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The Cape (Japanese: Super Mantle/Cape - スーパーマント, Sūpā Manto) is Mario's Side Special Move. It has the ability to reflect projectiles and spin characters in the opposite direction if it hits the opponent.

Overview[]

The Cape deals up to 10% damage, has no knockback and doesn't make the opponents flinch. This means that it will not interrupt attacks; rather, it only turns the enemy character around. This can leave recovering characters unable to grab the ledge. This has less use in Brawl and 3DS/Wii U thanks to the Auto-Snap feature, meaning that characters will grab a ledge regardless of which direction they are facing.

However, the Cape can be broken in the same manner as a reflecting attack can. That is to say, if the damage that the oncoming attack would do would break a shield in one hit, the cape will not work, and Mario or Dr. Mario will enter broken shield animation.

Regardless, Cape is still a good all-rounded move. It helps Mario with his recovery (he moves horizontally a bit, and his speed slows drastically), and can reflect projectiles. Cape can also be used against recovering players; however, this only works well against poor and/or predictable recoveries. It is useful against Captain Falcon's Raptor Boost or Ganondorf's Flame Choke (Gerudo Dragon in Melee) if they attempt to recover this way. As Ganondorf players will attempt to Ganoncide the player if both characters are on their last stock, Cape can easily discourage this as a proper hit with the cape sends them the opposite direction in a helpless state. Moreover, Cape can throw Pikmin off Mario, countering a major Olimar battle strategy.

In Brawl, if used on someone while flying because of an attack, it multiplies the distance by about 1.5x.

Using the Cape also causes Mario to float slightly, meaning it has uses in recovery and in helping him avoid edgeguarders.

The Cape can also be used for two techniques: Cape Glide and Edge Cape-Cancel.

In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, the Cape was given a new sound effect, making it sound more cartoonish. It is the effect of Mario spinning his cape in Super Mario World, but faster and higher-pitched. Also, in said game, Mario's Cape can now auto-sweetspot the ledge, at the cost of dealing a little less damage. Cape Gliding is also no longer possible.

Mario's Special Moves
64 Melee Brawl 3DS/Wii U Ultimate
Standard Special Fireball
Side Special Cape
Up Special Super Jump Punch
Down Special Mario Tornado F.L.U.D.D.
Final Smash Mario Finale

Custom Variations[]

Shocking Cape[]

Shocking Cape is one of Mario's Side Special Moves that can be used via customization. It is an electric version of the Cape. Instead of turning opponents around, it will shock them and knock them back. It will also destroy projectiles instead of reflecting them.

Strengths:

  • Great KO move
  • Deals more damage
  • Combo finisher

Weaknesses:

  • Cannot reflect projectiles
  • Can't turn opponents around
  • Slower than default

The Shocking Cape is a variation of the Cape that can deal damage to opponents; it is a powerful KO move and combo finisher because of its damage and knockback. However, this custom variation does result in the loss of one of Mario's best defensive options and mindgame tools. This cape will not reflect projectiles or turn opponents around. Reflecting projectiles is always a useful skill and turning opponents around can direct their attack away from Mario to set up for some grab punishes, but the Shocking Cape doesn't allow for that. It is a bit slower than the regular Cape but is otherwise a good move to integrate into combos and edge-guarding methods.

Gust Cape[]

Gust Cape is one of Mario's Side Special Moves that can be used via customization. It creates a blast of wind that pushes opponents away, but does less damage than the standard Cape.

Strengths:

  • Can push opponents farther
  • Good for edge-guarding

Weaknesses:

  • Deals slight damage

The Gust Cape deals less damage than the regular Cape, but the windboxes have greater range, allowing Mario to slow down an enemy's approach and then dash in for a punish or even use it on the edge to blow away recovering opponents. Since the default isn't used for its damage in the first place, this means the Gust Cape is, in essence, a direct upgrade over the default.

