • Buff It has a longer hitbox duration (frames 6-8 (clean)/9-12 (late) → 6-9/10-15).
    • Nerf It has smaller hitboxes on the head (5.0u/4.0u → 4.6u/3.0u).
    • Nerf It does not have a shieldstun multiplier of 1.8×, making it less safe on shield despite having one frame less of ending lag.
    • Nerf The clean hit deals less damage (11% → 8%).
      • Buff The above 2 changes result in less shield pushback, allowing it to cross up shields.
    • Change The clean hit deals less knockback (70 base/88 scaling → 60/100), while the late hit has less base knockback (100 → 60), but more knockback scaling (50 → 80). This allows for the move to combo more reliably, but greatly reduces its KO potential.
    • Buff The clean hit sends at a more vertical angle (60° → 70°). This makes it better for combos.
  • Forward smash:
    • Change Forward smash strikes multiple times instead of once. This causes it to deal less damage (12% → 8%) but more knockback if the opponent gets hit by the attack late.
    • Buff It does not have an early or late hit, causing it to consistently deal the maximum possible knockback.
    • Buff It has a longer hitbox duration (frames 15-29 → 16-33). The total duration is identical, effectively reducing its ending lag.
    • Buff The last hit deals more knockback (60 base/75 scaling → 68/123), KOing around 10% earlier than the sweetspot of Pikachu's version.
    • Nerf It has slightly more startup lag (frame 15 → 16).
    • Nerf It causes recoil damage (2%).
    • Nerf It has significantly less horizontal range.
  • Up smash:
    • Change Up smash is an upward arcing headbutt, similar to Mario's up smash, whereas Pikachu's is a tail flip. This means that the hitbox starts behind Pichu and moves forwards, whereas Pikachu's starts in front and moves backwards.
    • Buff It does not have a mid or late hit, causing it to consistently deal the maximum possible damage and knockback.
    • Buff Pichu's ears are intangible while the move's hitboxes are active.
    • Buff It has less startup lag (frame 10 → 9).
    • Buff It has a large hitbox on Pichu's head and a smaller one on its torso instead of three small hitboxes, giving it more range in front of Pichu.
    • Nerf It deals less knockback (50 base/89 scaling → 40/15 base/85 scaling).
    • Nerf It has less range above and behind Pichu.
    • Nerf It has a significantly shorter hitbox duration (frames 10-17 → 9-11), which also causes it to have two frames more ending lag despite the shorter total duration (FAF 45 → 41).
  • Down smash:
    • Buff Down smash has significantly less ending lag (FAF 66 → 51).
    • Buff Pichu is intangible for 4 frames starting 1 frame before the hitboxes come out.
    • Buff It deals more damage if all hits connect (13% → 14%) and the last hit deals more damage (3% → 8%), increasing its knockback despite having lower knockback values (51 base/192 scaling → 45/150).
    • Nerf It causes recoil damage (1.3%).
    • Nerf It hits one time less with the same duration, which means the rehit rate is slower. This makes it easier to escape the attack by using DI to go down and teching on the ground. [2]
    • Nerf It takes longer to hit enemies behind Pichu than those who are in front of it, whereas Pikachu has better range in both directions that is always completely covered.
    • Nerf It has less range below Pichu, making it harder to hit enemies at the ledge, even with the final hit.
    • Change Pichu moves slightly forward and then backward while using its whole body to attack, unlike Pikachu, who stays in place and uses its tail.
    • Buff It uses a large extended hitbox. Combined with Pichu's movement, this gives it noticeably more horizontal range and allows it to cover a wider area compared to Pikachu's version.
    • Change The final hit sends at a more vertical angle (37° → 50°).
      • Change This causes it to KO earlier from center stage and across the stage, but later from near the edge.
      • Nerf The angle is less desirable for edgeguarding.

Aerial attacks

  • Neutral aerial:
    • Change Neutral aerial is a somersaulting cartwheel, whereas Pikachu's is an electrical charge. It does not have an electric hitbox and only hits once.
    • Buff Due to being a single hit, it deals more damage than the final hit of Pikachu's version (3.5% → 7%), and thus, it has more knockback.
    • Buff Unlike Pikachu's neutral aerial, its hitbox is extended and moves along with Pichu, giving it more range and better coverage around it despite the hitbox being smaller (5.5u looping hits, 6.0u final hit → 4.0u).
    • Buff It has a longer hitbox duration (frames 3-22 → 3-9 (clean), 10-27 (late)), reducing its ending lag by four frames despite the longer total duration (FAF 39 → 40).
    • Buff It has less landing lag (9 frames → 7).
    • Nerf It cannot be used to perform the dragdown combos, loops and kill setups that Pikachu can do with its neutral aerial due to its single hit.
    • Nerf It deals less damage (8.9% → 7% (clean), 5% (late)).
    • Nerf It does not auto-cancel in a short hop due to Pichu's higher gravity and faster fall speed.
  • Forward aerial:
    • Change Every hit of forward aerial deals the same damage, whereas Pikachu deals less damage with the first hits, but more with the last hit.
    • Buff Its loop hits connect more reliably due to using the autolink angle (35°/310°/60°/290° → 366°) and having a lower SDI multiplier (1.3× → 1×).
    • Buff It deals more damage if all hits connect (11.8% → 14%).
    • Buff It has two large hitboxes covering Pichu's entire body for all hits instead of four small hitboxes for the looping hits and a slightly disjointed large one on the head and a smaller one at the torso for the final hit.
    • Buff The final hit has a lower hitlag multiplier (1.5x → 1x), making it harder to SDI/DI strategically.
    • Nerf It hits two fewer times with the same duration, which means that the rehit rate is slower and dragging opponents down with it is harder.
    • Nerf It causes recoil damage (1.5%).
    • Change The last hit deals less damage (4.8% → 3.5%) with more base knockback but less knockback scaling, (40 base/154 scaling → 55/140), causing it to have overall less knockback and reducing its KO potential, but making it better for combos and racking up damage when combined with it higher damage output.
    • Nerf It does not auto-cancel in a short hop due to Pichu's higher gravity and faster fall speed, reducing its combo potential and safety.
  • Back aerial:
    • Buff Back aerial deals significantly more damage if all hits connect (8.6% → 12.5%).
    • Buff It has a longer duration (frames 4-25 → 5-31).
      • Change However, the attack hits as often as Pikachu's version, which means the rehit rate is slower. This makes escaping the attack easier, but allows it to drag opponents down more easily for edgeguarding and combos.
    • Nerf It has an electric hitbox and therefore causes recoil damage (1.5%).
    • Nerf It has more startup (frame 4 → 5) and ending lag (FAF 44 → 55).
    • Change It does not have a landing hitbox, hindering its safety, but making it easier to follow up when landing with the move.
    • Nerf It does not auto-cancel in a short hop due to Pichu's higher gravity and faster fall speed, reducing its combo potential and safety.
    • Change The last hit deals less damage (3.6% → 2.5%), but has significantly more base knockback (40 → 70) and launches at a lower angle (45° → 42°), which increases its KO potential, but reduces its combo potential at low to mid percentages.
  • Up aerial:
    • Buff Up aerial has less landing lag (14 frames → 11).
    • Nerf It deals consistent damage instead of having a clean and a late hit, but also deals less damage (6%/5% (clean), 4% (late) → 4%).
    • Nerf It has less range, due to only possessing 2 hitboxes instead of 3, and them being smaller (4u/5u/4u → 2.8u/3.6u).
    • Change It deals less knockback (50 base/113 scaling → 70/70), which alongside its lower damage increases its combo potential, but reduces its KO potential.
    • Change It sends at a more vertical angle (68° (clean), 55° (late) → 80°), making it easier to combo, especially into Thunder, but also removing the up air bridges Pikachu can do at mid percents.
  • Down aerial:
    • Change Pichu's ears are intangible during the first 4 frames down aerial is active, but are exposed for the remainder of the attack and point downwards rather than fold back like in its forward aerial, making them more vulnerable.
    • Buff Its clean hit has a longer duration with the late hit having a shorter duration instead (frames 14-15 (clean)/16-26 (late) → 14-17/18-26).
    • Buff Its late hit has more knockback scaling (84 → 100), improving its KO potential.
    • Buff Its late hit has an additional hitbox on Pichu's torso instead of only having a hitbox on the head. The head hitbox is also bigger and more disjointed.
    • Nerf It causes recoil damage (1.5% (aerial hitbox), 0.5% (landing), total: 2%).
  • Comparison of Pichu's loops (with back aerial) and Pikachu's loops (with neutral aerial):
    • Buff In rare situations, Pichu is able to immediately KO the opponent after ending the loops by moving next to the stage and using down aerial, whereas Pikachu's loops cannot lead into a KO directly. It also deals more damage per loop.
    • Nerf Pichu's loops are more situational, because they can only be started in a full hop and are completely impossible near platforms, whereas Pikachu can start them in a short hop and guarantee them after a grab or up tilt, while still being able to do a few loops even with platforms nearby.
    • Nerf SDI has a bigger effect on Pichu's back aerial than on Pikachu's neutral aerial, which makes it much easier to escape Pichu's loops than Pikachu's. This also means Pikachu can do more loops in a row than Pichu without the opponent falling out.[3]

