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Edgeguarding Sheik

DD151

Smash Journeyman
Joined
May 14, 2006
Messages
236
Preface

For the longest time, Yoshi had been considered to have an unwinnable match-up vs. Sheik, but with the development in Yoshi's punish game and the discovery that Sheik doesn't actually have a 0-death chaingrab on Yoshi, opinions on this match-up have started to swing in the opposite direction. Though all characters in the game have a well-defined flowchart for edgeguarding Sheik, it is important for players to be well-disciplined at following the flowchart when it comes to executing the edgeguard. My objective with this analysis is to eliminate the bad options and hone in on the good options.

Analysis

I analyzed 3 sets of aMSa's Yoshi. In every set, I marked the timestamps at which Yoshi knocks Sheik off the stage and gains a potential edgeguard. Edgeguards are color coded into 3 categories:

Green denotes a successful edgeguard. A successful edgeguard either KOs Sheik or sets up another edgeguard opportunity. I also considered an edgeguard to be "successful" if Sheik was hit off-stage at low % (<60% or so) and Yoshi got a punish of about >40%.
Red denotes a dropped edgeguard. A dropped edgeguard lets Sheik grab the edge or return to the stage and act out of landing lag.
Yellow denotes an sub-optimal edgeguard. A sub-optimal edgeguard either is a punish that does not set up another edgeguard opportunity or an attack that hits Sheik the wrong way.

Apex 2015 Losers Top 8 KirbyKaze vs. aMSa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_pDCHqboBk
Game 1: Battlefield
1:09 – D-smash 65%. KK recovers with up-B, lands on side platform. aMSa does up-B edgehog and then edge stand into FJ F-air, hitting KK out of up-B landlag.
1:21 – N-air 111%. KK recovers with up-B, lands on side platform. aMSa does up-B edgehog and then edge stand into FJ N-air, hitting KK out of up-B landlag.
1:26 – N-air 124%. KK recovers with up-B, lands on-stage. aMSa does down-B edgehog and then edge stand into SH N-air, hitting KK out of up-B landlag.
1:31 – N-air 137%. KK recovers with up-B, lands on-stage. aMSa does down-B edgehog and then edge stand into SH N-air, hitting KK out of up-B landlag for KO.
2:08 – D-smash 98%. KK recovers low with DJ. aMSa intercepts KK with up-B edgehog. KK recovers with up-B, lands on-stage. aMSa does edge stand into DJC N-air, hitting KK out of up-B landlag.
2:13 – N-air 123%. KK recovers with up-B, aiming for edge. aMSa does RDJ instant edgehog for KO.
2:58 – N-air 87%. KK recovers with up-B, aiming for edge. aMSa does RDJ instant edgehog for KO.

3:35 – N-air 115%. KK recovers low with DJ, aiming for edge. aMSa does up-B edgehog. KK recovers with air dodge, lands on-stage. aMSa does edge stand.

Result: aMSa W, 2 stock 51%
7 successful, 1 dropped
Comments: 3:35 should have reacted faster to air dodge with edgehop N-air.

Game 2: Final Destination
4:43 – N-air 92%. KK recovers low with DJ. aMSa does up-B edgehog and then up-B edge stall hit confirm into edgehop N-air.
4:46 – N-air 116%. KK does not have his DJ; he recovers with up-B, aiming for edge. aMSa does RDJ instant edgehog for KO.

5:03 – D-tilt 0%. KK recovers with up-B, lands on-stage. aMSa does up-B edgehog, hitting KK out of up-B landlag, and then edge stand.
6:17 – N-air 81%. KK recovers with up-B, falling for edge. aMSa does up-B edgehog and then edge stand into D-smash for KO.
7:23 – N-air 79%. KK recovers with air dodge, lands on-stage. aMSa does up-B edgehog and then edge stand into SH N-air, hitting KK out of air dodge landlag.

7:26 – N-air 91%. KK recovers with up-B, lands on-stage. aMSa does up-B edgehog and then edge stand.

Result: KK W, 2 stock 151%
4 successful, 2 dropped
Comments: 5:03 should have thrown egg elsewhere and used SH F-air for a punish. 7:26 should have reacted faster to air dodge with edgehop N-air.

