Clone
A clone character is a common inclusion in the Super Smash Bros. series, and many other fighting games as well. It describes two or more characters that have nearly identical movesets with slight variations in the attacks. From the developer's perspective, a given character's model can be used as a base template from which to build another, and it is usually evident which one is the "original" and which is the clone. Most, if not all clones are from the same series of games.
Semi-clones
Semi-cloning (sometimes known as Luigification) is when a character shares some moves of another, while still having some variation in terms of moveset or special attacks. The term originated from Luigi, who was originally nearly indistinguishable from Mario, but has slowly been given his own unique characteristics and attacks. (This is similar to the development of Luigi throughout the Mario series' development). Many clones from Melee were then given semi-clone qualities before they returned in Brawl (while some did not return). The exact meaning can vary for different people. Some people believe that any character with clone-like traits that has any variation in attacks are semi-clones, while others think that certain characters need more unique attacks to be a semi-clone.
Clones in SSB
- Mario & Luigi
- Luigi has a different dash attack, a faster down tilt, a different cyclone and his Super Jump Punch's beginning is a strong move, his fireballs are not affected by gravity and his initial dash is faster. He is also more floaty than Mario, one of the main reasons he is Bottom tier.
Non-playable
- The Fighting Polygon Team is composed of clones of all the playable fighters.
- Metal Mario is an exact copy of Mario, but with more weight and flinch resistance.
Clones in SSBM
In each pair, the former is the "original", while the latter is the clone.
- Mario & Dr. Mario
- All attacks are the same, but have "Doctor" variants.
- Fox & Falco
- Almost all attacks are the same, although their blasters are different and Falco Phantasm is a Meteor Smash.
- Pikachu & Pichu
- They both have a few unique animations in walking/running and one unique attack for their up smash.
- Captain Falcon & Ganondorf
- Two unique attacks, also only pair of "original and clone" to originate from different universes.
- Link & Young Link
- All attacks are similar, but Young Link is faster but weaker.
- Marth & Roy
Non-playable
- Bowser & Giga Bowser
- Captain Falcon/Princess Zelda & Male/Female Wire Frames
Semi-clones
- Mario & Luigi
- The former clones have been differentiated with separate normal movesets and side specials.
Notable changes to Luigi between SSB and Melee:
- Luigi has a different side special than Mario.
- Different forward and, to a lesser extent, down aerial attacks.
- Different forward Smash Attack.
- Different Up Tilt.
- Different neutral combo.
- Luigi's traction is more noticeably worse.
Clones in SSBB
- Link & Toon Link
- The only differing moves are Up Smash (which shares the first strike), Neutral Aerial, Forward Aerial, Back Aerial, Forward Throw, and Back Throw. Also, Toon Link's Down Aerial is a Stall-then-fall-aerial and a Meteor Smash, but still shares the same animation. His Spin Attack and the first hit of his Forward Smash also trap opponents, unlike Link's. All of his other moves are pretty much the same.
Semi-clones/Luigified Characters
Most of the semi-clones have some of the same standard moves as the original, but they may have greatly different damage and hitboxes in attacks.
- Fox & Falco
- Reflector works differently, but all other special moves are cloned (although Falco's side special, Falco Phantasm, is a meteor smash, whereas Fox's is not). Non-cloned moves include neutral combo (in addition to a different animation, Fox's will repeat the first punch as long as the button is held and Falco will not), up tilt, neutral air, forward air, back air and forward smash. Falco's Back aerial is a sex kick. Also, they share the same Final Smash. While their up aerials are pretty much identical, Falco's is on a slightly different axis.
- Captain Falcon & Ganondorf
- A totally different Final Smash and some different standard attacks (neutral, all tilts, up smash and forward air), but some normal moves are still similar. And most notably, they both share 3 special moves. (Only difference is that Capt. Falcon has fire in his specials and Ganondorf's specials feature darkness.). Raptor Boost and Flame Choke are initially similar, but the difference is that Raptor Boost launches the opponents, while Flame Choke grabs them.
- Mario & Luigi
- The differing moves are neutral combo, dash attack, up tilt, down tilt, forward smash, forward air and down air. Two of their specials are different (while their Super Jump Punches have unique properties despite being more or less the same animation), as well as Final Smashes. Now that they barely share any moves, many smashers don't even consider them to be semi-clones at this point.
- Ness & Lucas
- Fox & Wolf
- The only moves that seem almost the same are Final Smash and Down Special moves. Other special moves are based off of Fox's, but are quite different. Almost all of Wolf's standard attacks are different from Fox's. These two are on the very edge of "semi-clone" status. In addition, Claw Blaster is the only Blaster that has direct slashing damage, and the only one that can KO.
Non-playable
Cross-Gen
- Young Link & Toon Link
- Not only are they similar, but they play the same role as clones of Link.
Notes
- These categorizations are not official, and are subject to interpretation. Notable controversies are that some people consider Link and Toon Link to have enough separate attacks to make them semi-clones, and some people believe that Marth and Ike have enough similarities to put them in the semi-clone category.
