Saturday, May 29, 2021

Dark Pit (Kid Icarus) – DEATH BATTLE! Analysis

Note: This analysis of Dark Pit will mainly focus on his appearance in Kid Icarus: Uprising, while also considering the previous games in the series and other shorts for scaling. Equipment, abilities, and additional lore for the original games from the Super Smash Bros. series will also be included, partly due to both Uprising and Smash being developed by Masahiro Sakurai. Viridi’s assistance will be a part of his repertoire, due to Dark Pit currently working for her. This is essentially a situation similar to Pit and Palutena. However, this only includes Viridi’s powers that affect or are used by Dark Pit himself, so her own arsenal and abilities such as the Forces of Nature and Reset Bombs won’t be included. Also, while this analysis only features one weapon of each type in Dark Pit’s arsenal, there are many more he can use with variations to them. While they won’t be mentioned, a link to the list of said weapon types will be provided. Each weapon chosen is from either his in-game encounters, Super Smash Bros., or idols, with a priority being taken for the former two.


Background

While on his mission to defeat the Goddess of Darkness, Medusa, the captain of Palutena’s guard, Pit, was sent out to defeat the Goddess of Calamity, Pandora, and destroy the Mirror of Truth. This mirror possessed the power to duplicate anything that stood in front of it, and Pandora used this to create troops for Medusa’s Underworld Army, which would obviously be a lot of trouble for the Goddess of Light and her lone angel.


After confronting Pandora, Pit fought the Goddess and seemingly made her give up. Pandora gave the angel exactly what he was looking for. However, this was a trap by her, as right before Pit destroyed the mirror, it created a dark copy of the angel. This new black-winged foe was named Dark Pit, but you can call him Pittoo.


Dark Pit is the physical manifestation of Pit’s dark side, and shows this by being more rude, serious, and arrogant than his light counterpart. Besides that, he isn’t necessarily evil. There is a reason for this. Normally, the Mirror of Truth would turn any copy into a villainous counterpart, but as Pit shattered it, Dark Pit’s cloning process wasn’t complete, so he’s more rogue if anything. Due to this, after his creation, he turned on Pandora and absorbed her powers upon her defeat for his own use. Dark Pit acts on his own accord, and mostly wants to defeat Pit to prove he is the better angel. His personality is so opposite of his counterpart that the only person he trusts is himself, unlike Pit’s undying loyalty to Palutena.


Despite this, the angels are two sides of the same coin, so if Pit dies, so does Dark Pit. Even if he didn’t want to, Dark Pit has helped his rival many times, even at the cost of losing Pandora’s powers in order to save Pit’s life. This team up was all so that Pit could take down the true mastermind behind everything: Hades, the Lord of the Underworld. After Hades’s defeat, he decided to work for the Goddess of Nature, Viridi, due to their interests lining up with one another in wanting to defeat Pit, since they both kind of got interrupted in doing so when the Underworld Army was running amok. All in all, Dark Pit is someone who wants to prove he’s the strongest there is, especially to his lighthearted original.


More Info

  • Age: 3 (Physically 13)

  • Height: 5’3” | 160.0 cm

  • Manifestation of Pit’s dark side

  • Works as an officer for Viridi, Goddess of Nature

  • Also goes by Pittoo, much to his chagrin

    • Sometimes Ptooey

  • Was designed based on Pit’s dark costume in Super Smash Bros. Brawl


Equipment

Silver Bow

This bow is a prototype version of the Palutena Bow that Pit is known for and is Dark Pit’s main weapon of choice. It can shoot rapid-fire or charged energy arrows that are at their strongest when at close range, getting weaker the further they travel. The arrows home in on enemies and travel incredibly far. Besides normal shots, Dark Pit can also send out large arrows that pierce through targets or slower ones that arc via his own will. Also, like the Palutena Bow, the Silver Bow is made up of two blades that can be detached from each other for melee combat, letting him perform various slashing or stabbing attacks. When separated, Dark Pit holds one blade regularly and the other in a reverse grip, which lets him easily switch from melee to ranged combat on the fly. When together, he can still spin the bow to slash others in that way. Lastly, related to all types of weapons, these can have various types of weapon modifiers that are different even between two of the same weapons.


Dark Pit Staff

Dark Pit’s signature staff that was created alongside him from the Mirror of Truth. This weapon is capable of firing off very fast energy projectiles that get stronger the farther they travel, which can make its charged shots incredibly powerful if from far away. The rapid-fire from it is also pretty potent in its own right, although its attacks don’t go as far as other staffs. It can also shoot a beam that pierces through enemies and obstacles. This all together makes it a great sniping weapon. However, it being more of a ranged weapon means that its melee prowess is very lacking, as all it can really do is deliver very weak bashes. It also makes Dark Pit slower than usual when wielding it on the ground.


