Luigi (Super Smash Bros. Brawl)


 * This page is about Luigi's appearance in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. For other uses, see Luigi.

Luigi (, Ruīji) is an unlockable character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. He is unlocked by playing twenty-two matches in Brawl and then defeating him, beating Classic Mode using no continues and then defeating him, or getting him to join your party in The Subspace Emissary.

His moveset seems essentially unchanged, though some of his potential disadvantages from Melee appear to have been diminished (very low friction, very low falling speed, very low horizontal air speed). His dash attack has the same animation and effect, except the last blow now has some knockback, making this move not quite so easy to punish. Another minor change is that his voice is no longer a recycled Mario voice sped up, but his deeper voice from recent games.

Luigi ranks 25 on the current Brawl tier list, the highest ranked unlockable character who has appeared in all Super Smash Bros. games. He has a very good air game, including the very fast speed of his aerials, good recovery, and a few great KO moves (namely his Up special and side smash). He is, however, hampered by many flaws with his approach, causing poor matchups against characters with superior range (especially the disjointed characters), locking him in F tier.

Attributes
Luigi is a surprisingly strong middleweight with very quick attack speed (almost no slow attacks), yet slow mobility and short range. While many consider Luigi a clone or semi-clone of Mario, there are some important differences between them. Like Mario, his Fireballs are spammable and help his approach, but Luigi’s travel less distance and are not affected by gravity, which can be good or bad depending on the situation. Luigi has the second highest initial jump in the game (second only to Falco's), which helps his air game. Luigi is also a good juggler due to his very fast u-tilt, nair, and uair. Luigi's neutral aerial is a powerful Sex Kick and can often kill at high percentages on most characters. He is able to use his down throw to set up his juggles on many characters when they are at low percentages, but Luigi himself is a candidate for King Dedede's infinite Chain Grab without a wall (Luigi is the only character that can be standing infinited by King Dedede without a wall but can't be chain throwed by dash grabbing), a major issue as King Dedede is a very common character in tournament-level play and has a massive grab. Luigi has the ability to crawl, which can help him dodge certain projectiles.

His smashes, like most of his attacks, are considered fast and unusually strong, especially his F-Smash. His specials are also considered good and great for recovery. If one keeps pressing the special attack button during Luigi Cyclone while moving upward (as the movement is momentum based), Luigi will rise up, greatly aiding his recovery. His Side Special, the Green Missile, can be used for horizontal recovery to make up for the lack of horizontal recovery from his Super Jump Punch. However, the Green Missile requires charging and can be stopped with projectiles normally, but if he gets a misfire (which happens 12.5% of the time), it's an extremely powerful attack. A green missile misfire can be good in some situations because it has more power and covers more distance than normally, but it can also be bad because it can cause Luigi to self-destruct. His Super Jump Punch is unique in the fact that if sweetspotted, it will become the Fire Jump Punch, a much stronger version that deals fire damage and can kill at very low percentages (about 50%). However, if Luigi's Super Jump Punch does not sweetspot, it only does 1% with no knockback and is very punishable unless he grabs a ledge.

Luigi's main problems revolve around his unusual mobility and his poor reach. Luigi has slow falling speed (although this also has its advantages, such as preventing certain chain grabs and Kirby's throw combos, as well as aiding his overall air game), the second-slowest lateral air speed, slow dash speed, and the lowest traction (but low traction also has advantages such as preventing Diddy Kong's banana follow-ups), all of which make approaching with Luigi a chore. His moves are quick, but short-ranged, so characters that can keep Luigi away with their speed and range (like Marth and Lucario) fare well.

In all, Luigi is a character who tends to run hot and cold. If he's able to close distance so that he can land his blows, he's extremely dangerous. But his abysmal approach and his poor reach leave him at a clear disadvantage if opponents can time their attacks to keep him out of range. He operates well on both the ground and in the air, but Luigi's issues with range and his overall shaky defensive game make him tough to deploy successfully.

Luigi's taunt is also unique in the sense that it can hit opponents and deal 2% of damage, but if it is used when the opponent is on the ledge or in the air, it is a meteor smash.

Changes from Melee to Brawl
Luigi has been buffed from Melee to Brawl. His slow falling and air speed have been slightly increased. His traction has also been slightly improved. Luigi is also stronger overall in terms of knockback (especially his back throw and side smash). The final hit of his dash attack has slightly greater knockback, which makes it not as easily punished. Luigi's forward aerial and down aerial have much less knockback, but the former is even faster and the latter is easier to meteor smash with. Luigi's returning taunt (down taunt) has greater set knockback and deals 2% damage instead of 1%. Luigi is one of the few Super Smash Bros. Brawl veterans who has gained the ability to crawl. His green missile can now be charged infinitely and its misfire travels less distance. Thus, it is harder to self-destruct with it. Luigi's Super Jump Punch moves much more horizontal and can be controlled while rising. The Luigi Cyclone has more slippery controls, but it does more than two hits and travels faster on the ground. It's also easier to gain height with.

