May 12, 2022|

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

Dream Smasher: Zer0

Thanks to Cart Boy for help with edits.

Since their inception, Super Smash Bros. and its fighters have represented the history of Japanese gaming by crossing over universes owned by Nintendo and its partners. Nowadays, following the release of Smash Ultimate, this scope has broadened to include franchises created in other corners of the world, like Yacht Club Games’ Shovel Knight, Rare’s Banjo-Kazooie, and Mojang’s Minecraft. As the limits placed on Smash and its ability to work with foreign companies continue to lessen, fans speculate over which creations previously thought impossible could join the battle next. Today, we’ll be discussing one such property that, despite its notoriety and newfound presence on Nintendo hardware, is rarely brought up in the realm of Smash speculation. Specifically, we’re spotlighting Borderlands, an iconic series of action role-playing first-person shooters, as well as its enigmatic hitman: Zer0, a central character from one of its most acclaimed entries.

Who Is Zer0?

Zer0 is an assassin for hire who debuted in 2012’s Borderlands 2 as one of six playable classes. Seeking a challenge worthy of his skills, he becomes a Vault Hunter and travels to the untamed planet Pandora in search of a Vault, an ancient tomb left by the Eridian aliens said to contain immense power. Every Vault Hunter has a personality and backstory, and while Zer0 is no exception, his origins remain undisclosed. Very few characters, if any, know of his past or if he is even human. Nevertheless, he’s an impressive fighter, asset to any group of players exploring Pandora, and, for whatever reason, avid user of haiku poetry. Of course, Zer0 and his fellow Vault Hunters aren’t the only ones looking for the Vault, their greatest obstacle being the Hyperion corporation and its maniacal president, Handsome Jack. Following the events of Borderlands 2, Zer0 goes on to reappear in Tales from the Borderlands and Borderlands 3 as a supporting character, cementing him as one of the brand’s most recurring “faces.”

Succeeding the original Borderlands entry’s Hunter class, Zer0’s melee attacks and long-range weapons make him a deadly force from any distance. Whether playing solo or co-op, Zer0 players must account for their champion’s frailty by focusing on evasion and precision. Supporting this playstyle is his Decepti0n Action Skill, allowing him to deploy a holographic decoy and become invisible to all foes. This brief state buffs Zer0’s next strike as well, embracing his ninjutsu-inspired background and role as a glass cannon. A digitizing sword, grenades, kunai, and a staggering arsenal of guns are at this futuristic shinobi’s eight(?) fingertips, making for one of the most renowned Vault Hunters in the series.

Importance to Nintendo & Series

While not as established as mainstays like Mordecai, Brick, or Athena, Zer0’s cool demeanor and memorable design have earned him a spot among Borderlands’ most beloved characters. Although there are many Vault Hunters worth considering for a spot in Smash, including Sirens Lilith and Maya or even franchise mascot Claptrap, Zer0’s reliance on more than just firearms and well-established role make him worth discussing. The aforementioned Vault Hunters remain interesting options and valid choices, but Zer0’s handling of fighting styles and weapons familiar to Smash allow him to introduce fresh ideas while still feeling at home in a platform fighter.

Now, for a few obvious reasons, talk of Borderlands in Smash is rare. As a series developed by the divisive Gearbox Software in America, with no presence on Nintendo hardware until recently, Borderlands and its fans see little overlap with Smash. However, despite the hurdles, Borderlands’ significance is undeniable. One of the earliest innovators for the looter-shooter sub-genre, defined by fast-paced gameplay and procedurally-generated equipment, it makes a name for itself with a satisfying feedback loop, compelling setting and art direction, and so much more. Moreover, Borderlands’ dissociation with Nintendo is shifting, courtesy of the Borderlands Legendary Collection and Tales from the Borderlands. With the original game, its sequel, offshoot The Pre-Sequel!, and Telltale Games spin-off all present on the Nintendo Switch, their acknowledgement within Smash is starting to sound slightly less ridiculous.

Colors & Design

Zer0 keeps his true appearance covered at all times, donning two unique designs between his showings in Borderlands 2, Tales from the Borderlands, and Borderlands 3. With the attire seen in the former two entries being his original and the only one present on Nintendo systems, it’s the obvious choice for Zer0’s look in Smash. Always equipped with a helmet that can display symbols and icons, a leather sneaking suit, and a sword that materializes as its hilt is drawn (occasionally referred to as the “Holoblade”), the hired gun and his design are as perplexing and dangerous as the planet he plunders. Borderlands’ signature comic book-inspired art style is also worth bringing up, being a great fit for Zer0’s animations (like with the effects seen throughout Joker’s moveset).

