Stage Tournament: Pokemon Stadium 2 Vs. PictoChat

[Dragmire]

mute city

10 s

 

[KingK.Rool]

Vaporeon

≈≈ #34 ≈≈​

​

Vaporeon is the Water evolution of the ubiquitous Eevee, who has seven potential evolutions. You get this one by giving Eevee a Water Stone.

Vaporeon - pronounced Vuh-POR-ee-on, not Vapor-ee-on - is one of the stronger "Eeveelutions", with a great HP total and good Special Attack. Apart from the standard set of water-based moves, he also has access to the peculiar Acid Armor, which causes him to melt into a puddle of water and sharply raises his defense.

In Brawl, he brings the same tactic. His playstyle is defensive and based around tanking the opponent's hits through a variety of shielding water techniques. He also has a quasi-mechanic, or at least motif or sorts, based around puddles - maybe you can guess at it already.

≈≈ Stats ≈≈​

• Weight ~ 8
• Power ~ 5
• Movement ~ 6
• Fall ~ 7
• Traction ~ 2
• Attack Speed ~ 4
• Jump ~ 6

Vaporeon is deceptively heavy, the main thing he has going for him. He falls at the speed of the typical heavyweight but also has decent enough jumping and running, as any of the cat-like Eeveelutions do. On the flip side, his attacks are laggy enough and mostly lack firepower, and he slips all over the place - although never trips. I've decided tripping doesn't exist anymore.

≈≈ Specials ≈≈​

Neutral Special ~ Water Gun ~ This is both chargeable and storable. Vaporeon charges by leaning back from a sitting position. Max charge is about 1.5 seconds, at which point the stream of water will be comparable to Mario's, albeit thicker as a visual effect. Again, like Mario's (or Squirtle's), this causes knockback without damage and has its primary use as a way of gimping.

The only real difference is that this one leaves behind a two-thirds-of-a-platform-sized puddle if the stream lands somewhere on solid ground (drop-through platforms do not count) and if you'd charged the full 1.5 seconds. This small, unobtrusive puddle doesn't seem like a threat, and it really isn't on its own. It vanishes after thirteen seconds, a goodly amount of time.

Side Special ~ Froth ~ Vaporeon jolts his head forward and spews a thick, white blob of foam. This is hardly a very mobile fluid, so it simply accumulates in front of him, forming a blob the size of Kirby that pops away to nothing after three seconds. This attack has a bit of lag on either side. The foam itself clings to any foe who passes through it or even makes slight contact, almost completely halting their movement until it pops.

The other effect this has, in addition to turning the water within Vaporeon to foam, is turning any puddles directly in front of him into the very same foam. In general, one puddle from Water Gun makes a Mario-sized blob of foam; since puddles can and will overlap, this can result in a whole lot of foam and thus in making movement very difficult.

Up Special ~ Vaporize ~ As the attack sounds, Vaporeon lets out a small, melodic bark - wait, isn't he a cat? - and turns into a small cloud of steam that drifts upward. Brief lag at the beginning. This advanced Acid Armor is weak as a recovery, as Vaporeon's movement is quite slow; you can, however, control whether it moves to the left or right slightly by tilting the control stick. The recovery lasts for up to two seconds - you decide by holding the B Button - at which point he reforms suddenly and with a small flourish, dealing out 6% and minimal knockback to any foes who are too close for comfort. Note that at maximum, your upwards recovery is about equivalent to Falco's, not too impressive - but at least you're ungimpable.

If used on the ground, in addition to Vaporeon's turning to mist, any puddles within one platform of him will vaporize as well, drifting at exactly the same speed and making it very easy for you to hide in them and make the foe lose track of where you're going to reappear. These mists, unlike you, will drift right off the top of the screen.

Down Special ~ Acid Armor ~ Vaporeon shakes like a wet dog, then appears to simply melt into a bluish puddle. In this state, he can creep along like a slow crawler to either direction, almost unnoticable if you have other puddles on the ground around you. He can't be dealt knockback while he's in this state, but note that he can take damage from especially low-sweeping attacks. Hence why you need other puddles to hide yourself in.

