Overview

As the wielder of the legendary Monado sword, Shulk’s main features revolve around activating Monado Arts, which modifies his attributes in various ways. Each Monado Art comes with increased power, but also increased vulnerabilities in certain aspects. For instance, Buster Art increases Shulk’s damage output, but at the cost of raising the damage he receives. Managing Shulk’s Monado Arts is vital to optimizing Shulk’s potential. Adapting to the situation at hand and activating the appropriate Art can mean a world of difference.

When the Monado’s energy blade is activated during Shulk’s attacks, its range increases dramatically, enhancing his area control. Most of Shulk’s attacks cover large swaths of area with exaggerated angles and arc swings, with his neutral air attack and forward air being some of the best aerial attacks in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

With the threat of his superior aerial Monado attacks and various offense-based Monado Arts like Speed and Jump, Shulk can condition enemies into turtling up into a shielding posture, from which he can take advantage by going in for jump, feint, and grab sequences.

Shulk’s air attacks with the Monado all cause a fixed amount of landing lag. Whereas most air attacks in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate cause varying amounts of landing lag depending on when you land during the attack’s animation, Shulk’s are unique in that no matter when you land during his attack animations, his landing lag is constant (although the amount of lag differs between his air attacks).

You can get around this fixed lag by performing your aerial attack early on during your jump so that you go into air lag instead. For instance, if you do jump into immediate forward air, your forward air swing ends while you’re still airborne, eliminating any end lag.

Shulk Vitals

Movement Options

Movement Ranks