Just give it to me straight, doc.

[Xaron Fisk]

After using pichu for the two months I've owned melee, and after my first disastrous tourney showing, I come to a crossroads. Should I drop pichu and pick up a higher tier as my main, or it is possible for me to improve enough to make my pichu competitive?

[pictish freak]

Pichu is strictly counter character material.

I'd use him agaisnt Fast fallers, where he does pretty well...

Other than that, you might wanna pick up someone else. Keep playing Pichu though: He has good match ups, as I said, fast fallers. He's also **** handy for teams...

But the character you pick needn't be high-top tier, mid tier does it too, for the most part.. >.> But yeah, Pichu just suffers from doing badly against most characters.. Pick up another character that you like, not just because they're Sheik or something.

[Xaron Fisk]

Thanks pictish. I'm glad it was you that replied and not awdball. I had noticed that pichu was fairly effective against the space animals, pretty bad against peach and samus, and horrendous against marth. I'll add another character then.

[yomominacan]

you may want to take that quote out of your sig if you arent being sarcastic. Nobody here takes awdbawl seriously at all. Everything he says is completely false.

Its fine if you want pichu to be your main, but I would learn other characters as well, to deal with non fastfallers. It helps to learn others because you will understand their moveset, and how to fight them better even if you do choose to have pichu as your main.

[Electricmouse]

It is really hard to have a competitive pichu, heck its hard even to have a competitive pika but if pichu is your favorite you don't have to give him up. I'm picking up a top tier to counter the shieks I have to play against but I'm not giving up pika. Besides you can always bust out pichu on noobs who think that he sucks.

[TiRune]

Learn some from the japanese players, they don't have much off a tier list, and y.link for instance isn't worse then Peach. Just play the characters you like and can play with. tiers don't say anything on a tourney lvl, keep in mind that the element of supirise (your opponent not knowing how to play against u) is a big factor also. I'd stick with pichu but pick up some other character you like 2 ;) (err, I wouldnt recommend bowser though :P)

[Lxl]

I don't play Pichu or anything, but I'll just give suggestions.

Look at me; I play three main characters - Marth, Falco, Samus. And they all have completely different playstyles. Marth can be an all-out whacker who just smashes his way through (Not literally, c-stick smash ;)), Falco is a hit-and-run type of fella, and Samus camps, moving in when the opportunity arises. In addition, they are individually better on certain characters. I didn't pick them coz' they were in top-tier (ie Marth), but more because I liked their styles and they each fascinated me. I didn't bother considering all their advantages and what-not, c'mon, I hate Shiek's style of fighting man.

If Pichu suits the way you play, then so be it. Like the rest, I recommend that you pick up another character, one that you prefer. Besides, it's always better to have a secondary character(s) in tournaments; you're much flexible that way.

Geez. Off topic, I hate to say all this coz' no tournaments are held in my area =(. Heck, very few know that ssbm exists over here.

[VilNess]

Originally posted by Lxl
I
Geez. Off topic, I hate to say all this coz' no tournaments are held in my area =(. Heck, very few know that ssbm exists over here.

Yeah, that REALLY sucks and I know it.

Hey thanks for choosing pichu!
Although Pichu is mostly my "fun to play with char." I still like his style.
I don´t think you can go and say Pika is better than Pichu.
Off course Pika has more advantages but their playing style is different. I´m not an expert with pichu but I know basics of his style (hit and run mostly) and I´m decendly good edgeguarding with pichu.
Wall of thunder is quite cool against chars with predictable patterns.

Tourney level pichu would be cool to see! That kind of pichu has some advantages because seriously many don´t know how to play a good pichu. That goes probably for Pika too... at least in some amount.
Definetly I suggest taking another char. Bowser could be an extreme choice and really funny mostly but I´d take someone like Doctor mario (does enough well against those pesky marths and shieks). hmm. well it´s your choice!

