Ribbon Girl (ARMS) Discussion

Series icon

It's based on the glove design seen in the select screen


Ribbon Girl is a new Nintendo character for the upcoming game ARMS, a new IP for the switch.
Using extendable arms and mechanical gloves, Fighters in ARMS partake in boxing rings that involve hitting the opponent from a safe distance.

While very little is known about Ribbon Girl due to the game not being out yet, we can still make adequate assumptions about her personality and moveset based on the Trailer and Footage available of the game. Links below

Trailer:

Gameplay Footage:

I'll cover more about her as i go, so without further ado... the moveset!

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Basics

Walk speed: ★☆☆☆☆
Dash Speed: ★★☆☆☆
Very slow Walk and Dash speed means she relies on spacing the enemy out with what might be among the longest reaching normals in the history of Smash rather than moving around.
Air Speed: ★★☆☆☆
Jump Height: ★★★☆☆
Average Jump height and subpar air speed reinforce this "Poke and space" gameplan of her, relying on jumps to make escapes or chase down opponents with strikes rather than repositioning.
Roll Speed: ★★★★☆
Roll Distance: ★★☆☆☆
Good Roll speed but bad distance ensures rolls arent as viable of an escaping tool for the character, rewarding foes that manage to get in past a wall of long range punches with pressure.
Reach: ★★★★★
Strength: ★★★☆☆
It's part of her design to be able to stretch her limbs so her jabs, tilts, smashes and aerials all benefit not only from reach that would send Corrin/Shulk/Cloud crying, but also has sizeable strength to get confirms from a distance at the cost of slow start up and/or end lag in her attacks.
Height: ★★★☆☆
Weight: ★★★☆☆
Fall Speed: ★★☆☆☆
Her Height and Weight puts her in a spot where a lot of characters should be able to combo her but not heavily so that Ribbon girl eats over 50% in one combo. Her Fall Speed does make her prone to vertical speed and having trouble landing, making her feel floaty and exposed in the air.
Aerial Jumps: 1
Crawl: No
Wall Jump: No
She has no other mobility options aside from what everyone in the cast share.


Concept Art by yours truly of what she might look like in Crusade


Sprite/Pixel version by Alexander he did for fun.

Gimmick
The ARMS game in general already poseses an interesting mechanic everyone is familiar about: The ability to stretch their Arms for long range Fist fights.
This kind of archetype is majorly unseen not only in Smash bros, but pretty much fighting games in general with a few super particular exceptions in the likes of Monkey D. Luffy (Shonen/Namco Games as well as Super Smash Flash 2) or Dhalsim (Street Fighter).
Ribbon Girl would cover an archetype of long range fighting that doesnt involve projectiles, but stretching physical attacks to outrange her enemies!

But wait! There's more!

If stretchy limbs aren't the most appealing factor for you, i can do better.
Fights in ARMS involve a 2 round setting where each fighter selects the boxing gloves they want to use previous to each match. This way if one style of fighting isn't working... Ribbon girl and the cast can switch the Boxing Gloves between rounds for something that might just give them the edge!

Smash bros doesn't have "Rounds" of course, but this system can still be implemented via a "Change on the go" system where Ribbon Girl's attacks change in properties (Speed, Strength, Range, etc.) rather than gaining new moves.


Pictured above: Toaster, Boomerang and Mace. Some of the boxing gloves available to players of ARMS

-Toaster is the Standard Glove. It has average stats overall with decent strengths and no major weaknesses. In this moveset it would translate as the jack-of-all trades middle point that in some moves performs out two consecutive Punches but is otherwise the Middle Range, middle Strength and mild End lag of the available sets.
-Boomerang is the gimmicky Glove. It has similar but weaker stats when compared to the toaster, however it has the added benefit of having a bigger arc on which you can throw your punches with. In ARMS this translates into being able to punch around obstacles (including enemy fists) by twisting directions.  In Crusade this would be implemented by having weaker damage/knockback output when compared to the toaster, but gains a tiny bit more range in return and different angles of attack which should make it trickier for foes to navigate around her punches (i.e. A Side tilt that seems to go straight, but then curves up and hits diagonally up)
-Mace is the Strong Glove. It has bigger damage/Knockback output, but also has a bit of start up alongside the End lag the rest of the gloves have. It also loses reach when compared to the toaster, but the mace should have the property of going through enemy projectiles (yes, even stuff like charge shots) if you time the punches correctly.

Using Neutral Special, Ribbon girl would pose to alert the player which glove set she's using. While this is very similar to Shulk in terms of how it works, this glove changing mechanic only alters her Attacks and not her mobility/weight/fall speed.