Throws and other attacks

  • Grabs:
    • Buff All grabs have less startup (frame 7/10/11 (standing/dash/pivot) → 6/8/9) and ending lag (FAF 37/45/40 → 32/40/37).
    • Nerf Standing grab has slightly less range (hitboxes: 4.0u → 3.3u (grounded opponents), 2.0u → 1.65u (aerial opponents)).
  • Pummel:
    • Buff Pummel deals more damage (1% → 1.4%).
    • Nerf It has more hitlag (12 frames → 14), slightly increasing its duration.
    • Nerf It causes recoil damage (0.1%).
    • Nerf {{{1}}}
    • {{change|It knocks bystanders upwards instead of away (angle: 361 → 80)
  • Forward throw:
    • Buff Forward throw's final hit deals much more damage (2% → 6%) with base knockback not fully compensated (55 → 45), causing it to KO at high percents. The move also deals more total damage (10% → 12%).
    • Nerf {{{1}}}
      • Buff However, due to the hitbox being lower down, it is easier to hit short fighters at point blank range.
    • Nerf It causes recoil damage (0.8%).
  • Back throw:
    • Nerf Back throw has less base knockback (85 → 75), reducing its KO potential, to the point of being almost entirely absent.
  • Up throw:
    • Change Up throw has significantly less knockback scaling (129 → 45), allowing it to combo into Thunder at very high percents much better, but also removing its KO potential by itself.
    • Buff The first hit deals more damage (3% → 5%), increasing its total damage (8% → 10%).
    • Buff The first hit has a lower hitlag multiplier (1.6x → 1x), making the throw execute faster.
    • Nerf The collateral hitbox is smaller (5.5u → 4.7u), making it harder to hit bystanders.
    • Nerf It has more base knockback (48 → 90), reducing its combo potential at low percents.
  • Down throw:
    • Buff Down throw deals more damage (5% → 8%).
    • Buff The throw itself deals less damage (5% → 4%), reducing its knockback growth and allowing it to combo for longer, despite a slightly lower launch angle (83˚ → 80˚).
    • Nerf It releases the opponent much earlier due to not inflicting hitlag (frame 38 → 26) and has comparatively more ending lag (FAF 52 → 47). This makes it harder to DI, but also noticeably reduces its combo potential.

Special moves

  • Thunder Jolt:
    • Buff Thunder Jolt deals more damage (6%/5%/4% → 7%/6%/5% (grounded), 4.8% → 10% (aerial)) and consistent damage to both grounded and aerial opponents.
      • Change However, its negative shield damage is higher (-2.5/-2/-1.5 → -3/-2.5/-2 (grounded), -1.9 → -4.5 (aerial)), causing it to not deal more shield damage despite the increased damage.
    • Buff It has more base knockback (18 → 25 (grounded), 35 → 50 (aerial)), improving its edgeguarding potential.
    • Buff Its projectiles are bigger (3.0u/1.8u → 4.0u/3.0u (grounded), 3.0u → 4.0u (aerial)).
    • Buff It has one frame less startup lag (frame 19 → 18).
      • Nerf However, its total duration is identical, giving it one frame more ending lag.
    • Nerf It causes recoil damage (0.7%).
    • Change Grounded Thunder Jolts travel faster, which makes them harder to avoid, but also makes it harder to follow behind them for added pressure.
    • Change Grounded Thunder Jolts bounce closer to the ground, which makes it impossible to crouch beneath them, but also reduces their vertical range, which makes jumping above them less of a commitment.
    • Change Aerial Thunder Jolts move at a more downwards angle.
  • Skull Bash:
    • Buff Skull Bash deals much more damage when fully charged (21.4% → 33%).
    • {{buff|It has altered knockback (40 base/78 scaling → 15/90), improving its KO potential
    • Nerf It takes significantly longer to fully charge.
    • Nerf It has more ending lag in the air (FAF 75 → 87) and on hit (FAF 22 → 26).
    • Nerf It deals less damage when uncharged (6.2% → 4%) and when the smash input is used (10% → 7.8%).
    • Nerf It causes recoil damage (1.8%).
    • Nerf Pichu's ears stick out while flying, making it somewhat exposed.
    • Nerf The move has a smaller hitbox (4u → 3.2u), reducing its range.
    • Nerf Due to the hitbox using the electric effect, it deals more hitlag, making it easier to DI.
    • Change It travels a longer distance. While this makes it better for recovery and allows it to hit opponents from further away, it also makes edgeguarding with it much riskier, as Pichu is more likely to self-destruct if it misses.
  • Agility:
    • Buff Agility travels a longer distance.
    • Nerf It does not have a hitbox and therefore inflicts neither damage nor knockback, removing a burst option and combo starter from Pichu's arsenal and making its recovery less safe.
    • Nerf It causes recoil damage (0.9% (first zip), 1.4% (second zip), total: 2.3%).
  • Thunder:
    • Cloud:
      • Buff Thunder's cloud has less startup lag (frame 13 → 9).
      • Buff It has a bigger hitbox (6.0u → 7.0u).
      • Change It uses weight-independent knockback.
      • Nerf The bolt travels faster, making the spiking hitbox less likely to connect into the discharge due to not having its knockback compensated.
    • Lightning Bolt:
      • Buff Thunder's lightning bolt has less startup lag (frame 13 → 9).
      • Nerf It deals less damage (8% → 4%) with no compensation on knockback.
      • Change It launches at a higher angle (70° → 94°) and uses weight-independent knockback. However, this does not aid in its combo or juggling potential due to its high ending lag and lower knockback.
      • Change It travels faster.
        • Buff This makes it harder to react to.
        • Nerf If the lightning bolt hits Pichu, its hitbox has a shorter duration.
        • Nerf If the lightning bolt misses Pichu, the bolt will disappear on the ground more quickly, giving it more ending lag, despite the FAF being identical.
        • Nerf Creating a wall with the lightning bolt for edgeguarding is less effective.
    • Discharge:
      • Buff Thunder's discharge has less startup lag (frame 34 → 26) with identical ending lag, shortening its duration (FAF 75 → 67).
      • Nerf It deals slightly less damage (15% → 14%).
      • Nerf It causes considerable recoil damage (3.5%).
      • Nerf It has a smaller hitbox (13.0u → 11.0u). This also makes it harder to hit enemies at the ledge with it.
      • Change It has more base knockback (70 → 90), but lower knockback scaling (77 → 65), causing it to KO earlier from near the edge, but later from center stage. Pikachu's Thunder starts dealing more knockback than Pichu's at 75%.
      • Change It always sends the opponent in the direction Pichu is facing. This makes it more reliable, but also means using DI correctly to survive longer against it is easier.
  • Volt Tackle:
    • Buff Volt Tackle deals more damage (1.5% → 1.6% (loop), 20% → 21% (final)) and knockback.
    • Nerf Volt Tackle causes massive recoil damage (3.2% (startup), 0.2% (loop), 3.5% (final)).

