Samurai Jack

Samurai Jack is a prince from feudal Japan who was cast into a time portal by Aku. He comes equipped with a magical katana from the three gods Ra, Rama, and Odin.

Overview
In Cartoon Network Punch Time Explosion XL, Samurai Jack is an unlockable character who is either unlocked by completing Samurai Jack 1 in the story or by winning 33 matches. His in game bio states him as a powerful striker thanks to his magical sword. Thanks to this sword he obviously has many disjointed hitboxes. Combined with his power, quick movements, and strong combo potential rivaling Numbuh One's, Samurai Jack is not a force to be underestimated.

Pros

 * One of the fastest characters in the game
 * Disjointed attacks with sword
 * One of the earliest kill moves in the game, with side knockout and neutral signature
 * Counter-attack option; can nullify many Punch Time Explosions
 * Punch Time Explosion gives 1.5x damage buff

Cons

 * No projectile
 * Can't counter laser attacks from Vilgax and Aku
 * Punch Time Explosion can be hard to land

Samurai Jack is a fast character that can rack up damage very quickly. All of his aerials aid in combos and can catch opponents offstage. His side signature is a good option as a combo starter due to sheating the sword creating a second hitbox. His side signature also allows him to close space and attack quickly, giving little time for most characters to react. In addition it is also a good evasive tool.

His up knockout is a powerful attack and up signature is useful due to the extreme heights it goes, and is able to hit any opponents launched by up knockout or are generally just high above him. Jack has one of the best jabs in the game due to the first hit having longer range than normal which can be followed up with grab. His PTE deals considerable damage and grants him a 1.5x damage buff after use that makes him really shine. This can be used as a combo finisher or when Jack himself is at 0% solely to benefit off of this damage buff.

Jack has trouble fighting other characters with great range such as Aku, Grim, and Vilgax. His lack of a projectile combined with the fact that these characters have high damage/knockback power only makes it harder for him to compete with these characters. The significant advantage Jack has against these characters is his speed, rivaling that of Billy and Mandy. Characters with projectiles can cause a slight bump in Samurai Jack's performance but the tools Jack has to close in make it much easier. However some characters such as Billy and Mandy and even Johnny Bravo have tools that can shut down these approaches if Jack is not careful. Overall Jack's speed, power, disjointed sword, and combos, are what makes him a very powerful character.

In-game Stats
Speed: 4/5
 * Samurai Jack is quick with nearly every move he uses.

Power: 5/5
 * Samurai Jack has great knock back and does considerable damage, especially in super mode.

Air: 3/5
 * While Jack's up signature reaches extreme heights it has very low horizontal movement. Though with drafting this shouldn't be a problem. Using a side signature to get back on stage can also be risky.

Range: 4/5
 * Samurai Jack may not have a projectile but his sword allows him to keep opponents spaced away from him. He also has many tools to close in on opponents.

Normal Attacks

 * Neutral: Triple Cut - Does three quick draw slashes in succession, with the first one high (3%, no power cubes (5%, 1 power cube in super mode)), second one low (has two seperate hitboxes, deals 4%, 1 power cube (7%, in super mode), and a turning low for third (4%, 1 power cube (7% in super mode)).
 * Running: Jack dashes and does an overhead strike. Deals 8% and creates 2 power cubes. (13%, 3 power cubes in super mode)
 * Up:Jack swipes above him. Deals 9% and creates 2 power cubes (12%, 3 power cubes in super mode)


 * Down: Jack takes out a knife and pokes forward. Deals 8% and creates 2 power cubes. (8%, 3 power cubes in super mode)
 * Tsuka Poke - In the 3Ds version, pokes his sword's grip forward while crouching.


 * Throw: Jack reaches out with one arm. Deals 6% when thrown.

Knockout Attacks

 * Side: Jack draws his blade, holding it behind him, then turns around for a rapid series of 4 slashes forward. Deals 4% uncharged, 5% charged, and creates 1 power cube for each hit. (6%~8% uncharged~charged in super mode. Creates 2 power cubes at 8%)
 * Up: Strikes the sky with his sword to launch foes upward. Deals 12%~17% uncharged~charged, creates 3 power cubes at 12%~13%, and 4 at 14%~17%. (17%~25% uncharged~charged, 4 power cubes in super mode)
 * Down: Jack draws his blade, holding it above his head, then does a quick downwards slash single-handed. Deals 10%~14%, creates 2 power cubes at 10%~11%, 3 power cubes at 12%~13%, and 4 at 14%. (15%~22% uncharged~charged, 4 power cubes in super mode)
 * For some reason this attack has a tipper-like function similar to Marth from Super Smash Bros. If the tip of the sword is hit knockback will be at its highest however if the shaft or below is hit then knockback will be minimal.

Aerial Attacks

 * Neutral: Jack Cuts in front of him. Has double spot. Deals 6% per hit and creates 1 power cube. (9%, 2 power cubes in super mode)
 * Side: Jack swipes forward dealing 11%. Creates 2 power cubes. (16%, 4 power cubes in super mode)
 * Up: Jack does a midair flip, therefore swiping his sword around him. Deals 10% and creates 2 power cubes. (15%, 4 power cubes in super mode)
 * Down: Jack pokes his sword downward dealing 11%. Creates 2 power cubes. (16%, 4 power cubes in super mode)

Signature Moves
Neutral: Penta-Slice
 * Jack slices five times in front of him, dealing 3% each. This move deals no knock back until the last hit lands. This move does not create any power cubes unless in super mode, in which it creates 1 power cube each (Deals 4% in super mode).
 * In the 3DS version a watermelon appears as Jack is slicing.

Side: Quick Draw
 * Jack dashes and slashes forward, after which he sheaths his sword also creating a hitbox. Deals 8% and creates 2 power cubes. (13%, 3 power cubes in super mode)
 * The 3DS version is a double cross slash in one dash.

Up: Good Jump Down: Counter
 * Jack spirals upward with his sword and slashes around him as he reaches the peak. Deals 13% and creates 3 power cubes. (18%, 4 power cubes in super mode)
 * Jack takes out his sword to block attacks. If he is attacked, he will strike back at 12%. Creates 3 power cubes. (17%, 4 power cubes in Super mode)
 * Unlike how it is used in the Super Smash Bros. games, Samurai Jack's counter will counter almost every move in the game, even grabs. However the only exceptions to this are Aku's and Vilgax's laser attacks.

Punch Time Explosion: Way of the Samurai
Jack readies his sword and dashes forward through targets, after of which slash affects appear over opponents. Deals 50% and creates 4 power cubes.

Use of this PTE will make Jack's hairstyle come loose and long. In this form, Jack gains a 1.5x damage buff to all moves and therefore has a higher power cube generation on all moves as well, though it'll reset if he dies.

In the 3DS version, Jack slashes all around him to form slash marks that hit via an after-effect as Japanese kanji pops up.

Synergy: Val Halen
Val Halen plays his axe guitar as Jack looks on and then points his sword up to the air. The sword is then used as a lightning rod to channel the guitar's electricity for a wide discharge attack. Deals 23% and creates 4 power cubes.

Quotes

 * "You can never defeat the side of righteousness."
 * "Jump good."
 * "There is no escape!"
 * "Our mission is noble"
 * "No... I have failed."
 * "Who else wants some?"
 * "You must defeat my dragon punch to stand a chance!"