Electroshock Arm

A weapon called an arm that covers Dark Pit’s entire forearm. This one is imbued with electricity, allowing it to fire spark projectiles. The charged shots might be slow, but they’re powerful electrical balls that home in on targets and expand a bit on impact. This weapon’s melee attacks can send enemies flying upon finishing a combo or landing a dash attack. The dash attack itself can deflect projectiles and be used in two other ways. The first way lets Dark Pit counter enemies who approach him with a slightly stronger uppercut while he stays in place while the other lets him dash forward in a burst of speed to hit the enemy with a weaker uppercut and not lose momentum even after hitting them. All of the Electroshock Arm’s attacks can inflict paralysis on whatever Dark Pit hits with it, making it so enemies can barely move and tire out faster.


Guardian Orbitars

Twin weapons called orbitars that float to either side of Dark Pit, allowing him to shoot twice the amount of projectiles than other weapon types. These ones specialize in defense, as their charged shots create giant shields forward that block attacks and projectiles while simultaneously dealing damage to enemies. Dark Pit can also use these to form two smaller shields in front and behind him that reflect projectiles and push enemies away. However, if an attack or projectile is too strong, the shield will break. These types of barriers have two variations as well. The first type hurts enemies at the cost of not being able to reflect or block attacks while the others boosts the power of reflected projectiles while also being more fragile. They can rapid-fire small projectiles, which go through the barriers it creates so Dark Pit can attack while protected. However, their melee attacks, where he swings them around, are pitifully weak.


First Blade

A very all-around blade weapon. Dark Pit can use this to slash at enemies or shoot rapid-fire and charged energy shots, as well as thin beams and orbs. None of its attacks are too strong or too weak, making it the perfect weapon for beginners. While its projectiles do get weaker the further they travel, its melee dashing slash is notably its strong attack.


Violet Palm

A tattoo-like weapon called a palm that Dark Pit wears on his palm and arm. Palms harness the user’s life energy, which allow them to fire off energy projectiles that home in on enemies better than every other weapon type. This one is average overall, possessing rapid-fire shots that are fast and reliable, with its charged shot homing the best out of its attacks. Despite its looks, it's even not the worst for melee attacks with Dark Pit striking enemies with his hand. However, the range the projectiles have is average at best and its shots are able to be cancelled out by opposing projectiles rather easily.


EZ Cannon

A giant cannon that contains a lot of energy. It can fire powerful bouncing cannonballs that home in on enemies, which explode upon contact. Though, this specific cannon doesn’t home as well as others. Certain dash shots make the cannonballs fly forward instead. It’s also not bad at doing melee attacks via bashing with it, with the final hit causing a fiery explosion. Its dash attack being its all around strongest attack. Besides that, this weapon is a very balanced one for its type. However, being such a large cannon makes it so Dark Pit’s movement on the ground becomes slower while carrying it. They also cause minor self-damage due to recoil.


Ogre Club

A club that outclasses every other weapon in Dark Pit’s arsenal when it comes to sheer melee power. In fact, this one in particular is the strongest type of club, which makes its melee attacks deal ludicrous damage. While it’s balanced out by its lack of rapid-fire projectiles, its charged shots launch large energy balls that get stronger the farther they travel. However, wielding this causes Dark Pit’s movement to slow down when fighting on the ground, and its melee attacks and charged shots share that same slow trait with long wind ups to them. Finally, clubs can even deflect projectile attacks with their swings.


Pandora Claws

A pair of claws that grant Dark Pit the quickest movement and attack speed compared to other weapon types. With these, he can perform a quick five-hit combo with four fiery slashes and a kick, where the third strike, the kick, knocks enemies into the air. These particular claws are based on Pandora’s spirit form and are imbued with fire, allowing Dark Pit to form fiery blockades that match Pandora’s image, being useful for shielding attacks while burning enemies who touch it. It’s this weapon’s most powerful attack if all the hits connect, which can be set up for perfectly with the aforementioned third strike, making enemies fall back down into it once created. However, its other pyrokinetic projectile attacks, being massive or small homing fireballs and pins of flames, while also strong and fast, become weaker the further they travel. This makes these claws more of a close-ranged weapon.


Items

A variety of tools that Dark Pit can use in battle, each with their own effects. Viridi can summon these by him to aid him, and there are three types of items. Items that aren’t employed automatically are carried around his waist until ready to be used. The following is a list of all the items Dark Pit can use:



Drink of the Gods

A healing drink that Viridi can summon close to Dark Pit in order to aid him. It restores all of his health, gets rid of any status ailments, and brings him back from the brink of death. Viridi can also summon various types of food or floating Recovery Orbs, but these don't heal as much, nor do they have the other benefits that this drink possesses.


