Bayonetta is a playable character in Super Smash Brothers Plus for the Nintendo Switch Plus. Representing the Bayonetta universe, she is listed as Fighter #82 in Smash's modified numbering system, and is also classified as a Lightweight Fighter. She is hidden at the start of the game, but can be unlocked through random encounters in versus mode, or by performing a perfect shield move at least 25 times in across all characters and game modes.
Bayonetta was arguably the most difficult fighter to master in Smash Ultimate. To that end, her moveset has been streamlined in Smash Plus, while still retaining many of the elements that made her unique in past games. She retains her normal playstyle, namely stringing combos together and utilizing her impressive airgame to keep opponents off balance. However this has been given a bit of a makeover. Her unique Bat Within mechanic, for example, has more of a window on spot dodges and takes the place of a Perfect Shield for her, at the expense of absorbing 80% of damage when it activates, as opposed to half. Witch Twist and Afterburner Kick have received range buffs, but can no longer be used in conjunction with one another in midair. This all achieves to make her more accessible without overpowering her (as she was in Smash 4.) Bayonetta has two normal jumps, and can both wall jump and wall cling.
Moveset[]
Basic Attacks[]
- Special Gimmick: Bat Within- Whenever Bayonetta successfully performs a spot dodge or Perfect Shield, she will transform into a swarm of bats and move into a more advantageous spot, allowing for easy followup attacks. Doing so will nullify all knockback from the attack, but she will still take 80% of the damage that the attack would have dealt. Using Bat Within as a Perfect Shield, though, will lower this percentage to 40% instead. There is a short cooldown time (roughly 2 seconds) before Bayonetta can use Bat Within again.
- Special Gimmick: Bullet Arts- Bayonetta can extend the damage power of her attacks slightly by holding down the special or attack buttons on all of her tilt attacks, smash attacks, and aerial attacks. This will fire bullets from guns on her feet and hands, each bullet doing a minimal 0.2% of non knockback damage.
- Neutral Jab- Bayonetta performs three successive pistol whips, which then combos into a rapid jab of several pistol whips in quick succession. One of the more power neutral attacks in the game, and is able to KO from the edge at decent percentages.
- Side Tilt- Bayonetta launches into a three hit combo of kicks that link into the other, with the third kick having decent launching power.
- Up Tilt- Bayonetta flips her pistol up into the air a short distance, catching it as it falls back down. Hits opponents twice with the main move.
- Down Tilt- Bayonetta performs a low angle sweep kick that launches foes upward for further combos.
- Dash Attack- Bayonetta rushes forward a good distance with a powerful pistol whip. Travels very far.
- Grab & Pummel- Bayonetta has a short range grab with one hand. She pummels with a simple slap to the face.
- Forward Throw- Bayonetta slams the opponent onto the ground, knocking them forward for further combos.
- Back Throw- Bayonetta kicks the opponent behind herself with a roundhouse kick.
- Up Throw- Bayonetta hits an outside crescent kick, knocking opponents up at a high vertical angle.
- Down Throw- Bayonetta stomps the opponent onto the ground, potentially setting up combos, though not reliably.
- Neutral Air- Bayonetta spins around 360 degrees with her leg extended, creating a lingering hitbox with the move.
- Forward Air- Bayonetta performs a three-hit combo with two pistol whips followed by a downwards spin kick.
- Back Air- Bayonetta hits a high-angle back kick to launch foes away.
- Up Air- Bayonetta hits a midair bicycle kick, which doesn't hit twice but has decent launch power on the main hit.
- Down Air- Bayonetta pauses in midair before falling straight down with a split-legged axe-kick. Has potential of self-KO's if used to low over the blast zone.
Smash Attacks[]
- Side Smash- Bayonetta uses her Wicked Weaves magic to summon Madama Butterfly's Arm through a Umbra Witch's Circle. Bayonetta's fastest Smash Attack, but still has high endlag. The punch can be angled slightly up or down depending on directional input, altering the launch angle.
- Up Smash- Bayonetta summons Madama Butterfly's Arm from an Umbran Circle directly in front of her, causing a punch straight up into the air. Has impressive vertical range and launch power (even reaching through platforms), but also has the worst endlag of all of Bayonetta's Smash Attacks.
