Phoenix Wright | Character Moveset + more!

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Phoenix Wright - Character Moveset

+ more!

edit by TG.

This is most likely gonna be my favorite blog I’ve released to date, and I have my reasons. Yes this is your typical moveset blog, but this is about a character that I love and adore. Ace Attorney has been one of my favorite video game franchises for a long time. And to celebrate the recent announcement of the Ace Attorney anime’s second season, I’m here with a complete Phoenix Wright Character Moveset, including several other things which comes with a new character.

Listen to this while reading! :sound: :notes:

This will be complete with his moveset, alternate costumes, stage, and music. Here I’ll put a little table of contents with everything we’ll be covering today.

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Character Origins

Why He Should/Won’t be in Smash

Complete Moveset

Normal Attacks

Aerials

Smash Attacks

Grabs / Throws

Special Moves

Final Smash

Taunts

Alternate Costumes

Stage / Music

Closing Statements

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Phoenix Wright debuts in his 2001 visual novel type game, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. In which you play as a lawyer named, you guessed it, Phoenix Wright. A game about law doesn’t seem fun at first. But this is far from the truth. The game mainly divides into two parts, the investigations, and the actual trials in court. During the investigations, your goal is to search for evidence around several locations, which can includes crime scene itself. Once you find a piece of important evidence, it is stored in your court records. During these investigations, you also have to question people who may be related to the case, such as witnesses or the clients you’re defending.

The actual trials in court are where the fun begins. This is the part of the game that everybody loves. Mainly because this is where you get to defend your client and find out who actually committed the crime. The gameplay during these scenes is a bit more complicated. After a witness testifies against your client, you can press the witness. This means you request the witness to be more descriptive about what they are saying. For example…

“The time was 2:30 PM.”

“I’m positive, there was a clock inside the room saying 2:30 PM. I saw it with my own eyes.”

Simple, see? You can also present evidence, this is where you point out contradictions in the witness’ testimonies. Another example…

“The time was 2:30 PM.”

“Objection! According to the autopsy report, the victim was murdered between 4 and 5 PM!”

That’s basically the entire court scene, finding out the contradictions in all the testimonies and exposing them to the court. Proving your client innocent in the process. After contradiction after contradiction, you finally get to see the real criminal break down and finally confess to the crime. This is always entertaining to see, and accompanied with all of the games’ incredible soundtracks, this always makes for a very satisfying conclusion.

Since then, Phoenix Wright has continues to appear in the Ace Attorney games, besides the spinoffs of course. Up to now, with Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit of Justice being released only two years ago, we can only wait to see how Phoenix Wright will transfer onto the Nintendo Switch.

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Okay, now onto this part, my favorite. As I covered in my last blog, there are certain reasons as to why a character appears in Smash Bros. Either because they are very iconic characters or because they represent a certain part of Nintendo. I personally feel that Phoenix Wright has a place in the next Smash game, but at the same time it is fairly unlikely.

Phoenix Wright should appear in the next Smash game because he represents a completely different side of video games. Ace Attorney is less of a direct gameplay type of game and more along the side of a game where you really need to think and have deduction skills to find out who the actual criminal is. There aren’t any other characters which covers this better than Phoenix Wright, in my opinion. Phoenix Wright is an iconic character with amazing games and more than deserves a place in the next Smash game.

Then there’s the other side of the coin, the side that I greatly against. The fact that Phoenix Wright most likely won’t be present in an official Smash game for a while.

Phoenix Wright is further away from being in Smash mainly because of Capcom, since they own him. Of course, Capcom is gonna try to push for Mega Man and Ryu to be in Smash far before Mr. Wright and maybe even some other characters. Another reason is that people see Wright unfit for battle. Though this can be said for Villager just as much. I just have to accept that he likely won’t be in the game.

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Now we get to the fun part, his moveset! I’m gonna go over every single attack that Phoenix Wright could potentially have. I’m also gonna be covering where the move originates from, only if it has one of course. Some of these will be inspired by Super Smash Bros Crusade, an excellently made Smash fan game, and in my opinion, better than Smash Flash 2. Though this is mainly because I like the character choices better. Anyway I’m getting off topic, let’s begin!

There won’t be many images during this section since I’m just listing off moves. But I’ll try to use images as much as possible.

Normal Attacks

These are the attacks that will be activated by pressing A button on the Gamecube Controller by default. They are regular attacks.

Jab

His jab will consist of two hits, followed by a multi hit attack. He will swing his brief case twice, first underhand, then overhand, than he opens his briefcase and papers fly out. This final move is a multihit. This can be SDI’d. You can connect only the first two hits which can lead into a grab.

3% > 4% > 5-9%

Forward Tilt

Wright will sneeze, this can also cause a very small windbox.

3%

Originates from Justice for All, where defend a young Phoenix Wright who appears to have a cold.

Up Tilt

Wright swiftly brushes his hair backwards. Can be used as a combo extender.

4%

Reference to the Dual Destinies opening cinematic.

Down Tilt

Wright does a swift straight kick forward while bending down, like Zelda’s. D-Tilt can confirm into a jab.

4%

Dash Attack

Wright does a left hook, this is uncharacteristic of him so he trips over himself. (He doesn’t actually trip, it’s just pretty laggy.)

7%

Aerials

This are normal attacks that are performed in the air.

Neutral Air

Wright curls up into a ball with his hands behind his head while he tumbles.

6%

When Wright gets frustrated or upset he puts his hands behind his lead and leans forward.

Forward Air

Wright points forward.

7%

Back Air

Wright points backwards.

7%

Up Air

Wright points upwards.

6%

Down Air

Wright stomps one foot down. This can be a meteor smash.

