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Richter in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: A Detailed Review

Richter Belmont, hailing from the iconic Castlevania series, joins Super Smash Bros. Ultimate alongside Simon as one of the game's two Belmont representatives. With his arsenal of weapons and classic vampire-hunting gear, Richter brings a unique playstyle to the roster, combining range, zoning, and stage control. Here’s a detailed review of Richter, covering his strengths, weaknesses, playstyle, and matchups.

Strengths

1. Exceptional Range:

   • Richter's whip, The Vampire Killer, offers some of the longest reach in the game for many of his attacks. His forward tilt, neutral air, and smash attacks allow him to keep opponents at bay while dealing significant damage.

2. Projectile Arsenal:

   • Richter excels in zoning with his variety of projectiles. Holy Water (Down Special) creates a flame that can trap opponents, Cross (Side Special) serves as a boomerang-style attack, and Axe (Up Special) covers a vertical arc, making it great for anti-air and edge-guarding.

3. Strong Edge-Guarding:

   • His Axe and Holy Water are particularly effective for edge-guarding and ledge trapping. The Axe's angle makes it difficult for recovering opponents to avoid, while Holy Water can prevent them from regaining stage control.

4. Kill Power:

   • Richter possesses strong kill moves, including his forward smash, up smash, and back air. His moves can KO opponents relatively early, especially near the ledge.

Weaknesses

1. Poor Recovery:

   • Richter's recovery is one of his biggest weaknesses. His Up Special, Uppercut, has limited vertical and horizontal reach. This makes him susceptible to being edge-guarded and can struggle to return to the stage if launched too far.

2. Laggy Moves:

   • Many of Richter's moves, particularly smash attacks and some aerials, have significant startup and end lag. This can leave him vulnerable to punishes if his attacks are not spaced well or if they miss.

3. Predictability:

   • Given his reliance on projectiles and long-range attacks, Richter can become predictable. Opponents who can close the gap quickly or reflect projectiles may find it easier to counter his strategies.

4. Struggles Up Close:

   • Richter's attacks are designed to keep opponents at a distance. When opponents get in close, Richter lacks quick, reliable options to escape pressure, making him vulnerable to rushdown characters.

Effective Playstyle

• Zoning and Spacing:

  • Richter should focus on maintaining distance using his projectiles and long-range normals. Mixing up Cross and Holy Water can control space effectively, while Axe can deter aerial approaches.

• Edge-Guarding:

  • Use Axe and Holy Water to control the ledge. Throwing an Axe to cover high recoveries and placing Holy Water near the edge can trap opponents and set up for a powerful smash attack.

• Stage Control:

  • Keep opponents at the ledge or off-stage as much as possible. Richter excels when he can dictate the pace of the match from a safe distance.

• Mind Games:

  • Mix up your approach with short-hopped aerials and tomahawk grabs when the opponent expects a projectile. This can create openings in their defense.

Matchups

• Favorable Matchups:

  • Richter tends to perform well against characters with poor mobility or those who struggle against projectiles, such as Ganondorf or Little Mac. His zoning tools can keep these opponents at bay effectively.

• Unfavorable Matchups:

  • Fast, rushdown characters like Fox or Pikachu can close the gap quickly and exploit Richter's weaknesses up close. Characters with strong reflectors, such as Palutena or Wolf, can also pose a challenge by turning Richter's projectiles against him.

• Balanced Matchups:

  • Against balanced characters like Mario or Lucina, the matchup can depend heavily on the player's ability to control space and maintain distance. Proper use of Richter's zoning tools and spacing can tip the scales in his favor.

Overall, Richter in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is a character that excels at controlling the stage with his projectiles and long-range attacks. While he struggles with recovery and close-quarters combat, a skilled Richter player can use his strengths to dominate from a distance and capitalize on opponents' mistakes.