Naturally, Zer0’s palette swaps would be based on some of his head and skin customizations in Borderlands 2. His first option features the Zer0’s Sneaking Suit skin and Zer0 head, his second is True Red’s red colors, his third is Azure Knight’s blue colors, his fourth is Leaf on the Wind’s green colors, his fifth is A Cleansing Fire’s colors and the Infern0 head, his sixth is The Nature of Fear’s colors and the Murder of Cr0ws head, his seventh is Obsidian Justice’s colors and the Ech0location head, and his eighth is Aaaaaand Zer0’s colors and the Hell0000 Assassin head (doubling as a reference to Claptrap).

How Would He Play?

Now, let’s have a look at Zer0’s stats:

Can he crawl? Yes
Can he wall jump? Yes
Can he wall cling? Yes
How many jumps does he have? 2
Does he have any exclusive abilities, like Peach’s float? No
Weight Class: D
Height Class: B+
Speed Class: B+
Is he mirrored when he faces left? No

(A more detailed look at the stats)

Given Smash’s familiarity with fighters from stealthy backgrounds, a few inspirations already exist for Zer0’s moveset. Specifically, he could share a lot of traits with Sheik, Greninja, and Joker, joining the hit-and-run archetype and sporting an impressive combo game. Consequently, Zer0 would also share many of his counterparts’ weaknesses, like a tall frame, light weight, and poor disadvantage state. At his best when his foes are at a suitable range for stabbing or sniping, the Vault Hunter’s solid frame data and (conditionally) great projectiles could allow for brutally fast knockouts. But staying true to his tendency to never stop moving during a skirmish, his long-range tools’ narrowness and poor endlag should discourage camping and force aggressive play. With his general playstyle summarized, let’s move on to Zer0’s exclusive quirks and gimmicks.

Borderlands has garnered a reputation for its variety of firearms, a part of the brand that deserves attention in Zer0’s kit. His gimmick could reference his genre of origin by bringing looter-shooter elements to Smash, allowing him to earn better versions of his gear mid-battle. Always spawning with a mediocre sniper rifle and grenade type equipped, the marksman’s attacks would, due to a special property unique to him, cause new rifles or grenade types to occasionally drop from launched enemies. Then, Zer0 could pick the loot up to automatically replace his former variant with the new one, effectively buffing certain techniques. Six unique rifles and three grenade mods could be acquired from foes, but they would always be replaced with the default weaponry upon losing a stock (like with Steve’s tools). These upgrades would be classified by rarity tiers, with the weakest rifles and grenades emitting a white glow, decent artillery emitting a blue glow, and the powerful “legendary” weapons emitting an orange glow. Zer0’s current loadout would always be visible on his HUD, by the way. Finally, Zer0 could introduce one of Borderlands’ elemental types to Smash through a few of his moves: Slag, a purple affliction that causes those under its effects to suffer more damage from enemy blows. Overall, Zer0’s blend of a tried-and-true niche with a variety of distinctions could make for a fun combatant that honors his universe’s iconic style.

Boxing Ring Title: “Mysterious Maestro of Mayhem”

Series Icon

Stock Icon

(Courtesy of Voyager)

Kirby Hat

Zer0’s Weapons

Weapon Type

Description

Gearbox Chinook (White Rifle)

A relatively weak rifle, but still stronger than the default.

Sladky Pooshka (White Rifle)

Fires multiple shots at a time and deals decent damage, but hardly launches foes.

Night Scout (Blue Rifle)

A solid weapon that briefly burns fighters with weak fire-based shots (like Joker’s Eiha/Eiagon).

Chikamin Buffalo (Blue Rifle)

Its bullets aren’t as precise as the others, but they’re especially powerful.

Longitudinal Invader (Orange Rifle)

Boasts the best stats of any rifle, excelling in damage, knockback, and accuracy.

Monstrous Volcano (Orange Rifle)

A superior take on the Night Scout, dealing fire-based damage that burns victims for a longer duration.

Throwin Murrv (White Grenade)

Its explosion is weak, but it generates smaller grenades that detonate in all directions.

Magic Missile (Blue Grenade)

A grenade with a linear throwing angle that afflicts Slag, temporarily leaving enemies more vulnerable.

Homing Storm Front (Orange Grenade)

The strongest grenade of the three, dealing lightning-based damage and leaving a field of electricity in its wake.

Zer0’s Moveset

Move Type

Description

On-Screen Appearance:

(Source)

A collection of pixels appear and coalesce, taking the shape of Zer0 as he draws his Holoblade and prepares for battle.

Stance:

Zer0 stands with his knees bent and his sword in hand, wielding it with a reverse grip.

Idle #1:

A few kunai digitize between Zer0’s fingers for a moment, then disappear.

