| Pikachu in Super Smash Bros. | |
|---|---|
Pikachu
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| Universe | Pokémon |
| Other playable appearances | in Melee in Brawl |
| Availability | Starter |
| Tier | S (1) |
Pikachu (ピカチュウ, Pikachū) is a starter character in Super Smash Bros. This character is notable for its high priority aerials, good edgeguarding ability, and superb recovery. As it is a versatile character with negligible weaknesses, a player opposing a Pikachu should never rush straight at the opponent, as its aerials are deadly and are good for countering.
It is currently ranked number one on the tier list for solid attack power, good combo-ability, a good projectile, and undoubtedly the best recovery in SSB. All of this leads to very favourable matchups; Pikachu is one of only four characters in the entire Smash series to have no disadvantageous matchups (along with Fox, Falco and Meta Knight), and it remains the only one in the series to have no even matchups. This doesn't mean Pikachu is immaculate, as it is a lightweight and can be easy to combo.
Attributes
Pikachu is a small, very quick character with fast moves, great finishers, a projectile that can be used for approach, and a powerful Back throw. Its Thunder Jolt is a relatively underused attack, but can be used for approach. Quick Attack is by far the best triple jump in Super Smash Bros., as it can be extended to be incredibly useful in recovery situations, can be used to attack someone off the stage and then recover back, or as a resort to leave battle to evade an attack to start a combo. One of the main reasons why Pikachu is number 1 on the tier list is due to having possibly the only good recovery in SSB. Its edgeguarding abilities are very impressive, adding to its infinite edge stall. Pikachu is also known for 3 great combo starters: up tilt, forward aerial, and down aerial. Its attacks, most notably side smash, have strange hitboxes, with side smash proving an excellent finisher. Its comboing ability is amazing, most notably Thunder-spiking, which involves using an up smash, and while the opponent is high enough, hit them with Thunder, the only attack in the game with infinite vertical range. Up tilt, like most others, is an exceptional combo in up smash. Overall, Pikachu has only a few even matchups, with the main ones being Fox on Hyrule Castle and Captain Falcon on Dreamland, and in every other matchup, Pikachu is at least 60-40.
The problems Pikachu faces are small, but still noticeable. It is easily comboed, along with the fact it is light weight, despite usually being able to get out of bad situations with its high priority attacks and being able to use its up special move to get away from opponent hits. Pikachu also has low range, especially on grabs. Its up special, despite its invincibility frames and wonderful range, leaves Pikachu vulnerable. If one can get over these small issues, Pikachu will be a huge asset.
Moveset
Ground Moves
Normal
- Neutral attack: Pikachu headbutts forward. 2% per pummel, can chain into itself. It has somewhat low range, the attack direction in front of Pikachu. Without proper directional influence (DI), this may break a shield against a wall.
- Forward tilt: Pika stands on its two hands and kicks its two feet forward. 10% damage. Around the same if not slightly lower range than its neutral attack. Can be slightly angled up or down, though not very noticeable.
- Down tilt: A tail sweep doing 12%, which is normally used against walls/against certain people's recoveries (Fox, Captain Falcon, Samus, etc.) Lower range than it's neutral attack, but usually forces the foe right over the ledge, setting up for an aerial finisher.
- Up tilt: Vertical Tail Lash- 9-11%. Can combo multiple times without the opponent escaping, simple to combo with up smash and up tilt. Easily leads into powerful neutral aerial.
- Dash attack: Sliding Headbutt- 9-12% damage. Barely used, can be used for finishing occasionally. Very laggy and predictable, making its usefulness questionable.
Smash attacks
- Side smash: Thunder jolt- 14-18%. One of the best killing moves, can be slightly aimed up/down but barely. Pikachu releases a short jolt of electricity from its cheeks. The electrical effect is in 2-D.
- Down smash: Break Dance- 10-16%, where the forward hit does 16, and back hit does 13. This is a slightly less powerful version of the side smash, and seldom used outside of Mindgames. However, it is still very powerful.
- Up smash: Flip- 14-18% very powerful, similar to Falcon's but with more range and more lag. Can combo into itself when used against heavier characters. Overall, a versatile move.
Other attacks
- Ledge attack: Very quickly and flip kicks. 6% damage.
- 100% ledge attack: Slowly gets up and whips it's tail. 6% damage.
- Floor attack- Swirls around with its foot extended. 6% damage.
Aerial attacks
- Neutral aerial: Aerial Kick- 9-14% a combo starter for pros, made better by Isai*, a combo starter/finisher and powerful hit box. An easily definable Sex Kick.
- Forward aerial: Aerial thunder jolt- 7 hits at a rate of 3% per hit, a combo starter or finisher. All the hits are awkward to connect, and the finishing hit isn't even that strong. The speed of the move slows as the foe is zapped.
- Back aerial: Back Kick- 11-16%. Pikachu kicks behind him, its small foot getting slightly larger for a short second. Very powerful, a combo ender/starter.
- Down aerial: downward jolt- 10-13%. Uses and general KO-ing conditions similar to Link's down aerial, only much safer to use.
- Up aerial: upward tail- A flipping upwards tail swing. Does 8-10% damage. Knockback angle depends on area of tail, a comboer as well.
Throws
- Forward throw: Pikachu grabs the foe, flips and releases them. Average throw power. 9-12% damage.
- Back throw: Pikachu puts the foe on its back and releases electricity. Very powerful. This throw would later become his forward throw in future Smash Bros. iterations. 14-18%
Special Moves
Taunt
- Turns to its left, stands on tiptoes, lowers its tail, waves its arms four times, and looks to its left then to its right, accompanied by it saying "Pika Pika!" (the "a" is much longer in the second "Pika").
Matchups
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Combos and General Strategy
Extended Quick Attack
Pikachu's already long up special move can be extended even farther by letting the analog stick snap back to neutral position before the end of the second quick attack. This could also be used on the first quick attack but runs a high risk of missing the second quick attack.
Thunder-Spiking
Launching the opponent straight up (usually with an up smash) and using Thunder (Pikachu's down special move) is called "Thunder-Spiking." Thunder-Spiking is usually used as a combo finisher. Unlike Pikachu's Thunder in Super Smash Bros. Melee, Thunder in Super Smash Bros. has infinite vertical range. This technique allows Pikachu to get a vertical kill at around 40% damage sooner than an ordinary up smash.
This technique can be used in all three Smash Bros. games, but can be more difficult to pull off in Melee and Brawl, due to the fact that Pikachu's Thunder lacks infinite range in both games.
Description
From the Game
Pikachu
Mouse PKMN
Height 1'4"
Weight 13 lbs
When several of these Pokémon gather, their electricity could cause lightning storms.
(Pokédex excerpt)
Works:
From the Instruction Booklet
This popular Pokémon has become so famous that these days, everyone knows its name. Pikachu's electricity attacks are a real shock to any opponent.
Costume Gallery
Trivia
- Pikachu is one of the few in Smash history to not have a spike of any kind.
- Most of Pikachu's static and electric effects are rendered in 2-D due to limitations.
| Fighters in Super Smash Bros. | |
|---|---|
| Fighters | Captain Falcon · Donkey Kong · Fox · Jigglypuff · Kirby · Link · Luigi · Mario · Ness · Pikachu · Samus · Yoshi |