Game 3: Yoshi’s Story
8:23 – N-air 75%. KK recovers with air dodge, lands on-stage. aMSa does up-B edgehog and then edge stand.
8:35 – D-smash 99%. KK recovers with up-B, lands on-stage. aMSa does RDJ instant edgehog and then edge stand into U-tilt, hitting KK out of up-B landlag. aMSa combos U-tilt into U-air for KO.
8:49 – D-tilt 0%. KK recovers mid with DJ. aMSa intercepts KK with D-air. KK recovers with up-B, lands on-stage. aMSa does DJ back on-stage.
10:07 – D-smash 90%. KK recovers mid with DJ. aMSa intercepts KK with up-B edgehog. KK recovers with up-B, lands on-stage. aMSa does edge stand into SH N-air, hitting KK out of up-B landlag for KO.
10:22 – D-tilt 25%. KK recovers with up-B, lands on side platform. aMSa does up-B edgehog and then edge stand into DJC U-air, hitting KK out of up-B landlag. aMSa combos U-air into F-air.
10:41 – Up-B 134%. KK does not have his DJ; he recovers with up-B, lands on-stage. aMSa does up-B edgehog and then edge stand into DJC N-air, hitting KK out of up-B landlag for KO.


Result: aMSa W, 3 stock 31%
4 successful, 2 dropped
Comments: 8:23 should have reacted faster to air dodge with edgehop N-air. 8:49 should have used RDJ instant edgehog to force KK to up-B or wavelanded on-stage after returning from the D-air.

Game 4: Pokemon Stadium
11:37 – N-air 98%. KK recovers with air dodge, lands on-stage. aMSa does up-B edgehog and then delayed edge hop.
13:55 – N-air 86%. KK does not have his DJ; he recovers with up-B, aiming for edge. aMSa does RDJ instant edgehog for KO.

Result: aMSa W, 2 stock 110%
1 successful, 1 dropped
Comments: 11:37 aMSa baited and punished a D-smash from KK, but he could have reacted faster to air dodge with edgehop N-air.

Set: 16 successful, 6 dropped (72.7%)

Battle Gateway 6 LSF Flash vs. aMSa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFqAbH9vuHs
Game 1: Battlefield
3:34 – Dash attack 52%. Flash does not have his DJ; he recovers with up-B, landing on side platform. aMSa does RDJ instant edgehog and then edge stand into DJC U-air, hitting Flash out of up-B landlag.
4:01 – N-air 115%. Flash recovers with up-B, lands on stage. aMSa does up-B edgehog and then edge stand into U-tilt, hitting Flash out of up-B landlag. aMSa combos U-tilt into U-air for KO.
4:55 – N-air 87%. Flash recovers with up-B, falling for edge. aMSa does up-B edgehog and then edge stand into D-smash for KO.

6:19 – N-air 88%. Flash recovers high with DJ. aMSa does RDJ instant edgehog. Flash recovers with air dodge, lands on-stage. aMSa does edgehop reversed N-air, hitting Flash out of up-B landlag.
6:26 – N-air 111%. Flash recovers with up-B, falling for edge. aMSa does up-B edgehog into edge stand.
6:52 – N-air 67%. Flash recovers with up-B, lands on-stage. aMSa does up-B edgehog and then edge stand into F-smash, hitting Flash out of up-B landlag.
6:56 – F-smash 79%. Flash recovers with up-B, falling for edge. aMSa does up-B edgehog for KO.


Result: aMSa W, 1 stock 64%
4 successful, 2 dropped, 1 sub-optimal
Comments: 3:34 should have used FJ F-air for a better punish or FJ N-air to set up another edgeguard. 6:19 should have delayed the edgehop N-air a few frames to punish air dodge with the strong hit. 6:26 used edge stand too early.

Game 2: Final Destination
8:07 – F-smash 93%. Flash recovers with up-B, lands on-stage. aMSa does up-B edgehog and then edgedash into D-smash, hitting Flash out of up-B landlag.
8:11 – D-smash 109%. Flash recovers with up-B, aiming for edge. aMSa does up-B edgehog and then gives up the edge.
8:17 – Dash attack 124%. Flash recovers low with DJ. aMSa does up-B edgehog, up-B edge stall, and then edgehop N-air. Flash hits aMSa with F-air, then gets hit with egg. Flash recovers with up-B, grabs edge.

