Octoling (Smash Plus)

Octoling is a playable character in Super Smash Brothers Plus for the Nintendo Switch Plus. Representing the Splatoon universe, she is listed as fighter #84 in Smash's modified numbering system and is classified as a Lightweight fighter. She is hidden at the start of the game, but can be unlocked through random encounters in Versus mode, clearing Classic Mode with Inkling, or by scoring 10 KOs in a single match on Moray Towers. She is also a new character, as this is her first playable appearance in a Smash game.
The Octoling plays very similarly to the Inkling, though has a few different weapons in their arsenal versus their Squid-based counterparts. The basic mechanic remains the same, Octoling has an Ink meter and the ability to apply ink to opponents, greatly increasing her damage capability in the process. As a lightweight, she moves quickly, though at a slightly slower pace than the Inkling. The trade off for this sacrifice of speed is that Octoling, on average, has quite a bit more power behind her attacks than the Inkling does, and her attacks make it easier to score KO's, though have slightly more endlag to them, limiting their combo potential. In short, she's a lightweight who's moveset is more geared towards a middleweight, making her a bit of a glass cannon, as she shares Inkling's poor defensive capabilities. Still, her unique arsenal makes her a fighter to be reckoned with. Octoling has two normal jumps, can crawl and can wall jump.
==Moveset==
===Basic Attacks===
*Special Gimmick: Ink- Many of Octoling's attacks well drench them in colored ink (depicted as the same color as the Octoling's hair). Enemies covered in ink will receive slightly more damage and also be slowed down slightly. The Ink has a max damage multiplier of 1.5x, and degrades at the rate of .25% per frame of animation when not under attack. Octoling has a limited Ink meter that can be refilled by using Shield Special, or attempting to use Down, Side or Neutral Special with no ink. Many of Octoling's moves do little to no damage if the Ink Meter is empty. The Ink meter will be fully refilled if Octoling is KO'ed.
*Neutral Jab- Octoling performs a three hit combo consisting of a forward jab with the Octoshot, a roundhouse kick, and finally a single burst shot from the Octoshot which sends opponents flying and covers them in ink.
*Side Tilt- Octoling performs a spinning roundhouse kick right in front of themselves with good knockback ability.
*Up Tilt- Octoling swings an Octo-brush above their head once in a back and forth motion, launching foes on contact and covering them in ink.
*Down Tilt- Octoling performs a low sweep kick in front of themselves that is their quickest tilt attack overall.
*Dash Attack- Octoling performs a short range baseball slide kick to knock foes away. Can duck under incoming attacks, but does little knockback or damage, except at the start of the move.
*Grab & Pummel- Octoling holds the opponent with their free hand, and pummels by firing a short range blast with the Octoshot, which costs ink, but doesn't cover the opponent in ink, limiting its usefulness.
*Forward Throw- Octoling grabs the opponent and tosses them forwards in an overhand motion. The weakest of Octoling's throws.
*Back Throw- Octoling turns into their octopus form, spins around and flings the opponent backwards.
*Up Throw- Octoling pulls out their Splat Brella and opens it with the opponent on top, flinging them upwards.
*Down Throw- Octoling slams the opponent onto the ground and then fires a point blank shot with the Octoshot, covering them in ink.
*Neutral Air- Octoling does a somersault with their Splat Brella out, launching foes on contact.
*Forward Air- Octoling swings the Octoshot forward in a horizontal arc at a slightly upwards angle.
*Back Air- Octoling changes into their octopus form and slams their tentacles down behind themselves in a move that hits twice (with the second hit having launch power.)
*Up Air- Octoling shoots several shots from the Octoshot straight upward, the final shot having launch power.
*Down Air- Octoling stalls and then falls to the ground while in Octopus form, creating a powerful Splashdown of ink below them that doesn't do much damage, but can fully cover an opponent in ink in one shot if it sweetspots.
===Smash Attacks===
*Side Smash- Octoling pulls out an Ultra Stamp Hammer and smashes down on the ground directly in front of themselves, covering them in ink if it connects. At full charge it also has a chance to bury foes.
*Up Smash- Similar to Octoling's Up Tilt, only this time Octoling swings the Octobrush a maximum of three times at full charge, with the final hit having launch power. One of the few multi-hitting attacks in Octoling's arsenal.
*Down Smash- Octoling fires a single burst shot from the Octoshot directly in front of them, and a second shot behind them. The rear shot uses more ink than the forward shot does.
