Super Smash Bros. Fighters - Pokémon series - 05-02 Squirtle

Debut
In the Pokémon series: Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green (1996)
In the Super Smash Bros. series: Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008)

Boxing Ring Title: Wants to Be the Very Best

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

Squirtle: the Tiny Turtle Pokémon. Water Type. #7 in the Pokédex. As a species, Squirtle's shell is rather soft upon hatching from its egg, but it slowly gets sturdier as it grows. It tends to live near lakes or rivers. Squirtle may peak its head out of the water if it finds something that peaks its curiosity. If it feels threatened, it'll withdraw into its shell and fire small blasts of water from its mouth at the foe until it leaves. Squirtle have a higher chance of being male than female.

In Pokémon Red & Blue, Squirtle serves as one of the player's three potential Starter Pokémon. Squirtle would have an easy time against the first gym, potentially do well in the second gym, but struggle against the third gym, making it the medium difficulty option. Squirtle would evolve into Wartortle upon reaching Level 16, and Wartortle would evolve into Blastoise at level 36.

If the player picked Charmander, then their rival would pick Squirtle as his starter. In their remakes, Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen, Blastoise would be able to learn the absurdly powerful Hydro Cannon move from an elderly woman living at Cape Brink. 

In Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition, a Squirtle in Vermilion City is is under the watchful eye of Officer Jenny. He was going around causing mischief for everyone, so she's looking for a good Pokémon Trainer to take care of him and set him on the right path. Once the player defeats Lt. Surge at the nearby Gym, Jenny decides to give Squirtle to you. Squirtle retains this role in Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu & Let's Go Eevee.

Though the move was widely available as a TM in Red & Blue, Pokémon Gold & Silver would make Skull Bash the signature move of the Squirtle line. Skull Bash is a powerful attack that also boosted the user's defense. Starting in Pokémon Emerald, other Pokémon could learn the move naturally, making Squirtle no longer a unique case.

In Pokémon X & Y, Blastoise would be able to Mega Evolve into Mega Blastoise if the user found its Mega Stone. It would obtain the Mega Launcher ability, which powered up its aura and pulse moves.

Squirtle also shows up in the various spin-off games, such as Pokémon Pinball and Pokémon Channel. Sometimes, Squirtle can be chosen as a playable character, like in the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series.

Notable Squirtle in the games would be none other than Red's Squirtle, though he's a Blastoise now. Not much is known of his personality, though Pokémon Yellow reveals he was a mischievous troublemaker.

Another notable Squirtle would be Blue's Squirtle, who is also a Blastoise. While the series was initially rather vague on which of the three Starter Pokémon Blue picked, most media these days - such as Pokémon Origins and Pokémon Masters EX - pairs him with Blastoise. Like with Red's Blastoise, not much is known about him, but he tends to serve as one of Blue's strongest members on his team. Due to a majority of games having Red use his Blastoise, Blue tends to use Blastoise's replacement, Gyarados, instead.

A Squirtle owned by Ash Ketchum also plays a major role in the animated adaption, Pokémon the Series. Ash's Squirtle makes his debut in the episode "Here comes the Squirtle Squad," were he's shown to be the leader of a delinquent gang called The Squirtle Squad. Squirtle first met Ash and his friends when they fell into a pit trap he and his squad had dug. Later on, Squirtle would meet up with the Team Rocket Trio - which consist of Jessie, James, and Meowth - where Meowth manages to trick Squirtle into capturing Pikachu for them. Squirtle and his squad have a fight with Ash's Pikachu and manage to win, and so they bring Pikachu, Ash, and his friends to their secret hideout. Upon arriving, Ash begs the leader to let him go so he can get a Super Potion to heal Pikachu, who was badly injured in the fight. Squirtle denied the request at first, but changes his mind upon seeing Ash cry.

When Ash returns with the Super Potion in hand and heals Pikachu, Meowth would reveal his deception and rejoin Jessie and James with Pikachu in tow. Jessie and James would then throw bombs near the hideout, forcing the group to flee back into the cave. However, Squirtle wasn't able to join with the others as he fell over on his back, leaving him helpless! Ash then rushes back to rescue Squirtle, covering him with his body and taking most of the bombs blasts himself. Touched by Ash's kindness, Squirtle would find the strength he needed to pick Ash up and rush both of them to safety, after which he helped Ash rescue Pikachu. Squirtle and his Squad would then help put out the fires that the bombs caused.

Back at town, the Squirtle Squad are considered heroes and get promoted to the town's official fire fighters. Despite their newfound praise, the leader of the Squirtle Squad decides he'd like to journey with Ash instead and tags along with the group, leaving his gang in the care of Officer Jenny. Squirtle would eventually leave Ash's team and reunite with The Squirtle Squad in the episode "Johto Photo Finish", though Squirtle would briefly reunite with Ash for his final battle against Pyramid King Brandon in Pokémon the Series: Ruby & Sapphire. In Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon, the episode "Alola, Kanto!" reveals that Squirtle and his Squad are at Professor Oak's lab, though it's unknown if they are now living there or were simply visiting at the time.

