feardragon64
Smash Champion
All too often I notice people don't seem to know what to do after a shieldbreaker successfully weakens, but not breaks the enemies shield. Generally, people either frantically attack their opponent with more shieldbreakers(obviously hoping to break a shield) or they simply don't take advantage of the situation at all. I think this might be a good topic for discussion. I'll start it off.
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A not so smart player will completely ignore that they have a weakened shield and will continue to shield. We'll call this situation C.
Another player will not shield at all and will depend completely on spacing, spot dodges, rolls, and air dodges to avoid your attacks. Let's call this Situation B.
A smart player will probably try and avoid shielding. We'll call this Situation A. This is basically a mix of Situation B and Situation C.
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Now that the opponent's options have been outlined, let's go into YOUR options.
Against Situation C
This is probably the best thing you could ask for. The less risky approach is to just dtilt and shield poke for the extra damage. Another option would be so simply approach with a retreating fair to attempt to break it, while taking care not to get shield grabbed if it doesn't break. Of course one COULD attempt another shieldbreaker that would almost certainly break the shield if it hits, but this probably isn't the best option you have as that last shieldbreaker will be more than fresh in their mind and you'll be allowing yourself to be predictable. If they continue to shield after you shieldbreaker them, you can also rush forward to tipper dancing blade range(because you spaced your shieldbreaker properly right?)and hit with just the first hit and it should break. If they drop their shield, finish your dancing blade. Lastly, I have occassionally managed to dsmash someone whose shield was very weakened by either shield poke or a poor reaction to an attack and feared a broken shield.
-Dtilt
-Properly spaced fair
-First hit of dancing blade
-Dsmash(don't rely on it)
Against Situation B
Situation B is more likely to occur against someone who is well aware of the dangers of shield breaker and has played Marth a good deal in the past. The best option here to my experience is to either dancing blade as they try and spot dodge your attacks or dtilt repeatedly(that doesn't meant 20 times, it means two or three max) as they realize spot dodging dtilts isn't as effective as they'd like it to be. Of course, if you're dtilting and they decide to roll behind you, punish with dancing blades. If they try and roll away or jump away you could try and approach with a nair to punish the spot dodge or air dodge, but this won't always work so don't depend on it.
-Dtilt
-Dancing blades
-Follow them with a nair
Against Situation A
The most likely against an intelligent player. Dtilt, of course, is still a most favorable option. React accordingly on their reaction to the dtilt. Dancing blades is another good option if you're quick about it before they get a chance to distance themselves a bit. Of course, a smart player will try and distance themselves. Depending on the character and their ability to outspace you with retreating aerials, you could use this as an opportunity to force them into the air where Marth dominates a lot of characters. I'd like to open this one up more since it's the most important one. What's the point in making strategies against a bad player? So post what you think you should do in after a shield has been weakened.
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A not so smart player will completely ignore that they have a weakened shield and will continue to shield. We'll call this situation C.
Another player will not shield at all and will depend completely on spacing, spot dodges, rolls, and air dodges to avoid your attacks. Let's call this Situation B.
A smart player will probably try and avoid shielding. We'll call this Situation A. This is basically a mix of Situation B and Situation C.
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Now that the opponent's options have been outlined, let's go into YOUR options.
Against Situation C
This is probably the best thing you could ask for. The less risky approach is to just dtilt and shield poke for the extra damage. Another option would be so simply approach with a retreating fair to attempt to break it, while taking care not to get shield grabbed if it doesn't break. Of course one COULD attempt another shieldbreaker that would almost certainly break the shield if it hits, but this probably isn't the best option you have as that last shieldbreaker will be more than fresh in their mind and you'll be allowing yourself to be predictable. If they continue to shield after you shieldbreaker them, you can also rush forward to tipper dancing blade range(because you spaced your shieldbreaker properly right?)and hit with just the first hit and it should break. If they drop their shield, finish your dancing blade. Lastly, I have occassionally managed to dsmash someone whose shield was very weakened by either shield poke or a poor reaction to an attack and feared a broken shield.
-Dtilt
-Properly spaced fair
-First hit of dancing blade
-Dsmash(don't rely on it)
Against Situation B
Situation B is more likely to occur against someone who is well aware of the dangers of shield breaker and has played Marth a good deal in the past. The best option here to my experience is to either dancing blade as they try and spot dodge your attacks or dtilt repeatedly(that doesn't meant 20 times, it means two or three max) as they realize spot dodging dtilts isn't as effective as they'd like it to be. Of course, if you're dtilting and they decide to roll behind you, punish with dancing blades. If they try and roll away or jump away you could try and approach with a nair to punish the spot dodge or air dodge, but this won't always work so don't depend on it.
-Dtilt
-Dancing blades
-Follow them with a nair
Against Situation A
The most likely against an intelligent player. Dtilt, of course, is still a most favorable option. React accordingly on their reaction to the dtilt. Dancing blades is another good option if you're quick about it before they get a chance to distance themselves a bit. Of course, a smart player will try and distance themselves. Depending on the character and their ability to outspace you with retreating aerials, you could use this as an opportunity to force them into the air where Marth dominates a lot of characters. I'd like to open this one up more since it's the most important one. What's the point in making strategies against a bad player? So post what you think you should do in after a shield has been weakened.
