Dr. Mario (Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U)

This article is about Dr. Mario's appearance in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U. For other uses, see Dr. Mario. Also, for information about the character of whom Dr. Mario is a clone, see Mario.

Dr. Mario
Universe	Mario
Also appears in	Melee
Availability	Unlockable
Final Smash	Doctor Finale
Tier	N/A (N/A)
Character Statistics
Number of Jumps	2
Can Wall Jump	Yes
Can Wall Cling	No
Can Crawl	No
Has a Tether	No
Voice Actor
Voiced by	Charles Martinet

Dr. Mario (Dr. マリオ, Dr. Mario) is a playable character and returning veteran in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U. His moveset from Melee has been brought back. He was officially confirmed on October 9th, 2014 alongside Dark Pit as an unlockable character, in a post-release announcement.

How to Unlock

3DS

Complete the following:

• Play 60 matches.
• Complete Classic Mode as Mario at 4.0 or higher.

After completing either option, you must fight and defeat Dr. Mario on Mushroomy Kingdom.

Wii U

Complete the following:

• Play 50 matches.
• Complete a challenge in Master Orders that's Hard difficulty or harder.

After completing either option, you must fight and defeat Dr. Mario in Delfino Plaza.

Attributes

Strengths

• Balanced on many attributes. with a strong moveset.
• Above average weight.
• Good variety of combos.
• Has a reliable sex kick in the form of Neutral Aerial, that is great for starting combos and breaking off enemies combos.
• Super Sheet both reflects projectiles and flips foes, which can disrupts enemy combos and frustrate recoveries.
• Dr. Tornado racks up easy damage and can KO at high percentages.
• Can Wall Jump.
• Good at edge-guarding with his Special Moves.

Weaknesses

• Very poor Recovery, being easily gimped.
• Has problems with approaches, as he relies mainly on Megavitamins, which cannot be spammed.
• Slow speed for a character of his size.
• Lacks a Meteor Smash.
• Has less combo options than Mario.
• Struggles against characters that can outrange him.

Summary

Much like his original counterpart, Dr. Mario is an All-Rounder type of character, however focusing on Bait and Punish tactics. While sharing animations, Dr. Mario is overall slower and stronger than Mario, trading agile movement for raw power.

Dr. Mario has more options for KO'ing compared to Mario, with all his moves having higher base knockback, most notably his Smash Attacks, Back Aerial and Super Jump Punch. His Forward Smash, while having much more power than Mario's, is harder to hit since the sweetspot is at his palm, and it lacks the extended range since there is no burst of flame. With a combination of manipulating stale-move negation and making use of rage, Mario can score reliable kills.

His combo game, however, is very different and less effective than Mario's, relying mostly on reading the opponent and punish accordingly rather than stringing moves together. Since his attacks deal more knockback, the combo potential is hindered, specially against lighter opponents such as Kirby and Jigglypuff. This becomes even more of a problem due the slower movement speed, meaning he doesn't have some follow ups that Mario has. He does, however, performs great against middle and heavyweight opponents, having a good variety of follow ups from his Down Tilt.

As for his Special Moves, they function much like Mario's. Megavitamin are exactly like Fireball, but travel slower and bounce higher in the air. Super Sheet covers more vertical distance than Mario's Cape, but at the cost of its potential as a recovery move, as it no longer stalls him in midair like it did in Melee. Dr. Tornado grants Dr. Mario a little extra distance when used properly, as well racking up easy damage and can also KO. Super Jump Punch is a quite potent move that KO at earlier percentages, with high power at the base and a sourspot throughout the rest of its duration.

Dr. Mario's flaws lies in his slow movement speed for a character of his power and size. He also has trouble against characters that can outrange him, such as those with weapons, like Shulk and Cloud, which boasts from disjointed hitboxes, meaning they will always have the upper hand when clashing with Dr. Mario's attacks. His recovery is one of the worst in the game; while Super Jump Punch has very high priority, it is predictable, doesn't cover much distance, and can be interrupted easily. For that reason, players should be good at reads to prevent enemies from frustrating their recovery.

Overall, Dr. Mario is a strong character, with a solid moveset, but because of these glaring faults, players must use a much more patient playstyle in comparison to his original counterpart. As a result, Dr. Mario's main tactics relies on him staying at the stage rather than trying to gimp, reading and punishing mistakes with his Smash Attacks and Down Tilt combos.

Differences from Melee

Dr. Mario has been balanced match him with the other characters for the Wii U and 3DS versions. He was overall more nerfed than buffed, where in Melee he was among the top tier characters. He is even slower, and the universal changes in hitstun reduced his combo potential.

