Sheik (Super Smash Bros. Brawl)


 * This article is about Sheik's appearance in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. For other uses, see Sheik. Also, for information about Sheik's alter-ego, see Princess Zelda.

Sheik is a character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Sheik transforms from Zelda by using her down special move Transform, and can also transform back into Sheik. The design changes for her Brawl form are rather minimal compared to other characters, the notable changes is that she carries a knife on her back, and a braid similar to Zelda's new design.

The playability of Sheik had earlier been hinted by Eiji Aonuma, the director of Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, who stated that he sent Twilight Princess-style designs of Sheik and Ganondorf to Sakurai.

Sheik can be selected off of the Character Select screen by clicking on her image, like selecting a starting Pokémon with Pokémon Trainer. However, unlike Pokémon Trainer, there is no Random option between the two.

Sheik saw a large drop in her tier position, from 3 in Melee to 26 in Brawl (though not as large as some declines). Her loss of many of her killers and her chaingrab caused a drop-off in her position.

Attributes
Sheik is one of the fastest characters in the game, having the fourth fastest running speed and a very high attack speed. He has one of the best abilities to combo effectively, as his attacks have very little start up and ending lag, and generally have low knockback, allowing them to chain effectively. The best example of this is Sheik's Forward Tilt. Most of Sheik's attacks can lead to a forward tilt, especially at low percentages, especially the Up Tilt, Down Tilt, Neutral Aerial, Forward Aerial, Back Aerial, and Jab Cancel. Additionally, the low knockback of the Forward Tilt can be repeatedly linked into itself, especially against heavy characters and fastfallers, making for great damage-racking potential. This combo can also be ended with almost any of Sheik's attacks, and it can easily add on 50%. Sheik's Up-tilt is also a powerful attack. At very low percentages, it can combo into itself, and at slightly higher percentages it combos into a Forward Tilt. It has a very large range and long-hitting hitbox, making it a powerful defensive move. Sheik's smashes are also fairly good. His down smash has multiple hits and has long range. Her up smash can kill easily at around 100%, but this is probably the most difficult-to-hit attack Sheik has. His forward smash isn't very powerful, but it is a two hit combo and has fairly good range.

Sheik has a fairly powerful air-game that really only lacks in one area: versatility. Her Back and Neutral Aerials are Sex Kicks with very similar knockback and speed and negligible landing lag. The Back aerial also has great range. His Up Aerial also has Sex Kick properties, but has some landing lag. His Forward Aerial is a very quick swipe with low knockback but a great trajectory (slightly below horizontal). This makes it a great move for gimping. Her down aerial is a Stall-Then-Fall, negating all vertical knockback, but unfortunately, it has high landing lag.

Sheik does have versatility amongst his special moves, however. Needles are a fast projectile that can be very hard to dodge and can be charged for increased damage. Sheik's Up Special is a fairly good recovery, but also has the second highest knockback of any of Sheik's moves. Combined with the invulnerability it grants, this can be used against some moves as a powerful counter. It can also be used to edgeguard through Vanish Gliding. Sheik's Forward Special is the Chain, which can be used for a Tether Recovery, and also has some offensive potential through Chain Locking, which is great for punishing Shielding, Rolling, and Spot Dodging. It is slow coming out and returning, though, a problem that can be capitalized on. Sheik's Down Special transforms his into Zelda, which allows use of two different characters in the same match, which can shore up some of Sheik's weaknesses. Sheik also can wall cling and crawl.

Sheik is not a character without weaknesses, however. Sheik lacks moves with kill power, as his two best kill moves (the tipper Up-smash and Vanish) are the two most difficult-to-hit moves in his arsenal, and almost nothing else can kill reliably below 150%. This makes Sheik very reliant on getting numerous hits to rack up damage and edgeguarding. Additionally, Sheik's best combo (the forward tilt-lock) often stops working before the opponent reaches kill percentage (stops at about 50%). Sheik is also very light-weight, making his easier to kill than many characters (though this is not without its advantages, as it allows Sheik to escape some combos like Dedede's Chaingrab), and her merely average recovery can sometimes come up short. Sheik is also one of the fastest-falling characters in the game (second fastest, only slower than Fox), making his vulnerable to any combo or chaingrab that is effective against fast-fallers.

Normal

 * Neutral Attack -hits twice with his right hand and repeatedly jabs with his arm Straight and with his fingers sticking out.
 * Dash Attack - throws his arms forward and forcefully separates her hands.
 * Side tilt - kicks her leg in an arc (can be done multiple times).
 * Up tilt -Sheik raises her right leg above her and slams it down.
 * Down tilt -Sheik does a quick spin kicking the ground with his leg.

