SWOOPING IN ON WINGS OF WIND, PIDGEOT ENTERS THE FRAY! THOSE TOO LIGHT TO STAND THEIR GROUND BEWARE!
---CHARACTER---
Pidgeot is from the very first generation of Pokemon, and its pre-evolutions, Pidgey and Pidgeotto, could be caught throughout without too much difficulty. It's an interesting Normal/Flying type that can whip up gales with its wings and fly at speeds of Mach 2. That "gales" part there, that's the crucial part; Pidgeot and its line are perhaps the only Pokemon in existence whose Flying-type identity is specifically linked to the wind.
Lots more details can be
found here.
---OVERVIEW---
--- Pidgeot stands aloof, its wings ruffled back and its head held high with pride. Every once in a while, it tosses back its head or peck at the ground. When it doesn't find anything, it returns to its silent vigil.
Walk --- Pidgeot walks slowly, like a chicken but with somewhat more grace, one foot in front of the other.
Run --- Pidgeot spreads its wings and swoops forward, although not at its full speed. It's just sort of hovering above the ground, causing a thin stream of dust to whip around behind it as it goes. A fairly quick run, about the speed of Charizard.
Dizzy Stance --- Pidgeot spreads its wings, faces the screen, and stumbles from one side to the other clumsily. Makes it look pretty ridiculous, as many dizzy stances do.
Sleep Stance --- Pidgeot tucks its head into its wing as it dozes, its chest slowly going up and down.
Crouch --- Wings slightly splayed out to either side, Pidgeot lowers itself onto the ground like a bird guarding its eggs.
Glide --- Pidgeot HAS to have a glide. It's the quickest glide in the game, as suiting a Pokemon like Pidgeot. It also has a lot more mobility; Pidgeot can briefly travel perfectly upwards or downwards in a swoop before stalling and falling out of its glide. Pidgeot's advanced glide game, between this and its Up Special, is one of its greatest boons.
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Height --- Pidgeot is a large bird; standing at full height, it's a bit smaller than Mario, but once it unfurls its wings, as it does in its falling animation, it's actually a big target.
First Jump --- Pidgeot's first jump is pretty awful; a flap of the wings propelling it up the size of a Bowser and a half.
Extra Jumps --- Pidgeot has two extra jumps, each of them the length of its first jump again. This gives it excellent air mobility, openings to use aerial attacks, and also huge recovery. One of its strengths.
Power --- Pidgeot doesn't have the greatest knockback on most attacks. I'd call its overall power a bit below average. However, to compensate, Pidgeot has its wind attacks, that deal no damage but specialize in this particular department.
Attack Speed --- Despite what you may assume, Pidgeot's attacks can't be chained all too easily. It should rely on keeping its foe quite far away to be able to pull off its laggier attacks. Again, wind attacks are vital.
Traction --- As it flies above the ground in its dash, Pidgeot doesn't have terrific traction. Although it doesn't trip too much, being much too graceful for that, it can't turn on a dime. 3/10, I'd say.
Fall Speed --- Pidgeot is straddling the line to being a fast-faller. This adds to its overall impression of speed, an interesting combination with its multiple jumps. However, in conjunction with its light weight and big size, it makes it a prime candidate to be combo'd.
Weight --- Not the heaviest of characters, Pidgeot, being all feathers and bones. I'd say it's a bit lighter than Pikachu.
---MOVESET---
SPECIALS
Neutral Special --- Whirlwind --- Pidgeot swings its wing, kicking up a small tornado that travels straight forward, picking up speed as it goes. If it catches anyone, it acts like the old twister on Link's stage in SSB64, scooping the enemy up, spinning him around three or four times, quickly, and then throwing him straight up.
Notes --- This tornado travels in a straight line, but vanishes when it reaches a ledge or an obstacle of some sort. Now, since it travels so quickly, it's very difficult to punish a foe trapped in the tornado or one that has just been launched out. As Pidgeot swings its wing, there is a small opening for punishment. However, the tornado, picking up speed, is hard to predict and even dodge with slower characters. A foe caught is dealt 8% and thrown up, although it can't KO until extremely high percentages.
