Pikachu

Pikachu Basic Moves On the ground basics

Controls	Description	Damage	Launch meter
A	Headbutt	2%
Forward or back + A	Short-range electric shock	14%
Forward or back , A	Side kick	8%
Forward , forward , A	Lunging headbutt	9%
Up + A	Flip kick	14%
Up , A	Tail strike	9%
Down + A	Tail sweep	12%
Down , A	Low tail strike	9%
B	Thunder jolt	6%
Up + B	Upwards jump*	0%
Down + B	Electricity**	9-21%
R, R or Forward	Flipover throw	12%
R, Back	Back electricity throw	14%

In the air basics

Controls	Description	Damage	Launch meter
A	Kick	12%
Forward + A	Electric side drill attack***	3-15%
Back + A	Back kick	12%
Up + A	Upwards tail strike	10%
Down + A	Downwards electric attack	10%
B	Thunder jolt	8%
Up + B	Upwards jump*	0%
Down + B	Electricity**	9-21%

*This attack causes no damage.
**If opponent is next to you, more damage is caused. If they are in the air above you, less damage is caused.
***Depends upon how many times you hit your opponent. Combos Strengths Pikachu is a pretty quick character so you need to use this speed to get close to your opponents to set up throws and the flip kick. Don't bother using the short-range electric shock or electricity too much because, although they are launchers, they are easy to block and counter. If you can get a double upwards jump, that's a great way to get away from someone who's invincible or has a weapon. Or avoid an opponent who's coming after you and jump down on him with the electric side drill attack. You can then set up a flip kick or a throw if your opponent is blocking. This should get you some kills and keep you away from being launched yourself. However, Pikachu's best chance for racking up kills is to get the bat or beam sword. Hit back or forward + A with either of these weapons and you'll spin and hit anyone in front of or behind you. Or wait for someone as they comeback from a launch and hit them again.

The flip kick is Pikachu's best launcher and his best hope for kills as far as regular moves go--it is very fast and launches at a low damage level.
The electric side drill attack is a great in-air side move. You can get multiple hits with it or, if you're opponent blocks it, you'll knock down his shield and usually wind up behind him making it more difficult for him to counter it.
For coming back, Pikachu's upwards jump is especially effective if you get two jumps off of it. It is fast and, with 2 jumps, has very good range--check back and we'll let you know exactly how to pull off the double upwards jump.
Pikachu is excellent at using weapons like the bat and beam sword. When you press forward or back + A with one of these weapons, Pikachu spins around and hits those behind and in front of him. This way, you can get 2 kills with the bat even if you're surrounded by 2 opponents. The beam sword can be used the same way and Pikachu also gets great range with it when he's jumping because he'll spin with it in the air. If you see a beam sword or bat, grab it.

Weaknesses Pikachu's three best launchers all have very little range: the flip kick, the throw, and the short-range electric shock. To beat Pikachu, use projectiles from afar and quick mid- and long-range attacks. Pikachu's throw isn't as effective a launcher as his flip kick so, if you get in close with him, block. When you launch him, try to get underneath him as his downward moves have average priority at best. Or if Pikachu is trying to come back, set up for another launch by the edge of the board--if you force him to fly above you, you can get him as he falls down.

The electricity attack is a very poor B move. If you're below a platform and use it, the lighting bolt will hit the platform leaving you wide open to attack. You're especially vulnerable because electricity has a relatively high recovery time compared to other B moves. The lightning can easily be blocked because Pikachu yells before he does it; it also has minimal horizontal range so it's difficult to use it against someone who's above you.
When you're on the ground, the upwards jump is pretty useless unless you use it to get to a high platform (in which case you'll usually need to get the double jump). It's unfortunate that it takes off no energy especially since it's a B move.
When you're coming back from a launch, the upwards jump is below average if you don't get the double jump off. It will have short range, it's not an attack so you're free to be hit, and you fall slowly after using it so you can be relaunched rather easily.
The thunder jolt, Pikachu's last B move, is one of the least effective projectiles. In the air, it is very slow and, if it reaches the ground, it can easily be blocked since it's so easy to see it coming. It has no vertical range because, unlike the other projectiles, it must travel on the ground. Its advantage (the fact that it goes up and down walls) means little especially since you can't hit someone who's hanging off the end of a board.