The 2024 Pac-Man Matchup Chart: Unmasking The Arcade Legend's Secret To Smash Ultimate Dominance

The competitive landscape of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (SSBU) is constantly evolving, and as of late 2024, Pac-Man has cemented his position as one of the game's most complex and strategically rewarding characters. The "Pac-Man Matchup Chart" is not a simple list of wins and losses; it’s a deep dive into the character's unique zoning and defensive capabilities, heavily influenced by the mastery of his special moves. Understanding this chart is critical for any player looking to climb the ranks, as the arcade legend sits comfortably in the A-Tier, proving his viability at the highest level of competitive play thanks to dedicated mains like the world-renowned Tea.

This comprehensive guide breaks down Pac-Man's current meta standing, detailing the characters he dominates, the foes he struggles against, and the essential *Bonus Fruit* strategies that dictate his success in nearly every matchup. The information presented here is current, reflecting the consensus of top-level players and the results from recent major tournaments like Litvitational 3 and LMBM 2024.

Pac-Man's Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Competitive Profile

Pac-Man's appearance in *Super Smash Bros. Ultimate* (SSBU) is a faithful, yet highly technical, representation of the classic arcade character. His moveset centers around a unique set of projectiles and defensive tools that make him a formidable zoner with exceptional recovery.

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• Full Name: Pac-Man (stylized as PAC-MAN in-game)
• Game Origin: *Pac-Man* (1980)
• SSBU Debut: *Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U* (SSB4)
• Current Tier Placement (2024 Consensus): A-Tier / High Tier (Often ranked around 35th out of 82 characters)
• Key Competitive Players: Tea (Japan), Sinji (USA), EKING (USA)
• Defining Mechanic: *Bonus Fruit* (Neutral Special) and *Fire Hydrant* (Side Special)
• Strengths: Unrivaled recovery, versatile zoning, strong defensive play, high KO potential with *Bell* combos.
• Weaknesses: Below-average mobility, reliance on item management, difficulty securing KOs without *Bell* or *Forward Smash*.

Pac-Man’s strength lies in his ability to control the stage. His *Fire Hydrant* is a powerful defensive wall and a source of damage, while the eight projectiles of his *Bonus Fruit* allow him to adapt to any situation. The key to his matchups is maximizing the utility of these items, especially the *Bell*, which is used for devastating kill confirms and shield pressure.

The A-Tier Advantage: Pac-Man's Best Matchups (The Wins)

Pac-Man excels against characters who struggle with projectile pressure or who lack the tools to safely approach his defensive setup. His ability to wall out opponents and force them to play his game makes him a nightmare for many popular picks.

Zoners and Projectile Spammers (The Mirror Matchups)

Surprisingly, Pac-Man often thrives in projectile-heavy matchups. His *Bonus Fruit* projectiles are so versatile and often high-priority that they can effectively dismantle other zoners' strategies.

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• Samus / Dark Samus: Pac-Man's projectiles, particularly the *Key* and the *Galaxian*, can often overwhelm the Samus duo's Charge Shot and Missiles. The *Fire Hydrant* acts as a solid shield against their zoning, forcing them to approach, which is where Pac-Man’s strong normals can shine.
• Mii Gunner / Mega Man: Similar to Samus, these characters rely on predictable projectiles. Pac-Man can use the *Cherry* or *Strawberry* for quick, low-commitment answers, and the *Bell* is a constant threat that forces them to respect his space.

Feeder Characters (Struggles Against Zoning)

Characters who rely on close-range pressure or who have difficulty dealing with constant stage control often fall victim to the Pac-Man maze.

• Peach / Daisy: The Princesses of the Mushroom Kingdom struggle significantly against strong zoners. Pac-Man's ability to maintain distance with *Hydrant* and *Fruit* prevents them from utilizing their powerful float-cancel aerials and turnip-pulling game.
• Captain Falcon / Ganondorf: Fast-fallers and heavyweights with linear recovery and limited projectile answers are easily gimped by Pac-Man. A well-placed *Key* or *Apple* off-stage can spell an early KO, and the constant pressure prevents them from setting up their powerful burst combos.

The Maze's End: Pac-Man's Worst Matchups (The Struggles)

Pac-Man's biggest weaknesses emerge against characters who can quickly bypass his defensive walls, punish his item-tossing animations, or simply out-range his core moves. These are the matchups that require the most adaptation and precision from the Pac-Man player.

