Discussion about the new jab

[Mark The Page]

Hello, it's me again with another guide for a move you'd think isn't important, but actually is. The tl;dr version is that, while Villager's jab is no longer a lethal combo enabler, it can act as a fail-safe and rack up tons of damage when you use it against a tree or platform's edge.

First off (shameless plug) I recommend watching this video I made about new jab mechanics, with a focus on Villager:

• As a universal change, all jab infinites are very easy to SDI out of, EXCEPT when one of the fighters is on the edge of a platform, with the greatest effect being when it's the target who's on the edge. Catch them in this position and you can hold the infinite long enough to deal 25+ damage.
  • If you want to use your jab to defeat get-up options, you need to stand back. Don't use it on the edge or your opponent will move through you when they get up.
• Instead of a ledge, you can also use the jab infinite against a tree. Or catch them between a ledge AND a tree and your jab combo deals 45-60%!

Villager's jab comes out on frame 3, making it the only confirm to follow up a landing n-air against fresh opponents (0-20%). This combo deals about 23 damage. The jab's speed also makes it a reliable fail-safe if your opponent shields against any landing aerial, beating many out-of-shield options. You can even outspeed opponents who've just parried your bowling ball!

So there. Villager's new jab is actually secretly not that bad. It has a few very specific uses which can give it more payoff than just the opportunity to spawn a gyroid. Let me know if these techniques make a difference in your matchups, or if you've found other uses!

 

[Deleted member]

Arguably no one has said it's a bad jab, it still has a good frame data and hitboxes, it just doesn't combo anymore and it makes it a complete nerf compared to 4's jab, which could lead into KO's.

 

[Mark The Page]

Arguably no one has said it's a bad jab, it still has a good frame data and hitboxes, it just doesn't combo anymore and it makes it a complete nerf compared to 4's jab, which could lead into KO's.

I've certainly said it's a bad jab, and I've only seen people agreeing. The hitbox is trash and the damage, under most conditions, is rock bottom.

Then one day I realized that, in traditional Villager fashion, this move was mostly bad because I was looking at it through the lens of a "standard" fighter. Jab infinites work very differently in Ultimate, and on top of that Villager's is even weirder.