---

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: Fox Character Review

Fox, hailing from the Star Fox series, is a staple in the Super Smash Bros. franchise, known for his speed, combo potential, and high skill ceiling. In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Fox continues to be a formidable choice, especially for players who favor fast-paced, aggressive playstyles. This review will cover Fox's strengths, weaknesses, effective strategies, and matchups against other characters.

Strengths

1. Speed and Agility: Fox is among the fastest characters in the game, both in terms of ground speed and aerial mobility. His quick movement allows him to pressure opponents consistently and evade attacks with ease.

2. Powerful Combos: Fox has an excellent combo game, facilitated by his quick aerials and fast-falling nature. Moves like his neutral aerial (Nair), up tilt, and up aerial (Uair) can start and extend combos, leading to early kills when executed properly.

3. Reflector: Fox’s down special move, the Reflector (often referred to as the shine), is a versatile tool. It can reflect projectiles, disrupt opponents' positioning, and even serve as a combo starter or extender due to its quick activation.

4. Kill Options: Despite his light weight, Fox has several reliable kill options. His up smash is one of the fastest and most powerful in the game, and his back air (Bair) is a potent edge-guarding tool. Additionally, his up air serves as a great juggling and kill move.

5. Edge-guarding and Recovery: Fox's recovery options are flexible with his Fire Fox and Fox Illusion moves. He can mix up his recovery angles, making it difficult for opponents to edge-guard him effectively. Conversely, his speed allows for aggressive edge-guarding against opponents.

Weaknesses

1. Light Weight: Fox is one of the lighter characters in the game, making him susceptible to early kills. Players must be cautious and maintain control of the match to avoid being knocked out prematurely.

2. Linear Recovery: While Fox's recovery moves have good range, they are somewhat predictable and can be exploited by opponents who anticipate his trajectory.

3. High Skill Ceiling: To fully utilize Fox's potential, players need to have a high level of technical skill. His fast-paced nature demands precise execution and quick decision-making.

4. Limited Range: Fox lacks long-range attacks, which can put him at a disadvantage against characters with disjointed hitboxes or strong zoning capabilities.

Effective Strategies

• Pressure and Control: Use Fox’s speed to maintain constant pressure on opponents. Dash in and out to bait reactions and capitalize on opponents' mistakes with quick punishes.

• Mix-up Game: Incorporate a mix of grabs, aerial attacks, and grounded options to keep opponents guessing. Fox’s dash attack and neutral air are excellent tools for starting combos.

• Edge-guarding: Utilize Fox’s speed to follow opponents off-stage and secure early kills with aerial attacks or edge-hogging techniques.

• Reflector Usage: Against projectile-heavy characters, use the Reflector strategically to turn their attacks against them. However, avoid being predictable with its use to prevent easy punishments.

Matchups

1. Favorable Matchups: Fox generally performs well against slower characters or those with poor recovery options, such as Ganondorf or Little Mac. His speed allows him to outmaneuver these opponents and exploit their weaknesses.

2. Even Matchups: Characters like Mario and Captain Falcon can pose even matchups due to their versatility and speed, which can match Fox's aggressive playstyle.

3. Unfavorable Matchups: Characters with strong zoning tools, like Samus or Zelda, can challenge Fox. Their ability to control space with projectiles and disjointed hitboxes may hinder Fox's approach and combo game.

In conclusion, Fox is a high-tier character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate with a strong presence in the competitive scene. Mastery of his speed, combos, and pressure game can make him a formidable opponent. However, his light weight and predictable recovery require players to be cautious and precise in their gameplay. With practice and strategic play, Fox can dominate many matchups and secure victory on the battlefield.