3DS unlock conditions: Clear 100-Man Smash or play 30 Vs. matches, then defeat Wario on WarioWare, Inc..
Wii U unlock conditions: Clear 100-Man Smash or play 20 Vs. matches, then defeat Wario on Gamer.
Treasure hunter and microgame master Wario is back in action! Wario's playstyle certainly defies his appearance. While he looks like a clumsy heavyweight, Wario is actually a surprisingly agile air-based fighter. With extremely quick air attacks and great aerial mobility, Wario can weave around above his opponents like an obese ballerina, and he has a variety of recovery options to boot. Wario not just hovers like a butterfly, he stings like a bee as well, with powerful KO moves and an array of tricky special moves that will keep enemies on their toes. However, having stubby limbs gives Wario some significant range issues, and he often has trouble approaching characters with greater reach. While there are definitely no lack of aerial fighters in the game, Wario's properties and moveset make him one of the more interesting characters of the category.
As one might expect, Wario is a heavyweight, although he leans closer to characters like Samus and Link than to Donkey Kong and Charizard. His ground speed is pretty average, nothing to write home about. However, his aerial stats are where he shines. Wario has excellent lateral air speed, falling just behind Jigglypuff, and has moderate fall speed instead of being exceedingly floaty. Lastly, Wario is one of the few characters in the game with a crawl, although it's functionally useless as the height reduction is negligible.
Wario punches down, then performs an uppercut. Wario's Standard Attack is slower than average, but he deals more damage with each hit of his standard combo. Granted, it is still one of Wario's faster attacks on the ground, so it's a relatively safe panic move if your opponents are up close, although you're usually better off using his quick air attacks immediately from a jump.
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Wind-Up Strike
Wario twirls his fist and punches forward. This move can be angled up or down with the control stick. This attack certainly feels awkward, since there is some startup delay with a very obvious animation to indicate it. While its slowness is an issue, it's not too bad of a ground option. It has good reach, so it can be used as a spacing tool, and can even serve as a surprise KO move with Rage in effect as a faster alternative to Side Smash.
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Raise the Roof
Wario holds both hands above him. Like his Strong Side Attack, this move is also a bit slow to come out. However, it is an excellent anti-air if you can time it well, since Wario's hands are invincible during the attack. With this feature, you can easily stuff most aerial offense coming from above and launch your foe straight upward for a potential juggle. It's a bit cumbersome, but it's one of your more reliable ground attacks if you can utilize it right.
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Finger Poke
Wario pokes at the ground with his finger. This is Wario's fastest ground attack, and easily his weakest. It does next to no knockback and stun at low percents, and you'll usually get punished if you attempt a follow-up. However, its fast speed makes it good for interrupting attacks and disrupting approaches, as well as for poking through shields.
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Base Slide
Wario falls face-first to the ground and slides forward. This dash attack does average knockback and its slide distance make it an adequate punish. However, it has a bit of endlag which makes it very punishable if your foe shields it. Its duration is deceptively long, and a late hit will trip your opponents. This late sourspot is what you should be aiming for, as you can get guaranteed follow-ups off of a trip.
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Wario climbs up and punches.
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Smash Attacks
Control
Attack
Info
Wii U GamePad / Pro Controller
Wii Remote + Nunchuk
Wii Remote (sideways)
Wii Classic Controller
GameCube Controller
Nintendo 3DS
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Power Hand
Wario winds back and delivers a powerful punch. This is an obvious KO move, one of the stronger smash attacks in the game, but it is hard to land due to its sluggish animation. It has a telegraphed startup, and you will likely be punished if you whiff or hit a shielding opponent. You must either use it as a hard punish or utilize its range to the fullest, such as on missed ledge grab recoveries.
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Huge Head
Wario performs a heavy-hitting headbutt. Although this move is slightly faster than Side Smash, it is still pretty slow. While its animation is reminiscent of the Mario Bros.' Up Smash, it doesn't have the horizontal reach, so its range is also more limited. However, it is still an adequate KO move and anti-air. Wario's head is invincible during the attack, so you can use it to stuff and overpower aerial approaches.