After either three seconds or you press B again, Vaporeon will reappear, much more quickly than he melted. As he does so, he'll thrash about slightly, dealing 8% and enough knockback to KO at 150%. A solid sneak attack, and well worth relying on at higher %s.

≈≈ Standards ≈≈​

Jab ~ Tail Whip ~ Vaporeon whirls and gives foes directly ahead a mighty buffet of his tail, dealing a solid 10% with equally solid knockback. This attack is fairly laggy, as it may sound.

Jab - Second Hit ~ Aqua Tail ~ If the second hit is executed during the start-up of the first, Vaporeon's tail will extend in the final hit by almost twice its length, turning at least half of water as it goes. It deals 6%, considerably less, and has reduced knockback, but the tail sloshes onto the ground at the end, forming a puddle. Vaporeon quickly sprouts a new watery tail.

Dash Attack ~ Waterskate ~ Vaporeon leans back, skidding to a stop. Huh. Well, it's a quick and efficient way to cancel a dash without the lag of his bad traction. However, if you hold the A button, even as he leans back, Vaporeon's legs and bottom half will turn into water, and he'll slide forward, borne on his self-contained puddle. This goes on for about the length of a platform and he'll go an additional half a platform for every puddle he passes through. Foes he comes into contact with will be dragged along and dealt consecutive hits, a maximum of 10%, taking puddles out of consideration. There's noticable ending lag to this variant, though.

The combination of the two results in Vaporeon's approach being highly unpredictable; he can either shorthop into an aerial, slide forward, or skid to a stop and use any other ground attack.

≈≈ Tilts ≈≈​

Forward Tilt ~ Aqua Jet ~ Vaporeon hops back slightly, then hurtles forward, shrouded in water that seems to come from his very body. He shoots forward one platform, then rolls out of his waterball (like fireball, get it?). This movement is incredibly quick and has high priority, although it has that dang start-up and end lag. The point here is simply to move around the stage quickly and keep the opponent on their toes, ever unsure of your next move.

Up Tilt ~ Geyser ~ Vaporeon taps one foot against the ground twice. Precisely one second later, a geyser the height of two Ganondorfs shoots out of the ground directly below where he used this attack. This geyser dissipates right after reaching its max height, which it attains quickly. It deals exaggerated upwards knockback and 8%, and leaves behind a puddle after use.

If Vaporeon hasn't moved out of the way after activating the attack, it'll carry him upwards perfectly, making this a split-second dodge of sorts that chains into a nice Down Aerial or something of the sort.

Down Tilt ~ Aqua Ring ~ Vaporeon, from his sitting position, mewls serenely (now he's a cat again...). A perfect bauble of swirling, slightly glowing water materializes around him - this takes almost a second, though. This bauble will constantly heal him, 2% each second, and have no other visible effect until it vanishes eight seconds later.

However, if Vaporeon uses Acid Armor to turn into a puddle while surrounded by Aqua Ring, that bright, glowing water will become a puddle as well, simply lying there like any regular puddle, with the same thirteen-second lifespan. It can be manipulated like any other puddle. Unlike other puddles, Vaporeon standing in it will heal him for 2% every second. If the foe is unable to effectively get you out of it, you can potentially heal 26% just by lingering in it.

This is one of Vaporeon's most important attacks; every tank needs a way to heal.

≈≈ Smashes ≈≈​

Forward Smash ~ Brine ~ After charging by leaning back slightly - as in several other attacks, making for good mindgame potential - Vaporeon spits out a small spray of briny water. This is quite small and isn't focused at all, instead making a thinly spread sheen of water that shoots forward quite a ways before falling to the ground and vanishing altogether. This has okay knockback if the foe is right beside you, but beyond there only deals the damage, a nice 15%. Not too laggy an attack with fine disjointed priority.

The main purpose of this attack, its redeeming feature, so to speak, is that the brine contains salt, and this lingers after the water has vaporized. In other words, any puddles within range are turned to briny puddles (with the exception of the unchanging Aqua Ring puddle). These can be used in all the same ways by Vaporeon, but deal 2% per half a second when a foe stands in them. If you make enough puddles, this can instantly make simply standing around quickly lethal to the foe.

