On the beginning of this, I mostly gave an explanation of how likely it is for Sonic characters to get into the next Smash Bros game, which is a pretty narrow window compared to other game mascots.

While the Sonic franchise has been one of the fan bases that's been banging on the door with Waluigi and Geno fans for a while, at least a Sonic character has a slightly bigger chance than the two characters to get in.

I also gave a Top 5 of the main Sonic characters that could get in if Nintendo took the time with Sega to think about it.

But I believe there's one character that isn't part of the usual cast that has just a right as the main Sonic characters to be a fighter in Smash Bros. (Or at least be more than a collectable.)

And being in development since the early 2000's and debuting on a Nintendo product probably works as a bonus

I'll stop beating around the bush. The Sonic character that I think should join Sonic on Smash Bros is....

Blaze the Cat

I know it sounds completely out of left field, but let me explain.

Blaze was originally set to be in Shadow's place for Adventure 2, even her prototype design being part of what led to the dark edgelord's debut.

The cat finally got to be around once Sonic Rush came, which was also her first time being playable.

Sonic Rush and the sequel, Sonic Rush Adventure, only came on the DS and mostly the former got great reviews for being a great start to the DS lineup.

Blaze is technically among the Sonic characters that had their debut exclusively on a Nintendo device.

Cream was technically the first new Sonic character to debut on a Nintendo product, being playable on Sonic Advanced 2 for the Gameboy Advanced.

I'm not saying Cream couldn't be a Smash Bros fighter due to being a kid, because technically Ness, Lucas, Toon Link and Young Link are all examples of young children being fighters.

Unfortunately, Cream hasn't exactly risen in popularity enough to be considered an option for a Smash Bros fighter, having to contend for being a collectible while Shadow is an Assist Trophy and Knuckles gets a Mii costume and an Assist Trophy.

(I could cover how I think Cream would work in Smash Bros if you guys want it though.)

Nintendo could pull the unexpected and even make Big the Cat a fighter just to troll everyone like they did with the Piranha Plant.

The reason why I pick Blaze as the Sonic character Nintendo should pick if they're adding is because of a few reasons.

1) She's technically part of Nintendo's history with Sega and could be brought in as a reminder of the partnerships they've had in recent years.

2) She could work out as both an echo for Sonic in moves, while also having a mix of other mechanics from different fighters to make a unique fighter, which differs from Metal Sonic's moves mostly being copied from other characters.

(In my opinion, Metal Sonic would be able to copy any fighters Neutral Special like Kirby, making him the closest to the pink god's equal.)

3) She can also be the backup option if Nintendo can't find a way to replace Shadow or Knuckles' trophy abilities and if they're uncertain how to balance Tails or Silver out.

(Technically Tails and Silver would dominate the air in every stage due to Tails' ability to fly or jump longer like Kirby and Silver's ability to hover and move objects around stage like Rosalina.)

This is honestly my first time trying to come up with moves, so wish me luck on getting this.

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Fighting Style and Smash Attacks

Blaze would kind of fit in somewhere between the speedy fighters like Sonic and the more agile fighters like Zero Suit Samus and Sheik.

In Sonic Rush, she's only slightly slower than Sonic, though she makes up for it with being able to jump higher and her attacks have wider range than Sonic's ball attacks.

I'd put Blaze as 3rd fastest character on the roster, putting her right behind Captain Falcon and Sonic, just to stay true to her character as being one of the fastest in the Sonic franchise next to Sonic and Shadow.

(Though technically majority of the Sonic cast are all fast anyways.)

While being 3rd fastest sounds good, it doesn't mean Blaze will play exactly like Sonic in how you approach using her.

Her speed is going to be more of her deciding how she's going to control the battlefield by running to different parts of the stage in order to play off attacks, making her more like the military jeep of the speed units while Sonic would be more of a motorcycle kind of fighter.

While she will have a ranged attack I'll get to later in special attacks, most of her moves require her to be up close or have the opponent generally close to her, meaning she'll have to pick who she fights carefully like the melee fighters. (Unless she picks up a ranged item of course.)

She will have a max of 2 jumps, which will be in the form of fire coming out of her feet like she could in Dash.

Blaze will be most vulnerable if she's falling in midair, though not as bad as say Mewtwo and she could actually strike first against her opponent in midair if you react quickly enough, but this will only be if you haven't used a special move in the air yet.

