Ice Climbers (PM)

The Ice Climbers are a playable character in the Brawl mod Project M. 
The Ice Climbers rank 16th out of 41 on the official tier list, placed toward the bottom of the A- tier and a distant drop from their placements in Melee and Brawl, where their positions were 7th out of 26 and 2nd out of 38, respectively. Their placement on the tier list is largely due to their volatile matchup spread, as Project M's expanded cast has provided them with more troublesome matchups than Melee or Brawl despite the Ice Climbers' expanded neutral and punish options. In the Project+ , they are ranked 13th in the A tier, a slight improvement over their standing in Project M.
==Attributes==
Ice Climbers is a duo consisting of the characters Popo and Nana. The player, in half of the retained Brawl costumes plus the alternate costume, controls Popo, and Nana will copy the player's movements under normal circumstances, and vice versa for the retained other half of the costumes. In Project M, the Ice Climbers can no longer perform most of their infamous grab infinites, but are compensated with buffed recovery options and better options in neutral. Ice Climbers are capable of dealing substantial amounts of damage; The partner will copy the player's move and has the same damage output, effectively doubling their damage output while both Climbers are alive if both attacks hit.
However, one of the Ice Climbers' biggest strengths is also their biggest weakness. A lot of their attacks are a lot better when both Popo and Nana are present, so if one of them is KO'd, the player's options are limited. A notable example, and their biggest disadvantage Ice Climbers has after the partner is defeated is the poor recovery offstage; Belay only gives a small fraction of the height the move normally gains, and although Squall Hammer can travel a fair distance, its hitbox doesn't compensate for edgehoggers.
==Changes from Melee to PM==
The Ice Climbers have been modified to focus more on desynching and standard combat rather than on their grab infinites from Brawl and Melee. This is an overall nerf as wobbling and grab infinites previously contributed to their success at a competitive scene. Nevertheless, their arsenal of grab combos and mixups have been greatly expanded, and the Ice Climbers still benefit greatly from chaingrabbing, as seen here. To compensate, however, they have both been made slightly more competent at fighting on their own, without the aid of their partner. 
===Attributes===
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===Ground Attacks===
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===Aerial Attacks===
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===Special Moves===
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==Changes from PM to P+==
==Revisions==
===v3.0===
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===v3.5===
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===v3.6===
====Beta====
====Full====
==Moveset==
Up to date as of version 3.6.
Note: The damage is based off one Ice Climber, due to both of them having the same damage output.
 	 	Name 	Damage 	Description
Neutral attack 	Neutral attack 	 	2% 	Each Ice Climber does a horizontal swipe with their hammers followed by an upward swing.
Neutral attack 	Neutral attack 	 	4% 	Each Ice Climber does a horizontal swipe with their hammers followed by an upward swing.
Forward tilt 	Forward tilt 	 	8% 	Each Ice Climber does a side swing with their hammer, covering a long reach. This move can also be aimed up or down.
Up tilt 	Up tilt 	 	1% (hits 1-7), 3% (hit 8) 	Each Ice Climber spins their hammer above their heads numerous times, dealing multiple hits. A good finisher when both Ice Climbers are present.
Down tilt 	Down tilt 	 	5% 	Each Ice Climber swings their hammers low across the ground.
Dash attack 	Dash attack 	 	9% 	Each Ice Climber sweeps upwards with their hammer while coming to a stop, launching the opponents upwards.
Forward smash 	Forward smash 	 	(hammer), (arm) 	Each Ice Climber lifts their hammers over their heads, then smashes them straight down. A good finisher when both Ice Climbers are present.
Up smash 	Up smash 	 	 	Each Ice Climber does an overhead swing with their hammers.
Down smash 	Down smash 	 	 	Each Ice Climber fully sweeps the ground around them with their hammers.
Neutral aerial 	Neutral aerial 	 	8% 	Each Ice Climber spins around their hammer, hitting anyone near.
Forward aerial 	Forward aerial 	 	13% (hammer), 11% (handle), 12% (body)	Each Ice Climber holds their hammers up, then bring them down in a similar fashion to their forward smash. Spikes opponents who comes in contact with the handle, but is often hard to maneuver when both Ice Climbers are present. Overall an excellent finisher, especially with both Ice Climbers present. Often used as a finisher out of forward-throw near the ledge.
Back aerial 	Back aerial 	 	12% (hammer), 11% (handle) 	Each Ice Climber performs a backwards swing with their hammers.
Up aerial 	Up aerial 	 	9% (clean), 7% (late) 	Each Ice Climber thrusts their hammer upwards. Acts similarly to their up tilt, but with only one hitbox per Ice Climber.