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Standard Attacks

*Jab: A 1-2 button press combination. Ribbon girl throws a left Jab, followed by a Right Straight. Has enough range to beat a lot of moves, but it doesn’t lead too anything and has slightly more end lag than the average Jab so it’s best used as a poking tool.
-Toaster: The Standard.
-Boomerang: Gains range, but also has a little more end lag as a result.
-Mace: Loses range, but keeps the speed making this move a necesity for spacing when wearing the mace glove set.

*Side Tilt: Ribbon girl pulls back for a wind up and extends in an arc. Tilting the stick diagonally Up or down makes it harder to avoid.
Has larger reach than jab and good speed, but has decent end lag where it can be punished if whiffing or on shield.
-Toaster: Goes Straight at first and after reaching a midpoint it bends upwards or downwards.
-Boomerang: When tilted downwards, the glove initially goes upwards and then bends midway to go straight for the enemy feet.
When tilted upwards, the glove initially punches towards the feet, but then bends and goes for the head instead.
-Mace: Goes Straight. No bendy stuff so the only advantage is a jab vs Tilt mix up.

*Side Smash: Pulls back for wind up and then throws a mighty punch forward with considerable strength and end lag.
-Toaster: Throws a 1-2 punch one after the other, the 2nd punch is the one she winds up so it reaches farther than the 1st hit. Fairly similar to Pit’s Side smash in that sense.
-Boomerang: Single Straight punch. Tilting the stick makes it aim better diagonally Up or down, but loses considerable strength.
-Mace: Gains Armor a few frames before being thrown out. It also punches projectiles out of the way where as the others have her pull the fists back.

*Up Tilt: Puts fists in the ground and double-fist punches on the way up to end up with arms raised above her head.
Same basic difference as Jab depending on gloves: Strength/Low reach vs Weak/Far reach.

*Up Smash: Turning to face the camera, Ribbon girl prepares her attack
-Toaster: Throws out a 1-2 punch either directly above or slightly diagonal to the front or back.
-Boomerang: Stretches both arms but in order to form a cross, hitting both diagonal up directions with the fists and completely missing directly upwards.
-Mace: Stretches both arms upwards for a mighty double punch a good distance above her.

*Down Tilt: While in a ducking position, she throws out a punch towards the enemy feet.
Same basic difference as Jab depending on gloves: Strength/Low reach vs Weak/Far reach.

*Down Smash: Turning to face the camera, Ribbon girl prepares her attack
-Toaster: With the fist facing forward she reaches to punch behind her, then repeats the same with the fist that’s facing behind her to punch in front of her.
-Boomerang: Crosses arms and then quickly opens her arms, stretching fists to hit a good distance infront and behind her. Significant Start up and end lag.
-Mace: Opens arms and then quickly crosses arms, stretching fists to hit a good distance infront and behind her. Significant End lag.

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Aerials

*Neutral Air: Extends arms and spins them around her imitating the official artwork. Far reaching horizontally both infront and behind like a better Bowser Jr. Neutral Air (Sm4sh), which makes it useful as a get-off me option but be mindful of the end lag and landing lag.

*Forward Air: Stretches arms behind her and quickly throws a double-fist punch a good distance forward. Has Killing potional, but also Has considerable start up.
Same basic difference as Jab depending on gloves: Strength/Low reach vs Weak/Far reach.

*Up Air: Turns to face the camera, Ribbon girl prepares her attack
-Toaster: Throws a 1-2 punch above her.
-Boomerang: 1 punch that bends hitting in an arc above her like the average “Back flip kick” Up airs (Hits infront like an uppercut, then twists direction to hit headed behind her)
-Mace: 1 Hit that instead of stretching is a normal low range hit above her. She uses the other arm instead of the boomerang’s to hit behind her and then in an arc towards her front.

*Back Air: Quickly flings her arm behind for a back handed hit similar to Falcon’s Back Air, but with the reach and end/landing lag behind her stretchy arms.
Same basic difference as Jab depending on gloves: Strength/Low reach vs Weak/Far reach.

*Down Air: Lifts a fist above her head with slow start up comparable to mega man down Air (Sm4sh), then quickly stretches her fist down.
Same basic difference as Jab depending on gloves: Strength/Low reach vs Weak/Far reach.

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Grabs & Throws

*Grab & Pummel: Despite the average range of her glove attacks, her grab is actually not very far reaching. This is because the long reaching grab is instead her Side B as a command grab that can be used in the air similar to it's use in ARMS.

