Choose One
Squirtle Ivysaur Charizard
IKE TAKE TWO
Welcome, here we will explore deeper into the big question of who to choose when starting a match. Right now we do have a chart but because of the youth of this thread, it is inaccurate, but in time changes will be made and the chart will become accurate. If you want to look more specifically as to what was said, click on the page number and work your way up from there.
How to read the chart:
To read the chart is very simple. As you can see, there is the list and picture of all the Brawl characters in the game, underneith them there is a box with at least one of these colors: light blue, green, and orange. You can already tell that the blue is for Squirtle, green for Ivysaur and orange for Charizard. Whatever color(s) fills the box below the character, that is the pokemon that is recomended you start with. Please excuse that the chart is not in alphabetical order as is the listing of characters, regardless, the information will still be there when we fill out the summaries.
Starter(s): Ivysaur Charizard
Summary:
Ivysaur- Ivysaur comes in handy when you mainly want to rack up damage on a fat target like Bowser. As such, bullet seed is your best friend. In some aspect, his weakness to fire comes in handy here; if you are ever subjected to Bowser's fire breath, take advantage of the additional knock-back to escape. Ivysaur is capable to hold her own against Bowser as well as land a KO if properly executed. Ivysaur has the ability to space Bowser, like with razor leaf and b-air, to accommodate multiple purposes like baiting and disrupting things; sometimes it's not all about damaging your opponent, but rather setting them up for much bigger things. Keep in mind that Ivysaur has a variety of KO moves (like a surprise vinewhip to the face) but they do leave you wide open for punishment, so be careful when using them. A thing to watch out for is the grab release Bowser has on Ivysaur which can prove to be detrimental during mid percents. Depending on how you plan to use Ivysaur, it is also a viable option to switch to Charizard after dealing damage to Bowser.
Charizard- Charizard has many great weapons and capabilities to get the upper hand on Bowser. Ranging from his juggling abilities, spacing (b-air and flamethrower), and aerials, Charizard is certainly the pokemon to start with. Bowser, being the fat target that he is, is highly susceptible to f-air and d-air, which can be considered one of his greatest weapons against characters like Bowser. Keep in mind some of Charizard's handy tools like rock smash (which shouldn't be spammed and can be followed up with u-smash to deal 61% damage) and n-air, which has a lagless land when coming out of a short hop and can follow up into just about anything. Charizard can also tank Bowser for as long as you can keep him alive, so not only to you have a great character with multiple deadly weapons, but he lasts a long time too.
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Avoid:
Squirtle- Squirtle is a short, but very fast character who is able to weave in an out of most situations. This is an advantage but also a disadvantage, keep in mind, Squirtle has to get right in Bowser's face, which can be lethal. If you have to use Squirtle, be weary of Bowser's grab release options. Also remember Squirtle is a tiny lightweight fighting a big heavyweight; it won't take much for a smart Bowser player to take you out. It's just about an even fight, but for the sake of wanting to have a better chance of having a good start in a match, we recommend you don't start Squirtle.
Page: 83 - 85
Starter(s): Squirtle
Summary:
Squirtle- Squirtle is a clear choice to start the game off against the Captain. Squirtle's mobility is able to compete with Falcon's and in an aerial battle, Squirtle is top notch here. You also have the advantage with Squirtle's size because you will be hard to hit and KO. Beware of grab release shenanigans and have fun!
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Avoid:
Ivysaur- Due to some discrepancy, Ivysaur will remain in the avoid section. Advocates for Ivysaur say Ivysaur has the spacing tools which would prove to be useful when starting against Falcon. Bair and Razor Leaf are the main spacing tools at hand while Bullet Seed would be used when Falcon gets too close. However, the opposition says that Falcon's ability to penetrate Ivysaur's zoning. Getting grabbed and followed up into an up-air could spell disaster for Ivysaur. Ivysaur also have few repelling moves when under pressure and overall because of factors like these, Ivysaur is a waste of start and could cost you a stock.
Charizard- Due to discrepancy, Charizard will also remain in the avoid section. Advocates of Charizard state that Charizard has the ability to dominate the game over Falcon by basically keeping him at arms reach. Charizard's move set can counter just about everything Falcon can throw at him, since this is a close quarters fight for the most part, Charizard is said to have the advantage. The opposition once again states to not underestimate Falcon's mobility and zone penetration. Falcon's mobility is clearly superior to Charizard's which will be taken advantage of to its fullest extent. Charizard is also a fat juicy target for Falcon's sweet spots. Overall, Charizard has less support than Ivysaur so it is more recommended not to use him.
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Starter(s): Squirtle
Summary:
Squirtle- Nothing has really changed in the Diddy MU that would cause any call for another starter other than Squirtle. Squirtle is small, fast, and agile, pretty much like Diddy. Overall, you can keep up with him and take his banana game and shove right back in his face as well. Take advantage of glide tossing and Squirtle's useful hydroplaning abilities while holding a banana.
