---

Ganondorf in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: A Detailed Review

Ganondorf, the King of Evil and the primary antagonist of the Legend of Zelda series, is a returning character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Known for his immense power and imposing presence, Ganondorf is a character that embodies risk and reward, demanding precision and strategic play from his users. Below, we explore his strengths, weaknesses, effective play strategies, and matchups against other characters.

Strengths

1. Incredible Power: Ganondorf is renowned for his sheer power. His attacks deal massive damage and have high knockback potential, making him one of the most feared characters at high percentages. Moves like his forward smash and Warlock Punch can KO opponents at surprisingly low percentages.

2. Effective Punisher: With high-risk moves, Ganondorf excels in punishing opponents' mistakes. His powerful smash attacks and aerials can quickly turn the tide of battle if the opponent missteps.

3. Intimidating Presence: The psychological aspect of facing Ganondorf can't be understated. His imposing moveset can pressure opponents into playing cautiously, allowing Ganondorf to capitalize on defensive mistakes.

4. Strong Aerials: Despite his grounded reputation, Ganondorf possesses some effective aerial attacks, such as his down aerial (a powerful spike) and neutral aerial, which can be used to control airspace and edgeguard opponents effectively.

5. Durability: Ganondorf is a heavyweight, meaning he can survive longer than many other characters, allowing players to make more mistakes without being easily KO'd.

Weaknesses

1. Lack of Speed: Ganondorf is one of the slowest characters in the game, both in terms of movement speed and attack frames. This makes it challenging to approach nimble opponents and can leave him open to faster characters.

2. Poor Recovery: His recovery options are limited and predictable. His up special, Dark Dive, and down special, Wizard's Foot, offer little horizontal distance, making Ganondorf susceptible to being gimped offstage.

3. Combo Vulnerability: Due to his size and weight, Ganondorf is highly susceptible to combos. Characters with fast and chaining attacks can rack up damage quickly against him.

4. Predictability: Many of Ganondorf's powerful attacks have significant startup or end lag, leading to predictability if overused. Skilled opponents can exploit this with ease.

5. Limited Projectile Options: Ganondorf lacks any real projectile attacks, forcing him to approach opponents and closing gaps against zoning characters can be difficult.

Effective Play Strategies

1. Spacing and Punishment: Use Ganondorf's powerful attacks to punish opponents' mistakes. Position yourself strategically to land heavy hits when opponents whiff their attacks or recover predictably.

2. Mind Games: Capitalize on Ganondorf's intimidating presence to create openings. Use feints and movement to bait opponents into making errors that you can exploit with your powerful moves.

3. Edgeguarding: Utilize his down aerial for spiking opponents attempting to recover. His neutral and back aerials are also effective tools for edgeguarding, given their strength and reach.

4. Mix Up Approaches: Balance aggression with patience. Use his Wizard's Foot and Flame Choke (side special) to mix up your approach options and break through defensive plays.

5. Stage Control: Control the center of the stage to minimize your vulnerability to edgeguarding. Utilize platforms to escape pressure and reset neutral situations.

Matchups

• Favorable Matchups: Ganondorf can excel against characters that struggle to KO or are lightweight, such as Jigglypuff and Pichu. His high power can quickly overcome their defenses.

• Unfavorable Matchups: Ganondorf struggles against fast and nimble characters like Sheik, Fox, or Pikachu, who can exploit his slow speed and combo susceptibility. Characters with strong zoning capabilities, such as Samus or Young Link, also pose significant challenges due to his lack of projectiles.

In conclusion, Ganondorf in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is a character designed for players who thrive on high-risk, high-reward gameplay. Mastering him requires understanding his strengths, mitigating his weaknesses, and leveraging his power to punish opponents effectively. While he may have challenging matchups, in the hands of a skilled player, Ganondorf can dominate the battlefield with his overwhelming strength and presence.