HugS
Smash Champion
Melee is about to end, and I haven't really been one to reveal much information outside of private talks with certain people. Mainly because people ask for very general advice(which i give) and hardly anything specific.
So I'd like to dedicate this thread to the samus community and divulge as much information as I can about Samus. I'll be focusing on the lesser known aspects of her game to avoid this from becoming just another advice thread. Because of the nature of this "project" my thoughts aren't quite organized and the amount of things that could be said are vast. So, bear with me as I try to organize this and bring forth thoughts that are sitting in the back of my head.
THIS ISN'T A GUIDE. This is only a list of tactics and strategies meant to be added into your already established samus game.
I lose passion for things every now and then so I'm basically going to be working on this on a "when I feel like it" basis. But it WILL be good. Take everything I say with a grain of salt, for this game requires tons of improvisation.
As a footnote to all of this, I'll just say it here and now:
The key to samus is control. Control the stage, control your character, control the speed of the match, control your opponent.
Guaranteed Charge Shots:
SHEIK
It's a shame I never thought of this sooner. Basically, there is a way to guarantee a chargeshot on Sheik (one of samus's most popular match ups). When you grab a sheik, she has 2 options:
1. Don't DI
2. DI away.
With a charge shot in hand, you down throw samus and pay attention. If she DI's in place you can fsmash, dsmash, or charge shot at nearly any percent. If she DI's away, you simply wavedash back and shoot. The shot covers 3/4 all options after that. If she rolls into you she gets shot, if she rolls away (as long as she is not stopped by a ledge) she gets shot, if she techs in place she gets shot. Her only real option is not teching, and really who's going to not tech a samus Dthrow when the samus has a fully charged shot? If she doesn't tech in place, she gets shot. There is really no prediction prowess necessary with this tactic.
Ledge Tactics
The Fake Ledge Jump
I've shown this to about 3 people total. Watty, HUGQ, and Alexandertriad. It is VERY subtle and one may be hard pressed to really find the use of this, but it is amazingly beneficial.
When you hang on the edge and press down to jump off, you enter this spin jump animation. You can land into the stage without being very high over it during this animation (visually speaking). Also, the animation ends instantly, adding to the illusion of being vulnerable. This adds effect to the tactic because your opponent will assume you are still in the middle of the jump and that you are too low to enter the stage anyways.
ATTENTION, all people having difficulty coming in vs Dtilting Marths:
This is your solution.
Platform tactics
Shield Dropping
This is a very underused tactic. Basically, if you are shielding above the platform, you can drop below it while holding your shield up by pressing down in between the pressure of sidestepping and shield angling. When people speak of "mindgames", the application of this tactic can fall under that category.
Got a sheik on your bottom right getting ready to jump and slap your shield? Shield, let her jump, drop while in shield. She is now on top and you are now free to fair or uair. Do you find yourself on a platform while your opponent is shielding in front of you? Shield drop right before your opponent shield grabs and you will be free to counter. It really is a good technique.
Isai's "Auto cancel"
You can up Air into a platform in order to stop yourself from jumping past the platform. It places you right on the platform after jumping from below, and it has less lag than landing with an airdodge.
Application: It can be used to grab opponents that are shielding on platforms. It can also be a useful tactic in evasion.
Up B usage
Behind the Shield
Even a slightly weakened shield can be penetrated with an up B from behind. Experiment.
Up B interception
The up B is not just for use out of shield. I have found that many falco's and foxes have found ways around up B out of shield, but they still have problems combating up B interceptions. When an opponent jumps over you at a reasonable distance, intercept the jump with an up B. It's an easy way to rack up damage and to stop your opponent from doing whatever he wants on the stage.
Remember, the key is CONTROL.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That's All I have for now but I will be updating and organizing this regularly as long as people are showing interest. I know Brawl is coming up, so we'll see what happens.
So I'd like to dedicate this thread to the samus community and divulge as much information as I can about Samus. I'll be focusing on the lesser known aspects of her game to avoid this from becoming just another advice thread. Because of the nature of this "project" my thoughts aren't quite organized and the amount of things that could be said are vast. So, bear with me as I try to organize this and bring forth thoughts that are sitting in the back of my head.
THIS ISN'T A GUIDE. This is only a list of tactics and strategies meant to be added into your already established samus game.
I lose passion for things every now and then so I'm basically going to be working on this on a "when I feel like it" basis. But it WILL be good. Take everything I say with a grain of salt, for this game requires tons of improvisation.
As a footnote to all of this, I'll just say it here and now:
The key to samus is control. Control the stage, control your character, control the speed of the match, control your opponent.
Guaranteed Charge Shots:
SHEIK
It's a shame I never thought of this sooner. Basically, there is a way to guarantee a chargeshot on Sheik (one of samus's most popular match ups). When you grab a sheik, she has 2 options:
1. Don't DI
2. DI away.
With a charge shot in hand, you down throw samus and pay attention. If she DI's in place you can fsmash, dsmash, or charge shot at nearly any percent. If she DI's away, you simply wavedash back and shoot. The shot covers
Ledge Tactics
The Fake Ledge Jump
I've shown this to about 3 people total. Watty, HUGQ, and Alexandertriad. It is VERY subtle and one may be hard pressed to really find the use of this, but it is amazingly beneficial.
When you hang on the edge and press down to jump off, you enter this spin jump animation. You can land into the stage without being very high over it during this animation (visually speaking). Also, the animation ends instantly, adding to the illusion of being vulnerable. This adds effect to the tactic because your opponent will assume you are still in the middle of the jump and that you are too low to enter the stage anyways.
ATTENTION, all people having difficulty coming in vs Dtilting Marths:
This is your solution.
Platform tactics
Shield Dropping
This is a very underused tactic. Basically, if you are shielding above the platform, you can drop below it while holding your shield up by pressing down in between the pressure of sidestepping and shield angling. When people speak of "mindgames", the application of this tactic can fall under that category.
Got a sheik on your bottom right getting ready to jump and slap your shield? Shield, let her jump, drop while in shield. She is now on top and you are now free to fair or uair. Do you find yourself on a platform while your opponent is shielding in front of you? Shield drop right before your opponent shield grabs and you will be free to counter. It really is a good technique.
Isai's "Auto cancel"
You can up Air into a platform in order to stop yourself from jumping past the platform. It places you right on the platform after jumping from below, and it has less lag than landing with an airdodge.
Application: It can be used to grab opponents that are shielding on platforms. It can also be a useful tactic in evasion.
Up B usage
Behind the Shield
Even a slightly weakened shield can be penetrated with an up B from behind. Experiment.
Up B interception
The up B is not just for use out of shield. I have found that many falco's and foxes have found ways around up B out of shield, but they still have problems combating up B interceptions. When an opponent jumps over you at a reasonable distance, intercept the jump with an up B. It's an easy way to rack up damage and to stop your opponent from doing whatever he wants on the stage.
Remember, the key is CONTROL.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That's All I have for now but I will be updating and organizing this regularly as long as people are showing interest. I know Brawl is coming up, so we'll see what happens.
