Pikachu's Killer Cooldown

[Buzz]

Okay, I'm working really hard at perfecting my Pikachu skills. There is one major problem that prevents me doing too well. Everytime I come in after using Pikachu's [up + B] recovery, he has horrible lag upon landing. As far as I can tell, you cannot L-cancel that landing because you are frozen in "post-third-jump mode". (I could be wrong. Someone with more experience please correct me.) Obviously, I've come to the conclusion that it is far better to just zip to the edge and grab it. However, that is not always possible, especially with all the edge-hogging that goes on. So, what ends up happening is I recover to the stage and get thrown off like twenty times until I either get lucky or die.

Other than this one setback, I am loving Pikachu. He is a vicious little pokemon. I am quite competitive and hope to show everyone what Pikachu is made of.

[EnigmaticCam]

If you absolutely cannot without a doubt grab the edge, (no seriously, if you have no other choice), the key is to quick attack and land just barely above the ground. If you overestimate and end up hitting the ground in the middle of your quick attack, you'll have enormous lag.

One thing you can try is to ^b and immediately hold the stick to the left (or right of you're on the left side of the level). You'll do a single, horizontal quick attack that resembles Fox/Falco's leftB (or rightB). This also works as it's much easier to time it so you land barely above ground since you just need to follow a straight line.

[Buzz]

Well, I do my recovery and it finishes above the stage. So, I fall to the ground. It's at THAT point where I have horrible lag. Pikachu hits and squats down low, and it takes FOREVER to regain control. No amount of button mashing or control stick abusing moves him out of it.

[Mic_128]

As far as I can tell, you cannot L-cancel that landing because you are frozen in "post-third-jump mode".

No, it's because it's a B move. B-moves can't be L-canceled.

[unknown522]

yea, mic's right.

i'd say to quick attack straight at them with the first movement to hit them. =D
another thing u can do is to do a thunder wave at them.

[T Bird]

yea, mic's right.

i'd say to quick attack straight at them with the first movement to hit them. =D
another thing u can do is to do a thunder wave at them.

Yeah I have no idea what you ment there... If anyone was trying to imply that you can use quick attack as an attack, and i don't think Cam was, you have no idea what you talking about. The trick is to get as close to the ground with your recovery as possible, without actauly hitting it during your third jumps. The lag from landing after the quick attack isn't THAT bad. Many have much worse. Of course this is the very reason pikachu likes stages with platforms for his recovery. Your enemy can't predict you and you have more options for angle to stop right above ground.

[Tope]

Yea, if you don't ^B into the ground, then you should only have like what, 4 frames of lag or something?

[EnigmaticCam]

Yea, if you don't ^B into the ground, then you should only have like what, 4 frames of lag or something?

Yeah, that's what I was trying to say. The only 'extreme lag' I can think of results after an ^B straight into the ground. Otherwise, the lag is very minimal.

[T Bird]

Landing from the air always results in at least 4 frames of lag, even if it's just shorthopping with no attacks in between, unless you peach. I think if she float cancels she has even less, but I don't know that for sure. it's either that or all float cancled attacks get treated as normal landings wiht 4 frame lag. I think the latter is it. however landing from an air dodge or third jump is different for everyone. I beleive Sheik has freakish lag even if she doesn't vanish into the stage. Pikachu however does not.

[hyperbunny]

I don't get it O.o I don't get lag at all...

[Michael Blaine]

The main thing I hate about pikachu. Why did they have to give him the ****ed up land lag and not pichu? :(

[SuperDoodleMan]

So Pichu can be faster maybe? Pichu's aerials all have notably less landing lag.

Yes, Peach's float cancelling lag is her default landing lag, which is 4 frames. Pichu has 2 frames, btw, and nobody else is below 4.

[Gcnrules1]

I always try to get to hang on the edge. THat way,I won't have to face the lag that much. Although it's risky, it usually works. On the edge,hit L or R to roll to the side so you don't have to face the opponent's edge attack.

[Brahma]

I've had problems with this too. A few things I've done to remedy this:

-Try using only the first part of up-B to grab the edge. This takes some time to get used to the range, but it's worth it.

-Try recovering so that you don't land directly on the stage. If you end quick attack slightly above the stage and he goes into post 3rd jump fall animation, he will be able to move when he hits the ground without as much lag.

-Aim for platforms on the stage, try not to get predictable with landing.

[Buzz]

Thanx, Brahma, that has really helped my Pikachu a lot. I'm going into tournament with Pikachu, baby!

[Coen]

Pichu has 2 frames, btw, and nobody else is below 4.

So Pichu's the only one with 2 frames lag upon landing, SDM? That's really amazing.

[cF=)]

2 frames, pichu rock hard.

Anyway another thing that can come in game with the ^B is mindgame. If you know your oppenent is hanging and waiting for you to come back on stage, just aim for the ledge. He'll never think about you doing that because he's actually in that place and if it's like the 3rd time he throw you off, he might do it a 4th or a 5th time.

I'm sure you knew that already but I know lot of things that I forgot to put in my games. Just try it, might save you sometimes.

[Coen]

Your opponent could press R or L for the Ledge roll, which probably lasts so long, that Pichu can't grab the ledge anyway.

[0mega]

1st stop playing places like Final Destination thats horrible for pikachu second i like to use the spark attack while returning as it stuns opponents giving u a chance second if u think u cannot grab the edge because opponent has awesome edge hogging skillz then try to get as far in to the stage as possible using front b imideatly not charged and then the quick attacks

[Buzz]

This has all been very helpful. I'm extremely close to having a tournament-worthy Pikachu. I've defeated my crew's mains and have a good feel for the character. I just need to polish some L-cancel techniques, and I should be good to go!

[KillerPichu o.O]

Final destination, though, is so evily easy to recover with Pikachu/Pichu's quick attack.

I also find that a lot of Pikachu/Pichu players, when recovering on destination, aim for the vertical up for the first jump and aim the ledge grab for the second, but if you move the quick attack to aim for the surface of the destination and then aim slightly up, you'll either auto-grab the edge or go above it, allowing recovery.