Skull Bash
| Skull Bash | |
|---|---|
 Pikachu using Skull Bash in SSB4. | |
| Users | Pikachu Pichu |
| Universe | Pokémon |
| Article on Bulbapedia | Skull Bash |
Skull Bash (ロケットずつき Rokettozutsuki, Rocket Headbutt) is Pikachu and Pichu's side special move in Super Smash Bros. Melee. It is similar in appearance to Luigi's Green Missile, only without the chance of a misfire and neither Pikachu nor Pichu can hold the charge infinitely (in Melee, however, Green Missile cannot be held too, and it uses similar sound effects). The move can be charged up to increase the damage and range of the attack. In Pikachu's case, an uncharged Skull Bash deals 8% damage, while a fully charged one can deal up to 29%. Pichu can charge for longer, but hurts itself upon releasing (1%); the distance covered and the knockback when fully charged is tremendous, dealing almost 40% and nearly covering the length of Final Destination. It is used in most Home Run Contest strategies in lieu of the bat (fully-charged, Skull Bash is nearly a one-hit KO from Pichu). Pichu's Skull Bash is dangerous because if it fully charged this attack very close to the edge and misses, it will self destruct.
In Brawl, Skull Bash charges much faster than in Melee, and is an excellent move to recover with as Pikachu does not enter a helpless state after using it in midair. When fully charged, Pikachu will go about as far as the size of Final Destination. Though, unlike the Green Missile, Pikachu will shoot forward. Even with its great distance, it's not used too often as Pikachu falls at a quick speed and the move itself is predictable.
Origin
Skull Bash is based on a move with the same name in the Pokémon video games. It is a Normal-type attack introduced in Generation I. In the games, Skull Bash is a two-turn attack. On the first turn, the Pokémon using the move tucks its head in to prepare the attack and raise its Defense stat by one stage. On the second turn, the Pokémon launches forward to ram the foe with its head. Introduced in Generation IV, a Power Herb can be held by the user to skip the charging first turn of a two-turn move such as Skull Bash but the item can only be used once. The attack has a base power of 100 in Generations I-V and a base power of 130 in Generation VI, making it a powerful attack, having 100% accuracy and 15 PP in Generations I-V and 10 PP in Generations VI. The move used to not raise the user's defense on the turn that it was selected in Generation I, which is carried over to the Smash Bros. games, where weight and damage resistance remain uncharged while charging Skull Bash. The move is a technical machine (TM) and it was TM40 only in Generation I and could be learned by Pikachu then, but not in any subsequent games. It can, however, still have the move in Generation II games (the generation Melee was closest to), as they allow to trade Pokémon from Generation I games. There is no legit way to have Pichu learn Skull Bash however.
Instruction booklet descriptions
Melee
Hold File:GCN BButton.png to charge up for a high-powered attack.
Brawl
Boost this attack's speed and power by holding the B Button before letting go of the button.
Gallery
Pikachu's Skull Bash in Melee.
Pichu's Skull Bash in Melee.
Pikachu's Skull Bash in Brawl.
Trivia
- In the Pokémon main series games, Skull Bash is a Normal-type attack. In Super Smash Bros. Melee, however, both Pichu's and Pikachu's Skull Bashes have electrical properties.
- This is fixed in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, as Pikachu's Skull Bash has a neutral effect here. Also, it produces a small explosion behind Pikachu when used, similar to the explosive animation used for Skull Bash in the Pokémon games.
- In Melee, CPU Pikachu and Pichu will not use Skull Bash to recover; they will only use Quick Attack and Agility, respectively. Similarly, all other CPUs in this game (excepting Luigi) only use their up special moves to recover.
- As an AI flaw seen in Melee, CPU Pikachu and Pichu will never charge Skull Bash. This also applies for many other attacks that require button holding, such as smash attacks.
Video of a Skull Bash technique
<youtube>LacvP_D41Zk</youtube>
