Let's talk about stage control

[Kidney Thief]

Hello smashers, I think that to a lot of people stage positions come naturally and to these people good for you. But some people like myself have had a lot of trouble lately understanding how stage positions work. It's got to the point where my friends think I lose consistently to people I shouldn't ever lose to only due to my rushing in without understanding stage positions. So let's talk about stage positions. What's the best options near the ledge to gain back stage control? How about against characters like Peach or Ganondorf who love to push you to the edge? How's the top platforms and why is it a good or bad stage position? How's the middle and in what situations is it bad to be in the "box"? All that kind of stuff

 

[Boomhound]

Any mix-up that gets you from the ledge to stage safely is good, so vary your options and take note of what your opponent tends to cover.

I would recommend working on your movement (especially regarding platforms) so that you can reposition quickly.
Good movement will also help your baiting and combo-followups.

The top platform is difficult for your opponent to approach to, likewise it's bad for you too cos you want to control ground-level to give yourself more options.

You need to have a reason for each movement- stage positioning is an extension of spacing in which you use the stage to explore your options.
For example don't give your opponent the run of ground level and jump on a platform for no reason, however if you're fighting Falco you can use platforms to avoid laser pressure and get closer.

Use your dash-dancing to control the stage as a Marth would, a wide dash-dance covers more ground and puts you in a position to evade and/or punish an approach.

While centre-stage is usually optimal, don't overlook why you want it and how it will help in the match-up.

 

[Wind]

On a 3 platform stage, my understanding is that you want to be right near the edge of a lower platform closest to center stage. This gives you more options and takes away your opponents, because

1) You can jump/waveland onto the platform
2) The platform can stuff some full hop approaches if you just wavedash back

Stage position is all about the options that it presents you and your opponent, at least to my understanding.

 

[RedQuelll]

I would say with peach its not the end of the world to be above her on a higher platform, as her float cancel and other ground mix ups (chain grab on fox, dash attack tech chase, ect) can make her a threat on the ground. You heavily outpace peach, so if you have a good waveland/foxtrot/dash dance/wave dash peach will have a ***** of a time keeping up with you. In that match up you should always be controlling the pace of the battle. Ganon however, while slow, has brutal aerials and thus it is a HORRIBLE idea to stay above ganon. The top platform may be kinda sorta safe (not really) but middle platforms are a huge danger zone (prepare for up air spam) and fair which will kill you extraordinarily early. I personally ride the nair plane all the way home with fox. The priority is so high that shffled nairs followed by shines after landing will out pressure your opponent, allowing you to reset to neutral.