Q&A The Smash 4 Question and Answer Thread

[Bowserboy3]

I have a question, though it might sound odd.

Soon I am attending my first Smash 4 tounrnament. Is it generally agreed that you can change your controller settings before a tournament, or is it up the the TO every time? Just wondering because I have one of my shoulder buttons to Jump and also have Tap Jump off.

 

[Foxus]

Bair means back air, so pressing the analog stick in the other direction you are facing and hitting A while in the air or by flicking the c-stick in the other direction from where you are facing while in the air. Nair is neutral air, so pressing A when in the air with no movement of the analog stick.
I would suggest looking up tutorials on Youtube, stuff for beginning competitors, they are very useful. There is a heck of alot to learn in competitive Smash.

Do you know any videos where it focuses exclusively on reading your opponent the whole video? I still have to find one, and I am practically blind when it comes to reading even the slightest pattern.

 

[GunGuts]

I have a question, though it might sound odd.

Soon I am attending my first Smash 4 tounrnament. Is it generally agreed that you can change your controller settings before a tournament, or is it up the the TO every time? Just wondering because I have one of my shoulder buttons to Jump and also have Tap Jump off.

Yes, it should be fine. If you're really unsure, you should contact your TO.

Do you know any videos where it focuses exclusively on reading your opponent the whole video? I still have to find one, and I am practically blind when it comes to reading even the slightest pattern.

I can't think of specific videos for you, but I can give advice. You can look up any tournament match on Youtube and observe one of the players. Look for any habits that the player has, e.g rolling too much or doing the same ledge getup option, and try to notice how the opponent punishes those habits.

 

[Codaption]

Sorry about the confusion, thanks to Stryker95 for explaining for me.

As for pivot stuff... you can do pivot grabs, pivot forward tilts, pivot forward smashes, and reverse side specials:
-reverse side specials are the easiest to do, as there's no real timing window you need to press the button within. Just use the special in the opposite direction that you were running in. You can use any special out of a dash as well.
-pivot forward tilt requires that you wait a split second before inputting the attack command behind you.
-pivot grab involves mashing the directional pad behind you and hitting the grab button immediately after. If you're getting a forward tilt, you're going too slow.
-pivot smash attacks are the hardest because of how precise the timing is. You have to mash the directional pad back, and hit the attack button right as it reaches the neutral position (where it would be if your hand wasn't touching it). If you hit the attack button too fast, you'll get a dash attack, and if you hit it too slow you'll get a tilt.

You can also pivot and jump to turn yourself around in the air, while still moving in the direction you were running. This is called RAR, and is useful if you want to hit them with your back aerial. If you're on the Wii u, you can set your c-stick to tilts or smashes to make one of those easier to perform.

Hope this helps!

 

[EathUPC]

Soooooooo... When are we going to get rewindand slow motion for replays...? I mean, come on.. I spend a whole replay waiting for one moment and then ...blink, and it's gone. Seriously though but rewinds and slow mo would be seriously good!

 

[Stryker95]

Do you know any videos where it focuses exclusively on reading your opponent the whole video? I still have to find one, and I am practically blind when it comes to reading even the slightest pattern.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewvGX3mQjiM

You can check this out, it may help but most comes from experience I'm sure.

 

[FamilyTeam]

Ah, hello everyone. I'm new to the Smashboards and a newcomer to the competitive scene of Smash, but I've been playing this series for over 8 years already, so I atleast know a few things.
So, I want to know: what can you do against a Counter in Smash 4?

I am and I'm sure I will always be a Mario main in Smash (even in 64, where it says I'm a Falcon main, I still play a lot of Mario) and often when I either predict a Counter or see one being used in the wrong situation, I don't know how to punish it. My muscle memory from PM tells me to use my Side Special when I predict a cape, because I'm fairly sure that there, caping a Counter doesn't activate it, but yeah, that doesn't work here, I just give my enemy a chance at hitting me for 20% for free doing that in Sm4sh. Even when I don't end up accidentaly caping the Counter like an idiot, I don't know what to do once the enemy is standing there like a sitting duck, which either results in my foe getting away without being hurt or with me again taking 18-25% like an idiot. So, as a Mario main, what are my options against a Counter?
I hope this is the right thread, btw.

