SSBM/Pikachu

From SuperCombo Wiki


Introduction

Pikachu is an electrifying character, in your face and moving at lightning speed. They're quick as a bolt, in the air or on the ground. With a strong kit, boasting quick startup, strong combo finishers, and one of the best recoveries in the game, they're a rat to remember. Where Pikachu struggles is their worse than average whiff punish, and subpar forward facing aerial disjoint. It's often hard for the electric mouse to outright beat an opponent spacing hitboxes around them.

Where Pikachu excels is their low profile, quick burst movement, strong frame data, and stellar defense. If you can't out prioritize an attack, Pikachu asks, why not go around? When playing within their opponent's blind spots and defensive gaps, you'll see how clever this Pokémon can be. If they're not applying pressure running around or flying across the stage, Pikachu can fall back on their disjointed tail to stuff opponents, setup combos, and secure big openings. Once an opening lands, Pikachu's powerful upsmash and decisive semispike uAir gimp spell disaster for their opponents at any percent.

If you wanna be a master, or a number one melee Pikachu main, you're gonna need to be crafty, quick, and resourceful. But more than that, Pikachu's great if you just wanna shock your opponent.

Strengths Weaknesses
  • Low to the ground and hard to hit - Pikachu's deceptive hurtbox manipulation, shifty ECB, and quick movement all lend to a character which can be hard to consistently pin down for taller characters or characters with higher than average aerials.
  • Edgeguards and gimps - With a disjointed semispike and a recovery that lets Pikachu go far offstage to secure a kill, gimps and edgeguards are a constant threat for anyone in reach of this rat.
  • Resilient offstage - Quick attack is one of, if not the best recovery move in a vacuum. Although some characters might have overall recoveries on par with Pikachu's, their upB quick attack has an incredible amount of utility, and is at times impossible to cover consistently.
  • Faster than the average mouse - Pikachu's short startup on aerials, low endlag on tilts, and better than average grounded and aerial movement allow them to maneuver in dangerous ways, especially when their opponent doesn't expect it.
  • Versatile tail - Pikachu's uAir is easily a top tier move. It autocancels early, is able to catch opponents out of the air, create DI mixups, combo, edgeguard, space in neutral, approach, and is incredibly quick out of shield, slower than only a handful of options.
  • Stubby little arms - Pikachu's grab and nair, two essential pieces of their kit, are very underwhelming in terms of disjoint. To get through an opponent's defense often times a bait, specific timing callout, or very well spaced hitbox is required.
  • Don't get grabbed - Due to Pikachu's lackluster forward facing disjoint, Pikachu often has to actively approach instead of walling out their opponent. Even minor miscalculations on an aerial can lead to whiff punishes, crouch cancel counters, or shield grabs from their opponent. The impetus is on Pikachu to place aerials at tricky timings and hard to cover positions.
  • Weaker than average hits - Besides upsmash, many of Pikachu's essential combo moves have lower than average damage output, making them more susceptible to counter attacks and less rewarded for landing combos.
  • Worse than average shield - Despite having two frame 6 get off me tools, Pikachu can sometimes struggle when shielding. At resting position their tail is open to hits in the back, this only grows worse as their shield depletes. Shield tilting helps, but leaves Pikachu more susceptible to getting poked if they misread an opponent's move choice.
SSBM PIKACHU.png
Physics
Weight 80 (20th)
Fall Speed 1.9/Fast 2.7 (12th/9th)
Gravity 0.11 (8th)
Ground Movement
Walk Speed 1.24 (4th)
Initial Dash Speed 1.8 (3rd)
Initial Dash Length 13f (9th)
Run Speed 1.8 (3rd)
Traction 0.09 (5th)
Jumping
Jumpsquat 3f (1st)
Jump Height Full 32.4/Short 14/Air 29.44 (13th/17th/19th)
Air Speed 0.85 (17th)
Air Acceleration 0.05 (17th)


