Super Smash Bros. Melee/Characters

While each character in Super Smash Bros. Melee is evenly balanced, some are better suited for certain players than others. This section discusses every playable character in detail, providing an overall view of the character, his or her pros and cons, unique moves, and more. The format for each character is as follows (subject to change):


 * Summary of character, including background information
 * Games in which this character is featured
 * Button special moves for the character (standing still, left/right, up, down)
 * Helpful comments and tips relating to the character

Mario
Mario has been at the forefront of Nintendo for a long time. Mario was originally known as Jumpman in the original Donkey Kong arcade game. Since then Donkey Kong has become a hero and Bowser has taken his place as Mario's archnemesis. Mario set the standard for 2D platformers, and, with Super Mario 64, the standard for 3D platformers.

Featured Games:
 * Donkey Kong
 * Super Mario Bros.
 * Super Mario Bros. 2
 * Super Mario Bros. 3
 * Super Mario World
 * Super Mario 64
 * Super Mario Sunshine

Bowser
Mario's nemesis, appearing in most of the games starring the plumber.

Pikachu
Pokémon #25, a yellow mouse with electricity-based attacks. The most well-recognized of all Pokémon, and the most merchandized.

Pikachu's light weight makes it very easy to be knocked back by opponents, but its fast speed makes it hard to catch up with if retreats. It's best to be strategic and defensive when playing as Pikachu, waiting for the right item or harassing the opponent until they attack hastily.

Pikachu's + attack while jumping in the air has very good range, and while dealing only 4% can sometimes knock an opponent sideways similar to striking an opponent with a thrown Star Rod.

Princess Peach
Princess Peach, Princess Toadstool or often simply, Peach is a character in Nintendo's Mario video games series, often playing the "damsel in distress" character of the adventure series. Peach is the princess of the fictitious Mushroom Kingdom, where many of the games are set.

Appearances within Games
Peach has appeared in many games, but is playable only in the following:
 * "Mario Kart" series
 * "Mario's Tennis" series
 * "Mario Party" series
 * "Mario Golf" series
 * Super Mario Bros. 2
 * Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
 * Super Princess Peach

At any time, hold, , or to float horizontally for a short time.

Yoshi
B Button Special Attacks:
 * Egg Lay
 * Press B to lash out your tongue a short distance. If you snag someone, you turn them into an egg. They will be trapped in it for a few seconds, So take advantage of the time to use the Yoshi Bomb against them a few times.
 * +/: Egg Roll
 * You turn into a sparkling egg for about 6 seconds and roll around. If you hit someone, they fly up. A good attack for juggling, but be careful not go carreen of an edge.
 * +: Egg Throw
 * Throw an egg at an enemy. Aim with the control stick. Tilt control distance. A good anoyance attack.
 * +: Yoshi Bomb
 * A butt stomp attack. If you don't hit anyone directly, the little stars that pop out do a bit of damage.

Yoshi cannot use B+Up as a third jump, but his second jump is a flutter jump and is quite large.

Captain Falcon
Captain Douglas Jay Falcon is a character in the F-Zero series, Nintendo's fast paced futuristic racing video game franchise. Captain Falcon races in a F-ZERO machine called the Blue Falcon, arguably the most well-rounded vehicle in the games. He is the winner of the F-Zero X Grand Prix and if successful again during the F-Zero Grand Prix in F-Zero GX, according to an interview, he will use the prize money towards building another machine, the Neo Blue Falcon. When he is not taking part in races, he works as a bounty hunter. While most of his past is a complete mystery, it is known that his body and mind are honed from the many battles he has survived.

Appearances in Games

 * F-Zero
 * F-Zero X
 * F-Zero: Maximum Velocity
 * F-Zero GX
 * F-Zero: GP Legend

B Button Special Attacks

 * Falcon Punch
 * A really powerful attack that takes a a long time to build up. Good to use on a team battle if you teammate is holding them. Another tactic is to camp in an area and wait until someone falls, then use it.
 * +/: Raptor Boost
 * A extended punch where you run a while with a flaming fist. If you don't hit anyone, you trip and fall and the recovery time is fairly long. if done in mid-air, you can punch an opponent down into the ground or out of the arena.
 * +: Falcon Dive
 * Jump up a bit and flash. If you touch someone while jumping, you latch on to them and propel yourself up and to the left/right a bit more and they explode.
 * This attack can actually attack through kirby's rock attack without damaging you.
 * Can be used as a third jump to return to the stage.
 * +: Falcon Kick
 * A jumping kick. If done in mid-air, then you'll do a dive bomb style version of the attack.
 * Taunt
 * "Show me your moves!"

