Introduction:
I'm gonna get stronger. ...I'm gonna get so strong even Dragos won't stand a chance against me! Dad... I..."
— Claus
This is the main topic for discussing the character potential of Claus, one of the main antagonists from the game "MOTHER 3" for the Game Boy Advance. I'll update as I think up more information or people post something good.
Claus (クラウス Kurausu) is a major character from Mother 3. He is a boy from Tazmily Village, and the older twin brother of Lucas. Claus looks very similar to Lucas other than the different colors of his clothing and hair, though he is energetic and far more courageous than Lucas.
There are spoilers in this thread, but the game has been long enough to have them out, so hopefully I don't do too bad of a job here.
Pig Mask Army Members (Supporters; just ask to be on here - Also pick a Pig-Mask between the ones still available: Pigmask Trooper, Navy Squeal, Pigmask captain, Pigmask Major - Once all those are taken, go for a color or other rank!)
-TheThirdKoopa (Leader/The Masked Man himself)
-FireEmblemnier (Pig Mask Colonel)
Claus (The Masked Man)
Original Claus Thread (Check these old threads out!)
Claus for SSBB Thread
Deku Boy's Claus support essay
(11-13-2007); Thread: The Official Claus (The Masked Man) for SSBB thread, Mother 3 Spoilers; Post #390
EARTHBOUND WIKI - CLAUS
Fanart:
(My personal favorite is in the first Collapse)
Arguments and Counter-Arguments (Plus a bit of reasoning)
(Points for him to be in) 1. Why Masked Man?
Not only did he receive a few emails but back on NSider he was actually a very liked character along with his brother, Lucas. To add to that, he's literally one of the characters with the most moves out of all Nintendo characters. This is literally not a joke. There's so many moves you can pull from him and you would still have enough to give him three-four movesets.
2. He's a popular pick, and the most popular for the Mother series.
I will admit his popularity has declined, but to this day, he's still the most wanted Mother rep. He also did receive high on polls and he would be well-liked among fans.
3. Asides from the protagonists and Giygas, he's the most important character, and second most in Mother 3
Despite him not being in your party, he really holds to a very high extent of trashing most of the plans made by your party and doing many things in addition to that. Really, play the game yourself and see.
4. The Mother Series has been denied it's Mother 3 representation since Smash 64, and we already have most of the game fit into place
Probably the weakest argument to support his inclusion, but hey, it's been quite some time. we already literally have Porky as a boss, Jeff as an assist, New Pork City as a stage, and all of the protagonists as characters.
5. He would complete his franchise
Though, I will admit just having Lucas/Ness with the Claus/Ninten costumes is fine. Zing.
(Arguements) 1. The next rep should be Ninten! He follows into the series!
So okay, there's the whole "Each protagonist must be represented!" but this really hardly proves true for the Mother series. For starters, if you haven't, just google up "Ninten" - It's even shown in the sticker designs and other designs that he's hardly thought up of as a different character. What makes this argument even worse is that Lucas was one of the very few characters intended to be in every Smash... and over Ness. Say if he were in Smash 64, then it really does come down to a lot of questions (Though based on Art of Mother 3 on N64, I think I'm kind-of more glad it's on the GBA...)
It's really a null argument since even the creators don't think highly much of Ninten. Though, I will say Mother 1 should still be represented by a bit more music such as Mt. Itoi and Paradise Line and a stage (Mt. Itoi and Paradise Line?) - Sometimes it's better to support Mother 1 through... other methods to tract interest.
This is more about why Ninten doesn't really feel than why Masked Man does. I could go on, but let's look at some other stuff. Really, the google search should say enough for you, and if it doesn't, I don't mind adding in more.
2. It'd be Porky! He appeared Twice!
...And he seems to be better suited as a boss anyways. Not only is the guy not all that interesting, but in Mother 2 he hardly holds much significance until the very end. In Mother 3, while he does drive the plot, he does kind-of sit there as well as discussed by Golden and I in the thread. Porky's better fitting is just staying as a boss, and reoccurring really doesn't matter for a series like this, or frankly, for most franchises. It's not the appearences that counts - It's the impact it can make. Plus, if we were even to see Porky playable, where would Masked Man go? It's much more viable to keep Porky as a boss and to make Masked Man playable. That way, we achieve the best for reaching out Mother as best as possible.
