Ice Climbers (SSBB)

This article is about the Ice Climbers' appearance in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. For other uses, see Ice Climbers.

Ice Climbers
Ice Climbers
Universe	Ice Climber
Appears in	SSBM SSBB
Availability	Starter

The Ice Climbers (Ice Climber; アイス クライマー, Aisu Kuraimā), the ice-climbing duo from Super Smash Bros. Melee, make a return in Super Smash Bros. Brawl with a significant texture boost to their character models. Popo and Nana still fight as a duo, Nana following Popo's moves. In Melee, the player had the option to change the color of the costume and play as Nana, and you can still do this in Brawl, but the Climbers' positions on the character select screen portrait will not change as in Melee, however, the character's stock icon will.

There was a rumor that characters such Young Link, Mr. Game & Watch and the Ice Climbers were to be excluded from the roster of Brawl due to lack of popularity. Fortunately, this rumor has been proven wrong ever since the appearance of Popo and Nana on the Dojo website.

Strategies

At first glance (to most people, at least), the Ice Climbers appear to be weak with terrible moves. Some people will assume that they're just plain terrible and never give them a chance, like Olimar and Diddy Kong. Although the Ice Climbers appear weak, they're actually pretty strong, and have great up- and down-Smashes. In 4-player Brawls, the Squall Hammer truely is a blessing.

Although not very efficient airial fighters, intense training can lead to a better understanding of how the Ice Climbers work in the air. They can't stay up long, but can actually do lots of damage Aabove the ground, and Belay can be a great finisher one the Ice Climbers have used up their second jump.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Effectively two characters acting simultaneously. This makes them slightly stronger than your average character while together. They can also be "desynched" to perform two actions slightly out of synch for combos
• Can repeatedly grab if properly desynched
• Hard to throw, as other Ice Climber can attack while one is grabbed
• Up B gives great distance
• Have a ground-hugging projectile
• Forward Aerial is a spike if Nana is with Popo
• Quick and powerful ground moves
• Ice Climbers do not share a damage meter, which can lead to Popo not taking damage sometimes when they are attacked
• Can freeze enemies, which can be potentially followed up by a finisher
• Squall Hammer can be used as a good recovery move since it has vertical and horizontal recovery. (Have to keep pressing the button for the vertical recovery.)
• Belay can be a Tether Recovery if the CPU Climber grabs a ledge first, making it the only Up+B move to be both a Tether Recovery and a Normal Recovery
• Traction remains constant even on slippery floors like ice

Cons:

• Each individual Ice Climber is weaker than your average character, making them weak while separated
• Few recovery options when separated
• If seperated from Popo, Nana becomes unresponsive
• Many hits can separate them
• Awkward when fighting in the air
• Projectile is very weak, and weakens over distance
• Fairly Light
• Situational Up Special
• Squall Hammer causes fast falling

Changes from Melee to Brawl

• Both Ice Climbers can grab on to a ledge
• More attack power
• Can have the same color costume
• If Nana hits another character while executing Belay, the move is completed
• Lone Ice Climber's Up-b gives some distance
• Wavedashing, the Ice Climbers primary form of movement in most high intensity battles, has been removed. This will likely be a severe hit for their tournament viability.
• Nana can Squall Hammer by herself.
• The Ice Climbers can become separated easier.

Role In the Subspace Emissary

The Ice Climbers were doing their part to fight the Subspace Army, and were jumping up a mountain towards the ship. Meta Knight joined them, and they climbed/flew up the mountain. Once they reached the top, they found Lucario, who was looking for a fight with Meta Knight. After the fight, the Halberd crashes Fox McCloud's ship into the mountain, throwing the Ice Climbers back to the ground towards Marth, Lucas, Pokémon Trainer, and Ike. After facing some more Subspace Army troopers, the Ice Climbers teamed up with the other heroes as they journeyed into the Subspace and helped them as they battled Tabuu.

Special Movements

Taunts

Up: Jump around.

Side: Point their hammers, and wind blows (same as in Melee).

Down: Dance in as circle.

On-Screen Appearance: They ride in on a Condor.

External Links

• Ice Climbers' page at Smash Bros. DOJO!!.