Appearances within Games

 * Donkey Kong
 * Donkey Kong 64

B Button Special Attacks

 * - Giant Punch
 * A chargable punch. hold B to charge it. If it is charged a little glowly light will be on your fist.
 * +/ - Headbutt
 * Slams someone into the ground. A little dirt clod will appear and they will be stuck in it for a while.
 * + - Spinning Kong
 * Spin a round with arms out. Covers a pretty good horizontal distance.
 * Can be used as a third jump to return to the stage.
 * + - Hand Slap
 * Repeatedly slap the ground in front of you. Keep pressing B to keep it going. It also attacks a little bit behind too.
 * The attack you want to use if you want to beat the 15 minute melee.

Donkey Kong has the ability to carry his opponents on his back after grabbing them.

B Button Special Attacks

 * Blaster
 * A peashooter blaster with fast fire. It doesn't even stop someone from moving forward. Just use as they are approaching you because the 1-2% damage each shot does can add up.
 * +/: Fox Illusion
 * A really quick dash in the direction you specify. You basically run through your opponent. Be very careful not to use this move near edges if you are a beginner, else you will suicide off the edge.
 * +: Fire Fox
 * You start flaming and then charge in the direction you specify.
 * While Fox is charging, the attack can be aimed in any direction.
 * Can be used as a third jump to return to the stage.
 * +: Reflector
 * Reflects all thrown items and projectiles. Also does damage in the immidiate vicinity when activated. Very good for spiking.

Ness
Ness's + / can be used to reflect some projectiles.

B Button Special Attacks

 * PK Flash
 * Hold down to charge a green flashy thing. You can move it slowly around using . Press  to detonate it or just wait about 4 seconds for it to detonate at full charge by itself.
 * +/: PK Fire
 * Useful attack that shoots a little red ball horizontally. If the ball touches an opponent, the opponent will burst into flame and by stuck there for about 2 seconds. In this time you can swing at them with the bat and they still won't move.
 * +: PK Thunder
 * A little ball of lightning you can control around the stage with the control stick for about 5 seconds, during which time Ness will stay still.
 * When using this attack in the air, Ness will float in the air.
 * If you guide the PK Thunder so that it hits Ness, Ness becomes a projectile and also this acts as a tricky third jump.
 * +: PSI Magnet
 * Absorbs energy projectiles (not thrown items) and heals you the damage the projectile would have done.
 * Laser blasts
 * Super scope blast
 * Fire flower (although not a thrown fire flower)
 * Charizard's fire attack
 * Cydaquil's fire attack.
 * Staryu's swift attack.
 * Ice Climber's Ice Shot.
 * Pikachu's and Pichu's thunder jolt
 * Samus' charged shot
 * Fox's and Falco's blaster
 * Ness's (Ness can't heal himself using his own attacks) PK fire, PK Thunder, and PK Flash (or PK Pulse)
 * Zelda's Din's Fire
 * Bowser's Fire Breath
 * Star Rod's Star Attack
 * Mario and Luigi's Fire Ball
 * Dr.Mario's Pill

B Button Special Attacks

 * Swallow
 * Swallow an opponent. You can walk around slowly with them in their mouth. They can get out by rapidly moving the Control Stick around. When you spit them out, you copy whatever their B button power is and it is assigned to this attack. To get rid of the copied attack, press the taunt button. Press the "A" to fire you opponent out as a star in the direction you are facing.
 * +/: Hammer
 * Swing a hammer left or right.
 * If used in the air, you will spin it 360 degrees around.
 * +: Final Cutter
 * Slice a sword up and come back down. When you land you send out a little shockwave that can do damage.
 * You can attack someone three times if you hit them on the way up.
 * Can be used as a third jump to return to the stage.
 * +: Stone
 * Turn into a heavy object and drop like a rock. It does damage on the way down
 * Provides temporary invincibility. You can be grabbed as a stone, though.
 * Press B anytime to get out of rock mode. Otherwise you pop out at around 3 seconds.

