Super Smash Bros. Fighters - Pokémon series - 01 Pikachu

 

Debut

In the Pokémon series: Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green (1996)

In the Super Smash Bros. series: Super Smash Bros. 64 (1999)

Boxing Ring Title: Pika Pika!

Theme Song: Main Theme - Pokémon Red & Blue (Melee)

Pikachu: the Mouse Pokémon. Electric Type. #25 in the Pokédex. Mascot of the Pokémon series. As a species, Pikachu tend to live in forests, or near power plants. They use their tails to monitor their surroundings, as well as communicate with others of its kind. It stores electricity in its cheeks, and releases said electricity when startled or angered. When a group of Pikachu gather together, it is said that they can cause thunderstorms. On rare occasions, some Pikachu can be seen using balloons to fly, or even using a surfboard to go surfing. It is the evolved form of Pichu, and can further evolve into Raichu if given a Thunderstone. Pikachu have an even chance of being either male or female, with females having a sort of heart-shaped "dent" in their tails.

 

Pikachu made its debut in Pokémon Red & Blue, where players had a rare chance of finding one at the Viridian Forest, an early location in the game. While it wouldn't be very effective against the first Gym Leader Brock, it could prove helpful against the second Gym Leader Misty if the player lacked a Grass Pokémon at that point. The player could also find Pikachu at the Power Plant where they are more common, but this opportunity is only available about halfway through the adventure. Besides that, Pikachu wasn't really noteworthy otherwise.

 

However, once production on the animated adaption Pokémon the Series began, things began to turn around. Pikachu was chosen to be the Pokémon that the show's protagonist, Ash Ketchum, would start with, and thus Pikachu became the mascot of the series!

 

This newfound role would first be seen in Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition, an enhanced remake of Pokémon Red & Blue that took inspiration from the anime. Here, Pikachu serves as the player's starter Pokémon, and would follow the player around in the overworld. While Pikachu isn't initially pleased to be partnered with the game's protagonist Red, he slowly turns his opinion around and grows close to him.

 

In Pokémon Gold & Silver, Pikachu was given an exclusive item called the Light Ball, which would double Pikachu's Special Attack. By Pokémon Diamond & Pearl, the Light Ball would also double Pikachu's Attack power. Pokémon Emerald saw the debut of the move Volt Tackle, which became the signature move of the Pikachu family. It could only learn it if a Pikachu/Raichu holding a Light Ball was put in the Pokémon Day Care with another Pikachu/Raichu of the opposite gender - or a Ditto - in order to produce its offspring, Pichu, who will have this powerful move.

 

Pokemon Sun & Moon would give Pikachu a unique Z-Move called Catastropika, where Pikachu would do a small dance with the player before getting tossed towards the opponent, during which it would use a stronger version of Volt Tackle. In Pokemon Sword & Shield, Pikachu obtains the ability to Gigantamax, which allows it to use G-Max Volt Crash to damage foes and paralyze them too!

Pikachu would also star in its own spin-off games, the first being Hey You, Pikachu, where the player takes care of a curious Pikachu who decides to move in with the player. Another would be PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure. where a Pikachu arrives in a world called the PokéPark, and has to save it by restoring the Sky Prism, which shattered into fourteen pieces. Throughout the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series, Pikachu can be chosen as either the player character, or the player's partner.

Notable Pikachu from the games would be none other than Red's Pikachu. Although Pokémon Yellow portrays him as Red's Starter Pokémon, Pokémon Masters EX - as well the first episode of Pokémon  Generations - reveals Red first met him while exploring Viridian Forest. In all of his appearances, Pikachu serves as the highest-leveled Pokémon on Red's team. In fact, Red's Pikachu is tied with Cynthia's Garchomp as being the highest-leveled trainer-owned Pokémon in the entire series, being at Level 88 in Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver. As revealed in Pokémon Masters EX, Red's Pikachu is also capable of Gigantamaxing, though it's unknown if Pikachu always had this talent, or if Red's training allowed him to achieve this.

While much of his personality is unknown, Pokémon Generations reveals that Red's Pikachu was initially curious and childlike, though rather unskilled at battles. After getting caught by Red, Pikachu not only grows a strong bond with him, but also matures and becomes quite an experienced fighter. Pokémon Yellow goes into more depth with him, revealing his initial dislike of Red before growing close to him, falling in love with a Clefairy the two meet at the Pokémon Fan Club, and being afraid of the ghosts haunting the Pokémon Tower. A unique trait only shown in Pokémon Yellow is his dislike of being inside his Poké Ball, which is contradicted in his appearances in other games.