9:01 – N-air 72%. Flash recovers mid with DJ. aMSa intercepts Flash with up-B edgehog. Flash recovers with up-B, aiming for edge. aMSa does down-B edge stall into edge stand for KO.
9:45 – N-air 114%. Flash recovers low with DJ. aMSa does RDJ instant edgehog. Flash recovers with up-B, falling for edge. aMSa does >100% edge stand into D-smash for KO.

10:58 – F-smash 74%. Flash recovers high with DJ. aMSa does up-B edgehog and then up-B edge stall. Flash hits aMSa with neutral-B. aMSa DJs on-stage. Flash recovers with up-B, grabs edge.
11:17 – N-air 108%.Flash recovers low with DJ. aMSa does up-B edgehog hit confirm into edgehop N-air for KO.

Result: aMSa W, 1 stock 65%
4 successful, 3 dropped
Comments: 8:11 should have stayed on edge. 8:17 should have timed edge invincibility for Flash’s F-air. 10:58 should have done edge stand on reaction to Flash’s neutral-B.

Game 3: Final Destination
13:32 – D-smash 107%. Flash recovers with up-B, lands on-stage. aMSa does RDJ instant edgehog and then edge stand into U-tilt, hitting Flash out of up- B landlag. aMSa combos U-tilt into U-air.
13:42 – N-air 146%. Flash recovers with up-B, aiming for edge. aMSa does RDJ instant edgehog for KO.
14:08 – D-tilt 0%. Flash recovers low with DJ, grabs edge. aMSa stands on-stage.

Result: Flash W, 3 stock 66%
1 successful, 2 dropped
Comments: 13:32 should have used SH N-air to set up another edgeguard. 14:08 should have used RDJ instant edgehog to force Flash to up-B.

Game 4: Yoshi’s Story
16:06 – Dash attack 51%. Flash does not have his DJ; he recovers with up-B, lands on side platform. aMSa does RDJ instant edgehog and then edge stand into SH F-air, hitting Flash out of up-B landlag. aMSa combos F-air into F-air.
16:25 – N-air 113%. Flash recovers with air dodge; lands on Randall. aMSa grabs edge and then does up-B edge stalls. Flash falls off Randall after shielding an egg and recovers with up-B, falling for edge. aMSa does >100% edge stand.
17:36 – D-tilt 0%. Flash recovers low with DJ, aiming for edge. aMSa intercepts Flash with dash attack. Flash recovers with up-B, lands on-stage. aMSa does RDJ instant edgehog and then edgestand into DJC U-air, hitting Flash out of up-B landlag. aMSa combos U-air into N-air and then does a jab reset that leads into a U-air and a F-air.
18:08 – D-tilt 75%. Flash does not have his DJ; he recovers with up-B, aiming for edge. aMSa does RDJ instant edgehog for KO.


Result: Flash W, 1 stock 0%
3 successful, 1 dropped
Comments: 16:25 used edge stand too early.

Game 5: Yoshi’s Story
20:58 – N-air 101%. Flash recovers low with up-B. aMSa grabs edge and then does up-B edge stall, hitting Flash out of up-B startup. Flash recovers with up-B, falling for edge. aMSa does edge stand into D-smash for KO.
21:48 – Dash attack 106%. Flash recovers low with DJ and then drops low for a walljump. aMSa does up-B edgehog and then up-B edge stall. Flash recovers with up-B, lands on-stage. aMSa does edge stand and then RDJ instant edgehog into edgehop reversed N-air, hitting Flash out of up-B landlag for KO.
23:02 – N-air 32%. Flash recovers low with DJ. aMSa intercepts Flash with dash attack. Flash recovers with up-B, lands on side platform. aMSa does RDJ instant edgehog and then edge stand into SH F-air, hitting Flash out of up-B landlag. aMSa sets up a platform tech chase with F-air.