Powers & Abilities

Power of Flight

While Dark Pit can’t fly on his own, Viridi is able to grant him the ability of flight. While in flight, Dark Pit’s damage output and firing rate for his weapons are boosted. Viridi also controls Dark Pit’s flight path to allow him to focus on fighting. However, he can only fly for up to five minutes, though it can be turned off early and later back on if Dark Pit wants to fight on the ground briefly. If he exceeds that limit though, his wings will catch fire and burn off, which can leave him vulnerable and at the verge of death. Although, the Power of Flight can be used in short bursts to lessen the risk of running out of time. This short burst can be used in two other ways. The first way lets Dark Pit hit enemies as he flies upward at a more limited angle, while the second way lets him create a whirlwind that pushes enemies away as he flies up at a lower height. While flying, Dark Pit can also perform a charging tackle, spin to dodge or reflect projectiles, or simply glide around to avoid attacks more easily than if he was attacking.


Powers

Powers are blessings that Viridi can grant to Dark Pit. To be more specific, Dark Pit carries around these abilities and can use them whenever he wants. There are a lot that he can choose from, but he can only carry and use so many at once. The following is a list of all the powers Dark Pit can use:


  • Sky Jump: Makes Dark Pit jump high into the air.

  • Jump Glide: Makes Dark Pit jump into the air before gliding slowly back down.

  • Rocket Jump: Makes Dark Pit jump and causes an explosion beneath him that hurts enemies.

  • Angelic Missile: Launches Dark Pit forward like a missile that hurts any enemies who get in the way.

  • Super Speed: Increases Dark Pit’s speed so much that he can hurt enemies by running into them.

  • Warp: Teleports Dark Pit to another location.

  • Idol Transformation: Shoots a projectile that transforms a weakened enemy into an Idol.

  • Mega Laser: Fires off a massive continuous laser.

  • Explosive Flame: Sets off a large explosion that burns enemies.

  • Black Hole: Creates a black hole that sucks in enemies, which hurts them and keeps them in the center of it, making them unable to move for a while.

  • Meteor Shower: Calls upon multiple shooting stars from the sky that land on enemies.

  • Land Mine: Plants an invisible bomb into that ground that explodes when an enemy steps on it.

  • Reflect Barrier: Creates a barrier in front of Dark Pit that reflects enemy projectiles and pushes enemies back, but if the projectile is strong enough, it will break it. Dark Pit’s own projectiles go right through it.

  • Heavenly Light: Unleashes a light around Dark Pit that continuously hurts enemies.

  • Spite: Converts all of Dark Pit’s remaining health into a power explosion.

  • Autoreticle: Makes Dark Pit target enemies automatically when attacking.

  • Weak-Point Reticle: Makes Dark Pit target enemies’ weak spots automatically when attacking.

  • Quick Charge: Charges up charged shots immediately.

  • Homing Boost: Improves the homing ability of fired shots.

  • Slip Shot: Makes fired shots pass through walls.

  • Invisible Shots: Makes fired shots invisible.

  • Random Effect: Adds a random effect power to Dark Pit’s attacks.

  • Poison Attack: Poisons enemies when Dark Pit hits them.

  • Paralyze Attack: Paralyzes enemies when Dark Pit hits them.

  • Weaken Attack: Weakens enemies when Dark Pit hits them, which halves their maximum health.

  • Petrify Attack: Petrifies enemies when Dark Pit hits them.

  • Shake Attack: Shakes enemies up so that it’s harder for them to aim when Dark Pit hits them.

  • Confuse Attack: Confuses enemies when Dark Pit hits them.

  • Burn Attack: Burns enemies when Dark Pit hits them.

  • Freeze Attack: Freezes enemies when Dark Pit hits them.

  • Instant Death Attack: Instantly kills enemies sometimes when Dark Pit hits them.

  • Spin Attack: Spins enemies around so that their orientation is off when Dark Pit hits them.

  • Eggplant Attack: Turns enemies into an eggplant when Dark Pit hits them.

  • Tempura Attack: Turns enemies into a tempura when Dark Pit hits them.

  • Power Thief: Can steal enemies’ unused powers when they’re hit by a melee attack.

  • Energy Charge: Builds up energy and increases the power of Dark Pit’s attacks, but it will be nullified if he takes damage.

  • Libra Sponge: Uses attacks Dark Pit receives to increase the power of his own attacks.

  • Darkness: Blinds enemies in darkness.

  • Interference: Plants a beacon that prevents enemies from using powers or seeing Dark Pit’s stats.

  • Virus: Weakens and paralyzes nearby enemies.