 

Another notable Pikachu in the games would be Cosplay Pikachu from Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire. After competing in the Pokémon Contest Spectacular for the first time, a famous coordinator by the name of Lisia gives her to the player. Cosplay Pikachu differs from regular female Pikachu by sporting a black "heart" on her tail, as well as the ability to wear five different types of clothes - Rockstar, Belle, Pop Star, Ph D., and Libre -  that each grant her a unique attack!

Yet another one would be Partner Pikachu from Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu. Just like in Pokémon Yellow, Partner Pikachu serves as your starter Pokémon. Unlike Yellow, the Pikachu here is given better stats and powerful, exclusive moves so that it can keep up with the stronger Pokémon you'll encounter later on. In Pokémon Let's Go Eevee, Partner Pikachu is given to your friendly rival Chase instead.

 

As previously mentioned, Pikachu is also the star of  Pokémon the Series. Pikachu debuted in the first episode in the show's first season: "Pokémon - I Choose You!" Four new Pokémon Trainers were going to start their journey, and Pikachu was one of the four choices Professor Oak had for the the group. (The other three being Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle.)

 

Due to the main protagonist Ash Ketchum oversleeping, he was stuck with Pikachu. Although Ash was thrilled, Pikachu wasn't, electrocuting his trainer - as well as Ash's mom Delia and their various friends - without a care. Pikachu continued to be disobedient and rude up until a flock of angry Spearow began to chase them. When the two were down and beaten, Ash told Pikachu to hide in his Poké Ball while he tried to fight the Spearow off. Realizing how much Ash cared for him, Pikachu fired off a massive Thunder Shock and defeated the angry birds. Having now forged a strong bond - as well as seeing a mysterious Pokémon fly by - Ash carried Pikachu to Vermillion City to restore Pikachu back to full health, where they would then go off to have many adventures.

 

Personality-wise, Ash's Pikachu is Ash's most loyal Pokémon. While not immediately trusting of strangers, he tends to be friendly to the various humans and Pokémon he meets. Due to being Ash's first Pokémon, he tends to be act as the leader to the rest of Ash's Pokémon. He'll even try to meditate and keep the peace between quarreling Pokémon to the best of his ability. Pikachu also has a notable fondness for ketchup, and hates being inside his Poké Ball.

 

Ash's Pikachu also enjoys battling, though during the early episodes there were a few times he was hesitant or reluctant to do so. Speaking of battling, Pikachu's strength is also noteworthy, as it's been said a few times that his power exceeds his species. This strength has also allowed Pikachu to go toe-to-toe with the best and strongest Pokémon, even putting up a good fight against Legendary Pokémon! Though on a more negative note, this strength has also made him a target to the Team Rocket Trio - consisting of Jessie, James, and Meowth - who plan on kidnapping him and presenting him to their boss Giovanni.

 

Pikachu also appears in the ongoing manga series Pokémon Adventures, where he debuted in the chapter "Wanted: Pikachu!" Here, the electric mouse enjoyed causing trouble and mischief for the residents of Pewter City before Red managed to capture him with the help of his Bulbasaur, after which he nicknamed the mouse Pika. Although Red was eager to befriend him, Pika couldn't care less about his new trainer. In the next chapter, Red was forced to use him to fight against Brock's Onix since his other Pokémon were exhausted, though the mouse still refused to listen to any of Red's commands. However, once Red saves Pika from Onix's Skull Bash, Pika has a small change of heart and listens to Red, allowing them to win. Following this, Pika would slowly grow to become a close - if somewhat aloof - ally of Red's.

 

Later on during the Yellow Arc, Pikachu would team with a young girl named Yellow in order to rescue Red and the others, during which he and the trainer would also form a tight bond. At its conclusion, he would be reunited with Red. During the Gold & Silver Arc, Red's Pikachu would become acquainted with Yellow's newly acquired female Pikachu named ChuChu. The two hit it off very well, and together would have a son named Pibu the Pichu, who's currently adventuring with another trainer named Gold.

In Super Smash Bros., Pikachu has an assortment of Electric moves at his disposal. He may be small and seem weak, don't underestimate him. He's been through a lot of battles, so he knows what he's doing!

Pikachu's also one of the twelve members of the "Perfect Attendance Crew," as well as acting as one of the four faces of the series; Mario, Link, and Kirby being the other members.

Special Moves

 

Neutral Special: Thunderjolt

Pikachu fires off an electric ball at a diagonally downwards angle. Once it hits a surface, it'll bounce forward in an arc. It'll wrap around corners and even bounce on the walls, and even the ceiling as long as it's not jump-throughable!

The move does the most damage up-close, and gets weaker as it bounces along.

The name of the move is taken from the original Pikachu Trading Card in the "Pokémon Trading Card Game" (both it's US and JP names on the card are similar to what the attack is called in Super Smash Bros.) The small chance of Pikachu accidentally "hurting itself" is - thankfully - not included. Otherwise, this move is mostly inspired by Pikachu's electric abilities.

