Smash Advent Calendar - Day 16 - Blaziken

Continuing with a Pokémon theme, Day 16 is Blaziken, the final evolution of the fire starter in the Ruby & Sapphire generation. This Pokémon mixes fire and fighting types, making him perfect for the Smash Bros. series, especially with its recent mega evolution born from its popularity. It would be one of few humanoid Pokémon in the series, making it a more interesting fighter among the Pokémon side of the roster.

Now I imagine Blaziken to be a fairly heavy character gravity-wise, not very fast but not as slow as the super heavyweights like DK and Bowser. Many of his moves would pack a fair wallop and centre around kicks. with punches in reserve for initiating A, A, A combos and the occasional tilt or special. Crouching attacks would be sweeps with the leg and forward tilts would be a long ranged kick with a completely outstretched leg ala T. Hawk's Forward+HK in "Super Street Fighter 4". For the up tilt, I imagine a backflip that has a fair amount of range with decent damage that could hit behind at the end of the animation.

Aerial attacks would be of a great range, making the most of Blaziken's long legs. Back+A would be a belly-down drop kick style attack that has the most range with decent power but doesn't smash far. I imagine it to have sluggish recovery. Neutral+A would have Blaziken spin kick with both legs out, giving a large circular hitbox that could hit weakly multiple times and ending quickly. Forward+A would be a flying kick with okay damage but a devastating critical point at the base of the foot, similar to Zelda's own Forward+A. Down+A would be a mid-air stomp that has a slow start-up but acts as a meteor smash. Up+A would most likely kick above Blaziken's own head for a strike that comes out at a medium speed but smashes well, and could be used to juggle.

Pictured with its pre-evolutions, you can see the kick range clearly here!

Smashes would be fairly simple as well. Forward smash would charge up a devastating standard kick that doesn't reach as far as the forward tilt but is supremely powerful and good for KOs, and it would leave the opponent on fire for good aesthetic effect. Down smash would be a capoeira-style spinning kick that would reach behind and in front - this would deal a fair amount of damage but not smash far until very high percentages. Up smash would be "sky uppercut", a move that Blaziken can learn in the Pokémon games. This would have a hitbox that reached mostly vertically upwards in front of Blaziken and deal similar damage and upwards smash factor as the forward one does with its horizontal smash factor.

Special moves would be fairly simple. Up+B would be "blaze kick", Blaziken's signature move that it is almost always pictured doing. This would have some great vertical distance and good startup time whilst dealing damage at the same time, the most critical point being the knee towards the end of the attack animation which would send an opponent flying. Of course, the range and power on the move would be balanced with its predictability, offering no control over angle, similar to Mario's Up+B.

Side+B would be a powerful charging attack called "flare blitz" that would see Blaziken run encased in fire from 3 - 7 steps depending on how long B is held down for. Damage would be the primary factor of the move, not sending opponents very far and would be good for an approach. In the game, slight recoil damage occurs after the move but for balance, this should be left out. Neutral+B would be best suited to a move like "flamethrower" and act similarly to Bowser's own Neutral+B to allow Blaziken a small spacing and camping game. Down+B would suit a dive kick that sees Blaziken backflip away from the enemy if it strikes cleanly. If performed whilst on the ground, Blaziken will simply hop backwards and initiate the attack if Down+B is pressed again.

Mega evolutions are particularly relevant right now as they just debuted.

Blaziken's final smash would see him enter his mega evolution. The initial transformation would send a wave of fire outwards as pictured above, dealing good damage and sending opponents flying, with potential KOs at 140% and above. Attacks would be buffed supremely in both power and speed and as Blaziken moves he would leave a damaging trail of fire behind him. The effect would last for around 15 - 20 seconds, around the same time as Wario's final smash.

So to conclude, I think Blaziken would make a fine addition to the Smash Bros. 4 roster. The game is actually quite lacking in proficient users of hand-to-hand combat so having a Pokémon that fights like this would be refreshing and fun to see. Pokémon has only ever had one heavy character before in Charizard and he didn't fare so well so it would be good to have one more shot.

What do you guys think of Blaziken? Cool-looking ass kicker? Or just a big flaming chicken? let me know in the comments below or post over on the facebook page!