Ice Climbers (Smash Plus)

Ice Climbers are collectively a playable character in Super Smash Brothers Plus for the Nintendo Switch Plus. Representing the Ice Climbers Universe, they are collectively listed as Fighter #49 in Smash's modified numbering system and are classified as a Middleweight fighter. They are hidden at the start of the game, but can be unlocked through random encounters in versus mode or by earning a combined high score of other 1,000 feet between all characters in the Race to the Top mode of the Smash Colosseum.
The Ice Climbers are a pair of characters, with Popo usually in the lead and Nana playing backup (alternate skins can reverse this, but the two play identical anyway.) As such, they work best in tandem, and are among the best at racking up damage against opponents. Their grab game in particular is much enhanced when the two of them are both on the stage. However, if separated, the character who is controlled by the AI is virtually helpless. In addition, the secondary Ice Climber will take more damage and knockback then the leader will, and often times will be KO'ed while the leader has to go it alone. Popo by himself is not nearly as effective a fighter, and the weaknesses of the duo are even more pronounced (namely below average mobility and lack of true KO potential). Together however, they can be a force to be reckoned with. The Ice Climbers have two normal jumps, but no other additional movement options.
==Moveset==
===Basic Attacks===
*Neutral Jab- A two hit jab combo in which the Ice Climbers swing their hammers horizontally and then vertically at a downward arc.
*Side Tilt- The Ice Climbers swing their hammers horizontally. The swings can be angled slightly up or down depending on controller input.
*Up Tilt- The Ice Climbers twirl their hammers over their heads for multi-hitting damage. Can hit up to 7 times per hammer, making it one of the higher hit count moves in Smash.
*Down Tilt- The Ice Climbers sweep their hammers directly in front of themselves. This move doesn't hit behind them, only in front.
*Dash Attack- The Ice Climbers leap forward and swing their hammers forward, generating vertical knockback as a way to set up combos.
*Grab & Pummel- The lead Ice Climber will grab with one hand while the secondary Ice Climber pummels with their hammer. If only one Ice Climber is active, then they will simply pummel with a small hit with the handle of their hammer.
*Forward Throw- The lead Ice Climber will smack the foe away with their hammer. The secondary Ice Climber will follow this action, increasing the power of the throw greatly.
*Back Throw- The lead Ice Climber simply tosses the foe over their back with no additional action. The secondary Ice Climber will perform a powerful Smash with their hammer, which is what gives the throw its power and knockback.
*Up Throw- The lead Ice Climber tosses the opponent up in the air and then smacks them with their hammer. The secondary Ice Climber mimics the action.
*Down Throw- The lead Ice Climber slams the opponent onto the ground and then smacks them with their hammer, using it like a croquet mallet. The secondary Ice Climber uses their Ice Breath on the fallen foe, giving a chance of freezing them before they are knocked away.
*Neutral Air- Both Ice Climbers perform a pirouette with their hammers extended, hitting on either side. Unlike their Squall hammer attack, this move will not grant them any elevation or stall their fall in anyway.
*Forward Air- Both Ice Climbers slam their hammers forward from a high starting arc. This move has the potential to spike foes, but only if the secondary Ice Climbers hammer connects, not the lead Ice Climber's hammer.
*Back Air- Both Ice Climbers swing their hammers horizontally behind themselves.
*Up Air- Both Ice Climbers swing their hammers over their heads one after the other. Great for racking up damage and comboing opponents, and at lower percentages can even be used to juggle opponents briefly.
*Down Air- Both Ice Climbers hold their hammers under themselves and then fall directly to the ground. Unlike other moves of this type, it cannot meteor smash opponents.
===Smash Attacks===
*Side Smash- The Ice Climbers swing their hammers down in front of them. While the leader's swing does more damage, the swing of the secondary Ice Climber does more knockback damage, limiting the moves usefulness when on your own.
*Up Smash- The Ice Climbers swing their hammers in an overhead arc, moving from front to back. Like with the side smash, the secondary Ice Climber does more knockback than the primary one.