Up Smash ~ Aurora ~ Yes, it is an ice attack, but it's also one of Vaporeon's signatures, ever since way back when. As you charge, Vaporeon sits back and the sky goes slightly darker. When the attack is actually used, Vaporeon looks up plaintively and a large, rainbow-colored light is suddenly seen moving about two Ganondorfs above. This light merely glimmers once before fading again, making a very short hitbox, but it's fairly big, as wide as a platform and tall as a Mario. It deals 14% with okay to good upwards knockback, and is one of Vaporeon's most reliable KO options.

If there are any vapors above when Vaporeon uses these, they'll be chilled just enough to reform into puddles, and fall groundward. Used in conjunction with Vaporize on the ground and with Mist (see below), this means more puddles for you to play around in.

Down Smash ~ Whirlpool ~ Vaporeon begins to run around in circles as though he were chasing his tail (ah, so he is a dog?), whipping up a sort of vortex of water. This pulls foes in while you charge, so the longer the better. Upon release, it materializes fully and swirls mightily around Vaporeon; it'll no longer have any pull, so you'd better hope you'd already caught them. It deals multiple hits of 2%, up to a maximum of 26% - fantastic total, no? Vaporeon is immobile - but protected - for its duration, which is almost two seconds. There's a bit of wind-down.

If Vaporeon is standing in a puddle when he starts using this attack, the swirling waters will be considerably thicker, making a bigger hitbox - instead of just poking out from either side of him, they'll extend noticable to either side, taking up about a third of Battlefield.

≈≈ Aerials ≈≈​

Neutral Aerial ~ Dive ~ Vaporeon turns suddenly into water once more, and plummets - this is like a stall-then-fall minus the stall. Notably, though, you can use your Up Special out of this, making it a good way to dodge edgeguarders if you're way up high. You can also press A again to cancel it. Contact with the blob of water deals consecutive hits and drags the foe along with you; this can be used a Vaporcide. If you hit the ground while in this state, you'll go directly into an Acid Armor, so be aware and prepared, and make full use of this excellent mindgame.

Forward Aerial ~ Mist ~ Leaning back to signify the start-up, Vaporeon lurches forward and exhales a fine cloud of mist, the length of a platform and of significant height. This mist has little purpose beyond obscuring the stage effectively if repeatedly short-hopped, and dissipates after eight seconds. Its other purpose, of course, is to be situated properly overhead for a nice Aurora to turn it into free puddles. One Mist is equal to one puddle. It has low lag on either side, and the act of exhaling it also has slight "go away" knockback, rather like Water Gun.

Back Aerial ~ Hydro Cannon ~ Vaporeon leans over backwards to the point where his head is facing directly behind him, and then suddenly shoots a powerful burst of water out of his mouth. This is angled slightly downward and highly gravity-affected; it'll hit ground about a platform back. If it hits someone along the way, great, because it has good knockback - angled downward and great for backward gimping - and deals 14%. It also creates a puddle! What's not to like? Well, that laggy start-up and wind-down, really. In addition, if you hit ground while using this attack, Vaporeon will land on his back, resulting in even more lag as he flails about and scrambles to his feet.

Up Aerial ~ Quick Attack ~ Vaporeon suddenly and without warning shoots upward for about one body length, moving in a blur. Contact with his moving body during this time deals 8% with okay knockback. Pretty boring, yes? Not at all! This attack can be chained spectacularly, with its low lag, and every usage after the first can be directed more effectively, although only the first deals damage, and only the first can be directed on an upward angle. In addition, each burst of speed is shorter than the last, and if you don't input the button immediately after the last use, it fails. All this results in an interesting exercise for button mashers and not all that useful an attack for the rest of us.

Down Aerial ~ Water Pulse ~ Vaporeon turns upside down and spins around once, creating a small suction effect but also giving the attack some noticable lag. After this start-up, he pulses once, radiating both water and concentrated energy. This deals 16% to anyone near him - pulled in, say, by the start-up - and 6% to anyone within a platform. It also creates a smaller puddle directly beneath him as he falls.

