Side B is wonky but I think mobility is more pits problem atm. I wouldn't say Side B is particularly horrendous but like most of pits kit he doesn't really have bad moves. It's good for recovery mix up horizontal, as Yolo as most counters but it is a tad weak in terms of power for the risk investment and very very unsafe. Uptilt is pretty solid coverage though and trades well with most aerials the lack of horizontal hit box seems fair for the move it's not bad.
As far as Dark pits bow while you can't edge guard with it as well as normal pit, it trades better in neutral against other projectile users, does almost double the uncharged damage, moves faster and is much easier to control on tilted stages like yoshis island or castle siege.
I see down B is a bit too niche due to its frame data as a reflector as more of a problem, granted i'll give you that side B has it's share of short comings. Most of pits moves are solid though and have good uses, it's just his air speed is so slow and he relies on auto canceled aerials rather than fast falling because of end lag.
You don’t simply ‘fix’ a character’s characteristics. For example, turning Kirby into Fox in terms of movement. Or Jigglypuff. That makes characters less unique. Instead, you change their moves so they have a work around. Pits mobility in the air isn’t that greeat, on the ground it’s fine, but that’s where side Special comes in. You cannot move side Special distance to ledge with an air dodge, jump, or any alternative option. The problem is that this “work around” for lackluster air mobility is terrible. The super armor last too short, too late. Frames 11-26 is not that great for counterattacks. I’d like to see frames 5-30 due to how punishable the move is when grounded, 2/3 of the cast can forward smash Pit Oos because of how punishable it is.
Chrom Neutral Special, Ike Aether, Ganon Up Tilt, and large forward smashes. Due to how quickly the super armor runs out, you die. This “work around” isn’t really working. You may be better if using Power of Flight diagonally in many cases. Furthermore, things like Charizard’s Fire breath, Bowser’s, Ridley’s, Samus Down Special and several other projectiles can disrupt the side Special due to the awful reflection animation. I have died many times to Charizard for “reflecting” his fire breath, unless I hold away and buffer air dodge which makes me as good as dead against a skilled player. The Side Special is not a good recovery move. Even in my argument for why Pit could be bottom high tier, I mentioned how this move works ‘sometimes’. If you travel too far from the ledge, you can literally be spiked out of it. Not to mention the extreme punishment for not clipping the ledge. If you go underneath, you basically kiss the blast zone and have to come up without a hit box. If you go over, you’re as good as dead due to ridiculous landing lag.
I was not kidding when I said I can write paragraphs on how terrible the move is. I spoke of reflection earlier. Pit Side Special only actually reflects five projectiles: Link(s) arrows, Greninja’s shuriken, Villager’s Rocket, Villager’s tree and Pikachu/Pichu thunderjolt. What does this mean? When Pit reflects with Upperdash arm, he loses all momentum and enters a laggy animation. In other words, you get punished FOR “reflecting” the opponent’s projectile. This can happen with PK Fire, razor leaf, the whole charade with Mega Man, Wii Fit etc you get the idea. I may even try to punish them because I read an attack, but it turns out the attack is a projectile, and Ness eagerly back throws. Or Dr. Mario. Or regular Mario. Or simply anyone who has a projectile not one of the five listed. This has to change.
On top of all this, when the move connects with the opponent’s hurt box, it loses super armor for 1 frame. This means, you can simply die when you read an attack if the attack connects as you hit the opponent. This makes the move even more inconsistent and it’s the first fix I’d like to see. Also, due to the true hit of of the arm emerging two frames after actually hitting the hurt box, you can be baited into s free kill accidentally by the opponent, for example back flips from the likes of Mario, Joker etc can spell your end on top of everything else you have to worry about. Not only that, but dash attacks that cross up can sometimes do just that, leaving you in that trademark “please take my stock” animation. So, getting punished for making the correct read, which is trying to use the super armor to punish the opponent excessively attacking.
Not only that, but clanking, the move seems to clank very often, especially against Joker’s dash attack. I’d like to see what was done to Mac’s tilts done to the side Special since clanking ruins the whole purpose of the move, which is hard reading an attack overextension and punishing. Lastly, the move, after all this pain and torment, doesn’t deal that much damage (base 11%/12%), kills averagely well on middleweights, good on lightweights and is absolutely terrible against heavyweights.
You mentioned how you don’t think Side Special is horrendous. Well, although I complain about the move very often due to the slew of problems happening nearly every match, what do I actually think of the move. It’s not the worst side Special in the game, I’d say Yoshi, Kirby’s and Charizard’s are worse, although honestly Charizard’s isn’t significantly worse. And that’s it. 4th worst side Special in the game. Yeah that’s right, as a player who pockets all Miis, I’d take any of their side Specials any day. I’d take Zelda’s Side Special, I’d take K. Rool’s, I’d take Jigglypuff’s, and all others over Upperdash/Electroshock arm. These moves need significant reworking. Although I don’t know what level of understanding the balance team is on. Using the move once or twice when it works, and the balance team may think it’s perfectly fine. But if you use the character for even just a week, there should be no doubt that it’s Pit’s worst move.
As for Up Tilt- that move is nowhere as suicidal as Side Special, but, what does it actually do? I believe it true combos to U air at extremely low percent. And I think it true combos to Nair at and a bit above this percent. With perfectly buffered execution, something not only difficult (and with low reward) in tourneys, but impossible online. The move is not safe on shield. Due to the second hit box which does not have any grounded effect, a well timed spot dodge by a character with a fast forward smash by a character like Lucina, can mean a hard punish and the end of your stock. (If they parry the first hit...) The move will never kill, I don’t even think it kills in sudden death. Outside the percent range of perfect execution, the opponent can air dodge through. Or you may be human and be off a frame. Regardless, a neutral air dodge can result in you getting punished for attempting to follow up. The move especially seems to whither when Down Tilt, exists, which can be safe on shield, has more follow up potential at higher percent, less FAF making spot dodges and Parries less dangerous, and even has nearly three times as much grounded range. Speaking of grounded range, since Up Tilt has a mere 0.65 units, it’s quite possible to whiff the move in front of the opponent’s face, and be greeted with a “Game!”.
So.. I have legitimate reasons why I believe these moves should get fixed, and hopefully buffed as well. There are other moves that have their problems, (Down Special, U-air, Forward Tilt) but they pale in comparison to these two and have actual niches even if they’re lackluster at performing them. I can speak of the Bows later if you wish, but will not do so now after the essay I composed. I love using my character. He’s decent, OK, overall, he’s no Kirby, K.Rool, Isabelle or even Ridley. (Not saying Ridley is absolutely terrible, but his flaws are significant and Pit surpasses him). But, some of his moves are not good, to the extent that the character seems, like some players put it “unfinished” or “incomplete”. If these problems get addressed, Pit can truly join the high tiers and maybe get some actual usage, instead of being a perpetually decent Gatekeeper.