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Full-Body Breakdance
Wario spins several times on the floor. Without a doubt, Wario's weakest smash attack. This move is pretty fast, about as fast as his Standard Attack, and it has a very horizontal angle that sets up edgeguards. Unfortunately, the move is held back by its long duration. While certainly not as bad as it was in Brawl, Wario still spins a bit longer than necessary, and is designed to only hit an opponent once. This makes it harder to pursue your foe after a successful hit and makes it easily punished if your foe shields it.
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Air Attacks
Control
Attack
Info
Wii U GamePad / Pro Controller
Wii Remote + Nunchuk
Wii Remote (sideways)
Wii Classic Controller
GameCube Controller
Nintendo 3DS
Freefall Spin
Wario spins around with limbs extended. This move is Wario's fastest air attack, but it has next to no range at all. This makes it a good defensive attack, letting you knock off any foes too close for comfort, and is a decent Out-of-Shield option for this reason. Its horizontal knockback makes it a good edgeguard tool as well. Lastly, the later, weak hit of the move lends itself well to combos due to its mild upward knockback. Using Wario's aerial mobility, you can use the long duration of this move to hit foes out of airdodges and rolls as they end.
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Light Kick
Wario performs a very quick forward kick. This kick is very fast and has minimal startup and landing lag, making it Wario's safest move in the air. Do not hesitate to use it very often to poke and for general spacing. Weave in and out between kicks with Wario's great air speed to avoid punishes. It is also a safe move to use during edgeguarding, and several consecutive hits will send foes too far to recover.
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Back Headbutt
Wario leans backward, hitting foes with his head. This move is much slower than Forward Air, but a lot stronger too. Its lower speed makes it punishable on shield, so you should always opt for Forward Air if possible during neutral combat. Back Air becomes useful at higher percentages, where its stronger knockback makes it a threat when edgeguarding. It can also serve as a KO move near the edge.
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Launcher Clap
Wario claps above him, sending enemies upward. This attack is moderately fast and does enough knockback to make it a decent juggling move. It is a bit slow for a juggle, and you'll often need to read an airdodge to get a successful hit, but it's still adequate for the job. Its a good combo follow-up after many of Wario's upward knockback moves. It also has some KO potential when used near the top of the screen, especially handy on stages with high platforms.
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Head Drill
Wario turns upside-down and drills with his entire body. This move is punishable if shielded, but it's otherwise pretty good if you hit. You can chase after dodging opponents with Wario's air speed to ensure a hit, and it traps foes within for good damage. It has a moderate horizontal angle, making it great for sending foes offstage. It is especially good at edgeguarding if all the hits land, as you'll usually either send foes away from the stage or right into it, causing deadly stage spikes.
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Throws
Control
Attack
Info
Wii U GamePad / Pro Controller
Wii Remote + Nunchuk
Wii Remote (sideways)
Wii Classic Controller
GameCube Controller
Nintendo 3DS
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Money Jab
Wario jabs the grabbed opponent. Poor damage and somewhat slow, so it's a below average grab attack. It's still usable if you get a grab at mid-high percents.
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Bum Bump
Wario bounces the grabbed opponent forward with his butt. This basic sideways throw is the most damaging throw Wario has. It is nothing amazing, and has the same function as many other throws in the game. Use it to deal raw damage as well as to get an opponent offstage.
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Spin Toss
Wario spins around and flings the grabbed opponent backward. Other players can be hit by the target while Wario is spinning them. Like Forward Throw, this move is usually used to get foes offstage, although it's not as strong as Forward Throw. When playing against more than 2 players, you can use it to clear some space by knocking foes away with your thrown opponent.
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Double Upper
Wario punches the grabbed opponent upward with both hands. This is the closest thing Wario has to a combo throw. It launches foes directly upward, letting you follow-up with Up Air chains at very low percents. It does almost as much damage as Forward Throw, so it is a good throw to rack up damage as well. Since it sends foes straight above you, it can still set up juggles beyond the damage threshold for true combos, as long as you can predict or bait the airdodge.
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Butt Crash
Wario pins the grabbed opponent on the ground and sits on them. This odd throw forces your target behind you, although it lasts a bit too long for combos. It deals decent damage and keeps your opponent close, although it's hard to get any meaningful follow-ups after it.