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Avoid:
Ivysaur- Ivysaur has really no options when fighting Diddy, so it's best to use her to stall for time while Squirtle recovers from fatigue. Her ability to approach is virtually nonexistent and she is out-camped by Diddy. Because Ivysaur is more of an anti aerial fighter, she is limited as to what she can do since Diddy is a ground fighter. As such, avoid using Ivysaur.
Charizard- Charizard mainly fails to make the mark here due to his poor ground mobility. Also, he is such a big target, bananas give him a really hard time. Despite this, he does have a better chance of being able to fight back against Diddy than Ivysaur. However, his capabilities to keep up with Diddy don't even come close to Squirtle's, so it's best to avoid using Charizard to start.
Page: 86 - 87
Starter(s): Ivysaur Charizard
Summary:
Ivysaur- Ivysaur is a viable choice when starting against DK. Ivy's moveset is effective against heavyweights like DK. Razorleaf and bullet seed are the tools that come in handy here. Because you can easily rack up a great amount of damage on DK in such a short amount of time, he she is a viable choice to start. However, be warned, DK's power is enough to knock you off stage with a clean blow and then you can get gimped. Depending on how well you play Ivysaur, you may want to consider switching to Charizard once you've racked up enough damage.
Charizard- Charizard is more solid start than Ivysaur. In a ground fight, Charizard will hold his own. Take advantage of flamethrower, rock smash and your tilts. When the opportunity arises, punish DK's recovery with flamethrower or a d-air. Charizard also has good juggling capabilities against DK (but so does he). Overall, against heavyweights, Charizard's moves are most efficient. It's close to an even match-up, but you will find Charizard is the best choice to go with.
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Avoid:
Squirtle- Much like in the Bowser match-up Squirtle's size is his downfall. Being a small, lightweight character who needs to get in DK's face, does not benefit you all too well. If you do have Squirtle out at any time, do not trade punches with DK, this is one of the worst things you could possibly do. If anything, use Squirtle to stall for time since you are more mobile than he is and can avoid him quite easily.
Page: 87 - 90
Starter(s): Squirtle Charizard
Summary:
Squirtle- Squirtle is the best choice to start against Falco. His small size allows him to crouch under Falco's lasers and maneuver around just about anything Falco can throw at him. Squirtle also has an uptilt lock on Falco up to 45% which is great for getting the lead early percentage-wise. Squirtle has the ability to punish Falco's recovery with watergun, whether he uses his normal up-B recovery or side-B recovery. Just remember to hold on to your second jump for after you are off stage from being chaingrabbed.
Charizard- Charizard is doable starter. Although he is not as great of a choice as Squirtle, he certainly isn't a bad choice either. Charizard's attack range and mobility proves to be useful against Falco. Charizard is quite capable of pressuring Falco with his grabs and flamethrower. If Falco tried to approach with something like his Nair, you can easily counter with rock smash. However, Charizard doesn't come without his disadvantages. If Charizard is grabbed, Falco can inflict at least 80% of damage. Falco is able to outcamp us with his laser but if you manage to approach him, then you shouldn't have too many problems. As a piece of useful information, rock smash absorbs Falco's laser when Charizard slams his head into the rock. This would be useful when defending against laser into grab/jab.
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Avoid:
Ivysaur- Ivysaur is the worst possible choice to start against Falco. Ivysaur is at best, useful for getting the KO, if you manage to land it. Ivysaur is unable to crouch Falco's lasers and if Ivy is chaingrabbed, that stock is gone. Overall, avoid having Ivysaur out if Falco is at low percents.
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Starter(s): Squirtle Ivysaur Charizard
Summary:
Squirtle- Squirtle's small size gives you the capability of avoiding Fox's lasers whether it be crawling under them or just jumping out with way quickly. Squirtle's versatility allows him to put a hurting on Fox giving you the ability to easily rack up damage. Punish Fox's recovery with watergun when the opportunity rises. Just be careful because Squirtle is also a light character like Fox so you can get KO'd early if you aren't careful.
Ivysaur- There has been much debate over Ivysaur and her capabilities to start but Ivysaur is equally of a good choice to start against Fox. Ivysaur can't be outcamped, if anything, you can use razorleaf effectively against Fox, just don't spam it to where it gets reflected. If you are able to get Fox into the air, there isn't much he can do since your aerials out-range his, to try to bait and punish an airborne Fox. When Fox is recovering, be on the look out for him to shine stall, at which point in time, you harass him and instant tether the ledge to steal it from him. If Fox tried to take the fight to you up close, bullet seed is a viable option, granted, any good Fox will be able to SDI out of it, but his options are limited, if he DI's to you, throw in a tilt to punish him. Keep in mind that Ivysaur has moves that outrange Fox's so don't be shy trying to wall him and keep him at arm's length.
