Wolf (Super Smash Bros. Brawl)


 * This article is about Wolf's appearance in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. For other uses, see Wolf O'Donnell.

Wolf (, Urufu) is an unlockable character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, who, along with Fox and Falco, originates from the Star Fox universe. Wolf's appearance in the game was witnessed several months before its release, via a leak in Japan, and he was officially confirmed on March 31st, 2008, distinguishing him as the last character to be officially confirmed. His Japanese voice actor is Mahito Oba, and his English voice actor is Jay Ward. Wolf's move set is partially derived from Fox and Falco's, however, while his special moves are similar to theirs, his standard attacks are unique. He is also significantly heavier than Fox and Falco.

Wolf is currently ranked 22nd on the current tier list.

Unlocking Wolf

 * Complete Boss Battles with Fox or Falco, then defeat Wolf in a challenger match.
 * Participate in 450 brawls, then defeat Wolf in a challenger match.
 * Have Wolf join your party in the Subspace Emissary.

Attributes
Of the three Star Fox characters present in Brawl, Wolf's characteristics as a fighter are the most individual. Wolf is by far the heaviest space animal, but the lightest of the cast classed as heavyweight. Despite possessing a larger body frame than Fox and Falco, Wolf leans down while standing and moving along the ground, and has the shortest stance of the three. His dash speed is slow, barely outpacing his walk, but he has the third fastest falling speed, and fourth fastest horizontal air speed. While these attributes provide him with good aerial mobility, Wolf is vulnerable to chain-grabbing, juggling and certain locks due to his rapid falling speed.

Most of Wolf's standard attacks start quickly, have high priority and decent range, and he has a DACUS that propels him a considerable distance along the ground. Many attacks have the potential to KO, such as b-air, f-smash and d-smash. The speed and range of his attacks allow him to punish effectively on the ground as well as in the air, and their solid damage dealing properties can build opponents' damage quickly. However, since many of his standard moves are used for damage racking, they may suffer move decay and cause difficulties when Wolf needs to KO. His d-air is a strong, albeit slow meteor smash that can be used to gimp opponents who have predictable recoveries, such as Link.

Wolf's special moves are variants of Fox and Falco's, with different animations and properties. His Neutral B, Blaster, is a gun that fires projectile lasers, and its firing rate is slower than that of its counterparts. However, its lasers deal significant hitstun, the most damage, and have the most vertical range, and it serves as a melee weapon, delivering extra damage to foes if it contacts them. Wolf's Down B, Reflector, is a versatile move that deflects projectiles and grants him invincibility frames, which may be used to avoid attacks, and escape chain-grabs if his opponent makes an error. The reflector can also damage foes, and delivers set knockback in a diagonal downward direction, which can gimp opponents with poor vertical recoveries.

While Wolf's air speed and recovery moves allow him to travel a considerable distance in order to recover, these moves are easily predicted, and his ledge sweet spot is one of the smallest in the game. As such, he is easily gimped, and his recovery is susceptible to edge-hogging. This, in combination with his vulnerability to chain-grabbing, poses a problem, since some chain-grabs can force him offstage. Side B, Wolf Flash, sends Wolf diagonally across and upward in a fast 'flash', and is used to recover horizontally. It has the potential to meteor smash if sweet spotted, which may be useful for guard breaking. Wolf Flash also has unusual characteristics that may be utilised to help Wolf recover. Up B, Fire Wolf, is a move that propels Wolf in a direction of the players' choosing. It has the least start up lag in comparison to Fox and Falco's counterpart moves, drags opponents along with it, and delivers knockback at the end.

Overall, Wolf is a balanced character who may face problems when matched against opponents that can exploit his weaknesses, but has strengths that earn him the position of a viable tournament contender.

Normal

 * Neutral Attack: A natural combo of three hits; Wolf slashes with one arm, then the other, and bites on the third hit, delivering knockback. The first hit will repeat itself continuously if A is held down, and the first and second hits may be jab canceled into other attacks. The three hits deal 3%, 2% and 4% consecutively; a total of 9% damage.
 * Dash attack: Performs a back flip out of a run. The back flip halts the forward momentum of the dash, but can be used to execute a DACUS. Deals 9% damage.
 * Forward tilt: Leans forward with both arms together and swipes, separating his claws on impact. The attack has a great number of Freeze frames if it fully connects with an opponent or their shield, but it is possible to connect with only the outer of two hitboxes. Forward Tilt can be angled up or downward, and a clean hit deals 11% damage.
 * Down tilt: Performs a fast low kick that deals 6% damage. At low percents, it trips opponents, and at higher percents, it knocks opponents into the air, with a horizontal trajectory similar to Mr. Game & Watch's down tilt, but weaker.
 * Up tilt: Kicks upward in front of his body. There is a sweetspot at the tip of his boot that can KO at high percents, often about 140%. Deals 10% damage.