*Forward Throw: Lifts with both hands above her for wind up and simply tosses the enemy forward with an arching motion that starts from behind her back.

*Up Throw: Pulls down to the floor as wind up and then uses both hands to fling the enemy above her into the air.

*Back Throw: Turns her body around and then flings the enemy with an horizontal move of her arms.

*Down Throw: Pulls above her head and then uses both hands to slam the foe into the ground in front of her.

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Specials

*Neutral B: Switches between 3 sets of gloves on the go. Starts with Toaster - Goes to Mace (Stronger/Slower) - Ends with Boomerang (Weaker/Longer) - Repeats cycle. She makes a little pose to show which glove she keeps.

*Side B: Lifts arms slightly above her head as a start up, then extends them forward with a green light between them to signal she’s throwing out a long range command grab. She floats midair during it.
If successful, she immediately pulls the foe in and hits them off as a finisher to launch them. Can choose a direction while pulling to choose the finisher.
-Up performs a small uppercut to launch the opponent above her. She performs a little hop, which helps her regain altitude.
-Down performs an overhead punch to spike the opponent.
-Forward pulls the foe towards her and immediately receives them with a punch to the guts.
-Back pulls the foe towards her and with a quick spin she turns around and launches the enemy behind switching positions.

*Up B: Throws out an uppercut that extends the arm a set distance, then jumps to pull herself towards the glove instead of retracting it. At the height of it she throws another uppercut with the other fist to launch opponents off.
Decent vertical reach as a recovery, but suffers from very little room for diagonal up angles so she has an exploitable horizontal recovery. Boomerang has the best horizontal recovery with a diagonal up direction, where as Mace goes straight up

*Down B: Takes a defensive stance and charges up for a few moments. If undisturbed when finishing charging, Ribbon girl is free to move again and the next 2 attacks should be Stronger depending on the set of gloves she has.
-Toaster: Gains a slight buff on strength (Not damage) and a little bit more reach.
-Boomerang: Recalls the glove faster, making her long reaching attacks a bit safer. Also gains a slight buff on damage (Not knockback).
-Mace: Gains a slight buff on speed and damage, but end lag is still the same so it’s more likely to hit but still leaves her exposed on whiff.
This forces opponents to approach her or give her free charge as a result.

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*Final Smash:
Fists of Flurry. Still the same final smash, but has the same basic difference as jab depending on the gloves she has: Mace are strong and rack up damage but hit very close to ribbon girl, where as other gloves become weaker but cover a greater distance.

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Frequently Asked Questions

"Shouldn't we wait until the full game is out First?"
There are actually two counter-arguments to this:
1) Why wait? Official Smash games have had Character releases before the game does (i.e. Roy, Greninja, Corrin)
2) Character development takes time. Even if the character was "approved" and started right away... ARMS would still release before Ribbon girl makes it into Crusade.

"But we don't know enough about the game to design a moveset!"
Except we do! I shared the treehouse video with gameplay footage i used to come up with this moveset! check it out above in the spoiler just below the Trailer

"Why Ribbon Girl over Spring man? The guy is the face of ARMS, right?"
Debatable. Both Spring man and Ribbon girl were revealed on the same trailer and around the same time.
Both are also featured in the cover Art of the game, putting them closer in the level of importance they share.

Punch-Out!! Cover:

On Punch-out's cover, Little mac is the center of attention. Even without characters to play with, it's clear Little Mac is the protagonist.

ARMS Cover:

On ARMS cover art, Spring man and Ribbon girl share protagonism. They are brilliantly shown to be equally important even with the perspective thanks to playing with their actions. Despite Spring man being showed on the front, he is getting punch by a very actiony Ribbon Girl. Is he the villain? Or is Ribbon girl just as relevant if he can take a shot out on the quote on quote: "Protagonist"?
These two are not as obviously linked together like the Robin/Corrin deal with the genderbends (and actually being the same person, just different gender), but they both are up there and Ribbon Girl is quickly becoming a fan favorite.

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And that's it! I hope you guys enjoy this moveset and support the character! c:

Supporters List:

Why Ribbon Girl over Spring Man?

I'll support, ARMS looks like an interesting game, and the character design looks fun to play.

As soon as they unveiled ARMS, I thought that Spring Man/Ribbon Girl would be a perfect fit for Smash. This moveset looks really solid and fun, and I love her visual design. Definitely support.

Making my return to support this thread

Fucking love this girl, best waifu, and I support. ARMS needs rep, and Spring Man/Ribbon Girl...one of them is a hot grill, and it's not Spring Man.