Changes from Super Smash Bros. Melee

Since its absence from previous installments, Pichu was infamous of being by far the worst clone character in Melee due to its having the worst matchups in the series and often having players label it a "joke character", especially taking into consideration its bottom-tier placement and low tournament representation. Possibly as a result of this, Pichu has been exponentially buffed in its transition to Ultimate, and is arguably the most buffed character in the game.

Pichu benefits slightly from the implementation of rage, as its electrical attacks can now slowly increase its knockback with the recoil damage it receives from them, and can potentially allow it to escape certain kill confirms that would otherwise KO it. Pichu's recoil damage itself has been somewhat toned down from Melee, making its electrical attacks less of a detriment to use. Its mobility has overall improved as well, as its walking, dashing and air speeds have increased, and its air acceleration has increased substantially. It can also crawl now, enabling Pichu to approach more easily while being able to dodge certain projectiles. Pichu also benefits from the weakening of SDI, as its multi-hit attacks are much more reliable. On another note, while its endurance is still the worst in the game as it is lighter than even Jigglypuff, its weight was nevertheless increased, allowing it to survive a little bit longer.

Despite the many buffs it received, Pichu also received a few nerfs. Some of Pichu's strongest kill options, such as its forward and up smashes, have been significantly weakened in terms of knockback, while its neutral aerial, previously considered by many to be its best move, has also been weakened in both its damage output and knockback. Pichu can also no longer chaingrab with its up throw, greatly reducing its damage-racking potential against fast-fallers. Pichu's own falling speed has not changed since Melee while its gravity has been increased, making it a fast-faller. Pichu's grounded attacks are also less effective for edgeguarding, as its down tilt, down smash and dash attack now send opponents at a much higher angle. Lastly, more of Pichu's moves (most notably its forward tilt and back aerial) use electricity, meaning that more of its moves cause recoil damage. Additionally, unlike other characters, its jumpsquat duration remains the same, while all other characters are now on par with its jumpsquat animation time of 3 frames.

Additionally, all of Pichu's buffs failed to remove some of its glaring weaknesses, with the biggest being its poor survivability. While taking recoil damage allows Pichu to build up rage more easily compared to other fighters, it allows Pichu to be KOed rather easily. Combined with it being the lightest character in the game and its fast falling speed, Pichu is also easy to combo despite having a small hurtbox size. However, this weakness became more exploitable in patch 3.1.0 as Pichu's hurtbox size increased, making it easier to hit as well. Pichu's overall survivability remains among the worst in the game alongside other lightweights like Jigglypuff, Squirtle and Mr. Game and Watch.

Overall, Pichu's buffs greatly outweigh its nerfs. It is no longer an intentional "joke character" like in Melee; instead, it is now a very polarized glass cannon, akin to a min-maxed version of Pikachu. It has a better punish and edgeguarding game, but significantly worse survivability, considerably less range on average, a less reliable recovery due to Skull Bash having more ending lag and Agility dealing no damage (thus rendering it completely useless as an attack unlike Quick Attack, which also removes an approach and burst tool) and fewer non-committal options (due to most aerials not auto-canceling in a short hop and most grounded attacks having way less range). Pichu has achieved very strong results and representation during the early metagame of Ultimate, which has lead to many players viewing it as a top tier character.

However, possibly due to its massive success early on, Pichu was noticeably nerfed in patch update 3.1.0, where its hurtbox was enlarged, its infamous forward tilt has lost most of its KO power, and the recoil damage on almost all of its electric-based attacks was increased. Because of these changes, both VoiD and Nietono - two previously high level Pichu mains - initially dropped it in favor of other characters (although they have both since returned to using Pichu), and while other players such as RFang and NAKAT have achieved respectable results, they have failed to match the same level of success that pre-patch Pichu obtained. As a result, Pichu's overall viability has now become a subject of debate but still much better than when it was in Melee.

Aesthetics

  • Change Pichu's design and proportions have changed. It has thicker arms, rounder cheek spots, a thinner torso, and more narrow ears. Its feet are less detailed, and its eyes are now brown instead of navy blue. Due to these changes, Pichu now matches its appearances in the more recent Pokémon titles.
  • Change Like all characters, Pichu has seven alternate costumes in addition to its normal design, as opposed to the three from Melee. Pichu's blue and red costumes no longer have it wear a scarf, while its green costume has been removed entirely.
  • Change All of Pichu's non-attack animations are now unique to the character.
  • Change Pichu is much more expressive. Like Pikachu, its eyes become swirls when dazed, a detail derived from the Pokémon anime from when a Pokémon faints. It also looks angry when using it's specials. Pichu also now has squash and stretch in its animations, giving it a more bouncy feel than in Melee.
  • Change Pichu's stance is mirrored as it faces more on the screen regardless of the direction it turns towards.
  • Change Pichu has a new idle animation where it wobbles left to right, and an idle pose where it looks back to twitch its tail.
  • Change Pichu has been updated with universal features introduced in Brawl and SSB4.
    • Change Pichu now has an on-screen appearance, a Boxing Ring title, a Palutena's Guidance conversation, and an up taunt. Its left-facing taunt from Melee has been moved to its side taunt, and its right-facing taunt has been moved to its down taunt.
    • Change Pichu uses various voice clips for any move between any tilt attack, its dash attack, and any aerial attack. Additionally, it always uses specific clips for each of its smash attacks.
    • Change Pichu has a secondary KO scream, a voice clip when jumping, and a voice clip when emerging from underwater.
  • Change Pichu has a new air dodge animation where it twirls in the air at an angle, instead of scrunching up.
  • Change Pichu no longer appears to sleep while crouching, most likely due to its ability to crawl.
  • Change Pichu has a new victory animation where it discharges electricity and briefly faints (similar to its new taunt), then gets up and winks at the camera; this replaces the animation from Melee where it jumps and claps with its feet. Its other two victory animations from Melee are updated with new expressions and ending poses, and Pichu now has voice clips for all of its victory animations.