There's not really much to him asides from his two game appearances that helps either. I mean if the game was Mother 1, maybe, but even then we dive back into Ninten on the "Sometimes we might want to rep it in a different way"
3. Too much Mother repersentation!
This is probably the best argument against him, and if he's disclosed from the final roster, this will be why. I could still see him as DLC. I'll admit it's hard to give a series as much reps as it has games, but it's more of a "This would be interesting" than "This franchise needs it". I agree there are other series who deserve another addition first such as Metroid and DK, but if it doesn't get in the way, who would mind it? It gives us more of a chance to at least see ports of Mother 1 and 3, and it also gives us a cool addition to Smash Bros who would be playable here.
4. Japan-Only
We got Earthbound on VC and the people who made the Mother 3 fan-translation are already/have semi-talked with Nintendo and it's getting more and more love. Zing. To add to that, Lucas isn't all that Japan-only anymore (While translation of Marth's and Roy's games took forever) and we had Marth and Roy. Zing.
To add to that, after Marth's appearance twice, we got remakes of both of his games (Granted one never went outside of the U.S.), so zing.
5. He would be a spoiler!
The game has been out for quite a while. Would suck if they remake it, but it's not the biggest spoiler, and we've had some other stuff such as Zero Suit Samus and Sheik. Taking into account that we've already received New Pork City (which is a GIGANTIC spoiler in and of it's own) that's saying something already!
6. He's already a costume!
As his kid form, which is fine but as shown by screen shots here, him as the Masked Man is much different asides from physical structure and the fact he has some PSI moves.
Movesets
Adam Zinch's moveset: (copypasta from facebook)
Next up is Claus, or The Masked Man from Moter 3. Really quick though, many people complain that Claus shouldn't be in because "It would be to much of a spoiler to the fans who haven't played Mother 3" well for the people who didn't play Ocarina of Time, the Zelda/Shiek thing ruined that suprise too.
Claus Moveset
B- Beam Cannon- Claus fires a single beam out of his arm. The beam is about as big as the ray gun shot, but stronger and leaves an electric effect to it.
<B>- Double Strike- Claus jumps forward swinging his sword downward. If he hits someone with his sword he automatically attacks twice with a finishing blow type strike
Up B- Cyborg Wings- Claus flies upwards with his wings
Down B- PK Thunder- a giant thunderbolt comes down and strikes next to him, like Pikachu's but much quicker
Final Smash- Lightning Strike- Claus lifts his sword upwards then slashes it down, summoning Lightning to strike every opponent on the stage, the only downside to the final smash is that it is predictable and easily avoidable if you dodge at the right time. If the bolt touches you, you take a good deal of damage though
God Robert's Cousin's moveset:
I've thought of a moveset of my own for the Masked Man. I wanted to diversify what aspects of him are represented, slightly focusing on him being the Pigmask Army's commander more than being a PSI user, a cyborg boy, or electrical swordsman.
Neutral Special: PK Love - Claus uses his PSI powers to emit a slowly moving pattern of light-blue hexagons. Functions similarly to Ness' PK Flash and Lucas' PK Freeze. Where as Ness' PK Flash does heavy damage and knockback, the Masked Man's PK Love does heavy damage and a ton of hitstun, leaving the opponent shaking in place for a few seconds before being sent flying.
Side Special: Pigmask Bomb - Tosses out a round, pink bomb that rolls to the side until it reaches a stop. Explodes after about 2 seconds and is affected by terrain physics.
Up Special: Lightning Strike - The Masked Man extends his mechanical wings and flies straight up in a blitz of thunder, spiking any opponent he touches during it.
Down Special: Shield Killer - Whips out a device that creates a wave of orange-lines in front of him. If the opponent is shielding when he uses this, their shield is instantly broken.
Final Smash: Pigmask Raid - The Masked Man takes out his phone, which plays the Pigmask Army's ringtone. Helicopters come flying from above, dropping Pigmask bombs and the occasional New Year's Eve Bomb that has no knockback but instantly does 200% damage to the opponent. During all this chaos, a couple of Pigmasks drop down from the copters and begin to shoot at the opponents. The final smash ends with both Pigmasks trying to bum-rush the opponent with the highest current percentage before they grab onto the helicopters' ladders and fly off.
Neutral Special: PK Love - Claus uses his PSI powers to emit a slowly moving pattern of light-blue hexagons. Functions similarly to Ness' PK Flash and Lucas' PK Freeze. Where as Ness' PK Flash does heavy damage and knockback, the Masked Man's PK Love does heavy damage and a ton of hitstun, leaving the opponent shaking in place for a few seconds before being sent flying.
Side Special: Pigmask Bomb - Tosses out a round, pink bomb that rolls to the side until it reaches a stop. Explodes after about 2 seconds and is affected by terrain physics.
