Ganondorf Guide: Matchup Chart and Combos

This is a guide to using Ganondorf in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Ganondorf's bread and butter combos, how to unlock, frame data, alt costumes and skins, as well as Ganondorf's matchups, counters, and tier list placement can all be found here.

Ganondorf Tier and Overview

Stats and General Info

Ganondorf
Game Series	The Legend of Zelda
Smash Bros. Debut	Super Smash Bros. Melee
Fighter Number	23
Unlock Order	40
Number of Jumps	2
Weight	118 Units (5/87)
Dash Speed	1.34 (86/87)
Air Speed	0.83 (86/87)
Fast Fall Speed	2.64 (34/87)
Special Attributes	None

Tier List Placement

Tier

A fighter with extremely hard hitting moves for taking stocks early

As the wielder of the Triforce of Power, Smash Ultimate Ganondorf demonstrates extremely high power and knockback in each of his attacks. Ganondorf can use his neutral aerial (with its low end lag), down tilt (which has decent range), and grabs / side special to damage opponents, ultimately finishing off stocks with powerful moves like forward aerial and any of his smash attacks.

While Ganondorf has access to some very powerful moves in his kit, his recovery is very poor, and being a heavyweight makes him extremely susceptible to getting comboed, so he struggles a lot against fast characters with good frame data and access to projectiles.

See Our Tier List Here!

Ganondorf's Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths	・Low endlag on N-Air ・Very large hitboxes on his attacks (especially smashes) ・Very high damage output from each attack・Can trade stocks with Side B
Weaknesses	・Very poor recovery, and easily edgeguarded ・Has very few ways of dealing with projectiles ・Gets comboed very easily ・Poor mobility overall and lackluster framedata

Ganondorf Matchup Chart

Matchup Chart

-2
-1
0
+1
+2

Notes About Matchup Chart

1. -2 = Disadvantage. -1 = Slight Disadvantage or Even. 0 = Even. +1 = Slight Advantage or Even. +2 = Advantage.
2. The matchup chart was based around both the opinions of professional players of each character, as well as our own experience through playing Ganondorf.
3. Characters within each tier are unordered
4. Pokemon Trainer's individual Pokemon (Squirtle, Ivysaur, and Charizard) as well as Echo fighters with no significant difference than their regular counterpart are not shown.
5. For other characters who are not shown here, we are still investigating the matchup.

Ganondorf Combos

Low Percent Combos
Dash Attack→Nair
Down Throw→Nair
Down Throw→Dash Attack
Bread and Butter Combos
Dash Attack→Up Air
Side Special→Down Tilt
Dair→Up Smash

Low Percent Combos

Bread and Butter Combos

Ganondorf Frame Data and Moveset

Best Out of Shield Options

Move	Frames
Neutral Air	10 Frames
Up Air	11 Frames
Shield Grab	12 Frames
Back Air	13 Frames
Up Special	14 Frames

Poor out of shield options is one of Ganondorf's big weaknesses, being unable to have a good punish for safe attacks on his shield. His quickest option is 10 frames, but it is not going to be quick enough to counter properly spaced moves. For moves that were unsafe on shield, neutral air, shield grab, or if it was very unsafe, up special will be your go-to options, although in most cases, you'll simply have to attempt to reset neutral.

Jab (Neutral Attack)

	1v1 Damage (%)	Startup Frames
Jab (A)	13.2	7

Jab

Ganondorf's jab is a single hit move that deals good damage and knockback. It has quick startup for one of Ganondorf's moves, so it can be used catch opponent landings, or as a somewhat decent get-off-me tool.

Dash Attack / Tilts

	1v1 Damage (%)	Startup Frames
Dash Attack (Dash ＋ A)	18	10
Dash Attack (Lingering)	13.2	13
Forward Tilt - Close, Far (← or → + A)	15.6/16.8	10
Up Tilt (↑ + A)	28.8/15.6	60
Up Tilt (Windboxes)	0	7
Down Tilt (↓ + A)	16.8	10

Dash Attack

Ganondorf's dash attack has a very long lasting hitbox, which makes it one of Ganonforf's main approach tools. It can cross up shields if timed correctly, but when it does not, it is easily punished.

It can combo into aerials like neutral air, and can be used react to an opponent's tech after flame choke. At higher percents, it is also a KO tool.

Forward Tilt

Ganondorf's forward tilt has good knockback, sending opponents away horizontally. At higher percents, it can reliably KO.

