Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Olimar

Olimar and the mysterious Pikmin returns to Smash, now joined by engineer of the S.S. Drake, Alph! Olimar is a very unique character whose attacks depend almost entirely on his range of Pikmin, giving his moves varying strength and properties based on which Pikmin he used. Olimar's diminutive size an oddball playstyle may make him seem weak, but when equipped with the right Pikmin, he is a force to be reckoned. Using Pikmin for his attacks gives Olimar some mean disjoints, able to use powerful ranged attacks without overextending his own body. His Pikmin can also rack up damage deceptively quickly, and using the right color of Pikmin can give his attacks lethal force.

Basic attributes

Olimar is a very lightweight character fitting his small size, weighing only as much as Pikachu. However, this small size works to his advantage, making him a small target in battle. Olimar is bit on the slow side, with poor dash speed and lateral air speed, while he falls like a feather.

Pikmin types

Most of Olimar's attacks utilize Pikmin and are otherwise worthless without them. Olimar can have up to 3 Pikmin following him at any given time. The Pikmin each have their own vitality and strength depending on their color.

• Red Pikmin are the second strongest type of Pikmin. They are strong at physical attacks and while latching on opponents, but their throws are weaker than average. Red Pikmin have standard vitality. They are immune to fire-elemental attacks, but die instantly in deep water.
• Yellow Pikmin travel in higher arcs when thrown, but their damage and health are pretty average. Their attacks have slightly longer hitlag due to their affinity with lightning. They are immune to electric-elemental attacks.
• Blue Pikmin have the second highest vitality out of all the Pikmin, being immune to water-elemental attacks and the only Pikmin type that will not eventually drown in deep water. Their attacks are pretty average, but their true strength lies in throws, with great grab range and the highest throw power.
• White Pikmin have the lowest knockback and vitality, making them pretty poor choices for attacks most of the time. However, their range when thrown and latching damage are unrivalled. White Pikmin are pretty expendable, usually used to tack on as much damage from Pikmin Throw as you can before their tiny reserve of health runs out.
• Purple Pikmin are brutes, with the highest knockback and resilience of all Pikmin, but loses range and speed as a tradeoff. Nevertheless, these Pikmin are very desirable in all parts of the game, as their damage output and KO potential are extremely helpful.

Moveset Analysis

Standard Attacks

Control			Attack	Info
Wii U GamePad / Pro Controller	Wii Remote + Nunchuk	Wii Remote (sideways)
Wii Classic Controller	GameCube Controller	Nintendo 3DS
(+)	(+)	(+)	Captain's Punch	Olimar punches once with each arm. This move comes out extremely fast and doesn't require Pikmin, so it is generally a good panic option to defend yourself. It does good damage for a jab and also sets up several follow-ups with its weak diagonal knockback. The range of the move is nothing to write home about, but Olimar shifts forward for the second hit, which can catch foes offguard.
(+)	(+)	(+)
( or )+	( or )+	( or )+	Big Fist	Olimar reels back and punches. Like most of Olimar's other grounded normal moves, this attack does not require Pikmin. It's somewhat sluggish, but has good reach and great knockback, letting you knock away approaching foes that you'd rather keep your distance with. The ability to pivot cancel makes this move easier to land, as you can do it while retreating or after moving past your opponent to catch them offguard. At high percents, it can even serve as an emergency KO move when you lack Pikmin.
( or )+	( or )+	( or )+
+	+	+	Jumping Twirl	Olimar jumps up while spinning around. This quick attack can be done by Olimar without needing Pikmin. It is fast and deals multiple hits, but it offers Olimar no protection since it uses his whole body to attack, making it not a recommended anti-air. It is good for punishing airdodges and landings with its long duration, and can be fit into combos. Since the move launches opponents up, you can usually follow-up with an air attacks.
+	+	+
+	+	+	Helmet Poke	Olimar lunges forward with a headbutt. Very fast and handy, Olimar can use this move with zero Pikmin required. This attack comes out quickly and ends quickly, so it is pretty safe if you don't spam the move too much. It does weak upward knockback which, combined with its speed, makes it the perfect combo starter, letting you deal more damage from minor punishes and openings. Olimar's forward movement can also be exploited as a makeshift dodge or to close the distance, and it is certainly faster to do so than with rolling.
+	+	+
while dashing	while dashing	while dashing	Explorer Cartwheel	Olimar does a cartwheel kick forward. This attack does not require Pikmin. This move is an average punish option, given that it's fairly quick to come out, can be easily done out of a dash, and boosts Olimar forward to hit characters just out of range. At very low percents, it is possible to go for aerial follow-ups after striking. However, it is pretty easy to shield and punish, so use this move sparingly.
while dashing	while dashing	while dashing
while hanging	while hanging	while hanging		Olimar climbs up and punches.
while hanging	while hanging	while hanging