8%

Smash Attacks

Smash attacks are done by holding a direction and the attack button at the same time. This attack is strong yet has some ending lag, making it punishable. Can be held for extra damage.

Forward Smash

Wright points his finger forward. His finger is a sweet spot. Good kill move and is safe on shield when perfectly spaced.

Sour: 7% - 17%

Sweet: 10% - 25%

Comes from every Ace Attorney game when Wright points his finger.

Up Smash

Wright waves the Thinker statue above his head, similar to Toon Link’s up smash.

8% - 16%

The Thinker is one of the first pieces of evidence you get in the first Ace Attorney game.

Down Smash

Wright slams his hands down onto the ground. Covers in front and behind him and sends enemies at an upward angle. Front hit uncharged can combo into F-Smash airdodge read.

8% - 16%

Originates from when Wright slams his hands on his desk in every Ace Attorney game.

Grabs / Throws

When you grab an opponent, you can either throw them in any direction, or pummel them for extra damage.

Phoenix Wright’s grab would mainly utilize his Magatama and it’s Psyche-Locks. They originate from Justice For All and have appeared with him ever since. They are used when somebody is hiding a secret that they want to release. When somebody appears to be hiding something, chains appear and a red or black lock appears in front of the character you are talking to.

Grab

Wright’s whiffed grab will have two chains appear in front of him in an X shape. If he actually grabs somebody with it, a red lock will appear on the character.

Pummel

The Psyche-Lock will tighten, causing damage. This is a slow pummel.

3%

Throws

All of his throws will utilizes a similar animation. Wright points his finger somewhere as the Psyche-Lock bursts open, launching the opponent in that direction.

Up: 4%

Forward: 4% (potential kill throw)

Back: 3%

Down: 5%

Special Moves

These are the moves that are, special. Like the name implies, this moves usually have their own purpose. Such as projectiles. I’ll be referring to them as “B” moves for simplicity sake.

Neutral B: Objection!

Type: Counter

When activating the move, Wright will cross his left arm over his chest, preparing to point forward. If a player attacks him during this time, the move will be countered by Wright pointing his finger forward with the “Objection!” bubble appearing over him.

Originates from all Ace Attorney games. You present a piece of evidence to counter a witness’s claims.

Side B: Hold it!

Type: Projectile

Wright will point his finger forward with the “Hold it!” button appearing. Then a glowing pointing finger will shoot from his hand, stunning anybody for a short period of time.

5%

When pressing a witness, Wright will exclaim “Hold it!”

Up B: Steel Samurai Balloon

Type: Recovery

A large Steel Samurai balloon blows up above Wright, press B again to blow it up causing damage, though snapping to the ledge will cause it to disappear.

8%

From the final case of the first Ace Attorney game.

Down B: Court Records

Type: Item

Wright pulls out a random piece of evidence from the court records. Each does a different amount of damage.

From all Ace Attorney games, you present evidence from here. Each of the items originate from the game.

Autopsy Report: 5% +high knockback (rare)

Knife: 12% (rare)

Bullet: 7% +long distance (common)

Thinker: 8% (common)

Maya’s Phone: 8% (common)

Final Smash: Turnabout Smash

A desk appears in front of phoenix, trapping one person. A transition final smash. Appears in glowing courtroom as evidence is thrown at victim, Nick ends it by shouting “Take that!”

40%

Taunts

Taunts are short animations that the characters can do. They serve no fighting purpose but can be sometimes be used for mind games.

Up Taunt

A cup of coffee falls on Wright’s head.

From Trials & Tribulations when Godot throws coffee at him.

Side Taunt

Wright rubs the back of his head with a nervous/worried expression.

Animation usually plays when you present wrong evidence.

Down Taunt

Wright makes a shocked facial expression.

When the prosecutor brings up a new surprising topic or piece of evidence.

Whew, that took a while. That is my complete moveset for Phoenix Wright! But don’t go just yet, we have a few more things to go through…

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Of course with a character, comes their alternate costumes. The costumes for Phoenix Wright will be simple. I don’t want any model changes, simply a costume that changes the color of his hair and suit. Similar to his Marvel vs. Capcom 3 appearance. I’ll give him eight costumes to match with the rest of the roster.

Phoenix Wright - Blue Suit, Pink Tie, Black Hair

Miles Edgeworth - Maroon Suit, White Tie, Gray Hair

Maya Fey - Purple Suit, Pink Tie, Black Hair

Athena Cykes - Yellow Suit, Blue Tie, Orange Hair

Apollo Justice - Red Suit, Cyan Tie, Brown Hair

Godot - Green Suit, Cream Tie, White Hair

Ryūnosuke Naruhodō - Brown Suit, Black Tie, Brown Hair

Hobo Phoenix - Gray Tracksuit, Pink Hat

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Stage

For a stage idea, I didn’t think too hard about it because it would be simple. Of course it’s the courtroom. But instead of a casual stage like people expect, I’m gonna make it a competitively legal stage.

The defendant and prosecution stands will act as the platforms that you can fall through and of course the witness stand is the main stage.

Music

Let’s briefly go over the music. This section will be short.

Cornered - Ace Attorney

Objection 2013 - Dual Destinies

Fragrance of Dark Coffee - Trials & Tribulations

Turnabout Sisters - Ace Attorney

Cornering Together - Spirit of Justice

Cross Examination - Trials & Tribulations

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Time to wrap up this trial. I want to thank everyone who stuck with me throughout this entire blog. I really worked hard on this to display as much quality as I possibly could. Ace Attorney is one of my favorite video game franchises and I hope I did it justice.

Anyway, thank you so much everyone! See you next time!