 

 

Side Special: Skull Bash

Pikachu gets in a crouching position before firing himself forward, head-first. The move can be charged by holding the Special Button. The longer you charge it, the further Pikachu flies!

Inspired by the move, Skull Bash, introduced in "Pokémon Red & Blue." Skull Bash is a Physical Normal-Type Move that has a power of 100 (in Gens 1-5) or 130 (in Gen 6 and onward) and is a two-turn attack, the first turn being the Pokemon prepping itself, and the second turn being the attack. Starting in "Pokémon Gold & Silver," the user's defense would get slightly boosted as well, though this effect isn't in Super Smash Bros.

Pikachu could learn Skull Bash by using a TM in "Pokémon Red & Blue" and "Pokémon Yellow," but lost the ability to do so in later games.

 

 

Up Special: Quick Attack

Pikachu stalls for a sec before dashing forward in whatever direction you hold. (upward if nothing is held) Pikachu will use the move a second time if you tilt the control stick in a different direction.

It's not very strong, but it's a good move to use to recover back to the stage, or to play mindgames.

Inspired by the move, Quick Attack, introduced in "Pokémon Red & Blue." Quick Attack is a Physical Normal-Type move that has a power of 40 and a priority of 1, allowing the user to go first unless the opponent is using a higher priority move, or if the opponent also uses Quick Attack and is faster. (in case of a speed tie, it's random on who attacks first)

Pikachu learns this move at early levels.

 

Down Special: Thunder

Pikachu summons a Thunder Cloud from above him! The Thunder Cloud shoots lighting downward where Pikachu is standing when he used the move. Anyone who hits the lighting takes damage and gets flung away, unless they happen to be upclose and underneath the Thunder Cloud, in which case they'll get sent flying downwards towards Pikachu! That will be devastating for them, because once the lightning hits Pikachu, he releases a powerful burst of electrical charges, and anyone nearby will get sent flying!

Inspired by the move, Thunder, introduced in "Pokémon Red & Blue." Thunder is a Special Electric-Type Move with a power of 120 (in Gens 1-5) or 110 (in Gens 5 and on) and is one of the stronger Electric attacks, though it has poor accuracy. (70%, to be exact) It's accuracy would change depending on the weather, though. (always accurate during Rain, 50% accurate during Harsh Sunlight)

Thunder tends to be the last move Pikachu can learn in the higher levels, though it can also learn the move much earlier by using a TM.

 

 

Final Smash: Volt Tackle

Pikachu charges himself up with electricity and charges forward! If he hits someone, the camera zooms in to where Pikachu is and he begins wildly bouncing around, trapping the opponent and anyone else nearby in the center of his attack! After which Pikachu goes to the center of the camera and unleashes a powerful surge of electricity, zapping everyone away from him! The camera returns to normal after this.

Inspired by the move, Volt Tackle, introduced in "Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire"..Volt Tackle is a Physical Electric-Type Move with a power of 120, though it causes the user to take recoil damage. Starting in "Pokémon Emerald", it is the Signature Move of the Pichu-Pikachu-Raichu line. In order for a Pikachu to learn the move, a female Pikachu or Raichu holding a Light Ball must be put in the Pokémon Daycare with a compatible Pokémon - such as a male Pikachu, a male Raichu, or a Ditto - and the end result will be that it's offspring, Pichu, will know the move.

Notably, Pikachu does NOT take recoil damage in Super Smash Bros. if he lands the move.

Additional Notes

 

 

One of Pikachu's alternate costumes is Cosplay Pikachu wearing the "Pikachu Libre" outfit. She certainly looks ready to fight in her getup, huh?

 

Some of Pikachu's other alternate costumes are a Shiny Pikachu wearing Red's hat from Pokémon Red & Blue, a Pikachu wearing Ethan's hat from Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver, a Pikachu wearing Brendan's bandanna from Pokémon Emerald, a Pikachu wearing Calem's Red Outdoors Cap with Wide-Frame Glasses from Pokémon X & Y, and a female Pikachu wearing Selene's Casual Cap from Pokémon Sun & Moon.

Pikachu's move, Volt Tackle, is a reference to Pulseman, an unrelated game made by Game Freak, creators of Pokémon. In that game, the protagonist had a special move called "Voltteccer" which surrounded him in an electrical barrier. Back in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, as well as Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS & Wii U, the move even controlled in a similar way to Voltteccer before Super Smash Bros. Ultimate changed the way the move works.

 

Although Pikachu was chosen to be the star of Pokémon the Series, the other choice for that position was Clefairy. While Pikachu won out due to better reception, who knows how different things could've been if Clefairy was chosen instead?

