Skull Bash

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Skull Bash
Skull Bash inUltimate.
Users	Pikachu Pichu
Universe	Pokémon
Article on Bulbapedia	Skull Bash (move)

Skull Bash (ロケットずつき,Rocket Headbutt) isPikachu andPichu'sside special move.

Overview[edit]

The user launches itself headfirst. The move can be charged to increase thedamage and range of the attack. Performing this move like asmash attack causes it to start with some charge, thus dealing more damage and fully charging sooner.

Pikachu's uncharged Skull Bash deals 4%/7%/6%/6.2% damage, while a fully-charged one can deal up to 29%/25%/21%/21.4%.

Pichu's Skull Bash can be charged for longer, thus traveling further and dealing more damage andknockback, buthurts itself upon releasing (1%/1.8%). Pichu's uncharged Skull Bash deals 5%/4%, while fully-charged deals 39%/33%. When fully charged, the distance and knockback are tremendous and nearly covers the entire length ofFinal Destination inMelee or fully traveling the entire length ofBig Battlefield inUltimate. InMelee, Pichu's Skull Bash is used in mostHome-Run Contest strategies in lieu of theHome-Run Bat.

InSuper Smash Bros. Brawl, Skull Bash charges much faster than inMelee, and is an excellent move to recover with, as Pikachu does not enter ahelpless state after using it in midair. When fully charged, Pikachu will go about as far as the size ofFinal Destination. Even with its great distance, it's not used too often as Pikachu falls at a quick speed and the move itself is predictable, making the highlanding lag all the more punishable.

Skull Bash is functionally similar to Luigi'sGreen Missile, except Skull Bash cannot "misfire".

Instructional quotes[edit]

instruction booklet		Hold to charge up for a high-powered attack.
instruction booklet		Boost this attack's speed and power by holding the B Button before letting go of the button.
case foldout		Charge it to increase the power and distance.
Move List		Charges up a flying headbutt.
Move List		Charges up a flying headbutt that when fully charged does more damage than Pikachu's.

Customization[edit]

Special Move customization was added inSuper Smash Bros. 4. These are the variations:

1. Skull Bash	2. Shocking Skull Bash	3. Heavy Skull Bash

"A flying headbutt that can be charged up." "A sideways dive that can be charged up."	"A flying headbutt that deals multiple hits. The last hit has added launch power." "Dives sideways, dealing multiple electrical hits. The last hit has added launch power."	"Dives sideways. Deals more damage if it hits near the start of the attack." "Dives sideways. Deals more damage if it hits closer to the start of the attack."

Skull Bash: Default.
Shocking Skull Bash: Has an electric effect and hits multiple times, with the last hit dealing more knockback. Even if all hits connect, it is weaker and does less knockback than the default. It also doesn't travel as far. However, Pikachu won't stop in place and fall straight down if he hits an opponent in the air, making it a safer recovery option, even if its maximum recovery potential is weaker. Has more ending lag.
Main article:Pikachu (SSB4)/Side special/Custom 1
Heavy Skull Bash: Charges and travels faster, but the distance granted doesn't increase with charge. Damage output increases the closer Pikachu is to the opponent. As the name implies this move is much more powerful compared to the other side specials especially when hitting someone at the beginning, with a fully charged Heavy Skull Bash dealing 32% damage and massive knockback (KOing Mario at 25% from the center of Final Destination.) Recovery wise it doesn't travel as much distance as the other side specials, but oddly if the move is used immediately out of hitstun the distance granted is drastically increased.
Main article:Pikachu (SSB4)/Side special/Custom 2

Shocking Skull Bash
Heavy Skull Bash

Origin[edit]

Skull Bash being used by Pikachu inPokémon Red.

Skull Bash is based on a move with the same name in thePokémon games. It is a physical Normal-type attack introduced in Generation I. In the games, Skull Bash is a two-turn attack. On the first turn, the Pokémon using the move tucks its head in to prepare the attack. On the second turn, the Pokémon launches forward to ram the foe with its head. The attack is very powerful; however, its two-turn nature makes it somewhat inefficient; this is referenced by the ability to charge the move. In Generation II onwards, Skull Bash raises the user's Defense stat by one stage, but this effect has never been present in itsSmash appearances, with no damage reduction effects present.

Although Skull Bash was never an Electric-type attack, inSuper Smash Bros. Melee, both Pichu's and Pikachu's Skull Bashes have electrical properties. This was fixed inSuper Smash Bros. Brawl, in which Pikachu's Skull Bash has a neutral effect. It also produces a small explosion behind Pikachu when used, similar to the explosive animation used for Skull Bash in thePokémon games.

Skull Bash is available to Pikachu only by usingTM40 in Generation I. It can, however, still have the move in Generation II games (the generationMelee was closest to), as they allow trading Pokémon between the two generations through the Time Capsule. Between Generation III and Generation VI, the move was unavailable for Pikachu to learn, as no TM was available and it's impossible to transfer Pokémon between Generations II and III. As of Generation VII, however, Pikachu can have Skull Bash if it is transferred from one of the Generation I games on the Virtual Console. Pichu, on the other hand, has never been able to learn Skull Bash, as it cannot be passed down as an Egg Move and has never been made a TM move for it to learn. As of Generation IX, Skull Bash was removed and not usable.

Skull Bash in Generation VIPokémon games.

Gallery[edit]

Pikachu's Skull Bash inMelee.
Pichu's Skull Bash inMelee.
Pikachu's Skull Bash inBrawl.
Prerelease shot of Pikachu's Skull Bash inSuper Smash Bros. for Wii U.
Pikachu's Skull Bash inWii U.
Pikachu using Skull Bash as shown by theMove List inUltimate.
Pichu using Skull Bash as shown by theMove List inUltimate.

Names in other languages[edit]

Language	Name
Japanese	ロケットずつき
English	Skull Bash
French	Coud'Krâne
German	Schädelwumme
Spanish	Cabezazo
Italian	Capocciata
Chinese (Simplified)	火箭头锤
Chinese (Traditional)	火箭頭錘
Korean	로케트박치기
Dutch	Schedelbeuk
Russian	Лобовой Таран
Portuguese	Quebra-Crânios

Trivia[edit]

InMelee, CPU Pikachu and Pichu will not use Skull Bash to recover; they will only use Quick Attack and Agility, respectively. Similarly, all other CPUs in this game (excluding Luigi) only use their up special moves to recover.
- They will also never charge Skull Bash. This also applies for many other attacks that require button holding, such assmash attacks.
Despite Skull Bash being a Normal-type move, Pichu still takes recoil damage from using it. This distinction is shared withAgility.