Appearance-wise, his coat is more detailed, and he also wears a shirt with a red tie under it, similar to his design in Dr. Mario 64.

Attributes

• Slower walk and dash speed.
• Slightly higher air speed.
• Slightly higher jump.
• Decreased falling speed and gravity.
• Decreased traction.
• Slightly smaller, with his size now matching Mario.
• Lighter, with his weight now being the same as Mario's.
• Can now perform wall jump.

Ground Attacks

• Neutral Attack is faster, but deals less damage.
• Forward Tilt is faster.
• Down Tilt is faster and has more range, but deals less damage. It also no longer sends opponents behind Dr. Mario; it always launches opponents upwards.
• Up Tilt is faster, but deals less damage. It also no longer sends opponents forward if hits in front of Dr. Mario; it always launches opponents upwards.
• Forward Smash now causes the electrical spark even if the attack doesn't connect, having slightly more range. It also deals more knockback, however less damage. It now has a sourspot at the tip of Dr. Mario's hand.
• Up Smash deals more damage and knockback, has more range, but higher startup lag.
• Down Smash deals much less damage and has higher startup and ending lag. It also has less base knockback, but increased knockback scaling.

Aerial Attacks

• Neutral Aerial has more range, but deals less damage.
• Forward Aerial has slightly lower startup lag, but deals less damage and knockback, specially at later frames.
• Back Aerial now has the same animation as Mario and Luigi. It deals more damage, but no longer sends opponents downwards, now having Sakurai angle.
• Down Aerial deals much less damage and knockback unless it hits the sweetspot.
• Up Aerial deals more knockback and is faster, but deals less damage. Its angle is slightly more horizontal.
• Down Aerial deals more knockback and all hits traps opponents more reliably. However, it deals less damage

Grabs and Throws

• Dr. Mario now grabs his opponent with one hand rather than using both, and has slightly higher grab range. He no longer can chain grab.
• Pummel deals slightly more damage.
• All Throws have less ending lag.
• Back Throw deals less knockback, although still is one one of the strongest throws in the game.

Special Attacks

• Megavitamin is slightly larger and cover more distance, but deals decreased damage, which is based on distance. It also no longer have energy properties, meaning it cannot be absorbed by Ness' PSI Magnet and Mr. Game & Watch's Oil Panic. However, they can now be eaten by Kirby's Inhale and Wario's Chomp.
• Super Sheet no longer stops Dr. Mario's momentum in the air. It also deals less damage.
• Super Jump Punch now consists of a single hit which has high knockback growth, being able to KO opponents at high percentages. However, it cannot be cancelled anymore, and has increased landing lag.
• Dr. Tornado deals more knockback, has less startup and lasts a bit longer, with more active frames and lingering hitboxes.. It also locks opponents more easily between the hits. Additionally, it now gains altitude by mashing the B button. However, it deals less damage overall and doesn't travel as high when rising.
• Dr. Mario now has his own Final Smash, Dr. Finale, which functions similar to Mario Finale, but deals more damage and has slightly higher vertical range.

Differences from Mario

• Stronger, slower and jumps lower than Mario.
• Victory poses and taunts are different.
• Neutral Attack combo deals more damage and knockback than Mario's, but is slower and with more ending lag.
• Dr. Mario's Forward Tilt, Up Tilt and Up Smash deal more damage.
• Forward Smash is more powerful, and deals electric damage rather than fire damage. Its sweetspot is in Dr. Mario's arm, rather than Mario's, which is in his palm. However, it has less range due not having the burst of fire.
• Forward Aerial does not cause Meteor Smash, unlike Mario's, but when sweetspotted deals much higher diagonal knockback.
• Down Aerial is a drill kick rather than Mario Tornado.
• All Throws deal more damage.
• Megavitamin bounces twice while Mario's Fireball bounces thrice. They also count as physical projectiles instead of energy projectiles.
• Super Sheet doesn't stop Dr. Mario's momentum, while Mario's Cape does. However, it deals more damage. Also, it covers more vertical distance and less horizontal distance, while Mario's does the opposite.
• Dr. Mario's Super Jump has only two hitboxes, functioning similar to Luigi's Super Jump Punch. However, it covers less height than Mario's. It also doesn't make the classic coin sound.
• Dr. Mario has Dr. Tornado, unlike Mario who has F.L.U.D.D.
• Dr. Finale is more powerful than Mario's Finale.

Moveset

Ground Attacks

Jab

◾Jab – Dr. Mario does a weak punch forward, followed by a second weak punch, and then a kick. Similar to Mario's from Super Mario 64. Damage in respective order: 3-4%, 2-4%, 5-6%.