Super Smash Bros. Fighters – The Legend of Zelda series – 06 Toon Link 

Debut

In the Legend of Zelda series: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (2002)
In the Super Smash Bros. series: Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008)

Boxing Ring Title: Wind Waking Warrior

Theme Song: The Great Sea/Menu Theme 

Toon Link is a particular Link who stars as the main protagonist of “The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker” and “The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass”. There are some Links who share a similar appearance to him, like the Link in "The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords," and the Link in Phantom Hourglass’s sequel, “The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks”. Toon Link is also a wielder of the Triforce of Courage. 

In "The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker," the game starts out on Toon Link's twelfth Birthday! He's now of-age where young boys dress up in green akin to the Hero of Time. His little sister, Aryll, gives him her telescope to use for the day. As he looks around, he happens to spot a giant bird carrying a young girl, along with a ship in the ocean giving chase. The bird happens to drop the young girl into the forest, so Toon Link grabs a sword and heads off investigate. Upon find her, he learns that her name is Tetra, and she's the leader of a band of pirates.

As Toon Link and Tetra leave the forest, the bird from before arrives and grabs Toon Link's little sister, mistaking her for Tetra. Determined to rescue her, he manages to - with the help of a Rito named Quill - convince Tetra to take him to the Forsaken Fortress. While Toon Link manages to make it to the top of the Forsaken Fortress - where his sister and two other girls are - the giant bird manages to snag him. With the command of a shadowy figure, the bird tosses Toon Link out towards the sea, where he's found by a sentient boat called The King of Red Lions. The Boat explains to Toon Link that the mysterious figure that commanded the bird is Ganondorf, an evil man who was thought to be dead 100 years ago. If Toon Link wanted any hope of standing up to him, he would have to go through many trials to find the Goddess Pearls. With them, he can access the Tower of the Gods. If he proves himself worthy, he can then head to the long forgotten Hyrule Castle that sleeps beneath the ocean to obtain the Master Sword, the one thing that is capable of defeating Ganondorf. Thus, Toon Link's quest begins...

Once Toon Link obtained the Master Sword, he heads back to the Forsaken Fortress. Tetra's pirate crew arrives and help out by rescuing Aryll and the other two girls while Toon Link deals with the giant bird, the Helmeroc King. Once he defeats him, Toon Link heads off to confront Ganondorf, only to learn that the Master Sword has lost all of its power, allowing Ganondorf to overpower him. Tetra arrives to help, only to get overwhelmed herself. As Ganondorf prepares to finish her off, his Triforce of Power begins to resonate, making him realize that she's Princess Zelda. Before he can do anything, Prince Komali and Quill arrive to rescue Toon Link and Tetra, as the giant dragon Valoo sets fire to Ganondorf's tower.

Toon Link, The King of Red Lions, and Tetra head back to Hyrule Castle. There, The King of Red Lions reveals himself as the ancient king of Hyrule: Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule. Taking Tetra's necklace, he inserts its missing piece, revealing that her necklace is The Triforce of Wisdom, thus confirming she is Princess Zelda. Thinking it would be best if she hid in sunken Hyrule Castle, Daphnes and Toon Link head back to the surface. Daphnes suspects that Ganondorf has killed the Sage of Wind and the Sage of Earth, so if they want to restore the Master Sword's power, they'll have to find their descendants, who turn out to be Medli of the Rito tribe and Makar of the Korok tribe. After that, Toon Link is tasked with finding the eight pieces of the Triforce of Courage. With the Trifroce of Courage accepting Toon Link as its wielder, Daphnes dubs him "The Hero of Winds."

Heading back to the Hyrule Castle, Ganondorf has managed to find Tetra and takes her to Ganon's Tower. Toon Link makes haste to the tower, fighting off various baddies that Ganondorf has sent after him, including a massive monstrosity called Puppet Ganon. At the top, Ganondorf tells Toon Link a bit about his backstory. This allows Ganondorf to catch Toon Link off-guard, knocking him out. Ganondorf then summons the Triforce pieces so he can make a wish to not only restore Hyrule, but also to make him the new ruler of Hyrule!

...Only for Daphnes to step in and place his hand on the Triforce, wishing not only for Toon Link and Tetra to have a bright future, but also to wash away the ancient land of Hyrule.

As the place begins to flood, Ganondorf snaps and decides to defy that wish by killing the two kids here and now. Toon Link and Tetra fight for their lives and manage to emerge victorious, with Toon Link stabbing Ganondorf in the head, turning him to stone. As the top of Ganon's Tower floods, Toon Link and Tetra get spirited back surface of the sea. Toon Link tries to reach out to Daphnes so he can come with them, and while he considers it, Daphnes decides against it.

