Ganondorf (Super Smash Bros. Melee)


 * This article is about Ganondorf's appearance in Super Smash Bros. Melee. For other uses, see Ganondorf.  Also, for information about the fighter of whom Ganondorf is a "clone", see Captain Falcon (SSBM).

Ganondorf (ガノンドロフ, Ganondorofu) is his original human form he appears as in the more recent installments of the series (all of which are prequels). Ganondorf is also a playable character in both Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Brawl. In Super Smash Bros. Melee, his design is based off his appearance from the SpaceWorld demo.

=Appearance in Super Smash Bros. Melee=

In Super Smash Bros. Melee, Ganondorf is a "clone" of Captain Falcon, but with a slower running speed, a lower jumping height, and almost three times the strength as his counterpart. Ganondorf is considered a slow but tough and hard-hitting character. He is very heavy and has a long recovery, and his attacks have very high knockback. On the flipside, he's a big, slow target and is easily combo'd and bogged down by fast attacks. It is notable that Ganondorf is the only "clone" that is of a different universe from the original. Like all of the other "clones", all of his moves have different names:

Up B = Dark Dive

Down B = Wizard's Foot

Side B = Gerudo Dragon

B = Warlock Punch

Through the use of unauthorized cheat devices, players have been able to play as Ganondorf with his sword. However, his moveset remained unchanged. Only by holding a sword-based weapon (Beam Sword, Home-Run Bat, etc.) would it look like he was using the sword.

Pros

 * High range and priority
 * Very powerful ground game
 * One of the best aerial games
 * Has the strongest Up Smash in the game if fully charged and if it hits both times (does up to 53% damage).
 * Uair reverse spike is one of the best edgeguards
 * Extremely powerful attacks
 * Long horizontal recovery
 * Up and down throws are excellent launchers
 * Good edge-guarder
 * Heavy weight
 * When hit, standard special (Warlock Punch) can often result in a KO
 * Can moonwalk
 * Inherits one of the fastest backwards rolls from being a Captain Falcon clone, and a good forward roll
 * Great platform dashing game which enhances his mobility as well as attacking options.
 * His Dair is a meteor smash that is nearly impossible to recover at even at low damage and is also one of the strongest in the game.
 * His Dair can Star KO if used on opponents that are on the ground.
 * Hit box for most attacks is large
 * Neutral "A" (while on the ground) is extremely fast and does high damage for how quick it is. It can also be a great move to combo with.
 * One of the only characters that can use down-B (Wizard's Foot) to gain another jump to recover.

Cons

 * Slow dash and run
 * Easily comboed/chain-grabbed
 * Huge target
 * His up-B cannot attack people hanging on the edge, making him extremely vulnerable to edge-hoggers
 * No projectile
 * Most attacks are slow
 * Short wavedash
 * When recovering using his up-B is extremely vulnerable to edge-hogs, being spiked or being caped.
 * Most aerial attacks have long peroids of lag (L cancelling with Ganondorf is key)

Recovery
Ganondorf's horizontal recovery, if performed correctly, greatly contributes to the character as a whole. Simply using the double jump followed by the triple jump is the common approach to recovery for most characters, but for Ganondorf, if down B is performed after the double jump, Ganondorf can perform the double jump again. This combination can be done multiple times in a row, but using down B forces Ganondorf down at the cost of vertical recovery. In most recovery situations, it is ideal for Ganondorf to perform a double jump, followed by down B, followed by another double jump, and finally the triple jump.

Ganondorf's triple jump places him in a very vulnerable position when being edge guarded. Many attacks from numerous characters will hit Ganondorf while he's in his triple jump animation. Since Ganondorf is such a large target, it makes it even easier to edge guard Ganondorf in this way. Attacks that turn the opponent around, like Mario's forward B (cape), will almost 100% of the time result in a KO on Ganondorf, because he cannot perform any kind of jump after the triple jump animation. To avoid this when versing Mario and the like, Ganondorf can usually recover using his air dodge instead of his triple jump, as long as he is close enough and does not need to travel as vertical to recover.

Aiming to grab the ledge on a recovery can be difficult for Ganondorf, but is another alternative to facing edge guarders. If Ganondorf precisely grabs the edge, then recovery can be completed by choosing to either roll onto the stage (hitting L or R), jumping high into the air over the stage (hitting X, Y, or up on the joystick), or by using his kick, punch, or standing recovery (hitting A, B, or slightly up on the joystick).

Spike Attacks
Ganondorf has a series of spikes at his disposal which help make him an even fiercer opponent to face. Most spikes are often aerial A moves, but in the case of Ganondorf, he has both aerial A and B attacks that can send an opponent to an early KO.