*Down Smash- The lead Ice Climber swings their hammer in a low sweeping arc directly in front of themselves. The secondary Ice Climber swings their hammer in a low sweeping arc directly behind the lead Ice Climber. Thus, this attack only covers one side if only one Ice Climber is present.
===Special Moves===
*Neutral Special: Ice Shot- The Ice Climbers will fire a single stalagmite of ice in front of them and smack it with their hammer, sliding it across the stage until it hits an enemy. The projectiles do very little flinching damage, but bounce off of walls and shields, remaining in play for quite a while. They can also freeze opponents at higher percentages.
*Side Special: Squall Hammer- The Ice Climbers pirouette around with their hammers extended, starting to spin fast and then slowing down as the move ends. The move hits opponents multiple times, especially so if both Ice Climbers are present. When used in the air it slows falling speed, and repeatedly pressing the special button will also cause them to rise in the air slightly, making this a decent recovery tool, especially if one of the Ice Climbers is missing.
*Up Special: Belay- The lead Ice Climber tosses the secondary one up a short distance into the air. The secondary Ice Climber then uses a rope to fling the lead Ice Climber much higher into the air, or pulls them in if they happen to grab a ledge. It covers a great amount of distance, making it one of the better recovery moves in the game. However, if only one Ice Climber is present, then the lead Ice Climber just does a small pitiful hop before entering freefall, making the move virtually useless when alone.
*Down Special: Blizzard- The Ice Climbers blow a gust of cold breath directly in front of themselves, damaging opponents with multiple hits for the duration of the move. Each individual hit has a chance to freeze opponents, with that chance going higher at higher damage percentages. With two Ice Climbers, it becomes a decent chance of freezing the opponent entirely.
*Final Smash: Iceberg- The Ice Climbers give a hand gesture to each other and a condor flies in and scoops them up. A giant Iceberg then fills the center part of the stage. The Iceberg deals damage to any opponent who touches it, with the damage scaling higher the closer they are to the peak. Sometimes, a Polar Bear can be found on the Iceberg, which will also damage foes. The Ice Climbers themselves remain hanging from the condor, and players can steer the Iceberg slightly left or right while the FS is ongoing. As the FS ends, the Iceberg disappears and the condor drops the Ice Climbers back onto the stage. During the FS, opponents who are good enough can knock the Ice Climbers from the Condor. Doing so will cause the Ice Climbers to take damage from the Iceberg like other players, giving some degree of risk to this Final Smash.
===Miscellaneous===
*Entry Animation- The Ice Climbers fly in while hanging on a condor. They drop down, give each other a high five and assume battle stance as the condor flies away.
*Idle Animation 1- The Ice Climbers twirl their hammers over their shoulders, but make no attack motion.
*Idle Animation 2- The lead Ice Climber looks back behind themselves curiously.
*Side Taunt- The Ice Climbers point their hammers up at an angle saying "Yup!" while a gust of wind blows triumphantly behind them.
*Up Taunt- The Ice Climbers set down their hammers and jump up and down once.
*Down Taunt- The Ice Climbers dance around in a circle.
*Victory Animation 1- The Ice Climbers jump up and down together infinitely, in reference to their victory animation from their game.
*Victory Animation 2- The Ice Climbers both nod and then high five each other, finishing on that pose.
*Victory Animation 3- Nana hides behind Popo, only showing her face as they both circle in opposite directions around each other.
==How to Unlock==
The Ice Climbers can be unlocked any of the following ways:
*Playing Versus Matches until they randomly show up as a "Challenger Approaching" fight. Defeat them to unlock them.
*Gaining a combined high score (across all characters) of at least 1,000 feet in the Race to the Top game in Smash Colosseum.
*Unlock them in the Finale of World of Light by defeating them.
*Paying 1,000 gold in a shop, where they can randomly show up (though rarely).
Category:Super Smash Bros. Characters
Category:Super Smash Bros. (series)
Category:Smash Plus Characters