Tilts

◾Up Tilt – Dr. Mario punches upwards. Slightly more knockback than Mario's with a different trajectory based on where it hits. If opponents are hit while in front, they will be sent forward. If hit when they're above, they'll go upwards. 10% damage.

◾Down Tilt – Does a quick sweeping kick in front of him. Sends foes behind him, unlike his original counterpart. 9% damage.

◾Forward Tilt – A kick forward, weaker than Mario's. 8% damage.

Smash Attacks

◾Up Smash – Headbutts upwards. Slightly more speedy and a little weaker than Mario's. However, there is a hitbox at the top of his head that is stronger. 16% uncharged, 21% fully.

◾Forward Smash – Launches a somewhat short ranged electrical shock from his palm, in a very similar fashion to his original. The closer the opponent is to Dr. Mario, the stronger the attack is. 19% sweetspotted uncharged, 25% fully.

◾Down Smash – A very sudden breakdance-like sweep, which is very fast and powerful. 18% uncharged, 24% fully.

Other Attacks

◾Dash Attack – Slides on the ground feet first, has slightly more range than Mario's. Launches foes in a random trajectory. 9% damage.

◾Ledge Attack – Flips over and kicks with both legs.

◾Get-Up Attack – Spins around on the ground, sweeping his legs on both sides.

Aerial Attacks

◾Up Aerial – Sweeps upward with his foot.

◾Down Aerial – Does a half-spin, due to him retaining his Melee Down Special Move.

◾Neutral Aerial – Kicks forward with left foot.

◾Forward Aerial – Throws a downward punch.

◾Back Aerial – Kicks backward with both feet.

Grabs and Throws

◾Pummel – Does a headbutt.

◾Forward Throw – Does a simple throw.

◾Back Throw – Whirls around and throws the opponent backwards.

◾Down Throw – Slams opponent into the ground.

◾Up Throw – Hurls opponent into the air.

Special Moves

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

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

Taunts

• Up Taunt: Grinds his shoe on the ground.
• Down Taunt: Pats himself on the shoulder with his fist.
• Side Taunt: Dr. Mario pulls out a random colored pill, and balances it on his neck and arms before putting it away.

In Competitive Play

To Be Added

Trophy Description

3DS Version

Dr. Mario

In the 1990 puzzle game Dr. Mario, Mario threw on a white coat and decided to take a shot at that whole "medicine" thing. In this game, he's a balanced fighter who can throw Megavitamin capsules and nimbly deflect blows with his Super Sheet. He's not quite as quick as normal Mario, bit his attacks deal a bit more damage.

NES - Dr. Mario (10/1990)

Wii - Dr. Mario Online Rx (05/2008)

Dr. Mario (Alt)

Mario and Dr. Mario are only slightly different. Bascially, Dr. Mario is stronger, but his MD slows his speeds and lowers his jump. He also has a move Mario doesn't: Dr. Tornado, a down special that can trap opponents before launching them. You can move left and right while doing it and press the button repeatedly to rise into the air.

Wii U Version

To be Added

Costumes

Trivia

• Dr. Mario is one of the three characters that have been removed in one game (Super Smash Bros. Brawl), then return in a later game (Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U), the others being Mewtwo and Roy.
  • Dr. Mario is the only removed character to be released at the same time as the game.
• Dr. Mario has a similar unlock option to that of Melee in which the player has to play as Mario in Classic Mode.
• Dr. Mario was originally planned to be an alternate costume for Mario rather than being a playable character on his own, but became playable due to some minor differences with Mario.

• Dr. Mario is the only character to have two character challenges, which are Beat Solo 10-Man Melee without taking damage and Get Fever Rush 8 or more times alone in a single game of Trophy Rush.

Gallery

Dr. Mario as he appears in the Official Website. Note that his image can't be seen well, since he is a secret character.

Dr. Mario being screen KO'd.

Dr. Mario Amiibo

Dr. Mario's Wii U classic trophy

Dr. Mario's Wii U Alt. Trophy

Dr. Mario's Wii U Final Smash Trophy

Trivia

• Dr. Mario was originally planned to be an alternate costume of Mario, but became a separate character late in development, as Masahiro Sakurai was felt that reducing him to a model swap would be insensitive to players who enjoyed him in Melee.
• Dr. Mario is the only character to have skipped an installment of the Super Smash Bros. series to later return as an unlockable character.
• Dr. Mario's official artwork pose does not resemble his from Melee, unlike the returning Melee veterans Mewtwo and Roy's.
• Dr. Mario shares voice clips with Mario, having two KO voice clips, while the returning Melee veterans Mewtwo and Roy only have one.

External links

• Dr. Mario's page in the Super Smash Bros. Official Website.
• Dr. Mario's Frame Data at Kurogane Hammer