The wave of energy doesn't stop there, though, even if it is invisible. It radiates outwards and pushes each puddle away about the distance of half a platform, although it stops short of making them slide off of the stage. This is best used when short hopped to manipulate the water you've got on-stage and maybe push briny puddles into foes who think they're out of range.

≈≈ Grab & Throws ≈≈​

Grab ~ Water Absorb ~ Vaporeon makes a grabbing gesture with his paw. Very short range. Fortunately for you, if you hold down the Z button after the little grab, every puddle on the stage will begin to slide toward Vaporeon at a decent clip, dragging enemies with them. If they come within grabbing range, he'll repeat his halfhearted paw gesture. Maybe this time he'll succeed. Once they're grabbed, he'll pin them by standing on them with his two front paws, and his pummel is an exhalation of mist to the foe's face that deals 1% - bad pummel.

Forward Throw ~ Surf ~ Vaporeon liquifies himself, then hurtles forward in the form of a small wave, carrying the foe with him and dealing cumulative damage. After a platform's movement or he reaches the edge, he'll stop abruptly and the foe's inertia will carry them away instead. Notable among his throws, as the wave grows larger for each puddle it passes through, resulting in more damage and knockback but consuming the puddle. Minimum damage is 8% and each puddle makes it deal an extra 2%. With three puddles, knockback is great for a throw. No puddles, it's subpar.

Back Throw ~ Thwack ~ Vaporeon steps off of the foe and takes one step forward. The foe is now in his prone position, while Vaporeon is still executing the attack. Pressing B at any point causes a brief flicker of super armor - perhaps to prevent a prone attack - while pressing A or Z makes him use the actual attack, a mighty buffet of his tail that deals 14% and has good knockback. It's all mindgames, here, as both you and the foe have to try to bluff the other out into making the first move. Rolling away is a bad idea for them, as Vaporeon's tail extends in such a scenario to chase them, and will hit them automatically.

Up Throw ~ Bubble ~ Vaporeon blows a rather large bubble onto the foe, making them go floating happily up, up and away into the clear blue sky...

This might not be so happy and carefree for them, though, as they have to button mash to get out and take 3% every half a second while they're in there. Lighter characters float up more quickly; at very high %s when it's hard to button mash out, this is a KO move against some of them.

Down Throw ~ Drown ~ How malignant. This attack only works if there's a puddle beneath the foe; Vaporeon swings his tail at them to flip them over, then stands on the back of their head to force their face into the water. This deals a rather disappointing 10%, but it has a long duration and should be pretty devastating to their spirits. More importantly, it can potentially be used as a chainthrow... provided you have enough puddles, as the foe will be shot ahead just enough to prevent you from reusing the same puddle for your gristly work.

≈≈ Super Attack ≈≈​

Super Attack ~ Rain Dance ~ Yes, this is one of those upgrade SAs that Junahu despises. Vaporeon hops about jauntily, mewling, and some clouds form quite suddenly and begin to pour out rain. In addition to just being a fun visual effect, this creates an abundance of puddles all throughout the stage, and they're practically inexhaustible. Hide amongst them, turn them all to Brine, all to Foam, drown foes in them... your call. It rains for ten seconds and the puddles linger for ten seconds more after that, although they're no longer inexhaustible. Use these wisely, and quickly, because they all vanish after 13 seconds, lest we forget.

≈≈ Playstyle ≈≈​

Vaporeon's not complicated, really. Make lots of puddles, survive longer than you have any right to, finish off.

Since we're here for elaboration, though, let's start with surviving. Vaporeon's heavy by trade, but he's also a big target, so he has to rely on his many defensive options. Although they may not be as over-the-top as Shellder's are, he's still quite capable of evading foes through uses of Aqua Jet, Dive, Quick Attack, and Geyser. Combined use of all these make what appears to be a character of middling speed as difficult to catch as a raindrop. In addition, you should put plenty of stock in disappearing entirely; provided enough puddles, turning to mist or water are both nigh infallible ways of vanishing for a while, and suddenly a large character is as tricky to find as a bubble in a waterfall.