Ground Moves

Jab
Headbutt
Jab (5A)
First Active Active Recovery IASA Landing Lag Autocancel
0 0 0 0 0 <0 0>
Damage Base Knockback Knockback Growth Angle Effect On Shield
Clean: 0 / Late: 0 Clean: 0 / Late: 0 0 0 Normal 0


Dash Attack
Running Headbutt
d.A
First Active Active Recovery IASA Landing Lag Autocancel
0 0 0 0 0 <0 0>
Damage Base Knockback Knockback Growth Angle Effect On Shield
Clean: 0 / Late: 0 Clean: 0 / Late: 0 0 0 Normal 0


fTilt
Pika Kick
fTilt (t.6A)
First Active Active Recovery IASA Landing Lag Autocancel
0 0 0 0 0 <0 0>
Damage Base Knockback Knockback Growth Angle Effect On Shield
Clean: 0 / Late: 0 Clean: 0 / Late: 0 0 0 Normal 0


uTilt
Tail Smack
uTilt (t.8A)
First Active Active Recovery IASA Landing Lag Autocancel
0 0 0 0 0 <0 0>
Damage Base Knockback Knockback Growth Angle Effect On Shield
Clean: 0 / Late: 0 Clean: 0 / Late: 0 0 0 Normal 0


dTilt
Tail Sweep
dTilt (t.2A)
First Active Active Recovery IASA Landing Lag Autocancel
0 0 0 0 0 <0 0>
Damage Base Knockback Knockback Growth Angle Effect On Shield
Clean: 0 / Late: 0 Clean: 0 / Late: 0 0 0 Normal 0


fSmash
Thundershock
fSmash (s.6A)
First Active Active Recovery IASA Landing Lag Autocancel
0 0 0 0 0 <0 0>
Damage Base Knockback Knockback Growth Angle Effect On Shield
Clean: 0 / Late: 0 Clean: 0 / Late: 0 0 0 Normal 0


uSmash
Tail Somersault
uSmash (s.8A)
First Active Active Recovery IASA Landing Lag Autocancel
0 0 0 0 0 <0 0>
Damage Base Knockback Knockback Growth Angle Effect On Shield
Clean: 0 / Late: 0 Clean: 0 / Late: 0 0 0 Normal 0


dSmash
Electric Flower
dSmash (s.2A)
First Active Active Recovery IASA Landing Lag Autocancel
0 0 0 0 0 <0 0>
Damage Base Knockback Knockback Growth Angle Effect On Shield
Clean: 0 / Late: 0 Clean: 0 / Late: 0 0 0 Normal 0


Aerial Moves

nAir
Pika Roll
nAir (j.5A)
First Active Active Recovery IASA Landing Lag Autocancel
0 0 0 0 0 <0 0>
Damage Base Knockback Knockback Growth Angle Effect On Shield
Clean: 0 / Late: 0 Clean: 0 / Late: 0 0 0 Normal 0


fAir
Electric Drill
fAir (j.6A)
First Active Active Recovery IASA Landing Lag Autocancel
0 0 0 0 0 <0 0>
Damage Base Knockback Knockback Growth Angle Effect On Shield
Clean: 0 / Late: 0 Clean: 0 / Late: 0 0 0 Normal 0


bAir
Glider
bAir (j.4A)
First Active Active Recovery IASA Landing Lag Autocancel
0 0 0 0 0 <0 0>
Damage Base Knockback Knockback Growth Angle Effect On Shield
Clean: 0 / Late: 0 Clean: 0 / Late: 0 0 0 Normal 0


uAir
Tail Chop
uAir (j.8A)
First Active Active Recovery IASA Landing Lag Autocancel
0 0 0 0 0 <0 0>
Damage Base Knockback Knockback Growth Angle Effect On Shield
Clean: 0 / Late: 0 Clean: 0 / Late: 0 0 0 Normal 0


dAir
Electric Screw
dAir (j.2A)
First Active Active Recovery IASA Landing Lag Autocancel
0 0 0 0 0 <0 0>
Damage Base Knockback Knockback Growth Angle Effect On Shield
Clean: 0 / Late: 0 Clean: 0 / Late: 0 0 0 Normal 0