A lot of her attacks will grant fire damage like Captain Falcon, though her attacks will have weaker launch rate than how the captain can launch fighters, meaning Blaze will be more about slowly building damage up before you go in for the ring-out.

Cat Clap (Neutral Smash): She will claw at opponent once if you just hit it once, though hitting it twice in a row will result in her other arm doing it.

Completing a combo of pressing A button multiple times ends with her kicking the opponent away.

Kindle Kick (Side Smash): Blaze will hit anyone directly next to her with a flaming kick, though it's launch rate is weaker than the Mii Brawler move Exploding Side Kick.

Charging it will give more damage, though the opponent should have at least 80% damage if you want to knock them out of bounds.

As a side note, she can also deliver a similar side kick in midair.

Fire Flip (Up Smash): Blaze delivers a flip kick that hits anyone directly in front of her or anyone landing above her.

This is ideal if the stage you're on has platforms directly above you when using it, allowing you to ambush opponents the moment they think they're safely back on stage.

The move can't be relied upon when you're in the air though, as mentioned that Blaze is most vulnerable in free fall, so you would have to be pretty good at timing midair attacks if you want to land this on someone in the air while you're up there with them.

Scorching Split (Down Smash): While on the ground, imputing this direction results in Blaze attacking from left and right by kicking in one direction while thrusting a palm in another direction.

This move is more or less if you find yourself in between two fighters trying to attack you at once and you can't jump away in time, though you should use the opportunity once you use it to get out of their way and try to focus on one fighter attacking you.

If you're in the air when you input this direction, you'll come down foot first like Sonic does.

Dash Attack: Her running attack is her spinning in a fiery twister before exiting it with a light kick.

People caught in this attack will get a similar experience to Sonic's dash attack, but with fire damage and a weaker launch rate.

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Special Moves

Sol Ball (Neutral Special): She charges up a fireball before throwing it at the fighter, the attack immediately locking onto a target.

This will function as a cross between Sonic's Homing Attack and Mario's Fireball attack.

It's not really built to be a ring-out move, only able to instantly KO opponents if their damage ranges around 150%.

The advantage between this and the Homing Attack is that you won't be exposed and up close to your opponent if you miss.

The disadvantage is that it's easier to dodge than Homing Attack.

In a way, choosing between Sonic and Blaze means you're weighing the risks of shooting yourself at opponents or just shooting a projectile at them.

Fiery Twister (Side Special): Like with Sonic's side special, you do a fast spin attack at the enemy, though Blaze's version is the flaming tornados she forms and she ends it with spin kick like how she does in Rush's cutscenes.

This move can catch one or more opponents in it's path until the attack ends.

The only downside is that you can't change directions during the dash, meaning if you zip through, you're going in that direction until you stop.

Twist Twirl (Up Special): Blaze does a twister that goes upwards and ends with her twirling in the air like she's ice skating.

If you're on the ground when doing this, she just does the attack staying in one spot, knocking back anyone that's too close.

I couldn't decide what to make the official Down Special because I didn't want it to be a repeat of Sonic's, so I'm putting two options and you guys tell me what you think.

Flame Flip (Down Special Option 1): Like Zero Suit Samus, you flip backwards the first time before pressing it a second time to dive downwards with a kick, except Blaze's version trades launch rate for fire damage.

Iblis Inferno (Down Special Option 2): This will work like Incinroar's Revenge, where you get a boost if you time against someone's attack right, though it will be slightly weaker compared to the boost Incinroar gets and Blaze's boost can be used for two attacks instead of one.

This is in reference to Sonic 06 when she became the vessel for Iblis at the end of Silver's story.

Let me know which of these fit, or if Blaze should just stick with Down Special being another twister attack.

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Grab Attacks

Upon grabbing someone with Blaze, hitting the attack button while in her hold will have her repeatedly knee the fighter over and over.

Up Throw: Blaze kicks opponent like her flip kick move, though it will only launch the fighter in her hold.

Forward Throw: Blaze punts the fighter away

Backwards Throw: Blaze spins around and throws fighter, followed by throwing a fireball at them.

Down Throw: Blaze slams the fighter onto the ground and blasts them with fire.

Sorry if these ideas don't seem as advanced, grab attacks aren't all flashy and powerful.

