Palutena (Smash Plus)

Palutena is a playable character in Super Smash Brothers Plus for the Nintendo Switch Plus. Representing the Kid Icarus universe, she is listed as Fighter #59 in Smash's modified numbering system and is classified as a Middleweight fighter. She is hidden at the start of the game, but can be unlocked through random encounters in Versus Mode, scoring at least 10 KOs in a single match on either the Skyworld or Palutena's Temple stages, or by clearing Classic Mode with Pit.
Palutena is a middleweight fighter with a well-rounded moveset, as well as good overall mobility. With a counter, a variety of projectile attacks, and a better than average recovery in her special move set, it would be easy to call her an all around character. But she truly shines in the air, with many of her aerial attacks having great KO or combo potential, depending on what the situation requires. There are few characters who have as much rounded utility as Palutena, with her only real weakness being the high startup on many of her best attacks (and a lackluster ground game in comparison to her aerial game). Aside from this, only her taller than average hitbox keeps Palutena from being considered one of the most versatile characters in the game. Palutena has two normal jumps and no additional movement options.
==Moveset==
===Basic Attacks===
*Neutral Jab- Palutena stabs her staff forward, firing a blast of light from the tip. This can lead into a rapid-fire jab of light energy, launching on the final hit.
*Side Tilt- Palutena telekinetically spins her staff in front of her in a counter clockwise motion. Like most of her attacks it has high startup, but it can hit twice if timed correctly.
*Up Tilt- Palutena kneels down and spins her staff overhead, hitting opponents multiple times. However it can't hit small characters with low to ground hitboxes.
*Down Tilt- Palutena spins her staff directly in front of herself along the ground. Has the lowest endlag of any of her attacks.
*Dash Attack- Palutena charges forward with her shield, bashing opponents. One of the weaker dash attacks if it hits late.
Grab & Pummel- Palutena telekinetically grabs and holds foes in place, shocking them with a small blast of divine light for her pummel.
*Forward Throw- Palutena spins around and then telekinetically launches the foe directly forward.
*Back Throw- Palutena leans backwards in a ballerina pose as she tosses the foe overhead telekinetically behind herself.
*Up Throw- Palutena lifts the foe upward with telekinesis and then blasts them away with a burst of light from her staff.
*Down Throw- Palutena telekinetically slams the opponent onto the ground, popping them back into the air for followup combos.
*Neutral Air- Palutena telekinetically spins her staff around herself, hitting opponents multiple times and launching on the final hit.
*Forward Air- Palutena performs a disjointed forward kick.
*Back Air- Palutenta swings her shield behind herself. Unlike her dash attack, it has no late sourspot, making it a powerful attack.
*Up Air- Palutena creates a halo around her head, rising slightly in the air as she does so. The halo hits multiple times, launching on the final hit. It has a large hitbox, giving it great overhead coverage.
*Down Air- Palutena performs a simple quick downward kick that is guaranteed to meteor midair foes due to its large hitbox. However it has terrible endlag if it misses.
===Smash Attacks===
*Side Smash- Palutena conjures a pair of wings on her back and swings them forward. The tip of the wings are slightly weaker than the body, but the coverage of the attack makes it a highly versatile move. It also generates a small wind hitbox to push foes just outside of range away from her.
*Up Smash- Palutena summons a beam of light directly in front of her, shooting straight up and sending foes flying. Her most reliable Smash attack due to its low endlag and high knockback, it does severely lack in horizontal range.
*Down Smash- Palutena summons her ethereal wings and then flaps them down on either side of herself. While it has tremendous coverage, it also has the highest endlag of all her attacks and is very easy to punish.
===Special Moves===
*Neutral Special: Autoreticle- Palutena points her staff out, creating a targeting reticle over the nearest opponent and firing three energy projectiles in quick succession at the target. The projectiles don't do much damage individually, but swarm opponents, making them hard to dodge. The blasts won't fire if no one is in Palutena's ranged line of sight when she triggers the attack.
*Side Special: Explosive Flame- Palutena points her staff forward and creates a small dot of light that travels across the stage. Similar to Din's Fire, the flame will travel for as long as the special button is held down. When it is released, a small multi-hitting explosion will occur where the ball of light was. While the range and control of explosive flame has been increased greatly, it's damage has been slightly reduced and it is more easily telegraphed then before.
*Up Special: Warp- Palutena will disappear and then reappear in a chosen direction. While the distance covered is great, the move lacks any kind of hitbox, meaning Palutena will become vulnerable the moment she reappears on the screen, leaving her open in certain cases.
*Down Special: Counter/Reflect- Palutena will pause in place and glow brightly for a moment. If she is attacked with a physical attack, she will immediately counter with her shield and knock the offending party away. If she is hit with a projectile attack instead, she will create a rectangular barrier in front of her that reflects the projectile back. The barrier stays in place briefly, allowing it to reflect other projectiles that happen by as well.
*Final Smash: Goddess of Light- Palutena disappears, reappearing in her gigantic form from Kid Icarus Uprising in the background of the stage and having a targeting reticle appear on screen. The player can then choose three targets with the reticle. Once all three targets are locked (or 5 seconds have passed), then three large columns of light will appear, covering from the upper to the lower blast zone. Any opponent caught in the lasers will take massive damage and be launched on the final hit after the lasers vanish, and Palutena reappears on the stage.
===Miscellaneous===
*Entry Animation- Palutena walks out of a golden door that emits a bright shining light and disappears as she appears ready for battle.
*Idle Animation- Palutena taps the stage with the bottom of her staff, emitting her halo briefly.
*Idle Animation 2- Palutena lifts her shield up and looks at it briefly.
*Side Taunt- Palutena laughs while twirling around her staff in an Arabesque dance pose.
*Up Taunt- Palutena raises her arms above her head and then brings them down with her wings visible, saying "You shall be purified."
*Down Taunt- Palutena suspends her staff in the air telekinetically, brushing the hair out of her face and saying, "Ready when you are."
*Victory Animation 1- Palutena twirls in place while laughing. She spins her staff in an arc and finishes on a pose with her halo present, saying "No one escapes the light!"
*Victory Animation 2- Palutena warps onto the screen and spins her staff in front of herself, cheekily saying "Was that it?"
*Victory Animation 3- Palutena spins around her staff before sitting on it as it floats in the air, laughing to herself.
==How to Unlock==
Palutena can be unlocked any of the following ways:
*Playing Versus Matches until she randomly shows up as a "Challenger Approaching." Defeat her to unlock her.
*Defeat Classic Mode with Pit on starting difficulty 3.0 or higher.
*Score at least 10 KO's on either the Skyworld or Palutena's Temple stages in a single match. Doing this will give you a 50% chance of unlocking either Palutena or Pit in Challenger Approaching if neither has been unlocked through other means. If one is unlocked, the other will appear guaranteed.
*Unlock her in the Finale of World of Light by defeating her.
*Pay 1,000 gold in a shop, where she can randomly show up (though rarely.)
Category:Super Smash Bros. Characters
Category:Super Smash Bros. (series)
Category:Smash Plus Characters