- Vermanubis - Considered the best NA Ganondorf in Brawl. Continues to find top three placements in Smash 4.
- Ray Kalm - Has innovated with Ganondorf since Brawl. Has top placements like EXP 2015 (4th), Summit 2015 (7th), and Smash Nexus.
- Opana - Has consistently placed top 3 in regionals and locals. Has used Ganondorf since the 3DS release.
Disadvantages
With the character being ranked so low by many players, it comes as no surprise that Ganondorf has some distinct weaknesses. All three experts agreed that his primary weakness comes from his approach game. "For a character to move so slow, and have such slow or short-ranged options out of a dash is kinda crazy," Opana told us. "Literally from the moment you hear go, it's a guessing game from start to finish, whether that be his approach or near-anything else he does."
This creates further problems against characters with a strong projectile game. "He could be completely walled out with projectiles. Very quick and hard-to-punish projectiles in particular give the opposing player very good control of the stage, and amplifies their neutral game," Ray Kalm explained.
Unfortunately, the issues with his approach do not stop there either. His lack of a strong out-of-shield option and good options to challenge shields also hurt him, as Vermanubis explains: "My most difficult matches are characterized by my opponent refusing to approach, and are compounded when they know to tech chokes or hold shield, forcing me to get in solely by way of tomahawking or getting lucky on a missed tech. Wouldn't be a problem if any given throw killed below 200% at max rage next to the ledge. Against a character like Ike who isn't hit by anything upon a missed tech and rolls too far to be hit by anything guaranteed, it's not uncommon for them to live to extreme percents; some of his only entry tools (Wizard's Kick, grabs, and choke) have no KO potential."
The list of weaknesses continues from there. "Aside from his approach issues and overall horrible mobility, he lacks a decent out-of-shield option; his recovery is very linear and easy to intercept; his kill options, while there are many, are unreliable; he gets comboed and juggled easily, and his frame data is overall pretty bad," Opana explained. "He doesn't really have any 'safe' moves," Vermanubis told us. "You, in essence, must correctly guess with virtually any move, otherwise you're likely to be effortlessly punished."
Advantages
Nevertheless, do not be discouraged by all these weaknesses. Ganondorf wields the Triforce of Power and it gives him one of his biggest advantages: "His strength!" Vemanubis exclaimed. "Moreover, his strength's ability to command respect which opens up a lot of opportunities for manipulation and mix-ups. The unique thing, and furthermore, the enigma of Ganon, is that he possesses all of the tools to get the job done. He has moves so that he has at least one answer for any given option."
This power also adds to another of Ganondorf's biggest strengths, as Opana explains: "Ganondorf's biggest strength is definitely his punish game. Capitalizing on any window of opportunity can start a chain of momentum that turns the tide of battle in your favor. With the addition of rage and the new ledge mechanics, he won't be dying nearly as early while having much more potential to turn things around. Really, you can never count Ganondorf out. One good hit is often all he needs."
His edgeguarding ability and various strong tools also make him a force to be reckoned with. "His edge guarding is amazing, he has a frame 6 up aerial that covers nearly all around him, a strong, long-lasting hitbox in neutral aerial, a quick and effective killer in back aerial, a long-reaching powerful move in forward aerial that can beat out or trade with many things, and a highly effective meteor smash in down aerial," Opana said.
Relevant Matchups
All three experts agreed on a trifecta of characters that stomp Ganondorf: Sheik, Rosalina, and Zero Suit Samus. "Sheik, unsurprisingly, just outruns us in every respect," Vemanubis told us. "Rosalina it seems at times was designed almost specifically to hard-counter Ganon. They're all winnable though."
However, this does not leave him without more manageable top tier matchups either. Both Opana and Vermanubis made mention of Mario and Ness. "Ganon still doesn't have the advantage," Opana made sure to explain, "but these are a lot more doable than the rest of the upper half of the roster."
Is Ganondorf Viable?
The experts had mixed reactions. "I'd say no," said Ray Kalm. "Although he has a good or fair chance against most characters, national tournaments would more often consist of characters which could completely invalidate Ganon's viability. In locals though, there is a higher chance."
Opana was only slightly more optimistic: "Ganondorf on a national level is highly unlikely but entirely possible given the nature of his character. But it's not something I'd expect often if at all unless they have another character they're using as well. It's pretty unlikely to read people well enough to crack top 32 at a national; a lot of the time you just need better tools."
Vemanubis had this to say: "I want to preface my answer by saying that while it may seem strange to some, all this talk of how hard Ganon has it and how he has a hard time killing, I'd argue with no small conviction that a majority of people simply don't play the MU correctly. Ganons everywhere get away with, well... murder. This may make Ganon appear to some as more viable than he actually is. That being said...
Marginally. I think it's possible for Ganon to succeed on the national stage. I think he can win anything with the requisite perseverance and optimization. Only trouble is that, as I mentioned, Ganon is a fundamentally chancy character as it stands. With respect to what I mentioned about Ganon possessing the tools, but at high risk, he can win anything, but he has no particular consistent answers for any given thing. He has answers -- just not ones he won't pay for badly if he guesses wrong."
Advice for Ganondorf Mains?
"Use Ganon if you like the character and enjoy his playstyle," Ray Kalm said. "It's possible for you to suddenly make game-turning results. Never give up during a match!"
Opana had this to add: "If you're interested in Ganondorf, I'd start studying your matches, win or lose, as they often can be insightful when you ask yourself things such as, 'Why didn't this work?' and 'What could I have done better in this situation?'. Pretty much just learn from and iron out your mistakes and keep on the lookout for more. But study the matchups too! Reviewing your games is a valuable resource not just for learning from mistakes but learning key things in matchups. Knowledge will often be your strongest tool with Ganondorf; it's essential to playing him well. It can be the difference between winning and losing, so always try to learn new things!"
Need more advice? As Vermanubis so eloquently put it, "Go forth and drink deep the life of those who would rebel against the King.
Ganon is the strangest character I've ever seen in a fighting game -- the quantum qharacter, as it were -- being simultaneously in a state of being able to win magnificently and lose splendidly. He's an engine more than anything: he's only as effective as the player behind him, which I adore and think is a credit to him as a character with some of the greatest creative capacity in the game.
As you progress your Ganon game, you'll notice that the heavy hits are no longer the centerpiece of his functioning. Instead, concrete fundamentals, understanding of options, and the ability to effectively and swiftly categorize your opponent's behaviors to minimize wasteful movement and decisions are what will win you matches. You have to be intensely critical of your imperfections as a player, and furthermore, you can't encumber yourself with the mindset that you lost because of Ganon. The King demands nothing less than perfection, and perfection alone will do!"
---
A special thank you to
Opana
,
Vermanubis
, and @Ray_Kalm for giving their expertise for this article. To learn more about Smash 4 Ganondorf, be sure to check out the Ganondorf Forums right here on Smashboards!Agree or disagree with these Ganondorf experts? Have a suggestion for the next character we should cover? Sound off in the comments below and stay tuned to Smashboards for future expert analysis on characters from all Smash titles!