Charizard- Although not debated really much at all this time around, because of how the Pokemon Trainer match-up is against Fox, all three pokemon have their own ways of proving useful. Charizard is a tank fighting against one of the lightest characters in the game which means you will be able to take more punishment and last longer. It might be a little uncomfortable having a close quarters fight with Fox but Charizard does have the tools that prove very useful. Charizard has a few options when Fox is up close like rock smash, grabbing, and tilting. When recovering, just ledge guard with flamethrower. Fair is great for knocking Fox far away when you land the sweet spot. Just keep in mind, Fox is faster than you, so play patiently.
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Starter(s): Squirtle
Summary:
Squirtle- No matter how you look at it, Game&Watch really beats up all three pokemon. However, preparing for the worst, and hoping for the best, Squirtle will be the best option to start the game off right. G&W likes the air and some of his moves will be predictable and punishable, while his ground game isn't that bad either. Against G&W, you can't let Squirtle stay in too long because G&W will be able to KO Squirtle early. You need mobility in this fight and Squirtle is the right one for the job.
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Avoid:
Ivysaur- Ivysaur is a tricky one to have start. Overall, it is recommended that you switch into Ivysaur and grab the KO. Ivysaur might be a viable option due to her spacing abilities but her performance right now is debatable. Ivysaur has laggy moves that take a little time, while G&W has moves that take no time to throw out, however they leave him vulnerable, a few more than others. G&W is one of the lightest characters in the game, which means KOing him at early percents wouldn't be a problem for a powerhouse like Ivysaur. For now, start Ivysaur at your own risk.
Charizard- Charizard is not a good choice to start quite simply because he is a huge punching bag for G&W. Charizard should be your meat shield for the team while others rest and if at a low enough percent, set up for a safe switch for Squirtle.
Page: 93 - 95
Starter(s): Squirtle Ivysaur Charizard
Summary:
Squirtle- Against a slow moving, laggy character like Ganon, Squirtle is a good option to go with. Squirtle is faster on the ground, in the air, and has a much further grab range than Ganon. Due to Squirtle's small size, he is able to crouch under some of Ganon's moves. However due to his small size and light weight, he is susceptible to being KO'd really early because of Ganon's sheer power. Just keep in mind, Ganon is the kind of character that punishes greed and mistakes. Despite Ganon being an easy target, you will have a little trouble getting the KO on him, which it might just be best to switch out given the situation.
Ivysaur- Ivysaur is another viable choice against Ganon because of her spacing capabilities. Bullet seed is also a useful weapon for heavy character like him. With Ivysaur, caution should be taken because of how slow she is in the air and also how laggy her moves are, which Ganon can punish is given the opportunity. With Ivysaur, it's just a spacing game, she still has a couple of moves to repel a Ganon that pierces the wall of razor leaf and back air, but it's imporatn you keep him spaced.
Charizard- Charizard is also another good choice because he too can space Ganon, with flamethrower. Charizard too packs a punch and can not only rack up damage on Ganon, but get the KO. There are also chances to punish his recovery either with a spike or flamethrower depending on how he decides to recover. Charizard also has a far grabbing range so use that to your advantage. The drawback to Charizard is how big he is. Ganon's death choke can prove to be dangerous to Charizard because it can be chained. Overall, Charizard is still a big target for a big and powerful character like Ganondorf.
Page: 95 - 98
Starter(s): Squirtle Ivysaur Charizard
Summary:
Squirtle- Of the three to choose from, Squirtle will have the hardest time. Squirtle's watergun isn't nearly as good of a spacing tool as razor leaf or flamethrower, but it works pretty well at pushing Ice Climbers around. Remember that you have to think and play differently in this match-up. The goal is to divide and conquer. Squirtle's mobility will allow you to move in and out poking at IC as many times as you can get away with it. You just need to be careful because once you get grabbed, consider yourself to have one less stock. The trick is to not become predictable, watch your spacing, and not do anything that would cause you to be shield grabbed. If anything else, you can always time out IC with Squirtle because he's faster, more agile, and harder to catch.
Ivysaur- Despite Ivysaur not having exceptionally good separating tools, she can fight a battle of attrition against IC. Ivysaur's razor leaf counters icebergs and any other camping IC might attempt. If you feel the need to separate them, her grab is her best option to separate the two, but it requires you to get in their grab range as well so use your better judgement when moving in to grab. You can take your time with Ivysaur because the overall goal with Ivysaur is to keep IC together and at bay, while restricting their movements.
Charizard- Charizard is most likely the best starter because he can deal with IC with more ease than Squirtle or Ivysaur. Flamethrower is a good spacing and damaging tool along with a sparingly used rock smash. Landing a sweet spot with Charizard's F-air is the best tool for separating IC, which separation is the strategy you want to go for. In this fight, Charizard can keep IC at arm's length and pick them apart without much work. With the correct spacing, you won't have to worry about getting grabbed.