  • Super Armor: Increases defensive strength and prevents Dark Pit from getting knocked back by attacks.

  • Brief Invincibility: Protects Dark Pit from all damage for a short while.

  • Tirelessness: Allows Dark Pit to run continuously without getting tired.

  • Lightweight: Increases speed and prevents tiring out, but Dark Pit will take more damage when hit.

  • Trade-off: Uses almost all of Dark Pit’s health to increase all attributes, which lasts as long depending on how much health was given up.

  • Aries Armor: Reduces damage received while also preventing status ailments and knockback from attacks.

  • Bumblebee: Automatically makes Dark Pit dodge all attacks by making him vanish and circle around enemies in an instant.

  • Counter: Avoids getting knocked back and automatically counterattacks when hit by enemies.

  • Transparency: Turns Dark Pit invisible.

  • Playing Dead: Fools enemies into thinking Dark Pit is dead by making him invisible, which also allows him to pass through them.

  • Heart Booster: Increases the amount of hearts gained after an enemy is killed.

  • Health Recovery: Slowly restores Dark Pit’s health, but it will stop if he gets hit while it’s active.

  • Crisis Recovery: Recovers Dark Pit from the brink of death.

  • Effect Recovery: Gets rid of any status ailment Dark Pit has.

  • Pisces Heal: Heals Dark Pit by taking attacks that would normally kill him.

  • Item Vacuum: Draws in items toward Dark Pit.

  • Throwing Boost: Increases the throwing distance and homing ability of items Dark Pit throws.

  • Double Item: Doubles the effects of items acquired by Dark Pit.

  • Fortune’s Jukebox: Changes the music playing to a different one at random.

  • Celestial Firework: Creates a firework that damages enemies and briefly makes Dark Pit invincible.

  • Random: Activates a random power that even Dark Pit and Viridi don’t know what it will be until it’s used.


Special Attacks

Special Attacks are powerful abilities Dark Pit can use with any weapon type, with the effects changing depending on said weapon. They hit super widespread, and they also wipe out enemy fire. The following is a list of all the types of Special Moves Dark Pit can use depending on his weapon type:



Viridi’s Assistance

With the Goddess of Nature supporting him, Dark Pit has plenty of help as he fights by himself. Besides the Power of Flight, powers, and summoning items for him to use, Viridi can also communicate with Dark Pit and give him advice via telepathy, watch over him with clairvoyance, create doors in the sky for him to fly out of at the start of missions, teleport him back to her domain, sense the energy of others to alert Dark Pit, set up long grind rails for him to ride on, even upside down, summon forcefields, set up Electro Traps that keep the Chaos Kin stuck in a cage of electricity, revert transmutation, conjure up hot springs that heal divine beings, read fortunes to others, place floating arrows to guide others in the right direction, or revive Dark Pit should he fall in battle.


Feats

Strength & Attack Potency


Speed


Durability


Scaling


Training & Experience


Weaknesses

Dark Pit is pretty arrogant in his own abilities, to the point where he is reluctant to receive assistance from others. Even when accepting help from Viridi, the Power of Flight can only last five minutes, or else his wings will burn off, which will leave him knocked out and very close to dying. This might even mean in general that if his wings are destroyed, he could die. Also, Dark Pit can only carry and use so many powers blessed to him by her at once. He is also pretty reckless and can overdo himself. Lastly, his connection with Pit is so great that if almost anything bad happens to Pit, such as being transmuted or killed, Dark Pit will experience a similar fate.


Summary

Advantages

  • Possesses a variety of weapons that are all useful for both close and midrange combat, some of which also control elements or can be used defensively

  • Has a variety of different items and powers that can let him inflict status effects, deal immense damage from things from explosions to lasers, transmute enemies, control the flow of battle, place traps, turn himself or his projectiles invisible, change the music, and much more

  • Can heal via the Drink of the Gods or from powers

  • Has great mobility thanks to the Power of Flight and certain powers

  • Certain powers and Special Attacks have great area of effect

  • Viridi all around is a great assistance to him, as she can offer him insight on what to do and use her own abilities to summon items or other objects, create forcefields, revert transmutation, revive him if he falls in battle, and more


Disadvantages

  • Is overconfident in his own abilities, having refused help from others in the past

  • The Power of Flight can only last for five minutes before they cause his wings to burn off

  • His wings being destroyed in general may put him in a near-death state

  • Can only carry and use so many powers at once

  • Is reckless and can overdo himself in certain situations

  • If something bad were to happen to Pit, such as transmutation or death, he will experience a similar fate

  • “No, Pittoo. As in Pit Two. As in Dark Pit. Pretty great nickname I came up with, huh?” - Palutena
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