 

[Codaption]

Grabs. Grabs grabs grabs. The only counter that you can't grab during their counter frames is Lucario's, and even his can be grabbed during the endlag. Considering Mario's fantastic grab followups, that should help quite a bit.

Alternatively, if they're at a percent where you could kill them outright you could run up and charge a Usmash. This is a bit risky if you guess wrong, though, so I'd still try and go for the grab in this situation unless they're really obvious with their counters.

 

[FamilyTeam]

Grabs. Grabs grabs grabs. The only counter that you can't grab during their counter frames is Lucario's, and even his can be grabbed during the endlag. Considering Mario's fantastic grab followups, that should help quite a bit.

Alternatively, if they're at a percent where you could kill them outright you could run up and charge a Usmash. This is a bit risky if you guess wrong, though, so I'd still try and go for the grab in this situation unless they're really obvious with their counters.

D'oh, kinda forgot about grabs. I sometimes forget about that because I'm still nothing special with Mario's grabs, but I guess taht's something I should train, then. Thanks, m8.

 

[Jamurai]

Hello. Does anyone know if there exists for Wii U a good, wired controller, where both sticks are on the "inside", ie. swap the D-pad and the control stick on a GC controller?

I grew up playing PlayStation games and I feel like I have significantly more control over the sticks (especially the left-hand one) with their controller layout than with the GC controller. I have been getting somewhat frustrated with feeling like I can't be as precise with the GC control stick as I would like to be.

Thanks in advance for any help

 

[Stryker95]

Hello. Does anyone know if there exists for Wii U a good, wired controller, where both sticks are on the "inside", ie. swap the D-pad and the control stick on a GC controller?

I grew up playing PlayStation games and I feel like I have significantly more control over the sticks (especially the left-hand one) with their controller layout than with the GC controller. I have been getting somewhat frustrated with feeling like I can't be as precise with the GC control stick as I would like to be.

Thanks in advance for any help

I am not aware of any such thing, but I did find this:
http://nintendoeverything.com/adapter-allows-for-dualshock-controllers-to-be-used-with-wii-uwii/
Not sure if it actually works and it seems to not be wired but that is the best I could find.

 

[Jamurai]

Oh yes, that sounds interesting. I searched around and you can get PS2/GC adapters as well, and according to reviews they can work with Smash 4. Might go ahead and get myself one of those.

So, I want to know: what can you do against a Counter in Smash 4?

As well as grabs which were already mentioned, baiting out counters can turn a game around since they have enough endlag to punish hard. Empty hops, dash into shield, spotdodge or backroll, and (less safely) charging smash attacks all work well for this. Mario's quick and meaty smashes should do the trick to punish once they have been baited. You could also trigger the counter with a FH fireball and grab them in the endlag of the attack as you land.

 

[FamilyTeam]

Didn't think of those. Thanks!

 

[Zenonon]

I have no experience with Smash so this might a be a dumb question. How do you keep yourself from tumbling in the air after you've been hit? It's pretty annoying and I'm sure how to effectively deal with it. Thanks.

 

[Stryker95]

I have no experience with Smash so this might a be a dumb question. How do you keep yourself from tumbling in the air after you've been hit? It's pretty annoying and I'm sure how to effectively deal with it. Thanks.

Once you leave hitstun you can get out of the tumble animation by pressing any button/shoulder. Most will use a quick aerial but anything can work.

 

[Zenonon]

Once you leave hitstun you can get out of the tumble animation by pressing any button/shoulder. Most will use a quick aerial but anything can work.

