Water (type)
There are a few attacks in the Smash Bros. series that are water-based. Squirtle is the only character to have water damage in its attacks (and Kirby, as he can copy one of said moves). Mario also has a water attack through F.L.U.D.D., but it deals no damage.
Due to the mechanics of Brawl's hitboxes, water can be both a type and an effect. It is currently believed that the difference is this:
- The Water type is what causes attacks to be powered up by water stickers.
- The Water effect is what causes type effectiveness; that is, it deals 1.1x knockback to Charizard and 0.9x knockback to Ivysaur, and Blue Pikmin are immune to it.
The distinction between these two states is a result of the separation of "attacks that use water to deal damage" and "attacks that should be involved in type effectiveness"; this seems to be done so that certain moves will not participate in type effectiveness without being excluded from being powered up by water stickers (for example, so weak fixed-knockback moves are no easier or harder to escape).
Out of all the effects in Brawl, water is one of the most useful in the Subspace Emissary - it deals extra damage to fire-based enemies, some mechanical enemies (particularily the R.O.B. Squad), and about half of the bosses.
Greninja will use water-based attacks in Super Smash Bros. 4. As a result, it is likely that water will return as an effect for Pikmin purposes.
List of water attacks
| Character | Move | Type | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kirby | Can copy Water Gun |  |
 (uncharged) (charged)
|
| Mario | F.L.U.D.D. |  |
|
| Squirtle | Up smash | |
|
| Down smash | |
| |
| Neutral air | |
| |
| Water Gun | |
(uncharged) (charged)
| |
| Waterfall | |
| |
| Hydro Jyk | n/a |
| |
Trivia
- There are no stickers that provide resistance to water-effect attacks, meaning that unless Battering-resistance stickers cover both effects (seeing as they use some of the same visual effects), Hydro Jyks are the only enemy whose attack cannot be guarded against by stickers.