Up Special: Lightning Strike - The Masked Man extends his mechanical wings and flies straight up in a blitz of thunder, spiking any opponent he touches during it.
Down Special: Shield Killer - Whips out a device that creates a wave of orange-lines in front of him. If the opponent is shielding when he uses this, their shield is instantly broken.
Final Smash: Pigmask Raid - The Masked Man takes out his phone, which plays the Pigmask Army's ringtone. Helicopters come flying from above, dropping Pigmask bombs and the occasional New Year's Eve Bomb that has no knockback but instantly does 200% damage to the opponent. During all this chaos, a couple of Pigmasks drop down from the copters and begin to shoot at the opponents. The final smash ends with both Pigmasks trying to bum-rush the opponent with the highest current percentage before they grab onto the helicopters' ladders and fly off.
Fireemblemneir's moveset:
Masked Man
Statistics
Masked Man is the strongest of the Mother characters in physical and PSI capabilities, yet is the slowest. Most of his attacks does significantly high damage. He may be the slowest of the Mother characters, but is still as fast as most mid weight characters maybe even a little faster.
Specials
Neutral Special- PK Love Omega- Works like Lucas and Ness' neutral special, but is the strongest of the 3 it is a white silvery color. May stun opponent. Does about 26% fully chargedSide Special- Beam Cannon- Claus fires two beams out of his arm. The beam(s) is about as big as the Samus' uncharged shot, but causes bigger knockback and damage and leaves an electric effect to it. Does about 20% fully charged
Up Special- Cyborg Wings- Claus flies upwards with his wings, it's useful recovery, but very predictable, before the leap the wings coming out can damage the opponent does about 10% it the wings hit opponent
Down Special- PK Thunder- a giant thunderbolt comes down and strikes near to him, like Pikachu's but much quicker and it doesn't hit him Does about 15% damage.
Final Smash
Lightning Strike- Claus lifts his sword upwards then slashes it down, summoning Lightning to strike every opponent on the stage, the only downside to the final smash is that it is predictable and easily avoidable if you dodge at the right time. If the bolt touches you, you take about 75% damage and will most likely get KO.Tilts, Smashes, Airs, and Grabs
Tilts
AAA- Masked Man on his first of the three attacks jabs with his arm cannon, then Headbutts and finally slashes with his iconic sword, which causes decent damage and knockback. Hit 1-10%, Hit 2-15% Hit 3-19%Side Tilt- Masked Man quickly jabs with his arm cannon. like Samus. Does about 14% damage
Up Tilt- Masked Man does a light slash with his sword over his head. Does about 16% damage
Down Tilt- Kicks almost exactly how Ness does. Does about 12% damage
Dash Attack- When Dashing he will shoot I small PK love shot, if you attack. Does about 13% damage
Smashes
Side Smash- Masked Man stabs at the opponent with his sword, causing large damage and knockback. Does about 27% damageUp Smash- Masked Man jabs his sword upwards, causing large knockback and Damage. Does about 26% damage
Down Smash- Masked Man slashes at both sides of him, causing large damage and knocback. Does about 24% damage
Airs
Forward Air- Masked Man slashes, vertically in the middle of the air and slashes again opposite way, Does about 22% damage with both attacks.Back Air- Masked Man quickly turns around shooting a blast of PK Love a. Does about 14% damage.
Up Air- Masked Man shoots a blast from his arm cannon above his head, which dissipates quickly. Does about 12% damage.
Down Air- Masked Man shoots a blast of PK love a, below him, Does about 14% damage.
Grabs
Pummel- Once Masked Man grabs the opponent, he jabs at the opponent with his arm cannon. Does about 9% per hit.Forward Throw- Masked Man tosses the opponent forward and shoots at him with his arm cannon. does 16% damage
Back Throw- Masked Man tosses the opponent behind him and shoots a small PK Love blast at him. does 15% damage
Down Throw- Masked Man throws the opponent to the ground and shoots PK Love and an arm cannon blast at the same time. Can be chained to be done again. Does about 18% damage.
Up Throw- Masked Man tosses opponent in the air and slashes at him as he's falling. Can be chained to be done again. Does about 17% damage.
Taunts
Up Taunt- Masked Man takes off the mask revealing Claus and nods at the screen, then puts mask back on.Side Taunt- Masked Man looks at his sword and looks away while lowering his hand.
Down Taunt- Masked Man spreads his wings out and soon retracts them.
Finally, some pictures to support! Put these in your sig or somewhere. Show the love! :
And finally, how about a Kirby hat?
It's like they tried too hard to make him "cool"...
