Pichu (SSBM)/Forward aerial

Hitbox visualization showing Pichu's forward aerial.

Overview

Forward aerial contends with Dash attack for Pichu's worst move, having minimal competitive use. It is largely unused in serious play due to high recoil damage, relatively high startup, and not launching the opponent. Other than experimentation or mind games, this move should almost never be used. It takes a minimum 9 frames for Pichu to be actionable after the final hit unless l-canceled, making its theoretical benefit of enabling a close ranged follow up virtually impossible on skilled opponents. Even if this move connects and is not punishable on hit, its reward is low without a follow up and its strong recoil exacerbates Pichu's atrocious survivability. Its no launch, multi hit nature can uniquely be taken advantage of to lower a recovering opponent away from the ledge, but this still significantly competes with Pichu's other options.

Hitboxes

ID	Part	Damage	SD	Angle	BK	KS	FKV	Radius	Bone	Offset			Clang	Rebound	Effect	G	A	Sound
Hits 1-4
0	0	2%	0		0	100	30	6.487866	15	0.0	2.081898	0.496062						Shock
1	0	2%	0		0	100	30	5.655888	4	0.0	0.0	0.0						Shock

Timing

Initial autocancel	1-9
Hits 1-4	10-12, 14-16, 18-20, 22-24
Ending autocancel	34-
Animation length	39

Landing lag

Animation length	15
L-cancelled animation length	7

Normal

L-cancelled

Legend (1 square = 1 frame)

Lag time

Hitbox

Autocancel

Pichu's moveset

Neutral attack · Forward tilt · Up tilt · Down tilt · Dash attack · Forward smash · Up smash · Down smash
Neutral aerial · Forward aerial · Back aerial · Up aerial · Down aerial
Grab · Pummel · Forward throw · Back throw · Up throw · Down throw
Forward roll · Back roll · Spot dodge · Air dodge · Techs
Floor attack (front) · Floor getups (front) · Floor attack (back) · Floor getups (back)
Edge attack (fast) · Edge getups (fast) · Edge attack (slow) · Edge getups (slow)
Neutral special · Side special · Up special · Down special