[Question] Is Hylian Shield Enough to Hard-Counter Certain Characters?

[BBC7]

Some of you may know me as the guy that came here and argued that Link's Hylian Shield is not enough to hard-counter Mega Man. I decided to make this a separate thread because I wanted to know if Link players believe Hylian Shield does hard-counter projectile-based characters.

I personally don't think so, projectile characters don't literally shoot only projectiles, they have other ways to deal with Link and they can probably beat Link's projectile game in the first place, restricting Link to melee options.

 

[FSK]

Probably not.

 

[Jade_Rock55]

While it does go through megaman well mega mans pellet shooting move can physically attack you when he's close and is faster than Links f tilt assuming link is walking.Which MM can use to set up combos and such.

 

[Radical Larry]

Here's the think about projectiles and Link's shield, which actually covers his upper half of his body and part of the lower half: He'll always beat projectiles and try zoning and coming in by slowly walking. Due to the fact his shield is always kept in front of him now, and the fact that it doesn't alternate between stances (crouch and stand like it did in Melee), it'll make it extremely hard for projectile-based characters to try landing hits on Link with the shield.

 

[The_Woebegone_Jackal]

I use it all the time on spam sans Megaman's lemons since they are to close range to do it safely, it forces an approach when I can just stand there and not even waste my shield. Its not a hard counter by any means, but its a useful tool to keep in mind.

 

[Esquire]

While I have only the demo to go on, Mega Man is not completely neutered by Link insofar as how well his projectiles work. The Hylian shield is definitely a deterrent to just mindless horizontal projectile spamming from the ground, so much so that it probably isn't an option for those going against Link. However, characters like Mega Man who can either have a good aerial projectile game (Link's face is wide open) or can direct projectiles (Pit[too]) will still have projectile tools to use against Link.

Link does not fully stop the projectile game, but he does force players who use projectiles to alter the trajectory of their shots. It's not a hard-counter situation, but it's definitely impacting.

 

[Sliq]

If you're not attacking or have a bomb in your hand you're doing Link wrong.

 

[smashbrolink]

If you're not attacking or have a bomb in your hand you're doing Link wrong.

Unless your shield is low and something massive and powerful is being shot at you.
In which case, you'd be doing Link right, by relying on the godly power of hard-counter Hylian shielding.