And in the meanwhile, you've got Aqua Ring. Never underestimate just how vital this attack is. Whenever you get a moment alone, activate it, and don't be afraid to turn it into a puddle, although you had best be ready to protect your right to stand on it if you do so.

As for actually generating puddles, well, you can really take your pick. Half of his aerials and more of his ground attacks help you make these, although perhaps the most unexpected way is to create Mist and Aurora it into water. Never forget that you can also move it around the stage surprisingly well through combined use of Water Absorb and Water Pulse. You can put it wherever you need, be it farther away or right beside you.

When it comes time to KO - and I'm not covering how to rack up damage, as Vaporeon has plenty of that if you actually read it - you've got to be clever. Still focus on your puddles and try to get as much damage as possible for an easier KO. Vaporeon's throws are good choices, as is Hydro Cannon. You'll also be scraping some cheap KOs from Water Gun gimp and the Dive Vaporcide. And an Aurora juggle is always a good way to make the foe feel sloppy and lull them into making a mistake.

Vaporeon's not complicated; he's simply bringing a piece of himself with him to the battlefield. You're out of your element, but you don't have to be, since you carry it with you wherever you go. Fish out of water, indeed.

 

[Jigglymaster]

Tough Choice. But I liked Mute City Melee better so

K.K Rider

 

[Deleted member]

Go K.K. Rider!

 

[---]

Best: Mute City

 

[espio87]

Go K.K. Rider!
If it was Dream Chaser, I wouldn't have voted for K.K.

 

[Wrath`]

I would have only voted against mute city if we had chose 2:00am, but go MUTE CITY

 

[DarkLeviathan89]

Go K.K. Rider!

 

[Airgemini]

This is hard.
Go K.K. Rider.

 

[ZMan]

Mute City, it's badass

 

[luigiluck]

best menu 2
worst menu 1

 

[Linkplayer5678]

Go K.K. Rider!

 

[TKD+ITA+Mar=]

Mute City

10cars

 

[smashlink_aru]

Mute city is a lot better

 

[IWontGetOverTheDam]

Itte KeKe Raida!!

 

[Big-Cat]

Go K.K. Kamen Rider.

 

[gorgon.]

Go KK Rider.

 

[~rh]

Go KK Rider. Duhh

 

[Neb]

Mute City.

10falconpunches.

 

[Digimonkey]

mute city!
but kk rider is better towards the mute city version from the real game

 

[Demon Kirby]

Mute city.

 

[D13]

Go KK Rider. It's so amazing.

:D

 

[half_silver28]

this is a tough one, both songs are awesome ~ but I'll give my vote to mute city

 

[gunterrsmash01]

Erm this is a horrible matchup. Any true man knows that Mute City OWNS kk rider.

 

[White Pikmin]

mute city!

 

[Golem the Stern Father]

best menu 2
worst menu 1

You're doing it wrong.

Contradicting songs, quite difficult. Mute City shall not lose!

 

[Tr4ce]

Mute City!

 

[OmegaXXII]

Mute City FTW! I say!

 

[Mr.Victory07]

Muye sity i guess

 

[Jigglymaster]

Looks like Mute City won.

****, the last 2 to go this round are FD and Sonic Boom. FD can't lose, and for some reason it does, this world is going to have an apocoplipse.

 

[roy_owns]

Sorry everyone for not updating, SWF was down (for me at least). Anyway, I'll wait until tonight and update then.

 

[JawaJedi]

Go Go K.K. Rider

 

[Chapstick]

My votes for Mute City

 

[-Linko-]

This vote won't be needed...

But Mute City is by far the best song in Brawl!

 

[Wrath`]

So roy owns, where are you?

 

[Egallardo26]

Mute City....

 

[Brandon72196]

Mute City!!

 

[Mario_ 101]

Mute City. Its hardly a contest.

 

[roy_owns]

Go K.K. Rider is Muted!

Since there's three left I might as well let the top 2 go to the next round. Today will be Sonic Boom Vs. Final Destination!

 

[IWontGetOverTheDam]

Ha. Victory is mine. I snagged the 3000th post. I like Final Destination most, but to piss everyone off, the 3000th post will be for...



Sonic Boom