Pikachu

(click to show Brawl trivia)

Attribute Value Rank Walk speed 1.24 9 Dash/Foxtrot speed 1.80 5-6 Running speed 1.76 8 Acceleration from gravity 0.09 10-16 Fastfalling acceleration boost 0.01 6-33 Normal terminal velocity 1.50 12-13 Fastfalling terminal velocity 2.38 7 Base horizontal acceleration 0.09 4-9 Horizontal deceleration boost 0.01 7-36 Maximum horizontal air speed 0.91 23 Weight 79 34-35

Pikachu has always been at about the right level of power, but many of the good things about it are abusive and polarizing. Pikachu ended up needing some careful focus and improvement to remain a great contender. The down side for Pikachu is that forward and down throw are tweaked to no longer be super powerful chain throws. However, Pikachu sees some of its better pokes improved. While Pikachu may not be looking at those free wins from chain throws any more, it will be doing better than ever against the light swordsmen who were so hard for it. That’s a balanced trade that should leave Pikachu players happy!

Balanced Brawl Bonus: Skull Interrupt

• Pikachu can cancel the charging of Skull Bash by tapping the shield button.

Other Major Changes

• Down throw is no longer a chain throw but is more useful at high damage.
• Forward throw is no longer a chain throw.
• Up throw is generally stronger.
• Forward tilt does 1% more damage.
• Forward smash’s distant hit now hits more favorably.
• Forward aerial and down aerial do more shield damage.

Full Technical Change List

• Dash attack hitbox 0-1 properties: Damage (7 -> 8)
• Forward tilt angled up hitbox 0-2 properties: Damage (10 -> 11)
• Forward tilt un-angled hitbox 0-2 properties: Damage (9 -> 10)
• Forward tilt angled down hitbox 0-2 properties: Damage (8 -> 9)
• Down tilt hitbox 0-2 properties: SDI Multiplier (1.00 -> 1.30)
  
• Forward smash frame 8 hitbox 0-2 properties: Angle (70 -> 85), Base Knockback (40 -> 55)
• Forward aerial loop hitbox 0-1 properties: Shield Damage (0 -> 1)
  
• Forward aerial final hitbox 0-1 properties: Shield Damage (0 -> 3)
• Down aerial hitbox 0-1 properties: Shield Damage (0 -> 8)
• Forward throw throw box properties: Knockback Growth (110 -> 10), Base Knockback (45 -> 80)
• Up throw throw box properties: Damage (5 -> 6)
• Down throw animates at half speed starting on frame 38 (of 44); throw box properties: Angle (80 -> 95), Knockback Growth (38 -> 1), Base Knockback (60 -> 79)
• Skull Bash: interruptible with shield, spotdodge, roll, and air dodge during charging