Shield Dropping

[TehGuitarLord]

After watching top 8 of Apex 2015, it's clear in my eyes that shield dropping is becoming more important and that it is very under utilized. I feel like this could especially help Mario because he has a lot of options out of it. Uair, nair, fair, dair, platform warp grab, the list goes on. Anyone else think that this is one key thing Mario mains should use in their repertoire that could evolve the Mario meta, or is it just a gimmick?

 

[Britex]

Yea, shield dropping is a very useful tech that all Melee players should learn. As for Mario, he can use it nicely. He has a good kit of aerials and can use shield dropping in various ways. Shield drop d-air if you're stuck on a top platform, shield drop u-air if someone is pressuring you when you both are on a platform, etc. Also, I'm not sure if you can waveland after a shield dropped aerial, but if yes that would be pwnage.

 

[schmooblidon]

Shield dropping is beneficial to every character. I'd say the marios benefit quite a lot from them due to their aerial hitboxes. Bair, upair and nair can have hitboxes above the platform. Bair and upair also autocancel if done fast enough from low platforms. It's inspired me to create this table, I'll add it to my guide.

Frame #s = Airborne frame to start the aerial

Aerial | Doc/Mario | Hitbox above platform | Stage platform : Autocancel land : Waveland-able

UpAir | Doc - | 2-11 | Battlefield lower plat : 2-9- : n/a
----- | ----- | ---- | Battlefield top plat - : ---- : 2-6
----- | ----- | ---- | Dreamland lower plat - : 2-10 : n/a
----- | ----- | ---- | Dreamland top plat --- : ---- : 2-4
----- | ----- | ---- | PStadium Neutral plat- : 2-7- : n/a
----- | ----- | ---- | Yoshis lower plat* --- : 2-6- : n/a
----- | ----- | ---- | Yoshis top plat* ----- : ---- : n/a
----- | ----- | ---- | FoD top plat --------- : ---- : n/a
----- | Mario | 2-11 | Battlefield lower plat : 2-9- : n/a
----- | ----- | ---- | Battlefield top plat - : ---- : 2-6
----- | ----- | ---- | Dreamland lower plat - : 2-10 : n/a
----- | ----- | ---- | Dreamland top plat --- : ---- : 2-4
----- | ----- | ---- | PStadium Neutral plat- : 2-7- : n/a
----- | ----- | ---- | Yoshis lower plat* --- : 2-6- : n/a
----- | ----- | ---- | Yoshis top plat* ----- : ---- : n/a
----- | ----- | ---- | FoD top plat --------- : ---- : n/a

BAir- | Doc - | 2-5- | Battlefield lower plat : 2-5- : n/a
----- | ----- | ---- | Battlefield top plat - : ---- : 2-11
----- | ----- | ---- | Dreamland lower plat - : 2-7- : n/a
----- | ----- | ---- | Dreamland top plat --- : ---- : 2-9
----- | ----- | ---- | PStadium Neutral plat- : 2-4- : n/a
----- | ----- | ---- | Yoshis lower plat* --- : 2-3- : n/a
----- | ----- | ---- | Yoshis top plat* ----- : ---- : 2-3
----- | ----- | ---- | FoD top plat --------- : ---- : 2-4
----- | Mario | 2-5- | Battlefield lower plat : 2-5- : n/a
----- | ----- | ---- | Battlefield top plat - : ---- : 2-11
----- | ----- | ---- | Dreamland lower plat - : 2-7- : n/a
----- | ----- | ---- | Dreamland top plat --- : ---- : 2-9
----- | ----- | ---- | PStadium Neutral plat- : 2-4- : n/a
----- | ----- | ---- | Yoshis lower plat* --- : 2-3- : n/a
----- | ----- | ---- | Yoshis top plat* ----- : ---- : 2-3
----- | ----- | ---- | FoD top plat --------- : ---- : 2-4

NAir- | Doc - | 2-7- | n/a
----- | Mario | 2-6- | n/a

* Yoshis plat results calculated to the flat part of yoshis.

Note: you cannot aerial on the first frame airborne (this is why all windows start from 2), due to how Melee decides inputs/actions.

 

[TehGuitarLord]

OMG THAT FRAME DATA! That's so helpful, thanks for posting that. Your guide has been very helpful in general too btw.