Skull Bash

Skull Bash (ロケットずつき, Rokketo Zutsuki^?, lit. "Rocket Headbutt) is Pikachu and Pichu's Side Special Move in Super Smash Bros. Melee.

Overview

It is similar to Luigi's Green Missile, only without the chance of a misfire and neither Pikachu or Pichu can hold the charge infinitely.

The move can be charged up to increase the damage and range of the attack. Pichu can charge for longer, but hurts itself upon releasing (1%); the distance covered and the knockback when fully charged is tremendous, dealing almost 40% and nearly covering the length of Final Destination. It is used in most Home-Run Contest strategies in lieu of the bat (fully-charged, Skull Bash is nearly a one-hit KO from Pichu).

In Brawl, Skull Bash charges much faster than in Melee, and is an excellent move to recover with as Pikachu does not enter a helpless state after using it in midair. When fully charged, Pikachu will go about as far as the size of Final Destination. Though, unlike the Green Missile, the charge can't be held, and when fully charged, Pikachu will shoot forward. Even with its great distance, it's not used too often as Pikachu falls at a quick speed and the move itself is predictable. In Melee, Skull Bash has an electric effect when it hits, but not in Brawl.

Pikachu using Skull Bash in Melee.

Pikachu using Skull Bash in Brawl.

Pichu's Skull Bash.

Pikachu's Skull Bash in SSB4.

Pikachu's Special Moves
	64	Melee	Brawl	3DS/Wii U	Ultimate
Standard Special	Thunder Jolt
Side Special	—	Skull Bash
Up Special	Quick Attack
Down Special	Thunder
Final Smash	—		Volt Tackle

Pichu's Special Moves
	Melee	Ultimate
Standard Special	Thunder Jolt
Side Special	Skull Bash
Up Special	Agility
Down Special	Thunder
Final Smash	—	Volt Tackle

Custom Variations

In Super Smash Bros. 3DS/Wii U, Skull Bash can be customized into Shocking Skull Bash or Heavy Skull Bash.

Shocking Skull Bash

Shocking Skull Bash will deal multiple hits, the last of which has added launch power.

Heavy Skull Bash

Heavy Skull Bash will dive sideways at a lesser distance, but do more damage at the start of the attack.

Pikachu's Custom Special Moves
	Custom 1	Custom 2
Standard Special	Thunder Wave	Thunder Shock
Side Special	Shocking Skull Bash	Heavy Skull Bash
Up Special	Meteor Quick Attack	Quick Feet
Down Special	Thunder Burst	Distant Thunder

Trivia

• In the Pokémon RPG's, Skull Bash is a Normal-type attack; In the games, it states that Pichu can only hurt itself by using Electric-type attacks. The same error goes with Agility. However, both attacks have been upgraded with electrical effects in the Smash Bros. series, which could explain this.
• According to Pokémon Guides, Pikachu and Pichu nowadays cannot learn the move Skull Bash, as Pikachu (along with a cast of others) can learn Skull Bash only in the 1st Generation Pokémon Games, thanks to it being a TM.