Ike (SSBB)

This article is about Ike's appearance in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. For other uses, see Ike.

Ike
Ike
Universe	Fire Emblem
Appears in	SSBB
Availability	Starter

Ike (アイク, Aiku) is a character appearing in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Revealed on Smash Bros. DOJO!! on August 1st, 2007, Ike is a newcomer to the franchise. He is the protagonist of Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance, and also appears in Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn. His sword from Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance, Ragnell, is a two-handed sword but he is known to wield it with one hand, showing his incredible strength.

Role in The Subspace Emissary

Ike's first appearance is at the Battlefield Fortress, helping out fellow Fire Emblem hero Marth and Meta Knight by halting the Ancient Minister's escape with his trusted Aether move which also destroys a Subspace Bomb. He then teams up with the two swordsmen.

Ike's team is later seen in the The Wilds tracking a tank. The three then chase after it only to find that it is the Subspace robot, Galleom. Galleom is defeated but jumps off the cliff and into The Ruined Hall where Lucas and Pokémon Trainer defeat it once more. Upon its defeat, Galleom grabs the two and attempts suicide with its built in Subspace Bomb; fortunately Meta Knight rescues Lucas and Pokémon Trainer and brings them back to Marth and Ike.

Ike is briefly seen at the Glacial Peak level when they see the battle between Halberd, and Great Fox, in which at that point Meta Knight leaves the party. The Ice Climbers, who have fallen off the mountain, join Ike's group just in time for a large battle with the Subspace Army. Luckily, Mario's and Link's team arrive to help out, after which they join up.

Ike's next appearance is at the Entrance to Subspace level, where he can be used. Ike is one of the many to be turned into a trophy by Tabuu's Off Wave- fortunately his trophy can be picked up at the first Subspace level. Once he has rejoined the team, he is available for use in the The Great Maze as well as against Tabuu.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Attacks have some of the best knockback in the game.
• Very long range on most attacks.
• Ike is moderately heavy.
• Neutral attack combo and Side special are fast attacks that can be used to approach and kill at fairly high percentages.
• Quick Draw has incredible versatility, allowing him to perform numerous effective combos and it can be charged indefinitely.
• Up-tilt is a quick combo starter or finisher.
• Back Air is very quick and has very high knockback.
• Forward smash KOs at very low percentages.
• Quick Draw is an effective horizontal recovery.
• Great at edgeguarding.
• Can Counter.
• As Counter and knockback resistance frames combine with his decent weight, he has effective defensive strategies.
• Aether can go through platforms.
• Aether and Eruption give Ike some frames of knockback resistance.
• Has decent dash speed.
• His throws combo well with Aether and aerial attacks.
• Final Smash can pick up three opponents at once.
• Has four meteor smashes, the most out of any character.

Cons:

• Slow character overall.
• Aether is short ranged horizontally.
• Aether can't sweet spot the ledge.
• No projectile.
• Counter has a few starting frames in which he can't counter.
• Both recovery moves are somewhat predictable, since they only travel in one direction.
• A few moves that are much better than others, making to hard to avoid stale move negation.
• Jump height isn't very high.

Strategy & Tips

• Ike's Forward-Smash is very strong with high knockback.
• Ike's Up-Smash has a long range.
• Utilize Ike's full sword range to offset his slow attacks.
• Ike's neutral attack is a quick combo that adds considerable damage.
• Ike's Forward-special can be held indefinitely; waiting is a viable option.
• Eruption hits both sides of Ike.
• Side special has no lag if it does not hit a target, allowing combos to form.
• If Ike is on the ledge and his opponent is waiting above the ledge, drop off the ledge and use Aether to land on the stage and deal some damage simultaneously.
• Ike has multiple spikes to aid his edge-guarding game. His downtilt is slow, but a fairly long ranged ground-based spike. It is best against opponents who cannot auto-sweetspot the edge with their third jumps, like Wario and Sonic. His Down Aerial thrusts his sword beneath him, spiking anyone who's hit by the end. This has a long duration and can be used as a powerful spike.
• Able to "Ike Charge Tackle," the tactic of charging a Quick Draw while falling and releasing it in the air about level with the platform in front of him. When the animation finishes, Ike will slide smoothly forward and be able to launch another attack (neutral A combo, for example) while still moving foreward.

