Delphiki
Smash Champion
How to Play
An In-Depth look at the Metagame
Many players have wondered what advanced players think, how they compete at the levels they do, and why they take seemingly odd choices of action…..
Many players have wondered why it is that they can defeat many players, and yet still some others seem to always be beyond them….
Many players have wondered how it is that they can become stronger, and move past their current limits to become highly skilled Smashers.
That information I hope to help unveil for the hundreds of up-and-coming smashers for whom we are indebted to maintain this community. All of the information which I will give here is already known to most advanced players, and many amateur and pro-am players as well. The purpose of this article is to provide you all with that same information which will allow you to drastically improve both your strengths and shortcomings. I intend to cover everything from the meaning of the word to the characters, and the players themselves. I hope that the material provided within will furnish those players with incomplete knowledge of the professional level of play with a more complete understanding and therefore gain more skill than the level the currently hold.
I also highly recommend LuInSpectra’s “7 Habits of a Competitive Smasher”, which can be found by clicking on this sentence.
Lest we tarry longer, I entreat ye…
== Metagame – The Word and Meanings ==
In order to take a good look at what exactly the community terms the metagame, it is beneficial to first take a look at what the word in itself hints at.
The prefix ‘meta’ is a Hellenic, or Greek, word meaning ‘with, across, or after’. The entire definition is, according to Oxford’s online dictionary:
meta-
(also met- before a vowel or h)
• combining form forming words referring to:
1 a change of position or condition: metamorphosis.
2 position behind, after, or beyond: metacarpus.
3 something of a higher or second-order kind: metalanguage.
— ORIGIN from Greek meta ‘with, across, or after’.
Meta, therefore, can be used to create a word which describes a meaning which is beyond that which is of the topic itself, the topic being the root of the word. In this case that is the ‘game’.
The Smash community, and perhaps other gaming communities as well use this term somewhat to imply a deeper understanding of the game of their choice. While it is more properly used to describe those things which need discovery after mastering the game itself, both uses do the term sufficient justice.
So when we say that someone has knowledge of the metagame, we must assume that this player already has a substantial amount of information on the basic technical possibilities of the game. However, this has not always been the case.
In times past, not all technical aspects of Super Smash Brothers Melee had been discovered. As can be vouched by others more sufficiently than myself, there have been times where actions such as SHFFLing, wavedashing, and other techniques were not established. Although it may seem strange to some (especially newcomers) that this was once the case, we must remember that at one point each one of us was oblivious to these techniques ourselves.
== A Look at the Metagame: How it Changes, and Why ==
We must also, and more imminently remember that the metagame, contrary to nature of the word, is advanced along with our understanding of the game itself. For this reason, the metagame is fluid and changeable. This fluidity is dependent upon the techniques which are most widely used in the area of focus. So, we must admit that each region, however small or large, has an at least somewhat different metagame from each other region. It has been stated that Japanese and American players play differently than one another. It has also been stated by a very large number of players that the key to advancing one’s skill is to play players outside of your normal opponents. This serves to keep the metagame fresh and also allows players to gradually become accustomed to and create new playstyles. These in turn again refresh the metagame .
Alternatively, a group of players who are rarely introduced to new tactics will stay relatively the same in their metagame. This is what is known as a closed metagame , the opposite which I have been describing is an open metagame . The metagame's fluidity necessitates that a change is to be met with change. All changes in tactics are to be presented with a counter tactic. It is precisely this system of checks-and-balances which continues to keep the metagame fresh. No tactic can remain completely overpowered (or “broken” as some may prefer) as long as it has an practical counter.
Here I must stress a very important factor in deciphering the metagame: it is not enough that the technique is possible; instead any given technique or tactic can only affect the metagame as much as it is exposed. Even a very overpowered technique can only have an affect on the metgame as far as it is known. However even a technique only half as effective as another can have a substantial effect upon the metagame if it is widely and effectively used. It is the combination of effectiveness and exposure use which furthers the metagame at national and global levels.
== Characters and their Potentials ==
With the basic nature of the metagame itself out of the way, I turn to another point: that of the metagame of the playable characters. Of a total of 26 characters in Super Smash Bros. Melee, all of them see at least some tournament play. While it is true that some see more, in some cases much more than others, all characters enjoy some time in the spotlight of tournaments. The time which these characters spend in the limelight somewhat corresponds to the amount of potential they are believed to possess.
Now of course you may be thinking of that last sentence. What they are believed to possess. It must be admitted before any speculation can occur that all characters possess undiscovered abilities, combos, techniques, or tactics. In recent times many characters have grown more popular due to powerful discoveries which strengthen their metagame. This has occurred countless times, and at completely unexpected times. This then supports the argument that all characters retain the potential to advance their metagame at any time. This advancement will come only as a discovery by a player who then shares that information with the community. Any character may at any time suddenly become much stronger and more popular in tournament play. While this is true, I myself believe that there are characters who stand out in this respect, and characters who hold the complete opposite.
