Ridley

> *This article is about Ridley's appearance in Super Smash Bros. For Nintendo Switch. For other uses, see Ridley.*
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## Ridley

### Also Appears In

64 (Background prop)Melee (Trophy)

Brawl (Boss)

4 (Boss)

## Character Statistics

### Has a Tether

No

**Ridley** (リドリー, *Ridorī*) is a playable starting newcomer in Super Smash Bros. Switch. Being the first Metroid newcomer since Zero Suit Samus in Brawl, he was announced during E3 2018, as a playable character. He is known for being the heaviest and biggest character in the game, holding the title of being the game's only Ultraweight.

## Attributes

Ridley is the only Ultra Weight in the game, being the biggest character in terms of model and hurtbox size. Speedwise, he's one of the more agile big characters, having a slightly above average walking speed, and decent running speed. In the air, he has a very good air speed, and jump height, being able to jump multiple times.

Ridley lives in the air, as his toolkit allows him to combo opponents into and is very potent in air battles. It's not uncommon for Ridley to maintain airtime, and alternating between the skies nd the ground. Even though Ridley is prominent in the air, he's no slouch on the ground either, being able to space, and punish greatly.

## Moveset

### Ground Attacks

* **Neutral Attack**: Claw swipes twice, ending with a spinning tail swipe.
* **Forward Tilt**: Swipes his tail along the ground, slashing upwards with the spike on his tail.
* **Up Tilt**: Swipes with his tail in an arc upwards.
* **Down Tilt**: Claws forwards while crouching.
* **Dash Attack**: Charges forwards while biting.

### Smash Attacks

* **Forward Smash:** Reels back before exploding a fireball within his mouth.
* **Up Smash:** A spinning tail/kick attack that covers Ridley's entire overhead.
* **Down Smash:** Slams his wings onto the ground. Has greatest range.

### Aerial Attacks

* **Neutral Aerial:** A spinning tail attack that covers around Ridley.
* **Forward Aerial:** Stabs with his tail forward three times in a quick succession.
* **Back Aerial:** A backward roundhouse kick.
* **Up Aerial:** Thrusts both wings into the air while closed.
* **Down Aerial:** A stall-then-fall stomp with both feet, which spikes at the beginning.

### Grab Attacks

* **Grab:** Grabs the opponent with his right hand.
* **Pummel:** A tail thrust.
* **Forward Throw:** Hurls the opponent with one arm.
* **Back Throw:** An underhanded toss with one arm.
* **Up Throw:** Sets the opponent overhead and stabs them with his tail.
* **Down Throw:** Slams the opponent on the ground with one hand.

### Get-Up Attacks

* **Ledge Attack:** Does a quick downwards claw swing while climbing up.
* **100% Ledge Attack:** Wails and bites forward while climbing up.
* **Floor Attack (Back):** Swings his tail forward, then backward while getting up.
* **Floor Attack (Front):** Swings his tail backward, then forward while getting up.
* **Floor Attack (Trip):** Swings his tail around him while getting up.

### On-Screen Appearance

Swoops down at an angle, before landing and letting out a roar.

### Taunts

Side - Roars and strikes a menacing pose, flapping his wings rapidly.

Up - Straightens up his body as if noticing something, before easing up while slightly smiling. His body lets out a noticeable crackle as he stands upright.

Down - Spins in a circle, finishing in a celebrating pose.

### Idle Poses

* Spreads his wings out and shakes his body a little.

## Victory

### Theme

An intense version of the Metroid victory theme that ends in a more sinister tone.

### Poses

* Faces away from the screen while clawing at the ground forcefully, before glancing back towards the camera with a smirk.
* Skids into the screen, then turns around and does a pose.
* Flies off of the ground, does a somersault while roaring, and then lands back on the ground, striking a pose.

## Alternative Costumes

1. Seems to be an amalgamation of his in-game sprite from Super Metroid and his appearance in Metroid: Other M.
2. Resembles artwork of him for Super Metroid and his appearance on the American boxart.
3. Resembles Neo Ridley from Metroid Fusion.
4. Resembles artwork of him for Metroid: Zero Mission.
5. Resembles his in-game sprite from Metroid (NES).
6. Loosely resembles the Golden Statue from Super Metroid.
7. Resembles the Ridley Robot from Metroid: Zero Mission.
8. Resembles his in-game sprite in Metroid: Zero Mission.

Ridley also has an alternative costume resembling one of his forms, Meta Ridley.

## Reception

Reviews for Ridley in *Ultimate* were average to negative. Most of the community were not pleased to see Ridley transition from a boss to a full-time fighter, thinking that a giant dragon would be shrunk to seven feet tall to have to make the cut for the roster. Furthermore, others thought that giving Ridley its armor on its second and eighth palette swaps would make no sense whatsoever. Even during the announcement at E3, many sought that Ridley had colors that matched the theme of *Killer Instinct*. Reviewers later stated that Ridley should have remained a boss rather than transition to a full-time fighter.