Roy (Fire Emblem)

Roy is a fifteen-year old swordsman from the Fire Emblem series, who made his debut in the crossover game, Super Smash Bros. Melee. His inclusion in Super Smash Bros. Melee was to promote and advertise his upcoming appearance in the Japan-only game, Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade. Since then, he has made subsequent minor appearances in other Fire Emblem games.

Though Roy did not reappear for the subsequent Super Smash Bros. Brawl, he will be making his return to the Smash Bros. series in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U as a DLC character. He is the third Melee character absent from Brawl to return for the fourth game, after Dr. Mario and Mewtwo.

Super Smash Bros. Melee


Roy is an unlockable character in Super Smash Bros. Melee, unlocked by beating Classic or Adventure Mode as Marth and then beating Roy. Roy has a moveset similar to Marth's. However, Roy's attacks are strongest at the center of his blade, unlike Marth's. In general, Marth's tipped attacks are stronger than Roy's center-hits, but the center of Roy's sword is larger. Additionally, Roy has the worst aerial game among all the fighters in Super Smash Bros. Melee.

Flare Blade
Flare Blade is Roy's most powerful attack. The attack is executed by pressing the B Button by itself. Once done, Roy will hold his sword behind his neck, and start charging up the attack. Charging is not necessary, but it does make the attack stronger. Once it hits the foe, it will damage and burn them. If charged enough, it can even instantly KO an opponent. Flare Blade is a stronger version of Marth's Shield Breaker. If charged to the max (there is a limit to how much the attack can be charged), Roy will instantly let loose the attack, but the power of the attack will inflict up to 10% damage on him, which is something that Shield Breaker does not do. Kirby is also able to use Flare Blade if he Swallows Roy. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Ike uses Eruption, a move that is very similar to Roy's Flare Blade. It is based on the Sword of Seals/Binding Blade.

Double-Edge Dance


Double-Edge Dance is Roy's Side + B move, and is a very unique move. It can be combined with another of Roy's attacks, to make a combo attack. Roy will thrust his sword forward, to act as a long-range move. But, another one of Roy's attacks can be used the instant he finishes up. Roy will be able to do this up to four times in one combo, devastating the opponent in the process. However, the timing must be spot on, as rushing the attacks will result in just a weak sword slash. It is a more powerful version of Marth's Dancing Blade attack, except that it expels fire with the third attack angled downwards, and the fourth attack.

One of the attacks that Roy uses with this move has Meteor Smash properties, which is the third attack when it is angled upwards.

Roy will change colors once he uses this attack. The exact same happens to Marth when he uses Dancing Blade.

Blazer


Blazer is executed by tilting the Control Stick up, and then pressing the B Button. Once done, Roy will jump up high, with his sword facing upwards, and burn anyone that comes in contact with him. Although not incredibly powerful, the attack can help Roy get back up to the stage after he falls off, making it a recovery attack. Unlike Marth's attack Dolphin Slash, this attack's set knockback, however, prevents this from being an effective KO move. Roy will be put into a helpless state once this move ends.

Counter


Counter is a special attack that can be used by both Marth and Roy in Super Smash Bros. Melee, as well as a special move in Super Smash Bros. Brawl used by Marth and Ike. The attack is performed by tilting the Control Stick downwards, and then pressing the B Button. Marth, Roy, or Ike will crouch down, and hold his sword at the side of their head. Once an opponent comes to attack, that opponent's attack will miss, and Marth, Roy, or Ike will automatically attack the foe. The attack must be used quickly, as it will not work if it is kept out for too long. This is the main reason the attack is hard to master, let alone use. However, the attack is very useful once done right.

Roy's Counter is very different from Marth's, as when Roy blocks an attack, he will counter with an attack that inflicts 1.5x the damage he would have taken from the blocked attack; for one example, if Roy blocks an attack that would have inflicted 14% damage to him, he will deliver an attack that inflicts 21% damage to the opponent. Also, Roy's Counter lasts for a shorter time period than Marth's Counter, making it harder to use properly. This move, like the Blazer, is imbued with fire.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Though Marth remained a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Roy did not. As mentioned previously, this is because Roy was added in Super Smash Bros. Melee as an advertisement to his game. However, Roy did appear as a collectible Sticker. Data for Roy was found, confirming that he was, at one point during development, supposed to be given a role other than a sticker.

Trivia

 * Super Smash Bros. Melee was Roy's first appearance in any Nintendo game. He would later star in the Japan-only game Fire Emblem: Fūin no Tsurugi (titled Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade in Super Smash Bros. Brawl). His appearance in Super Smash Bros. Melee was advertising for his later appearance in said game. Additionally, Roy only speaks Japanese in all versions of the game, which he was voiced by Jun Fukuyama. Roy along with Marth was originally going to appear only in the Japanese version of Super Smash Bros. Melee, but Nintendo of America stated to keep them in the game.
 * In Super Smash Bros. Melee's Classic Mode, Roy never appears as a CPU player at all.
 * In Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, one of Marth's colour changes resembles Roy.