Page: 98 - 99
Starter(s): Ivysaur Charizard
Summary:
Ivysaur- It's a very simple reason why it is best start with Ivysaur against Ike. First of all, Ivy can out range Ike very well and since Ike has no ranged attacks, he can't do anything. Second, Ivysaur's move set is great against Ike because he is a heavyweight, racking up damage will be a piece of cake and not to mention you could possibly get a gimp on him. Even though Ike has a pretty long reach with his attacks, there shouldn't be much of a problem with Ivy's spacing capabilities. As another plus, if you need the urge to kill or switch Charizard is next in the party.
Charizard- Charizard too has Ike out ranged with his flamethrower. Charizard has more mobility on the ground and has some pretty fast attacks that will come in handy like his down tilt. However, this is a heavyweight battle so we cautious and try not to get too high in the air or you will be subject to Ike's juggling. Charizard too can get a gimp on Ike or better yet stop an Ike from recovering. When Ike recovers with Either, he has invincible frames until the attack is over, well if you sit there on the ledge and put out your flamethrower, it pushes Ike out just enough to where he won't grab the ledge. This has been a proven fact. If you find yourself in a tight squeeze and you don't want Charizard to be KO'd then switch to Squirtle and let him take the KO and then you will have a fresh Ivysaur to do your bidding. There was some controversy over Squirtle due to Ike's ability to kill him at like 60% and would he be best despite that factor so for now, it's your choice.
Page: 26 - 29
Starter(s): Squirtle Ivysaur
Summary:
Squirtle- Squirtle is a good choice to go against Jigglypuff because mainly Squirtle can hit the air if he has to and go toe to toe with her in an aerial battle. Some of Jiggly's attacks are laggy so take advantage of Squirtle's speed and agility to punish. More or less, you won't have any trouble racking up damage with Squirtle and then you can switch if necessary. Just be mindful of some of her attacks that could kill you early on like a well placed roll out.
Ivysaur- Ivysaur is another good choice to start against Jigglypuff. Jigglypuff, will most likely want to hit the air, with that, you have an advantage. Ivy's move set basically makes him an anti aerial artillery gun. Plus because of Jiggly's floatiness, it is possible to get an early kill on her, maybe even stock tank. If worst comes to worst and Ivy is at a high percent, switch to Charizard, let him be the fall man but also do as much as you can with him. Then once he get's KO'd, send out a fresh Squirtle and finish the job or damage Jiggly more then switch back to Ivysaur for the kill.
Page: 29 - 31
Starter(s): Squirtle
Summary:
Squirtle- Squirtle is primarily a good selection because of the fact that DeDeDe can not chain grab him. Next is the Squirtle's basic structure, he's fast and agile and can do some serious damage to someone like DeDeDe. However problems can arise like Squirtle having to damage DeDeDe to a high percent in order to even KO him. There is also another problem as well, Squirtle can be killed off early. DeDeDe may be a bit on the slow side but he has a far reach like Ike so use caution. To a recovering DeDeDe, water gun can look bad because it will push him away from the stage. There's not too much more other than take advantage of Squirtle's movement to rank up damage and it will be best to switch to Ivy for the kill.
Page:31 - 32
Starter(s): Squirtle Ivysaur
Summary:
Squirtle- Despite a difficult discussion, the conclusion for starters have turned out to be Squirtle and Ivysaur. Squirtle is good here to go head to head with Kirby, he will be great for starting up a great momentum and not having to worry about much. His agility and aerial capabilities and tilts on the ground will keep you safe. Keep watch at how long you keep him out because Kirby can KO him at an unfavorable percentage. It is recommended at the right time that you switch to Ivy to finish off Kirby.
Ivysaur- Ivysaur is good here too. Things like Nair comboing will be effective against someone like Kirby. Keep in mind, bullet seed will not be the best move to use for racking damage against Kirby. Ivy can also counter Kirby's aerial based tendencies and since Kirby is light/floaty, you could get a kill. If you start with Ivysaur, it is recommended that you use Charizard for the KO, then stock tank so that way you may come out with a fresh squirtle and continue the process.
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Starter(s): Squirtle Ivysaur Charizard
Summary:
Squirtle- Squirtle is fundamentally the best option here when starting against someone like Link. Squirtle is a small target for Link to hit, whether it be projectiles or normal attacks. Because of Link's bad recovery it is possible to gimp him with water gun. Taking advantage of Squirtle's speed and agility on the ground and in the air will definitely score you some damage, however be careful because Squirtle is light and Link has his moments where he will get a good hit and send you flying and you could be KO'd. When Link is at an appropriate percent, switch to Ivysaur for the kill.