Kirby is a light character, so he flies far, but using his five jumps and Final Cutter, he can recover from a really bad fall. if you go to Flat Zone, hang by the edge and Inhale, then spit off your opponents.

Ice Climbers
A special duo character. You control the one of them while the other, AI-controlled, attempts to follow. You always do the same attack. If the AI partner dies, you can still do your attacks, but their effect is weakened. The Ice Climbers are able to pick up one item each.

B Button Special Attacks

 * Ice Shot
 * Both of you shoot little ice block things that slide along the ground till they hit something
 * The ice thing is very fragile and can be attacked and broken.
 * +/: Squall Hammer
 * Swing little hammers around and twirl in a direction a bit
 * If theres only one of you, then you have only one direction of attack.
 * +: Belay
 * Popo throws Nana, who then yanks Popo further upwards. Obviously, this only works if Nana has not already fallen.
 * This inflicts considerable damage if an enemy is in the way.
 * Can be used as a third jump to return to the stage.
 * +: Blizzard
 * You both breathe out a bit of ice in opposite directions. If hit, the opponent is frozen in a large ice block if your opponent has taken certain amounts of damage. (it varys from character to character.)
 * Obviously, if theres only one of you, you only attack in the direction you are facing.

Samus Aran
Samus Aran is a bounty hunter who frequently encounters Space Pirates and Metroids.

Appearances in Games

 * Metroid
 * Metroid II: Return of Samus
 * Super Metroid
 * Metroid Fusion
 * Metroid Prime
 * Metroid Zero Mission
 * Metroid Prime 2: Echoes

B Button Special Attacks

 * Charge Shot
 * A chargable energy ball thing. Hold be to charge it. you can release it at any charge level. If it is fully charged you store it automatically and can let it off anytime.
 * While charging, you can press left or right to roll left or right to avoid attacks. You then keep charging after the roll.
 * If you get hit with a powerful attack, you lose the charge.
 * While charging, press R/L to save the charge at its current level.
 * +/: Missile
 * Send a fairly slow homing missle that doesn't go as far or do as much damage.
 * Smash the direction to send a non-homing missle that is faster and more powerful.
 * +: Screw Attack
 * Spin around and move up. Anyone touching you while doing this is trapped in the attack,
 * Can be used as a third jump to return to the stage.
 * +: Bomb
 * Turn into the morph ball mode and drops the little bombs like in the metroid games. You can also bomb jump slightly. Useful for crowd attacks.

Samus has a special move where she can extend her grapple move to 3 times the normal size perform by:
 * rotating the d-pad in a counter-clockwise direction
 * simultaneously tapping the 'z' button rapidly

if performed correctly when you use her grab move the grapple will be able to reach opponents much farther away.


 * Hold the 'R' button to have the grapple home in on the enemy and press 'A' to grab

Link
Link likes to wear green, fight monsters, and save Princess Zelda. Link is a slow mover but carries a lot of projectiles, such as bombs, bow, and boomerang.

Link's shield can block projectiles if you keep the control stick neutral. Link's hookshot can be used as an alterntaive to a third jump, by doing a hookshot on a wall.

Appearances in Games

 * See Zelda
 * Soul Calibur II (GameCube version only)

B Button Special Attacks

 * Bow
 * A chargable silver bow and arrow. The more you charge it the farther it goes. It is affected by gravity.
 * Hold B to charge the arrow.
 * +/: Boomerang
 * A aimable boomerang. Press up or down to aim it slightly.
 * It can hit an opponent twice(Obviously).
 * You can also hit someone behind you if you time your jump right.
 * +: Spin Attack
 * Spin the sword around. Used on the ground, you stay in place. In the air, you rise up.
 * The final spin is the most powerful.
 * Can be used as a third jump to return to the stage.
 * +: Bomb
 * Pull out a bomb which becomes an item like a less powerful Bombomb. Explodes in your hand if you don't throw it.

Link's hookshot (grab/Z) can be used to grab onto walls when he's in the air.