Wario opens his mouth wide. If there is an opponent nearby, he will grab them in his mouth and bite a few times before letting go. Wario can also eat most items as well as projectiles, some of which heals him a small amount, though explosives are harmful to swallow. Chomp is one of Wario's most interesting tools. It is a grab that can be held out for a while and be used in the air, while being faster than other specials of a similar nature. This move can outprioritize a surprising number of attacks and is good to use against overly aggressive foes. It can also be held out to punish airdodges or rolls toward you. Finally, as an air grab, it reliably beats both shields and counter moves, which would usually cover most air options for other characters.
Inhaling Chomp
Wario creates a vacuum in front of his mouth that suck foes toward his jaws, but the resulting bite is slightly weaker and the move is slower overall. Inhaling Chomp is more akin to Kirby and King Dedede's Inhale, and is hampered by the same flaws. It is slower than Chomp, so it is not as easy to land and not as safe if you miss, and it is easier to avoid by rolling. However, it does have greater range than Chomp. It is not as versatile as the default Chomp, but it could be a decent alternative with some effort.
Garlic Breath
After a brief delay, Wario emits noxious gases from his mouth, which dizzies nearby foes and trips distant ones. This move is simply too slow to be consistently useful. It has a significant window of time between its activation and the gas actually leaking out, and has problematic endlag as well. Its effect is also mediocre for its slowness; dizzy duration is too short for follow-ups and doesn't increase with percent, knockback is pretty weak and Wario has better ways to force tripping. It is pretty good at edgeguarding characters with poor recoveries though, as the large stink cloud can persist indefinitely over the ledge and knock opponents further and further away with each failed recovery attempt.
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Wario Bike
Wario rides on his bike. Holding the control stick in the opposite direction lets him reverse, and hitting the jump button or the special button makes Wario jump off. Holding Up on the control stick causes Wario to perform a wheelie, increasing the bike's speed and power. He also has a special taunt animation while riding the bike. Once Wario leaves the bike on the stage, it can be thrown around like a heavy item. Wario cannot summon another bike as long as a previous one is still on stage, but he can ride a dropped bike by using the move near it.
Along with Chomp, Wario Bike is one of Wario's complex but versatile special moves. As a basic attack, it does its job well, as it is capable of plowing through many weaker moves is moderately powerful. It can also function as a projectile if Wario jumps off early, and he can intercept any items at avoiding the unmanned bike. If an abandoned bike loses enough speed and falls to the ground, it becomes a dangerously flexible item. It can be thrown into the ground to make it bounce, creating a lasting hitbox that can deal a lot of damage and set up your other attacks. It is also a fearsome edgeguard when thrown offstage, as its large size and arcing trajectory makes it hard to avoid. Finally, it is a major help in Wario's recovery, as he can first use the bike to increase his horizontal speed, then jump off for a height boost.
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Speeding Bike
Wario's bike has higher velocity, but he cannot reverse direction and the bike is easier to destroy. This bike is not as versatile as the default, being a more specialized variant. It is risky to ride on as it is easily destroyed, has a predictable direction since you can't turn around, and can't be used as an item as it usually ends up flying offstage after you jump off. What it is good at is for quick punishes as well as to build pressure, and is a somewhat spammable projectile if you jump off the bike. It is also better for recovery due to the increased height. Despite these perks, it is the most limited variant of the three bikes, and as such rarely sees use.
Burying Bike
Wario's bike travels very slowly and his bike jump is lower, but the bike will bury foes it runs over. The bury effect is pretty good, letting Wario set up KO moves at higher percents, but the lower speed is a real issue. The main draw of this variant is bike throwing. The Burying Bike is the best variant to use for bike throws since it is so slow, and thus doesn't go far after you jump off it, so it will often fall onstage for you to pick up. Everything you can do with throwing a standard bike is usable here, and you can use these tactics much more frequently. Bike throws are a surprisingly flexible and deadly tool, so this variant is definitely worth trying out.
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Corkscrew
Wario spins around into the air, hitting opponents on his way up. You can move slightly horizontal by holding the control stick in a sideways direction. Corkscrew is Wario's main recovery move, and it a pretty standard one at that. It has decent distance with some flexibility in its trajectory and hitboxes to deter edgeguarders. Combined with Wario's air speed and bike jumps, you should have no trouble returning to the stage. It is also a good Out-of-Shield option, as it is fast and will knock any foes pressuring your shield away. It could also serve as a risky KO move near the top, although you are very vulnerable if you miss since it puts Wario in a helpless state.