OmegaSteve777 wrote:

Why Ribbon Girl over Spring Man?

Because muh female representation

I support, but I think we should wait until the full game is out before we do anymore
Truthfully, I would prefer Spring Man, as he seems to be the 'main' main face of ARMS, and sadly I know the devs wouldn't make a Spring Man alt costume, which would work for normal Smash
Just placing my 10 cents in.
Also, she doesn't use any of her actual hands she had in the demo shown in the Treehouse, which should be used.

Braystar wrote:

I support, but I think we should wait until the full game is out before we do anymore

Melee Roy.

And that validates putting an ARMS rep in before it comes out how?

Nix~ wrote:

Braystar wrote:

I support, but I think we should wait until the full game is out before we do anymore

Melee Roy.

aka one of if not the shittiest inclusion in smash history

Dustination wrote:

Nix~ wrote:

Braystar wrote:

I support, but I think we should wait until the full game is out before we do anymore

Melee Roy.

aka one of if not the shittiest inclusion in smash history

But I like Roy

Anyways, I support. Arms is definitely making a name for itself even before the system is released. If that doesn't say anything, I'm not sure what will

meh,support.long range little mac sounds fun.

Why not? Support

I enjoy the idea of having a character from ARMS, but we don't know enough about the game to design a moveset for any of the characters from the game.

I like Ribbon Girl over Spring Man purely over design, but Spring Man would be better since he's definitely the standard choice amongst ARMS' known roster and doesn't have any gimmicks that wouldn't potentially screw with his balance in a platform fighter (I mean Ribbon Girl has three jumps like jeez)

Nix~ wrote:

Braystar wrote:

I support, but I think we should wait until the full game is out before we do anymore

Melee Roy.

Greninja and Corrin are also a primary example of this, But ignoring the fact that official Smash has included characters before their game releases we have to also consider that characters Take time to develop. So showing support is more of a formality because even if Ribbon Girl was "approved" to be in crusade... working on her should take sufficient tie that the ARMS will release before Crusade's version of the fighter.

AEM wrote:

I enjoy the idea of having a character from ARMS, but we don't know enough about the game to design a moveset for any of the characters from the game

We actually do, i shared video footage of the gameplay itself. Sure, there are a few things we have to assume yet, but the basis for 80-90% of a moveset is easily there already.

AEM wrote:

(Ribbon Girl has) gimmicks that would potentially screw with balance in a platform fighter (I mean she has three jumps like jeez)

Except there's very little room to screwing up balance? My envisioned moveset would have very little Air drift, Walk Speed and even Dash Speed... which directly translates in a very turtle-y poking fighting style. The addition of aerial jumps would simply help her vertical mobility, but with laggy aerials it doesn't particularly make her harder to catch at all.

There's still no real explanation for why Ribbon Girl over Spring Man.

It's like picking Luigi over Mario.
EDIT: or like picking Chun-Li over Ryu.

Because she looks cute, that's all
I still prefer poster boy Spring Man

OmegaSteve777 wrote:

There's still no real explanation for why Ribbon Girl over Spring Man.

It's like picking Luigi over Mario.
EDIT: or like picking Chun-Li over Ryu.

Except Ryu and Mario are the central characters of actual stories, whereas, for all we know, freakin' Master Mummy could be the main character of ARMS' campaign. Assuming it has a campaign. As it stands, Spring Man and Ribbon Girl are interchangeable. We've already got one male boxing character, why not go for a girl this time?

Note: I say this out of no "ooh, cute waifu" motivations. I'm a gay dude, so if we're talking purely aesthetics, I'd prefer the really cute Spring Man. But in terms of variety amongst the Crusade roster. Ribbon Girl is the better way to go, I think.

Second Note: If someone makes a good Bravoman moveset, I'm fuckin' ditching support of any and all ARMS characters in support of him.

Naughty Ottsel wrote:

OmegaSteve777 wrote:

There's still no real explanation for why Ribbon Girl over Spring Man.

It's like picking Luigi over Mario.
EDIT: or like picking Chun-Li over Ryu.

Except Ryu and Mario are the central characters of actual stories, whereas, for all we know, freakin' Master Mummy could be the main character of ARMS' campaign. Assuming it has a campaign. As it stands, Spring Man and Ribbon Girl are interchangeable. We've already got one male boxing character, why not go for a girl this time?

Note: I say this out of no "ooh, cute waifu" motivations. I'm a gay dude, so if we're talking purely aesthetics, I'd prefer the really cute Spring Man. But in terms of variety amongst the Crusade roster. Ribbon Girl is the better way to go, I think.