L-Canceling the Down+A attack: If Link misses with the Down+A attack, his sword sticks in the stage and takes a relatively long time for link to pull it out. If you press L exactly when the tip of his sword touches the ground or platform, then the animation for pulling the sword out of the ground runs twice as fast, allowing you to recover more quickly.

Appearances in Games

 * Most of the games Link's been in.

B Button Special Attacks (as Zelda)

 * Nayru's Love
 * Zelda conjures a spinning field of jagged ice crystals to slice any adjacent enemies. This move can be performed in the air and on the ground. It hits repeatedly and has nearly no knockback.
 * This attack is useful for area denial, when Zelda is directly adjacent to one or more opponents. Use it to get Zelda out of trouble when she's in the fray.
 * This attack can deflect distance shots back at opponents
 * +/: Din's Fire
 * Zelda forms a glowing ball that accelerates away from her, disappears for a short instant, and explodes in a small fireball. The player can control the motion of the ball along the vertical axis, but its horizontal motion is strictly linear acceleration. The player must hold the B button until the ball reaches a desired position, at which point it explodes after a slight delay. It lights the opponent on fire, has a small radius of effect, and causes minimal knockback.
 * Use this attack to annoy unsuspecting foes at range. This requires a degree of anticipation, as the player must stop the ball about one and a half body widths in front of a moving opponent.
 * +: Farore's Wind
 * Can be used as a third jump to return to the stage.
 * The player can control Zelda's destination by pressing a direction while the animation executes.
 * This maneuver does not affect Zelda's fall trajectory when performed in the air, and removes the player's air control ability while the animation completes. Zelda also cannot teleport through solid objects. However, Zelda can often teleport completely across some playfields with this maneuver when the path is clear.
 * After teleporting, the player loses all control of Zelda except for her falling trajectory. Thus, she is completely vulnerable after telporting and falling.
 * The attack does no damage.
 * +: Transform
 * Transform into Sheik

B Button Special Attacks (as Sheik)
To date, Sheik has only appeared in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

B Button Special Attacks:
 * Needle Storm
 * Hold B for more needles
 * Needles shoot straight forward when on the ground, but angle down and forward when shot in the air.
 * +/: Chain
 * Hold B and move the Control Stick to swing the chain around.
 * +: Vanish
 * Can be used as a third jump to return to the stage.
 * Works like Farore's Wind but does damage.
 * +: Transform
 * Transform into Zelda

Zelda has the more powerful attacks while Sheik is much more spry.

Hidden Characters
Many of the hidden characters have movesets based off of other characters. They can be unlocked by playing a certain number of vs mode matches or completing a certain objective.

Luigi
Mario's brother. Similar to Mario, but with many different properties, most notable in the air.(?).

B Button Special Attacks:
 * Fireball: A green fireball like mario's exept its not affect by gravity. it will go straight until it hits somth
 * +/: Green Missile: Hold down B to charge up a headbut like attack.
 * At random times, you will go farther and make a more powerful hit, but you may fall off of the arena.
 * +: Super Jump Punch: If you are physically touching another character when initiating this attack, you set the character on fire and it does more dammage.
 * Can be used as a third jump to return to the stage.
 * +: Luigi Cyclone: Like mario cyclone exept it characters bounce around inside the cyclone instead of getting knocked away(i know theres a better way to say that).


 * Unlocked by playing 800 vs matches or by completing the first stage of adventure mode (the mario platformer one) with a time with a 2 in the seconds meter. Then you will fight luigi and peach. and if you win, you get luigi.

Dr. Mario
Mario in a doctor suit. Starred in the puzzle game Dr. Mario. Slightly slower and more powerful than Mario.

Weight Class: Medium


 * Unlocked by playing 100 vs matches or completing classic mode with Mario (any difficulty).

Jigglypuff
A pink Pokémon. Jigglypuff is able to inflate itself like a balloon and thus float very high. A generally underestimated character, Jigglypuff does have a variety of powerful moves and combos at its disposal.