Ivysaur- Ivysaur is the next best choice to start against Link. Ivysaur can make decent use of razor leaf for some time however keep in mind that Link has a bow, boomerang, and bombs; that's three different projectiles that can cover different ground and can put Link out of your reach and will give you damage. Aside from the projectiles, Ivysaur can take link in CQC, follow up combos like Nair combo's are highly suggested, especially a Nair -> Bullet Seed early on in the match to give you an enormous head start. Even though there is no way to gimp Link, Ivy still has power and you can kill Link at the right percent. If needed, switch to Charizard for the kill or if you are in a corner, use Charizard for the sacrificial KO and have a fresh squirtle for the next stock.
Charizard- Charizard is good for starting against Link. Understand that there is basically a two edged sword with Charizard. Charizard is one big target for Link's projectiles which can space him easily and rack up a suffice amount of damage for him to KO you without you touching him (much), and Charizard is susceptible to being overwhelmed by Zair chains(but they can be punished). On the up side, when charizard gets close to Link, it's all over. Charizard as you know has moves like flamethrower, rocksmash and his tilts at his disposal. Also pursuing Link off the stage is easy, if it looks like at some distance he will recover, then just knock him away (a sweet spot Fair will do). If it gets to where you are about to be KO'd and Link is at a high percent, use Squirtle for the sacrificial KO and send in Ivysaur to make the kill for the next stock.
Page: 35 - 37
Starter(s): Squirtle Charizard
Summary:
Squirtle- When fighting against Lucario you are going to need Squirtle's speed and agility to avoid those frustrating hit boxes. There won't be a problem racking up damage easily however keep in mind that as he get's damaged more, the more powerful he becomes and Squirtle is light so an early KO is to be expected if you get careless. A plus to having squirtle is water gunning a recovering Lucario. It won't work all the time but it doesn't hurt to try and push him away from the ledge. Though if necessary switch to Ivysaur for a sacrificial switch and use Charizard to finish and stock tank.
Charizard- Charizard is good to start as well against Lucario. You get to keep Ivy as far away form the line up as possible and you don't have to worry about bothering with her. Racking up damage is much easier since Charizard is obviously much stronger than Squirtle. However keep in mind that Lucario does get stronger the more damage you do and Charizard can be slow at time which will basically make him one big target. Lucario is a pretty floaty character and Charizard has some kick in alot of his moves so at a decent percent, you can KO him. When Charizard goes down, you have a fresh Squirtle to work with and you can make your way up from there.
Page: 37 - 40
Starter(s): Squirtle Charizard
Summary:
Squirtle- Squirtle is obviously a good choice to start out here. You won't be thrown off by Lucas's fairly small size and being small, speedy and agile yourself, you wont get hit as easily. Squirtle has advantages over Lucas in the air and can grab release him on the ground quite effectively, also when Lucas is recovering Squirtle's water gun is ideal to use which can set up a possible early gimp.
Charizard- Charizard is a second option when starting against Lucas. Valid reasoning states that Charizard can be combo'd easily and such. Yet valid reasoning does state that Charizard is a heavyweight and that's the risk that all heavyweights take and have to deal with. Charizard can be a good starter given that you use him well. Charizard shares the same grabbing abilities as Squirtle does against Lucas so fighting on the ground won't be much of a problem not to mention with rock smash, Charizard can blow him away. Be weary of spamming flamethrower because he can absorb it to heal himself. Also watch out for him when he is recovering, if he is with in reasonable distance from you and you know you will make the spike while he is vulnerable, then do it.
Page: 40 - 41
Starter(s): Squirtle Charizard
Summary:
Squirtle- Going against Luigi, it would be best to choose Squirtle. Squirtle has the capabilities you need to fight against Luigi in the air and on the ground. Squirtle is ideal for escaping anything bad that Luigi can throw at you while in the air. On the ground, jabs and tilts will be most effective here. When Luigi is recovering, water gun will come in handy. However be careful because Squirtle is a lightweight and moves like his F-smash are a pain to deal with because they can KO pretty well at mid percents. It would be best to switch to Ivysaur for a quick use then switch to Charizard to stock tank.
Charizard- Charizard is a decent starter but he is decent enough to be useful. The only thing that Charz has to worry about is being combo'd easily(as he does always). Other than that he has a pretty far reach with his attacks and alot of his grade A moves like rock smash, d-tilt, etc can put some hurt on Luigi. Depending on how Luigi recovers will determine if you can spike him or not. Setting up a spike shouldn't be too hard because his options for recovery are limited and can be read easily. If Charizard goes down then there is a fresh Squirtle ready for you to use.
Page: 41 - 42
Starter(s): Squirtle
Summary:
Squirtle- Squirtle overall is a good choice to start out against Mario. Like the basic reasons, he is good for racking up damage. However it is recommended you switch out to Ivysaur (and possibly Charizard) in the same stock. Mario's F-smash will give Squirtle problems and is powerful enough to kill out favorite little lightweight early. Of course watch out for extra knock back when Ivysaur is out. Also be mindful of Mario's cape, he will screw Squirtle and Charizard's recovery over. Aside from those risks, Squirtle will give you a good upper hand and will allow you to gain good momentum for the match.