Idle #2:

Zer0’s helmet projects one of a few random symbols, such as “<3,” “0,” ”:),” ”ZZZ,” or “B0R3D.”

Walk:

(Source)

Zer0 maintains his pose and inches forward at a fast, but deliberate pace.

Dash:

Zer0 channels his inner stereotypical ninja and sprints with his arms facing backward, like Fox’s dash.

Crouch:

Zer0 ducks downward, resting one hand on the ground, and can crawl by emulating Snake’s.

Jump:

Zer0 leaps to impressive heights for his first jump, and can flip either forward or backward for his second jump.

Damage:

Zer0 reels back and occasionally grunts in pain, with especially strong hits causing his suit to emit sparks.

Shield:

Zer0 holds his blade up to his face to guard himself, and can dodge with a quick warp.

Neutral Attack: Melee Bl0w

(Source)

Zer0, with one arm, swings his Holoblade in a horizontal motion. Like with Roy’s jab, the maneuver doesn’t lead into anything, but it’s fast and useful for starting combos.

Forward Tilt: P0int-Blank

Zer0 brandishes a Jakobs pistol in his free hand and fires a bullet that swiftly travels the length of a Battlefield platform. The shot is strongest at the revolver’s tip, immensely weakens as it travels, and isn’t considered a projectile.

Up Tilt: Cl0ckwise Slash

Zer0 swings his blade above himself, from back to front, to repel incoming enemies and start aerial combos.

Down Tilt: Rapid P0ke

Zer0 thrusts the sword at the ground in front of himself, knocking victims directly upward and leaving them open to more punishment.

Dash Attack: D0uble Tap

Zer0 lunges and performs a horizontal slash, then turns around and stabs to his back upon landing. Usually, foes caught by the first strike are forced to suffer the second.

Forward Smash: Blinding Sn0wfall

Zer0 swings his sword in a wide, vertical arc. Then, he disappears for a few frames and returns with an assertive stab. Although the first hit has its uses, the second is what’s more likely to finish the opposition.

Up Smash: Grenade 0ut!

Zer0 pulls out a grenade and tosses it a few feet upward, then the explosive detonates. Typically, the attack’s blast radius and strength are underwhelming, but wielding the Throwin Murrv extends its range, the Magic Missile applies Slag, and the Homing Storm Front sports devastating power.

Down Smash: Ech0ed Executi0n

Zer0 grasps his blade in both hands, then dramatically slashes it downward. As the ninja prepares his strike, a translucent decoy of himself appears from behind and mirrors its inspiration by slashing at the ground in the opposite direction. While Zer0’s half of the move is powerful, the copy’s is substantially weaker.

Neutral Aerial: T0rnado Kick

Zer0 kicks in front of himself, then quickly turns around and does the same behind himself. The maneuver isn’t the best at maintaining combos, but it helps relieve pressure.

Forward Aerial: Spinning Sw0rd

Zer0 slices to his front with the Holoblade, safely pressuring shields and extending combos.

Back Aerial: H0l0blade Wave

Zer0 turns around and forcefully slashes his sword behind himself. While the attack is slower and weaker than similar back aerials, the afterimages left by the blade extend its range and keep its hitbox active for slightly longer than normal.

Up Aerial: Rising Typh00n

Zer0 inverts his body, spins horizontally, and kicks upward. As expected of a technique like this, it hits fighters multiple times and can drag them down.

Down Aerial: Leaf 0n the Wind

Zer0 slashes his blade in a wide, semicircular arc underneath himself. The strike covers a lot of space, and the bottom of the hitbox can spike opponents.

Grab: Pr0cure

Zer0 extends his free hand and attempts to grab anything directly in front of himself.

Pummel: Beatd0wn

Zer0 repeatedly bashes his prey with the hilt of his sword.

Forward Throw: B0re

Zer0 knocks the opponent forward with a shoulder bash, pulls out his sniper rifle, and launches them again with a shot from it. While the armaments’ quirks don’t affect this technique, rarer rifles send foes slightly farther.

Back Throw: Unf0rseen

Zer0 turns invisible and strikes his victim, then instantly warps behind them and launches them backward with an unseen attack.

Up Throw: Ascensi0n

Zer0 tosses his quarry upward, pulls out his pistol, and blasts them higher with a single shot.

Down Throw: Gr0unded

Zer0 trips his prisoner, leaps into the air with the Holoblade in both hands, and brings it down on the enemy as he reaches the ground.

Neutral Special: Headsh0t

Zer0 takes a knee, replaces his sword with his sniper rifle, and can aim it in all directions for as long as the input is held. Upon release, he shoots a bullet from the firearm that instantly travels exceedingly far. The projectile is already threatening, but opponents struck from around their eyes are dealt a devastating headshot, suffering much more damage and knockback. That being said, it takes a bit for Zer0 to get into position, the snipe’s traits depend on the rifle being used, and shots can veer off course and miss their mark if the weapon flounders in accuracy.