Back at the surface, Toon Link and Tetra reunite with Tetra's pirate crew, Aryll, and some of Toon Link's friends. Back at Outset Island, Toon Link decides to travel with Tetra and her crew to seek new lands.

In "The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass." Toon Link Tetra, and her Pirate Crew are searching for the Ghost Ship. They've heard stories that the ship has taken sailors and residents of nearby islands, and they've never been heard from again. Once they manage to find it, Tetra hops aboard to investigate. Upon hearing her scream, Toon Link tries to board it and holds on to the side of the ship as it sails away. However, he ends up falling off and ends up adrift at the sea. He wakes up on an island, where he meets an amnesiac fairy named Ciela, who takes him to her "grandpa" Oshus. He warns Toon Link to stay away from the Ghost Ship, but when he won't back down, he decides that he should seek help from a man named Linebeck, who is seeking to obtain the Ghost Ship's treasure.

Toon Link and Ciela manage to find Linebeck at the Temple of the Ocean King. After helping him out and obtaining the Sea Chart, the three head off on Linebeck's ship, the SS Linebeck, to to the Isle of Ember. There, Toon Link learns that in order to properly track the Ghost Ship's position and save Tetra, he'll need to find the spirits of Power, Wisdom, and Courage, using maps and clues hidden within the Temple of the Ocean King. However, in order to safelty travel inside it to find those clues, Toon Link needs to make use of the Phantom Hourglass. And so a new adventure with two new friends begin...

Toon Link manages to find the Spirits of Power and Wisdom, but when it comes time to find the Spirit of Courage, Toon Link notices that it happens to resemble Ciela. Oshus then reveals that Ciela is the Spirit of Courage, and that he's himself is the Ocean King. Both Ciela and The Ocean King took on their current forms to hide from Bellum, who is seeking to drain the life force from everyone in the world. With help from the three spirits, Toon Link manages to rescue Tetra from the Ghost Ship!

However, they find she's been turned into a statue, think to Bellum draining her of her life force. Toon Link isn't willing to give up though, and decides to confront Bellum in order to restore Tetra to normal. Linebeck wants to call it quits after learning that the Ghost Ship's "treasure" was nothing but a lie, but changes his mind when the Ocean King promises to grant him one if he helps Toon Link. In order to defeat Bellum, Toon Link needs to find three unique pieces of pure metal to forge the Phantom Sword. Once that is said and done, Toon Link heads off to the depths of the Temple of the Ocean King. He manages to defeat Bellum and restores Tetra to normal!

However, Bellum is still alive! He grabs Tetra and hauls her to his Ghost Ship. Linebeck decides to chase after it with his ship while Toon Link uses the cannon to fire at the Ghost Ships newly acquired giant eyeballs. Managing to blast the Ghost Ship to pieces, they board it to rescue Tetra. Bellum still won't give up and grabs Tetra yet again, destroys the SS Linebeck, then grabs Toon Link! Before Bellum can do anything, Linebeck uses the Phantom Sword Toon Link dropped to stab one of his tentacle eyes, causing Bellum to release the two as it flies off in pain. As Toon Link gets back up, Bellum decides to possess Linebeck to become Bellumbeck! Snatching the Phantom Sword Linebeck tossed to him before getting fully possessed, Toon Link manages to defeat Bellum yet again, finishing him off for good. Linebeck apologizes for what he did, but Toon Link and Ciela forgive him.

With the Ocean King's power fully restored, Linebeck makes his wish to have his ship, the SS Linebeck, restored, surprising everyone who thought he'd wish for treasure. Saying their goodbyes, Toon Link and Tetra arrive back in their world at the Pirate Ship, where it seems only ten minutes have passed for Tetra's pirate crew. While they insist that Toon Link and Tetra's adventure was nothing more than a dream, Toon Link realizes he still has the now-empty Phantom Hourglass on him. Out on the distance, he also happens to see Linebeck's ship, confirming that the adventure they had was real.

Some time later, Toon Link, Tetra, and her pirate crew manage to find a large track of land. They decide to claim the place as "New Hyrule" and settle there. 100 years later, the events of "The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks" occur. This game follows a new Link who seems to have no relation to Toon Link. While not directly mentioned, it seems Toon Link's green garb has become the official gear for the Knights of New Hyrule. Additionally, Niko, one of Tetra's crewmates - and the last one who's still alive - briefly mentions Toon Link when he sees the current Link wearing the knight uniform.

In Super Smash Bros., Toon Link is faster than even Young Link, though he's also lighter as well. That being said, he can still hold his own, so don't underestimate The Hero of the Winds!

Special Moves 

Neutral Special:  Hero’s Bow 

Toon Link shoots an Arrow from his bow. The distance and speed it travels depends on how much you charge it up. It rises slightly more upward and travels slightly slower than Link’s.

