Horrifically imbalanced?

[Soyaccino]

Does anyone else find the game horrifically imbalanced when it comes to online play?

I find unless you’re using a fire emblem character or one the top 10 found in the early tiers then you’re in for a really tough time.

I always try and main DK or King Dedede but this time it feels so harsh trying to get near anyone as they are significantly more capable with access to projectiles, speed or move variability.

It’s like other than KRool, heavies don’t really get a look in. Even Ridley has been introduced and struggles with lag on moves etc.

I feel the game would have been better had they redesigned some of the moves sets from scratch to make each character more viable. The way the game plays is aimed at holding people off the edge in most fights and heavies really struggle out there.

What are other people’s thoughts?

 

[Arthur97]

I am in Elite with several non sword users such as Ridley. Peach may also be of note.

This seems to be considered the most balanced of them all. Maybe those fighters just don't suite you.

 

[T-Donor66]

In Elite with Mewtwo, Ridley and Wolf. I don’t think any of them have a sword or blue hair lol. That excuse doesn’t work. I get that its easier to blame the game than yourself, but seriously do some self evaluation and watch some of your games and see how you can improve, or post them here so others can critique.

 

[FishkeeperTimmay!]

Definitely not an imbalanced game. Swordies feel oppressive right now because they naturally translate fundamentals from the previous games. Good players can show up ready to stomp face with good spacing and reads. Swordies are also naturally aggressive, so that requires you to adapt to them, not the other way around. Being online makes it harder, as you get less time to react when on defense (due to lag; frames matter when it comes to reactive play). But that just means you need to learn how to play better; use the safe attacks, don't be predictable and capitalize on their mistakes.

As for heavies, they are more viable in this game than any other, as far as I can tell. First of all, the universal jump squat and access to fast attacks (Ganon being the worst at 7-8 frames for Jab/Up Air) means that only a handful of situations that you can't respond to if you play well. Heck, Bowser moves crazy fast and has fast attacks to boot. DK gets awesome punishes off a simple grab. Ridley has a wicked fast Nairs and tilts. Ganon can use his safe moves to put you off stage at low %'s. They have effective, safe options for sure.

Heavies also legitimately kill at low %. You only need to fish out a handful of attacks before I am sweating. Once I am at 60%-80% I know I can't afford to whiff or get predictable. This is tilted in your favour online, since landing a juicy smash is easier when your opponent can't shield on reaction. Heavies can make even small mistakes translate into a stock or a solid edge guard position. It just takes time to leverage it.

 

[Oneiros5321]

The more you play, the higher your rank is. The higher your rank is, the less Fire Emblem characters you will encounter.
You encounter a lot of them at low rank because they are "easy" characters to play. You gotta take your time against them, learn how long their attacks last so you don't release your shield too early, analyse their play style, a lot of low rank character like to roll. A lot.

While it's not easy to punish online based on reaction alone, it is easy to learn the pattern. Most players who roll a lot usually always do it in the same direction.
I feel like the most important of all against sword characters is to know your spacing. They are fast and have long range so any mistake you make will easily be punished.

Saving my replays and re watching them made me realize that those are the most common mistakes I was making against those characters.
As a general rule, imo, don't rush in the match, don't try to react too much but try to anticipate, know your character enough to focus on the opponent and punish their mistakes. Those are probably rules against any characters but I've really learned them against sword characters.

 

[LIL ELF]

I mean, I guess they we're getting me salty the first days because I didnt really know how to play against them but after that I just learnt how to counter them. Only one who's getting me sweaty right now would be Roy, but then again I usually figure out a way to beat them.

 

[Soyaccino]

I agree with the idea that people may be more familiar with them but I still think by them being easier to play with that it makes them favoured.

Not using it at all as an excuse against ‘work’ with my own choice of characters. Just being observant and putting out there what I’ve found.

Regardless of my opinion: Recently I have started watching my own replays and I did find it helpful.

 

[Mogisthelioma]

I'm elite with multiple fighters but in this case I should point out King Dedede and King K. Rool. I'm elite with both and normally superheavies get combo'd by sword wielders but I built by gsp off of slaying Chroms and Roys. So no it doesn't matter if you have a sword, it all comes down to skill.