Mario's Custom Special Moves
Custom 1 Custom 2
Standard Special Fast Fireball Fire Orb
Side Special Shocking Cape Gust Cape
Up Special Super Jump Explosive Punch
Down Special Scalding F.L.U.D.D. High-Pressure F.L.U.D.D.

Super Sheet[]

Super Sheet is Dr. Mario's Side Special Move. The attack is almost the same as Mario's Cape attack, except that Super Sheet is longer, and does more damage. However, the Super Sheet has more ending lag and moves Dr. Mario up only once, making it less useful for recoveries. The Super Sheet will usually do around 12% damage. The attack can also be used to shift the direction of a player who is trying to get back on the field. In this case, they will be turned around, and will instead jump back on air, rather than jump on the field.

Dr. Mario's Special Moves
Melee 3DS/Wii U Ultimate
Standard Special Megavitamins
Side Special Super Sheet
Up Special Super Jump Punch
Down Special Dr. Tornado
Final Smash Doctor Finale

Custom Variations[]

Shocking Sheet[]

Shocking Sheet is one of Dr. Mario's Side Special Moves that can used via customization. Like Mario's Shocking Cape, it gives electrical damage to opponents as well as launching them, but cannot reflect projectiles.

Strengths

◾Great KO move

◾Deals more damage

◾Combo finisher

Weaknesses

◾Can't reflect projectiles

◾Can't turn opponents around

◾Slower

The Shocking Sheet is a variation of the Sheet that can deal damage to opponents; it is a powerful KO move and combo finisher because of its damage and knockback. However, this custom variation does result in the loss of one of Dr. Mario's best defensive options and mindgame tools. This cape won't reflect projectiles or turn opponents around. Reflecting projectiles is always a useful skill and turning opponents around can direct their attack away from Dr. Mario to set up for some grab punishes, but the Shocking Sheet doesn't allow for that. It is a bit slower than the regular Sheet but is otherwise a good move to integrate into combos and edge-guarding methods.

Breezy Sheet[]

Breezy Sheet is one of Dr. Mario's Side Special Moves that can be used via customization. Like [[Mario Mario's Gust Cape, it can summon a blast of wind to push opponents away.

Strengths

◾Pushboxes have longer range

◾Great for edge-guarding

Weaknesses

◾Deals less damage

The Breezy Sheet deals less damage than the regular Sheet, but the windboxes have greater range, allowing Dr. Mario to slow down an enemy's approach and then dash in for a punish or even use it on the edge to blow away recovering opponents.

Dr. Mario's Custom Special Moves
Custom 1 Custom 2
Standard Special Fast Capsule Mega Capsule
Side Special Shocking Sheet Breezy Sheet
Up Special Super Jump Ol' One-Two
Down Special Soaring Tornado Clothesline Tornado

Usage variations[]

The Cape attacks can also be pronounced as a verb (capes, caped), i.e. "I just caped that Fox's recovery and won the tournament!"

Trivia[]

  • Cape can be used to a taunting character to make them face the other way in manners otherwise not possible, like making Wario face the screen while doing his side taunt. Now, in 3DS/Wii U, this makes the character face the same direction, but mirrored.
  • Cape can be sweetspotted in Melee, but the knockback and damage isn't improved. Doing this will make the victim "yelp" in pain although nothing really happened. It is commonly used as a joke, although it is hard to land.
  • In Brawl, if Mario uses his Cape while in the Wi-Fi training area, the cape will look sparkly and of a lower quality graphic.
  • The cape can glitch if used on an enemy going on a ledge, stunning them and forcing them to grab on to the platform lower than normal.
    • The cape can also glitch if timed correctly, forcing the other player to grab the platform turning the other direction.
  • Cape is one of the two special moves Mario has that is from one specific Mario game. The other is F.L.U.D.D.
  • In Melee, a glitch can occur which causes the Cape to become stuck to Mario's model. The glitch is be here.
  • In 3DS/Wii U, while Mario can reflect Bayonetta, he cannot reflect her side smash's position.
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