Pikachu (SSBU)
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| Pikachu in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | |
|---|---|
 
| |
| Universe | Pokémon |
| Other playable appearances | in SSB in Melee in Brawl in SSB4 |
| Availability | Starter (Unlockable in World of Light) |
| Final Smash | Volt Tackle |
| “ | This fierce fighter uses electric moves like Thunder Jolt and Thunder. Pikachu Libre is one of the alternate costumes and you can tell she's female by the shape of her tail. | ” |
| —Super Smash Blog, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Official Site | ||
Pikachu (ピカチュウ, Pikachu) is a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. It was confirmed on June 12th, 2018. Pikachu is classified as fighter #08.
As in SSB4, Ikue Ōtani's portrayal of Pikachu from Brawl was repurposed for Ultimate.
Changes from Super Smash Bros. 4
Aesthetics
Pikachu has a more subdued color scheme. It more closely resembles its appearance in recent mainline Pokémon games.- Pikachu is more expressive. It now appears angry during many attacks.
- Pikachu's cheeks flash white when it uses electric attacks.
- Pikachu always faces the screen regardless of which direction it turns, causing all of its animations to be mirrored.
- Pikachu only waves once during its side taunt, shortening its duration. Down taunt is also faster.
- Two new costumes featuring the female Pikachu design, which has a heart-shaped tail, have been added. These replace its white and cyan costumes from SSB4.
- The first costume features Selene's casual cap from Pokémon Sun and Moon.
- The second costume features the Libre costume from Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.
Attributes
Like all characters, Pikachu's jumpsquat animation now takes 3 frames to complete (down from 4).- Pikachu walks slightly faster (1.24 → 1.302).
- Pikachu dashes much faster (1.85325 → 2.039).
- Pikachu's air speed is slightly higher (0.9118 → 0.957).
Ground attacks
- Neutral attack has slightly increased range.
- Forward tilt deals more damage when angled up.
- Forward tilt now has an electric effect.
- Up tilt deals more damage.
- Up tilt has an altered animation, with Pikachu scooting its backside up to hit with its tail.
- Down tilt deals slightly more damage and knockback.
- Down tilt has an altered animation, with Pikachu's tail standing more upright at the end.
- Dash attack's sweetspot deals more damage and knockback.
- Dash attack has much less endlag (frame 50 → 36).
- Forward smash has increased range.
Forward smash has more endlag (frame 49 → 54).
- Up smash deals less knockback.
- Down smash deals more damage.
- Down smash has less endlag.
Aerial attacks
- All aerials have less landing lag (Neutral: frame 24 → 9, Forward: 15 → 12, Back: 30 → 18, Up: 24 → 14, Down: 40 → 22).
- Neutral aerial is a new attack that has Pikachu emitting an electric surge around itself, hitting multiple times, similar to Mewtwo's neutral aerial.
- Neutral aerial is more useful for starting combos.
- Forward aerial deals more damage if all hits connect.
- Forward aerial's final hit deals more knockback.
- Forward aerial has much less startup and endlag, allowing it to combo into itself.
- Back aerial's animation is quicker.
- Back aerial has more startup.
- Back aerial's final hit deals less knockback. This improves its combo potential but makes it a worse KO option.
- Back aerial has an altered ending animation, with Pikachu spreading out its limbs while in a more upright position.
- Up aerial deals more damage.
- Down aerial can meteor smash opponents.
- Down aerial has more endlag.
Throws/other attacks
- Pikachu now grabs and pummels with one hand.
- Standing grab and dash grab having more startup and endlag.
- Forward throw deals more damage.
- Up throw deals more damage.[2]
- Up throw has slightly altered knockback, reducing its combo potential.
- Down throw deals less damage.
Special Moves
- Thunder Jolt:
- Aerial Thunder Jolt deals more damage.
- Grounded Thunder Jolt has slightly less startup.
- Skull Bash:
- Skull Bash deals slightly more damage and has less endlag.
- Skull Bash causes Pikachu to bounce back when it hits an opponent, making it safer to use.
- Skull Bash travels a shorter distance.
- Quick Attack:
- Quick Attack now has an angle indicator to telegraph Pikachu's trajectory. This may help prevent missed directional inputs but makes Pikachu's movement more predictable.
