Nakoruru's artwork from SNK Heroines (2018)
First Appearance: Samurai Shodown (1993)
Latest Appearance: Samurai Shodown [Reboot] (2019)
Who is Nakoruru?
Nakoruru in Samurai Shodown 5, You Are The Hero, and Samurai Shodown 2019 respectively
What does she have going for her?
- Nakoruru is easily one of SNK's most popular characters, even more popular than Samurai Shodown protagonist Haohmaru. She has placed highly in many SNK popularity polls such as one in 1997 and another in 2018. She is even featured alongside Terry Bogard as part of SNK's Nakoruru and Terry club which was meant to help educate children about nature, further showing how significant she is to the company.
- SNK is a company that has a fair amount of things going for the inclusion of one of their characters in Smash. Here is a giant writeup I made that talks about what SNK in general has going for them. In short, the chances of us getting an SNK rep are far from impossible considering their history, their ever-increasing friendliness towards Nintendo, their and gigantic popularity in China and Latin America.
- Samurai Shodown is getting a reboot this year which will even be featured at EVO, meaning that Nakoruru won't be too far back in people's minds.
The main thing holding her back is the tons of third party competition she has to face. Plus even if we were to get an SNK rep, chances are someone like Terry or Kyo would have higher priority.
How would she play?
Nakoruru's playstyle would revolve around two things: her fast attacks with her small sword and the use of her hawk Mamahaha. She can send out Mamahaha for an attack or use Mamahaha to fly around. Alternatively, Nakoruru could even hand onto her bird and then unleash a knife-based aerial attack.



Detailed moveset by












Works like Link's where the second hit will happen if the user presses the attack button after the first hit










While being carried by Mamahaha, Nakoruru can still attack, but she can't block.



Rage Gauge concept by


Alt costumes byFor those who are wondering how it works, the Rage Gauge fills up each time Nakoruru takes damage from an opponent's attack. The harder she gets hit, the faster it fills up. When the gauge is completely filled, Nakoruru will enter into a state known as "Rage Explosion". During this state, Nakoruru is awarded with more damage power for most of her moves, as well as her specials having multi-hit proprieties. However, while this was not the case for her in SamSho, this will not affect the knockback on all of her attacks in Smash. After 16 seconds has passed (or after preforming a Final Smash), the gauge will return back to its original state. Unlike in SamSho where after losing a round, the status of a player's gauge remain unchanged from the last round, when Nakoruru is KO'd in Smash, the gauge will reset back.


Kirby hat by


Stage and Music
Nakoruru's stage would be Northern Country, Nakoruru's stage from Samurai Shodown 2.
The music from her stage would include:
- Banquet of Nature (Nakoruru's theme) - Samurai Shodown
- Banquest of Nature - SNK Heroines remix
- The Man Time (Haohmaru's theme) - Samurai Shodown
- Tuna (Galford's theme) - Samurai Shodown
- Fullmoon Heartfull (Hotaru Futaba's theme) - Garou: Mark of the Wolves
- Fullmoon A Groan (Gato Futaba's theme) - Garou: Mark of the Wolves
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Want to support Nakoruru's inclusion in Smash? Feel free to join the support group by commenting below!
Nakoruru's Nature Fan Club (Supporters):
Sari
Orlando BCN
toonito
MrBaconJam
Pizza Robo
Idon
Strider_Bond00J
dezeray112
smash puffle
MacDaddyNook
[Maple]
Kirbeh
Dannio
@liquidmetalslime
Russell_SSB
CallMeKnux
Crap-Zapper
Arcadenik
Michael the Spikester
S SSBCandidates
cj.
L LancerJayden
Adelto
Predictabo
Kuon
Graizen
Rie Sonomura
Parallel_Falchion
OrpheusTelos
JoltSmash13
Ramen Tengoku
Hadokeyblade
zferolie
EarlTamm
King Sonnn DeDeDoo
AreJay25
SneakyLink
Luminario
ryuu seika
Vycoul
Gentlepanda
AmphabulouSnake
slambros
@Lesley Black Velvet
P Pippin (Peregrin Took)
TooManyToastahs
amageish
-crump-
Teeb147
Bobthealligator
Himiko
The Rhythm Theif
Show your support with these Nakoruru icons made by
MrBaconJam
:
Also check out these other SNK support threads:
Want to support Nakoruru's inclusion in Smash? Feel free to join the support group by commenting below!
Nakoruru's Nature Fan Club (Supporters):










![[Maple]](/data/avatars/s/410/410915.jpg?1575327283)


@liquidmetalslime





S SSBCandidates

L LancerJayden





















@Lesley Black Velvet
P Pippin (Peregrin Took)







Show your support with these Nakoruru icons made by



Also check out these other SNK support threads:
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