Pikachu (Super Smash Flash 2)

Pikachu is a veteran starter character in Super Smash Flash 2. It had numerous sprite changes during early development but the final design used when it was finally incorporated into the game is completely custom-made and based on its appearance in . Its voice clips and moveset are directly taken from the same game.
Pikachu is ranked 29th of B tier on the current tier list. Pikachu posses quick attacks, decent combo ability, great recovery, and good finishers in its up smash, forward smash, back aerial, , and down aerial. Pikachu is a strong edge guarder, being considered one of the best edge guarders in the game.
However, Pikachu is light, which makes it easy to KO horizontally. It has poor reach in many of its attacks, forcing it to get up close to start combos (although this is remedied by its Thunder Jolt approaches). Although this gives Pikachu problems approaching characters with disjointed hitboxes, ex.: and . This also goes to its finishers as well, where Pikachu needs to be close to the opponent in order to secure a KO. Another problem Pikachu has is its poor combo game, where it mainly has to rely on strings that do not send opponents into enough hitstun.
== Attributes ==
Pikachu is a small, but fast and agile fighter. Pikachu has good mobility with having the sixth fastest dashing speed in the current demo and can perform Quick attack cancel to move around the battlefield, which gives Pikachu excellent approach options.
Pikachu has reliable KO moves in its forward smash, up smash, Thunder (when the bolt of lightning hits Pikachu it produces a shockwave that deals strong knockback), and its down aerial.
Pikachu has poor grab range, contested for the shortest grab in the current demo, Pikachu has a great grab game and throw game. Down throw is good for setting up combos, while also being an effective chain grab on fast and high fallers with being able to be followed up with an up smash at death percents. Forward throw is also good for setting up combos. Up throw is can chain grab Fox and being followed up by up smash on certain characters at death percents.
Pikachu has one of the best recoveries in the game with Skull Bash being used as horizontal recovery option and Quick Attack can be used in different directions(it can go up twice which gives Pikachu one of the best vertical recovery moves in the game).
However, Pikachu suffers from poor range in the majority of its attacks which leaves it vulnerable to characters with disjointed hitboxes (ex. and ). Pikachu also has problems dealing with certain projectiles which is another approaching problem.
Despite Pikachu's light weight, it is an average faller and its wonky hurtbox makes it susceptible to combos. Pikachu's own combo game is below average due to its attacks sending the opponent into little hitstun to allow for more follow ups.
== Moveset ==
=== Ground attacks ===
Attack 	Description 	Damage
Neutral attack	Does a quick headbutt. Can cancel into itself. 	
Forward tilt 	Kicks forward out in front of him with both legs. 	7%
Up tilt 	Swings tail in an arc above itself. 	8%
Down tilt 	Does a quick, low tail whip. 	8%
Dash attack 	Bashes target with its head, similarly to the Skull Bash. Has a lot of endlag. 	9%
Forward smash 	Produces electricity with its cheeks. Pikachu charges a bolt of electricity in front of him, causing a lot of knockback when released.	
Forward smash 	Produces electricity with its cheeks. Pikachu charges a bolt of electricity in front of him, causing a lot of knockback when released.	
Up smash 	Flips very fast, attacking with its tail. 	
Up smash 	Flips very fast, attacking with its tail. 	
Down smash 	Discharges electricity while spinning. 	
Down smash 	Discharges electricity while spinning. 	
=== Aerial attacks ===
Attack 	Description 	Damage
Neutral aerial	Spins in a ball. Decent knockback and power. 	
Neutral aerial	Spins in a ball. Decent knockback and power. 	
Forward aerial	An electric drill-like move forward. 	
Forward aerial	An electric drill-like move forward. 	
Back aerial 	Kicks behind itself, its small foot getting slightly larger for a short second.	
Back aerial 	Kicks behind itself, its small foot getting slightly larger for a short second.	
Up aerial 	Swings tail while flipping forward. 	4%
Down aerial 	An electric drill-like move downward. 	
Down aerial 	An electric drill-like move downward. 	
Down aerial 	An electric drill-like move downward. 	
Down aerial 	An electric drill-like move downward. 	
=== Grab and throws ===
Attack 	Description 	Damage
Grab 	Grabs the opponent with both paws. 	
Pummel 	Zaps the opponent. 	2%
Forward throw	Places opponent on back and electrocutes them forward. Can chain grab only a few characters. 	
Back throw 	Tumbles with opponent back and throws them back. 	9%
Up throw 	Headbutts opponent upward. Can chain grab fast fallers, but easy to DI out of. 	5%
Down throw 	Slams on top of opponent. Can combo into up tilt, aerial attacks, and up smash. Can chain grab fast fallers and high fallers.	5%
=== Other attacks ===
Attack 	Description 	Damage
Floor attack	Swings its body and tail around. 	6%
Ledge attack	Performs a backflip kick. The animation loosely resembles a pose Pikachu makes in official Pokemon Red, Blue and Green artwork.	6%
=== Special moves ===
Attack 	Name 	Description 	Damage
Neutral special move	Thunder Jolt	Pikachu fires a ball of electricity in front of him that bounces across the ground and edges. If used midair, the jolt travels diagonally downward. 	5%
Side special move 	 	Pikachu charges up and then blasts himself forward with a powerful headbutt. The longer the charge, the more distance is traveled. Can be used for recovery. 	
Up special move 	Quick Attack	Pikachu does a quick dash in one of 8 directions. If any direction that is not identical to the first one is inputted, Pikachu will boost in that direction, making Quick Attack very unpredictable and flexible. 	
Up special move 	Quick Attack	Pikachu does a quick dash in one of 8 directions. If any direction that is not identical to the first one is inputted, Pikachu will boost in that direction, making Quick Attack very unpredictable and flexible. 	