Smash Attacks

Control			Attack	Info
Wii U GamePad / Pro Controller	Wii Remote + Nunchuk	Wii Remote (sideways)
Wii Classic Controller	GameCube Controller	Nintendo 3DS
Smash ( or )+	Smash ( or )+	( or )++	Pikmin Missile	Olimar tosses a Pikmin straight ahead. This smash attack is certainly a potent KO move, but it is also versatile enough for other purposes. It comes out extremely quickly, does respectable knockback and has great reach without forcing Olimar to put himself in too much danger, since it uses Pikmin. It can be used simply as a short-range projectile to keep opponents at a distance. It can also hit enemies on the ledge when the Pikmin loses momentum and falls. It can even be used to absorb non-piercing projectiles, tossing the Pikmin in front of you as a meat-shield.
Smash ( or )+	Smash ( or )+	Smash ( or )+
Smash +	Smash +	++	Pikmin Mortar	Olimar tosses a Pikmin straight up. This move is quite similar to Olimar's Side Smash, just upward. Like Side Smash, it is pretty quick and provides a nice ranged disjoint. the It has some horizontal reach, mostly in front of Olimar, so it is also quite usable against grounded foes. Its range also makes it a great anti-air, since it strikes opponents coming from the air without putting Olimar at risk of getting hit.
Smash +	Smash +	Smash +
Smash +	Smash +	++	Pikmin Cover	Olimar sends two Pikmin out on either side of him, but he will only attack in front if he only has one Pikmin. This smash attack is the weakest of the bunch, but it is still quite useful due to its high speed and great knockback trajectory. The quick send out of the Pikmin makes it harder to evade on reaction, and it can even hit foes hanging off the ledge. The attack also launches opponents horizontally, which often launches them offstage and sets up edgeguards. Against characters with weaker recoveries, getting hit near the ledge can mean a loss stock as they struggle to return to the stage.
Smash +	Smash +	Smash +

Air Attacks

Control			Attack	Info
Wii U GamePad / Pro Controller	Wii Remote + Nunchuk	Wii Remote (sideways)
Wii Classic Controller	GameCube Controller	Nintendo 3DS
			Aerial Twirl	Olimar spins around to attack. This move is basically an aerial version of Olimar's Strong Up Attack. You are still vulnerable to characters with high reach since you're using your whole body to attack, but at least you can maneuver yourself in the air to better space yourself. Neutral Air is a decent attack, being quite quick and having a long duration to outlast airdodges. It is also a nice defensive move to use when landing due to its body-covering hitbox, and its low landing lag usually lets you follow up with a quick move if you land mid-attack.
+	+	+	Pikmin Slap	Olimar swipes forward with a Pikmin. This is Olimar's bread-and-butter aerial attack. It is fast and has good reach, making it a good all-around attack for many situations. You can use it to poke, to zone, as an aerial follow-up, to chain into itself at low percents, and even to edgeguard. The attack's quick speed makes it a fairly safe option most of the time, but you can get punished if you misspace the move and hit your foes' shield at close range, so don't be careless with it.
+	+	+
+	+	+	Pikmin Swing	Olimar swipes backward with a Pikmin. While Olimar's Forward Air is used in all sorts of situations, Back Air is usually saved just for KOs. It is a beefier attack than Forward Air but takes more time to execute, making it inferior in most situations other than when raw power it needed. While not as strong as Olimar's smashes, it has serious KO potential, which is only made stronger when used with Red or Purple Pikmin.
+	+	+
+	+	+	Pikmin Wiggle	Olimar swipes above multiple times with a Pikmin. This is another quick and ranged aerial Pikmin attack. It is pretty versatile, being a natural follow-up to a combo, able to combo into itself at low percents, and even as a KO move at higher percents. Olimar leans back whenever he swings the Pikmin, giving you helpful disjointed range and making this move a viable anti-air. Just be sure to keep this move fresh when your opponent's percentage is high, as Up Air is one of Olimar's more reliable KO moves, especially with Purple Pikmin.
+	+	+
+	+	+	Pikmin Thrust	Olimar swipes downward with a Pikmin. This attack is a bit awkward to hit with, like all meteor smashes. You have to hit with the head of the Pikmin to send foes tumbling downward, anywhere else will only launch them away. It also has an awkward horizontal hitbox and uncomfortably long landing lag, making it poor against grounded foes. The main use of this move is obviously edgeguarding, since if you land the meteor smash offstage you'll likely get a KO. Failing that, the move's good speed and downward reach still makes this a nice attack against foes recovering from below.
+	+	+