Smash

 * Forward Smash: Wolf stretches his arms in front of his body and thrusts forward, then twists his claws. This attack starts quickly, has excellent range, and often strikes opponents twice, but delivers below average knockback. Wolf's forward smash is the longest ranging forward smash in the game, moves Wolf a forward a considerable distance, and has noticeable cool-down time. Deals 15% damage uncharged and 21% fully charged.
 * Up Smash: Performs an upward scissor kick. Its animation is very similar to Sonic's Up Aerial, but is performed on the ground. This move hits twice: the first hit usually pushes the opponent into the second. Wolf's Up Smash can be used in a DACUS. The first and second hits deal 6% and 12% respectively, a total of 18% damage uncharged, and 8% and 17%, a total of 25%, fully charged.
 * Down Smash: Swipes his claws on both sides of his body, first in front and then behind. This attack is fast and has little cool-down lag, and is considered Wolf's best ground finisher. Uncharged, the first hit, at Wolf's front, deals 14% damage, and the second hit, at Wolf's back, deals 13%. Fully charged, the first hit deals 19% and the second hit 18%. Note that Wolf has the strongest Down Smash of the three Star Fox characters in Brawl, while Fox possesses the strongest up smash, and Falco the strongest forward smash.

Other

 * Ledge attack (under 100%): Wolf quickly slides his body onstage, kicking with both legs, dealing 8%. Wolf shares this animation with Fox and Falco.
 * Ledge attack (over 100%): Flips onto the stage and kicks with one foot, dealing 10%. Shares this animation with Fox and Falco.
 * Floor attack: Rises and kicks on one side of his body, then the other. 6% damage
 * Trip attack: Rises and sweeps a foot around his body. 6% damage

Aerial Attacks

 * Neutral aerial: Wolf curls up and flips several times. When the attack first comes out, it'll connect once and deliver knockback. Afterwards, it'll hit several times and deliver small amounts of hitstun. Neutral air deals 8% damage and delivers knockback if it connects during its startup, otherwise it deals 1% per hit.
 * Forward aerial: Slashes with his left arm. This attack delivers good vertical knockback, but has considerable landing lag. It has a similar animation to Mewtwo's n-air from Melee, but has more generous range. Deals 11% damage.
 * Back aerial: Kicks outward behind his body. The kick is extremely fast, delivers decent knockback, and can be used in a RAR, in a b-air "wall", or to edgeguard. Deals 13% damage.
 * Up aerial: Swipes in an arc above his head. This move is used to juggle and deals 12% damage.
 * Down aerial: Strikes both arms downward as if wielding an axe. This aerial has considerable startup and finishing lag, but delivers a decent meteor smash that deals 15% damage.

Grabs and Throws
While Fox and Falco possess similar throws, Wolf's are unique.
 * Pummel: Hits his opponent with his right knee. Extremely fast compared with other pummels, but only the first pummel refreshes other moves. Deals 1% damage.
 * Forward throw: Uppercuts his opponent forward. This throw can be used to chaingrab some characters, such as Fox, by dashing forward in time, or simply follow up with a dash attack. Deals 7%.
 * Back throw: Throws the opponent upward and claws them behind himself. The opponent's trajectory is diagonal and upward. Deals 7%.
 * Up throw: Throws the opponent up and slashes them with both claws. The knockback is too strong for Wolf to follow up from. Deals 7%.
 * Down throw: Throws the opponent on the ground, does a small jump and claws them. Considered Wolf's best throw, it sends the opponent diagonally downward, causing them to slide along the ground and off any nearby edges. It has semi-spike properties, and can be used as a DACUS setup. Deals 12%.

Taunts
Up: Leans his head back and howls loudly, with an echo effect.

Down: Kneels down, slaps one hand on the ground and snarls, also with an echo-like effect.

Side: Does three kicks whilst spinning on one foot, and says "What's the matter, scared?"

Smash Taunt: On the Lylat Cruise stage, Wolf can summon various Star Fox Conversations if the player presses his or her Down Taunt button for one frame.

Role in Subspace Emissary
Wolf does not play a major role, or influence the story of the Subspace Emissary, and is not even seen interacting with any other characters, but may join the player's party after Tabuu has been defeated. To encounter Wolf, the player must enter a particular Red Door in The Ruins stage, which will take them to Lylat Cruise after a brief cut-scene. In the cut-scene, Wolf is seen flying his Wolfen, jumping out, and landing on the cruise ship. Wolf strikes a pose, then rushes forward to attack. Although he is the only character present in the cut-scene, he appears to stare at his challenger. The player must then defeat him in a one-life stock battle, and if they win the match, Wolf joins the party. This will also unlock him if he has not yet been unlocked.

Cheer

 * "Wolf! (howl) Wolf!"

Trivia

 * Wolf's attributes in Star Fox Assault multiplayer differ from Brawl. For example, he is actually the fastest character in the game, but does have a poor use in the Landmaster.
 * Wolf appears to run and walk with a slight limp, although it may merely be a self-styled fighting approach.
 * Wolf is the only one of the last 3 unlockable characters in Brawl not to appear in the Event Match: Visitors to Flat Zone. Instead, Peach takes his place.
 * Although considered by most people to be the last unlockable character (due to his fairly high difficulty in all three situations which lead toward unlocking him), he is not required to be unlocked last. This is also similar is unlocking Jigglypuff in Melee, as Jigglypuff wasn't required to be unlocked first. (And could even be the last to be possibly unlocked in the original game).
 * Despite having tail-based stickers applicable only to him, Wolf has no tail-based attacks.