Forward Special --- Gust --- This is a chargeable attack, but not storable. Hold B for up to five seconds, then release, and Pidgeot will quickly and repeatedly flap its wings, making a gale blow across the stage. Uncharged, it barely even stops a nearby opponent's momentum. At full charge, it's quite potent, greyish wind shooting opponents almost clear across Final Destination.
Notes --- This is a useful edgeguarding tool, as it can be used from the air, but only effects a radius in front of and slightly above Pidgeot. In other words, if a foe is trying to go over you, you can use this attack while they're still in front of you to push them away. Gale can also be used to deflect certain gravity-effectible projectiles, such as ROB's Gyromite and Samus's missiles. This makes it extremely useful in a variety of situations, especially for giving you some space, but beware: the attack can be shielded, does no damage, and, obviously, must be charged to have any significant effect.
Up Special --- Fly --- Unlike Charizard's Fly, this essentially sends Pidgeot into a kind of super-glide. For three seconds, Pidgeot has the freedom to do whatever aerial stunts it wants without stopping.
Notes --- The dynamics are the same as a regular glide, as are the controls, but you can pretty much do anything. Loop-di-loop, fly upside down, straight up, straight down, glide attack(s) over and over again - the only difference is that it only lasts about three seconds. It's a solid recovery, though, and you can still use ordinary glide after it. All this adds up to making Pidgeot very hard to get rid of, and a true master of the glide and, by extension, of the skies.
Down Special --- Roost --- Looking around warily, Pidgeot lowers itself onto its rump and sits there, oblivious to the commotion around it. Every two seconds or so, Pidgeot lets out a cry, and heals 2%. Releasing B ends the attack. This can go on for a maximum of 14 seconds, healing 14%. However, after the attack ends, Pidgeot rises to its feet slowly, tossing its head and preening its feathers, giving it an exceptional amount of lag, about three seconds. What's more, having let down its guard, Pidgeot takes extra knockback if hit out of the attack or its lag.
Notes --- This attack should be used whenever the foe has been knocked away but can't be pursued, and whenever the foe is KO'd. Healing 2% or 4%, then fighting through the lag, is quite possible, leaving Pidgeot slightly refreshed and ready for combat. This has yet another level in 2 on 2; get your partner to guard you while you Roost, and you might even get the full 14% off, and that might even be a game-changing swing.
Overall, this move should be used at regular intervals, but very cautiously.
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STANDARD ATTACKS
A --- Wing Attack --- Pidgeot pulls its wing back, extending them, and then brings them both forward in a kind of clap with very nice range. The wings remain out for just under a second before Pidgeot pulls them back, if it doesn't follow up with its A combo.
Notes --- Strong for a jab attack, Wing Thwack has its uses. It may have very small knockback, but it does about 4%, which, combined with its range and long duration, makes it very useful for reaching out and touching an irritating foe. The knockback may be small, but it actually pulls the foe towards Pidgeot, setting you up for Featherdance.
Tap A --- Featherdance --- Pidgeot flaps its wings very quickly, raining feathers down on the foe. These little puffs of down pelt the foe in a disjointed hitbox, but the occasional feather flutters a bit farther away, giving the move a capacity to sometimes poke foes who are farther away.
Notes --- The hits have no knockback, and each do 1%, but since they fall in such a random, unpredictable way, you never know when the foe is going to have an opening to break out and retaliate. Use conservatively.
Dash Attack --- Quick Attack --- Pidgeot leans back and lashes out with a talon at the foe. This talon strikes low and has a 30% chance of tripping. As it does so, it extends its wings up high in the air, making its body a bigger target.
Notes --- A quickly executed (obviously) attack with decent range, it shoots foes on a horizontal trajectory when it doesn't trip the foe. This knockback is still quite small, though. Doesn't do much damage, only about 6%.
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GLIDE ATTACKS
Neutral Glide Attack --- Drill Peck --- Pidgeot breaks into a sudden spin. Wind whirls around it, giving this a sizable hitbox and quick priority. Pidgeot spins two or three times, in very quick succession, but the attack still deals out a single hit.