Up Tilt

Ganondorf's up tilt has a very long startup, but will pull in nearby opponents and deal massive damage if it lands. It can also break a full shield, which will allow for a powerful punish. Generally speaking, the moves massive startup and endlag make it not worth using at all, unless you feel extremely confident in your read.

Down Tilt

Ganondorf's down tilt has good range, even better than forward tilt. The move is mainly used as a follow up to side B, for opponents who miss the tech.

Smash Attacks

	1v1 Damage (%)	Startup Frames
Forward Smash (Smash ← or → + A）	28.8	29
Up Smash (Smash ↑ + A)	28.8	20
Down Smash Hit 1 (Smash ↓ + A)	6	15
Down Smash Hit 2	18	35

Forward Smash

Ganondorf's forward smash has an enormous hitbox and deals insane knockback. It has slow startup, and long endlag which can leave Ganondorf open to a punish. Try to get a read on your opponent's landing or movement and use this move to score an early KO.

Up Smash

Ganondorf's up smash is also very powerful, and hits above him in a 180 degree angle. It can be used to cover a ledge jump, an opponent jumping to a platform, as well as a roll. While slightly faster than forward smash, it still leaves Ganondorf open to a punish.

Down Smash

Down Smash is Ganondorf's quickest smash attack, and will hit on both sides of him, with the first hit comboing into the second one. It is an effective follow up to side special for opponents who tech behind Ganondorf.

Aerials

	1v1 Damage (%)	Startup Frames
Neutral Air Hit 1 (A + no direction while airborne)	8.4	7
Neutral Air Hit 1 - Lingering	6.3	9
Neutral Air Hit 2	14.4	17
Neutral Air Hit 2 - Lingering	10.8	19
Forward Air - Close, Far (Hold ← or → in the direction you are facing + A while airborne)	20.4/21.6	14
Back Air - Close, Far (← or → Opposite of the direction you are facing + A while airborne)	20.4/22.2	10
Up Air (↑ + A While Airborne)	15.6/14.4	8
Up Air - Lingering 1	14.4/12	11
Up Air - Lingering 2	9.6/7.2	14
Down Air (↓ + A While Airborne)	22.8/20.4	16

Neutral Air

Ganondorf's neutral air is pretty quick and has good range, making it a very important part of his kit. It is even pretty safe on shield, so in can be used for shield pressure, as a combo tool, and for edgeguarding.

Forward Air

Ganondorf's forward air is very powerful at sending opponents horizontally. Its hitbox gets slightly extended with a fast fall. Using it to hit an opponent offstage will generally lead to a KO.

Back Air

Ganondorf's back air is quick, and has very little lag. It is -4/-4 on shield, making it a great tool for pressuring shields. At higher percents, it can also be used to KO opponents.

Up Air

Ganondorf's up air is a quick attack that covers the area above his head, making it useful for juggling, and some moves will combo into it.

Down Air

Ganondorf's down air has a meteor hitbox on his feet, as well as a normal hitbox up to his chest, making it a great edgeguarding tool for spiking an opponent and getting an early KO.

Specials

	1v1 Damage (%)	Startup Frames
Neutral Special - Grounded (B)	36	70
Neutral Special - Grounded, Reversed	44.4	80
Neutral Special - Aerial	45.6	70
Neutral Special - Aerial, Reversed	48	80
Side Special - Flame Choke (← or → + B)	-	16
Side Special - Success	14.4	32
Side Special - Aerial	-	16
Side Special - Aerial, Success	18	1 (Landing)
Up Special - Dark Dive (↑ + B)	-	14
Up Special - Attack	8.4	34
Up Special Hit 1-4	2.28	4/8/12/16
Up Special Hit 5	10.8	17
Down Special - Wizard's Foot (↓ + B)	16.8/19.2	16
Down Special - Aerial	18	16
Down Special - Aerial, Lingering	16.8	19
Down Special - Aerial, Landing	9.6	2

Neutral B (Warlock Punch)

Ganondorf's neutral B is perhaps the most powerful move in the game, and becomes even more powerful when used in the air and reversed during its startup. It provides super armor so that Ganondorf will not flinch no matter what move hits him, and if landed, will usually KO an opponent or break a shield. It has extremely long startup and endlag, so it is not super useful, except for as a hard read, where Ganondorf can tank a laggy move and punish with this extremely high damaging move.