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Widescrew
Wario's spin attack has less range and is weaker, but he can choose to spin at a flatter angle, almost 90 degrees. Widescrew is a bit more versatile, as Wario can recover from a variety of angles. It is also a better Out-of-Shield option, since you can attack foes more to the side and drag them along for you to send them offstage. It is overall worse for recovery due to its reduced distance though. There's a bit of a learning curve to angling Widescrew correctly; go too far horizontal and you won't gain enough height to survive.
Corkscrew Leap
Wario spins and leaps up higher than Corkscrew, but he can't attack foes with it. This variant places an obvious emphasis on recovery. Despite its description, it activates as fast as Corkscrew and travels faster, but you can't go diagonal. However, the loss of an attack gives you one less Out-of-Shield option, and makes it easier to intercept for edgeguarders. It is also less flexible, since you can only recover straight upward. Ultimately, Corkscrew Leap's recovery improvements is not enough to justify its drawbacks, and Wario has a strong recovery already with the default Corkscrew, so this variant is mostly unused.
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Wario Waft
Wario passively accumulates gases within himself, which can be increased by using Chomp on items and projectiles. The charge carries over between lives, so dying won't reset it. Using the move releases the gases, resulting in a waft of varying power depending on how much it is charged. At minimal charge it is worthless, but after 2 minutes of charging, it has extreme KO power and sends Wario flying upward. This move is primarily used for unexpected KOs. Both the mostly-charged and fully-charged waft have KO potential, with the full power waft being especially deadly. Wafts boast great range, but a partially-charged waft comes out sooner than a waft at full charge, making it easier to hit. Make sure every waft counts so you don't waste the time spent charging. Use its wide radius to hit opponents at mid-range or as a deadly edgeguard attack. If you're desperate, you can even use it to recover, using the waft to launch Wario up. This move can give you very early KOs and let you mount a comeback, so use it wisely.
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Rose-Scented Waft
Wario's odd waft causes flowers to grow on any affected opponents, resulting in damage over time. It charges faster and has a bigger radius than the default, but significantly reduced KO power. This variant is a pretty fair tradeoff from the regular waft. You lose a potent KO move but gain a more flexible damage racking tool. Its increased range lets you land it with greater ease, giving you a high damage punish that can be used fairly often.
Quick Waft
Wario builds up gases very quickly, but his wafts are not as strong. This waft has the lowest charge time by far, reaching full power at only about 30 seconds. Faster charge is appealing, but it is only handy if you can consistently find opportunities to use waft. The Quick Waft is more for utility than for KOs. You can use it both as a recovery and as an edgeguard. It is also a moderately strong punish with greater range than most of Wario's moves. Its usefulness depends on your playstyle, and if you can make use of wafts frequently, this variant is worthwhile to try out.
Taunts
Control
Info
Wii U GamePad / Pro Controller
Wii Remote + Nunchuk
Wii Remote (sideways)
Wii Classic Controller
GameCube Controller
Nintendo 3DS
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Wario laughs a bit and forces his jaws shut.
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Wario shakes his butt at the screen.
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Wario makes three W signs while saying "Wa wa wa!"
Wario chomps down on some garlic and temporarily becomes Wario-Man! In his superhero persona, Wario is a much stronger fighter, gaining invulnerability and enhanced moves. All of his attacks are generally faster and stronger, and Wario can spam them in quick succession. Most of his air attacks let him gain height when used, letting him stay in the air indefinitely, while Down Air causes him to dive downward. His Corkscrew has a lot more height and his Bike is dangerously fast. Finally, an uncharged Wario Waft can now dizzy enemies and a fully-charged waft is a guaranteed KO. Wario-Man is one of the best transformation Final Smashes in the game, as you have excellent mobility and total invincibility. Go on a full offensive while you are transformed, since your opponents will not be able to retaliate due to your invulnerability. Pound on them with lightning-fast moves and finish them off with powered-up smashes. Wario-Man has many odd momentum shifts on his moves that make him weird to control, but it makes him even deadlier once you can utilize them properly in aerial chains.
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