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

= Starting Characters =

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

B Button Special Attacks:

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

B Button Special Attacks: Weight Class: Heavy
 * Fire Break
 * Breathes fire. The longer you hold it down, the shorter the flame gets.
 * +/: Koopa Klaw
 * Slices someone in the imidiate vicinity. If you hit somebody you pick them up and you can hit B to whack them with your forehead.
 * +: Whirling Fortress
 * You go into your shell and spin around.
 * If used on the ground, press left/right to move back and forth.
 * Can be used as a third jump to return to the stage.
 * +: Bowser Bomb
 * A butt stomp move. If used on the ground you will jump up first.

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.

B Button Special Attacks:
 * Thunder Jolt
 * A little bouncing lightning bolt. bounces about half the stage or until it hits somthing. It can also go up vertical walls like the wing in Corneria.
 * If you attack in the air, it becomes a little ball of lightning that goes down diagonally at a 45 degree angle until it hits ground where it starts behaving normally although the duration of the bolt shortens.
 * +/: Skull Bash
 * Chargable headbutt type attack. The recovery is poor but if the opponent is at high damage and is struck recovery becomes okay.  In 3-way or 4-way battles, this move can be charged up and used to rush into a heated brawl and steal a kill by striking a weak opponent.
 * +: Quick Attack
 * A moderately quick attack, quick only during execution with an obvious wind-up time and slow recovery. The attack is fast, but opponents can still strike Pikachu as it Quick Jumps into an opponent.
 * After the first jump if you tilt a second direction on the control stick, you get a second jump.
 * You can Quick Attack in any of the eight directions, even straight down. But if standing on the ground, Pikachu will Quick Attack forward.
 * Can be used as a third jump to return to the stage. Remember that Pikachu will drift a little after the attack, so if the second Quick Attack is straight up, then Pikachu will fall straight down.
 * +: Thunder
 * Summons a lightning bolt above your head. Goes straight down until it hits somthing or hits a platform on the stage.
 * Useful when an opponent is recovering from being knocked off the side of the stage, by standing on the edge and Thundering them upward into the ceiling.
 * In all stages, but best visible in the Hyrule Temple stage, if Pikachu stands on a lower platform you will see a storm cloud where the thunder originates. This storm-cloud strikes for heavy damage and can catch an opponent off guard.

Peach
B Button Special Attacks:
 * Toad
 * Pull out Toad to use him as a sheild. It blocks all attacks for a split second, and also becomes a counter attack as green spores ricochet off of Toad.
 * +/: Peach Bomber
 * A variation on the "hip drop" that results in an explosion if you strike the opponent, with Peach remaining unharmed.
 * +: Peach Parasol
 * A clone of the Parasol Item, even awarding bonus points at the end of the battle if using it. Makes it so you float more in the air. The initial attack gives you a height boost.
 * Can be used as a third jump to return to the stage.
 * +: Vegetable
 * Pull out a random radish ala Super Mario 2. The happier the expression, the more damage you do when you throw it like a normal item(press A). Sometimes, you will pull out a regular item like a bom-omb, Mr.Saturn ,or a beamsword. Very rarely, you will pull out a dead radish(closed eyes stiched up mouth)which is Peach's strongest radish.

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.

Weight Class: Heavy

Captain Falcon
B Button Special Attacks: Weight Class: Heavy
 * 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.
 * +/: 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!"

Donkey Kong
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.

Weight Class: Heavy

Fox McCloud
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.
 * +: 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.

Weight Class: Medium

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 for about 5 seconds.
 * 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 his 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

Weight Class: Medium

Kirby
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.

Weight Class: Light

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
 * If there are two of you, a little rope appears between the two of you and you both get catapulted up quite a bit.
 * If there is only one of you, then all this does is boost you a tiny bit up, so try to keep both of them alive.
 * This does no damage in either mode.(?)
 * 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 for a few seconds if the opponent has more then 80% damage.
 * Obviously, if theres only one of you, you only attack in the direction you are facing.

Weight Class: Medium

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

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

Weight Class: Heavy

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.

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 gound, 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.

Weight Class: Heavy

Zelda/Sheik
Zelda likes to be kidnapped and be rescued by Link.

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)
 * 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.

Weight Class: Light

= 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).

Weight Class: Medium


 * 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.

B Button Special Attacks:
 * Megavitamins: red/white pills that bounce fairly high and do damage when they hit stuff.
 * +/: Super Sheet: works like Mario's Cape.
 * +: Super Jump Punch: works like Mario's Super Jump Punch
 * Can be used as a third jump to return to the stage.
 * +: Dr. Tornado: works like Mario's Tornado.

Weight Class: Medium


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

Jigglypuff
A pink pokemon. 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 arround 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 immidiate 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 seperation. If you do it right, You will hear the homerun sound and they will be hit very hard.
 * Whether you miss or not, you will fall asleep.

Weight Class: Light

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.

A short punch moving Ganondorf forward.

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

A diving kick move if done in the air, otherwise a medium range flying kick if done on the ground.

Weight class: heavy

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.


 * Blaster: Like Fox's, except they do more damage and stuns the opponent for a split second.
 * Falco Illusion: Doesn't go as far as Fox's, though.
 * Fire Falco: Also doesn't go as far.


 * Reflector: Same as Fox's.

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.

++: Skull Bash: Doesn't go as far as Pikachu's, but at least it doesn't damage Pichu.
 * Thunder Jolt: Pretty much the same as Pikachu's, except it damages Pichu.

+: 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.

Weight: Light