January 15, 2019|

Filed under: Featured, History, Speculation, Super Smash Bros. Series, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Dream Smasher: Melmetal

When it comes to which faces from Pokémon are chosen to become playable characters in Super Smash Bros., they usually need to represent or promote something relevant. This trend has been present since the introductions of Pokémon Trainer and Lucario in Brawl, with every Pokémon newcomer since hailing from the most recent Generation at the time. Although the 7th Generation has passed and already got a representative in Smash with Incineroar, another notable creature from it has since made its presence known, even years after its time in the spotlight supposedly passed: Melmetal, the Steel-type Mythical from Pokémon GO.

What Is Melmetal?

(Courtesy of @V_Created)

Melmetal made its debut in the Switch titles Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu and Eevee, as well as Pokémon GO, the mobile phenomenon that took the world by storm back in 2016. Discovered by Professors Willow and Oak, this titan’s backstory and that of its pre-evolution, Meltan, are shrouded in mystery. Initially, Melmetal could only be obtained by linking one of the Let’s Go games with GO, catching an abundance of Meltan, and using the Meltan Candy gathered from the process to evolve one of them. From there, players could transfer the behemoth into Let’s Go and, with the help of Pokémon Home, into Generation 8’s Sword and Shield. This long process made Melmetal a rare catch for even the best of players during a long period of time, a valuable part of any collection that is more than capable of pulling its weight in battle. As a Pokémon that could only be found using both GO and LGPE upon its debut, it has become something of an icon for both titles and a notable part of their history. In some ways, Meltan and Melmetal are a one-of-a-kind evolutionary chain, with the former being the first Mythical creature capable of evolving and the duo being the first species ever to not be classified under a home region, as shown by Home grouping them into their own “Unknown Origins” category. This significance did not go ignored, as Game Freak blessed Melmetal with a Gigantamax form in Sword and Shield before releasing it as an event to commemorate the direct link being forged between GO and Home, making Melmetal one of only two Pokémon who aren’t from Kanto or Galar to receive such an honor (the other, funnily enough, being the infamous Garbodor).

Importance to Nintendo/Series

Thanks to Melmetal and its pre-evolution being Mythical Pokémon, the two have received more attention than your average monster. As a result of the multiple promotional videos created to show off their discovery, as well as the special event players can trigger in GO to get the chance to obtain them in the first place, Meltan and Melmetal became one of the most discussed Pokémon of 2018. Since they could only be found by linking GO with LGPE at first, the two encouraged players of either game to pick up the other so that they could add these rare Steel-type powerhouses to their teams. This push was reflected in the Pokémon Sun and Moon anime, where protagonist Ash Ketchum caught a Meltan of his own that later evolved and played a massive role in its Trainer’s Alola League battles. Years later, the Meltan family is still used to celebrate GO‘s ties to Pokémon‘s main series through its redistribution upon GO and Home becoming compatible. As a representative of both Nintendo’s most successful mobile game and the first main series Pokémon games to release on a home console, Melmetal has become one of the franchise’s most well known critters in recent memory.

Colors & Design

If Melmetal were to appear in Smash, it would obviously see little change regarding its design. However, a few visual details would be included to let it fit in with other reps from its series. These tweaks would include a more realistic texture for its metallic body, as well as a few scratch marks on its head, shoulders, and hands. As for Melmetal’s palettes, they would primarily be based on various main series titles and Pokémon from throughout the series. The first color would naturally be its default gray-and-gold color scheme, the second would be its Shiny form’s gray-and-bronze color scheme, the third would reference Pokémon Gold with a primarily gold color scheme, the fourth would reference Crystal with a cyan color scheme, the fifth would reference Shiny Golurk (a notable Shiny given its role in the fourteenth Pokémon movie) with a black-and-green color scheme, the sixth would reference Registeel with a black-and-red color scheme, the seventh would reference Dialga with a blue-and-gray color scheme, and the eighth would reference Heatran with an orange-and-brown color scheme.

(Courtesy of @PikarlaFan)

How Would It Play?