Thanks again dude :3

 

[Nikes]

Does anyone have advice on keeping your confidence up before and during a tournament no matter the circumstances, and also on how to not get frustrated or worked up mid-match? I mostly get frustrated when either nothing I'm doing works no matter what I try including retreating for a mental breather, or things like MKs Uair to upB string (which is extremely difficult when the MK mixes up their direction)
I have a really important tournament on this weekend with a lot on the line which is unnecessarily adding to the stress, so any help that anyone can offer would be huge.

 

[Jamurai]

Does anyone have advice on keeping your confidence up before and during a tournament no matter the circumstances, and also on how to not get frustrated or worked up mid-match? I mostly get frustrated when either nothing I'm doing works no matter what I try including retreating for a mental breather, or things like MKs Uair to upB string (which is extremely difficult when the MK mixes up their direction)
I have a really important tournament on this weekend with a lot on the line which is unnecessarily adding to the stress, so any help that anyone can offer would be huge.

During the match it can be difficult not to become frustrated in certain matchups, try and take it as a mental challenge (which is very much what Smash is, in a way). Take a mindset that although winning is ideal, as long as you learn something from the match then it was worthwhile. If you mess up and lose a stock because of it, spend your seconds on the respawn platform taking a mental breather, take a deep breath and reevaluate your plan of action and what you've downloaded about the opponent's playstyle.

With regards to MK's Uair combo, you can't do much if they are consistent and can read and adapt to your DI, try to mix it up DIing away and in to attempt to cause them to drop it. Other than that, hope for a patch?

 

[laharl219]

hey, i want to make a little montage of me and my friends playing, but a friend of my wanted to put some plays he only have at his 3ds, is it possible to send to wiiu to then send to youtube?
(i'll meet this friend only arround christmas so i can't test his things right now, that's why i'm asking here)

 

[Mario & Sonic Guy]

Sadly, it's impossible to transfer replays between consoles. And of course, replays from Smash 3DS can only be viewed in Smash 3DS.

 

[laharl219]

Sadly, it's impossible to transfer replays between consoles. And of course, replays from Smash 3DS can only be viewed in Smash 3DS.

oh, that's sad ;/
Thanks for the answer tho ;D

 

[KnightFF]

How to preform an up-B reversal? I can't seem to do it and I say it in some combo videos

 

[Constadin]

Hi guys, fast question about DI. Why the optimal DI to a vertical knockback is horizontal input, instead of well... down? 180 degs DI is possible from what I understand since in a horizontal knockback situation, one must DI towards to the stage meaning in the exactly opposite direction.

I am referring to near death due to blast zones situations (mid stage in vertical KB and next to the ledge in horizontal KB) when Iam talking about optimal DI and not in an "escape combo" scenario.

 

[GunGuts]

How to preform an up-B reversal? I can't seem to do it and I say it in some combo videos

You have to hold the opposite direction you're facing right after the up-B. It should be done really fast.

Hi guys, fast question about DI. Why the optimal DI to a vertical knockback is horizontal input, instead of well... down? 180 degs DI is possible from what I understand since in a horizontal knockback situation, one must DI towards to the stage meaning in the exactly opposite direction.

I am referring to near death due to blast zones situations (mid stage in vertical KB and next to the ledge in horizontal KB) when Iam talking about optimal DI and not in an "escape combo" scenario.

Vertical DI is the same DI from Melee and Brawl, while horizontal DI is done by vectoring. So, when you're launched up, you hold left or right to survive longer.

The DI used to be completely vectoring when the game first came out, but this was changed in the 1.0.4 update to the current DI system, which is sort of a DI/vectoring hybrid.

Edit: Here's a video that explains the new DI.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnqgfP7vrTs

 

[Constadin]

Ty for the answer, please if you can answer me this as well to make sure I got it right. When you are let's say comboed from a down throw grab (ex: ROBs) that sends you straight up for a follow up uair (Beep Boop), can you DI UP to escape it or Down to make it true combo at higher % on purpose? If I understand correctly from the video, when dealing with vertical knockback, DI up or down is not actually doing anything hence there won't be any difference in terms of opponent's positioning in the beep boop.

