Neutral Attack / Special | Press the attack or special button only without using the Circle Pad. |
Side Attack / Special | Hold the circle pad to the left or right then press the attack / special buttons |
Down Attack / Special | Hold the circle pad down and press the attack / special buttons |
Up Attack / Special | Hold the circle pad up and press the attack / special buttons |
Up/ Side / Down Smash | Hold the circle pad to the corresponding direction and press the attack button at the same time. Smash attacks can be charged. It can be released prematurely or the character will release it after charging the move enough. |
Dash Attack | Tap left or right to dash then press the attack button. |
Air Attacks | Similar to basic attacks and specials, most characters perform different air attacks by using similar button and circle pad combinations. |
Recovery | This is the recommended move to get back to the edge of the stage ledge if ever you get blown off but not KO'd |
Final Smash | After successfully destroying a Smash Ball, press and hold the special button to unleash your character's Final Smash attack. |
Basic Attacks
Holding the attack button allows Pikachu to unleash a flurry of headbutts.
Pikachu kicks with both of his legs. You can slightly tilt the angle up or down.
Pikachu whips his tail upward.
Pikachu whips his tail while crouching on the ground.
Dash Attacks
Pikachu performs a leaping headbutt after gaining momentum while running.
Smash Attacks
Pikachu releases a short range electric ball.
Pikachu whips his tail up with more force.
Pikachu spins on the ground while discharging a bit of electricity
Special Attacks
Pikachu fires a bolt of electricity that bounces and follows the surface.
Pikachu will blast forward using his head as a battering ram while spiraling. Charging this move will increase the damage and range.
Pikachu dashes horizontally or vertically at blinding speed. This move can be used twice in succession and in different directions. After pressing Up Special once, tilt the circle pad horizontally to dash in that direction or just keep holding up. You must press the command quickly again in order to connect the move to two parts. This move can damage any opponent along Pikachu's path a bit. (around 2%)
Pikachu calls a lightning bolt from above. Even if he's hit and thrown out of the way after using this move, the lightning will still hit the same spot when it was activated.
Air Attacks
Pikachu spins around in mid-air
Pikachu headbutts forward while discharging electricity
Pikachu spins sideways.
Pikachu somersaults and uses his tail as a whip
Pikachu dives down headfirst while discharging electricity
Final Smash
Pikachu turns into a giant electric ball which you can control. Opponents who gets in contact of the ball gets damaged and knocked back. You can push the attack button to trigger “pulse” attacks from the energy ball. This pulse gives more damage and knock back at the expense of a short cooldown period. You can juggle and carry opponents off stage with this move, regardless of the stage's normal obstacles and platforms.
Recovery
Pikachu's Quick Attack is very versatile as you can use it for both horizontal and vertical recovery. However, this move leaves him in a “fall” state so make sure you tilt the direction where you want to go. Though this move allows you to use it consecutively, you can't extend the distance Pikachu travels by pressing Up Special in both directions. For example, if you want a higher reach vertically, you can immediately press Up Special and tilt the circle pad diagonally to make Pikachu travel up then to the 11 or 1 o'clock directions. Quick attack deals a bit of damage to any opponent caught within Pikachu's direction. Skull Bash is also one of Pikachu's good horizontal recovery moves. It doesn't leave him in Fall status which allows him to jump or follow up with Quick Attack. In addition to these already reliable recovery options, Pikachu can also perform wall jumps if necessary.
Pikachu is one of the game's lightest and fastest characters. The main strategy for playing as Pikachu is to use his superb mobility to land quick, light attacks until the opponent has racked up enough damage to be KO'd. Pikachu's range is quite short so he has to get up-close-and-personal most of the time. Pikachu's Side Smash has decent reach and solid damage while his Skull Bash has both good range and damage, which can be further increased by charging the move. Thunder Jolt is mostly used for harassing opponents at a distance but its negligible damage can be ignored by most enemies and charge at you instead. Thunder has a long vertical range, which can damage opponents caught along the lightning's trajectory. This is good for reaching opponents when they're in the mid-air. And if it is used while Pikachu is moving, the lighting bolt will fall down on the same spot where it was first used, which acts as a delayed trap to unsuspecting opponents. If the lightning bolt hits Pikachu, it deals additional damage to anyone near him. Quick Attack is primarily a recovery move since the damage it deals can be ignored.