Note --- Drill Peck does about 9% and can KO at higher percentages. Any foe coming into contact with Pidgeot's swirling body is bounced away at a random trajectory. Now, this is probably the most spammable of Pidgeot's glide attacks, and comes out quickly to boot. Very handy.
Forward Glide Attack --- Air Slash --- As tilting forward causes Pidgeot to pitch downwards, when you use this attack, Pidgeot will be swooping already. Here, it jerks its head in a downward arc angrily. As it does so, an invisible blade of air appears before it, and cuts from high up to down low. The air slash remains out for a long time and has maximal priority, and you can safely use it before reaching the foe.
Notes --- Now, the slash travels in a sudden downward arc, and if it connects at any point, it deals 7%. However, it deals next to no knockback, merely knocking the foe slightly upwards to allow Pidgeot to glide past where they originally were. Another sudden attack, and an unpredictable one. Use for racking damage when Drill Peck is overly predictable.
Back Glide Attack --- Tailwind --- In this sudden move, Pidgeot bends its wings until their tips almost touch behind it, then pulls them forward in front of it, and finally returns them to their original position. Now, there is not actual hitbox per se here; the wings deal no damage. However, as Pidgeot brings its wings forward, a sudden gust of wind the length of a Battlefield platform materializes behind it, pulling foes along with it as it glides.
Notes --- Your foe dodge your glide attack? Use Back Glide to pull them along with you as you flap your way off the stage, making this attack's primary use as a suicidal attack. As Pidgeot actually pulls them for quite a long distance, this seems like it's handy, but you'll have to be creative in making up applications for such a move.
Up Glide Attack --- Endure --- Without a moment's hesitation, a bubble of dust-like particles cover the top half of Pidgeot's body, leaving only its talons and tail vulnerable. This bubble knocks away foes that bump into it with set knockback, but more relevantly, the duration of the attack gives Pidgeot super armor. Now, the bubble winks out of existence fairly randomly, so beware.
Notes --- Foes that are bumped away by the dust bubble are dealt a weak 3%, and could never be KO'd by this attack. No, this move's true use is in giving Pidgeot a quasi-shield while gliding. Be careful, though, as its feet and tail can still be hit. Also, the bubble can fade after anywhere from half a second to two seconds, so it's an unpredictable way to shield.
That aside, I mostly suggest using this attack to barrel through a foe, then following up with a Tailwind. The disorientation of being tossed around the stage by Pidgeot should be more than enough to make you an opening.
Down Glide Attack --- Faint Attack --- Since tilting down makes Pidgeot go into a swoop, this attack is mostly only used as an approach, and it's handy in that sense. Faint Attack has Pidgeot going almost entirely transparent, visible only as through a Cloaking Device, for about a second before reappearing. During that one second, if Pidgeot collides with a foe, it will let out a screech, reappearing, and dishing out great knockback against the foe.
Notes --- This move's drawback? Pidgeot must swoop during its duration; after pressing down A, you lose all control over its trajectory during its invisibility. Since the hitbox is more or less invisible, this is a most unpredictable attack, and I strongly suggest swooping towards a foe and then suddenly disappearing to throw them off. Pidgeot can be hit out of its transparency, but since its glide is so quick, this is hard to time.
Damage output isn't great - 5% - but there's some very decent knockback when Pidgeot collides with you. Use as a handy approach and to strike fear into the hearts of foes.
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TILTS
Forward Tilt --- Wing Attack --- Pidgeot turnsso that we see it head-on, or facing the screen, and extends both wings to either side. Directly in front of it, it buffets foes first with a sideways swing, and then with a second, similar swing going back towards the background.
Notes --- This attack actually doesn't have the greatest range, as Pidgeot is hesitant to stick its wings too far away. The first hit deals 5%, but it does have enough knockback that it's not too easy to hit with the second one, which does 4% when it hits. Now, this attack is laggy, as Pidgeot has to get into position. Okay for racking up the points early on, when you can land both hits, and maybe for trying to get that vital space between you and your foe if they're too close, but in general, not the best attack.