Attributes

  • Buff Pichu can crawl, much like Pikachu. This allows for an easier approach while dodging projectiles.
  • Buff Pichu walks faster (1.24 → 1.302).
  • Buff Pichu dashes much faster (1.72 → 1.892), although it is slower relative to the cast, having the 25th fastest dash speed out of 78 characters compared to the 5th fastest out of 26 characters.
  • Buff Pichu's traction is slightly higher (0.1 → 0.11).
  • Buff Pichu's air speed is higher (0.85 → 1.029).
  • Buff Pichu's air acceleration is much higher (0.05 → 0.1), going from being the 12th highest out of 26 characters to the 9th highest out of 78 characters.
  • Buff Pichu is heavier (55 → 62), which improves its horizontal survivability, though it still remains the lightest character in the game.
  • Change Pichu's gravity is higher (0.11 → 0.14).
  • Nerf Due to the introduction of the gravity penalty for knockback, Pichu sustains more knockback especially since it has above average gravity. Additionally, the changes to knockback physics have made Pichu's vertical endurance even worse than it was in Melee despite its increased weight (now being the worst in the game).
  • Buff Forward roll has less ending lag (FAF 32 → 29).
  • Nerf Forward roll grants less intangibility (frames 4-19 → 4-14).
  • Nerf Back roll grants less intangibility (frames 4-19 → 4-15) and has more ending lag (FAF 32 → 34).
  • Nerf Spot dodge has more startup (frame 2 → 3) and ending lag (FAF 23 → 25).
  • Buff Air dodge has less startup (frame 4 → 2), making it better for escaping combos. Due to its altered mechanics, it also no longer causes helplessness, and allows Pichu to sweetspot edges with directional air dodges.
  • Nerf Air dodge grants less intangibility (frames 4-29 → 2-26 (neutral), 2-19 (directional)), and due to the altered mechanics, directional air dodges have more landing lag (10 frames → 11-19) and are significantly less effective for wavedashing.
  • Change With the implementation of rage, Pichu's self-inflicted damage can gradually increase its launching power, and also keep itself out of kill confirm percentages. Conversely, Pichu's status as the lightest character in the game means it will not be able to survive very well at percentages which allow it to take advantage of rage, and will also die sooner against an opponent who has high rage.
  • Buff The removal of chain grabs immensely aids Pichu's endurance and longevity.
    • Nerf However, this also removes some chain grabs Pichu was capable of performing on fast-fallers.

Ground attacks

  • Buff The increased shieldstun for ground attacks makes Pichu's slightly to moderately safer on shield, especially its tilt attacks.
  • Neutral attack:
    • Buff Neutral attack has less ending lag (FAF 22 → 17) and it can be looped by holding the attack button.
    • Nerf It deals less damage (2% → 1.2%).
    • Nerf It deals more knockback (7 base/50 scaling → 10/20 base/60 scaling), hindering its ability to chain into itself.
  • Forward tilt:
    • Change Forward tilt has a different animation, where Pichu kicks in an upward arcing motion rather than straight forward, and electricity comes out of its legs.
    • Buff It has less ending lag (FAF 30 → 25).
    • Buff It has more range.
    • Buff It always trips opponents at low percents.
    • Buff It deals less base knockback but significantly more knockback scaling (10 base/100 scaling → 5/130), giving it KO potential at high percents.
    • Nerf It has a shorter duration (frames 5-14 → 5-12).
    • Nerf It has an electric effect and therefore causes recoil damage (1%).
    • Nerf It can no longer be angled.
  • Up tilt:
    • Change Up tilt deals less knockback (20/25 base/120 scaling → 32/105), improving its combo potential but hindering its KO potential.
    • Nerf It deals less damage (6% → 5%).
  • Down tilt:
    • Nerf Down tilt deals less damage (7% → 6%).
    • Nerf It has a shorter duration (frames 7-9 → 7-8).
    • Change It sends opponents at a vertical angle (35° → 80°/100°) and deals less knockback (12 base/100 scaling → 40/50), making it a potent combo starter but removing its edgeguarding and tech chasing potential.
  • Dash attack:
    • Buff Dash attack has noticeably less ending lag (FAF 50 → 35).
    • Buff It deals more knockback (40 base/70 scaling → 60/100 (clean), 60/80 (late)).
    • Nerf It has more startup lag and a shorter duration (frames 5-16 → 6-15).
    • Nerf The late hit deals less damage (8% → 6%).
    • Change It sends opponents at a more vertical angle (361° → 70°), reducing its edgeguarding potential, but improving its combo potential combined with the decreased ending lag.
  • Forward smash:
    • Buff Forward smash's hits connect more reliably: their angles have been altered (0°/20°/180° → 366°/20°), and they have a reduced hitlag (0.3x) and SDI multiplier (0.5x), on top of the weakened SDI from Melee to Ultimate.
    • Buff The final hit deals more damage (6% → 8%), and the looping hits deal consistent damage due to changes to stale-move negation, increasing the total dealt (14.74% → 18%).
    • Nerf It has more ending lag (FAF 51 → 54).
    • Nerf The final hit deals less knockback (90 base/140 scaling → 68/123), hindering its KO potential despite its increased damage.
  • Up smash:
    • Buff Up smash has intangibility on Pichu's ears while its hitboxes are active.
    • Nerf It deals less damage (16% → 14%).
    • Nerf It deals drastically less knockback (50/40 base/105 scaling → 40/15 base/85 scaling), which alongside its lower damage significantly hinders its KO potential, going from one of the strongest up smashes in Melee to one of the weakest in Ultimate.
  • Down smash:
    • Change Down smash hits multiple times instead of once.
    • Buff It deals more damage (13% → 1.5% (loop hits), 8% (final), 14% (total)) if all hits connect.
    • Buff The final hit deals more knockback (30 base/70 scaling → 45/150), KOing at around 125% from center stage, compared to the single hit in Melee KOing at around 170% under the same circumstances.
    • Buff Pichu now moves forward and backwards during the attack and the hitbox is extended, increasing its horizontal range.
    • Nerf It has more startup lag (frame 7 → 8).
    • Nerf It sends at a more vertical angle (160° → 50°) that is less desirable for edgeguarding, no longer being a semi-spike.
    • Nerf It has an electric effect and therefore causes recoil damage (1.3%).

Aerial attacks

  • Change All aerials except back aerial have less landing lag (12 frames → 7 (neutral), 15 → 12 (forward), 18 → 11 (up), 26 → 22 (down)). However, due to the removal of L-canceling, their landing lag is not fully compensated.
  • Nerf The decreased shieldstun for aerial attacks makes Pichu's less safe on shield compared to their L-canceled versions in Melee.
  • Neutral aerial:
    • Nerf Neutral aerial deals less damage (12%/9% → 7%/5%) without full compensation on knockback (clean: 18 base/100 scaling → 20/112, late: 0/100 → 0/112).
    • Nerf It has a slightly shorter duration (frames 3-28 → 3-27).
    • Change It has an altered animation: Pichu now performs a frontflipping cartwheel instead of a somersault, and attacks with it's head instead of its tail.
  • Buff The hitbox is now extended and follows Pichu as it spins around, giving it more range and better coverage around it.
  • Forward aerial:
    • Buff Forward aerial causes considerably less recoil damage (4% (1% per hit) → 1.5%).
    • Buff It deals significantly more damage (2% → 3.5% (per hit); 7.46% → 14% (total)).
    • Buff The first three hits deal less set knockback (30 → 20), use the autolink angle (361° → 366°), and have a lower hitlag multiplier (0.5x), which alongside the weakening of SDI allows them to connect much more reliably.
    • Buff The last hit no longer deals set knockback (30 set/100 scaling → 55 base/140 scaling), making it safer on hit and granting it KO potential at high percents.
    • Nerf The last hit has a shorter duration (frames 22-24 → 22-23).
    • Change The last hit has a different launch angle (361° → 45°).
  • Back aerial:
    • Change Back aerial hits multiple times instead of once.
      • Buff The loop hits use the autolink angle (367°), allowing them to drag opponents down for combos.
    • Buff It has less ending lag (FAF 60 → 55).
    • Buff It deals more damage if all hits connect (9% → 2% (hits 1-5), 2.5% (last); 12.5% (total)).
    • Buff The last hit deals more knockback (20 base/100 scaling → 70/160), launches at a lower angle (361° → 42°), and always sends opponents towards Pichu's back, greatly improving its edgeguarding ability.
    • Buff It auto-cancels earlier (frame 50 → 38).
    • Nerf It has more startup lag (frame 4 → 5).
    • Nerf It has an electric effect and therefore causes recoil damage (1.5%).
  • Up aerial:
    • Buff Up aerial deals less knockback (100 base/60 scaling → 70/70), improving its combo potential.
    • Buff It has slightly less ending lag (FAF 28 → 27).
  • Down aerial:
    • Buff Down aerial has a clean hit that deals more damage (12% → 13%) and meteor smashes opponents (361° → 270°), greatly improving it edgeguarding and onstage combo abilities.
    • Buff Pichu's ears are intangible during the clean hit.
    • Buff It auto-cancels earlier (frame 38 → 32), now doing so at the peak of a short hop.
    • Buff The landing hit no longer deals set knockback (30 set/100 scaling → 50 base/100 scaling).
    • Nerf The clean hit deals less knockback (20 base/100 scaling → 16/86), hindering its KO potential onstage.
    • Change Using the move in the air causes more recoil damage (1% → 1.5%), but landing with it causes less (1% → 0.5%).