23:06 – D-smash 72%. Flash recovers low with DJ and then does a walljump. aMSa does up-B edgehog into edgehop N-air. Flash recovers with up-B, lands on-stage. aMSa does RDJ instant edgehog and then edge stand into N-air, hitting Flash out of up-B landlag. Flash ASDI-down techs the N-air.
23:25 – N-air 112%. Flash recovers with up-B, aiming for edge. aMSa does RDJ instant edgehog and then gives up the edge.
24:05 – Up-B 67%. Flash does not have his DJ; he recovers with up-B, lands on-stage. aMSa does RDJ instant edgehog and then edge stand into FJ F-air.


Result: aMSa W, 1 stock 127%
3 successful, 3 dropped
Comments: 23:06 could have punished ASDI-down tech with dash attack or D-smash. 23:35 should have stayed on edge. 24:05 should have used SH F-air for a punish or DJC N-air to set up another edgeguard.

Set: 15 successful, 11 dropped, 1 sub-optimal (55.6%)

NINJA5 LF Sheik vs. aMSa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiyrQYJvY_U
Game 1: Battlefield.
1:00 – N-air 102%. Sheik recovers mid with DJ. aMSa does up-B edgehog. Sheik recovers with air dodge, lands on-stage. aMSa does edgehop reversed N-air, hitting Sheik out of air dodge landlag.
1:17 – Dash attack 144%. Sheik recovers with up-B, lands on side platform. aMSa does up-B edgehog and then >100% edge stand into SH U-air, hitting Sheik out of up-B landlag for KO.
2:13 – N-air 70%. Sheik recovers with up-B, lands on side platform. aMSa does up-B edgehog and then down-B stall into >100% edge stand.
2:34 – D-smash 84%. Sheik recovers with up-B, lands on-stage. aMSa grabs edge and then does edge stand into DJC N-air, hitting Sheik out of up-B landlag.
2:38 – N-air 98%. Sheik recovers with up-B, lands on side platform. aMSa does RDJ instant edgehog and then edge stand into FJ F-air.
2:43 – B-air 112%. Sheik recovers with up-B, lands on side platform. aMSa does RDJ instant edgehog and then edge stand into FJ N-air, hitting Sheik out of up-B landlag for KO.
3:02 – D-tilt 29%. Sheik recovers with up-B, lands on side platform. aMSa does up-B edgehog, down-B stall, and then edge stand into FJ F-air.
3:36 – N-air 81%. Sheik recovers low with DJ. aMSa does RDJ instant edgehog and then edgehop N-air. Sheik recovers with up-B, grabs edge during start-up.

4:45 – D-smash 93%. Sheik recovers with up-B, aiming for edge. aMSa does down-B edgehog for KO.

Result: aMSa W, 1 stock 110%
4 successful, 4 dropped, 1 sub-optimal
Comments: 1:00 could have maybe done edgedash F-smash or D-smash. 2:13 should not have done down-B stall and should have done >100% edge stand sooner. 2:38 should have used FJ N-air to set up another edgeguard. 3:02 dashing for 1 frame before jumping would have let F-air hit. 3:36 should have stayed on edge.

Game 2: Final Destination
6:00 – N-air 63%. Sheik recovers with up-B, lands on-stage. aMSa does up-B edgehog and then edge stand into SH F-air, hitting Sheik out of up-B landlag. aMSa combos F-air into down-B for KO.
6:39 – N-air 109%. aMSa does up-B edgehog and then edgehop N-air. Sheik recovers low with DJ, grabs edge.
6:56 – N-air 122%. Sheik recovers with up-B, lands on-stage. aMSa does up-B edgehog and then edge stand into reversed D-smash, hitting Sheik out of up-B landlag for KO.
8:12 – Sheik flubs his edge stall and recovers with up-B, lands on-stage. aMSa does RDJ instant edgehog, edge stand, and then RDJ instant edgehog into edgehop U-air, hitting Sheik out of up-B landlag. aMSa combos U-air into F-tilt and dash attack.
8:28 – Dash attack 74%. Sheik recovers with up-B, lands on-stage. aMSa does up-B edgehog and then edge stand into SH F-air, hitting Sheik out of up-B landlag. aMSa combos F-air into N-air.

8:56 – N-air 126%. Sheik recovers low with DJ. aMSa does up-B edgehog. Sheik recovers with air dodge, missing the stage for SD.