Second Note: If someone makes a good Bravoman moveset, I'm fuckin' ditching support of any and all ARMS characters in support of him.

I get your first point, but wouldn't Spring Man be just as different as Ribbon Girl? I could be wrong, they looked like they fought almost the same to me.
Also I have a feeling there is going to be some sort of story mode or story. Splatoon had one. (Of course I could be entirely wrong, and this is why I'm not a personal fan of characters who don't have a game out yet.)

I forgot Bravoman exists for a while lmao
We found an alt colour

OmegaSteve777 wrote:

I get your first point, but wouldn't Spring Man be just as different as Ribbon Girl? I could be wrong, they looked like they fought almost the same to me.
Also I have a feeling there is going to be some sort of story mode or story. Splatoon had one. (Of course I could be entirely wrong, and this is why I'm not a personal fan of characters who don't have a game out yet.)

??? Just as different, but they fight the same? That's what I'm saying. They're interchangeable in terms of gameplay (except that triple jump, yo) and relevance. Spring Girl, however, brings a little more to the table in terms of being unique and different as a character. There'll probably be a story mode, but I could see it giving each character their own campaign with no real 'main' character.

Braystar wrote:

I forgot Bravoman exists for a while lmao
We found an alt colour

If any ARMS character gets in and they don't have bright yellow, blue, red, green, and white, in the proper design, as an alt colour, I'm done with Crusade Smash.

As far as I see it, Spring Man and Ribbon Girl have been the focus of the Arms adverts and stuff right?

Also while it may not be any individual person's motivation, waifu points are a thing lol

Naughty Ottsel wrote:

OmegaSteve777 wrote:

There's still no real explanation for why Ribbon Girl over Spring Man.

It's like picking Luigi over Mario.
EDIT: or like picking Chun-Li over Ryu.

Except Ryu and Mario are the central characters of actual stories, whereas, for all we know, freakin' Master Mummy could be the main character of ARMS' campaign. Assuming it has a campaign. As it stands, Spring Man and Ribbon Girl are interchangeable. We've already got one male boxing character, why not go for a girl this time?

This same exact argument could be used for Scorpion and Sub-Zero, and I think we know what the logical outcome of that would be (hint: it's not Liu Kang)

Support. Looks like an interesting character to play as. I'm leaning towards Spring Man but I wouldn't mind if Ribbon Girl got chosen instead.

OmegaSteve777 wrote:

There's still no real explanation for why Ribbon Girl over Spring Man.

It's like picking Luigi over Mario.
EDIT: or like picking Chun-Li over Ryu.

Or like picking Robin over Chrom

I can tell a lot of work went into this, you have your moveset, your mechanics, explanations, and even some sprites, plus it looks like it'd be a pretty sound character all around, i fully support it

I don't have a problem with her inclusion, my problems are with the balancing.

Her moveset and playstyle is so radically different from smash gameplay. If you're trying to emulate ARMS' style, you'll be making her punches very slow while she dodges around in the air slowly. This style is easily countered by any character that is even slightly mobile. She'd be horrible.

However, your moveset doesn't seem that way. I am still concerned that if her moves are as slow as they are in ARMS, she's going to have a hard time in Smash.

Another note, it's nice that you're making the suggestion now, but you'll probably want to wait until release to begin work. There will probably be moveset ideas that haven't been shown in demos yet.

Dustination wrote:

This same exact argument could be used for Scorpion and Sub-Zero, and I think we know what the logical outcome of that would be (hint: it's not Liu Kang)

Except Sub-Zero and Scorpion are only visually interchangeable. With regards to story, and even more so marketing, Scorpion is obviously the way to go. With ARMS, though, Spring Man and Ribbon Girl have more or less been on equal ground in terms of poster boy/girlishness.

wait until the game launches first before you start planning more than you can reasonably attain; otherwise YES PLEASE sign me up

Really though, I would definitely support an ARMS character. I wouldn't really mind if Ribbon Girl got picked instead, but I'd think Spring Man would fit more. (I'd also wait until the game comes out before making a complete moveset, but I'm sure the dev team obviously know that already.)

I'll support a character from ARMS.

After some consideration, I think I'm in support of this character. I didn't know too much about Arms initially and had the same questions in the FAQ. Why Ribbon Girl over Spring Man? Why Arms, it's not out yet!

My only suggestion is adding whether or not attacking her arms apply damage. For example, I imagine your side smash would stretch some distance. I think if someone were to, say, jump over it and do a down air that it should hurt her. If this is sort of a "no duh" situation, I apologize. I just want to make sure what the rules are here with her arms.