Throws and other attacks

  • Grabs:
    • Buff Standing and dash grab have less startup lag (frame 7 → 6 (standing), 11 → 8 (dash)).
    • Buff Standing grab has more range.
    • Buff Dash grab has slightly less ending lag (FAF 41 → 40).
    • Nerf Standing grab has slightly more ending lag (FAF 31 → 32).
    • Change When grabbing, Pichu swipes one hand sideways, instead of grabbing overhead like Pikachu. Pichu also no longer rolls over after performing a dash grab.
  • Pummel:
    • Buff Pummel deals more hitlag (4 frames → 14), but has less startup (frame 3 → 1) and significantly less ending lag (FAF 25 → 6), shortening its duration.
    • Buff It causes significantly less recoil damage (1% → 0.1%).
    • Nerf It deals less damage (3% → 1.4%).
  • Nerf The removal of chain grabbing combined with the changes to knockback significantly hinders forward throw, up throw and down throw's damage racking potential.
  • Change All throws except forward throw no longer have an electric effect.
  • Forward throw:
    • Buff Forward throw deals more damage (2% → 1.5% (loop hits), 2% → 6% (throw), 9% → 12% (total)) with no compensation on knockback, making it a viable KO option near the edge.
    • Buff It causes slightly less recoil damage (1% → 0.8%).
    • Buff It no longer has any hitlag, executing faster as a result.
    • Nerf Its first four hits are slower (frame 10, 14, 18, 22 → 11, 15, 19, 23), and it releases the opponent faster (frame 29 → 27) with its total duration unchanged. This slightly hinders its combo potential.
  • Back throw:
    • Nerf Back throw releases the opponent faster (frame 30 → 26), with its total duration unchanged. This increases its ending lag and shortens the distance Pichu moves back before throwing, making it less effective for setting up edgeguards, while still giving the opponent enough time to DI.
    • Change Its speed is no longer weight-dependent.
    • Change It has a different animation.
  • Up throw:
    • Buff Up throw releases the opponent faster (frame 20 → 15) and has less ending lag (FAF 44 → 36), improving its combo potential from low to mid percents.
  • Down throw:
    • Buff Down throw releases the opponent faster (frame 20 → 19) and has less ending lag (FAF 48 → 40), improving its combo potential from low to mid percents despite its increased knockback.
    • Nerf The first hit has more startup (frame 12 → 14).
    • Nerf It deals less damage (5% (hit 1 and throw) → 4%; 10% → 8% total) and has significantly increased knockback scaling (38 → 100), hindering its combo potential at high percents, while still lacking KO potential.
  • Edge attack:
    • Buff Edge attack deals more damage (8% → 9%).

Special moves

  • Thunder Jolt:
    • Buff Thunder Jolt has less ending lag (FAF 58 → 52).
    • Buff It causes less recoil damage (1% → 0.7%).
    • Buff The grounded version has increased base knockback (10 → 25 (grounded opponents)/13 (aerial opponents)).
    • Nerf Pichu can no longer fast fall or control its trajectory while using the move.
    • Nerf The grounded version deals less damage on its later frames (7% → 7% (clean), 6% (mid), 5% (late)).
  • Skull Bash:
    • Buff When it hits an opponent, Skull Bash causes Pichu to bounce back in an animation with significantly less lag, making it safer to use.
    • Nerf It deals less damage (5%-39% → 4%-33%).
    • Nerf It causes more recoil damage (1% → 1.8%).
  • Agility:
    • Buff Agility travels a longer distance.
    • Buff It causes less recoil damage (1%/3% → 0.9%/1.4%).
    • Buff It has less ending lag when used into the ground.
    • Change It has an angle indicator to telegraph Pichu's trajectory. This may help prevent missed directional inputs, but makes Pichu's movement more predictable.
  • Thunder:
    • Buff Thunder meteor smashes targets hit near the cloud (94° → 270°), much like Pikachu's version from Smash 4 onward, dealing more damage (4% → 6%) and leading into the shockwave.
    • Buff The shockwave deals more damage (13% → 14%) and has more knockback scaling (60 → 65), allowing it to KO at around 110% from center stage.
    • Buff If the Thunder hits Pichu, it will rise a bit, helping its recovery.
    • Nerf The shockwave causes more recoil damage (3% → 3.5%).
    • Nerf The lightning bolt no longer hits multiple times.
    • Change Thunder passes through the stage. While this lets Pichu use it as a close range attack under platforms and such, it also means Pichu can hurt itself doing so.
    • Change The lightning bolt has different knockback values (80 base/55 scaling → 74/60).
    • Change The electricity discharged when the lightning strikes Pichu is yellow rather than blue and has Pichu flash with a dark tint.
  • Change Pichu has a Final Smash, Volt Tackle, which is nearly identical to Pikachu's: it has Pichu dash quickly around the stage at different angles while surrounded in a ball of electricity, then launching opponents with an electric blast at the end of the move as the ball disappears. It also causes massive recoil damage, unlike Pikachu's version of the move.

Update history

Possibly due to its dominating status in competitive play during the early metagame of Ultimate, Pichu has been significantly nerfed via game updates. Although its pummel was slightly buffed in update 2.0.0, it received several nerfs in update 3.1.0. Pichu's hurtbox is larger, forward smash has more ending lag, its infamously strong forward tilt has less knockback scaling, and almost all of its recoil-inducing attacks deal more recoil damage, noticeably worsening its already abysmal endurance.