Up Tilt --- Steel Wing --- Pidgeot does a Charizard-esque two-wing strike directly above it with glowing wings. To elaborate, Pidgeot hits them with the joint of both wings by suddenly bringing them together above it.
Notes --- This is actually quite a strong attack that does about 11% and can KO over 100%. Its knockback has a slicing sound effect, rather like that of a sword attack, and is quite useful. What's more, there is a brief frame of super armor as Pidgeot prepares to bring its glowing wings together. To offset these perks, this is a very slow attack, with little range.
Down Tilt --- Pluck --- Pidgeot strikes foes in front of it with a sudden, sharp jab of its beak. In speed, this move is hard to trump; the execution takes about a split second. The knockback here is quite unpredictable.
Notes --- Pluck does about 4% - not the greatest amount - with unpredictable knockback that depends on the exact trajectory of the hit. It has a 20% chance of tripping the foe, which is ideal, as it sets you up for a big Forward Smash blowing them way out. Otherwise, it can make them go up, make the bounce along the ground, make them fly diagonally - although, obviously, not very far in any of these directions.
Another interesting property of this move is that it steals any item the foe may have been holding. Just get up close to them before they chuck that Pokeball or whatnot, and suddenly it's clenched in Pidgeot's beak. Makes it quite handy, in certain situations.
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SMASHES
Forward Smash --- Ominous Wind --- Pidgeot strikes foes directly in front of it with a powerful dual-wing strike, bringing them together in a clap-like motion. The outstretched wings stay out for a bit over a second, and are a hitbox that has the power to KO. However, as a cherry on the cake, a small wind is kicked up, that pulls foes within one Battlefield platform away towards Pidgeot at a decent speed.
Notes --- This one does about 16% with decent chances for a KO. However, the wind that it makes gives it deceptively long range, with the power to drag in a foe who's just out of reach. Quite handy, but the wings aren't the most powerful of hitboxes. This attack's main role will be to knock them off of the stage where you can edgeguard them with Gust or... something else.
Up Smash --- Aeroblast--- In this quickly executed attack, Pidgeot swings a single wings overhead, in an arc from front to back. The wing itself is hardly potent, and in fact quite weak. However, this attack is yet another that causes a powerful wind to be created. This one carries the foe upwards, and can in fact KO off the top of the screen.
Notes --- As with all wind attacks, the wind itself does no damage. This doesn't stop you from juggling the foe just to annoy them. Anyway, the wing does a sad 8% if it hits, with little knockback. However, this attack alone should make the foe wary of approaching from above, and most especially on stages with low ceilings; they just might not make it.
Down Smash --- U-Turn --- Pidgeot speedily spreads its wings, shoots a tiny distance forward (like the Range of Ivysaur's Forward Smash), and then whirls and moves back to its original position. It basically looks like Pidgeot's starting to dash forward, but with its body a hitbox, and with a very sudden turn around as it starts in the other direction.
Notes --- This makes for a quick way to turn around. It's an excellent mindgame, as it looks quite a bit like a sudden dash. Pidgeot's body makes a hitbox in this tackle, but the sweetspot is on the tip of its wings as it whirls. Sweetspotted, it does 18% and can KO by 90%. Not sweetspotted, it's a fairly weak smash, doing about 10%. No wind effects in this one, sadly, but it has a different application than a long-range KO.
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AERIALS
Neutral Aerial --- Aerial Ace --- Pidgeot essentially spreads its wings wide and bares its talons for about a second's period. During this time, the whole of its body is a big hitbox, although it does the most damage on the talons. This be sort of a quasi-sex kick, and comes out nice and quick without lots of strength.
Notes --- Unless you hit with the small talons - which deal 12% - this attack does a mere 7%. It has very little knockback, and stays out far too long to follow up effectively. With a big hitbox, use only when you need a bit of breathing space.
Forward Aerial --- Twister --- Pidgeot flaps both its wings in front of it, in a motion reminiscent of a less sudden Forward Smash. This attack can be called a Charizard impression; the wings themselves do little damage, but the invisible gust kicked up in front of them has very nice horizontal knockback.