Now, let’s have a look at some stats:

Can they crawl? No
Can they wall jump? No
How many jumps do they have? 2
Are there any exclusive abilities they have*? No
Weight Class: A+
Height Class: A+
Speed Class: E
Are they mirrored when they face left? Yes

*Like Peach’s float

Melmetal would, unsurprisingly, be one of the heaviest and tallest characters in Smash, on par with heavyweights like Bowser and King Dedede. The Hex Nut Pokémon would have a major weakness to balance its survivability and immense strength out, though: a crippling lack of speed. Melmetal would have pitiful frame data and struggle keeping up with opponents who keep their distance. That being said, Melmetal would have some incredible passive super armor to help it power through opponents’ attacks and hit hard in retaliation. It’d basically be a more potent version of Bowser’s Tough Guy attribute that would give Melmetal an advantage over opponents who pester it with weak attacks.

The most unique part about Melmetal’s moveset, however, would be its ability to summon a Meltan companion to its side with its down special. Alluding to the fact that Melmetal is simply a combination of a group of Meltan, the companion would emerge from Melmetal’s body when summoned. While having a Meltan by your side would make Melmetal’s attacks less destructive and slightly weaken its super armor, this ally would apply a stunning effect to some of its leader’s moves and speed up its attacks and movement. However, if the two were to be separated (such as by an opponent launching one of them without the other), Melmetal would be without the raw power and resilience it usually has nor its companion’s buffs. Naturally, by using the down special again when Meltan is nearby, it would go back inside the colossus, turning it back to normal and restoring its former strength. The ability to alternate between states relying on either damage output or utility on the fly would give Melmetal more adaptability than expected and allow for an extremely unique playstyle. Specifically, Melmetal would excel at zone breaking through the use of its own projectiles and super armor, as well as brawling with Smash‘s strongest fighters using impressive attacks of its own.

Boxing Ring Title: “The Iron Giant”


Series Icon	Stock Icon	Kirby Hat

Move Type

Description

On-Screen Appearance:

Multiple nuts would be seen floating in a puddle of liquid metal as they took shape and formed Melmetal.

Stance:

Melmetal would stand tall with its arms extended to each side, resembling its idle stance in the main series Pokémon games

Idle Animation #1:

Melmetal would look at one of its arms and give a satisfied expression.

Idle Animation #2:

Melmetal would begin to fall asleep as its eye started slowly closing before waking up with a shocked expression a few seconds later.

Walk:

Melmetal would slowly march forward as the nut in its chest rotated in place.

Dash:

Melmetal would jog forward with its arms pumping back and forth.

Jump:

For its first jump, Melmetal would put its arms on the ground and use them to jump into the air. As for its second jump, Melmetal would simply curl itself up into a ball and gain extra height.

Damage Animation:

Melmetal would briefly cry as its body contorted before quickly readjusting itself.

Crouch:

Melmetal would lose its shape as its legs melted away, leaving it with only its upper body.

Shield:

Melmetal would wrap its arms around its body to protect itself against incoming attacks.

Neutral Attack:

Melmetal would punch forward twice before finishing with a belly flop that would stun opponents if Meltan is out.

Forward Tilt:

Melmetal would stomp the ground in front of it with its leg, launching nearby opponents upward.

Down Tilt:

Melmetal would fire a beam of light from the nut in its chest at the ground in front of it, stunning anyone it hits if Meltan is out.

Up Tilt:

Melmetal would swing one of its arms directly upward and rotate it like a propeller.

Dash Attack:

Melmetal would perform a shoulder bash and launch anyone in its way upward.

Forward Smash:

Melmetal would charge the attack by putting its arms to each side before clapping them together in front of itself, crushing opponents in between the two arms before launching them. If Meltan is out, this attack would stun the opponent, but do much less damage.

Up Smash:

Melmetal would swing one of its arms upward in a semicircular arc, with the arm being covered in electricity and stunning opponents if Meltan is out.

Down Smash:

Melmetal would spin multiple times with its arms extended and trap opponents caught by any of these hits before launching them. If Meltan is out, the final hit would stun opponents instead of launching them.

Neutral Aerial:

Melmetal would normally extend its limbs in all directions to launch anyone in its way, but having Meltan out would make the attack resemble Mewtwo’s neutral air instead as Melmetal trapped opponents in a surge of electricity.

Down Aerial:

Melmetal would simply stomp downward with both of its feet, spiking anyone hit by them.

Forward Aerial:

Melmetal would simply swipe downward with one of its arms.