Inspired by the Bow and Arrow weapon that debuted in “The Legend of Zelda.” Link could use the move to attack foes from afar, though each shot caused Link to lose 1 Ruppee. Starting in "The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past," Arrows would be given their own inventory slot. The Bow and Arrow's deign is based on "The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker." 

Side Special: Boomerang 

Toon Link tosses a Boomerang at his opponent. The distance it flies depends on whether or not you input the attack like a Smash Attack. Toon Link can also aim it upwards or downwards. If it hits someone, it’ll come flying back to Toon Link. While it’s returning to Toon Link, it’ll pass through the opponent while dealing damage.

Toon Link can actually avoid regrabbing the boomerang if he is too high up or too low from where he threw it, but he won’t be able to use the move again until the boomerang “disappears.”

Inspired by the the Boomerang weapon that debuted in “The Legend of Zelda.” In that game, Link could use it to defeat weak enemies, stun stronger ones and grab items from afar. The design here is based on “The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.” Notably. in that game, the Boomerang could lock-on to about five targets, which is something it doesn't do here. 

Up Special: Spin Attack 

Toon Link begins spinning around super-fast with his sword extended to his side. When used in the air, Toon Link will slowly rise upward while dragging his opponent(s) with him before delivering a final slash that sends them away.

On the ground, Toon Link spins in place, dragging opponents towards him before flinging them away. Toon Link can also charge the ground version to do more damage and knockback.

Inspired by the Spin Attack that debuted in “The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.” The ability to rise in the air with it is original to Super Smash Bros., though in "Hyrule Warriors," one of Toon Link's attacks involves him spinning around into the air. 

Down Special: Bomb

Toon Link pulls out a bomb.

He can then try and throw it at his foes. Once it hits the foe, it’ll explode, dealing damage and minor knockback. The bomb will also explode if it hits a solid object.

If Toon Link holds on to the bomb too long, it’ll start flashing red, signaling that it’s about to explode. Best get rid of it at that point before it blows up in Toon Link’s hands!

Inspired by the Bombs in “The Legend of Zelda.” In that game, once Link placed one on the ground, it would explode a few seconds later. The bombs take their appearance from “The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.”  

Final Smash: Triforce Slash

With the Triforce of Courage in hand, Toon Link fires a beam of light from his left hand straight ahead of him. If anyone within a certain distance gets hit by it, Toon Link rushes on over, trapping the opponent between the Triforce before relentlessly slashing them over and over. Toon Link finishes off with a stab, shattering the Triforce and sending his opponent flying away!

If no one is in the light’s path, then the move fails.

This move is original to Super Smash Bros., though the final hit is similar to how Link finishes Ganon off in “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.” Later on, in the game "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild," Link can perform something similar to this called Flurry Rush. If Link dodges the enemy’s attack at the last second, Link could unleash a barrage of attacks on his opponent, though the Triforce doesn’t play a role in it.

The Triforce of Courage is an item introduced in "Zelda II: The Adventure of Link." In that game, Link goes on a long journey to place six crystals in six palaces to gain access to the Great Palace, where the Triforce of Courage rests. Once he obtains it, he uses it alongside the Triforce of Wisdom and the Triforce of Power to awaken the sleeping Zelda. In various games, the Triforce of Courage is always associated with Link.

Additional Notes 

Toon Link, while either standing or ducking, can use his shield to block projectiles. That is, as long as he isn’t holding something else, like one of his bombs.

When using Toon Link’s grab, the Hookshot, in the air, it can be used to attack opponents.

Toon Link can also use it to grab on to ledges to pull himself up.

On the “Spirit Train” stage, Toon Link – or rather, the Toon Link from “The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks” – can be seen driving the train. He sure looks happy!

However, if Link, Young Link, or Toon Link are in the battle, Alfonzo will be the one driving the train. In “The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks”, Alfonzo was part of New Hyrule’s Royal Guards, and known throughout the land as an expert swordsman. However, he left his position for reasons unknown to become a train engineer instead. He’s also Link’s mentor.

Dark Link is also an alternate costume for Toon Link. Dark Link is a mysterious doppelganger of Link. His origins are unknown, though it’s speculated that Ganondorf is responsible for his existence. His appearance is more based on how Dark Link looked in “The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess” rather than “The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks.“ 

While it has been implied that every Link is connected to each other - whether through blood or through reincarnation - the Link in The Wind Waker is said to have no connection to the previous Link from Ocarina of Time. Likewise, as previously mentioned, it seems that Spirit Tracks Link has no connection to Wind Waker Link. Perhaps Wind Waker Link and Tetra got together at some point, and thus he's Spirit Tracks Zelda's great-great grandfather? (Art made by TheWispGuy back when Miiverse was active. Also guest-starring King Daphnes and Aryll.)