Those characters whom I believe have little room to advance include Marth, Sheik, Fox, and Falco. I believe that these characters have nearly reached their purely technical potential, and are thus reliant upon mental advancement. For this reason, I suspect that while they will hold their positions more or less stable for some time, they will slowly be ousted as the highest ranked characters. Some characters for whom I have some expectations for are those who are underplayed. These characters have a high chance of improvement because there is a high likelihood they have much undiscovered potential. These characters include Pichu, Zelda, Mewtwo, and Yoshi. Unfortunately these characters do not enjoy the same amount of high-level play as higher ranked characters.
Finally, I believe there are two characters in particular who have much more potential in them than all other twenty four characters combined. These characters are Samus and the Ice Climbers. The technical possibilities lying behind Samus are incredible and undeniable, from Super Wavedashing, Double/Triple Missiling, Repeater Missile, Bomb Jumping, and many others besides. The Ice Climbers possess just as much potential, I believe. They alone hold the unique ability to control two mostly independent characters simultaneously. Alone, they are not much of a force. Synced, they are strong but defeatable, and still hold much potential. However while desynched the Climbers offer up an incredible amount of combo potential which is completely unprecedented in all other characters. It is my strong belief that for these reasons these two characters will soon begin a rise towards the top of the tier lists.
At this point you may be considering what many community members to be the end-all, be-all measure of any character’s metagame: the tier list. While these players admit that these are flexible, they seem to hold the assumption that they become more correct over time. This however, cannot be true. No amount of discovery can ever attain absolute knowledge regarding the metagame, because it is of a fluid nature and cannot be assigned concrete facts. What can be said is that any given characters metagame is dependent upon the current potential and usage of its discovered tactics and techniques.
The tier list, however, is an accurate judge of the current level of the metagame, as far as the relation of characters in general. The tiers do not take heavily into account specific cases, but are instead intended to give an unbiased view at how a character will perform, on average, against other players of equal skill using a diverse assortment of characters. In this short address to the tier lists, I must stress both their subjectivity and fluidity. The tier lists are, at best, temporarily accurate, but not impeccably so. At worst however, they are a gross misinterpretation of recent changes in the metagame. For this reason it is best that they are updated often, as well as after any discoveries deemed important or revolutionary.
== Tournament Regulations and their Effects ==
Super Smash Bros. Melee enjoys a vast tournament scene which spans the entire globe, and enjoys much communication through the use of our beloved Smashboards. However, tournament rules may differ slightly between areas and tournament directors (these differences are known as house rules). Fortunately most major tournaments feature little variations in singles and doubles formats, most of which are based on Major League Gaming’s (or MLG) rules. Most community hosted tournaments feature only slight changes from these rules. All rules however, share a common goal. That goal is to restrict the metagame by banning certain techniques and eliminating certain possibilities. These limitations are placed upon anything which is heavily favorable to certain situations and heavily unfavorable to others. They are applied as little as possible, and only in cases which would heavily alter the metagame and leave it much less diverse.
These tactics are either uncounterable or can be countered only by very few characters. If not banned, these tactics would cause many players to use these overpowered tactics to achieve wins. In response, other players would be forced to limit themselves to certain characters and playstyles which would counter these overpowered tactics. The most common banned tactics are those which cause a player to indefinitely lose control of their character or stall a match for a long period of time. These tactics would limit the metagame and are banned for that reason.
Also, many of the stages in Super Smash Bros. Melee are banned from tournament play. It should be noted that many tournament directors are lenient, and house rules on stages should also be made known at all tournaments. The stages which are most commonly banned are those whose features benefit specific characters so much that they would heavily alter the metagame because players are forced to play a very small number of characters on that stage. Also, stages which feature prominent divisions of areas (such as Hyrule Temple, Brinstar Depths, Princess Peach’s Castle, Onett, Eagleland, Yoshi Island 64) and encourage ‘camping’ are banned, because they force specific tactics once a player is camping. Stages which are regarded as neutral, as not too heavily benefiting a small number of characters are random stages and are the host of most tournament matches. MLG features six random stages in singles, and seven in doubles.
In order to lessen the differences in power between characters and stages, an ingenious solution is provided in the form of advanced counterpicks, also known as slob picks. In an MLG advanced counterpick, the following choices are performed after each match:
1. Winner of the previous match bans one neutral or counterpick stage.
2. Loser of the previous match chooses the stage for the next match.
3. Winner chooses the character they will use.
4. Loser chooses character, and the next match begins.
This sytem of advanced counterpicking gives favor to the loser of the match and helps even out differences in metagame resulting from stage and character.
All in all, MLG, community, and house tournament rules provide a great service to entrants: to limit the metagame in order to ensure diversity and entertainment.