Personality-wise, Ash's Squirtle is a loyal friend, if somewhat immature and mischievous due to his previous life style, though he slowly matures during the journey. He also sported some cool triangle-shaped shades that he would occasionally wear when he got serious.

Another notable Squirtle would be Blasty from the ongoing manga, Pokémon Adventures. Prior to the start of the series, he was living at Professor Oak's Lab, though he was eventually kidnapped by a girl named Green. At some point, he evolved into Wartortle. Blasty would make his proper debut in the chapter "Wartortle Wars," where he tries to help his trainer get away from a boy named Red, since she ripped him off of his money. Once they made it to some water, he was able to quickly swim the two of them far ahead of Red, only to get cut off by Red's Snorlax. While Green was making an excuse for why she did what she did, Blasty prepared to attack Red with Bubble, only for Red to reveal he saw it coming and has his Snorlax level the pavement they're on, knocking Green and Blasty out.

In Super Smash Bros., Squirtle is the fastest of Pokémon Trainer's team, allowing him to quickly get to where he needs to go, but he's also the lightest, so opponents can easily toss him around. Still, Squirtle fights with honor, so he'll show them a thing or two about turtle power!

Special Moves

 Neutral Special: Water Gun

Squirtle starts charging up some water inside of him. You can cancel the charge by moving left, right, down, or by shielding. Once fully charged, pressing the Special Button again will have Squirtle fire a stream of water from his mouth. Anyone hit by it will be pushed away

How powerful it is depends on how long Squirtle has charged it.

Inspired by the move, Water Gun, introduced in "Pokémon Red & Blue." Water Gun is a Special Water Type Move with a power of 40.

Squirtle learns this move in the early levels. 

 Side Special: Withdraw

Squirtle jumps into his shell and darts forward at incredible speed! The speed he travels depends on whether you're tilting the Control Stick forwards, backwards, or not at all. If he bumps into anyone, he'll pop back out of his shell as his foe goes flying away from him.

 If Squirtle gets jumped on while in his shell, he'll flip over and be vulnerable for a few seconds, so be careful!

Loosely inspired by the move, Withdraw, introduced in "Pokémon Red & Blue." Withdraw is a Status Water Type move that boosts the user's defense slightly. It is mostly learned by Pokémon who have shells, or something akin to one. It has no offensive properties. In "Pokémon Red & Blue," Squirtle learns Withdraw at Level 28, though starting in "Pokémon Gold & Silver," Squirtle now learns the move at Level 10.

The move seems to be more inspired by how Ash's Squirtle uses the move, Rapid Spin, in "Pokémon the Series." Rapid Spin is a Physical Normal Type move with a power of 20 (In Gens 1-7) or 50. (in Gen 8) In addition to damaging the opponent, it'll also remove any entry hazards on the battlefield, like Spikes. Starting in "Pokémon Gold & Silver," Squirtle can learn this move at Level 20, though later games tend to change which level Squirtle learns it.

Squirtle getting flipped over on his shell if jumped on may be inspired by how Koopa Troopas tend to retreat into their shells in the unrelated "Super Mario" games. 

 Up Special: Waterfall

A torrent of water appears around Squirtle as he starts swimming upward. Anyone nearby will get dragged up with him before getting flung away at the end.

Inspired by the move, Waterfall, introduced in "Pokémon Red & Blue." Waterfall is a Physical Water Type Move with a power of 80, and was the signature move of the Goldeen-Seaking line before "Pokémon Gold & Silver" allowed others to learn the move. Said games also gave the move a 20% chance of making the opponent flinch. In some games before "Pokémon Sun & Moon," using the move while adventuring will allow you to climb up waterfalls to get to otherwise unreachable areas.

Squirtle can learn this move through the use of a TM, an HM. or a TR. 

 Final Smash: Triple Finish - Hydro Pump

Squirtle starts charging up water in his mouth while Pokémon Trainer sends out Ivysaur and Charizard to help out.

Squirtle then fires a massive whirlpool of water called Hydro Pump out of his mouth! Enemies above or below will get dragged in towards the center of the move, where they'll get hit by Ivysaur's and Charizard's attack!

Inspired by the move, Hydro Pump, introduced in "Pokémon Red & Blue." Hydro Pump is a Special Water Type attack with a power of 120 (in Gens 1-5) or 110 (in Gen 6 onwards) though it has an accuracy of 80%.

Squirtle tends to learn this move in the later levels.

Additional Notes 

Despite being a Water Type Pokémon and a good swimmer, Squirtle can still drown if you leave him swimming in the water for too long in Super Smash Bros. Don't think about it, I suppose.

One of Squirtle's alternate colors resembles his Shiny color.

Back in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Squirtle could carry crates faster than the bigger and stronger Ivysaur and Charizard, Perhaps Squirtle is using the move, Strength, to do that.

Before Squirtle was chosen, Masahiro Sakurai considered adding Squirte's final evolution, Blastoise, to Pokémon Trainer's team, but chose Squirtle instead because he thought having balance with the sizes and stages of evolution would be more interesting.