So I have noticed that throughout the smash games, there has never been a high tier Heavy slow character (HS character). In smash 4, the best HS character is Ike, and then we have DK and bowser who are basically where they are because of their combo throws. Then Charizard, DDD, and Ganondorf are all low tier/bottom tier. The highest HS character is a mid tier. My question is why? Why are heavies historically and now so bad? What does Ike have that the other HS characters don't have that makes him better? (that is not a defense it's a legit question.) What buffs would make these characters at least high mid tier? Here is what I see: HS characters sacrifice mobility, frame data, and combo potential for KO power, big hitboxes, and weight. There are a few problems. 1. most HS characters have bad recoveries, which negates their ability to survive as long as their weight should allow them. 2. There are many non HS characters that can kill just as early as HS characters. Ness and Villager have some of the strongest Fsmashes in the game. Even Link's Fsmash is stronger than DK's. we characters like Cloud who can kill insanely early, with setups into these kills (finishing touch.) his side B can kill insanely early as well, but does 28% (about as much as some HS smashes) and has zero lag. Ness has PKT2, ZSS can kill with incredible combos, Ryu has Up B, Wario has Fart, Captain Falcon has knee and Fsmash that people can die at 40% from, Luigi has Up B and misfire, etc. All of these things will hit a lot more than a frame 22 smash that kills at 40%, but has no setup. The designers seem to think that having smashes that kill early justifies all the incredible weaknesses that HS characters have. What is the point of durability if many characters with much better frame data, mobility, and combos can kill much more consistently and just as early as HS characters? Also, you would think that HS characters would be able to throw very far, considering their brute strength. Only charizard really has a kill throw. DK has back throw, which is alright, but is not nearly the power one would expect a huge Ape to be able to throw someone relative the other characters in the game. Ganon has no kill throw. DDDhas no kill throw, bowser's kill throw (dthrow) only kills at very high percent on the ledge. Now I know that Sakurai has claimed that he buffs and nerfs characters for the "casual competitive" crowd, basically meaning for glory, so i know that it would be very easy to make an HS character overpowered. We all know that what they did to DK and Bowser was definitely the wrong way to make a character better. many of my friends tell me that it is impossible for an HS character to be high tier. Ike is almost there. What does Ike have that other HS characters are missing that could make them more viable? what buffs should be put on HS characters to make them more viable in the competitive community without making them OP for "casual competitive"?
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