Anti-Zoning Specialists and Item-Haters

Some characters possess unique mechanics that directly counter Pac-Man's core strategy, making them significant threats.

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• Hero: This is a notoriously difficult matchup. Hero's *Bounce* (Neutral-B) reflects all of Pac-Man's projectiles, including the high-priority *Key* and *Bell*. Furthermore, Hero's *Command Selection* can provide options like *Kaclang* to stall or *Sizzle/Kafrizz* to pressure the *Hydrant*, effectively shutting down Pac-Man's entire game plan.
• Mr. Game & Watch: Game & Watch's *Bucket* (Down-B) can absorb Pac-Man's projectiles, charging a powerful counter-attack that can often KO the arcade hero at early percents. This forces Pac-Man to rely on his less-optimized aerials and tilts.

High-Burst, Close-Range Brawlers

Characters with exceptional mobility and high-damage, fast-execution combos can often pressure Pac-Man before he can set up his items.

• Kazuya: The Tekken powerhouse is a major threat. Kazuya's ability to quickly close the distance and execute deadly combos like the *Electric Wind God Fist* (EWGF) can overwhelm Pac-Man’s defensive options. Pac-Man players like EKING must rely on perfect spacing and camping to avoid Kazuya's punishing pressure.
• Cloud Strife / Roy: Sword characters with exceptional reach and fast aerials can challenge the *Fire Hydrant* and interrupt *Bonus Fruit* charging. Cloud's range and Roy’s close-range damage output force Pac-Man to play a riskier, more aggressive game, which is outside his comfort zone.
• Ridley: As a large character with excellent midrange tools and burst options, Ridley can easily out-range Pac-Man's normals. A key strategy against Pac-Man is using moves like Ridley's *Up Air* to beat the *Hydrant Drop*, neutralizing a major defensive tool.

Mastering the Pac-Man Meta: Key Matchup Strategies

Success with Pac-Man is less about raw power and more about item management and stage control. Top players like Tea and Sinji consistently demonstrate mastery over these key entities to swing neutral and secure KOs.

The Art of the Bonus Fruit Strategy

The *Bonus Fruit* is Pac-Man's most complex and vital move. Understanding which fruit to use in which matchup is essential for topical authority.

• Cherry / Strawberry: Used for quick, low-damage, low-commitment pressure. Excellent for interrupting fast characters or forcing a shield.
• Orange / Apple: Mid-range, bouncing projectiles. Crucial for extending combos and setting up the *Fire Hydrant*. The Orange is often used to bounce off the *Hydrant* for complex setups.
• Galaxian / Bell: The high-value items. The *Galaxian* is a multi-hit projectile that can interrupt recoveries or set up edge-guards. The *Bell* is the most important, as its stun property is the primary way Pac-Man secures high-percent KOs, often leading into a *Forward Smash* or *Up Smash*.
• Key: A fast, powerful, and linear projectile. It is Pac-Man’s best answer to other zoners and is a highly effective kill move at the edge.

Fire Hydrant (Side Special) Usage

The *Fire Hydrant* is a defensive shield and a stage-control tool. In favorable matchups, it’s placed aggressively to force an approach. In unfavorable matchups, like against Kazuya or Roy, it’s used defensively to create space and cover Pac-Man’s retreat while charging a *Bonus Fruit*.

The key is to use the water blast from the *Hydrant* to push opponents away, or to strategically drop the *Hydrant* mid-air (*Hydrant Drop*) to cover a landing or create a damaging hit-box. Mastering the synergy between the *Hydrant* and the bouncing *Bonus Fruit* items is the hallmark of a high-level Pac-Man player.

The Bell Kill Confirm

The Bell is the ultimate game-changer in any matchup. Pac-Man's difficulty in killing is often cited, but the *Bell* neutralizes this weakness. The strategy involves: 1) Charging the *Bell* (the seventh fruit). 2) Throwing the *Bell* to stun the opponent. 3) Following up immediately with a high-damage, high-knockback move like *Forward Smash* or *Up Smash* for the KO. This simple yet effective kill confirm is what keeps Pac-Man relevant in the current meta and is the primary answer to characters with high survivability.