Special Moves

Thunder Jolt
Thunder Jolt
nB (5B)
First Active Active Recovery IASA Landing Lag Autocancel
0 0 0 0 0 <0 0>
Damage Base Knockback Knockback Growth Angle Effect On Shield
Clean: 0 / Late: 0 Clean: 0 / Late: 0 0 0 Normal 0


Skull Bash
Skull Bash
side[B] (4/[B])
First Active Active Recovery IASA Landing Lag Autocancel
0 0 0 0 0 <0 0>
Damage Base Knockback Knockback Growth Angle Effect On Shield
Clean: 0 / Late: 0 Clean: 0 / Late: 0 0 0 Normal 0


Quick Attack
Quick Attack
upB (8B)
First Active Active Recovery IASA Landing Lag Autocancel
0 0 0 0 0 <0 0>
Damage Base Knockback Knockback Growth Angle Effect On Shield
Clean: 0 / Late: 0 Clean: 0 / Late: 0 0 0 Normal 0


Thunder
Thunder
downB (2B)
First Active Active Recovery IASA Landing Lag Autocancel
0 0 0 0 0 <0 0>
Damage Base Knockback Knockback Growth Angle Effect On Shield
Clean: 0 / Late: 0 Clean: 0 / Late: 0 0 0 Normal 0


Grabs & Throws

Grab
Grab
Grab (Z)
First Active Active Recovery IASA Landing Lag Autocancel
0 0 0 0 0 <0 0>
Damage Base Knockback Knockback Growth Angle Effect On Shield
Clean: 0 / Late: 0 Clean: 0 / Late: 0 0 0 Normal 0


Dash Grab
Dash Grab
d.Grab (d.Z)
First Active Active Recovery IASA Landing Lag Autocancel
0 0 0 0 0 <0 0>
Damage Base Knockback Knockback Growth Angle Effect On Shield
Clean: 0 / Late: 0 Clean: 0 / Late: 0 0 0 Normal 0


Pummel
Pummel
g.A
First Active Active Recovery IASA Landing Lag Autocancel
0 0 0 0 0 <0 0>
Damage Base Knockback Knockback Growth Angle Effect On Shield
Clean: 0 / Late: 0 Clean: 0 / Late: 0 0 0 Normal 0


fThrow
Electrocution
fThrow (g.6)
First Active Active Recovery IASA Landing Lag Autocancel
0 0 0 0 0 <0 0>
Damage Base Knockback Knockback Growth Angle Effect On Shield
Clean: 0 / Late: 0 Clean: 0 / Late: 0 0 0 Normal 0


bThrow
Submission
bThrow (g.4)
First Active Active Recovery IASA Landing Lag Autocancel
0 0 0 0 0 <0 0>
Damage Base Knockback Knockback Growth Angle Effect On Shield
Clean: 0 / Late: 0 Clean: 0 / Late: 0 0 0 Normal 0


uThrow
Electric Skull
uThrow (g.8)
First Active Active Recovery IASA Landing Lag Autocancel
0 0 0 0 0 <0 0>
Damage Base Knockback Knockback Growth Angle Effect On Shield
Clean: 0 / Late: 0 Clean: 0 / Late: 0 0 0 Normal 0


dThrow
Electric Slam
dThrow (g.2)
First Active Active Recovery IASA Landing Lag Autocancel
0 0 0 0 0 <0 0>
Damage Base Knockback Knockback Growth Angle Effect On Shield
Clean: 0 / Late: 0 Clean: 0 / Late: 0 0 0 Normal 0


Universal Mechanics

Advanced Frame Data

This table shows the frame data for all of Pikachu's non-special moves. Including shield advantage at different timings and cancels.