Page: 42
Starter(s): Charizard
Summary:
Charizard- Charizard is the best starter for this match up. Since Marth is a very mobile and very dangerous character, he give Squirtle and Ivysaur problems that can be detrimental to your game. Squirtle is out ranged/ outreached and has a zero to death combo on his head, then there is Ivysaur who can be gimped by Marth very easily and is overall useless against him. Charizard of course being a heavyweight has the problem of taking multiple hits easily but he can take the punishment that Squirtle and Ivy can't plus he can space Marth more efficiently as well as put some punishment on him. This is overall recommended to start with Charizard, however depending on your switch habits, you can start with Squirtle and eventually get to Charizard by your choice of the first or second stock. The key point is to eventually have Charizard out as early as possible if your switch habit is not one that starts with him.
Page: 42 - 44
Starter(s): Squirtle Charizard
Summary:
Squirtle- It's commonly known that Metaknight is a difficult and tricky match up for just about all players. For this you will need Squirtle and his skills in speed, agility and aerial games. Jabs and tilts are you best friend and they are a good and quick way to rack up some damage. The main thing you want to remember is the avoid using Ivysaur, it is strongly recommended you avoid using Ivy. When Squirtle has done his fair share and taken enough punishment, switch to Ivysaur and do what you can with her until she get's KO'd; who knows, maybe you'll get lucky and be the first one to take a stock. After that proceed to blast him away with your Charizard game.
Charizard- To reiterate, the key focus the starting out well against Metaknight is to reasonably avoid having Ivysaur out. Charizard has proven that he can take on Metaknight and do quite well. Alot of his attacks can disrupt the rhythm of just about any Metaknight game. He can also take alot of punishment and give just as much back to reciprocate. Just be mindful that Metaknight can juggle Charizard like he was nothing so be careful when you attack or you will be punished. Aside from that, you have the advantage of throwing out a fresh squirtle to take on the second stock and do whatever you find best from then on. If you manage to, get to Charizard from Squirtle on that same stock and repeat the process. That would be a little tricky but only do it if the situation is right which will vary on the skill level of both players.
Page: 44 - 47
Starter(s): Squirtle Charizard
Summary:
Squirtle- The reasons here for starting against Ness are overall the same as Lucas and/or any other character; Squirtle is fast, agile and has a good ground game and an even better air game. What makes starting with Squirtle advantageous is that he has a good grab game on him which is great for getting damage and even possible combos. Another advantage is the possible gimp you can get by using watergun on Ness as he is trying to recover; this should be easy enough because he is a sitting duck when recovering.
Charizard- Charizard is the other best starter to go with because primarily you want to stay away from Ivysaur as much as possible not to mention once Charizard is gone, there is a fresh Squirtle waiting for you. Charizard can devastate Ness with his grab game. Since Charizard can go the distance and Squirtle is the next pokemon in line, you have the freedom to do whatever you want with him, so starting and battling will be flexible. Getting an early spike will also be possible because remember that Ness is a sitting duck while he is recovering. Just overall take advantage of your size and space Ness when needed and blow him away with rock smash when the time comes and work your way up from there.
Page: 47 - 48
Starter(s): Squirtle
Summary:
Squirtle- Going against Olimar, it will be best to start the match out with Squirtle. The other two Pokemon are out ranged and there is little to no options for them. Ivysaur has that disadvantage against the fire pikmen and Charizard is just slow and Olimar can rack up 70-80% in no time without breaking a sweat. With Squirtle there are plenty of options and plenty of space to work with. He has the same recovery as Ivysaur so if push came to shove and with luck you can get a gimp. If Squirtle is at a high percent, switch to Ivysaur for a sacrificial switch and stock tank with Charizard so when he's KO'd, there is a fresh Squirtle waiting for you.
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Starter(s): Squirtle Charizard
Summary:
Squirtle- The most practical use for squirtle here is to match speed for speed. Peach naturally has great air mobility plus she has projectiles to keep most opponents at bay. Squirtle will be great here to build up your momentum for the stock and even the match. Squirtle is great fundamentally to get by with ease and get what you need done racking up damage not only on the ground but in the air as well. If you choose to keep squirtle out as long as you can then use Ivysaur as a sacrificial switch and bring out a fresh Charizard to finish the first stock, if not if you have some damage to spare then if you want to try your luck at having Ivysaur KO Peach to finish the first stock then you may also do that as well.
Charizard- Starting with Charizard comes with a special twist of its own. Most have argued that Squirtle is the only best option against Peach when it comes to starting however there are many other ways to win a battle than brute head on attacks. Ironically even though Charizard is a brute force character he also can serve as a mentally teasing character. Since Charizard can take some punishment, he will be out long enough for your opponent to get used to how he works and your play style with him. If you are lucky you may even get a stock off of peach, but the main point is that you force your opponent to quickly adapt to a completely different play style, one that is the complete opposite of Charizard and that would be Squirtle's. In theory you can cause a sense of panic within your opponent because they are now used to a slow bulky game play and now have to face the complete opposite in a split second's time, which should cause some mistakes along the way which you can work to your advantage. Here strategically Charizard would be an ideal choice if you want to throw your opponent off his or her game.