 

Super Smash Bros. Fighters – The Legend of Zelda series – 05 Ganondorf

Debut 

In The Legend of Zelda series:

As the Beast, Ganon: The Legend of Zelda (1986)
As the Gerudo, Ganondorf: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)

In the Super Smash Bros. series: Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001)

Boxing Ring Title: The King of Darkness 

Theme Song: Death Mountain

Ganondorf is the main reoccurring antagonist of The Legend of Zelda series, and the wielder of the Triforce of Power. There have been various incarnations of Ganondorf throughout the Zelda series, but only two Ganondorfs have competed Super Smash Bros.: “Ocarina of Time” Ganondorf in Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and “Twilight Princess” Ganondorf in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS & Wii U.

Before the events of "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time," Ganondorf was born and raised in the harsh Gerudo Desert. Coveting the peaceful and lush lands of Hyrule, he engaged in the massive Hyrulean Civil War. The war eventually came to an end when all of the races of the land - Hyrulean, Kokori, Goron, Zora, and Gerudo - were united under the Royal Family of Hyrule. Ganondorf pledges loyalty to the King of Hyrule, but only so he can freely move around the country to complete his goal.

To do that, he decides to obtain the Triforce, which is said to be sleeping within the Temple of Time. To open it, Ganondorf needs the three Spiritual Stones: the Kokori Emerald, the Goron Ruby, and the Zora Sapphire. He visits The Great Deku Tree, the Goron Chieftan Darunia, and the Zora King to obtain the gems, but when they refused, he cursed The Great Deku Tree, blocked off the entrance to Dodongo's Cavern with a giant boulder, and cursed Lord Jabu Jabu respectively.

The King's daughter, Zelda, senses the evil within Ganondorf, and sends Link out to obtain the Spirtual Stones so they can expose Ganondorf. However, by the time Link collected them all and was heading back, Ganondorf launched his assault against Hyrule, assassinating the king. Zelda and Impa flee, and Ganondorf tries to pursue them, only to stop when he notices Link to ask him where they went. When the young boy refuses to tell him where Zelda went, Ganondorf throws a magical energy ball at Link and proclaims his intention to rule Hyrule before running off. Once Link opens up the gates inside the Temple of Time, which lead to the Sacred Realm, Ganondorf sneaks inside to claim the Triforce. However, he is only successful at obtaining The Triforce of Power.

During his seven years long reign, Ganondorf has moved into Hyrule's Castle, transforming it into Ganon's Castle, and rules over Hyrule with an iron fist. He patiently waits for the wielders of the Triforce of Wisdom and the Triforce of Courage to reveal themselves, who turn out to be Princess Zelda and Link respectively. Once Zelda reveals herself to Link - after he found and awakened the six sages - Ganondorf uses his magic to seal Zelda inside a crystal, teleporting her to his castle. Once Link manages to climb his way to the top, Ganondorf and Link have their showdown.

The outcome of Ganondorf's battle with Link splits into three timelines: The Child Timeline, The Adult Timeline, and the Downfall Timeline. In the Downfall Timeline, Ganondorf manages to successfully kill Link, though Zelda and the seven sages manage to seal Ganon away somewhat. The Child and Adult Timelines happen simultaneously if Link defeats Ganondorf with Zelda and the Six Sages sealing Ganon away. Princess Zelda decides to send Link back in time so he can relive his lost childhood, effectively writing Link out of existence for the Adult Timeline, and allowing him to have new adventures for the Child Timeline.

In the Child Timeline, Link warns Zelda and the King of Hyrule about Ganondorf's plans. Thus, they are able to capture him, put him on trial, and sentence him to execution by the Sages. Just as the Sage of Water stabs Ganondorf in the chest with the Sword of the Six Sages, the Triforce of Power chooses Ganondorf as its wielder, thus preventing his death. Ganondorf proceeds to break free of his chains and kill the Sage of Water. Before he can do anything else, the other six sages send Ganondorf to the Twilight Realm.

100 years later in “The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess,” Ganondorf has managed to revitalize himself through the Twili people's anguish and hatred. One day, he comes across an individual of the Twili people named Zant. Zant aspired to become the next ruler of the Twili, but they passed over him for Midna as they could tell by looking in his eyes that he was power-hungry and would lead them into ruin. Ganondorf, seeing an opportunity, strikes a bargain with Zant: Ganondorf will give Zant the power to allow him to overthrow Midna and take over as the "rightful ruler" of Twilight if Zant helps him escape the Twili Realm. With Zant agreeing to the deal, Ganondorf's plan to exact revenge on the Royal Family of Hyrule is set in motion...

