Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Ganondorf (SSBU)

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This article is about Ganondorf's appearance in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. For the character in other contexts, see Ganondorf.
Ganondorf
in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Ganondorf SSBU.png
ZeldaSymbol.svg
Universe The Legend of Zelda
Other playable appearances in Melee
in Brawl
in SSB4
Availability Unlockable
Final Smash Ganon, The Demon King
Ganondorf (SSBU)
His new design matches his appearance in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time! Now he uses his sword for all his smash attacks. He's a bit slimmer then [sic] he was before, but his Warlock Punch is devastating! For his final smash he transforms into Ganon, The Demon King and quickly charges forward.
Super Smash Blog, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Official Site

Ganondorf (ガノンドロフ, Ganondorf) is a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Ganondorf is classified as fighter #23.

Takashi Nagasako reprises his role as Ganondorf after having previously voiced the character in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Super Smash Bros. Melee.

How to unlock

Complete one of the following:

  • Play VS. matches, with Ganondorf being the 40th character to be unlocked.
  • Clear Classic Mode with Yoshi or any character in his unlock tree, being the fourth character unlocked after Ryu.
  • Have Ganondorf join the player's party in World of Light.

With the exception of the third method, Ganondorf must then be defeated on the Bridge of Eldin.

Changes from Super Smash Bros. 4

Ganondorf was granted multiple buffs during the transition from Smash 4 to Ultimate and has benefited greatly from universal gameplay changes. His ability to approach has been significantly improved due to his faster running speed, faster jumpsquat, and ability to dash cancel into his forward tilt and down tilt. In addition, his smash attacks are now sword swings that possess increased range, and all of his special moves provide more utility due to reduced lag and/or increased damage/knockback. However, the Ganoncide technique is much riskier and more situational. Overall, Ganondorf is considered to be as viable, if not more, as he was in Melee.

Aesthetics

  • Change Ganondorf's appearance is based off of his original design from Ocarina of Time. He bears a close resemblance to his official art from Ocarina of Time 3D.
  • Change Ganondorf now utilizes his sword from the Space World 2000 tech demo for his smash attacks, which further declones him from Captain Falcon. He also shows the sword as his down taunt, which replaces the Sword of the Six Sages from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.
  • Change Ganondorf's initial dash and running animations have been altered, with his arms positioned further out to the side.
  • Change Ganondorf's on-screen appearance now shows him stepping out of a liquid-like vortex of darkness.
  • Change All attacks that utilize darkness have more intense particle effects.
  • Change Ganondorf has new victory animations:
    • The first has him flip his cape before pumping his fist.
    • The second has him levitate in the air, land on the ground while punching his palm, then reel back before thrusting his hand towards the screen.
    • The third has him flip his cape before laughing wickedly. [1]

Attributes

  • Buff Like all characters, Ganondorf's jumpsquat animation now takes 3 frames to complete (down from 7).
  • Buff The universal ability to dash cancel into any ground attack greatly benefits Ganondorf, allowing him to use his relatively quick forward tilt and down tilt while approaching.
  • Buff Ganondorf dashes slightly faster (1.218 → 1.34), now being nearly as fast as he was in Melee. His initial dash animation is both faster (1.3 → 1.87) and goes a longer distance.
  • Buff Ganondorf walks slighy faster (0.73 → 0.767), now being slightly faster than he was in Melee.
  • Buff Ganondorf's air speed is slightly higher (0.79 → 0.83), now being nearly as fast as he was in Brawl.
  • Buff Ganondorf jumps higher.
  • Change Ganondorf is considerably heavier (113 → 118), now weighing more than Charizard. This improves his already excellent endurance, but makes him even more suspectible to combos.

