Duck Hunt is a playable character in Super Smash Bros. 4 and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. The Super Smash Bros. series Duck Hunt amiibo was released on September 25, 2015 as part of Wave 6.
In Super Smash Bros. 4
Duck Hunt is placed in the C+ tier in Super Smash Bros. 4. Duck Hunt’s most notable strength is their excellent special moves; Trick Shot spawns a tin can that explodes on contact while Clay Shooting fires a versatile long-distanced projectile. In addition to an excellent ranged game, Duck Hunt also has a solid recovery, a good jab, and a useful set of tilts.
However, Duck Hunt suffers from a wide range of flaws. The AI almost always jumps before using Trick Shot, which quickly becomes predictable and exposes the character to incoming attacks. The AI jumps too often in general and throws in a mistimed neutral or forward aerial to break the silence. Duck Hunt also struggles to KO their opponents, as their forward, up, and down smashes tend to whiff and inflict minimal damage.
Overall, Duck Hunt has accrued below average tournament results and representation. Its problems KOing have resulted in many lost matches; as a result, Duck Hunt never won a standard competition throughout Smash 4’s lifespan.
If you would like to read the Super Smash Bros. 4 Duck Hunt amiibo training guide, please refer to this post.
In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Duck Hunt was buffed for their appearance in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. As with all fighters, their mobility has been enhanced, helping them to more easily create distance. Their smash attacks now have set knockback on the first two hits, allowing them to connect more reliably; this partially alleviates their issues KOing from the previous title. Furthermore, Trick Shot, Clay Shooting, and Wild Gunman have less ending lag and increased utility.
Unfortunately, Duck Hunt have seen a few nerfs; for one, their weight has been decreased from Smash 4, making them more susceptible to powerful attacks from the likes of Bowser and King K. Rool. Their neutral aerial also deals less damage and has less KO potential.
Overall, Duck Hunt is thought to have improved during the transition from 4 to Ultimate, but its tournament results and representation remain well below average. The character is notoriously underused in competitions; thus, their true potential has yet to be seen.
If you would like to read the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Duck Hunt amiibo training guide, please refer to this post. If you would like to return to the amiibo Wiki, please follow this link to return to its master list.