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Starter(s): Squirtle
Summary:
Squirtle- The main purpose for starting with Squirtle is prevent yourself from getting wrecked by Pikachu's chain grab, which Charizard gets wrecked by every time he takes a step out on the field and will go on up until the upper 70-80%. With all that Pikachu is about, Squirtle's capabilities are what you need. The only word of caution that needs to be drilled into your head is to not get above him; Pikachu can easily punish you for that and with Squirtle being he little guy that he is will be sent flying. There's really no easy way to start up the match in your favor easily here so just keep on your toes and be mindful of what you want to do and also what Pikachu is doing. From there take whatever path you think is best. It would probably be best to have and Ivysaur-Charizard battery for the second stock so that way on the last stock you have Squirtle out and at least make that stock count.
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Starter(s): Squirtle Charizard
Summary:
Squirtle- Going against Pit who out ranges every pokemon in the party, you will need to use squirtle to get in CQC with him. Make use of your jabs and tilts because Pit is too slow to counteract them. Squirtle can also be there for you when Pit takes to the sky. Beware of an early kill and switch to Ivysaur at appropriate percents so that way you have a fresh Charizard next.
Charizard- Charizard is good here because his jabs and tilts also put the pain on Pit's game at the beginning of the match. Keep in mind that any smart Pit would start out spacing you with his arrows, however once you make your way to him and he's in your range then the match really begins. Charizard has some excellent spacing tool especially to repel Pit when he goes airborne so take advantage of moves like rock smash, bair, fair, and other moves with long reaches to counter him if he goes in the air. When on the ground however, watch how much you use Flamethrower or rock smash because they will be reflected. A key gesture to starting with Charizard is staying away from Ivysaur as much as possible and breaking apart Pit's game with a Charizard - Squirtle battery.
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Starter(s): Squirtle
Summary:
Squirtle- In a quick summary as to how to describe R.O.B; he is a very campy character and takes up alot of your time trying to get to him. Out of the three, your best option is the start out with Squirtle; with him you can keep a flexible game and not have to worry about being taken advantage of at the beginning of a match which could seriously ruin your chances at a win. R.O.B has a limited ground game but a pretty decent air game as well, with this you will need Squirtle's expertise on both land and air to start off on the right foot. The best thing to do against R.O.B is to have Squirtle do what you need him to do and then have Ivysaur and Charizard burn up what is left of your first stock and then repeat the process for the rest of the match so that way at least you have a fresh Squirtle upon the beginning of your next stock.
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Starter(s): Squirtle Ivysaur
Summary:
Squirtle- Looking at what Pokemon Trainer has to face, Squirtle is definitely a great option to start against Samus. Squirtle's agility can get around projectiles easily and confront Samus with ease. A great strategy to use is keep a vertical game because Samus has few options when vertical. This is very fortuitous because Squirtle is great in the air. Squirtle also has an advantage over Samus while she is recovering; just use watergun if she uses her screw attack recovery(Up+B). There isn't much to worry about starting; just be mindful of Zair because it will mess you up if not careful, also because Squirtle is light, and Samus has some good killing power behind her, you can switch to Ivysaur at the appropriate time for the kill.
Ivysaur- Ivysaur is another option to start against Samus. It has been stated before that Samus does not like to go vertical and Ivysaur is a good pokemon to choose to make a vertical fight possible. Ivysaur is also equipped with razor leaf to ensure that she is not out spaced. Because Samus is a floaty character, Ivy wou'nt have much problem possibly KO'ing her in the first stock, however if needed, switch to Charizard for the KO. Things to watch out for is Zair as well as her fire based attacks; it causes extra knockback.
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:shiek:
Starter(s): Squirtle Ivysaur Charizard
Summary:
Squirtle- Going against Sheik's flexibility, Squirtle is a good option to think about. He can combo Sheik easily and has no problem getting around Sheik's needles when they are used. Water gun can also be useful when Sheik is recovering. F-tilt lock is not much of a concern because after 2 or 3 hits, with proper DI, you will escape from it. However it is not advised to stock tank because an f-tilt to u-smash will KO Squirtle at higher percents. If you have trouble making a KO, switch to Ivysaur and finish the stock through.
Ivysaur- Ivysaur is another good option to look at. Using Nair combos, Ivysaur will make an impact on the stock; watch out though because Sheik can easily DI out of and bullet seed used. Another great advantage of using Ivysaur is when Sheik is recovering, she is vulnerable to any super powerful attack that Ivy can't normally use in a match, for instance u-smash; if you know where the will land then move in for the kill. F-tilt lock is also not much of a problem, a couple of hits and proper DI and you will escape. If need be switch to Charizard to finish up the stock.