I play Ness as my main so I kinda have to go through that High/Low tier questions as well. It´s the char i like using most and his potential of different playing styles and excellent options which lead to good mindgame potential fit me!
I had to Pick up another char though. One enough goofy and enough good to take on Ness harder matchups (Sheik, Peach almost as much and Marth to some extent). That is the cannabisguy LUIGI!

...Sometimes luigi looks like he´s doing some drugs, really ;)

[pictish freak]

Tourney level pichu would be cool to see! That kind of pichu has some advantages because seriously many don´t know how to play a good pichu

Interesting it is, but sadly the 'I don't know what the **** this yellow rat is going to do' factor wears off rather too fast. Then it's up to having a nice match up.. for example, even a Marth that hasn't fought Pichu before is probably gonna take advantage of his big advantages in range and such..

Though don't get me wrong, surprise value is pretty sweet if once it wears off you're still against a character Pichu can manage pretty well ^^

[demoncaterpie]

You don't need to give up pickachu or pichu just because their not top tier. Play with them AND a top tier character.

When I got handed to me at a tournament with a guy using Jigglypuff (frikin wall of pain), it didn't make me stop using Pi, just made me think about my options. I decided to fight with Pickachu normally, but to fight with marth in the tough match ups. Problem solved.

[pictish freak]

Use Pika for Jiggs. Pika is a BRILLIANT match up against Jiggs...

[VilNess]

How about Pichu for Jiggs?
I know Pikachus great Upsmash but pichus isn´t much worse. Besides pichu is a harder target for jiggs attacks and uair is a killer at low ceiling stages against Floaties.
Not meaning to question Pikachus potential, just wanted to brought up Pichu vs. Jiggs

[Xaron Fisk]

I've been practicing like mad and my pichu skills are increasing. I;ve fought decent marths and shieks down the the last stock, so I think I'm on the right track. I've only owned the game since mid August. I've dominated jigs with pichu. Thanks for all the replies. I've also picked up Yoshi and Ganon now. Strange bedfellows, eh?

[VilNess]

Hmm pichu against shiek to last stock... Good playing I guess!
I´ve also killed (two stocked in a 3 s. match) my bros sheik in Onett.
I actually found that Onett is quite a good stage for pichu, though he doesn´t get the advantage if his good recovering. But thunder can be used more in this stage. and thunder jolts travel trough the stage which is useful.
I also like Yoshi level with pipes and rolling blocks.

[PikaJiggy]

Pichu could be a counter for Jiggs if u stay low and throw lots of shocks.

[demoncaterpie]

How about Pichu and Pika? They are quite similar in style, but each have certain advantages and disadvantages over different characters.

[PikaJiggy]

Pikachu is well rounded. Pichu is only good for other light characters and Captain Falcon.

[demoncaterpie]

Originally posted by PikaJiggy
Pikachu is well rounded. Pichu is only good for other light characters and Captain Falcon.

Not true. Pichu is excellent against heavy weights and fast fallers alike. But I agree with Pika being the better character, but Pichu is still pretty high up their.

[pictish freak]

Pichu isn't good agaisnt heavy weights. Heavy weights aren't neccessairly fast fallers.

Falco is as light as Pika. Samus is one of the heaviest in the game.

Weight and falling speed are unrelated ^^

[demoncaterpie]

Originally posted by pictish freak
Pichu isn't good agaisnt heavy weights. Heavy weights aren't neccessairly fast fallers.

Falco is as light as Pika. Samus is one of the heaviest in the game.

Weight and falling speed are unrelated ^^

Guess Newton's got some thinking to do. Still, Pichu has great advantages over Fast Fallers .

[Red Dragon]

Originally posted by Xaron Fisk
After using pichu for the two months I've owned melee, and after my first disastrous tourney showing, I come to a crossroads. Should I drop pichu and pick up a higher tier as my main, or it is possible for me to improve enough to make my pichu competitive?