Result: aMSa W, 1 stock 26%
3 successful, 1 dropped, 2 sub-optimal
Comments: 6:39 should have delayed up-B edgehog or done edge stand to force Sheik to up-B. 6:56 good option because Sheik was at high %. 8:12 should have reacted to Sheik recovering on-stage for a better punish. 8:28 F-air is probably a true combo to down-B at this % even with DI away.

Game 3: Final Destination
10:09 – N-air 93%. Sheik recovers with up-B, aiming on-stage. aMSa does up-B edgehog and then edgehop N-air, hitting Sheik out of up-B startup lag. Sheik recovers with up-B, lands on-stage. aMSa grabs edge and then does edge stand.
10:17 – N-air 125%. Sheik recovers with up-B, lands on-stage. aMSa does up-B edgehog, down-B stall, and then edge stand into DJC N-air, hitting Sheik out of up-B landlag.
10:20 – N-air 132%. aMSa intercepts Sheik with up-B. Sheik recovers with up-B, aiming for edge. aMSa grabs edge and then does down-B stall into edge stand for KO.

11:02 – N-air 73%. Sheik recovers with up-B, lands on-stage. aMSa does up-B edgehog, down-B stall, and then edge stand into U-tilt, hitting Sheik out of up-B landlag. aMSa combos U-tilt into a down-B star.
11:41 – N-air 146%. Sheik recovers with up-B, lands on-stage. aMSa does RDJ instant edgehog and then edge stand into F-smash, hitting Sheik out of up-B landlag for KO.
12:09 – D-smash 48%. Sheik recovers mid with DJ. aMSa attempts to intercept Sheik with D-air. Sheik recovers with up-B, lands on-stage. aMSa does DJ back to stage into F-air, hitting Sheik out of up-B landlag. aMSa combos F-air into N-air.
12:13 – N-air 77%. Sheik recovers low with DJ. aMSa does up-B edgehog and then up-B edge stall hit confirm into edgehop N-air for KO.


Result: Sheik W, 1 stock 53%
5 successful, 2 dropped
Comments: 10:09 waiting for Sheik to finish up-B is probably better; should have reacted faster to second up-B. 11:02 should have done edge stand earlier for a better punish or followed up U-tilt with N-air.

Game 4: Yoshi’s Story
13:36 – D-smash 61%. Sheik recovers with up-B, lands on side platform. aMSa does RDJ instant edgehog and then edge stand into FJ F-air, hitting Sheik out of up-B landlag. aMSa combos F-air into down-B for KO.
13:51 – D-tilt 13%. Sheik recovers low with DJ and then does walljump. aMSa does RDJ instant edgehog into edge stand. Sheik recovers with up-B, lands on side platform. aMSa does RDJ instant edgehog and then edge stand into SH F-air, hitting Sheik out of up-B landlag. aMSa combos F-air into U-air and U-air.
13:59 – D-smash 61%. Sheik recovers with up-B, lands on side platform. aMSa does up-B edgehog and then edge stand into FJ F-air, hitting Sheik out of up-B landlag. aMSa combos F-air into N-air for KO.

14:44 – N-air 67%. Sheik recovers with up-B, lands on-stage. aMSa does RDJ instant edgehog and then edge stand into DJC reversed N-air, hitting Sheik out of up-B landlag.

Result: aMSa W, 1 stock 0%
3 successful, 1 sub-optimal
Comments: 14:44 should have reacted slightly faster to up-B on-stage.

Set: 15 successful, 7 dropped, 4 sub-optimal (57.7%)

Total cumulative: 46 successful, 24 dropped, 5 sub-optimal (61.3%)

Conclusion

aMSa's edgeguarding efficiency vs. Sheik is pretty good, but he occasionally makes errors that are very easy to avoid and he underutilizes some potential options. Additionally, aMSa is not very good at covering Sheik's air dodge, though that is to be expected because it's her least punishable recovery option when available.

More analysis in a subsequent post.
 

DD151

Smash Journeyman
Joined
May 14, 2006
Messages
236
Thoughts on edgeguard options and habits

The flowchart for what to do at first when edgeguarding Sheik is very simple: Yoshi wants to force Sheik to use her up-B or at least use her air dodge to recover on-stage. Any time at which Sheik can grab the edge with her DJ, Yoshi should grab the edge, timing his invincibility to avoid any possible aerial attacks that Sheik throws out to deter Yoshi from doing so.

