Black Shadow (Smash Plus)

Black Shadow is a playable character in Super Smash Brothers Plus for the Nintendo Switch Plus. Representing the F-Zero franchise, Black Shadow is listed as Fighter #48 in Smash's modified numbering system and is classified as a Super Heavyweight fighter. He is hidden at the start of the game, but can be unlocked through random encounters in versus mode or by defeating Classic Mode with Captain Falcon. He is also a new character, as this is his first playable appearance in a Smash game.
It would be easy to dismiss Black Shadow as a carbon copy of Ganondorf from previous Smash games. And indeed he has inherited many of Ganondorf's special moves from before, most notably his Shadow Punch and Shadow Slam techniques. However Black Shadow also has a few tricks up his own sleeve. For one thing, he is one of the quicker Super Heavyweight fighters. He won't be winning any races with the Sonics of the world, but he can keep up in his own time. For another, his Shadow Aura ability gives many of his harder hitting moves all the more damage and knockback while active, increasing his damage output significantly. As a downside though he is very vulnerable to projectile fighters, and unless he can get in close to hit his powerful moves, the fighters who are on the high end of the speed zone are capable of running circles around him. Still, in the right hands Black Shadow is a force to be reckoned with. He has two normal jumps and is able to wall jump.
==Moveset==
===Basic Attacks===
*Neutral Jab- Black Shadow delivers a single mid-range body blow to the opponent. Slow to come out for a neutral jab, but it does significant knockback and also has shadow damage.
*Side Tilt- Black Shadow performs a high range punch from low to high. The uppercut motion can hit twice and inflicts shadow damage.
*Up Tilt- Black Shadow performs a high angle headbutt from back to front, popping opponents straight up into the air but with endlag if it misses.
*Down Tilt- Black Shadow peforms a leaning front kick directly in front of him. Comes out the fastest of all of his tilt attacks, but also does the least amount of damage.
*Dash Attack- Shadow hits a powerful short range shoulder tackle that does massive knockback to opponents. However the distance covered is very low, and the sweetspot only lasts a couple of frames right at the beginning of the attack.
*Grab and Pummel- Black Shadow holds the opponent into the air with both hands. He pummels with a knee lift.
*Forward Throw- Black Shadow detonates a small explosion of shadow energy around himself, launching foes forward.
*Back Throw- Black Shadow tosses foes over his shoulder, launching them behind himself.
*Up Throw- Black Shadow performs a powerful uppercut strike that launches foes straight up into the air.
*Down Throw- Black Shadow essentially powerbombs opponents onto the ground, popping them back up to allow for additional combo attacks.
*Neutral Air- Shadow gives off a small aura of shadow energy around himself that can hit opponents multiple times before launching on the final hit.
*Forward Air- Shadow lowers the boom with a downward overhand strike which can spike opponents if it hits right on the edge of Shadow's fist.
*Back Air- Black Shadow delivers a lingering backfist behind himself that does massive damage but has a lingering sourspot if it misses the initial sweetspot.
*Up Air- Black Shadow performs an upward strike with the horns of his helmet, similar to his up tilt, that launches foes straight up into the air.
*Down Air- Black Shadow peforms a powerful foot stomp that can spike opponents at the beginning of the move.
===Smash Attacks===
*Side Smash- Black Shadow delivers a powerful front kick. When fully charged, it has some of the best knockback in Shadow's moveset, and it also has surprisingly low startup time. However if it misses, it has bad endlag and is easily punishable. Opponents hit by the move will also take shadow damage.
*Up Smash- Black Shadow powers his fist with shadow energy and then swings his arm over his head in a front to back motion. Players caught in it will take multiple hits of shadow damage before being launched on the final hit.
*Down Smash- Black Shadow performs a low stomping foot kick directly in front of him before performing a second, less powerful foot stomp attack directly behind himself. The front kick delivers shadow damage while the back kick, despite having more knockback, does not.
===Special Moves===
*Neutral Special: Shadow Punch- Black Shadow charges up energy and then unleashes a powerful forward punch, engulfing the foe with Shadow Energy. Like with the Falcon Punch, this move does more damage if it is initiated on the ground rather than the air, and the direction Black Shadow is facing can be altered during the windup. However, it also has far greater endlag than the Falcon Punch, while also having some Super Armor during the charge and attack.
*Side Special: Shadow Slam- Black Shadow will dash forward with his arm raised up and engulfed in Shadow Energy. If he hits an opponent, he will grab them and slam them down to the stage, popping them upwards for additional combos as they emanate shadow damage. If used in the air, Shadow will slam the foe clear to the lower blast zone, essentially killing himself and the opponent. However Opponents can button mash out of the move, so use it wisely, and Shadow will always be KO'ed first before the opponent, so it can't be used to end even matches.
*Up Special: Shadow Charge- Black Shadow performs a rising shoulder tackle up at a diagonal angle, his shoulder powered by shadow energy. It does a fair amount of damage when it hits, but its range is poor for a recovery move and Black Shadow will enter freefall when the move ends.
*Down Special: Shadow Aura- Black Shadow will charge a shadow aura around himself for two seconds before laughing triumphantly and having a purple glow around himself. For the next 18 seconds or so (unless he is KO'ed), all of Black Shadow's attacks that inflict Shadow Damage will have increased knockback and damage output to opponents. This status effect has a cooldown period of five seconds once it wears off.
*Final Smash: Black Bull- Black Shadow summons his racing machine, the Black Bull, to zoom across the stage. Any opponent hit by it will be sent to a cinematic Final Smash on the Port Town race track, where Black Shadow will run them over with the Black Bull, sending them flying as the screen goes back to the stage and the Final Smash ends.
===Miscellaneous===
*Entry Animation- The Black Bull flies onto the stage and Black Shadow jumps out of the cockpit, scowling as the machine flies off before the match begins.
*Idle Animation 1- Black Shadow clinches his fist briefly and shakes it.
*Idle Animation 2- Black Shadow leans forward as if examining his prey before resuming fighting stance.
*Side Taunt- Black Shadow closes his fist directly in front of himself in a pose, shadow energy burning like a flame over his closed fist.
*Up Taunt- Black Shadow stands tall with his arms crossed and let's out a satisfied smirk and chuckle.
*Down Taunt- Black Shadow kneels down and shakes his head while laughing at the futility of the opponent.
*Victory Animation 1- Black Shadow appears next to the Black Bull, laughing at the opponent's misfortune of defeat.
*Victory Animation 2- Black Shadow stands defiant with the wind whipping his cape. He swishes it back and says "Bow Down Before My Power!"
*Victory Animation 3- Black Shadow emerges from a shadowy portal, laughing maniacally at his victory.
==How to Unlock==
Black Shadow can be unlocked any of the following ways.
*Playing versus matches until he randomly shows up as a "Challenger Approaching" fight. Defeat him to unlock him.
*Defeat Classic Mode with Captain Falcon on starting difficulty 3.0 or higher.
*Unlock him in the Finale of World of Light by defeating him.
*Paying 1,000 Gold in a Shop, where he can randomly appear (though rarely).
Category:Super Smash Bros. Characters
Category:Super Smash Bros. (series)
Category:Smash Plus Characters