Throws

Control			Attack	Info
Wii U GamePad / Pro Controller	Wii Remote + Nunchuk	Wii Remote (sideways)
Wii Classic Controller	GameCube Controller	Nintendo 3DS
( or )	+		Pikmin Grab	Olimar orders his Pikmin to move forward and grab opponents. The range of this grab depends on the Pikmin, and Olimar cannot grab without one. Blue Pikmin give you the most range, while Purple Pikmin has the poorest reach. Unlike in Brawl, Olimar's grab is now as slow as the standard tether grab user, so it can't be spammed like in the previous game.
( or )
after grab	after grab	after grab	Latch Tap	The Pikmin headbutts the grabbed opponent. This move is one of the weaker grab attacks in the game, with only White Pikmin doing above average damage. Nevertheless, it is never a bad idea to get extra damage off of a grab, as long as you have time to execute the throw.
after grab	after grab	after grab
after grab	after grab	after grab	Forward Release	The Pikmin tosses the grabbed opponent forward. This is a standard sideways throw that launches foes diagonally upward, and thus shares its functions with many other side throws. The most common use of this throw is to get your opponent offstage to start an edgeguard when you are facing the closer ledge.
after grab	after grab	after grab
after grab	after grab	after grab	Backward Release	The Pikmin tosses the grabbed opponent backward. This move has similar applications to Forward Throw, since it has middling knockback and unimpressive trajectory. It does have an advantage over Forward Throw in that it has greater damage, the highest damage dealt by Olimar's throws as a matter of fact. This makes it a good tool for damage racking, especially when you're in the limbo when Down Throw no longer combos and Up Throw can't quite KO.
after grab	after grab	after grab
after grab	after grab	after grab	Pikmin Piledriver	The Pikmin jumps up with the grabbed opponent, then slams them into the ground. This move is Olimar's KO throw, but only when it is performed by Blue Pikmin. It would otherwise be overshadowed by Down Throw due to the latter's better combo ability, but Blue Pikmin's throw knockback boost makes it just strong enough to be a KO move. It is weaker than Olimar's smash attacks, but it is easier to land if you can get the grab.
after grab	after grab	after grab
after grab	after grab	after grab	Pikmin Crush	The Pikmin slams into the grabbed opponent, bouncing them off the ground. This is Olimar's combo throw, due to its weak vertical knockback. It is tied with Up Throw for the least damage dealt, but makes it up with the number of follow-ups it affords. You can usually combo this throw straight into your air attacks, letting you deal guaranteed damage in short bursts.
after grab	after grab	after grab

Special Attacks

Control			Attack	Info
Wii U GamePad / Pro Controller	Wii Remote + Nunchuk	Wii Remote (sideways)
Wii Classic Controller	GameCube Controller	Nintendo 3DS
			Pikmin Pluck	Olimar plucks a Pikmin from the ground. He will always pluck in this order: Red, Yellow, Blue, White, and Purple. This move does nothing if Olimar is airborne, or if he already has 3 Pikmin.
			Hardy Pikmin Pluck	Olimar takes longer to pluck Pikmin, but all of his Pikmin are extra resilient.
			Explosive Pluck	Plucking Pikmin causes an explosion to spring from the ground, but the Pikmin have less health.
( or )+	( or )+	( or )+	Pikmin Throw	Olimar tosses Pikmin forward. With the exception of purples, if they land on an opponent, they will latch on and deal damage with no knockback until killed or shaken off. Purple Pikmin simply knocks foes away instead. In the Wii U version, thrown Pikmin can bring items to Olimar.
( or )+	( or )+	( or )+
			Sticky Pikmin Throw	When Pikmin latches on an opponent, they are harder to shake off but do less damage per hit.
			Tackle Pikmin Throw	All Pikmin behave like Purple Pikmin, in that they knock opponents back instead of latching on.
+	+	+	Winged Pikmin	Two Winged Pikmin carry Olimar and his normal Pikmin up. Olimar can freely move left and right while being carried. The height travelled is reduced the more Pikmin Olimar has with him. The Winged Pikmin have limited stamina, so consecutive use will diminish its effectiveness.
+	+	+
			Winged Pikmin Jump	The Winged Pikmin simply launches Olimar up a set distance and vertical trajectory.
			Mighty Winged Pikmin	The Winged Pikmin carries Olimar the same distance regardless of his number of Pikmin, but recovery distance is overall reduced.
+	+	+	Pikmin Order	Olimar calls his Pikmin back, separating them by color and shifting the next Pikmin in line.
+	+	+
			Order Tackle	Olimar's whistle takes longer, but recalled Pikmin deal minor damage and knockback when returning.
			Dizzy Whistle	Olimar's whistle takes longer, but it will flip foes around if they're within the visible whistle range.

Taunts

Control			Info
Wii U GamePad / Pro Controller	Wii Remote + Nunchuk	Wii Remote (sideways)
Wii Classic Controller	GameCube Controller	Nintendo 3DS
		+	Olimar jumps and cheers.
( or )	+		Olimar rolls around on the ground.
( or )	( or )	( or )
		+	Olimar swings his head round a bit.

Final Smash - End of Day

Olimar gets into his spaceship and escapes into space as night falls, burying grounded foes and launching aerial foes upward during takeoff. After he leaves, fighters left below will be mauled by a group of vicious Bulborbs and taking tons of damage. The final smash ends with Olimar crashing back to the ground, resulting in a massive explosion. This is one of the hardest final smashes to avoid, as barring very high platforms or multiple jumps, it is virtually impossible to dodge the Bulborb assault. The eventual crash is also extremely powerful, especially after taking so much damage from the Bulborbs, but foes can still evade the powerful explosion. Try to bury your opponents when initiating the attack, since you 'll have an easier time landing the whole final smash and KOing them.