- Quick Attack deals slightly more knockback, launching opponents more effectively but reducing its combo potential.
- Thunder:
- Thunder deals more knockback.
- Thunder deals slightly more damage.
- Thunder has more startup and endlag.
- Thunder produces a yellow rather than blue lightning bolt. When struck by the bolt, Pikachu glows a bright yellow while flashing a dark tint.
- Volt Tackle:
- Volt Tackle now involves Pikachu dashing forward quickly while surrounded by a ball of electricity. If this initial attack connects, Pikachu traps the opponent in place and speeds around the stage at different angles, racking up damage before launching opponents with an electric blast at the end of the move.
- Volt Tackle is easier to control, now requiring only a single button press rather than having to control Pikachu's slippery movement.
- Pikachu can no longer chase down opponents if the initial attack misses. Pikachu may also self-destruct.
Classic Mode: I Choose You!
Pikachu fights against other Pokémon on various Pokémon stages.
| Round | Opponent | Stage | Music |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pokémon Trainer | Saffron City | Pokémon Gym/Evolution - Pokémon Red / Pokémon Blue |
| 2 | 6 Jigglypuff | Pokémon Stadium 2 | Road to Viridian City - Pokémon Red / Pokémon Blue |
| 3 | Pichu and Spiky-eared Pichu | Prism Tower | Pokémon Gold / Pokémon Silver Medley |
| 4 | Lucario | Spear Pillar | Battle! (Dialga/Palkia) / Spear Pillar |
| 5 | Greninja | Kalos Pokémon League | Battle! (Wild Pokémon) - Pokémon X / Pokémon Y |
| 6 | Incineroar | Pokémon Stadium | The Battle at the Summit! |
| Bonus Stage | |||
| Final | Mewtwo, then Master Hand | Final Destination | Pokémon Red / Pokémon Blue Medley |
Note: A Maxim Tomato appears after defeating Mewtwo in the final round.
Character unlock tree
Pikachu's Classic Mode character unlock tree includes the following characters in order:
Each character can be unlocked by clearing Pikachu's Classic Mode, or the Classic Mode of any preceding character, if all preceding characters have been unlocked. Once all the above characters are unlocked, clearing Classic Mode with any of them will default to Mario's character unlock tree, starting with Sonic.
Role in World of Light
Pikachu was among the fighters summoned to the cliffside to fight an army of Master Hands.
During the opening cutscene, Pikachu was present when Galeem unleashed his beams of light. While attempting to run away, Pikachu was noticed by Sonic, who slowed down for Pikachu in an attempt to save it. However, both of them were vaporized and placed under Galeem's imprisonment along with the rest of the fighters, except for Kirby.
Pikachu can later be found stuck on an island that can only be accessed by falling into the current of a waterfall, then the player must confront the spirit of Esna before they can battle to awake it.
Alternate costumes
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Gallery
Artwork of all playable Pokémon characters and Poké Ball Pokémon, as posted by the official Pokémon Twitter account.
Official render of Pikachu Libre.
Pikachu's fighter card.
Female Pikachu taunting with Pokémon Trainer on Battlefield.
Dashing towards Mario on Tortimer Island.
Performing its down aerial above Diddy Kong on Arena Ferox.
Golden with Squirtle and Ivysaur on Pokémon Stadium 2.
Pikachu Libre using its down throw on Little Mac in the Boxing Ring.
With multiple Pikachu, Pichu, and Incineroar on Paper Mario.
Wearing a Rocket Belt alongside Pichu in Mario Galaxy.
With Pichu and Alolan Raichu on Yoshi's Island.
Character Showcase Video
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Trivia
- This is the first time Pikachu was not the first Pokémon character to be explicitly announced for a new Smash title, with Mewtwo being confirmed before it.
- Pikachu's pose in its official artwork resembles its front sprite in the Generation III Pokémon games.
- In the E3 demo of the game, Pikachu's portrait used its in-game model as opposed to its official artwork. This was also the case with Link, Mario and Villager.
- Pikachu's alternate costume featuring goggles has been removed and returned to Pichu, who was the original owner of said palette swap in Melee.
References