Down special move 	 	A lightning bolt with infinite range spawns above Pikachu and travels downwards, acting as a powerful meteor smash and by extension one of the best edgeguarding tools in the entire game. If the bolt collides with Pikachu, the area around him is charged with electricity for immense knockback.	
Down special move 	 	A lightning bolt with infinite range spawns above Pikachu and travels downwards, acting as a powerful meteor smash and by extension one of the best edgeguarding tools in the entire game. If the bolt collides with Pikachu, the area around him is charged with electricity for immense knockback.	
Final Smash 	Volt Tackle 	Pikachu transforms into a huge ball of lightning that can be controlled by the player and hurt other characters. Pressing the attack button causes Pikachu to discharge electricity around him, causing higher damage and knockback. 	
Final Smash 	Volt Tackle 	Pikachu transforms into a huge ball of lightning that can be controlled by the player and hurt other characters. Pressing the attack button causes Pikachu to discharge electricity around him, causing higher damage and knockback. 	
=== Misc. ===
Misc. 	Description 	Description 	Description
On-screen appearance	Pops out of a Poké Ball. 	Pops out of a Poké Ball. 	Pops out of a Poké Ball.
Taunts 	Neutral 	Waves with both hands and says "Pika! Pika!". 	
Taunts 	Side 	Rolls around on the floor and says "Pika!". 	
Taunts 	Down/Up 	Emits electricity from the ground while saying "Pi!" 	
Idle poses 	Stands on its toes and looks around or scratches its ear. 	Stands on its toes and looks around or scratches its ear. 	Stands on its toes and looks around or scratches its ear.
Victory theme 	A short excerpt from the title screen of . 	A short excerpt from the title screen of . 	A short excerpt from the title screen of .
Victory pose 	Does a 720° backflip, then spins around and looks happily at the camera.	Does a 720° backflip, then spins around and looks happily at the camera.	Does a 720° backflip, then spins around and looks happily at the camera.
== Changes from v0.9b ==
Pikachu was nerfed in the transition from 9b to Beta, with the changes to priority effectively taking away one of its strongest aspects. Pikachu's frame data was also nerfed in its tilts, making them harder to get follow ups with or throw out as much. Also, Pikachu went from having one of the strongest grab & throw games from thoughout various demos, to having one of the worst, due to it losing a chain grab, losing its follow ups from grabs and kill confirms. Pikachu, is still a solid fighter, but not as potent as it once was.
=== Aesthetics ===
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=== Ground attacks ===
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=== Aerial attacks ===
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=== Grab and throws ===
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=== Special attacks ===
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== In competitive play ==
=== Match ups ===
=== Notable players ===
*Arsee
*Jampi
=== Tier placement history ===
When first introduced in demo v0.8, Pikachu was seen as a character seen with great potential. In demo v0.8b, Pikachu was ranked 7 of B tier. In demo v0.9a, Pikachu rose up to 3rd of S tier where it was seen as a top tier character. In demo v0.9b, Pikachu dropped to 5th of S tier, but is still seen as a top tier character. However, on the second tier list of demo v0.9b, Pikachu stayed 5th place, but dropped down to A+ tier and is still seen as a top tier character.
== Gallery ==
=== Costumes ===
=== Artworks ===
Screen-shot-2010-08-20-at-8.21.50-PM.png|Pikachu's first artwork in the DOJO!!!.
Prekachu.png|Pikachu's first art, used from v0.8a to v0.8b.
SSF2 Pikachu (Early).png|Pikachu's second artwork, used in the DOJO!!!.
Pikachu 0.9a.png|Pikachu's third artwork, used in v0.9a.
Pikachumain.png|Pikachu's fourth artwork, used in v0.9b.
=== Screenshots ===
Pikachu's and Jigglypuff's costumes in SSF2.png|Pikachu and on Lake of Rage. Notice the new alternate costumes.
Pikachu Electric Beta.png|Pikachu and using forward aerial on Lunar Core.
Pikachu Down B.png|Pikachu using on on Phase 8.
Pikachu 1.png|Pikachu next to Pichu holding Firework on Yoshi's Island.
Pikachu 2.png|Pikachu air dodging above Mario on Mushroom Kingdom III.
Pikachu 3.png|Pikachu and using Thunder Jolt on Pokémon Colosseum.
Ball - Pikachu.png|Ball version.
=== Early designs ===
Pika1.png|Pikachu using forward smash on on Yoshi's Story.
Pika2.png|Pikachu using Skull Bash and using Shoulder Bash on Emerald Cave.
Pika3.png|Pikachu using Quick Attack to avoid 's Giant Punch on Bomb Factory.
Pika4.png|Pikachu using on while uses Sing on Twilight Town.
1-yo.png|Pikachu taunting while uses his down smash on Jungle Hijinx.
2-yo.png|Pikachu standing next to on .
Pikafix.png|Pikachu after using Thunder Jolt on Hueco Mundo.
Pikabadjudgement.png|Pikachu being hit by on Waiting Room.
=== Designs ===
Pikachu OS.png|Pikachu's first early design used in demo v0.8a to v0.9b.
New Design - Pikachu (early).png|Pikachu's second early design used in Beta 1.0 to Beta 1.1.
New Design - Pikachu.png|Pikachu's current idle animation, from Beta 1.2 onward.
=== Misc. ===
SSF2 - Classic mode - Pikachu.png|Pikachu's congratulations screen on Classic mode.
SSF2 - All-Star mode - Pikachu.png|Pikachu's congratulations screen on All-Star mode.
Category:First-party characters
Category:Starter characters
Category:Veteran characters
Category:Super Smash Flash 2
Category:Super Smash Flash series
Category:Nintendo