Possibly due to these nerfs, one of Pichu's strongest mains - Nietono - dropped it in favor of Wario, although he still uses it as a secondary. However, it continues to sees play thanks to the efforts of VoiD, Nakat, blacktwins13, and RFang.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate 2.0.0

  • Buff Pummel deals less hitlag (15 frames → 14), shortening its duration.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate 3.0.0

  • Nerf Thunder Jolt deals less shield damage (1 → -3/-2.5/-2 (grounded, clean/mid/late), -4.5 (aerial)).
  • Nerf Pichu's aerial hitstun and landing animations have been changed so its body does not shift as much, which causes certain multihit attacks (e.g. Dancing Blade, Peach's dash attack, Shulk's forward smash and more) to connect more reliably against it.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate 3.1.0

  • Nerf Pichu has a larger hurtbox, now covering most of its ears.
  • Change Pichu's full shield is bigger. This makes it less likely for Pichu to get shield poked, but also makes it easier to hit the shield to apply pressure to it.
  • Nerf Forward tilt has less knockback scaling (150 → 130).
    • Buff This also allows it to trip opponents at a wider percent range.
  • Nerf Forward smash has more ending lag (FAF 50 → 54).
  • Nerf All electrical moves except for pummel and Volt Tackle cause more recoil damage. While this allows it to build up rage faster, it mostly worsens its already poor survivability and makes it easier to KO.
    • Nerf Forward tilt: 0.7% → 1%.
    • Nerf Forward smash: 1.5% → 2%.
    • Nerf Down smash: 0.8% → 1.3%.
    • Nerf Forward aerial: 1% → 1.5%.
    • Nerf Back aerial: 1% → 1.5%.
    • Nerf Down aerial: 1% → 1.5% (aerial hitbox).
    • Nerf Forward throw: 0.5% → 0.8%.
    • Nerf Thunder Jolt: 0.4% → 0.7%.
    • Nerf Skull Bash: 1.5% → 1.8%.
    • Nerf Agility: 0.6% → 0.9% (first zip), total: 2% → 2.3%.
    • Nerf Thunder: 3% → 3.5%.

Moveset

For a gallery of Pichu's hitboxes, see here.

Note: All numbers are listed as base damage, without the 1v1 multiplier.

  Name Damage Description
Neutral attack   1.2% Does a quick headbutt.
Forward tilt   8%, 1% recoil Plants itself on its upper paws and kicks with one foot upward in front of itself, and then the other. Very fast (comes out on frame 5) and has very low ending lag, yet it has above average power and can KO at high percents. Can make opponents trip at low percents. The hitbox last surprisingly long, as Pichu kicks with one foot and then the other, and while the second hitbox is smaller, it doesn't count as a sourspot. Cannot be angled as it could in Melee.
Up tilt   5% Swipes its tail above its body in an arc. Can combo into itself at low percents, or into an aerial at mid to high percents.
Down tilt rowspan="1" 6% Swipes its tail in front of itself. Has very low knockback scaling, allowing it to combo into up tilt at low to mid percents, or an aerial even at very high percents.
Dash attack   8% (clean), 6% (late) Jumps and headbutts forward. Less ending lag but less shieldstun compared to Pikachu's. It also has an hitbox on Pichu's torso.
Forward smash   2% (hits 1-5), 8% (hit 6), 2% recoil Launches a short jolt of electricity from its cheeks. Comes out on frame 16 and is a multihit attack. Stronger than Pikachu's version, does not have sourspots and has less ending lag relative to the hitbox, but has much less range.
Up smash   14% Does an upward headbutt. Pichu's ears become intangible on frames 9-11. Comes out on frame 9, making it quick for a smash attack. However, its knockback is rather poor for a smash attack.
Down smash   1.5% (hits 1-4), 8% (hit 6), 1.3% recoil Discharges electricity while quickly spinning in place. Compared to Pikachu's, it has much less ending lag and it is overall stronger, but it's easier to DI and is worse for edgeguarding due to its angle. Pichu also gains invincibility at frames 7-10.
Neutral aerial   7% (clean), 5% (late) An aerial cartwheel. It is a quick out of shield option and, when compared to Pikachu's, it is more effective for KOing and has more range and less ending lag. Autocancels in a full hop, but is slightly safer when not autocanceled, having 2 less frames of landing lag compared to Pikachu's.
Forward aerial   3.5% (hits 1-4), 1.5% recoil Does a forward barrel roll. Unlike Pikachu's, it covers Pichu's whole body and uses the autolink angle, connecting better. It deals impressive damage (14% if all the hits connect) and combo into itself at low percents, while also being good for edgeguarding.
Back aerial   2% (hits 1-5), 2.5% (hit 6), 1.5% recoil Does an electric spin similar to its down smash. Can combo at low percentages and edgeguard at higher percents, just like forward aerial. Decent knockback, making it an effective KO option.
Up aerial   4% Flicks its tail above itself. Good for combos, especially into Thunder. Autocancels in a short hop with less landing lag than Pikachu's version.
Down aerial   13%, 4% (landing), 1.5% recoil after startup, 0.5% recoil landing (can land before startup) Does a downward barrel roll. Has the capability to meteor smash opponents during the clean hit, which has a generously long duration (four frames), and, although with strict timing, it can autocancel in a short hop. Pichu's ears become intangible for the entire duration of the clean hit(frames 14-17). The late hit has good coverage in Pichu's body.
Grab   — Quickly leans forward and grabs with one arm. Has a range of approximately Pichu's body width, being somewhat short-ranged. Its grabs are the fastest in the game.
Pummel   1.4%, 0.1% recoil Shocks the opponent. Above average power and moderate speed.
Forward throw   1.5% (hits 1-4), 6% (throw), 0.8% recoil Places the opponent on its back and shocks them, sending them forward. Pichu's strongest throw, it starts KOing middleweights at around 153% near the edge of Final Destination.
Back throw   9% Does a backwards somersaults with the opponent, then flings them behind itself. Pichu's second strongest throw, but it can only KO middleweight late, starting at around 181% at the edge of Final Destination.
Up throw   5% (hit 1), 5% (throw) Tosses foe up and headbutts them. Can infamously combo into Thunder making it a reliable finisher between medium and high percents.
Down throw   4% (hit 1), 4% (throw) Places opponent on the ground, then jumps on them. Can combo into an aerial at low to mid percents.
Forward roll
Back roll
Spot dodge
Air dodge 		— —
Techs — —
Floor attack (front)
Floor getups (front) 		  7% Does a full rotation sweep with its tail.
Floor attack (back)
Floor getups (back) 		  7% Does a full rotation sweep with its tail.
Floor attack (trip)
Floor getups (trip) 		  5% Swings its tail on both sides of itself.
Edge attack
Edge getups 		  9% Climbs up then flicks its tail out.
Neutral special Thunder Jolt 7% (short distance), 6% (medium distance), 5% (long distance), 10% (air), 0.7% recoil Pichu's main projectile. Fires a jolt of electricity forward. Compared to Pikachu's, it is faster, bigger and stronger. It also travels forward while bouncing along the ground, and can also travel up walls, below the edge, and along ceilings, making it a strong edgeguarding and 2 framing tool. If used in the air, it will travel diagonally down instead and will deal more damage. Disappears after around 3 seconds. Can be used to gimp certain recoveries. Deals less damage the farther it travels.
Side special Skull Bash 4% (uncharged), 7.8% (uncharged smash input), 33% (fully charged), 1.8% recoil Charges and, when the B button is released, fires itself forward like a missile. When fully charged or close to fully charged, it has KO power. The move can also be used to extend Pichu's recovery, though it does have some lag. Compared to Pikachu's Skull Bash, Pichu's Skull Bash deals more damage and covers more distance when fully charged, but deals less damage when uncharged, takes longer to fully charge, causes recoil damage and has more endlag.
Up special Agility 0%, 0.9% recoil (warp 1), 1.4% recoil (warp 2) Pichu's primary recovery move. Moves at warp speed in two directions that can be selected via the control stick. Compared to Pikachu's Quick Attack, Agility travels farther. However, it deals no damage and Pichu suffers recoil damage.
Down special Thunder 14% (shockwave), 4% (thunderbolt), 6% (thunderbolt meteor), 3.5% recoil Summons a thundercloud from which a lightning bolt comes down and strikes Pichu. The start of the bolt has a meteor effect and deals more damage than the rest of the bolt. When the bolt hits Pichu, a shockwave is generated than has the potential to KO. Pichu also gains intangibility for 10 frames if it connects, just like Pikachu. Compared to Pikachu's Thunder, Pichu's Thunder has less startup but deals less damage and knockback overall and causes recoil damage. The thunderbolt travels faster than Pikachu's version, giving it both positives and negatives: this makes it easier to land, but Pichu will be more vulnerable.
Final Smash Volt Tackle 0.3% (6 hits during startup), 1% (initial hit), 1.6% (loop), 21% (launch), 3.2% recoil (startup), 0.2% recoil (loop), 3.5% recoil (launch) Pichu turns into a ball of electricity and dashes forward. Any opponents hit are knocked into the center of the screen where Pichu furiously tackles them from multiple directions then releases a powerful electric blast in the center. If the dash doesn't hit an opponent, the final smash is ended early. It causes a large amount of recoil damage, but is overall stronger than Pikachu's version.