Ground attacks

  • Buff Neutral attack deals slightly more damage, no longer has sourspots (6%/8%/10% → 11%), and has less endlag.
  • Buff Forward tilt (12%/13% → 13%/14%), down tilt (13% → 14%), and dash attack (10%/14% → 11%/15%) all deal slightly more damage.
  • Buff Up tilt is significantly faster, with less startup (frame 81 → 60) and endlag (frame 115 → 96). The vacuum effect is also much stronger.
    • Change Up tilt does less damage but no longer has sourspots (28%/20%/18% → 24%).
    • Change Up tilt has a new hitbox at the height of the explosion that deals 13% damage and semi-spikes.
    • Change Up tilt now produces a flame effect on Ganondorf's foot during startup, and Ganondorf no longer holds up his leg with his hand.
    • Change Up tilt now triggers Special Zoom if it successfully hit the opponent.
  • Change All of Ganondorf's new smash attacks utilize his sword from the Space World 2000 tech demo.
  • Forward smash:
    • Change Forward smash is now a downward sword slash in front of Ganondorf, similar to Ike's.
    • Buff Forward smash has greatly improved range and disjointed hitboxes. It now covers overhead.
    • Buff Forward smash now hits below the edge of the stage, allowing it to be used for onstage edgeguarding.
    • Nerf Forward smash has more startup with fewer active frames (frame 21-26 → 28-32) and more endlag (FAF 60 → 70).
  • Up smash:
    • Change Up smash is now an overhead sword swing from front to back, similar to Ike's.
    • Buff Up smash has greatly improved range and disjointed hitboxes. It now covers around Ganondorf's body.
    • Buff Up smash now hits below the edge of the stage, allowing it to be used for onstage edgeguarding.
    • Buff Up smash has less startup with more active frames (frame 21-23 → 19-26).
    • Nerf Up smash has more endlag and interrupts significantly later (FAF 42 → 62), removing its ability to bait opponents into approaching.
  • Down smash:
    • Change Down smash is now forward hilt thrust that leads into a backwards stab, similar to Cloud's.
    • Buff Down smash's second hit sends opponents at a semi-spike angle, improving its edgeguarding utility.
    • Buff Down smash's second hit has slightly faster startup (frame 35 → 33) and less endlag (FAF 64 → 60).
    • Buff Down smash's lower hitbox placement allows it to reliably hit crouching opponents. It also lowers Ganondorf's hurtbox.
    • Buff The hitbox on the first hit that previously sent opponents away from the second hit has been removed, allowing both hits to connect more reliably.
    • Nerf Down smash's first hit deals slightly less damage (6% → 5%).

Aerial attacks

  • Buff All aerials have much less landing lag (Neutral: frame 17 → 10, Forward: 21 → 13, Up/Back: 19 → 11, Down: 26 → 16). This also makes neutral aerial and down aerial less punishable on landing.
  • Buff Forward aerial has increased range due to Ganondorf leaning farther forward as he punches similar to Melee.
    • Bug fix Forward aerial's auto-cancel window has been restored.
  • Change Ganondorf no longer crosses his legs during back aerial.
  • Nerf Up aerial has increased startup (frame 6 → 8).
    • Nerf Up aerial's sourspot no longer hits below Ganondorf, significantly weakening its gimping potential and removing its jab reset combos.
    • Change Ganondorf kicks with his right leg instead of his left.
  • Change Down aerial has Ganondorf lean back slightly as he stomps, similar to its Melee animation.

Throws/other attacks

  • Buff Standing grab has more range.
    • Nerf Standing grab has slightly more startup (frame 7 → 8) and endlag (FAF 36 → 39).
    • Change Ganondorf now grabs with his left hand.
  • Nerf Dash grab has more endlag (FAF 45 → 48).
  • Nerf Pivot grab has slightly more startup (frame 10 → 11).
  • Buff Pummel is much faster.
    • Nerf Pummel deals less damage (3% → 1.6%).
  • Buff The first hit of up throw deals more damage (7% → 10%, total: 10% → 13%).
  • Buff Down throw is no longer weight dependent, allowing more consistent followups on heavyweights.
  • Buff Forward throw deals more knockback, now KOing around 150% near the edge.
    • Change Forward throw's animation is now an uppercut.
  • Buff Back throw deals more knockback, now KOing near 145% near the edge.