In Super Smash Bros., Ganondorf is a powerhouse! His attacks do massive damage and can send his foes flying every which way! However, he can be a bit slow, and he doesn't really have a projectile to attack foes from afar, but that shouldn’t be too much of a problem for him.

Special Moves 

Neutral Special: Warlock Punch

Ganondorf pulls his fist back, surrounding it in dark energy before flinging his fist forward, delivering a DEVASTATING blow to any unfortunate foe in front of him!

If you tap the Special Button and quickly tap the control stick in the opposite direction Ganondorf is facing, he'll perform a Reverse Warlock Punch! A Reverse Warlock Punch is slightly stronger than a regular one, at the cost of taking a bit longer to throw out.

If the move is used while Ganondorf is on the ground, Ganondorf will be able to tank a couple of blows dealt to him before flinging his fist forward.

This move is original to Super Smash Bros. However, the move has snuck its way into “Hyrule Warriors” as one of Ganondorf’s attacks, where he uses a much faster version to punch and split a giant ball of dark energy towards foes in front of him.

Side Special: Flame Choke

Ganondorf rushes forward with his hand outward. If anyone is in his way, he grabs them and lifts them up in the air before blasting their face full of Dark Magic, which sends them flying downward towards Ganondorf’s feet. Ganondorf can then follow the move up with almost anything, from a dash attack to a down-tilt.

If used in the air, Ganondorf will instead grab his opponent and rush diagonally downwards to slam his foe on the floor. Although difficult, the opponent can try to escape this one, so Ganondorf has to be careful when using it.

The grounded version of the move appears to be inspired by two scenes in The Legend of Zelda. The scene in "The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess," where Ganondorf kills the Sage of Water (the rush part) and the scene where he lifts Tetra up in anger after she attempts to stop him from killing Link. (the attacking part) The aerial version is inspired by one of Ganondorf’s attacks in “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time,” though in that game, he simply rushes downwards to deliver a powerful punch to the ground to create shockwaves, rather than attempting to grab Link and slam him into the ground. 

Up Special: Dark Dive

Ganondorf jumps upward. If anyone is in his way, he’ll grab them and unleash Dark Magic on them before blasting them away from him. After that, he can use the move again to rise even higher, and can continuing doing so as long as he grabs someone.

However, if he fails to grab anyone, then at the apex of his jump, Ganondorf will swing his fist upwards and deliver a powerful uppercut. Anyone who happens to be there at that exact time will get flung upwards.

This move is original to Super Smash Bros. 

Down Special: Wizard’s Foot

On the ground, Ganondorf flings himself forward using a kick surrounded by Dark Magic. Anyone hit gets sent flying, though it causes Ganondorf’s forward momentum to get slowed down.

In the air, Ganondorf performs the move at a more downward angle.

This move is original to Super Smash Bros. 

Final Smash: Ganon, the Demon King

Using the Triforce of Power, Ganondorf transforms into his frightening and hideous Beast Form, Ganon. Ganon lets out a mighty roar, stunning anyone in his line of sight. Afterwards, he swings his two swords in front of him and dashes forward. Anyone hit by the swing of the blades will get sent flying towards the ground, while anyone hit by the dash will get sent flying away!

Once Ganon dashes off the screen, he reappears where he initiated the move and transforms back into his Human Form.

Inspired by Ganondorf's original beast form, which debuted in the first game, "The Legend of Zelda." Notably, early games always had Ganondorf as a beast. It wouldn't be until "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time" that his human form would be seen for the first time.

This move takes some inspiration from Ganon's Boss Fight in "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time," where he would use his large swords to attack Link. Ganon charing forward after swinging his swords is inspired by Beast Ganon's Boss Fight from "The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess," where it was Beast Ganon's main method of attack.

Additional Notes

In Super Smash Bros., Ganondorf is notorious for the fact that his moveset is similar to Captain Falcon’s, an unrelated character from the F-Zero series.  This was done because Ganondorf was not in the original plans for “Super Smash Bros. Melee” and was only included because of his popularity, as well as the fact that his body shape was pretty similar to Captain Falcon’s so they could easily copy-and-paste his moveset and animations on to Ganondorf. (they didn’t have enough development time to create an original moveset for Ganondorf) Future installments would try to deviate Ganondorf from Captain Falcon though.

“The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword” heavily implies that Ganondorf is the reincarnation of the game's final boss, Demise. Upon being defeated by Link, Demise, with his dying breath, warns Link that “…An incarnation of my hatred shall ever follow your kind, dooming (your descendants, as well as Zelda’s) to wander a blood-soaked sea of darkness for all time!” Who knows how differently Ganondorf’s life would’ve turned out had fate not chosen him as Demise's next incarnation.