Decloned Moveset #1: Dark Pit

Introduction

I'm sure you all know by now that I despise clones. I'm not going to go into the reasons why, as I made an entire blog explaining why I hate them and comparing the existing clones and semiclones. In the latter section, I gave some general ideas as to how the characters could be decloned, and today, I'm going to make actual decloned movesets for those clones. Don't expect me to go as in-depth as I've done on my normal movesets in of gifs and images, as those are time-consuming to get/create and may not be usable because of other issues (Amino's image limits).

Now that that's out of the way, let's talk about Dark Pit, my least favorite clone. He debutted in Kid Icarus Uprising, a game full of weapons and powers to make your own, unique Pit. Yet when it came time to put Dark Pit in Smash, he was made into a carbon-copy of Pit save for a Final Smash and slight number changes, something ironic considering DP's character arc was about setting himself apart from his goody-twoshoes counterpart. Despite this, I do recognize that DP's primary weapon is the Silver Bow, a prototype of the Palutena Bow. As such, this moveset will not be a fully unique Staff moveset, but a semicloned Dark Pit still using his Silver Bow.

Normals

Unfortunately, finding videos to get gifs for Uprising is a pain, so you'll have to excuse the lack of gifs to help describe the normals.

Jab

I don't the Bow combo from Uprising exactly (I recall it being 1-2 swing with each blade followed by a cross slash from both), but I do know that it's at least different from Pit's/Dark Pit's existing Jab string, so it'll do as a nice replacement.

F-Tilt

Same

U-Tilt

Same

D-Tilt

Same

F-Smash

Same.

U-Smash

The Pits LOVE to spin their bows around in order to trap opponents in multihit attacks that end with a launcher, so why not give DP one more. Instead of doing a triple slash over his head, Dark Pit would instead twirl his bow above his head, functioning as described above.

D-Smash

Same.

Dash Attack

While I don't recall the Uprising Bow Jab string, I do that the dash attack was a forward charge while Pit twirled his bow in front of him to drag enemies along until he finished the attack (similar to his F-Air). This will do nicely for a new Dash Attack for DP.

N-Air

Same.

F-Air

Just use Pit's old F-Air from Brawl.

B-Air

Dark Pit spins around, striking with one of his blades before following up with a 2nd swing with the other held in a reverse grip.

U-Air

Dark Pit executes a crossed slash with both blades aimed above head.

D-Air

that cool dive kick he did in the Medusa Chapter? Give him that.

Grab, Pummel, and Throws:

I honestly have no problem with Dark Pit keeping the same grab commands as Pit.

Specials

N-Spec: Silver Bow

I wasn't a big fan of custom moves back in Sm4sh, but I can't deny that some of them were good ideas that should've become real moves. Take Pit's/DP's C2 for their N-Spec. Instead of firing an aimable arrow, the Pits instead fire a much larger straightshot arrow that pierces threw opponents and deals more damage. I see no reason why this wasn't given to DP as his own move. Also, fix the arrow color. The Silver Bow fires yellow or green arrows, NOT dark ones. That's the Darkness Bow. If Sakurai is going to use character representation as a reason to exclude Ridley from Sm4sh (before backpedalling on the decision and reasoning), then I will call this case of inaccuracy out, especially when Sakurai was responsible for making Uprising and the Dark Pit character.

F-Spec: Electroshock Arm

Like the C2 Bow, use Dark Pit's C2 Electroshock Arm instead of leaving it as a shameless copy of Pit's Upperdash Arm with slight number changes. Or better yet, turn the E-Shock Arm into a chargeable hold & release uppercut instead of a dashing uppercut or 'counterpunch'.

U-Spec: Power of Flight

Worst case scenario, this stays the same. Best case scenario, DP gets Brawl Pit's old recovery.

D-Spec: Bumblebee

Give DP the Bumblebee power from Uprising as a counter that, instead of dealing damage, teleports DP behind the opponent that hit him and allowing him to freely act out of it.

Final Smash

The biggest issue with DP's Final Smash was that, while not a copy of Pit's FS, it was a shameless copy of Zelda and Sheik's Light Arrow. Thankfully, the 2 Zelda girls got unique Final Smashes, and while Link effectively got a copy of their Light Arrow, it's different enough that I have no issue with DP keeping his DP Staff. Though in a perfect world, I'd rather he have the Lightning Chariot while Pit got a cinematic FS using the Three/Great Sacred Treasures. Did Sakurai forget that the Lightning Chariot is now under Viridi's ownership, of whom DP works for?