Side Special: Death Bl0ss0m

Zer0 immediately lunges forward or backward, depending on the input, and throws an abundance of kunai in the direction he was facing before the leap. These projectiles resemble Sheik’s Needle Storm in strength and speed, but have a small chance to apply one of three random effects: fire-tipped kunai can burn foes, shock-tipped kunai can stun them, and Slag-tipped kunai can inflict the disgusting element.

Up Special: Decepti0n

Zer0 vanishes in a blast of electricity, exclaiming “Goodbye!” on occasion, then reappears a moderate distance away. Like with the other teleports, this one is omnidirectional. Afterwards, an additional input sees Zer0 gaining additional height with a backflip and kick. The maneuver’s two hitboxes aren’t powerful, but they aid in its utility and role as a safe recovery option.

Down Special: Grenade T0ss

Zer0 pulls out a grenade and lobs it forward. From there, the detonation and its potency depend on Zer0’s equipment. The Throwin Murrv creates a few smaller grenades, the Magic Missile applies Slag, and the Homing Storm Front sets an electric field. With none of the modifications in hand, however, the generic grenade’s explosion is just that.

Final Smash: Pand0ran Legends

Upon landing a cinematic blow with his Holoblade, Zer0 sends his quarry to a finisher within the speeding train from Borderlands 2’s introduction. There, the Siren Maya uses her Phaselock to trap the foes within an orb of energy. Then, the Gunzerker Salvador and Commando Axton, alongside the latter’s Sabre Turret, relentlessly shoot at the imprisoned opposition. Finally, Zer0 uncloaks from above the carnage and deals a decisive slash to his victims. Though, throughout the entire assault, he gloats by saying “How hilarious / You just set off my trap card / Your death approaches.”

Up Taunt: Hell0, Traveler!

Using his cloaking ability, Borderlands mascot Claptrap appears next to Zer0 and exclaims “Gimme five!” Reluctantly, the hired gun agrees and gives the robot a satisfying high five.

Side Taunt: Symb0l R0ulette

Zer0 says “Unworthy opponents,” and relaxes his stance as one of a few symbols appears from his helmet, including “L0L,” “W34K,” “!,” “>_<,” or “>:-].”

Down Taunt: Wanted P0ster

A wanted poster depicting Zer0 floats into view. Aggravated, the hitman slices it in half with his sword.

Victory Pose #1:

Zer0 approaches a massive chest as it opens and presents one of the six available sniper rifles. Then, he grabs the loot and states “A new instrument, / Waiting for a sonata / That I will conduct.”

Victory Pose #2:

Zer0 skillfully slashes at the air with the Holoblade, then readies his revolver with his free hand. After firing a few shots from the handgun, he strikes a pose with both weapons as a “0” appears atop his helmet. During the demonstration, the Vault Hunter mutters “Striking from nowhere / Killing with accuracy / This is who I am.”

Victory Pose #3:

As Zer0 faces off with a hostile Spiderant, Claptrap steals the camera’s attention by hopping in front of it. Suddenly, the Spiderant rolls into the oblivious machine, launching him to parts unknown as Zer0 stares in disbelief.

Victory Fanfare: Aside from the licensed songs that begin and end most Borderlands stories, the series lacks especially memorable music. Most locations and bosses have tracks associated with them, but they’re more understated than what Smash is used to. Consequently, choosing a fanfare that suits Zer0 is difficult. But with this piece’s role as one of earliest battle themes heard in Borderlands 2, let’s go with a short arrangement of “Ice.”

Outro

And with that, we conclude one of the most bizarre and unlikely pitches this site has ever hosted. Smash and Borderlands might be juggernauts in their respective corners, seeing consistent success and acclaim, but they couldn’t be more different. One’s a masterful celebration of the industry, attracting fans the world over, and the other’s…not that. Borderlands has been a weird beast, but an endearing one. It’s the furthest thing you could get from Nintendo’s philosophy and branding, but still inventive and one of a kind. The madness and satisfying co-op experience have earned players’ devotion for a reason, but recent developments have shined a less flattering light on the franchise: Randy Pitchford. The controversy surrounding this maligned president of Gearbox is a subject too deep and loose fitting to discuss here, but its role in tanking the goodwill Borderlands harbored is clear. It’s a far, far cry from Masahiro Sakurai’s ballpark, and he should probably keep his distance. With that in mind, this concept is little more than me tossing ideas around. Honestly, I don’t think the two series should meet, but if we ignore this scenario’s ramifications and only look at Zer0’s potential as a fighter, it sounds like a fun enough idea to me.