Standard Moves

Ground Attacks

Normal

• Dash Attack - Ike lunges forward with Ragnell with excellent range. The move's slowness makes it predictable and easy to block. 8% damage.
• Neutral Attack - Punches with his left hand, then a step-forward kick, moving forward with each blow, then an overhead swing of Ragnell. Quick, strong. damage-building move, and a useful technique to utilize in the Ike Charge Tackle. 16% damage.
• Forward Tilt - A horizontal slash. Has a slow startup but high knockback. Can be slightly directed upwards or downwards with the control stick. 15% damage.
• Up Tilt - Ike holds his sword out horizontally from the ground and raises it to above his head in a bunny hop motion. Deceptively large range makes this an excellent choice to attack upward through a platform with. 12% damage.
• Down Tilt - Slashes along the ground. Spikes the opponent powerfully. Long range, but cripplingly slow. 14% damage.

Smash

• Forward Smash - Overhead swing of his sword to the ground in front of him. Long ranged and very powerful, but very slow. Superior killing move at relatively low damage, but requires timing to use effectively. Long range and high arc allow for edge- and recovery-interceptions. 22% damage uncharged, 30% when charged.
• Up Smash - Swings his sword from his feet over his head to behind him. Also powerful, long ranged, and slow. The attack's arc and speed allow it to intercept foes climbing up from an edge. 17% damage.
• Down Smash - Slashes towards the ground on either side. Powerful, long ranged, and his fastest smash attack. 13% damage.

Aerial Attacks

• Up Aerial - Ike spins Ragnell in a helicopter motion. The attack stays out for a longer time and has great priority. Low vertical range limits usefulness, considering Ike's inferior jumping capabilities. 14% damage.
• Down Aerial - Ike thrusts Ragnell down under him. If the move hits with the blade, it will meteor smash the target. Useful for edge-guarding. 16% damage.
• Neutral Aerial - Ike swings Ragnell in an arc around his body. The attack is shorter ranged than most of his aerials, but hits around his body. The wide arc allows it to punish dodges, and the move can be auto-canceled. 9% damage.
• Forward Aerial - Ike performs an overhead swing with Ragnell down to below him. The attack is his most ranged aerial. 13% damage.
• Back Aerial - Ike quickly backwards swing with Ragnell. This is Ike's fastest aerial and performs greatly with the Reverse Aerial Rush since it has high killing potential. 14% damage.

Grabs and Throws

• Up Throw - Ike throws Ragnell into the ground and uppercuts the target into the air with both hands. 6% damage.
• Down Throw - Ike throws the target down to the ground and stomps on them sending them upward. Places low-damaged foes in a perfect position to follow up with an Aether. 6% damage.
• Back Throw - Ike throws the opponent backwards while kicking them. 6% damage.
• Forward Throw - Ike throws opponent forwards while kicking them. 6% damage.
• Pummel - Headbutts them. 3% damage.

Special Movements

Taunts

Up: Ike poses with Ragnell crouching while wind blows his cape up.

Side: Ike takes Ragnell entering a stance and says, "Prepare yourself."

Down: Ike thrusts Ragnell into the ground and crosses his arms while wind blows his cape up saying, "Hmph."

On-Screen Appearance

He is teleported in with Warp powder. His pose is different from Marth's.

Idle Pose

• Puts Ragnell on his shoulder.
• Feels Ragnell in somewhat of a fighter stance.

Victory Pose

Victory Theme: Fire Emblem Theme

• Performs Aether while facing the screen.
• Folds arms and says, "You'll get no sympathy from me."
• Swings his sword two times then leans his sword on his back and says, "I fight for my friends."

Wii Remote Choice

Says "Prepare yourself".

Credits Music

• Victory is Near

Trivia

• Ike is one of the few characters to have a brief speaking role in the Subspace Emissary, shouting, "Great Aether!" as he attacks the Ancient Minister. Oddly enough he uses a normal Aether to hit the Ancient Minister.
  • In the English version he shouts "Great Aether!"; Ike in the Japanese version shouts "Aether!"
• The crowd cheer for Ike is "We like Ike!", a reference to former President Dwight "Ike" Eisenhower's campaign slogan.
• The stance Ike enters for his side taunt also appears in Radiant Dawn when Ike initiates an attack.
• Although he enters the fight by warp powder, he never used it; the Black Knight did.
• Ike is the only character to stop the Ancient Minister from dropping a Subspace Bomb.
• Ironically, Victory is Near plays as his Credits music, and not the song Ike's Theme.
• In a Subspace Emissary cutscene, he is shown chasing the Ancient Minister alongside Marth and Meta Knight. However, Ike is nowhere near as fast as them.
• While in SSBB Ike is slow, in the Fire Emblem games he appears in, he has a very good speed stats. This is probably meant to balance Ike's strength by consequently making him slow.
• The song labeled "Ike's Theme" is not actually Ike's theme in its game of origin, it is simply the music for part III chapters, playing in chapters where Ike does not make an appearance. The song is actually called Eternal Bond.

External Links

• Smash Bros. Dojo!! Page.
• Ike's Final Smash