Notes --- Since Pidgeot doesn't even have to touch them, this move's priority comes first. The wings themselves do an absolutely pathetic 2% and have just enough knockback to push the foe behind you where the wind can't touch them, so make sure you hit them with the gust. If you do, this is a fine edgeguarding option, as it can knock away a recovering foe without having to get too close to them. The only flaw with hitting your foe with wind in all these attacks is that it deals no damage; damage output is Pidgeot's greatest flaw.
Back Aerial --- Brave Bird --- For about a second, Pidgeot curls up in midair, putting its feet directly beneath it. Then it unleashes its pent-up power, suddenly extending both talons directly behind it at a terrific speed. These talons come out quickly, but get pulled back in just as quickly if they don't hit someone. If they do, they seem to bounce off of them and push Pidgeot a certain distance forward, dealing 5% to itself. However, the effect on the foe is much greater, making this quite a good KO move.
Notes --- Aside from the obvious start-up lag, and the negative effects on Pidgeot itself, this attack is quite mighty. It dishes out 13% to any foe who gets smashed by those talons, and has the horizontal knockback that can potentially KO.
Up Aerial --- Double Team --- Rarely do you find an A attack that can double as recovery. In this move, a second, third, and fourth Pidgeot appear above it, in a Fox Illusion-style trick. Of course, the lower ones disappear, and the top one extends it neck, hitting foes with its beak. Essentially a very short, vertical Fox Illusion that only does decent damage at the top.
Notes --- The disappearing trick has knockback but no damage. The real trick here is hitting the foe with the outstretched beak, which does 9% and has upwards knockback, although not too much of it. Now, this can't be spammed as an infinite recovery, as there is the ending lag, that keeps you from actually gaining any height in the long run. Use if you need that final bit of air time to touch the ledge.
Down Aerial --- Air Cutter --- Pidgeot bares its talons, getting into position, and drops like a stone down onto the foe. In the vein of Toon Link, Game and Watch, or Sheik, this attack makes Pidgeot drop, on a slightly tilted angle like Zamus's. However, this one stops after about a second, and Pidgeot pulls out with a flourish, making it slightly possible to recover if you missed. There is a slight wind around Pidgeot as it uses the move, pulling foes down with it as it drops.
Notes --- This attack has negligible knockback and does 7%, so, aside from the slightly redeeming wind feature, this is definitely an aerial better skipped. Still, an interesting one, if nothing else.
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THROWS
Grab --- Pidgeot pulls its wings in, catching foes in a wind and pulling them in. Range is about equal to Lucas's or Ivysaur's grabs.
Grab A --- Peck --- Pidgeot jabs at the foe viciously. Simple. Only does 1%.
Forward Throw --- Sand Attack --- Pidgeot flaps its wings together, catching the foe in a wind and shooting them horizontally. This wind is a bit different, though, and is quite sandy.
Notes --- This throw only does 6%, but can KO near the edge at higher percentages. More relevantly, the sand caused by the throw slightly obscures the screen for a few seconds before fading away. Usually a useless tidbit, but might come in handy in a chaotic free-for-all. As a visual effect, this sand can be blown further along the stage with any wind attack.
Back Throw --- Frustration --- Pidgeot swings the foe around to be behind it, jabs them in the face twice, and then knocks them away with a third jab.
Notes --- This looks painful indeed. Bad knockback, but this one at least has decent damage, 11%. Use when Pidgeot's lack of damage output is kinda getting you down.
Up Throw --- Tornado --- Yeah, alright, this one isn't an actual attack from Pokemon, but hey, there's only so many wind-based Pokemon attacks. Here, Pidgeot whips up a sudden tornado that ensnares the foe before it. They spin around inside a bit, then are launched straight up.
Notes --- Now, this one can KO at high percentages and does about 9%. However, it's a very slow throw, making it pretty useless in free-for-alls and team situations; if Pidgeot or the trapped foe are hit in any stage of the move, it's stopped.
Down Throw --- Clogged Tornado --- Similar to the previous attack, except this time, rather than standing by, Pidgeot rises to the top of the tornado and, perching there, blocks the foe from being sent out, instead shooting them careening into the ground.