===Special Moves===
*Neutral Special: Splat Charger- Pressing the Special Button will cause Octoling to use their longer Splat Charger weapon to fire a single ink projectile forward. However, holding the special button down will fire a larger, faster moving ball of ink that does far more damage and covers more of the enemy in ink. At full charge, the explosion of the inkball will cover nearby opponents in ink splatter, though it will not damage them. The charge cannot be canceled and stored. This move uses a large amount of ink, allowing for only 5 fully charged shots from a full ink tank before it becomes necessary to refill.
*Side Special: Torpedo- Octoling fires a single Ink Torpedo into the stage. The Torpedo will travel forward like a Bombchu, moving across the stage and even around platforms until it hits an opponent or the timer expires, at which point it will explode in a shower of ink, doing large damage and covering foes in Ink. Holding the special button will keep the Torpedo in Octoling's hands, releasing the button will deploy it. However the timer starts when the Torpedo is summoned, and it can explode in Octoling's hands, dealing damage to them (but not covering them in ink.) Only one Torpedo can be in play at a time.
*Up Special: Inkjet- Octoling dons a jetpack and flies straight upwards, leaving a trail of ink behind them that can cover enemies in Ink. After reaching the ascent of the jump, the Octoling enters freefall. The move also does decent damage if it connects right at the start of the move. The Octoling can aim slightly forward or backward with directional input. The move can be canceled before the downward descent begins without entering freefall. If used with no ink in the tank, the Octoling will only jump slightly upwards and the move will deal no damage or knockback to foes.
*Down Special: Splat Brella- Octoling pulls out the Splat Brella and opens it in front of them, firing off a small shower of ink directly in front of them and doing moderate launching damage to anyone hit by the splatbrella as it is opened. Holding the Special Button will also leave the Splat Brella open, turning the move into a shield and projectile reflector. However it can only be open for 4 seconds before it has to be closed, and a powerful enough attack will destroy it, leaving the Octoling fully vulnerable briefly. There's also a half second cooldown period before it can be brought out again after it is put away.
*Final Smash: Tenta Missiles- The Octoling strikes a pose and pulls out their Tenta Missile Launcher. Players then have 5 seconds to target as many players as they can, before the Octoling fires 6 powerful Ink Missiles out of the launcher, which then home in on the targets. Each missile does good damage and will fully cover an opponent in ink. Octoling's Ink Meter will also be fully restocked once the FS ends. During the Final Smash, Octoling is invincible.
===Miscellaneous===
*Entry Animation- Octoling drops onto the stage with a splash of ink, returning to humanoid form and adopting a more serious look to fight.
*Idle Animation 1- The Octoling turns their Octoshot to the side slightly before resuming normal stance.
*Idle Animation 2- Octoling turns and looks around briefly before resuming normal stance.
*Side Taunt- Octoling tosses the Octoshot into the air, spins in place and then catches it as it falls back down.
*Up Taunt- Octoling faces the camera and smirks, pointing the Octoshot forward, with light shimmering off the edge of the barrel.
*Down Taunt- Octoling turns into their Octopus form, crossing their arms and making a noise before returning to humanoid form.
*Victory Animation 1- Octoling flies in on an Inkjet, firing two shots from the Octoshot as they land and strike a pose.
*Victory Animation 2- Octoling jumps out of a puddle of ink, sliding across the floor and finishing on a pose.
*Victory Animation 3- Octoling watches as an Inkling is Splatted by an Ultra Stamp Hammer, letting out a laugh and looking at the camera.
==Playable Skin==
Octoling has an alternate playable skin based on the Octoling Boy character from Splatoon 2. Aside from aesthetic changes, there are no differences between the characters.
==How to Unlock==
Octoling can be unlocked any of the following ways:
*Playing Versus Matches until she shows up as a "Challenger Approaching" fight. Defeat her to unlock her.
*Clear Classic Mode with Inkling on starting difficulty 3.0 or higher.
*Score at least 10 KOs on the Moray Towers stage in a single match. Doing this will give you a 50% chance of unlocking either Inkling or Octoling. It will also unlock Octoling if Inkling is already unlocked and vice versa.
*Unlock her in the Finale of World of Light by defeating her.
*Pay 1,000 gold in a shop, where she can randomly appear (though rarely.)
Category:Super Smash Bros. Characters
Category:Super Smash Bros. (series)
Category:Smash Plus Characters