Charizard- Charizard is the next option to look at. even though he is a heavyweight and a big target for an f-tilt lock, he has ways of getting out via rock smash or his u-special. On the ground Charizard can do wonders with his move set as well as in the air too. Keep in mind that Sheik is on the floaty side so alot of Charizard's move will give you the upper hand over her. Also take advantage of Charizard's grabbing game to rack up damage. Since all three Pokemon are good to have out on the field, you have the option of switching to Squirtle or stock tanking with Charizard.
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Starter(s): Squirtle
Summary:
Squirtle- Against a character like Snake who boasts power, hit-boxes as well as projectiles it is best to start out with Squirtle. Key points to be looked at is that Squirtle can maneuver around Snake's projectiles with ease and doesn't do half bad when he has to go CQC against him as well as being able to take Snake in the air. Another key factor to look for is using watergun to gimp snake as he's recovering and to use watergun to push back his projectiles if you wanted to.
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Starter(s): Squirtle
Summary:
Squirtle- Sonic is a spontaneous character, boating speed in not only mobility but his attacks as well. It's best if Squirtle would start for his ability to keep up with Sonic not only on the ground but in the air. Since Sonic has trouble making the kill, it's highly suggested that you stock tank with Squirtle to maximize the time he is used.
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Starter(s): Squirtle
Summary:
Squirtle- Toon Link is a very dynamic character; he is fast, is good on the air and ground, and has three projectiles at his disposal to make him a difficult opponent to fight. Squirtle is the best choice to start against Toon Link. Squirtle's speed and agility come in handy when you need to dodge projectiles and keep him up to speed with Toon Link. Be wary that Toon Link has a further reach than Squirtle due to his sword. It is recommended to maximize your time with Squirtle as much as possible in any way you can, like stock tank with Squirtle.
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Starter(s): Squirtle Charizard
Summary:
Squirtle- Squirtle is the pokemon you need to start against Wario. He has great hitboxes and great speed to counteract how well Wario can fight in close quarters. Squirtle would be best used on the ground because if you approach from the air while Wario is on the ground, you will most likely be bitten and your aerial approach will be useless. As advantageous as Squirtle's speed and agility is to create a good start for you, you have to be careful because Wario is dangerous up close and since Squirtle has no projectiles, he has to get into Wario's range and beat him at his own game.
Charizard- Starting out Charizard against Wario is overall similar to starting him against DK. You have a heavyweight against heavyweight fight and Charizard's moves are great for fighting his on kind. Wario is a big target and can be spaced by flamethrower and rocksmash if he gets too close. Just be careful you don't attempt a dog fight with him because Charizard will be beaten.
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Starter(s): Squirtle
Summary:
Squirtle- As many problems as Pokemon Trainer has against Wolf, it is recommended that you start with Squirtle. With Squirtle you have more maneuverability and options as compared to the other three pokemon. One thing to watch out for no matter which pokemon you are is Wolf's B-air wall.
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Starter(s): Ivysaur
Summary:
Ivysaur- Pokemon Trainer against Yoshi is a rough match-up and at the end of a tough discussion the conclusion is Ivysaur will be the best starter to choose. Ivysaur is equipped with tools to space Yoshi like razor leaf and bair, which can fight against Yoshi's eggs. A main concern was Yoshi's lethal grab release on Squirtle and Charizard making it pretty much impossible to do anything once grabbed; Ivysaur however, is exempt from that grab release which make him one more reason why to start. Yoshi is also a heavyweight and alot of Ivysaur's moves are great against heavyweights. another thing to watch out for is that a recovering Yoshi is a vulnerable Yoshi, so punish when you see the opportune moment. You have an option of switching to Charizard for the kill; even though Ivysaur was concluded to be the best starter for this discussion, a few people said that it is possible to start with Charizard. That of course is of your personal choice to do so.
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Starter(s):Squirtle
Summary:
Squirtle- Squirtle is overall the best choice to go with here. Zelda has a spacing game with Din's Fire that will for the most part destroy the other two pokemon if they were to be thrown out first. With Squirtle, you can easily make your way around it and get within range of Zelda to do some damage. Watch out for Din's Fire when recovering and be mindful that her magic is powerful and can KO Squirtle early since he is a lightweight character. Overall Squirtle is your best choice because of his mobility and performance on the ground and air, which is what you are definitely looking for when starting up against a character like Zelda.
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Starter(s): Squirtle
Summary:
Squirlte- Squirtle solely is your best option for starting against Zerosuit. He can basically run circles around her and can take her to the air and win that fight. Also watergun is very useful in many ways against her. Don't forget that some Zerosuits like to use armor pieces so be on your guard; once you get one of them, you can use that against her very effectively. It's not recommended to switch because Ivysaur and Charizard both get wrecked by her long range and juggling abilities.
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