Luigi's purely cosmetic changes include new animations for his back aerial (similar to that of his forward aerial from Super Smash Bros.) and Down Smash. Luigi has been graphically updated. He has his own voice now as well, instead of a recycled Mario voice sped up (although his voice actor is the same as in Melee). Luigi also has new costumes (purple and orange).

Normal

 * Neutral Attack - Punches twice with opposing hands and then turns, thrusting his buttocks out. The first hit is extremely quick. Can jab lock by jab cancelling and also used for a Fire Jump Punch.
 * Dash Attack - Luigi swings his arms multiple times. The last hit has more knockback than Melee. 9%
 * Strong Side - Luigi does a roundhouse kick. Can be tilted in different directions. 10%
 * Strong Up - Luigi does an upwards kittenswipe that is great for juggling and it can KO at very high percentages. 9%
 * Strong Down - Luigi does a tripping kick for minimal damage. Can be used to weakly Meteor Smash opponents from the edge right underneath his foot. 9%

Smash

 * Side Smash - Luigi does a spearhand that can be tilted KOing in percentages as low as 75% when upward angled. Very fast, but has poor range and CPUs can shield easily. It is notable for its extremly high knockback scaling, being the forward smash with the third highest knockback scaling in the game when aimed upwards. This, along with its diagonal trajectory, makes momentum canceling not very effective on it. 15-22%. Can be directed up or down using the joystick quickly. Upward angled has IASA early after the hitbox, making it a great move.
 * Up Smash - Luigi does an upwards headbutt similar to Mario's Up Smash, but higher knockback. 12-21% Has more knockback when the opponent is behind Luigi when executed. Can slide if dashes and few frames after charge it, which slides slower than Mario, but slides farther.
 * Down Smash -Luigi does a twisting breakdancing sweepkick with decent vertical knockback that pulls victim behind him if sweetspotted (the first hit). 16-22%

Other

 * Ledge attack - Flips over the edge, kicking the opponent during the flip. 8% damage
 * 100% Ledge attack - Slowly gets up and kicks.10% damage
 * Floor attack - Does a sweeperkick similar to his Down Smash. 6% damage
 * Trip attack - Kicks behind him, then in front of him while getting up. 5% each kick

Aerial Attack

 * Neutral Aerial - Luigi does a sex kick that has great vertical knockback. Hits on frame 2, allowing to be an excellent combo breaker due to its almost instantaneous start-up which can break some chain throws, like Falco and Pikachu's chain throws. Unusual for a sex kick, it has pure vertical knockback. It is Luigi's most powerful aerial, capable of KOing most grounded characters under 125% when at full power and it is one of the strongest sex kicks in the game. 14%
 * Forward Aerial - Luigi does a quick karate chop that has below average horizontal knockback and can be used in succession due to it having low start up and very little ending lag. This is Luigi's fastest aerial, duration wise. 10%
 * Back Aerial - Luigi does a backwards kick similar Mario's with similar knockback. Luigi's new B-air is similar to his Fair in the original Smash Bros. 12%
 * Up Aerial - Luigi does a flip kick that is great for juggling due to its speed and vertical knockback. Like his other aerials, it has almost no start-up and ending lag. It has more vertical knockback than Mario's U-air. 13%
 * Down Aerial -Luigi does a quick down spin kick. Can meteor smash in parts of the hitbox. Meteor smash hitbox is easy to hit with after mastering. The meteor smash hitboxes are the first few frames of the attack, right where his hands start spinning, also a part of the head, and can be done on both sides of his hands. If it hits in a non-meteor smash hitbox it instead has average horizontal knockback. 11%

Grabs and Throws

 * Note: Luigi's grab range is poor in all three grabs, which combining his very low traction, makes shield grabbing near impossible, but still he has very good throws.
 * Pummel - Luigi headbutts the opponent once. A slow pummel. 3% damage
 * Forward Throw - Luigi spins once with his victim and throws them forward. 9% damage
 * Back Throw - Luigi spins three times and throws the target behind him, reminiscent of Mario throwing Bowser in Super Mario 64. This is one of the strongest throws in the game, being capable of KOing some characters under 150% from the center of neutral stages. But being such a slow throw causes it to be very easy to DI. 12%
 * Down Throw - Luigi slams his opponent on the ground. This move is a great combo starter, as it allows him to easily follow up with a u-tilt, u-smash, nair, fair, or uair at very low to mid percentages. 6% damage
 * Up Throw - Luigi faces the viewer and tosses the enemy upward. It is a throw that is inferior to the d-throw for setting up due to its higher knockback. 8% damage

Taunts
Up: Does a variety of humorous poses very quickly in a set order: Faces the screen with one hand on his waist, the other giving the peace symbol, next he turns to the right slightly, pointing his hands that direction. Then, he places his right hand just below his mustache, as if he is thinking. Then he turns away from the screen, crouching, as if he's sad, and finally, he faces the screen once more, with both hands on his face, giving a frightened look, reminiscent to the box art of the Nintendo Gamecube game Luigi's Mansion. The switch between each expression is so fast, it can't be seen unless the game speed is slowed down a bit. He also makes a sound during each expression: Hoo! Hah! Hee! Hey! Hmm! The last pose is his trophy pose in SSE.