Shield Advantage
move start end lcancelledLandingLag autoCancelAfter iasa missedLcancelLandingLag totalFrames damage shieldstun bestShieldAdvantage lcancelledShieldAdvantage missedLcancelShieldAdvantage earlyHitAutoCancelledShieldAdvantage lateHitAutoCancelledShieldAdvantage earlyHitIASACancelledShieldAdvantage lateHitIASACancelledShieldAdvantage earlyHitTotalFramesShieldAdvantage lateHitTotalFramesShieldAdvantage
dtilt 7 9 N\A N\A 19 N\A 21 7 5 -4 N\A N\A N\A N\A -6 -4 -9 -7
dtilt 7 9 N\A N\A 19 N\A 21 7 5 -4 N\A N\A N\A N\A -6 -4 -9 -7
dtilt 7 9 N\A N\A 19 N\A 21 7 5 -4 N\A N\A N\A N\A -6 -4 -9 -7
uair 3 4 13 17 N\A 26 27 4 3 -10 -10 -23 -15 -14 N\A N\A -21 -20
uair 3 4 13 17 N\A 26 27 4 3 -10 -10 -23 -15 -14 N\A N\A -21 -20
uair 5 6 13 17 N\A 26 27 4 3 -10 -10 -23 -13 -12 N\A N\A -19 -18
uair 5 6 13 17 N\A 26 27 4 3 -10 -10 -23 -13 -12 N\A N\A -19 -18
uair 7 8 13 17 N\A 26 27 4 3 -10 -10 -23 -11 -10 N\A N\A -17 -16
uair 7 8 13 17 N\A 26 27 4 3 -10 -10 -23 -11 -10 N\A N\A -17 -16
ftilt_l 5 14 N\A N\A N\A N\A 29 7 5 -10 N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A -19 -10
ftilt_l 5 14 N\A N\A N\A N\A 29 7 5 -10 N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A -19 -10
ftilt_l 5 14 N\A N\A N\A N\A 29 7 5 -10 N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A -19 -10
ftilt_h 5 14 N\A N\A N\A N\A 29 9 6 -9 N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A -18 -9
ftilt_h 5 14 N\A N\A N\A N\A 29 9 6 -9 N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A -18 -9
ftilt_h 5 14 N\A N\A N\A N\A 29 9 6 -9 N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A -18 -9
dashattack 5 16 N\A N\A N\A N\A 49 8 5 -28 N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A -39 -28
dashattack 5 16 N\A N\A N\A N\A 49 8 5 -28 N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A -39 -28
dair 14 26 20 38 48 40 57 12 7 -9 -13 -33 -21 -9 -26 -14 -36 -24
dair 14 26 20 38 48 40 57 12 7 -9 -13 -33 -21 -9 -26 -14 -36 -24
bair 4 7 15 49 N\A 30 59 12 7 -8 -8 -23 -42 -39 N\A N\A -48 -45
bair 4 7 15 49 N\A 30 59 12 7 -8 -8 -23 -42 -39 N\A N\A -48 -45
bair 8 37 15 49 N\A 30 59 9 6 -9 -9 -24 -39 -10 N\A N\A -45 -16
bair 8 37 15 49 N\A 30 59 9 6 -9 -9 -24 -39 -10 N\A N\A -45 -16
usmash 8 10 N\A N\A 41 N\A 43 19 10 -20 N\A N\A N\A N\A -22 -20 -25 -23
usmash 8 10 N\A N\A 41 N\A 43 18 10 -20 N\A N\A N\A N\A -22 -20 -25 -23
usmash 8 10 N\A N\A 41 N\A 43 17 9 -21 N\A N\A N\A N\A -23 -21 -26 -24
usmash 11 13 N\A N\A 41 N\A 43 13 7 -20 N\A N\A N\A N\A -22 -20 -25 -23
