Shulk

Side Special
 Up Special
 Down Special
 Final Smash
 Extra Skill
 Franchise
 Game of Origin
 Release Date of Origin
 Other Appearances
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## **Character Info**

Shulk is the protagonist of *Xenoblade Chronicles*, the Operation Rainfall title that started it all. He is a Homs from Colony 9, and works with a division of fighters including Reyn and Dunban in staving off Mechon from their village. Everything changes when his childhood friend, Fiora, is seemingly killed by Metal Face, and he finds that he can wield the power of the ancient Monado blade to defeat the Mechons in perpetuity. Characters often refer to him as the "Heir to the Monado", previously wielded by Dunban.

## **General Information**

### **Entrance**

Shulk jumps onto the stage while performing a downward slash with the Monado. He then quickly turns his back to the screen and places the Monado onto his back while it briefly flashes one of its symbols.

### **Kirby Hat**

Kirby grows out Shulk's moppy head of hair, and even sprouts himself a mini Monado!

### **Taunts**

**Up Taunt:** Shulk holds his hands out and shakes his head, proclaiming, "Now it's Shulk time!" This in itself is a callback to his buddy, Reyn's, infamous catchphrase. It also mimic Shulk's talking animation in *Xenoblade*.

**Down Taunt:** Shulk grips the Monado's handle and pumps his free fist into the air, shouting, "I'm really feeling it!" Unlike "Shulk time", this meme's one that even originated as all his own.

**Side Taunt:** Shulk holds onto the Monado with both hands, posing with the blade as its energies activate and shouting, "This is the Monado's power!" If timed correctly, Shulk is able to dodge certain projectiles with this movement, such as those from Fox McCloud or Falco Lombardi's Blasters.

### **Victory Poses**

1. Shulk raises the Monado as it activates, swinging it in an outward, downward arc before placing it over his back and saying, "I got through that pretty good!"
2. Shulk swings the Monado twice while it's active, then holding it level to his head as he lets it deactivate, stating "The future is ours to decide," or "I've got a good rhythm going!"
3. Shulk bows down with the Monado held lengthwise, activating it before he holds it in a reverse grip. He will say either "I can feel the power!" or "I can change the future."

## **Moveset**

### **Standard Special**

**Stream Edge:** Shulk stands in place and grips the Monado with both hands, activating it before swiping it forward. A great wave of blue energy flows from the Monado, carving out a slice that travels about as far as four Kirbys in distance when fully charged. The move dishes out more damage the further out its strike is felt. Its apex is at the tip of its energy beam's arc, meaning that opponents who feel the brunt of it will do so at its tail-end. It is a formidable move, regardless, and is good for quick spacing between Shulk and his foes. In a nod to his game's tipping mechanic, the tailwind from Stream Edge may force an opponent to trip. Sometimes, he will shout "Stream Edge"! while using the move.

### **Side Special**

**Back Slash:** Shulk leaps forward and slashes downward with the Monado, occasionally yelling "Back Slash!" The Monado's beam glows red during the move. With the short leap forward that Shulk takes at the move's start, he can jump over small projectiles or possibly even deflect them with the Monado's downward slash. True to its name, Black Slash deals more damage and higher knockback if the opponent's back is turned to Shulk. On the other hand, the attack's front hitbox is incapable of KO'ing an opponent except for at excessive percentages. It might also be an effective last minute recovery move, although its overall reach is rather slim unless the Smash Art is used.

### **Up Special**

**Air Slash:** Similar to Marth's Dolphin Slash, Shulk leaps into the air while performing an upward slash, sometimes shouting "Air Slash!" as he does. The Monado's beam glows pink during this move. Press the attack button again following Shulk's initial ascent and he will performing an outward slash that also grants him a slight boost upward. The second slash, especially, bears high knockback. Shulk's Jump Art will help considerably lengthen the range of this move.

### **Down Special**

**Vision:** Shulk's trademark counter using the Monado to foresee an attack. If Shulk is hit while the Monado's energy enraptures him, he retaliates with a slow-moving, powerful long-ranged slash that sends opponents flying forward. While on the ground, holding forward with the control stick while counterattacking will cause Shulk to dash forward and pursue his retaliation quicker, resulting in a more powerful counter that also is slightly more liable to miss its mark.

### **Final Smash**

**Chain Attack:** Shulk emits a sphere of bright light in front of himself with the help of the Monado. If the light makes contact with Shulk's foes, they will be pulled into a cinematic where he is joined by three of his many party members (Dunban, Riki, Mecha-Fiora, Sharla, Reyn, or Melia) in battering their foes. It has relatively short range, but the CGI attack dishes out damage enough to make up for it, automatically KO'ing those who've racked up over 100% prior to being brought into it. Shulk's Arts also effect Chain Attack's cutscene, heightening certain attributes and altering the damage and knockback percentages dealt accordingly.

### **Extra Skill**

**Monado Arts:** Shulk holds onto the Monado, ready to unsheathe it and activate one of five Arts available to him: Jump, Speed, Shield, Buster, or Smash. A wheel is present over Shulk's head that allows the player to move their cursor over the art to select, which instantly activates an art even while in hitstun. Alternatively, the special button can be pressed once to cycle through each Art manually, and pressed thrice to cancel a current Art. Each Art has varied cooldown times and durations. Shulk poses and announces an Art's name if it activates when he is not attacking or dodging; this grants 14 frames of intangibility and can be used to replace landing lag animations or change directions in midair. Jump increases Shulk's jumping abilities by 1.5x, Speed his movement capabilities by 1.5x, Shield his defensive capabilities by 1.5x, Buster his shield-breaking and reach capabilities by 1.5x, and Smash his overall attack power by 1.5x.

## **Alternate Costumes**

1. **Default**
2. **Mecha-Fiora** - Shulk dons hair and outfit colors resembling Mecha-Fiora.
3. **Dunban** - Shulk dons hair and outfit colors resembling Dunban.
4. **Reyn** - Shulk dons hair and outfit colors resembling Reyn.
5. **Sharla** - Shulk dons hair and outfit colors resembling Sharla.
6. **Melia** - Shulk dons hair and outfit colors resembling Melia.
7. **Riki** - Shulk dons hair and outfit colors resembling Riki.
8. **Metal Face** - Shulk dons hair and outfit colors resembling Metal Face.
9. **Alvis** - Shulk dons hair and outfit colors resembling Alvis.
10. **Shirtless** - Shulk wears his "Swimsuit" armor set from *Xenoblade Chronicles*.

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