In most cases though, you will want to avoid using it.

Side Special (Flame Choke)

Ganondorf's side special is a command grab that will dash forward and grab an opponent, before slamming them to the ground. It can be followed up with down tilt, down smash, or dash attack, depending on whether the opponent misses the tech, techs in, or techs away.

If used in the air, Ganondorf will also lift the opponent before slamming them down. If used from the ledge or offstage, Ganondorf will drag the opponent with him to the blast zone, resulting in a suicidal KO. If this is done, Ganondorf always loses his stock first, so it should only be used when you have a stock lead on your opponent, or when it is a good trade (ie: Ganondorf is at KO percent and the opponent has very low %).

Up Special (Dark Dive)

Another command grab, Ganondorf jumps upward and grabs onto an opponent, before blasting off, which will allow him to use it again. It is primarily used for recovery, but can also be used as a KO option.

Down Special (Wizard's Foot)

Ganondorf's down special allows him to kick forward quickly and deal heavy damage to an opponent. If used in the air, he will come down quickly to the ground, so it is one way of getting out of disadvantage. While it is somewhat quick in startup, it has noticeably long endlag, so it is easy to punish.

Grabs and Throws

	1v1 Damage (%)	Startup Frames
Pummel	1.92	2
Grab (Normal)	-	8
Dash Grab	-	11
Pivot Grab	-	12
Forward Throw (Hitbox) (← or → While Grabbing)	6.0	11
Forward Throw (Throw)	9.6	13
Back Throw (Hitbox) (← or → While Grabbing)	6.0	12
Back Throw (Throw)	6.0	14
Up Throw (Hitbox) (↑ While Grabbing)	12	11
Up Throw (Throw)	3.6	13
Down Throw (Throw)	8.4	23

Forward Throw

Forward throw is mainly used for stage control or to put opponents offstage for an edgeguard. It can also KO at higher percents.

Back Throw

Back throw is also used for stage control or to put opponents offstage for an edgeguard. Like forward throw, it can KO at higher percents.

Down Throw

Especially at lower percents, down throw is a combo starter for many of Ganondorf's moves, so it is usually the best throw to go for, unless you are near the ledge and an opponent is at a high percent.

Up Throw

Ganondorf's up throw puts an opponent directly above him, but doesn't provide any follow-ups, and doesn't KO, so it is usually better to choose another throw.

Final Smash

Attack	How to Use	Effect
Ganon, The Demon King	Press B after obtaining the Smash Ball	Ganondorf transforms into Ganon, swipes his massive swords, and lunges forward, dealing heavy damage and knckback to all that get caught in the way.

Ganondorf Balance Changes

Version 11.0.0 Balance Patch

	Change
Up Special	Reduced endlag after hitting an opponent.

Version 7.0.0 Balance Patch

	Change
Other	Increased shield size.

Version 3.1.0 Balance Patch

	Change
Down Smash Attack	Made it easier to hit multiple times.

Version 3.0.0 Balance Patch

	Change
Other	Changed the posture when receiving damage in the air and made it easier to receive damage.

Version 2.0.0 Balance Patch

	Change
Forward Air Attack	Shortened the landing time after using the move.
Up Air Attack	Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move.

Major Changes from Smash 4

	Change
General	Slightly faster and less endlag on moves. Buff.
Up Smash (↑ + A)	Now swings a sword in a forward motion.
Forward Smash (← or → + A)	Now swings a sword in an arc above him.
Down Smash (↓ + A)	Now uses a sword to hit in front of and behind him.

How to Unlock Ganondorf

Unlocking Via Smash Mode
40th Fighter Unlocked After unlocking Snake, let 10 minutes pass OR play another battle in smash after soft-resetting OR return to the menu from World of Light
Unlocking via Classic Mode
Clear Classic Mode 4 times using Yoshi.
Unlocking via World of Light
Sacred Land / Gerudo region

There are three ways to unlock Ganondorf. Completing any of these, then defeating Ganondorf when they appear in the “a New Challenger Appears” screen will allow you to use them afterward.

How to Unlock Characters Fast

Ganondorf Alt Costumes and Skins

Ganondorf Reveal Trailer

Smash Ultimate Character Guides

List of Fighters
Tier List	Unlocking Fighters

Character Stat Lists

Character Stats
Weights of All Characters	Run Speeds of All Characters
Air Speeds of All Characters	Fast Fall Speeds of All Characters