4 main problems that hold Pichu back.

1. Horrible range- Such a problem for the mini rat, its pitiful.

2. Low Priority- He can get countered very easily when using a move, so you have to rely on speed to slip attacks in.

3. Self damaging electric attacks- No jolt spam, and a lot of damage when recovering. Its pathetic how he hurts himself, and some of his best attacks are electric.

4. Very low weight- This mouse gets killed at 60% at times.

Pichu is Pathetic, even though i hate to admit it. the only way for him to win is to slip attacks in with his superior speed, but his speed is his only real advantage, and his small size can also be counted as an advantage.

If you can avoid those 4 very big disadvantges, then don't hold back on using this inferior mouse.

I gave it to you straight :D, just like you wanted.

[demoncaterpie]

Originally posted by Red Dragon
4 main problems that hold Pichu back.

1. Horrible range- Such a problem for the mini rat, its pitiful.

2. Low Priority- He can get countered very easily when using a move, so you have to rely on speed to slip attacks in.

3. Self damaging electric attacks- No jolt spam, and a lot of damage when recovering. Its pathetic how he hurts himself, and some of his best attacks are electric.

4. Very low weight- This mouse gets killed at 60% at times.

Pichu is Pathetic, even though i hate to admit it. the only way for him to win is to slip attacks in with his superior speed, but his speed is his only real advantage, and his small size can also be counted as an advantage.

If you can avoid those 4 very big disadvantges, then don't hold back on using this inferior mouse.

I gave it to you straight :D, just like you wanted.

That's why a lot a times it's better to just choose Pika.

[Red Dragon]

Originally posted by demoncaterpie
That's why a lot a times it's better to just choose Pika.

You know, they should have put Raichu instead of Pichu, Pichu is a waste of space --_--. Its only there for fun, and because he's popular.

[demoncaterpie]

Originally posted by Red Dragon
You know, they should have put Raichu instead of Pichu, Pichu is a waste of space --_--. Its only there for fun, and because he's popular.

Pichu ain't that bad. Sure, he's no Pika. But he's still a serious contender.

How would Raichu play? He would most likely be a heavier, slower version of Pika, but with more power and range. What Ganondorf was to Falcon.

[Xaron Fisk]

After the NJ tourney today, I no longer doubt pichu's potential. This little mouse can contend. Now all I need is to improve my technicals.

[VilNess]

I play pichu (with the green backpack) and one her nice advantages are her nice shieldgames (goodrolls, good dodge, good strong and fast upsmash out of shield)

pichus u, and d-tilt are good...

there´s something weird about her dair. If you use it in air, you get 1 damage, if you use from air to ground you get 2 damage... if you use just barely before landing you get 1 damage.

funny?

[demoncaterpie]

Originally posted by VilNess
I play pichu (with the green backpack) and one her nice advantages are her nice shieldgames (goodrolls, good dodge, good strong and fast upsmash out of shield)

pichus u, and d-tilt are good...

there´s something weird about her dair. If you use it in air, you get 1 damage, if you use from air to ground you get 2 damage... if you use just barely before landing you get 1 damage.

funny?

Dude, Pichu's a guy.

[pictish freak]

After the NJ tourney today, I no longer doubt pichu's potential. This little mouse can contend. Now all I need is to improve my technicals.

Sorry man, he really just... can't compete. Period.

I like him in teams, I can stand him sometimes in singles, but seriously...

When I play Pichu at the best I can, I lose significantly more than playing Pika, my other char, half arsed. Pichu's got some really nice things since he's so **** fast, but when it comes down to it, you have to do so so much for so so little, and the opponent just has to space well and fight Pichu more than once or twice to figure out what the ****'s going on.

[VilNess]

Originally posted by demoncaterpie
Dude, Pichu's a guy.

did you check it?

[demoncaterpie]

Originally posted by VilNess
did you check it?

No Vil, I did not check to see if Pichu has a pens.