 

[GunGuts]

Yes, DI-ing up or down won't do anything, so you should DI left or right. It's not the same for all down throws. Like for ROB, you should DI in the direction he's facing, and for Diddy Kong, you DI behind him.

 

[Constadin]

Not exactly man, rob's dthrow can be DIed in both directions. It's his up throw that cannot be DIed behind him. Anyway thanks for the clarification.

 

[GunGuts]

Oh yes, you're right. I was thinking of his up throw. If you DI ROB's up throw toward him you'd actually be dying earlier.

 

[kii]

In online play, if one player is experiencing lag does that mean that both are always experiencing the same lag? Can it be smooth for one person but slow for the other?

 

[Codaption]

In online play, if one player is experiencing lag does that mean that both are always experiencing the same lag? Can it be smooth for one person but slow for the other?

Nope, both people experience the same lag. If the other person is the one who's causing it, though, chances are they'll have more experience fighting in those conditions.

 

[kii]

That's strange. I'm the type of person who tends to just let myself get killed if the lag is noticeable. But there have been two times in the last two days where players cited lag, despite seeing none on my end (Not enough to mess with techs or inputs, that I could see.), with one of them intentionally SD'ing twice after a few seconds into the match. They didn't seem like the types of players who would be pivoting or something, either.

Kind of worries me because I hate the idea that there might have been lag in matches I thought were smooth were both of us.

 

[SuperSceptile15]

How come my current ranking is "Pranked!"? Shouldn't it be "Smash Journeyman"?

 

[Sonicninja115]

How come my current ranking is "Pranked!"? Shouldn't it be "Smash Journeyman"?

Did you become premium? It is a thing premium members can do to each other apparently. You can look it up in the board rules or somewhere like that.

It isn't permanent.

 

[SuperSceptile15]

Did you become premium? It is a thing premium members can do to each other apparently. You can look it up in the board rules or somewhere like that.

It isn't permanent.

No. I'm not a premium member. But if it's not permanent, when will it wear off?

 

[Sonicninja115]

No. I'm not a premium member. But if it's not permanent, when will it wear off?

I believe either a month or two weeks. It might also be a certain forum that you entered, someone saw you, and then pranked you. It's pretty common, and you weren't hacked.

 

[SuperSceptile15]

I believe either a month or two weeks. It might also be a certain forum that you entered, someone saw you, and then pranked you. It's pretty common, and you weren't hacked.

Ah. Okay. Yeah, I was in the Smash DLC Discussion Thread. Someone probably pranked me there. Good to know it's normal. Thanks.

 

[Proteun]

I've been playing Lucas for a while, but I'm having problems when I try to tethergrab the ledge. Almost every time I press Z in the air around that area, I perform a Nair instead of a Zair. Does anyone know how to prevent that from happening?

 

[Stryker95]

I've been playing Lucas for a while, but I'm having problems when I try to tethergrab the ledge. Almost every time I press Z in the air around that area, I perform a Nair instead of a Zair. Does anyone know how to prevent that from happening?

Is your controller bad? I know with an old 3rd party controller I had if I hit Z a F-smash came out instead of a grab. That may actually be the problem.

 

[NickRiddle]

I've been playing Lucas for a while, but I'm having problems when I try to tethergrab the ledge. Almost every time I press Z in the air around that area, I perform a Nair instead of a Zair. Does anyone know how to prevent that from happening?

You're probably in hitstun, you cannot cancel hitstun with a tether. If you need to, you can always airdodge and cancel the dodge with your zair.

 

[Proteun]

Is your controller bad? I know with an old 3rd party controller I had if I hit Z a F-smash came out instead of a grab. That may actually be the problem.

I'm using a classic GameCube Controller, so I don't think so.