Jamnt0ast
Smash Journeyman
Robotic Counterpicking
A guide to counterpicking with R.O.B.
By Jamnt0ast
R.O.B.’s ability to camp and fly gives him some extremely great counterpick stage. I’m going to list some of those stages and why you should counterpick them / who against.
Frigate Orpheon:
This is one of R.O.B.’s best stages for sure.
There are 2 points on the first part of stage which are great for ROB.
• Under the solitary platform. This leaves ROB’s 10:00 / 2:00 weakness completely covered. It also sets up for easy edgehogs with uair /usmash through the platform and dtilts / shorthop nairs for ledge pressure.
• The last point of solid ground that can not be passed through the bottom. You will want to camp here when your opponent is recovering low. You can get an easy fsmash or fair gimp if the opponent’s recovery is poor.
On the second part of the stage there are also 2 points in which to camp.
• Under the center platform is great. You can avoid most projectiles there by crouching, you have access to them from above, and the little valley can be abused to aim your laser and get gyro’s sitting near the ledge.
• The ledge on this part of the stage is your best friend. You attack from there, spam projectiles, and even use up B. The reason for this is the alternating side platforms. On these you can recharge your fuel to keep hold of your ledge.
Don't take Lucario, Dedede, or MK here.
You should counterpick this stage vs people with predictable / short recoveries or those who like to sweetspot the ledge. This includes but is not limited to:
Falco
Marth
Olimar (if he bans Rainbow Cruise)
Link
Mario/Luigi
Zelda
Rainbow Cruise:
This stage can be greatly used to ROB’s advantage through clever use of the multiple platforms and in some places ceilings.
Strategy:
• At the beginning part of the stage you can dtilt infinite against the wall and get low % nair kills from the low ceiling.
• When you reach the “Ladder of Platforms” you can get some quick damage with uair and WoP many characters off to the right of the stage due to lack of ledges to grab. (abuse on tether recovery)
• At the Swing under the falling blocks you can dsmash people into the ceiling in which they are plummeted into the pit unable to recover at obscenely low percentages
• The large horizontal space and low ceiling is great for projectile camping and quick kills off the top. There is also a place to dtilt infinite.
• Do not CP this stage vs Mr. Game and Watch, Kirby, or Meta Knight
Characters that you should take to this stage:
Olimar
Marth
Bowser
Pit
Diddy Kong
Sonic
Brinstar:
LEARN THIS STAGE
Brinstar is not a stage that you would immediately think is good counterpick for ROB, but once you get used to it, Brinstar can be one of your most valuable counterpicks.
Strategy:
• Drop your gyro on the energy tanks to create a bouncing damaging wall. It’s a great place to hide behind and can allow you to approach through it without punishment. Camping the ledge can also be great vs projectiled users because you can shoot your gyro and laser past the vines.
• You can fly under the stage and use fair and nair to rack up damage with little punishment.
• The acid can seem unpredictable to your opponent if they aren’t experienced with the stage, so when the acid starts to rise, and your opponent jumps, use that to your advantage by starting a fair chain or performing your 23% UAir.
• Usmash is extended under the bottom platforms due to the vines. This can lead to EASY EARLY KILLS.
Do not counterpick this stage vs Donkey Kong, Ike, or Mr. Game and Watch.
Characters that you should take to this stage:
Meta Knight
King Dedede
Lucario
Diddy Kong
Peach
Sonic
Luigi’s Mansion:
In the few places this is legal, it is one of your all time best counterpicks.
Strategy:
• Your laser goes through the pillars on this stage
• Performing a dsmash on the lower level will cause the opponent to bounce off the ceiling, and onto the floor, which can lead to a dtilt jab lock all the way across the stage.
• Large boundaries allow for gimp kills rather than killing off the sides and top, so you live forever.
• Camping and stalling is hella easy due to the large circular layout of the stage.
• Do NOT pick this stage vs Olimar, Donkey Kong, Lucario, and Meta Knight.
Characters you SHOULD take to this stage:
FALCO
Wolf
Fox
Mr. Game & Watch
Toon Link
Snake
Projectile based characters
Jungle Japes:
Japes is a great ROB stage in some situations, but you shouldnt take every character here. Your killing will be mainly off the side for this one, so don’t bother saving your nair as much, use it as a helpful damaging move when you have the chance.
Strategy:
• Camp the sides…. A lot, but NOT the ledges (you will get crocked). They are elevated, you can go under them….. what more could you ask for? Feel free to spam projectiles from there.
• If you get caught in the water, jump with the flow first, then against the flow or else you risk getting swept back in.
• Clap traps come every 10 seconds. They will appear at the right side of the stage when the timer hits a 7. Use this to your advantage and try to lure your opponent into the water or on a ledge.
• Do NOT take the following characters to this stage: Pit, Donkey Kong, Lucario, FALCO, Peach... in fact, BAN this stage vs Falco
You really only want to take Snake and Toon link here.