On-screen appearance

  • Jumps out from a Poké Ball and waves both hands in the air with joy before landing, saying "Pichu!" in the process.

Taunts

  • Up taunt: Charges up with electricity, similar to Pikachu's up taunt, but falls back dazed at the end.
  • Side taunt: Jumps up and waves at the camera, saying "Pichu!" This was its left-facing taunt in Melee.
  • Down taunt: Squirms around on the ground, saying "Pichu!" This was its right-facing taunt in Melee.
  • Pichu's up taunt.

    Pichu's up taunt.

  • Pichu's side taunt.

    Pichu's side taunt.

  • Pichu's down taunt.

    Pichu's down taunt.

Idle poses

  • Turns and looks at its tail.
  • Looks around itself excitedly.
  • Pichu's first idle pose

    Pichu's first idle pose

  • Pichu's second idle pose

    Pichu's second idle pose

Victory poses

  • Left: Cheers twice (facing to the right first and the left second), jumps thrice while spinning, and poses with its left hand raised, chanting "Pichu, Pichu!"
  • Up: Jumps three times, with the third jump, which is done while spinning, being higher than the first two. While in midair, Pichu waves both of its arms. After landing, Pichu raises both of its arms and arches towards its left side. During the pose, Pichu says "Pi-Pi-Pichu!" in sync with each jump.
  • Right: Charges electricity, making itself fall over, then stands up and winks while scratching its head.
A small excerpt of the title theme of Pokémon Red, Blue, Yellow, and Green Versions, a track which would go on to become the Pokémon main theme and the title theme for the entire series.
  • PichuVictoryPose1SSBU.gif
  • PichuVictoryPose2SSBU.gif
  • PichuVictoryPose3SSBU.gif

In competitive play

In the early metagame Pichu was commonly viewed as one of, if not, the best character in the game thanks to its small size and powerful KO moves, including back air, Thunder, and its infamous forward tilt. These strengths allowed Pichu to have a strong player base, with players such as VoiD, Captain L, NAKAT, and Nietono performing spectacularly on a national level.

However, Patch 3.1.0 would increase its size and nerf the power of its forward tilt, while increasing the amount of recoil on some of his moves. Pichu's nerfs have placed it below Pikachu in many regards, and it has seen a notable decline in results after the nerfs. Despite these misfortunes, players still agree that Pichu is a very strong character, and it continues to perform well, with Blacktwins placing 9th at Shine 2019 and RFang placing 7th at The Big House 9.

Notable players

Any number following the Smasher name indicates placement on the Spring 2019 PGRU, which recognizes the official top 50 players in the world in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate from February 1st, 2019 to July 7th, 2019.

Active

Inactive

Classic Mode: Lightweight Fracas

Pichu's congratulations screen.

Pichu fights against opponents that are lightweights like itself, on stages that take place in the sky.

Round Opponent Stage Music Notes
1 Jigglypuff Jigglypuff (SSBU) Pokémon Stadium 2 Pokémon Center - Pokémon Red / Pokémon Blue
2 Squirtle Squirtle (SSBU) Peach's Castle Road to Viridian City - Pokémon Red / Pokémon Blue Squirtle's Pokémon Trainer is absent.
3 Mr. Game & Watch Mr. Game & Watch (SSBU) Skyworld Underworld
4 Olimar Olimar (SSBU) Pilotwings Light Plane (Remix)
5 Kirby Kirby (SSBU) and Meta Knight Meta Knight (SSBU) Skyloft Butter Building (for 3DS / Wii U) This battle is a free-for-all.
6 Mewtwo Mewtwo (SSBU) Prism Tower Pokémon Red / Pokémon Blue Medley
Bonus Stage
Final Master Hand Final Destination Master Hand (Less than 7.0 intensity)
Master Hand / Crazy Hand (Intensity 7.0 or higher)		 On intensity 7.0 and higher, Crazy Hand fights alongside Master Hand.

Credits roll after completing Classic Mode. Completing it as Pichu has Pokémon Gold / Pokémon Silver Medley accompany the credits.

Role in World of Light

Finding Pichu in World of Light

Although Pichu has been absent from the World of Light opening cutscene, it was vaporized and later imprisoned alongside the rest of the fighters (sans Kirby) when Galeem unleashed his beams of light.

To access Pichu, the player must enter the Power Plant sub-area and reach it on a platform with the use of two Zapfish, where it can then be challenged and recruited.

Fighter Battle

No. Image Name Type Power Stage Music
19
Pichu SSBU.png
 Pichu Attack 7,500 Prism Tower (Ω form) Pokémon Red / Pokémon Blue Medley

Template:-

Spirits

Pichu's Fighter Spirit can be obtained by completing Classic Mode. It is also available periodically for purchase in the shop for 500 coins. Unlocking Pichu in World of Light allows the player to preview the spirit below in the Spirit List under the name "???". As a Fighter Spirit, it cannot be used in Spirit Battles and is purely aesthetic. Each Fighter Spirit has an alternate version that replaces them with their artwork in Ultimate.

  • 410. Pichu

    410. Pichu

In Spirit battles

As the main opponent

Spirit Battle parameters
No. Image Name Series Enemy Fighter(s) Type Power Stage Rules Conditions Music
468
File:Ampharos.png
 Ampharos Pokémon series •Giant Pichu Pichu (SSBU)
Attack
 4,500 Prism Tower (Battlefield form) •Hazard: Zap Floor •The floor is electrified
•The enemy is giant 		Pokémon Gold / Pokémon Silver Medley
507
Rotom Spirit.png
 Rotom Pokémon series •Pichu Pichu (SSBU) (×2)
Grab
 3,800 PictoChat 2 (Battlefield form) •Item: Lightning •The enemy's electric attacks have increased power Battle! (Wild Pokémon) - Pokémon Diamond / Pokémon Pearl
541
File:Dedenne spirit.png
 Dedenne Pokémon series •Pichu Pichu (SSBU)
Attack
 2,000 Pokémon Stadium 2 (Battlefield form) •Hazard: Zap Floor •The floor is electrified
•The enemy favors neutral specials
•Only certain Pokémon will emerge from Poké Balls (Dedenne) 		Battle! (Wild Pokémon) - Pokémon X / Pokémon Y
554
TogedemaruSpirit.png
 Togedemaru Pokémon series •Pichu Pichu (SSBU) (×4)
Shield
 1,500 Prism Tower •Item: Unira •The enemy favors down specials
•Only certain Pokémon will emerge from Poké Balls (Togedemaru)
•The enemy is easily distracted by items 		Battle! (Wild Pokémon) - Pokémon Sun / Pokémon Moon
744
File:Fronks.png
 Fronks WarioWare series •Tiny Pichu Team Pichu (SSBU) (x4)
Shield
 1,900 WarioWare, Inc. (hazards off) N/A •Take your strongest team into this no-frills battle Mike's Song
805
Yellow Pikmin Spirit.png
 Yellow Pikmin Pikmin series •Tiny Pichu Team Pichu (SSBU) (×12)
Attack
 4,100 Garden of Hope (Battlefield form) •Hazard: Zap Floor •The floor is electrified
•Stamina battle
•The enemy favors neutral air attacks 		Main Theme - Pikmin (Original)
1,045
Zapfish.png
 Zapfish Splatoon series •Pichu Pichu (SSBU) (×4)
Shield
 2,500 Prism Tower (Battlefield form) •Hazard: Zap Floor •The floor is electrified Octoweaponry
1,334
File:GSCub.png
 Great Sabrecub DRAGON QUEST Series •Pichu Pichu (SSBU)
•Giant Pikachu Pikachu (SSBU)
Attack
 2,900 Gaur Plain (Ω form) •Item: Soccer Ball •Defeat the main fighter to win
•Stamina battle
•The enemy shields often 		Marching through the Fields