Smash

 * Side Smash - Sheik kicks infront of his twice trapping the enemy in the first kick at low percentages and knocks them back with the second kick.
 * Up Smash - Sheik raises his arms above her head holding them together and forcefully separates them to the left and right sides of his body. It is the most powerful up smash in the game when sweetspotted.
 * Down Smash -Sheik spins his body on the ground sticking his legs out(looks like he is break dancing).

Other

 * Ledge Attack-Sheik swiftly kicks his foot up off the edge.
 * Ledge Attack over 100%-Sheik slowly gets up and does a slow elbow attack.
 * Get-up attack-Sheik kicks her foot over his head and stands up.

Aerial Attacks

 * Neutral Air -Sheik kicks forward with her leg.
 * Forward Air -Sheik claws infront of his with her left hand.
 * Back Air - Sheik kicks backward with his right leg.
 * Up Air - Sheik does a quick screwdriver kick.
 * Down Air - Sheik kicks down throwing himself down with it.

Grabs & Throws

 * Pummel - Sheik punches the enemy with her left hand.
 * Forward Throw -Sheik elbows the enemy with his left arm.
 * Back Throw - Sheik throws the enemy behind his and kicks backwards.
 * Up Throw - Sheik flips upsidedown and kicks the enemy with both of his feet.
 * Down Throw -Sheik throws the enemy down to the ground, flips, and axe kicks the enemy's midsection, sending the enemy upward.

Changes from Melee to Brawl

 * Needle Storm immediately begins charging if special move button is tapped, rather than firing a single needle. Special button must be tapped twice to fire a single needle.
 * Needle Storm will eventually stop charging by itself, instead of requiring the player to throw the needles or press Z to save them.
 * Chain can be used as a tether recovery
 * Up Special has more damage and significantly increased knockback with less landing lag
 * Forward Smash has increased knockback on the second hit
 * Down Smash has lower knockback
 * Up Smash has increased knockback on the sides. If Sheik is close enough, the tip and side hits can both strike the opponent, sending the enemy at a ~60 degree angle
 * Forward Air has lower knockback and a smaller sweetspot
 * Up Aerial is a better juggle move, but a worse Kill move (like the PAL version)
 * Down Aerial sends Sheik downwards, and is a Stall-Then-Fall
 * Forward tilt has less knockback, comboing better.
 * Up tilt has increased knockback on the second hit.
 * Can be chosen to start a match instead of Zelda at the character selection screen.
 * Has a shorter, better short hop.
 * In-battle transformation takes more time (loading times in Brawl are longer in general; the Wii system can be heard clicking during transformation), but renders Zelda/Sheik invincible for much of the time.
 * In Melee Sheik's braid is not visible.
 * Sheik's chain moves more freely than in Melee.
 * Sheik looks more feminine.
 * Lighter skin tone

Role In Subspace Emissary
After Peach and Zelda  are rescued by Lucario, Meta Knight, and Snake, the two princess are ordered to stay where they are until the Halberd is under their control. Zelda transforms into Sheik and walks out with Peach, opening a window to the outside of the ship. Both princesses then make their way to the front deck of the ship. There, they witness Fox's Arwing attacking the Halberd, and his lasers meant for the Halberd's turret nearly injures Peach. In response, Sheik leaps into the air and uses Vanish onto the Arwing, striking the windshield and forcing Fox to jettison. They fall back to the Halberd, and begin to fight, but Peach offers them both tea, ending any erroneous hostilities.

As they drink their tea, several Mr. Game and Watches fall from the bridge and turn into shadow bugs that coalesce to form the monstrous Duon . The three prepare to fight, but are joined by Lucario, Snake, and Falco. They then proceed to defeat Duon, and it turns into the trophy of Mr. Game and Watch, who Peach revives. Then she and the other heroes journey into subspace for the final battle against Tabuu. Sometime between then and the enterance to Subspace, Sheik transformed back into Zelda.

Trivia

 * Sheik has the shortest on-screen appearance duration out of all the characters in Brawl.
 * Sheik's Brawl design isn't based on her appearance from Ocarina of Time like it was in Melee. It's actually based on conceptual designs that were created for Twilight Princess, despite the fact that she never appeared in that game.
 * If Sheik is attacked while charging her Needle Storm attack, her needles fall out of her hand and scatter all over the floor.