Down aerial 	Down aerial 	 	9% 	Each Ice Climber holds their hammers below themselves and fall downwards. The attack overall lasts for a long duration and has some landing lag (though L-cancelling helps).
Grab 	Grab 	 	— 	One Ice Climber grabs the opponent.
Pummel 	Pummel 	 	2% 	The grabbing Ice Climber hits the opponent with a headbutt, whereas the player has some control over the partner while pummeling.
Forward throw 	Forward throw 	 	6% (hit 1), 5% (throw) 	The grabbing Ice Climber hits the opponent forward with a hammer swing.
Back throw 	Back throw 	 	7% 	The grabbing Ice Climber flings the opponent behind with one hand.
Up throw 	Up throw 	 	6% (hit 1), 5% (throw) 	The grabbing Ice Climber throws their opponent upwards, hitting them with an overhead hammer swing.
Down throw 	Down throw 	 	6% 	The grabbing Ice Climber spins once then throws the opponent onto the ground.
Floor attack (front)	Floor attack (front)	 	6% 	Each Ice Climber gets up and spins their hammers.
Floor attack (back) 	Floor attack (back) 	 	6% 	Each Ice Climber gets up and swipes their hammers on both sides.
Floor attack (trip) 	Floor attack (trip) 	 	5% 	Each Ice Climber gets up and spins around, hitting with their hammers.
Edge attack (fast) 	Edge attack (fast) 	 	8% (hammer), 6% (body) 	Each Ice Climber quickly climbs up and slams their hammers on the ground.
Edge attack (slow) 	Edge attack (slow) 	 	10% (hammer), 8% (body) 	Each Ice Climber slowly climbs up and swipes their hammer forward.
Neutral special 	Neutral special 	Ice Shot 	9% (hammer), 1-5% (ice) 	Each Ice Climber fires a block of ice that travel along the ground, bouncing off walls. The icicle melts and loses power over time. The Ice Climbers will gain a slight boost upwards when used in midair. The icicle can also fly through the air, making it a useful tool to gimp opponents and force high recoveries.
Side special 	Side special 	Squall Hammer	2% (loop hits) 	Both Ice Climbers spin around together while moving along the ground with their hammers extended. This move can also be used as a recovery move by mashing the B button, which can cover more horizontal and vertical distance, but gains more distance when both Ice Climbers are present. Because both Climbers exit this move on the same frame, it is possible to desync the AI-controlled partner when grounded during the move's endlag.
Up special 	Up special 	Belay 	16% 	The leading Ice Climber throws the partner in the air with a rope. The partner then pulls the leader upwards, covering great vertical distance. If there is a nearby edge, the partner will target it, leading to a safe recovery for both Ice Climbers. If there is only one Climber present when performing this move, they will get a small hop, then fall into helplessness. Difficult to challenge from above because of invincibility on AI-controlled partner, but susceptible to gimps if the opponent can hit Popo during startup.
Down special 	Down special 	Blizzard 	1-2% 	Each Ice Climber blows icy wind from their hands, damaging nearby opponents. When the move is used on the ground, the partner will shoot in the direction opposite of the leader. This move is mostly used as a tool to control space in neutral and stuff approaches.
Final Smash 	Final Smash 	Iceberg 	2% (loop hits), 5% (frozen) 	The Ice Climbers summon a huge iceberg into the middle of the stage. The iceberg can damage and freeze any opponents who makes contact with it. This Final Smash lasts for about 11 seconds.
==In competitive play==
===Most historically significant players===
Any number following the Smasher name indicates placement on the PMRank 2019, which recognizes the official top 50 players in the world in Project M during 2019.
See also: :Category:Ice Climbers players (PM)
* - Ranked 1st on the Colorado Project M Power Rankings.
* - The second best Ice Climbers main in the world. Won over .
* - Ranked #40 on PMRank 2022 and currently ranked 7th in Massachusetts, he is one of the best active Ice Climbers players.
* - The best Ice Climbers main in the world. Ranked #2 on PMRank 2022 and ranked 1st on the Michigan Project M Power Rankings.
==Alternate costumes==
===Project M===
The Ice Climbers received a costume based on the Polar Bear, an enemy from their origin game, . 
							
							
===Project+===
Project+ gives the Ice Climber team colors for their Polar Bear costume. Ice Climbers also receive a costume based on typical Russian snow clothing, which was named the Tundra Climbers costume.
Secret costumes:
 
Z-Secret Costume: Plaid Patterned Ice Climbers
R-Secret Costume: Realistic Equipment Ice Climbers
==Trivia==
*The Tundra Climbers costume was revamped from a prior costume known as the "Soviet Climbers". The prior costume design featured both characters wearing a red star on their hat, along with a metal hammer for Popo and a metal sickle for Nana to resemble the Soviet flag. Due to the political connotations, the Legacy TE development team removed these features and renamed the costume. Wooden hammers were used to preserve sound effects and attack trails already in the Ice Climber's move effects. As Project+ was originally based on the Legacy TE version of Project M, the Tundra Climbers version of the costume carried into the mod.
==External links==
*Ice Climbers's page at the Project M website
*Labbing Discord Tech Post
Category:Ice Climbers
Category:Characters (PM)