As a minion

Spirit Battle parameters Inspiration
No. Image Name Series Enemy Fighter(s) Type Power Stage Rules Conditions Music Character
782
File:Chaotix Spirit.png
 Chaotix Sonic the Hedgehog series •Sonic Sonic (SSBU)
•Pichu Pichu (SSBU)
•King K. Rool King K. Rool (SSBU)
Grab
 1,600 Windy Hill Zone •Invisibility •The enemy is invisible Sonic Heroes Charmy Bee

Alternate costumes

Palette swap (SSBU)
Pichu (SSBU) Pichu (SSBU) Pichu (SSBU) Pichu (SSBU) Pichu (SSBU) Pichu (SSBU) Pichu (SSBU) Pichu (SSBU)

Gallery

Character Showcase Video

Trivia

  • Pichu and Young Link share the longest gap between playable appearances in the Super Smash Bros. series, with seventeen years between Melee and Ultimate.
    • This has been noted by both of their Super Smash Bros. blog's "Today's Fighter" descriptions.
  • One of the poses Pichu strikes in its new taunt resembles its trophy from Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.
  • Pichu is the only veteran absent from SSB4 to be absent from the full group artwork version of the box cover.
  • Pichu is the only veteran who is unaffected by the new universal 3-frame jumpsquat; in Melee, its jumpsquat animation also took three frames to complete.
  • Pichu's fast fall provides the smallest change to its falling speed when compared to any other fighter. It increases its fall speed by only 31.579%, compared to the usual 60%.
  • One of Pichu's alternate costumes is the Spiky-eared Pichu from Arceus and the Jewel of Life and Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. Being one of a kind, the Spiky-eared Pichu is female, making it the only one of Pichu's alternate costumes with an implicit gender.
    • Ultimate also marks the first 3D appearance of Spiky-eared Pichu.
  • As of Ultimate, Pichu is the only character who takes damage while using their Final Smash.
    • In a Stamina match, Pichu cannot be KO'd by its Final Smash, as its HP will never go below 0.1 while the Final Smash is active.
    • This also makes Pichu the only character that can take damage from all of its special moves, in both Melee and Ultimate.
  • Spiky-eared Pichu's damage meter portrait protrudes to the right the most out of every fighter.

References

  1. ^ https://twitter.com/DatDereKirby/status/1081040257397579777
  2. ^ https://twitter.com/DuckySSB/status/1107817485359898624
  3. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFsrqhXYFLQ


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Fighters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Veterans Bayonetta · Bowser · Bowser Jr. · Captain Falcon · Cloud · Corrin · Dark Pit · Diddy Kong · Donkey Kong · Dr. Mario · Duck Hunt · Falco · Fox · Ganondorf · Greninja · Ice Climbers · Ike · Jigglypuff · King Dedede · Kirby · Link · Little Mac · Lucario · Lucas · Lucina · Luigi · Mario · Marth · Mega Man · Meta Knight · Mewtwo · Mii Fighter (Mii Brawler · Mii Gunner · Mii Swordfighter) · Mr. Game & Watch · Ness · Olimar · Pac-Man · Palutena · Peach · Pichu · Pikachu · Pit · Pokémon Trainer (Charizard · Ivysaur · Squirtle) · R.O.B. · Robin · Rosalina & Luma · Roy · Ryu · Samus · Sheik · Shulk · Snake · Sonic · Toon Link · Villager · Wario · Wii Fit Trainer · Wolf · Yoshi · Young Link · Zelda · Zero Suit Samus
Newcomers Banjo & Kazooie · Byleth · Chrom · Daisy · Dark Samus · Hero · Incineroar · Inkling · Isabelle · Joker · Kazuya · Ken · King K. Rool · Min Min · Piranha Plant · Pyra / Mythra  · Richter · Ridley · Sephiroth · Simon · Sora · Steve · Terry
v • d • e
Pokémon (universe) Pokémon universe
Fighters Pikachu (SSB · SSBM · SSBB · SSB4 · SSBU) · Jigglypuff (SSB · SSBM · SSBB · SSB4 · SSBU) · Pichu (SSBM · SSBU) · Mewtwo (SSBM · SSB4 · SSBU) · Pokémon Trainer (SSBB · SSBU) · Squirtle (SSBB · SSBU) · Ivysaur (SSBB · SSBU) · Charizard (SSBB · SSB4 · SSBU) · Lucario (SSBB · SSB4 · SSBU) · Greninja (SSB4 · SSBU) · Incineroar (SSBU)
Boss Rayquaza
Stages Saffron City · Pokémon Stadium · Poké Floats · Pokémon Stadium 2 · Spear Pillar · Unova Pokémon League · Prism Tower · Kalos Pokémon League
Items Poké Ball · Master Ball
Poké Ball Pokémon Abomasnow · Abra · Arceus · Articuno · Beedrill · Bellossom · Bewear · Blastoise · Bonsly · Celebi · Chansey · Charizard · Chespin · Chikorita · Clefairy · Cyndaquil · Darkrai · Dedenne · Deoxys · Ditto · Eevee · Electrode · Entei · Exeggutor · Fennekin · Fletchling · Gardevoir · Genesect · Giratina · Gogoat · Goldeen · Groudon · Gulpin · Hitmonlee · Ho-Oh · Inkay · Jirachi · Keldeo · Koffing · Kyogre · Kyurem · Latias & Latios · Lugia · Lunala · Manaphy · Marill · Marshadow · Meloetta · Meowth · Metagross · Mew · Mimikyu · Moltres · Munchlax · Onix · Oshawott · Palkia · Piplup · Porygon2 · Pyukumuku · Raichu · Raikou · Scizor · Snivy · Snorlax · Solgaleo · Spewpa · Starmie · Staryu · Suicune · Swirlix · Tapu Koko · Togedemaru · Togepi · Torchic · Unown · Venusaur · Victini · Vulpix · Weavile · Weezing · Wobbuffet · Xerneas · Zapdos · Zoroark
Enemies Chandelure · Cryogonal · Gastly · Koffing · Petilil
Other Charmander · Cresselia · Dialga · Porygon · Registeel · Reshiram · Team Rocket · Zekrom · List of Pokémon
Trophies, Stickers and Spirits Trophies (SSBM · SSBB · SSB4) · Stickers · Spirits
Music Brawl · SSB4 · Ultimate
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