Special Moves

  • Change Warlock Punch now triggers Special Zoom upon hitting the opponent.
  • Flame Choke:
    • Buff Grounded Flame Choke has less endlag (FAF 62 → 58), significantly improving its combo potential and allowing for more possible follow-ups on missed techs; in particular, a combo into down tilt or dash attack is now guaranteed against all characters.
    • Buff Grounded Flame Choke stops when it reaches a ledge, making it safer to use.
    • Buff Grounded Flame Choke ends earlier if used at any edge.
    • Nerf Aerial Flame Choke can now be escaped by button mashing and is scaled with the opponent's damage percentage, significantly hindering Ganoncide's utility at low percentages.
    • Nerf The opponent is no longer KO'd first during a Ganoncide, removing the technique as a viable option when both players are on their last stock.
  • Dark Dive:
    • Buff Dark Dive's multi-hits deals more damage (multi-hits: 1.2% → 1.9%, total: 13.8% → 16.6%).
    • Buff Dark Dive's throw deals drastically more knockback and launches opponents at a semi-spike, now reliably KOing at 89% near the edge, while also giving it gimping potential.
    • Buff Dark Dive's throw has less endlag (FAF 60 → 50).
    • Buff Opponents who are grab released by trading attacks with Dark Dive now receive damage.
    • Change Dark Dive's throw now causes a vibrant burst of purple magic rather than a fiery explosion. The throw also now has the electric effect.
  • Bug fix The landing lag glitch on Flame Choke and Dark Dive has been fixed.
  • Wizard's Foot:
    • Buff Grounded Wizard's Foot deals more damage (14%/12% → 16%/14%). In addition, the move's hitbox placements were swapped, with the sweetspot now being the foot and the sourspot being the leg, making it much easier to land the sweetspot.
    • Buff Grounded Wizard's Foot has signifcantly higher knockback, now reliably KOing at 93% near the edge.
    • Buff Grounded Wizard's Foot no longer has a blindspot.
    • Buff Grounded Wizard's Foot travels faster and has significantly less endlag (FAF 77 → 60), giving the move combo potential and making it safer to use at low percentages.
    • Buff Aerial Wizard's Foot can no longer be teched by grounded opponents during the initial hit.
    • Change Wizard's Foot's animation is closer to its appearance in Melee.
  • Ganon, the Demon King:
    • Change Ganondorf's Final Smash is now called Ganon, the Demon King and is based on his bipedal form from Ocarina of Time. It is functionally identical to Beast Ganon; however, instead of slamming the ground with his body, Ganon slashes with his swords before rushing forward. When Ganondorf activates his Final Smash, the Triforce of Power briefly flashes on the back of his hand.

Classic Mode: Encroaching Darkness

Ganondorf fights against the heroes of various series.

Round Opponent Stage
1 Mario and Luigi New Donk City Hall
2 Fox and Falco Lylat Cruise
3 Shulk Gaur Plain
4 Marth, Ike, and Roy Coliseum
5 Palutena and Pit Skyworld
6 Zelda and Link Great Plateau Tower
Bonus Stage
Final Master Hand Final Destination

Role in World of Light

Although Ganondorf does not appear in the World of Light opening cutscene, he was vaporized and later imprisoned alongside the rest of the fighters (sans Kirby) when Galeem unleashed his beams of light.

Ganondorf is unlocked in the Sacred Realm in the World of Dark on the top of the land which makes up the Triforce of Power. This land can only be accessed after interacting with the Master Sword (just after the Cloud unlock). Unlocking Ganondorf will briefly reveal the Triforce of Power in the center of the map before disappearing to reveal Ganon's castle and his boss battle.

Alternate costumes

Ganondorf Palette (SSBU).png

Gallery

Character Showcase video

<youtube>Q7pzoLQlrsM</youtube>

Trivia

  • Ultimate marks the first time in the Smash series that Ganondorf utilizes a sword in his base moveset.
  • The voice clip played during Ganondorf's down smash features him shouting "Oooh-yah!", which was a clip that went unused in Melee. The clip also made an appearance in Brawl as Ganondorf's Wii Remote selection sound.
  • Ganondorf's entry on the official Super Smash Blog has a grammatical error, using the word "then" instead of the correct "than." Also, the words "Final Smash" are lowercase instead of uppercase like in other fighter entries.
  • Despite now being based on his Ocarina of Time appearance, Ganondorf's unlock battle takes place on Bridge of Eldin, which is from Twilight Princess.