- Down Smash- Bayonetta summons Madama Butterfly's stiletto clad heel in front of her, causing it to stomp down. Can spike foes in midair if it is timed correctly. Like Up Smash, though, it only has range directly in front of Bayonetta, and also has the least amount of launch power of any of her Smash Attacks.
Special Moves[]
- Neutral Special: Bullet Climax- Bayonetta fires bullets from her guns, alternately from her hands and from her feet. The bullets travel at a slight angle, making them useful for edge guarding. Holding the Special Button will charge up the first 4 shots of the attack, dealing slightly more damage and flinching knockback with each shot. Unlike in previous Smash games, Bayonetta can indefinitely fire these bullets from her guns by repeatedly pressing the special button, however she is frozen in place while doing so and the shots lose power over time.
- Side Special: Heel Slide/Afterburner Kick- When used on the ground, Bayonetta will slide across the ground with a powerful dive kick to damage foes. Holding the Special Button at the end of the move will cause Bayonetta to perform a rising flip kick to knock opponents up in the air, making this move Bayonetta's primary combo starter. If used in midair she will perform the Afterburner kick, which is a forward dropkick at a slightly rising angle that has decent knockback. Afterburner Kick can be used twice in midair (with a midair jump in between them) but cannot be used in conjunction with Witch Twist.
- Up Special: Witch Twist- Bayonetta performs a spiraling corkscrew kick straight up into the air, hitting opponents multiple times and launching them on the final hit. As with previous Smash games, Witch Twist can be used twice in midair, with a midair jump in between them. However, it cannot be used in conjunction with Afterburner Kick. To counter balance this handicap, it now travels further, increasing its utility as a recovery move.
- Down Special: Witch Time- Bayonetta performs a small backflip on the ground while flashing. If she is struck by a physical attack or projectile in that time frame, then she will briefly slow down time around her (affecting the attacking player mostly) to allow for counter attacks. The window for Witch Time is small, and if the counter is successful after that window, then Bayonetta will use Bat Within instead of slowing down time. Overuse of Witch Time will cause the duration of the slowdown effect to lower.
- Final Smash: Infernal Climax- Bayonetta activates Witch Time for the whole stage, slowing all opponents down. She then has a limited time to attack opponents, stunning them in place and filling up an additional gauge. If she doesn't fill the gauge, then the opponents are simply launched after the Witch Time deactivates. If she does, then she will summon Gomorrah with her Wicked Weaves, who deals massive damage to all hit stunned players. This will either launch them as the FS ends, or automatically KO them if they have above 115% damage at the end of the Final Smash.
Miscellaneous[]
- Entry Animation- Bayonetta emerges from a swarm of bats, an Umbran Magic Circle appearing on stage as she begins to wield her guns.
- Idle Animation 1- Bayonetta waves one of her handguns towards the opponent in an inviting motion.
- Idle Animation 2- Bayonetta strikes a signature pose with her guns, winking as she does so.
- Side Taunt- Bayonetta gracefully spins around and points her guns forward saying "Now it's time to be naughty."
- Up Taunt- Bayonetta flourishes her guns while striking a pose, saying "If you need to learn how to talk to a lady, ask your mum."
- Down Taunt- Bayonetta flourishes her guns while striking a pose, turning towards the camera as light shimmers off her glasses.
- Victory Animation 1- Bayonetta dances in place, posing for the camera and asking "Miss Me Baby?"
- Victory Animation 2- Bayonetta performs a break dance, ending on a pose with her laying on the ground looking at the camera as she says "Don't make me beg."
- Victory Animation 3- Bayonetta pirouettes like a ballerina, pointing her guns at the camera and saying "You're making it easy."
How to Unlock[]
Bayonetta can be unlocked any of the following ways:
- Playing Versus Matches until she randomly shows up as a "Challenger Approaching" fight. Defeat her to unlock her.
- Successfully perform a Perfect Shield at least 25 times across all characters and game modes.
- Unlock her in the Finale of World of Light by Defeating Her.
- Pay 1,000 gold in a shop, where she can randomly appear (though rarely.)