usmash 11 13 N\A N\A 41 N\A 43 13 7 -20 N\A N\A N\A N\A -22 -20 -25 -23
usmash 11 13 N\A N\A 41 N\A 43 13 7 -20 N\A N\A N\A N\A -22 -20 -25 -23
usmash 14 17 N\A N\A 41 N\A 43 7 5 -18 N\A N\A N\A N\A -21 -18 -24 -21
usmash 14 17 N\A N\A 41 N\A 43 7 5 -18 N\A N\A N\A N\A -21 -18 -24 -21
usmash 14 17 N\A N\A 41 N\A 43 7 5 -18 N\A N\A N\A N\A -21 -18 -24 -21
jab1 2 3 N\A N\A N\A N\A 21 2 2 -16 N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A -17 -16
jab1 2 3 N\A N\A N\A N\A 21 2 2 -16 N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A -17 -16
ftilt_m 5 14 N\A N\A N\A N\A 29 8 5 -10 N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A -19 -10
ftilt_m 5 14 N\A N\A N\A N\A 29 8 5 -10 N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A -19 -10
ftilt_m 5 14 N\A N\A N\A N\A 29 8 5 -10 N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A -19 -10
nair 3 10 7 34 N\A 15 39 12 7 0 0 -8 -28 -21 N\A N\A -29 -22
nair 3 10 7 34 N\A 15 39 12 7 0 0 -8 -28 -21 N\A N\A -29 -22
nair 3 10 7 34 N\A 15 39 12 7 0 0 -8 -28 -21 N\A N\A -29 -22
nair 11 28 7 34 N\A 15 39 9 6 -1 -1 -9 -21 -4 N\A N\A -22 -5
nair 11 28 7 34 N\A 15 39 9 6 -1 -1 -9 -21 -4 N\A N\A -22 -5
nair 11 28 7 34 N\A 15 39 9 6 -1 -1 -9 -21 -4 N\A N\A -22 -5
dsmash 7 8 N\A N\A 51 N\A 54 2 2 -40 N\A N\A N\A N\A -41 -40 -45 -44
dsmash 7 8 N\A N\A 51 N\A 54 2 2 -40 N\A N\A N\A N\A -41 -40 -45 -44
dsmash 7 8 N\A N\A 51 N\A 54 2 2 -40 N\A N\A N\A N\A -41 -40 -45 -44
dsmash 10 11 N\A N\A 51 N\A 54 2 2 -37 N\A N\A N\A N\A -38 -37 -42 -41
dsmash 10 11 N\A N\A 51 N\A 54 2 2 -37 N\A N\A N\A N\A -38 -37 -42 -41
dsmash 10 11 N\A N\A 51 N\A 54 2 2 -37 N\A N\A N\A N\A -38 -37 -42 -41
dsmash 13 14 N\A N\A 51 N\A 54 2 2 -34 N\A N\A N\A N\A -35 -34 -39 -38
dsmash 13 14 N\A N\A 51 N\A 54 2 2 -34 N\A N\A N\A N\A -35 -34 -39 -38
dsmash 13 14 N\A N\A 51 N\A 54 2 2 -34 N\A N\A N\A N\A -35 -34 -39 -38
dsmash 16 17 N\A N\A 51 N\A 54 2 2 -31 N\A N\A N\A N\A -32 -31 -36 -35
dsmash 16 17 N\A N\A 51 N\A 54 2 2 -31 N\A N\A N\A N\A -32 -31 -36 -35
dsmash 16 17 N\A N\A 51 N\A 54 2 2 -31 N\A N\A N\A N\A -32 -31 -36 -35
dsmash 19 20 N\A N\A 51 N\A 54 2 2 -28 N\A N\A N\A N\A -29 -28 -33 -32
dsmash 19 20 N\A N\A 51 N\A 54 2 2 -28 N\A N\A N\A N\A -29 -28 -33 -32
dsmash 19 20 N\A N\A 51 N\A 54 2 2 -28 N\A N\A N\A N\A -29 -28 -33 -32
dsmash 22 23 N\A N\A 51 N\A 54 2 2 -25 N\A N\A N\A N\A -26 -25 -30 -29
dsmash 22 23 N\A N\A 51 N\A 54 2 2 -25 N\A N\A N\A N\A -26 -25 -30 -29