Back Aerial:

Melmetal would spin around and perform a quick punch, launching opponents to the side.

Up Aerial:

Melmetal would lift both arms above its head and clap them together, launching opponents directly upward.

Grab:

Melmetal would grab its opponent and wrap them in a bear hug.

Pummel:

Melmetal would tighten its grasp on the opponent as its victim struggled to escape.

Forward Throw:

Melmetal would slam the opponent into the ground and, as they bounced back up, kick them away.

Up Throw:

Melmetal would fling the opponent directly above itself and give them a quick headbutt.

Down Throw:

Melmetal would throw the opponent into the ground and jump on them, launching them directly upward.

Back Throw:

Melmetal would spin its upper body around and slam into the opponent with its chest before returning to normal.

Neutral Special: Flash Cannon

Melmetal would charge an orb of energy in front of its eye before firing it forward as a beam of light. While the attack would normally travel slowly and launch anyone it hits like R.O.B.’s Robo Beam, having Meltan out would make the attack a fast projectile that would stun opponents like Zero Suit Samus’ Paralyzer.

Side Special: Thunder Punch

Melmetal would dash forward a small distance before attacking with a barrage of electrically-charged punches and finishing with an uppercut. If Meltan is out, the final hit from this attack would stun opponents instead of launching them.

Up Special: Double Iron Bash

Melmetal would rapidly spin its torso to rise into the air as a metallic tornado engulfed it. While this attack would normally resemble Donkey Kong’s Spinning Kong in terms of movement, Meltan’s presence would cause Melmetal to rise much further vertically while stunning nearby opponents in exchange for horizontal reach and pure damage output.

Down Special: Magnet Pull

A Meltan would emerge from Melmetal’s body and begin to follow its leader around. While Meltan being out would result in less power and weaker super armor for Melmetal, it would apply a stunning effect to plenty of the golem’s attacks, provide it with an alternate recovery option, and buff its speed and frame data. However, Meltan would have a hurtbox of its own and thus be vulnerable to opponents’ attacks. Upon being separated from Melmetal, it would be unable to apply any of its buffs and the leader would still be without its former strength and super armor. When Meltan is defeated (or when the down special is used again while Meltan is close to Melmetal), the two would reunite and Melmetal would return to its initial state.

Final Smash: G-Max Meltdown

Much like Bowser’s Giga Bowser Punch, Melmetal would transform into its Gigantamax form (after absorbing Meltan if it was out at the time) and hover behind the stage in preparation to strike. Upon the player taking aim with a reticle, Melmetal would swing one of its titanic fists into the foreground, spiking any airborne foes it strikes, burying grounded opponents, and, if the fist collides with a solid surface, causing an abundance of massive energy spikes to erupt around the fist’s collision point that would more than likely finish off those hit by the initial swing. With the attack concluded, Melmetal would return to its original size (as Meltan reemerged if it was initially out) and continue the battle.

Up Taunt:

Melmetal would heat up and flex as steam emitted from its body. If Meltan was out, it would stare at its leader adoringly.

Side Taunt:

Melmetal would dance like a robot as Meltan cheered it on if it was out.

Down Taunt:

If Meltan was out, it and Melmetal would high five each other. Otherwise, Melmetal would reach its hand out and look around with a confused expression.

Victory Animation #1:

Melmetal would be seen posing and flexing for a group of Meltan as they cheered their leader on.

Victory Animation #2:

Melmetal would sit down and give a sigh of relief as a group of Meltan comforted it.

Victory Animation #3:

Melmetal would charge up a Thunder Punch before swinging its fist into the air and slamming back down.

Victory Fanfare: Instead of the standard fanfare used by every Pokémon series fighter on the roster, Melmetal would use a short remix of Pokémon GO’s main theme to reference its unique history and ties to the mobile juggernaut:

Outro

Although Pokémon is already heavily represented in Smash (some would say to a fault), its large and diverse lineup of potential fighters constantly grows and introduces more unique ideas with each new installment. Melmetal is just one of many relevant characters who could prove to be a welcome presence on the Smash battlefield, but its importance to some of its home franchise’s most recent titles and potential to bring one of the most distinct playstyles Smash has seen yet makes it worth taking yet another look at the expansive Pokémon world.