No matter how many characters they add to Smash, Pikachu will always be a fan favorite. Ultimate also introduced many aesthetic and mechanical changes to beloved characters, Pokemon's leading 🃏mascot included.
That's right, Pikachu is back to electrify the competition in style with shiny new battle animations and a whole new wardrobe. Pikachu's female variant has finally made༺ her big debut, too. Below you'll find a full move guide along with all of the changes and additions made to Pikachu in Super Smash Bros' grand overhaul.
Special Moveset
Pikachu's speci𝐆al moveset consists of four special attacks and a Final Smash finisher you can a🧸ctivate once its custom meter fills up. Here are the attack combos and what type of maneuver they perform.
B: Thunder Jolt - Lobs an orb ofﷺ ✱electricity bouncing across the platforms.
Left Stick (Left or Right) + B: Skull Bash - Pikachu launches into an aerial headbutt 🎀in the direction you move the left analog 𝓰stick.
Left Stick (Up) + B: Quick Attack - Pikachu attacks like lightning in any direction. Moreover, Pikachu can switch direction once in m🅠idཧ-move.
Left Stick (Down) + B: Thunder - Pikachu summons a large lightning bolt down from the sky. The maneuver causes more damage to competito⛄rs if the lightning strikes Pikachu a♓s well.
Final Smash/B with a charged FS meter: Volt Tackle - Pikachu transforms into a ball of high energy, eyes glowing white-hot and darting all over the stage. If any of these maneuvers strikes an opponent, Pikachu will lock on and strike them repeatedly. Then, Pikachu's abundance of energy explodes into a powerful electrical surge with a huge launch rating for this attack's grand final🍃e.
Strengths & Weaknesses
This little yellow mouse can use its shockwaves to dominate just about any stage. Pikachu's specials, paired with iജts dizzying agility, give it ♑a couple of key advantages on the battlefield.
- Pikachu's specials give it a superior aptitude for crowd control.
- Its agility allows Pikachu to maneuver and reposition quickly.
- This primary skillset sets Pikachu up for some truly electrifying combos.
This is all well and good for the tiny Pokemon, as long as its agility helps it evade oncoming attacks. Pikachu is one of the most petite fighters on the roster, and therefore it doesn't take much to launch Pikachu off of the stage. Luckily, Pikachu's agility can usually correct any missteps, but its damage tally racks up quickly, so 🎃be careful ꩲnot to get caught by too many hard blows.
What's New, Pikachu?
Smash Bros. Ultimate made a lot of adjustments, enhancements, and addition🎀s across the board. Pikachu was subject to many of these changes, which is exciting news for this time♕less fighter favorite.
New Battle Mechanics
While the above specials may look fami✨liar, they have undergone some important mechanical 🍌changes to enhance gameplay.
- Pikachu will now rebound off of opponents instead of piledriving through them when executing a Skull Bash, reducing the chance of Pikachu launching itself off of the platform.
- Pikachu's Quick Attack now depicts the planned trajectory prior to launching the attack. This can be a double-edged sword because, on the one hand, you can now see where you're aiming. On the other hand, however, this means opponents can also see where you're aiming and plan counter maneuvers.
- The ball of electricity emitted by Thunder Jolt now causes more damage.
- A new minor move causes Pikachu to emit an electrifying AoE.
- The duration of taunt animations has been shortened.
- Pikachu's Final Smash is virtually unchanged save for subtle differences with the launch animation.
- For aesthetic purposes only, Pikachu's cheeks now emit a white pulsation during electrical attacks.
New Looks
Pikachu hasn't just trained up its moveset; it's also revamped its wardrobe for the new and improved Ultimate smashdowns. There is a hos🍸t of different costumes to choose from. On top of that, Pikachu now has female representation, thanks to these aesthetic additions.
Default - For those who want to keep it classic, there is still the default Pikachu, sans accessories or region-specific customizationsღ.
Red's Cap - ꦏThis Pikachu dons Red's red and white cap and is reminiscent in appearance to the shiny💙 nicknamed Pikachu in Pokemon Stadium.
Brendan's Bandana - R🐻esembling the paler nicknamed Pikachu from Pokemon Stadium, this Pikachu rocks Brendan's ba🦂ndana from Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire and Emerald.
Party Hat - P🎃arty Hat Pikachu is now available as well in a shade closer to a shiny and sporting a blue, sta🌜r-patterned party hat from the original Smash Bros. title.
Ethan's Backwards Cap - This Pikachu seems to have snagged Ethan'𒅌s cap from Heart Gold & Soul Silver. He's even taken to wearing it the same way.
Calem's Cap & Glasses - This Pikachu is inspired by Generation VI, specifically X & Y,🌱 as he's gotten hold of Calem's red cap and 𓃲sunglasses.
Selene's Beanie - For the𒊎 debut of female Pikachus entering the smash stadium, this lady Pikachu, identified by her heart-shaped tail, has slipped into Selene's beanie from Pokemon Sun & Moon.
Libre - The other option for 🧜competing as a female Pikachu resides in Pikachu Libre. Dressed from head to toe for the occasion, this Pikachu has gone all out in the libre 🌟costume from Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire.