AGES
Smash Apprentice
Introduction
Sup fellow Pac-Man mains! The purpose of this thread is to be a continuation of ptrk83's Pac-Man guide, breaking away from general information and focusing on advanced tactics and strategy. This guide is likely far from completion and will be updated as time goes on. The aim of this thread is to be a community effort, with different Pac-Man players sharing and discussing different tactics and strategy they find effective to contribute to this guide, as well as the playstyle of other Pac-Man players.
Bonus Fruit
Bonus Fruit is Pac-Man's Neutral special, where he cycles through the original 8 fruits from the original Pac-Man. You can cancel charging at any time by shielding/air dodging, and will maintain that fruit until you lose a stock. All fruits can absorb most projectiles such as Mario's fireball and either drop to the ground to be grabbed, with the only exceptions being galaxian and key, which both keep their trajectories after hitting most basic projectiles. An interesting quirk to note about the fruits is the bouncy ones(Cherry, Strawberry, and Apple) will bounce longer when thrown upwards if they hit something, either a player or a hydrant.
Individual Fruit Overviews
Cherry - Not terrible, but not quite the most useful fruit. The cherry does beat important projectiles however as of recent patches, such as Lucario's aura spheres at all powers, making it a solid defensive option to throw out quickly.
Strawberry - At first glance this fruit might seem rather pointless, however upon further inspection it has more priority compared to cherry. This allows it to be used as a defensive option to combat some "spammy" projectiles, such as Link's boomerang, and even Sheik's needles if at the right height. If you are given enough time to charge it up opposed to instinctively spam cherry, this is essentially the superior fruit.
Orange - A strong option for a quick fireball-like projectile. Takes very little time to charge and flies at a fast horizontal line. Slightly outclassed by the apple in terms of speed and power but takes enough less time to charge to make it viable.
Apple - The trajectory is one of the best and most unique parts of it, it goes at a down-right angle and bounces on the ground from there on, which makes it quite a nice aerial fruit to throw out to snipe people below. It stays active for a long time going downwards making it a solid edgeguarding tool as well. It only does 9% in contrast to the Orange's 8%, but in return the apple has quite a large knockback buff that can seriously harass some characters like Little Mac, or open up some spaces to set up hydrants or charge more fruits. The charge time is also extremely convenient as the apple charges just as long as a non-fastfalled short hop, adding to its viability.
Melon - This fruit has many nicknames as it looks kinda weird, but it is supposed to be a melon. This fruit acts similarly to the orange, but travels much slower, has one very faint arc in its trajectory that will cause it to bounce after a long distance, and does more damage/knockback. Can be used as an approach as it moves slightly slower than Pac-Man's run speed. Also very valuable for Z-Dropping if grabbed, see Z-Dropped section for more info.
Galaxian - Ok, we're not eating fruits anymore. The galaxian is a rather useful weapon as it flies in such a pattern that can lead to many followups and combos. It flies in one of four directions after it does a loop: parallel to the ground, a slight angle upward, a bigger angle upward, and a large angle upward. It's arguably the easiest fruit to grab, see the Grabbing/Z-Dropped sections for more.
Bell - Pretty useful as if it hits, it can cause some serious stun on the opponent, especially at higher percents where you can follow up with a smash attack kill blow. Similarly to the apple it stays active for quite a long time going downwards, so you can use this move as an unorthodox edgeguard move to try to stun people trying to recover and retaliate with a bair. Don't bother charging for this at small percents however as the stun simply wont last long enough and you might as well go for a key. Doesn't fly far making it a solid fruit for grabbing, see the Grabbing/Z-Dropped sections for more.
You can also throw the bell underneath the stage. Makes for a good surprise attack on your opponent thinking they are safe away from the ledge. Video showcasing this tactic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdR_uI-BfLA
Key - The key to victory. Easily the strongest projectile in terms of damage and knockback, out-prioritizes and goes through many projectiles and obstacles, and flies VERY quickly making it a wonderful long-range punish. They key pierces through opponents and other obstacles and continues traveling when thrown, similar to the galaxian or bell. This means you can throw a key at a hydrant for example, and still have the key hit an opponent standing in its path.
Strawberry - At first glance this fruit might seem rather pointless, however upon further inspection it has more priority compared to cherry. This allows it to be used as a defensive option to combat some "spammy" projectiles, such as Link's boomerang, and even Sheik's needles if at the right height. If you are given enough time to charge it up opposed to instinctively spam cherry, this is essentially the superior fruit.
Orange - A strong option for a quick fireball-like projectile. Takes very little time to charge and flies at a fast horizontal line. Slightly outclassed by the apple in terms of speed and power but takes enough less time to charge to make it viable.
Apple - The trajectory is one of the best and most unique parts of it, it goes at a down-right angle and bounces on the ground from there on, which makes it quite a nice aerial fruit to throw out to snipe people below. It stays active for a long time going downwards making it a solid edgeguarding tool as well. It only does 9% in contrast to the Orange's 8%, but in return the apple has quite a large knockback buff that can seriously harass some characters like Little Mac, or open up some spaces to set up hydrants or charge more fruits. The charge time is also extremely convenient as the apple charges just as long as a non-fastfalled short hop, adding to its viability.
Melon - This fruit has many nicknames as it looks kinda weird, but it is supposed to be a melon. This fruit acts similarly to the orange, but travels much slower, has one very faint arc in its trajectory that will cause it to bounce after a long distance, and does more damage/knockback. Can be used as an approach as it moves slightly slower than Pac-Man's run speed. Also very valuable for Z-Dropping if grabbed, see Z-Dropped section for more info.
Galaxian - Ok, we're not eating fruits anymore. The galaxian is a rather useful weapon as it flies in such a pattern that can lead to many followups and combos. It flies in one of four directions after it does a loop: parallel to the ground, a slight angle upward, a bigger angle upward, and a large angle upward. It's arguably the easiest fruit to grab, see the Grabbing/Z-Dropped sections for more.
Bell - Pretty useful as if it hits, it can cause some serious stun on the opponent, especially at higher percents where you can follow up with a smash attack kill blow. Similarly to the apple it stays active for quite a long time going downwards, so you can use this move as an unorthodox edgeguard move to try to stun people trying to recover and retaliate with a bair. Don't bother charging for this at small percents however as the stun simply wont last long enough and you might as well go for a key. Doesn't fly far making it a solid fruit for grabbing, see the Grabbing/Z-Dropped sections for more.
You can also throw the bell underneath the stage. Makes for a good surprise attack on your opponent thinking they are safe away from the ledge. Video showcasing this tactic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdR_uI-BfLA
Key - The key to victory. Easily the strongest projectile in terms of damage and knockback, out-prioritizes and goes through many projectiles and obstacles, and flies VERY quickly making it a wonderful long-range punish. They key pierces through opponents and other obstacles and continues traveling when thrown, similar to the galaxian or bell. This means you can throw a key at a hydrant for example, and still have the key hit an opponent standing in its path.
Fruit Cancel
While charging fruit, by pressing shield/grab and immediately releasing it, you will cancel your charge without shielding/air dodging. It should be noted that this is much more difficult to do in air.
You can, however, cancel charging fruit into any other special moves in the air quite easily, while charging fruit press shield and then immediately press a new special move, such as a hydrant when your opponent is under you or trampoline when you're trying to recover.
You can, however, cancel charging fruit into any other special moves in the air quite easily, while charging fruit press shield and then immediately press a new special move, such as a hydrant when your opponent is under you or trampoline when you're trying to recover.
Grabbing
All of Pac-Man's fruits can be grabbed, either in the air(which is more practical) or if dropped thanks to being hit while charging or in the throw animation. Grabbing the fruit is similar to R.O.B.'s gyros, and when thrown, instead of being thrown like an item similar to Diddy's bananas, they have their respective properties and actions as if they were thrown as a projectile. What's different is that the fruits can now be thrown up or down, only in the air in down's case.
This can lead to some interesting and surprising combos, or kill setups in the bell's case, demonstrated here:
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The easiest fruits to grab that are worth it are the Galaxian and Bell. Melon can be fairly easily grabbed too if it was used as an approach since it will bounce off either the opponent or their shield so you can grab the fruit with a fair.
The key is a powerful weapon if you grab it. It does 15% when simply dropped, and can instantly launch a hydrant when dropped on. However methods for actually grabbing it are unconventional, and require some different setups depending on the stage. PEPESPAIN made a great video on this, shown here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vn4-amdC_g
This can lead to some interesting and surprising combos, or kill setups in the bell's case, demonstrated here:
The easiest fruits to grab that are worth it are the Galaxian and Bell. Melon can be fairly easily grabbed too if it was used as an approach since it will bounce off either the opponent or their shield so you can grab the fruit with a fair.
The key is a powerful weapon if you grab it. It does 15% when simply dropped, and can instantly launch a hydrant when dropped on. However methods for actually grabbing it are unconventional, and require some different setups depending on the stage. PEPESPAIN made a great video on this, shown here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vn4-amdC_g
Hydrant Trajectory Change
ItsRainingGravy posted a large analysis of how water spurts from the hydrant change each fruit's trajectory, and even included the custom variants. Note that this was written before the v1.04 patch.
Glide Toss
Similarly to most characters that have items they can grab, Pac-Man can utilize his glide toss when holding his fruits.
In case you are unaware of what Glide Tossing is, check this out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3_vOtY5kCc
While his is not quite as useful as characters like Diddy Kong, Pac can still use his glide toss for various things. Probably the most useful application is glide tossing the bell, since you can use it to be closer to your opponent when they are stunned and more easily follow up with a smash attack.
In case you are unaware of what Glide Tossing is, check this out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3_vOtY5kCc
While his is not quite as useful as characters like Diddy Kong, Pac can still use his glide toss for various things. Probably the most useful application is glide tossing the bell, since you can use it to be closer to your opponent when they are stunned and more easily follow up with a smash attack.
DITCIT/Super Glide Toss
DITCIT is an extension of sorts to glide tossing where you move incredibly far throwing a grabbed item. The inputs are much more strict and different for this technique, and if you are having trouble user abit_rusty compiled a good chunk of info that may help you.
There are many potential uses indeed, you can DITCIT a melon upwards into going for a back throw to toss your opponent into the melon, or, as PEPESPAIN pointed out, throw an Apple upwards away from your opponent, set up a hydrant, and have the hydrant water push the apple. There is lots of room for creativity with this, so feel free to experiment with different ideas.Okay, after 2+ hours of training this godforsaken technique, I think I got it. I am not at 100% (hell I'm more like 40%) but I can consciously choose to perform the inputs and know what happens on screen is the exact product of my hand movements. Let us clear up all the ambiguities in this thread:
First, the only consistent sequence that I used which was even able to get the DITCIT to come up was:
Holding fruit, facing right:
>>
Facing left, just reverse direction:
That sequence should result in Pacman doing a glide-toss movement forward (gaining a reasonable distance) while staying in a standing item-throw animation. If you see Pac sort of trip and throw, you did not do it right. If you see him up-throw and only barely move, you did not do it right. It is a fairly significant dash movement.
Key points:
- Quickly roll the control stick movements. Start with the dash forward, then roll from diagonal-down-forward to forward to diagonal-up-forward.
- You do not need to "maintain the dash", and by that I mean you don't need to start off running. You can do a standing DITCIT just fine. Or one right out of a foxtrot.
- Pressing the A button comes almost simultaneously (nearly immediately) after the diagonal-up-forward movement
- Pressing the B button comes after A just as fast (and I mean a fraction of a second after). When you get the muscle memory down, it almost feels like you are pressing both simultaneously.
- I am not sure if you have to hold A, but from experience holding it doesn't interrupt the technique and it's just one less thing to think about. (Just think roll stick -> Hold A>>Hold B immediately)
- The entire sequence of inputs must be performed VERY quickly. And I do mean quickly. To give you an idea of how quick, do a fox trot. (Flick the analog once in a direction). In that span of time, you need to have completed the entire input sequence above.
Tips:
- Go to training mode, set up 2 cpu's on each side of you on the far ends of an omega stage, and spam bananas. This serves 2 reasons.
1) You save yourself the time of having the pull out fruit since training with the banana item has the same effect. The more times you can practice in a row, the quicker your muscle memory should develop.- When I first started out, I found it was much easier/consistent if I did one or two fox trots before doing the DITCIT input above. I'm not sure why, but I think it has to do with getting a feel for the timing and speed required (hence my foxtrot example above).
2) Having a cpu on each side makes the camera zoom out instead of onto you, so you can see your movement completely to tell if you're DITCIT-ing correctly.
- Sometimes you will up-throw DITCIT. This is likely due to you rolling the control stick all the way up before pressing A>B
- Make sure you are consciously finishing the control stick movements before even hitting A>B. This was difficult for me at first because it requires such a fast input speed, but with practice I got the feel for it.
- On that note, practice, practice, practice. It took me over 2 hours (your mileage may vary) until I could even hit a respectable consistent performance. I do find that I am much more consistent with the fox-trot method. So try that first before you do a standing DITCIT.
- Seriously, you have to do this all REALLY quickly. I can not emphasize that enough. If you are frustrated because you can't get it to come out, try putting the inputs in faster.
Good luck guys. The inputs on this feel really strict so I'm still trying to get this down pat. I'll be doing DITCIT motions in my sleep.
Z-Drop
Z-Dropping, for those who are unaware, is where you let go of an item you're holding in midair with the grab button, hence the name Z-Dropping. Like all items in the game that can be held, all of Pac's fruits can be Z-Dropped, but in a very unique matter compared to other "character items", as well as specific properties for each fruit.
Unlike items such as Peach's turnips and Diddy's bananas, Pac's fruits can fall to the ground for an infinite number of times without disappearing, as long as they are quickly grabbed afterwards and not left on the ground too long. Even if they hit an opponent, they wont disappear and continue their way to the ground.
Pac's fruits can also be grabbed in the air during their descent, either by you or by your opponent. Keep this in mind.
The key is likely the best fruit to Z-Drop, as mentioned earlier it sends a hydrant flying on its own. No other fruit can do this and it makes launching hydrants much easier, faster, and dangerous. More on the hydrant in the Launching the Hydrant section.
Here is a video demonstrating Z-Drop techniques with the Galaxian and Bell: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HkPymr-mhA
Unlike items such as Peach's turnips and Diddy's bananas, Pac's fruits can fall to the ground for an infinite number of times without disappearing, as long as they are quickly grabbed afterwards and not left on the ground too long. Even if they hit an opponent, they wont disappear and continue their way to the ground.
Pac's fruits can also be grabbed in the air during their descent, either by you or by your opponent. Keep this in mind.
The key is likely the best fruit to Z-Drop, as mentioned earlier it sends a hydrant flying on its own. No other fruit can do this and it makes launching hydrants much easier, faster, and dangerous. More on the hydrant in the Launching the Hydrant section.
Here is a video demonstrating Z-Drop techniques with the Galaxian and Bell: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HkPymr-mhA
Super Z-Drop
Picking up a fruit by air-dodging and immediately pressing a grab button will have Pac-Man pick up the fruit and z-drop it on the same frame while performing an air dodge. This is cleverly named the Super Z-Drop (SZD). This can also be done while holding a fruit; you will simply drop the fruit while air-dodging. It should be noted that this is the only way to z-drop a fruit immediately after throwing a hydrant mid-air. What's interesting about this tactic is how when Pac-Man uses SZD, the fruit jumps over to his hand highest in the air and falls from there, meaning by using this trick repeatedly you can put out a constant hitbox behind you. This can prove to be rather effective pressure using fruits like the Key or Melon that deal a lot of damage.
Buffered Ledge Drop
Every item-spawning character can buffer an item drop when jumping from the ledge. However, when Pac-Man performs this he drops the fruit right in front of him on the stage, placing an active hitbox in front of him to help make his jump back onto stage safer. You can also regrab the fruit immediately during your jump by pressing Z at the right time or airdodging.
TheReflexWonder made a video showcasing all this in action, seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGbrjSkgzuM
TheReflexWonder made a video showcasing all this in action, seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGbrjSkgzuM
The Hydrant
The Hydrant is Pac's Down Special and arguably the most important weapon in Pac-Man's arsenal, thanks to its multiple uses. You can also drop the hydrant in the air, it will drop at a high speed downwards until it hits the ground or a platform, dealing 9% to any opponents in the way and decent knockback. This is a strong option for landing with Pac-Man.
Hydrant Cancel
This is a simple trick that, while minor, can still prove to be effective and is a good habit to get into. Using Down Special to spawn a hydrant mid air has 5 frames less endlag than using it on the ground. When you are going to use the hydrant on the ground, just press jump right before inputting down special.
Comparison gfy courtesy of Zage: https://gfycat.com/LivelyKeenAllensbigearedbat
Comparison gfy courtesy of Zage: https://gfycat.com/LivelyKeenAllensbigearedbat
Launching the Hydrant
One of the most bread and butter ways to use the hydrant is by launching it towards your opponent. When flying, the hydrant will always do 13%, no matter how long its been out or what angle its launched at. It has some strong knockback, and can kill lighter opponents at higher percents.
The hydrant can take a total of about 13% before being launched at whatever angle the last hit onto it may cause. The most simple and common way to launch a hydrant is by hitting it with a dropped back air, and following it up with an forward tilt.
Always keep in mind how much HP the hydrant has, as your opponent can launch the hydrant against you. Keep these in mind to better control how and where your hydrant is launched, and don't be too reckless with this tactic; only try launching if you have some breathing space or know your opponent cannot launch it themselves too easily.
Here is a video showcasing most ways to launch a hydrant, including utilizing the bonus fruit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jdo320ZiL7U
Feel free to be creative with how you launch your hydrant! As shown in the video you usually you want to use a back air to get most damage on it as possible, giving you more options for types of launches. You can even bait weaker projectiles and/or attacks on the hydrant to loosen it, leading you to punish by bairing a hydrant into their face.
Z-Dropping fruit can also be an effective tactic to launch the hydrant, especially when utilizing the melon and galaxian. The melon, when Z-Dropped will still knock the hydrant away with one hit, making it a much safer and quicker way to launch a hydrant when holding a melon. The galaxian can also launch a hydrant on its own, but it needs to be from a high point so it can bounce. For more, see the Z-Dropping section under Bonus Fruit, including a video of Z-Dropping galaxian on the hydrant.
User kyoskue made a nice analysis of many types of hydrant launches. Keep in mind that whenever he mentions FD, he is specifically referring to the omega form of Pac-Maze on the 3DS version.
(NOTE: This was written before any patches.)
The hydrant can take a total of about 13% before being launched at whatever angle the last hit onto it may cause. The most simple and common way to launch a hydrant is by hitting it with a dropped back air, and following it up with an forward tilt.
Always keep in mind how much HP the hydrant has, as your opponent can launch the hydrant against you. Keep these in mind to better control how and where your hydrant is launched, and don't be too reckless with this tactic; only try launching if you have some breathing space or know your opponent cannot launch it themselves too easily.
Here is a video showcasing most ways to launch a hydrant, including utilizing the bonus fruit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jdo320ZiL7U
Feel free to be creative with how you launch your hydrant! As shown in the video you usually you want to use a back air to get most damage on it as possible, giving you more options for types of launches. You can even bait weaker projectiles and/or attacks on the hydrant to loosen it, leading you to punish by bairing a hydrant into their face.
Z-Dropping fruit can also be an effective tactic to launch the hydrant, especially when utilizing the melon and galaxian. The melon, when Z-Dropped will still knock the hydrant away with one hit, making it a much safer and quicker way to launch a hydrant when holding a melon. The galaxian can also launch a hydrant on its own, but it needs to be from a high point so it can bounce. For more, see the Z-Dropping section under Bonus Fruit, including a video of Z-Dropping galaxian on the hydrant.
User kyoskue made a nice analysis of many types of hydrant launches. Keep in mind that whenever he mentions FD, he is specifically referring to the omega form of Pac-Maze on the 3DS version.
(NOTE: This was written before any patches.)
Hydrant Dashing
Hydrant Dashing is a relatively simple tactic, and involves being pushed by the hydrant water while doing something you would be stationary doing otherwise, such as charging a smash attack or fruit. This can lead to some surprise KO's as your opponent most likely won't be expecting you to glide towards them charging a down smash.
Keep in mind however, in the case of charging a smash attack you're still charging a smash attack, and thus are wide open suspect to punishment. Use this tactic wisely.
Here's a video of Hydrant Dashing in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWTIEvgx4S0
Keep in mind however, in the case of charging a smash attack you're still charging a smash attack, and thus are wide open suspect to punishment. Use this tactic wisely.
Here's a video of Hydrant Dashing in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWTIEvgx4S0
Pac-Jump
Another extremely valuable asset to Pac-Man's wide array of tools is his Up-Special, which creates a trampoline from the Mappy arcade game, sound effects included. Pac-Man can bounce on the trampoline 3 times including the initial leap, dealing damage on the way up but being in free-fall on the way down. Hit it when it's red, and you will enter free-fall. Opponents can bounce off it and will enter free-fall when hitting the red trampoline as well. While it's most obvious use is as a high distance vertical recovery move, the move sees plenty of different uses, as a trap setup and more.
Unblockable
Because when opponents hit your trampoline, they bounce up, the hitbox from the inital leap of Pac-Jump is unblockable and can be used to hit through shields if you're close enough. There are many situations where this is useful. Because it is an up-special, this is a great OoS option for when you and your opponent are next to each other in shield.
An example of this being used as an unblockable is below:
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An example of this being used as an unblockable is below:
Trampoline Combo Breaker
The trampoline can be used as a "combo breaker" as it has low start up frames. It can get you out trapping moves as well like Ness's PK Fire.
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Stuck in a move or combo? Just press Up B!
Spacing/Zoning Strategy
Combining Pac-Man's Up B(Trampoline) and hydrant can create some excellent space control and opportunities to charge up fruit. ptrk83's post sums up very nicely what I would post myself, so I'll have his quoted here.
The trampoline, when not being used as a recovery, can be a great spacing/zoning tool when used on stage. You literally force aggressive opponents to decide whether or not to jump on the trampoline, jump over it, or try to hit you with a projectile. When comboed with the hydrant, it makes for a dead trap and directs your opponent to go into the part of the stage that YOU want him to be in. You'd be surprised how quickly you can change your opponents strategies with a simple hydrant or trampoline placement.
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A simple trampoline setup here greatly limits the space in where your opponent can reach you.
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How about now? Now the opponent has to come from above or in the middle. Both options can lead to you punishing them.
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Comboed with the hydrant severely limits the space in which your opponent can read you. From above? ..Upsmash.. Your opponent better wait until the hydrant or trampoline disappears.. But hey.. set it up your camp again and this time throw some fruit. Now they have to make a decision.
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Maybe space it out this time? Gives you more wiggle room in your nicely set up campground.
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Now where can your opponent go when they are recovering low.? Prepare for them to be jumping!
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Force them into an ever smaller recovery space with this setup. Have some vitamin C.
Combos and Followups
Pac-Man has actually quite a few followups and combos. Some are a rather simple string of 2-3 moves while some can really rack up the damage; however these may require some setup and therefore are much more difficult to pull off in a real match. All percent calculations are considering the moves are 100% fresh/stale.
Bread and Butter
Fair -> Fair/Nair -- Pac-Man's most basic and fundamental combo, the one you should be using most. Works at many percents on the entire cast and is very safe. You generally should use nair, but at higher percents you would rather just followup with another fair as nair will whiff. (10% with fair, 15% with nair)
Fair -> Hydrant -- Variation of the first combo, instead sets up a hydrant. You can follow-up with hitting the hydrant with a nair, which will guarantee that bairing the hydrant or throwing any fruit at it will send it flying.(14%)
Down Throw -> Dash Attack -- Very useful out of a grab. You can move almost immediately after the dash attack finishes, allowing you to set up a hydrant or try for a followup uair or fair. (19%)
Fair -> Hydrant -- Variation of the first combo, instead sets up a hydrant. You can follow-up with hitting the hydrant with a nair, which will guarantee that bairing the hydrant or throwing any fruit at it will send it flying.(14%)
Down Throw -> Dash Attack -- Very useful out of a grab. You can move almost immediately after the dash attack finishes, allowing you to set up a hydrant or try for a followup uair or fair. (19%)
A Bit More Interesting
Fair -> Fair -> Any tilt or Up smash -- Good punish on any character's shorthop. However, if this combo was started on the ground Up Smash will not connect, and you would rather use a tilt. This will not work at all at higher percents, around 100%. (27% with usmash) (18% with ftilt) (17% with utilt) (16% with dtilt)
Dash Attack -> Bell -- Also known as the "Bellhop." If you have a bell charged up you can throw it after a dash attack, and at slightly higher percents can lead to some great followups or a kill considering the Bell's stun.
(When holding key, and above opponent) Z-Drop key -> Hydrant -> Falling Nair -- Extremely powerful and quick combo. Due to the positioning and conditions it can be rather difficult to pull off against a real player but its still definitely not impractical. What happens here is they're actually being hit with 3-4 attacks at once: the dropped key, hydrant falling, and then the hydrant being launched by the key. At most percents you can hit them with a nair before the hydrant sends them flying for extra damage. (37% without nair, 47% with all four moves.)
Dash Attack -> Bell -- Also known as the "Bellhop." If you have a bell charged up you can throw it after a dash attack, and at slightly higher percents can lead to some great followups or a kill considering the Bell's stun.
(When holding key, and above opponent) Z-Drop key -> Hydrant -> Falling Nair -- Extremely powerful and quick combo. Due to the positioning and conditions it can be rather difficult to pull off against a real player but its still definitely not impractical. What happens here is they're actually being hit with 3-4 attacks at once: the dropped key, hydrant falling, and then the hydrant being launched by the key. At most percents you can hit them with a nair before the hydrant sends them flying for extra damage. (37% without nair, 47% with all four moves.)
Off Stage
Others
Pac-Man has some very interesting combos possible through use of the hydrant and fruits. Generally these aren't practical but can be possibly used to an extent when the opportunity allows. Plus, they're entertaining at the very least.
Some combos by ぎんこ that utilize the Galaxian in creative ways:
Some combos by ぎんこ that utilize the Galaxian in creative ways:
Miscellaneous
U-Turn Pellet
An interesting trick exists with Side Special where you can go into a hydrant in one direction, then immediately pivot the opposite direction. This is done by inputting the opposite direction of your pellet trail as soon as the power pellet at the end is peaking out of the hydrant.
A more in-depth video which also shows uses was made by PEPESPAIN and can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAd_Yul51-o
A more in-depth video which also shows uses was made by PEPESPAIN and can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAd_Yul51-o
An interesting glitch occurs when you Fruit Cancel into Side Special at the same time as hitting the floor or a platform. the pellets will begin to follow abnormally different paths instead of normal.
Another way to set this up is by trying to drop a hydrant after already having just spawned one, then immediately trying to use your side-special.
Here is a video showcasing the glitch in action, as well as further describing different effects: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VlaO_Lk7ck
Another way to set this up is by trying to drop a hydrant after already having just spawned one, then immediately trying to use your side-special.
Here is a video showcasing the glitch in action, as well as further describing different effects: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VlaO_Lk7ck
Conclusion
Pac-Man is a pretty zany character with a lot of dirty tricks up his sleeve. This guide of course will not make you a Pac-Man expert immediately, but I hope you were able to take something away from this and are able to apply more to your gameplan. If there was something I have not added and you think deserves to be included, feel free to post in this thread or PM me on Smashboards. Good luck out there!
To Do List
- Add more things I might have missed
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