Whether Yoshi should grab the edge with the running up-B edgehog or the RDJ instant edgehog doesn't usually matter. In general, Yoshi is not going to hit a recovering Sheik with the running up-B edgehog, and there is a lower likelihood for a tech flub when using the RDJ instant edgehog. However, in my opinion, there are 2 situations in which the running up-B edgehog can yield substantial return.
  • If Sheik is recovering high with her DJ, Yoshi should attempt to intercept her by throwing the egg high. Sheik usually has the option to swat the egg with her F-air, but if the egg hits, this stalls her horizontal aerial momentum and can potentially remove her air dodge option.
  • If Sheik is recovering low with her DJ and is jumping directly below the edge, Yoshi should attempt to intercept her by gently lobbing the egg backwards. The egg can hit Sheik during her up-B start-up, and Yoshi can hit confirm this into a N-air.
If Sheik uses her up-B to recover, Yoshi always wants to occupy the ledge for long enough to account for the following possibilities:
  • Sheik grabbing the edge during up-B start-up
  • Sheik going down to the edge during up-B intangibility
  • Sheik reappearing by the edge after her up-B ends and grabbing the edge immediately afterward
Some of these possibilities are only possible depending on Sheik's initial position. For example, if Sheik is below the stage, then she cannot possibly grab the edge during her up-B intangibility. If Sheik is above the stage, then it's very difficult for her to grab the edge right after her up-B ends. When Sheik determines that she can no longer grab the edge during her up-B, her only options are to:
  • Up-B on-stage
  • Up-B on a side platform (if applicable)
  • Up-B and fall to the edge
  • Up-B and grab edge at max range
All of these options can generally be covered if Yoshi does his edge stand. Sometimes, Sheik may obviously commit to recovering into the stage during her up-B startup. In this case, Yoshi can set himself up better with an edgedash instead of an edge stand. Up-B on-stage can be punished afterwards with:
  • SH or DJC N-air (high %s for another edgeguard)
  • SH F-air (low to mid %s for punish, can combo into down-B)
  • DJC U-air (mid %s for punish)
  • F-smash or D-smash (high %s for another edgeguard)
  • U-tilt (high %s, can combo into U-air)
Always try to go for options in the following order of priority: can KO > can set up another edgeguard > can set up big % punish. The player should know when F-air > down-B and U-tilt > U-air when KO. It's worth keeping in mind that D-smash and to a lesser extent N-air and F-smash can be ASDI-down teched depending on %.

Up-B onto a side platform can be punished afterwards with:
  • FJ N-air (high %s for another edgeguard)
  • SH or FJ F-air (low to mid %s for punish, can combo into down-B)
  • DJC U-air (mid %s for punish, I don't like this though)
DJC U-air should really only be used in place of SH or FJ F-air if the player realizes that he is late and F-air will not hit before Sheik exits up-B landing lag.

Up-B and fall to edge can be punished afterwards with:
  • D-smash (basically all %s)
Without superhuman SDI, this can't be teched and the trajectory is lethal.

Up-B and grab edge at max range can be punished with:
  • Stay on the edge
Don't be like aMSa and drop these super easy edgehogs.

Keep in mind that >100% edge stand is different from <100% edge stand. Further testing is needed to see if Yoshi has the same options at >100% as long as he times his edge stand earlier.

Yoshi should always keep in mind Sheik's air dodge range and expect her to use it when she is close enough to recover on-stage with her air dodge. Priming reaction time with expectation allows Yoshi to react faster to this option, which is important if he wants to punish it, since air dodge has only 10 frames of landing lag compared to up-B's 30 frames of landing lag.

Because air dodge is more difficult to punish, Yoshi has fewer options. In general, it seems that edgehop N-air is a safe and reliable option. Air dodge covers little distance and Yoshi should frequently get the reverse hit. Additionally, because air dodge has no hitbox, Yoshi can respond to air dodge with an edgedash, which may allow for a grounded option such as D-smash for punishment.
 
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