A guide to counterpicking with R.O.B.
By Jamnt0ast
R.O.B.’s ability to camp and fly gives him some extremely great counterpick stage. I’m going to list some of those stages and why you should counterpick them / who against.
Frigate Orpheon:
This is one of R.O.B.’s best stages for sure.
There are 2 points on the first part of stage which are great for ROB.
• Under the solitary platform. This leaves ROB’s 10:00 / 2:00 weakness completely covered. It also sets up for easy edgehogs with uair /usmash through the platform and dtilts / shorthop nairs for ledge pressure.
• The last point of solid ground that can not be passed through the bottom. You will want to camp here when your opponent is recovering low. You can get an easy fsmash or fair gimp if the opponent’s recovery is poor.
On the second part of the stage there are also 2 points in which to camp.
• Under the center platform is great. You can avoid most projectiles there by crouching, you have access to them from above, and the little valley can be abused to aim your laser and get gyro’s sitting near the ledge.
• The ledge on this part of the stage is your best friend. You attack from there, spam projectiles, and even use up B. The reason for this is the alternating side platforms. On these you can recharge your fuel to keep hold of your ledge.
Don't take Lucario, Dedede, or MK here.
You should counterpick this stage vs people with predictable / short recoveries or those who like to sweetspot the ledge. This includes but is not limited to:
Falco
Marth
Olimar (if he bans Rainbow Cruise)
Link
Mario/Luigi
Zelda
Rainbow Cruise:
This stage can be greatly used to ROB’s advantage through clever use of the multiple platforms and in some places ceilings.
Strategy:
• At the beginning part of the stage you can dtilt infinite against the wall and get low % nair kills from the low ceiling.
• When you reach the “Ladder of Platforms” you can get some quick damage with uair and WoP many characters off to the right of the stage due to lack of ledges to grab. (abuse on tether recovery)
• At the Swing under the falling blocks you can dsmash people into the ceiling in which they are plummeted into the pit unable to recover at obscenely low percentages
• The large horizontal space and low ceiling is great for projectile camping and quick kills off the top. There is also a place to dtilt infinite.
• Do not CP this stage vs Mr. Game and Watch, Kirby, or Meta Knight
Characters that you should take to this stage:
Olimar
Marth
Bowser
Pit
Diddy Kong
Sonic
Brinstar:
LEARN THIS STAGE
Brinstar is not a stage that you would immediately think is good counterpick for ROB, but once you get used to it, Brinstar can be one of your most valuable counterpicks.
Strategy:
• Drop your gyro on the energy tanks to create a bouncing damaging wall. It’s a great place to hide behind and can allow you to approach through it without punishment. Camping the ledge can also be great vs projectiled users because you can shoot your gyro and laser past the vines.
• You can fly under the stage and use fair and nair to rack up damage with little punishment.
• The acid can seem unpredictable to your opponent if they aren’t experienced with the stage, so when the acid starts to rise, and your opponent jumps, use that to your advantage by starting a fair chain or performing your 23% UAir.
• Usmash is extended under the bottom platforms due to the vines. This can lead to EASY EARLY KILLS.
Do not counterpick this stage vs Donkey Kong, Ike, or Mr. Game and Watch.
Characters that you should take to this stage:
Meta Knight
King Dedede
Lucario
Diddy Kong
Peach
Sonic
Luigi’s Mansion:
In the few places this is legal, it is one of your all time best counterpicks.
Strategy:
• Your laser goes through the pillars on this stage
• Performing a dsmash on the lower level will cause the opponent to bounce off the ceiling, and onto the floor, which can lead to a dtilt jab lock all the way across the stage.
• Large boundaries allow for gimp kills rather than killing off the sides and top, so you live forever.
• Camping and stalling is hella easy due to the large circular layout of the stage.
• Do NOT pick this stage vs Olimar, Donkey Kong, Lucario, and Meta Knight.
Characters you SHOULD take to this stage:
FALCO
Wolf
Fox
Mr. Game & Watch
Toon Link
Snake
Projectile based characters
Jungle Japes:
Japes is a great ROB stage in some situations, but you shouldnt take every character here. Your killing will be mainly off the side for this one, so don’t bother saving your nair as much, use it as a helpful damaging move when you have the chance.
Strategy:
• Camp the sides…. A lot, but NOT the ledges (you will get crocked). They are elevated, you can go under them….. what more could you ask for? Feel free to spam projectiles from there.
• If you get caught in the water, jump with the flow first, then against the flow or else you risk getting swept back in.
• Clap traps come every 10 seconds. They will appear at the right side of the stage when the timer hits a 7. Use this to your advantage and try to lure your opponent into the water or on a ledge.
• Do NOT take the following characters to this stage: Pit, Donkey Kong, Lucario, FALCO, Peach... in fact, BAN this stage vs Falco
You really only want to take Snake and Toon link here.