Spike/Meteors and Description
Also referred to as the stomp. Both feet are thrust under Ganondorf, and on contact, the opponent receives an electrical shock animation. If the opponent is on the ground, they are shot upward very fast, which can be DI'ed left or right. If in the air, the attack sends the opponent straight down very fast. The attack can be used multiple times over to combo opponents with low percentage, but requires the ability to shffl, and tech chase. This is a meteor, and although it is difficult, the opponent can meteor cancel and recover.
 * dair
 * Frame Data:
 * Total time: 44 frames
 * Hits on frames 16-20
 * IASA frame 38
 * Landing before frame 3 or after frame 36 of this attack causes the move to auto cancel
 * Lag when landing: 35 frames
 * Lag when landing (l-canceled): 17 frames

Surprisingly Ganondorf's up A attack can be used to spike an opponent very effectively. The attack has very high priority, so if done correctly, it greatly contributes to Ganondorf players. Ganondorf does a backflip that resembles a flash kick in actual martial arts. One foot is extended during the flip, that creates a hitbox about 200 degrees in rotation around Ganondorf. Ganondorf must be facing away from the opponent, and hit the opponent with the top of his extended foot. There is little knockback, but considerable stun for the amount of damage the attack actually does. As an added bonus, this move is extremely hard to walltech. Something about the physics just makes it next to impossible to tech.
 * reverse uair

Also used to regain the double jump while recovering, Ganondorf's down B will spike an opponent if connected in air. Ganondorf extends one foot and travels diagonally down accompanied by a cloud of purple energy. The opponent receives an animation of cloudy purple energy when damaged by this attack. The attack itself puts Ganondorf in an inconvenient position to recover, so it is much inferior to dair and uair. Ganondorf can still double jump and triple jump, so it is slightly better than spiking with forward B. This is a spike, not a meteor, so the opponent cannot 'cancel' the attack.
 * aerial down B

Trophy Descriptions
In addition to the normal trophy about Ganondorf as a character, there are two trophies about him as a fighter, unlocked by completing the Adventure and All-Star modes respectively with Ganondorf on any difficulty:


 * Ganondorf (Smash Red)
 * Since he's slow and can't jump very high, Ganondorf relies mainly on his immense physical strength to overwhelm his enemies. His great weight also makes him a difficult foe to send offscreen. Ganondorf's Warlock Punch is slow but absurdly powerful, and when he strikes with his Gerudo Dragon, enemies rise skyward enveloped in dark flames. (B: Warlock Punch, Smash B: Gerudo Dragon)


 * Ganondorf (Smash Blue)
 * Ganondorf's slow speed works against him in single combat, but in melees, his crazy power lets him earn his keep with innumerable KOs. Ganondorf can't strike quickly, but each blow he lands adds up. Ganondorf is at his quickest when he uses the Wizard's Foot, and his Dark Dive blasts foes in a burst of dark energy. (Up & B: Dark Dive, Down & B: Wizard's Foot)

Beginner
Go up and Do quick smash up. Before sandbag hits ground, Jump, and use Dair. It will send him to ground, but not repel him back up. Do again, and use home run bat to send him flying. Success= 1,500 +/- ft.

Bat drop: Do a full jump above the sandbag, at the peak of your jump, drop the bat, and do a dair (Down+A in the air). Does around 39%.

Double Jump Bat Drop: First to a full jump, then do a double jump. IMMEDIATELY, right after you start the jump, let go of the bat, then do a fast falled ADA.

Reverse Warlock Punch: Go to the right side of the stand bag(Not laying on the ground, laying vertically up). Do a full jump above the right edge of the sandbag, then do a double jump, IMMEDIATELY after you do it, throw the bat up, tap left, then start a Warlock Punch. The bat will knock the Sandbag into your punch, and it mysteriously send the bag farther and faster than normally. The chances of this happening are somewhat random, and harder to do if the sandbag is at a higher percent.

Also, you may just do a 1 full jump instead and throw the bat up, and tap left then start the Warlock Punch, but you need to be faster, as the Warlock Punch needs to be started in the air.

Tied with Ice Climbers for the World Record.

One of the suggested Methods to get a decent score:


 * Grab the Bat.


 * Uncharged Upsmash.


 * Turn right, then jump backwards, to the right edge of the sandbag while it is still in mid air, and do a double jump bat drop.


 * 3 more bat drop+ Down A


 * Reverse Warlock Punch.

This will result in 5,500 ft from the center of the platform.

Unlocking

 * Play 600 Vs. matches
 * Play and beat Event 29: Triforce Gathering

In Single-player
Ganondorf does not specifically appear in the game's single-player Adventure mode. He is featured in only three Event Matches:


 * Event 29: Triforce Gathering: As Link and teamed with Zelda, the player faces Ganondorf on the Great Temple stage. Beat this, then fight Ganondorf again to unlock him.
 * Event 49: All-Star Match Deluxe: Ganondorf is the final opponent you must fight in this series of staged battles. Your character battles him on the Final Destination stage, and your character has 2 stock while Ganondorf has 1. With a timer of four minutes, you must defeat him and the other five characters one-by-one with the overall time and life you have: Dr. Mario, Falco, Pichu, Young Link, and Roy.
 * Event 51: The Showdown: The final Event Match pits your character against a team of Giga Bowser, Mewtwo, and Ganondorf on the Final Destination stage (friendly fire turned off), with all four characters having 3 stock each and unlimited time. Seemingly overwhelming odds indeed.