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Taunts

Up Taunt

Blaze does a twirls as she says, "Is that all you got?"

This is a line she says when she wins a party game in the Secret Rings game.

Side Taunt

Blaze does a flip and poses with arms crossed as she says, "You can't escape me!"

She says this line whenever she started a level in Rush.

Down Taunt

Blaze creates two fireballs in her hands, almost like a show of power.

Entrance

Blaze arrives on stage either through a burning twister or a portal formed by the Sol Emeralds.

She says, "It's time." as she enters, referring to her line whenever she starts a boss fight.

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Victory

Victory Screen 1

Blaze back flips twice before landing on her feet with a Sol Emerald in hand as she says "Never get on my bad side!"

Victory Screen 2

Blaze jumps in and grabs a Sol Emerald and holds it up while her other hand has a fireball, saying "How's that?"

Victory Screen 3

Blaze twirls and ends holding the Sol Emerald, saying "My skills are superior!"

Victory Screen 4

Blaze lights up the place in flames with a Sol Emerald in hand, ending the burning to say "My enemies always fall before me!"

She then walks away and leaves the flames behind.

(This is more or less mocking Sephiroth's victory screens.)

Usually fighters only get 3 victory screens, so you guys can pick the top 3 best.

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Alternate Costumes

Default: Her usual appearance in the games.

2) Her outfit is orange in reference to Cream being the first person she met in Dash

3) Her clothes are red in reference to Amy Rose being one of the people she met in Rush

4) Her clothes are green to refer to Marine from Rush Adventure

5) Her clothes are cyan to match Silver's psychokinesis

6) Her outfit she wears for the Summer Olympics and Rider games

7) Her outfit from the Winter Olympics

(It could also be optional for 2-5 to have her fur color match the character that wore those colors.)

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Final Smash: Burning Blaze

When Blaze activates her Final Smash, the Sol Emeralds will appear and she turns into her Burning Blaze form.

Players can repeatedly hit A button over and over to throw a series of fireball attacks from different angles on the stage

After 5-7 seconds of this, Blaze will automatically finish by appearing at the top of the stage to charge a humongous fireball and throw it the stage below.

If you have 70% damage by the time this giant fireball hits, it's instant KO for you!

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Stage: Dead Line

The main stage takes place on the platform Sonic and Blaze fought each other on during Rush.

Most of the time you'll be there, with exception to maybe a minute in when another platform comes up to take you to the next part of the stage.

Failure to get on this second platform in time will result in you dying out of bounds.

The F-Zone/Point-W is the other part of the stage, taking place on the remains of a ship falling through the atmosphere.

The Egg King will be in the background for most of the time you're there, though it won't stay that way completely.

20 seconds into your fight on the second part, the Egg King will slam it's fist on either the left, right or center of the stage, attacking the platform at random spots three times with 10 seconds between each slam.

If you're directly under the fist when it comes down, it's instant death, losing stock regardless if it's stock battle or timed.

After this, another platform will come up for you to get on and move back to the beginning of the stage.

As like the rest of the stages, it will have a battlefield version and flat version.

With Blaze getting a stage, she'll introduce some stage music from the Rush games to add to the Sonic playlist.

-Vela Nova (this will be the default number for Blaze's stage.)

-Right There, Right On

-Bomber Barbara

-Wrapped in Black (also with a Remix with the Boss theme from Rush Adventures while we're at it.)

I'm limiting it to those additions, though if one of those should be replaced with another score from the Rush games, let me know.

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That's my take on Blaze, the only non main cast character that I think has a better shot if Shadow, Silver and Cream get rejected.

I know since this is my first time building up data on something, there's bound to be TONS of flaws that Smash Bros experts will point out about how I set up the character.

Heck, Amy, Knuckles and Eggman all have bigger chances than Blaze to get picked.

I guess I forgot to mention another reason why I picked Blaze is because all of the main Sonic characters that originated from the Classic games, as well as Shadow, have all been analyzed on how they would work in Smash Bros.

I chose Blaze basically to approach a design from scratch, though I can cover the other characters if everyone wants me to.

Though remember I picked her as the character that, in my opinion, Nintendo should ask for if they want something outside of the Classic options.

I'll be covering two more candidates for that other slot, both of them part of the Sonic universe in a technicality.

For now, I'll see you guys later! Bye!