Ninji

The Ninji, one of Mario’s classic baddies, but one that only now has been getting his well-deserved spotlight, has hopped into Rivals! With a playstyle of extremes, comprised of super high dash and jump speeds but very low range and damage, Ninji can pack a punch when used correctly, and has a very high skill ceiling.

This character was made in a month for the ExW 2025 (from mario) Jam.

Ninji’s main mechanic revolves around a Disco Spotlight he can turn on with a red Question Mark Block using NSpecial, inside which every jump Ninji takes increases the number in a counter kept up with in his HUD. Additionally, all of Ninji’s Specials are Jump Cancelable inside this field.

The order goes "1 GOOD -> 2 NICE -> 3 SUPER", and on the jump where SUPER appears, Ninji enters a state known as Super Boost, where he gains a ton of really amazing aerial traits, although only as long as he doesn’t touch the ground, as the counter goes back to 0 upon landing. In Super Boost, Ninji gains access to:
– An extra double jump. Note that double jumping while in Super Boost doesn’t add up Ninji’s jump counter!
– All of Ninji’s aerials have half as much endlag, rounded up.
– All of Ninji’s aerials deal extra damage.
– Ninji gains access to Air Strongs.
– These Air Strongs also deal more damage than his grounded Strongs.
– Ninji can Jump and Aerial Cancel all his Specials, past the startup period.

Alongside actual jumps, the following movements also count as jumping inside the Spotlight: using UTilt, DSpec or NSpec, bouncing off a Noteblock

Ninji does his own Super Jump Punch and punches into tangibility a red Question Mark Block which summons a spotlight. Not much to add since the Spotlight’s effects have already been explained, although it’s worth noting this move is still usable and has a hitbox even if a Spotlight is already out.
The red Question Mark Block and Disco Spotlight are taken from Super Mario World‘s final level, wherein Ninjis have their first appearance outside of SMB2, while the jumping mechanic inside the spotlight is inspired by the Ninji-based rhythm levels from Super Mario Bros. Wonder.

Ninji does a spinning jump into the air before drop kicking diagonally downwards. The ascending part of this move serves as a multihit, while the dropkick props Ninji up for various followups due to also kicking him off opponents. Inside the Spotlight field, both the initial jump and the kick off opponents count as Jumps, and the ability to jump cancel the move’s rise becomes extremely versatile.

Ninji sends a music note projectile out forwards from his tambourine. After travelling a short while, the note morphs into a bonafied Note Block! The Note Block isn’t a solid object and stays on stage for a very short while, but if the Ninji who spawned it touches the block, he will be catapulted upwards, with a hitbox as the Note Block springs out! Alongside extending combos through the Noteblock pop, this move can be used for recovery, since the notes automatically destroy upon hitting a wall, or for extending air time during a Super Boost.

Ninji pulls out a ninja handglider cloth, and dashes forward and high speeds!
An unorthodox recovery option, the Glide Dash gives Ninji VERY low vertical height, but is faster horizontally than most other glider moves. For an excellent recovery, this move can be combined with Ninji’s wall cling, solid wall jump height, and offstage Note Blocks, which give the glide the vertical boost it sorely needs.
This ninja tool first appeared in Super Mario Maker 2 as one of the Ninji Speedrun Ghost animations, but was solidified as part of his kit in Mario Golf: Super Rush.

Ninji has access to both a Super Jump, done by holding crouch then jumping, and a true ninja wall cling! Between mixups with the cling and three different recovery options through Specials, Ninji isn’t doing half-bad offstage despite that USpec barely gaining any height!

Reiga: Artist, Coder, Moveset Design
BestBuilder101: Artist, Victory Theme Composer, Move Design
TehEnd, Flasher, kkhta: Beta Testing

Disclaimer
This add-on for Rivals of Aether is unaffiliated with Nintendo Co. Ltd., and is purely made out of respect, appreciation, and love for the Mario franchise and intellectual property. It is a work of art, and will never be sold and/or used to infringe upon the rights of Nintendo Co. Ltd.. All rights reserved by their original holders.