Ice Climbers (Super Smash Bros. Brawl)


 * This article is about the Ice Climbers' appearance in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. For other uses, see Ice Climbers.

The Ice Climbers (Ice Climber;, Aisu Kuraimā), the ice-climbing duo from Super Smash Bros. Melee, make a return in Super Smash Bros. Brawl with a significant texture boost to their character models. Popo and Nana still fight as a duo, Nana following Popo's moves. In Melee, the player had the option to change the color of the costume and play as Nana, and you can still do this in Brawl, but the Climbers' positions on the character select screen portrait will not change as in Melee, however, the character's stock icon will.

There was a rumor that characters such Young Link, Mr. Game & Watch and the Ice Climbers were to be excluded from the roster of Brawl due to lack of popularity. However, this rumor has been proven wrong ever since the appearance of Popo and Nana on the Dojo website.

Strategies
At first glance, the Ice Climbers may appear weak with terrible moves. However, they are actually pretty strong, and have great up- and down-Smashes. In 4-player Brawls, the Squall Hammer truly is a blessing and Blizzard is great for racking up damage with both Climber facing the same way.

Although not very efficient aerial fighters, training can lead to a better understanding of how the Ice Climbers work in the air. They can't stay up long, but can actually do lots of damage above the ground, and Belay can be a great finisher once the Ice Climbers have used up their second jump.

A talented desyncher can keep the Climbers apart for roughly the entire match. While Squall Hammer can be a good attack choice, a Chain grab would be a better option. The Ice Climbers' chain grab can be very hard to master, but the reward is unmatchable. You can continuously grab and pummel your opponent or or forward throw into a forward airial by Nana. However in most tournaments, this technique is banned due to bad sportsmanship, like using the Fan on somebody to build their damage up to 300% and throwing it at them.

Pros:

 * Effectively two characters acting simultaneously. This makes them slightly stronger than your average character while together. They can also be "desynched" to perform two actions slightly out of synch for combos.
 * Can repeatedly grab if properly desynched, also know to chain grab.
 * Very strong ground game.
 * Attacks are strong if both Ice Climbers attack.
 * Hard to throw, as other Ice Climber can attack while one is grabbed.
 * Up B gives great distance if the Ice Climbers are together.
 * Have a ground-hugging projectile.
 * Forward Aerial is a spike if Nana is with Popo.
 * Ice Climbers do not share a damage meter, which can lead to Popo not taking damage sometimes when they are attacked.
 * Can freeze enemies, which can be potentially followed up by a finisher.
 * Squall Hammer can be used as a alternative recovery move to Belay, since it greatly pushes the Ice Climber(s) forward.
 * Belay can be a Tether Recovery if the CPU Climber grabs a ledge first, making it the only Up+B move to be both a Tether Recovery and a Normal Recovery.
 * Traction remains constant even on slippery floors like ice.
 * Even if Nana dies, Popo can still fight.
 * If both Ice Climbers are wearing the same color costume it may confuse the opponent.
 * Can carry two items at once.

Cons:

 * Floaty with slow falling speed, making them vunerable to air combos and juggling.
 * Each individual Ice Climber is weaker than your average character, making them weak while separated.
 * Few recovery options when separated.
 * Belay used with one Ice Climber results in little vertical height and almost no horizontal distance.
 * If separated from Popo, Nana becomes unresponsive.
 * Many hits can separate them.
 * Can be awkward when fighting in the air.
 * Projectile is very weak, and weakens over distance.
 * Fairly Light.
 * Squall Hammer causes fast falling and puts them into Helpless.
 * If Popo is defeated, then Nana will automatically disappear after he is gone.
 * Slow dash speed.
 * Nana can be killed at low %s when ICs are seperated
 * Popo loses many of his advantages when Nana dies, such as his ability to combo and kill as effectively.
 * Short range.
 * Can be confusing for some players, since using the Ice Climbers means controlling two almost identical characters at the same time.

