Overview

Ike is a no-nonsense heavyweight brawler, boasting impressive reach with his powerful Ragnell Sword. Like most sword-wielding fighters, his extended sword cannot be struck by opposing attacks, giving him priority over fighters using vulnerable limbs to attack. Ike’s sword hitboxes are even better than average for a swordfighter, though slower. Ike’s combat style favors simplicity over complexity, so committing to deliberate attacks is the name of the game. Ike makes for an excellent fighter to learn if your goal is to improve on the basics of play, and Ike’s playstyle doesn’t demand complex techniques to fight effectively.

Unlike some of the more complex fighters (like Greninja and Robin), it’s clear what role each of Ike’s moves fills. Neutral special is for predicting the opponent’s movement options, up air attack is a high-damage punisher, up tilt is an incredibly solid anti-air with an extended vertical hitbox, and neutral air attack is a conventional spacing attack with a wide hitbox that feels natural to throw out as a poke. Otherwise, he doesn’t have many moves you save to apply in nuanced situations.

While Ike isn’t as fast as Marth, Lucina, Roy, and Chrom, he’s great at deterring aggressors and stifling attacks with the extended range on his moves. With precise timing and spacing, he can mount strong offensive sequences while remaining unharmed.

As a heavyweight sword-wielder, Ike’s main weakness is end lag. Many of his attacks, including his neutral air attack, lag much longer after the attack compared to faster fighters. Ike’s spacing mistakes are a bit easier to punish. The upside is that this forces you to play carefully, ensuring your attacks are well thought out.

Ike Vitals

Movement Options

Movement Ranks