Opening Strategies

[donutdude]

The beginning of a match can very well set the pace for the rest of the game. How do you typically start off your matches?

Now, I realize that what you do depends on which character you and/or your opponent picks. But are there any general strategies you use? For example, do you immediately dash back to see what your opponent will do and try to find an opening to punish them? Or perhaps you fire off a quick projectile? Or maybe you charge at your opponent and hope to rack up some quick damage?

Discuss.

 

[_Kip]

Typically I expect the opponent to fire a quick projectile, or rush in, so I tend to play it more defensive from the start. If I have a charge move I usually start charging it, but without the hope of actually using it. It is more to cause my opponent to want to rush, which allows me a chance to see their approach game while still keeping mine at bay. In other words, I try to understand my opponent's play-style without giving up mine right away.

 

[Scala]

Since I play Diddy, I have to prep for the match immediately. I have to get those bananas out into a strategically advantageous position ASAP.

 

[sligmasta]

when using a faster character i use the fact that the word GO! obscures most of the screen for the first second to get an attack in before it disapears. works on noobs everytime, works on more experienced players some of the time

with a slower character i will immediately retreat to counteract the possible use of of the previously mentioned tactic

 

[plasmid]

I think sometimes it can depend who you are fighting (the person) and what character they are using, more than what character you are using. Example: If I'm fighting my nephew, I know he's a noob, so I'll just relentlessly attack him, or wait for him to walk into my attacks, but if I'm fighting my friend Kasai, and he chooses Kirby, I'll try to spam full hop thunder jolts and run, or if I'm fighting Kasai again, and he uses Ike, I would abuse my speed by QACing next to him to an aireal.

 

[mzink*]

When I use MK I immediately take to the air to avoid initial projectile spam and I make an aerial approack. With Bowser I approach them in leaps and dodges again to avoid the initial projectile spam and hit them with a fair. I am usually the immediate aggressor and the one to make the first approach to get the match going.

 

[old king coal]

as falco i laser the crap out of them. it helps to tell by their reaction, if they are good or not. it also helps set the pace for the match

 

[Organous]

I like to apply pressure right away and just go for him. Get in some good shoves to try putting things into edgeguard mode quickly or trap him into getting lots of damage quickly. Whatever I do, I want it to be done quick enough to ramp up the pace. Ironically, I like the slower pace of Brawl, but I also recognize how rushing the opponent makes it harder for them to think up and enact a proper defense before I can get to them.

 

[Browny]

lucario, charge ma lazer
sonic, run up to them and grab before the GO! even dissapears :>
ness, spam short-hopped f-airs as an approach

 

[l3rian]

SHDA with TL and with falco i wait to see what they do, if they dash i laser them to end it, then charge in for a chaingrab, or DLX

 

[Morrigan]

As Peach, I pluck a turnip, jump/glide toss and throw it, then I'd usually do a Fair. It all depends.

 

[BrawlBro]

A lot of people run straight to the middle with a dash attack, heres a hint it almost never hits.


I usually take to the air with my marth..

 

[Crizthakidd]

grab, repeat 3 times and i won!


ice climbers FTW


if um using snake or ddd they have veryy diff playstyles. dont get hit and rack up huge damage before killing with uptilt

 

[EvilShadow777]

Well since my mains are meta knight, olimar, and wario, I have a few opening strategys. For MK, on smaller levels like battlefield, I jump and side+b to get a rush going. Then start hacking away with the a attacks. For olimar, I pluck 3 more pikmin get a good spot, and dodge anything they throw at you, then short jump and side air them. For wario, a good motorcycle rush is great.

 

[BrawlBro]

For wario, a good motorcycle rush is great.

no it isnt

 

[FEJunkie]

I generally do a SHL backwards with Falco and then proceed to do SHDLs until they approach(unless it's a Pit or something). If my opponent is Zamus, then I just throw up my reflector(stupid armor pieces).

As for Marth I generally dash and sh toward my opponent to fake them out and punish them on how they react.

 

[rinoH]

i usually approach with a short hop fair

 

[Saltix]

I do dashed SHL's back and forth with Falco as most of my opponents tend to jump immediately >__>
With Zelda I toss a quick Din's Fire behind them
Everyone else, I tend to DD a bit and let them rush me.

 

[DanGR]

I begin every game by picking my soldiers out of the ground and by then, my opponent is waiting at my quarters waiting to get told [orders].

 

[Airgemini]

I always pull a Turnip and either jump and toss it or glide toss it.
If I jump and toss I normally follow by a Dair or Fair.
If I glide toss I normally jab followed by a Fsmash, Ftilt, or Dtilt.

 

[Tristan_win]

I decide what my opening move will be depend on the character I'm facing, location I start in and stage size.

Usually though I jump backwards and start charging my needles.

 

[I.iZ.nO.1]

I think it all depends on which character you are using. When using IC, i try to start with a desync. When i use G&W depending on what character im playing against i may use bucket off the start if playing against a character with projectiles i can catch in my bucket anticipating tha they will use it. All and all it depends if you know your opponent and how they start a match, if you do you can base your start on what you know of theirs.

 

[Jon64]

I'll pick fox/falco, mash B through the count down, then proceed to charge and dair them (or mabey nair as falco) when they throw their reflectors up!