Changes from Melee to Brawl

 * Both Ice Climbers can grab on to a ledge at the same time.
 * More attack power. Down-B is especially buffed if the Ice Climbers are next to the opponent.
 * Can have the same color costume of the white costume and the blue.
 * If Nana hits another character while executing Belay, the move is completed.
 * Belay can be a Tether Recovery if Nana grabs a ledge first, then Popo reaches up to the ledge.
 * Lone Ice Climber's Up-B gives some slight distance.
 * Nana can Squall Hammer by herself.
 * The Ice Climbers can become separated easier, but are a bit better by themselves.
 * Squall Hammer now sends off flakes of ice. However, this only happens when both Ice Climbers are present, and is only for show.
 * Compared to Melee, smash attacks are weaker.

Ground Attacks
Normal Smash
 * Neutral - swing hammers in front of themselves.
 * Dash Attack - give a short jump and swing hammers in front of themselves.
 * Forward Tilt - Similar to neutral.
 * Up Tilt - spin hammers over head, dealing multiple hits.
 * Down Tilt - crouch and sweep hammers on ground in front of themselves.
 * Side Smash - Lift hammers over head, then smash straight down.
 * Up Smash - swing hammers upwards.
 * Down Smash - sweep hammers on the ground all the way around themselves.

Aerial Attacks

 * Neutral Aerial - swing in a circle with hammers outsretched.
 * Forward Aerial - lift hammers over head then swing forward, like side smash. If Nana hits, the attack will be a meteor smash.
 * Back Aerial - swing hammers behind themselves.
 * Up Aerial - shove hammers above head.
 * Down Aerial - accelerate fall with hammers below themselves.

Grabs & Throws

 * Pummel - headbutt. Second Climber can use other moves like Blizzard at the same time, or a jump into forward airial as a great finisher if used right on an edge.
 * Forward Throw - hit with hammer.
 * Back Throw - spin around and hit with hammer.
 * Down Throw - spike on ground.
 * Up Throw - throw upwards then smash with hammer.

Event Matches
Event 11: Yoshi's Rainbow - As the Ice Climbers, KO six Yoshis in the order red, pink, yellow, green, pale blue, blue.

Event 34: All-Star Battle Melee - The Ice Climbers are one of the eight opponents you must fight from Super Smash Bros. Melee.

Co-Op Event 10: The R.O.B.'s of Tomorrow - Teamed with Lucario, KO R.O.B.s of increasing size.

Role In the Subspace Emissary
The Ice Climbers were first seen climbing up the mountain together, possibly in pursuit of the Halberd. When Meta Knight passed them going up the mountain, the Ice Climbers took it as a challenge and jumped up the mountain with Meta Knight. Once they reached the top, the Ice Climbers celebrated with their "victory" for getting up the mountain first, until they and Meta Knight found Lucario, who was looking for a fight with Meta Knight, so the Ice Climbers watch from the side nervously. After the fight, the Halberd crashes the Great Fox into the mountain. Although Meta Knight and Lucario managed to board the Halberd, the Ice Climbers are thrown back to the ground towards Marth, Lucas, Pokémon Trainer, and Ike. After facing some more Subspace Army troopers, the Ice Climbers teamed up with the other heroes as they journeyed into Subspace and helped them battle Tabuu.

Taunts
Up: Set down hammers and jump up and down.

Side: Point their hammers and say "Yup!", as wind blows (same as in Melee).

Down: Dance in as circle.

On-Screen Appearance
Ride in on the feet of a Condor.

Victory Pose

 * Popo and Nana sway from side to side in a straight line.
 * Both nod and high five one another.
 * Both jump up and down.

Wii Remote Choice
A sound like Ice Shot is heard and the Climbers both say "Yup!"

Credits Music

 * Ice Climber

Snake's Codec
Snake: So those two are the Ice Climbers, huh?

Mei Ling: Snake, have you ever heard of a "blood bond"?

S: Sure.

M: It refers to a bond between two people that's so strong they'd die for each other. The Ice Climbers have conquered frozen glaciers and dangerous mountaintops together. I think they've formed a bond that we can't even fathom.

S: I dunno. Seems to me they'd get in each other's way fighting to see who gets to the top first.

M: Snake, in China they say "Though brothers may quarrel at home, outside they defend each other from slight."

S: Is that really a Chinese proverb?

M: Even though they may get in each other's way occasionally, they'll pull together in times of need. They're an inseperable team, Snake. Don't underestimate them!