dsmash 22 23 N\A N\A 51 N\A 54 2 2 -25 N\A N\A N\A N\A -26 -25 -30 -29
dsmash 25 26 N\A N\A 51 N\A 54 2 2 -22 N\A N\A N\A N\A -23 -22 -27 -26
dsmash 25 26 N\A N\A 51 N\A 54 2 2 -22 N\A N\A N\A N\A -23 -22 -27 -26
dsmash 25 26 N\A N\A 51 N\A 54 2 2 -22 N\A N\A N\A N\A -23 -22 -27 -26
dsmash 28 28 N\A N\A 51 N\A 54 3 3 -19 N\A N\A N\A N\A -19 -19 -23 -23
fsmash_m 16 18 N\A N\A N\A N\A 49 21 11 -20 N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A -22 -20
fsmash_m 19 21 N\A N\A N\A N\A 49 19 10 -18 N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A -20 -18
fsmash_m 19 21 N\A N\A N\A N\A 49 19 10 -18 N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A -20 -18
fsmash_m 22 23 N\A N\A N\A N\A 49 18 10 -16 N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A -17 -16
fsmash_m 22 23 N\A N\A N\A N\A 49 18 10 -16 N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A -17 -16
fsmash_m 22 23 N\A N\A N\A N\A 49 18 10 -16 N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A -17 -16
utilt 7 14 N\A N\A N\A N\A 23 7 5 -4 N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A -11 -4
utilt 7 14 N\A N\A N\A N\A 23 7 5 -4 N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A -11 -4
utilt 7 14 N\A N\A N\A N\A 23 6 4 -5 N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A N\A -12 -5
fair 10 12 10 37 N\A 20 39 2 2 -8 -8 -18 -29 -27 N\A N\A -27 -25
fair 10 12 10 37 N\A 20 39 2 2 -8 -8 -18 -29 -27 N\A N\A -27 -25
fair 14 16 10 37 N\A 20 39 2 2 -8 -8 -18 -25 -23 N\A N\A -23 -21
fair 14 16 10 37 N\A 20 39 2 2 -8 -8 -18 -25 -23 N\A N\A -23 -21
fair 18 20 10 37 N\A 20 39 2 2 -8 -8 -18 -21 -19 N\A N\A -19 -17
fair 18 20 10 37 N\A 20 39 2 2 -8 -8 -18 -21 -19 N\A N\A -19 -17
fair 22 24 10 37 N\A 20 39 2 2 -8 -8 -18 -17 -15 N\A N\A -15 -13
fair 22 24 10 37 N\A 20 39 2 2 -8 -8 -18 -17 -15 N\A N\A -15 -13
fair 26 28 10 37 N\A 20 39 2 2 -8 -8 -18 -13 -11 N\A N\A -11 -9
fair 26 28 10 37 N\A 20 39 2 2 -8 -8 -18 -13 -11 N\A N\A -11 -9

Game Navigation

General
Controls & Notation
HUD
Game Mechanics
FAQ
Universal Strategy
Netplay
Glossary
Links
Metagame
Stages
Tiers
Controller Meta
Archived Information
Gecko Codes
Disc Files
Characters
Dr. Mario
Mario
Luigi
Bowser
Peach
Yoshi
Donkey Kong
Captain Falcon
Ganondorf
Falco
Fox
Ness
Ice Climbers
Kirby
Samus
Zelda
Sheik
Link
Young Link
Pichu
Pikachu
Jigglypuff
Mewtwo
Mr. Game and Watch
Marth
Roy
Non-Playable Characters
Male Wireframe
Female Wireframe
Master Hand
Crazy Hand
Giga Bowser
Sandbag