Stupid question, but what's the input for up b out of shield? I feel like there's something I'm missing because I can't do it quick at all.
I have tap jump off. I do Shield -> jump -> Up + Y , with Y set to special. You have to move quickly, but tap jump gets on my nerves.
what do people think of the default strawberry? i've been using it more lately and i think it's pretty good when caught and thrown onto the stage, provides a bit of a shield that can't be used against us like the hydrant, and you can just drop a hydrant where it's bouncing to insta-launch with bair.
Strawberry is weird, but I like it. 6%, charges fast, and has the second most horizontal (galaxian might have more) range of our fruits when thrown correctly. I go for strawberry when I need something that goes farther than cherry faster, but doesn't fall as sharply as Apple. I also find it useful for tech chase situations if I can't get over there for a stronger hit. Most get up attacks will wack the strawberry, but it won't lose its hitbox. You can also bait theft attempts with it, and punish them for tunnel visioning your fruit (which many people will do).
I've been considering spamming strawberry when I'm separated from my opponent by a trampoline and they're close to it. If I throw a strawberry and they shield it, I don't lose anything plus I'm close enough to punish a theft attempt. If they keep shielding the strawberry, it'll wear their shield down faster than it regenerates. I don't expect anyone to do this, but you will win that battle if it comes to that.
Even if they steal my strawberry, they lose their tilts, smashes, and grab. Against characters like Mario, whose best punish option at that point becomes up B, I wouldn't be too concerned with him having it. Opponents also can't instant launch the hydrant from the ground as long as they are holding it unless they use a particularly powerful special, which tend to be more punishable than normal moves. Fine by me since I can continually launch hydrants should they choose to hold it.
Also in hand, a z dropped strawberry is perfect for punishing neutral ledge get up, and it can combo into a stronger hit if you anticipate the hit. Thrown from hand, it's even easier to follow the strawberry as it flies, and it's a shield as you said.
Now you've got me thinking about using cherry and strawberry more as a stall fruits in order to set up camp if I've got a lead. Cherry in particular isn't fast, but it's still a hitbox that the opponent must address or dodge. If stolen, they have a 4% item to use against you in exchange for their smashes, tilts, and grab.
I see it as a short to midrange Orange.
Speaking about Hydrant, can't we deflect it with PP?
Yeah, strawberry is like orange when thrown grounded and before it hits the ground. In the air, take advantage of how it falls.
I don't think anything can flat out stop a tumbling hydrant outside of Rosalina GP'ing it away, and even then the hitbox doesn't cease.