== The Competitive Smasher ==
And now we arrive at my main point. What is surely the most important aspect in any competition is the metagame of the individual player. While this may be a bit of a misnomer, I will nonetheless apply it to discuss that which is of utmost importance: the current capabilities of the player (both technically and mentally) and his or her ability to adapt to new and unforeseen changes in competitive play.
A players ability can be usually fitted into two categories: technical and mental. The technical category is composed of knowledge of the game itself, combo ability, proper control of your character, and mastery of all advanced techniques such as SHFFLing, teching, Smash DIing, Auto Smash DIing, and pivoting. The mental category is composed of knowledge of the metagame, the ability to evaluate one’s opponents, and mindgames. Mindgames can be most easily explained as the foreknowledge of your opponents actions and the ability to create those reactions with the use of your own actions.
A top-level player must possess mastery of both of these categories in order to compete at a high level of play. A variety of playstyles are a results of the intermixing of the two categories, as some players choose to play very technically and aggressive with little mindgames, whereas others have less technical skill but play a patient game which takes advantage of mental ability. The ability to intermix styles is one benefit of mastering one’s ability.
However, even when looking into each player’s possession of these categories, we find we must look even deeper. Even players who possess similar styles may be at another level very different. These differences create the metagame of the player. All players have both shortcomings and strengths which can be discovered and exploited very similarly to how one would shift one’s play style when playing against a different character. For example, a highly aggressive Falco player must be fought much differently than a defensive Peach. Likewise a defensive Falco is as different from an aggressive one as it is from any Peach. A shift in play style is at least if not more drastic than a change in character.
Also, a player’s metagame is much more fluid than a character’s. First of all, most players play multiple characters. Each of those characters may also possess different playstyles which the player will utilize. A highly skilled player may have more than ten, fifteen, or perhaps even twenty possible styles of approach! Also, they can switch these styles in-battle and between battles. It is then of utmost importance to have a fluid metagame. This is done by having both multiple characters and multiple styles to choose from within those characters. It is also necessary to have the conscious ability to switch between those styles at a moment’s notice in order to adapt to changing battle situations.
On the mental side of the player’s metagame, we find a final and very important aspect of play: evaluation. The ability to quickly analyze an opponent and find weaknesses in his or her play is very important. The quicker these analyzations are complete, the quicker the analyzer can begin to be wary of strengths and take advantages of weaknesses. Analyzing is a constant process however, and is done by both players. A player may notice that his strategy has been taken advantage of, and as such must switch to different tactics in order to stay ahead of his opponent. This process of analyzations, self-analyzation, and change is monumental in the mindgames of high level play. Suddenly, an attempt at a previously failed technique may be either a feint or an honest attempt at that technique, while the aggressor knows that the defender can in fact counter it. That knowledge allows the aggressor to feint and watch his opponent’s reaction. The constant process of analyzing and countering is of paramount importance for any competitive smasher, and it is the players who possess both these mental ability and the technical abilities to follow them up who is the victor.
== How does this knowledge help me? ==
Finally, we near our conclusion. Sure, this information is good to know, but how can it help me become a better player? To be sure, the answer is here.
All of the information which I have given here is already known to most advanced players, and many amateur and pro-am players as well. The purpose of this article is to provide you all with that same information which will allow you to drastically improve both your strengths and shortcomings. This section in particular will allow that.
As I have previously stated, both technical and mental levels of play are instrumental in obtaining a high amount of skill. The player himself is only a tool of the mind, the capabilities of that player must be evaluated, inspected and second guessed in order to achieve complete knowledge of one’s advantages and disadvantages. This is a constant process whose negligence can only detriment the player’s ability. You, the reader, may already have begun doing this even as this information is revealed: “Do I miss L-cancels or fast falls? Are there any matchups which I have trouble with? Are my mindgames effective, and how can I improve them?” Questions such as these reveal weaknesses in one’s game. However, we must also ask: “What are my most effective mindgames? What types of openings and what attacks do I usually use to obtain kills? How can I make those openings happen more often?”
By questioning both our strengths and weaknesses we become a better player. The metagame is a basis of knowledge which must be constantly updated and expanded with ever-changing conditions of battle. A river of enemies, a small ship fighting against a current of skill; the opposition of which only serves to strengthen the crew. Super Smash Bros. Melee is a never ending competition of ability which grows bigger constantly, and has not stopped growing since the games release, more than 5 years past. In fact the community is at it’s strongest today, with hundreds of professional and amateur currently competing, and the endless rain of new ability which feeds the river of skill and knowledge which makes up the community we have come to cherish. Through the endless effort of ourselves we will improve our skill! Through the encouragement of others we can continue to improve both the community and preserve the fluidity of the metagame! To continue Smashing! To play and never give up against seemingly insurmountable odds will keep this amazing game at a climax which will not recede for many years! Add to this the upcoming release of Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the Nintendo Wii, and we see that this phenomenon, no, this lifestyle which we call Smash will not, and can not recede as long as this community flourishes!
Good luck to all my fellow smashers, and may the best smasher win!
keep it up man
