Introduction
Ness ranks 8th on SSB's tier list for a predictable and at times unreliable recovery, which many foes use to their advantage, as well as some range issues. However, he does have a decent amount of combos, due to the aforementioned double jump cancel. On a competitive level, Ness has dropped the most since being 3rd on the original Super Smash Bros. 64 tier list. Ness' combos are excellent but Ness has problems dealing with excessive range such as facing Captain Falcon Up smash or Kirby or Pikachu's up tilt. Ness' approach has very high priority but is easily read and has extremely short range. His recovery has also been proven to be a lot worse than is first appears, due to its low sweet spot and sliding nature. However, Ness still has one of the best throws in the game, a great up tilt and can still compete vs the higher tiers better than the other characters in his tier.
Normal Move Analysis
Ground Moves
Normal
- Neutral attack: One-two Punch and Side Kick. Fast, looks similar to Mario/Luigi's combo, but short range. 2%, 3%, 4%.
- Forward tilt: Roundhouse Kick. He kicks in front rapidly, his body moves with it, giving it minor ending lag. Decent close-up spacer. 9% damage.
- Up tilt: Two-handed Open-palm Uppercut. Thrusts both his hands directly upwards above him, which is a great aerial setup, especially because of its good speed and decent power. 7%
- Down tilt: Low Kick. Ness does a fast kick while crouching, with can chain into itself, or a grab. 7%
- Dash attack: Puts both of his hands in front of him with good duration., usually launches foes in front of him. 10% damage.
Smash attacks
- Side smash: Homerun Swing. Takes out a bat and swings it, making a pinging sound if it connects. Decent speed and range, but great priority and power. 18% damage.
- Up smash: Yo-yo Semicircle, 17%. Ness does a "round the world" yo-yo swing, which acts as a good anti-air move. Strange hitbox, does not hit short characters on ground. Above average speed.
- Down smash: Yo-yo Back and Forth. 19% Extremely low hitbox, though extremely long range. Longest horizontal range of all down smashes. Fast startup in back, average speed to reach front.
Other
- Ledge attack: Lunges upwards and twirls. 6% damage.
- 100% ledge attack: Gets up and punches slowly. 6% damage.
- Floor attack: gets up and twirls around with his foot extended. 6% damage.
Aerial attacks
- Neutral aerial: Split Kick, 14%. Ness does a falling Split Kick, somewhat similar to Jigglypuff's. The hitbox is Ness's entire body. Has similar properties to a Sex kick. Good spacing move.
- Forward aerial: Two-handed Open-palm lunge, 12%. Similar to his dash attacks, puts both hands in front of him for good damage and knockback. Quick attacking move, though the range is restricted to his small opened hands. File:NESS SSB Air Attacks.PNGNess' Aerial Attacks
- Up aerial: Headbutt, 15%. He does a quick and short ranged headbutt above him with good power. Good for juggling.
- Back aerial: Back kick, 16%. Thrusts his feet backwards for tremendous killing power.
- Down aerial: spike kick, 15%. Comes out extremely quickly with short range. With double jump cancel, it can be used to rack up extremly high damage, in some cases being used in 0-death combos.
Grabs & Throws
- Forward throw: 16%. Takes foe, lifts them with PSI, and twirls them whilst launching them forward for great power. High Knockback.
- Backward throw: 16% Similar to his forward throw, only he takes the foe and launches them behind him.
Special Move Analysis
Basics
Advanced Strategy
Matchups
Matchups
Matchups | Pikachu | Fox | Kirby | C.Falcon | Mario | Yoshi | DK | Ness | Puff | Luigi | Link | Samus | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ness | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | - | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 50 | Ness |
Pikachu | Fox | Kirby | C.Falcon | Mario | Yoshi | DK | Ness | Puff | Luigi | Link | Samus | Total |