Part 38

Unlock the secrets of Mr. Game & Watch! Dive into his powerful moves, devastating combos, and learn how to dominate the competition with this top-tier character guide.

Alright, let's talk about Mr. Game & Watch! This guy might seem a bit niche, but trust me, he's a total powerhouse in the game. He's super fast, hits like a truck, has amazing reach, and can shut down projectiles like it's nothing. Plus, his recovery is top-notch, and he's got a move that can absolutely wreck shields. His only real downside is being pretty light, but honestly, it barely matters when you see how much damage he can dish out.

Ground Game: Hammers and Hits

On the ground, Mr. Game & Watch has a ton of super effective attacks. His down smash is probably his best move for finishing opponents – it hits both sides super quickly, making it really safe to use multiple times if you miss. It's got great range too, with those hammers stretching out. If you land a sweet spot hit, you can KO opponents below 100%. Even the sideways hit is a solid kill move. Just try not to let it get 'stale' (less powerful from overuse) and rely on it to seal the deal.

His forward smash is another great kill move, maybe not as powerful or safe as down smash, but it sticks around for ages. This means opponents trying to spot dodge or grab you often still get caught. His up smash hits harder than down smash, but the area is small, so only use it when you've got a clear shot. For poking under shields and getting quick hits, his down tilt is fantastic. It's especially good at stopping fast characters like Sonic from approaching. His forward tilt is quick too, but it has some lag afterward, balancing out its solid knockback. His running attack is good as a follow-up after his down throw, but otherwise, it's a bit risky. His up tilt hits all around him and is decent, but it's hard to find a good use for it when he has so many other amazing moves. His jab combo? Yeah, let's just say it's his worst move, pretty much unusable.

Air Superiority: Turtles and Keys

Honestly, Mr. Game & Watch is even scarier in the air. His back aerial, where he summons a turtle, might just be the best move in the entire game. It's fast, safe, does massive damage, and just demolishes shields. If your spacing is good, you can approach with this move and barely have to worry about getting hit back. Seriously, use it constantly.

His forward aerial has a lot of lag when you land, so be careful with it, but it's a powerful kill move if you land it right as it comes out. The down aerial is a super handy key plunge – he dives down with a key. This move has really high priority, making it safe if your opponent is attacking from below. You can even control your direction as you dive, and land behind shielded opponents to avoid grabs and keep them guessing. Just watch out for the landing lag; don't spam it.

His neutral aerial is a quick fishbowl that racks up damage when you're juggling opponents above you – it's your go-to for that. And his up aerial? It has a small hit area but decent knockback. The coolest part is its upward push effect over a large area above him. This lets you keep enemies airborne without them being able to jump back, setting them up perfectly for your next attack.

Grabs and Throws: Setting Up Big Hits

Out of all his throws, only the down throw is really worth mentioning. It plants the opponent right in front of you. They can try to influence where they land, even behind you, and there's a 'tech' option to escape. If they don't tech and land in front of you, you can follow up with tons of moves – his down tilt is the easiest to land, but even Oil Panic can work if you're fast enough. If they roll away after landing, you can chase and grab again. This also works if they just stand up or do get-up attacks, though it's a bit trickier.

If they do tech, your best bet is usually a running attack or running grab. If they shield your follow-up, you'll grab them again. If they do anything else besides a spot dodge, the running attack will hit them. Oh, and a pro tip: if an opponent is crowding you, try using your up smash out of shield. It's a great way to score a low-percent kill if you master the timing.

Specials: A Mixed Bag

Mr. Game & Watch's specials are a bit of a mixed bag. His 'Judgment Hammer' is easily one of the worst specials in the game – it's pretty much useless. It looks good because one of the nine possible outcomes is an instant kill, but the risk is just too high. Hammers 2 through 6 are weak and don't do much. Hammer 7 is also weak but at least spawns some food...