B Button Special Attacks:
 * Rollout
 * You spin around in one place and start sparkling. When you let go, you charge out really fast and if you hit anyone at full charge, its almost a definite KO.
 * If you miss, you may fly off the stage. The powerful lateral distance makes it a reasonably good move on
 * +/: Pound
 * A punch. Used in the air, it provides lateral motion. You can use this between every little mini jump that jiggly puff does to gain significant horizontal distance.
 * +: Sing
 * You sing and anyone in the immediate vicinity falls asleep. You are then free to attack them while they are asleep.
 * Since the target will sleep for the same amount of time regardless of how close you are to finishing the song, this move is optimized when used as a trap.
 * +: Rest
 * A hard attack to perform. Use it when occupying the same space as another player, such that the two of you are in the process of automatic separation. If you do it right, You will hear the home run sound and they will be hit very hard.
 * Whether you miss or not, you will fall asleep.

Ganondorf
Despite having Captain Falcon's attacks, Ganondorf is a very strong character. However, he is among the slowest characters in the game.


 * Warlock Punch: A charging attack. Ganondorf charges forwards with a powerful punch that causes a lot of damage.


 * +/: Gerudo Dragon - A short punch moving Ganondorf forward.


 * +: Dark Dive - A recovery move similar to Captain Falcon, where the range is short but if getting in contact with an opponent, does a lot of daamge and lets Ganondorf do another 3rd jump


 * +: Wizard's Foot - A diving kick move if done in the air, otherwise a medium range flying kick if done on the ground.

Mr. Game & Watch
The star of Nintendo's LCD handheld games since 1980. Mr. Game & Watch relies on his especially fast moves and the sense of chaos instilled in the opponents when in the arena.


 * Chef: Shoots bacon. Both the pan and the bacon do damage.


 * +/: Judgement - Mr. Game & Watch will swing a hammer. A number 1-9 will appear as well.  This tells you what attack he will use.


 * +: Fire - Two characters appear, and shoot Mr. Game & Watch upward.


 * +: Oil panic - This is used to collect projectiles, and shoot it back with more force. You absorb projectiles 3 times, then when Mr. Game & Watch is flashing, press down+ again to shoot.

Unlocked by completing Classic mode with every character, completing Adventure Mode with every character, or by playing and finishing 1000 Vs. Matches.

Falco
Falco is another member of the StarFox team, and has moves similar to Fox's but are stronger and not as quick.


 * Blaster: Stuns the opponent for a split second.


 * +/: Falco Phantasm


 * +: Fire Falco


 * +: Reflector

Pichu
Pichu is the pre-evolved form of Pikachu, and therefore, has very similar attacks. Pichu's major advantage is that he is a smaller target and a little quicker. Unfortunately, any electric attacks will damage Pichu a little bit, which checks the fact that they mostly hit harder than Pikachu's. The main Pichu strategy is to avoid jumping into close combat, and to instead use Pichu's speed to focus on the collection and optimization of items on the field.


 * Thunder Jolt: Pretty much the same as Pikachu's, except it damages Pichu.


 * ++: Skull Bash: can be charged up further than Pikachu's counterpart move, meaning more distance and damage dealt.


 * +: Quick Attack: Like Pikachu's, it can move up to two times. It damages Pichu.


 * +: Thunder: Powerful, like Pikachu's, but once again, Pichu gets a little shock.

Prince Marth
Marth relies on hitting the enemy with the tip of his blade to maximize damage. Despite his lack of long range attacks, Marth remains a top tier character because of his domination in close combat.


 * Shield Breaker - Can be charged to do good damage.


 * ++ Swords Dance - You can hit different directions with  to do up to four different moves.  If the final move is a +, it is a Meteor Smash.


 * + Dolphin Slash - Marth flies upwards quickly to recover. Little horizontal movement.


 * + Counter - Marth takes no damage while this is active. He automaticly attacks anyone who hits him for small damage.

Mewtwo
Mewtwo is the only cloned Pokémon. With dangerous attacks, Mean Strategies, Psychic abilities, Deadly combos, and a scary appearance. However, Mewtwo has a fatal weakness! Because he spends most of his time floating, he's sent flying further then usual, to avoid this; rely on confusion, then Darkball! (Left of Right, then, B.) Only Pros are capable on doing this on the edge of the arena as Darkball will Recoil.

Here is a tip when playing as Mewtwo: Hit your opponent up slightly, then teleport above them, (and if necessary, jump a couple of times first.) then smack them down with Down+A. This will then send them crashing down on to the arena.