Notes --- This one deals almost no knockback, but is one of Pidgeot's few attacks with respectable damage - about 13% - making it a high-power throw. It's impossible to chain-throw, as they more or less fall right beneath you, and, with teching, can punich you before Pidgeot has recovered from its ending lag.
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FINAL SMASH
Final Smash --- Hurricane --- Oh no, Pidgeot has the Smash Ball! Upon pressing B, Pidgeot rises to the top of the screen, where it becomes your job to tap B as quickly as humanly possible. Wind starts blowing everywhere, in arbitrary directions, tossing foes about. This lasts for about fifteen seconds, and is particularly devastating in free-for-alls, where everyone's bumping into one another. However, if you failed to KO them, you get nothing; the only way this attack can cause damage is by blowing them into hazards.
Notes --- If they're lucky, they get caught in a downdraft and grounded. If unlucky, an updraft will blow them straight into a current that takes them off the screen. However, if your tapping lets up, so will the winds, and the opponents will be able to resist them. This is a Final Smash that really takes great reflexes and tapping skills to work properly; if you have this, you should be able to, with a little bit of luck, send foes off the stage or into hazards. Oh, and don't even consider hiding on a ledge during this; the winds will rip you right off of it and into thin air.
---EXTRAS---
TAUNTS AND POSES
Up Taunt --- Pidgeot tosses its head back and strikes a pose. We see its profile, "hair" blowing in a breeze. Majestic and serious.
Side Taunt --- Pidgeot inspects the ground, then jabs, and comes up gobbling a small worm. Not very majestic or serious.
Down Taunt --- Pidgeot makes its cry from the game - the rest of the time, it's mostly silent - and unfurls its large wings. This taunt is impressive because it's one of the few times that Pidgeot opens its wings facing the camera; usually, one wing is in the background and one is in the foreground.
Victory Pose 1 --- Pidgeot swoops past the camera suddenly, then comes back around, lands, and unfurls both wings, holding one in front of it like a cape.
Victory Pose 2 --- Pidgeot picks at a few feathers, stamps its foot once or twice, then rears back and lets out its cry majestically.
Victory Pose 3 --- A small, dark tornado pops up from the bottom of the screen. It starts to slow, and, as it disappears, Pidgeot, who was within, stop spinning and looks over its shoulder at the screen.
Losing Pose --- Pidgeot simply glares at the winning player, unmoving.
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ALTERNATE COSTUMES
Well, first of all, there's the shiny costume:
Pretty much a golden variant on regular Pidgeot.
Red Team --- Pidgeot's hair becomes totally red, with no streak of yellow at all. Its body also changes in hue.
Blue Team --- Pidgeot's hair gains a blue streak instead of a yellow one. Hue changes.
Green Team --- Blah blah, hair gets green streak, hue changes.
Dark Pidgeot --- Since everyone needs a dark costume, here, Pidgeot becomes black. Its hair becomes pure white as a contrast, and its eyes are white and piercing. Its talons, though, are blood red.
Alt. Costume --- Pidgeotto! Why not? With a tap of a button, Pidgeot's hair gets shorter, its dark eyemarks vanish, and its tail becomes two colours again! See here:
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SNAKE'S CODEC
Otacon - Snake, watch out! It's a Pokemon!
Snake - Another one? Where do these things come from?
Otacon - They hatch from eggs after you take a certain amount of steps.
Snake - So they know how many steps you've taken? Doesn't sound like any egg I ever ate.
Otacon - Geez, Snake... you need to pay attention here! Pidgeot can move at a speed of Mach 2 and produce gale-force winds with a flutter of its wings!
Snake - ...Tastes like chicken?
Otacon - ...I give up.
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MISC
Entrance --- A small tornado comes in from the background and fades to reveal Pidgeot, wings spread, waiting inside.
Kirby Hat --- Kirby gains Pidgeot's long hair, making him look pretty hilarious. He gains the power to spit whirlwinds out of his mouth, since he obviously doesn't have any wings.
Symbol --- Is it necessary to mention that it gets the Pokeball?
Victory Theme --- Pidgeot gets the couple of seconds of
this theme directly after the opening riff.
O.o......
Who do you like better, REX or RAY?