Side: Stands straight up with hands on hips, falls forward stiff on the floor, then seems to balance himself back up again (similar to his victory pose in Melee and Brawl). He says something that resembles "Pow pow" as if being shot.

Down: Kicks at the ground (does 2% damage and has very strong fixed vertical knockback. That knockback is set, thus does not vary depending on the damage percentage the enemy has). Luigi utters a bashful "Hm." If used on an opponent hanging from a ledge, it will meteor smash them. Doing so is sometimes called a Weegee Kick. Another variation of this move is using the Down Taunt inside a Negative Zone. It will greatly increase the set knockback, and will sometimes Star KO the enemy, especially if they're light. The amount of damage it does could be a reference to how he's always in his brother's shadow. It should also be noted that this is the meteor smash with the highest base knockback in the game, being the strongest meteor at 0%.

Idle Animations

 * Rubs the back of his head sheepishly.
 * Pulls on his nose, stretching it and snapping it back.

Role in ''Subspace Emissary
Luigi first appears in a green meadow, where he pretends to threaten and attack on-coming Waddle Dees. They are harmless, and make no move to attack him, but he is frightened by them, nonetheless. Then, out of nowhere he is attacked from behind by King Dedede, who slams Luigi with his mallet, sending him flying into the air. After he comes back down, he becomes a trophy (making him the only character to become a trophy in the same cut scene in which he is introduced). Luigi's trophy in Subspace Emissary is different from his collectible trophy. Instead of adjusting his hat, Luigi holds his hands to his face making a surprised expression, which is the last of the poses from his up taunt. This distinction is unique to Luigi. King Dedede places him on the road as bait for Wario, who is coming down the road. Wario takes the bait, and Dedede manages to steal Peach/Zelda, Ness, and Luigi's trophy along with Wario's Cargo.

Dedede places a special badge on Luigi, Ness, and Peach/Zelda, though Peach/Zelda's badge is knocked off when Bowser flies off with the princess in his Koopa Clown Car and is later swallowed by Kirby. Later, when Tabuu turns everyone into trophies, the badges turn Luigi and Ness back into living creatures. The badges had the power to bring trophies back to life. Luigi and Ness afterward turned King Dedede back to life. The unlikely trio set off to help out Mario, Donkey Kong, Samus, Fox, Link, Yoshi, Pikachu, Captain Falcon, Marth, Mr. Game & Watch, Falco, Pit, Olimar, Lucas, Diddy Kong, the Pokémon Trainer, Ike, Snake, Lucario and Meta Knight. Luigi, along with Ness, then watched as Dedede fought Bowser, and later help him convince Wario to join them. After they turned everyone back to normal, they all fought Tabuu.

Trophy description
''Mario's younger twin brother. He's shy and quiet and overshadowed by his sibling, but he's actually quite talented. His jumping ability surpasses Mario's, and his all- around skills let him overcome any problem. He's a bit cowardly and really afraid of ghosts. Even so, in Luigi's Mansion, he was charged with cleaning up a whole house full of spirits.'' Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo Entertainment System)

Luigi's Mansion (Nintendo GameCube)

Trivia

 * Luigi is one of only three characters in Brawl able to perform three aerials in one short hop. The others are Lucario and Meta Knight
 * Luigi is the only character in Brawl that can string two of any of his aerials in a single short hop.
 * Luigi's trophy pose is similar to Mario's idle pose in SSBM, in where he is adjusting his hat.
 * The sparsity of Luigi's crowd chant (which sounds like only two or three people are cheering) and the announcer's tone of voice when announcing him (implying surprise) both appear to contribute to the running joke in the Mario series in which no one can remember who Luigi is.
 * If Luigi fires himself into a wall using the Green Missile, his head sometimes will be stuck before pulling himself out.
 * In the Home-run Contest, Luigi's Forward Smash is notable for being able to send the Sandbag farther than the Warlock Punch at extreme percentages (above 250%). This is not because it produces stronger knockback at this percentage (as it has lower base knockback and knockback scaling, thus it is never stronger than the Warlock Punch), but because its extremely high knockback scaling, combined with its much more vertical trajectory allows it to send the Sandbag so far at these percentages.
 * Luigi's blue Palette Swap is similar to Ice Luigi in New Super Mario Bros. Wii.
 * Luigi's hat's design in Brawl is more similar to its recent appearances in the Mario franchise than in Melee.