utilizing upsmash/utilt

[jetfour]

I used to think usmash was garbage. I saw it when people used it to punish spacie recovery but it just seemed inefficient so I didn't bother.

Years later with much more experience, I now realize how valuable it is for people who try to smash DI the jab reset when they don't tech.

It also sets up nicely in techchasing when you react/anticipate well, but when is it actually better than grabbing? A grab is just easier, faster, and safer. Are the rewards significantly different?

A few usmash tricksies I love:
-Since upsmash covers both sides of Sheik, I use it versus nair-happy spacies. When they are chasing me with shffled nairs, I run away and jump-cancel an upsmash right in front of them landing. This is only when you're running the other direction, since if you're not you can just dashdance/wavedash back and grab.
-Upsmash tippers on the side platforms of Yoshi's Story if you're standing where it's not sloping. It comes out fast enough for you to react with if you see that they didn't tech. You can also use it if you anticipate them to roll towards the center of the stage.
-With really low platforms like on Pokémon stadium and FoD, when they're above you shielding on the platform, just charge an upsmash. It will hit them twice -- the first one will hit the shield, the second one will likely hit them because of shield stab or they didn't expect a second hit and release the shield.

I'm just bad with utilt. I like walking up to shield and spamming it against characters that don't shine/nair out of shield fast enough and it is okay shield pressure. When is it the best option? I generally just use an aerial or wavedash back and grab instead.

 

[elvenarrow3000]

I will never understand people's obsession with "shield pressure". If you can go up to them and utilt their shield, why wouldn't you just grab them instead?

Utilt rocks. If you can hit with the utilt, I don't really see why you'd try to hit with anything else.

 

[jetfour]

I'm the same way actually, I'm a super grabby player. My reason for occasional shieldpressure is that some players play worse when their shield is low. The camp predictably at the edge, and the edge is where I want them.

I forgot to note how utilt ***** bad DI on fastfallers at low percentages haha

The utilt is also good on shields because they simply have to roll afterwards. Utilt is fast enough to stop when you see it and grab them then, but then their shield is also low for you to take advantage of. It's a cute little extra step.

 

[Fortress | Sveet]

tl;dr

utilt is bad shield pressure, you can easily be grabbed out of it.

utilt is my favorite of sheik's tilts. it covers above you perfectly, and it combos into grab at low % on fast fallers.

 

[elvenarrow3000]

Keep in mind, Sheik's utilt has two hits so sometimes you can get around shieldgrabs that way.

I dunno why you'd take that risk though. Needle grab is more than safe enough.

 

[Teczer0]

Uptilt is really good Upsmash imo ... not so much.

Upsmash is a lot more situational imo.

Uptilt does a really good job tech chasing people on platforms, and sets up neat little combos.

You just have to get used it its raaaaaaaaape =)

 

[jetfour]

I forgot to mention:
With the utilt, I use it when I land behind the opponent so that I do not get grabbed. It's barely faster than turning around and grabbing. Anyways, I know it's not the best option, but it's a useful mixup.

I do not know why I rarely utilize utilt. Can somebody illustrate to me when it's good to use aside from midcombo? I rarely get approached from directly above. If they are on platforms I upsmash/uair instead, is that a habit I need to change?

I generally find ftilt much more useful for spacing and dtilt as a Marth slayer.

I want input from M2K in this thread :D

 

[KirbyKaze]

I prefer comboing with SHFFL Uairs opposed to U-smash anyway. Her U-smash is very situational. Uairs are just simple and effective and normal.

U-tilt --> U-smash at high percent is an okay way to kill a Fox if you hit them out of a FJ Nair or something.

U-tilt --> F-tilt is pretty good for setting up tech chases on fast fallers. If they bad DI you can sometimes cheat and get silly combos anyway, and if they good DI it then I figure it's the same tech chase you would have gotten with D-throw so oh well.

U-tilt --> grab sometimes hurts Ganon and similar CGables very severely if you get under them when they're jumping around with aerials.

 

[Fortress | Sveet]

the only time you should utilt on a shield is if you think they are going to jump out of their shield, and not roll/grab/wd

utilt is INCREDIBLE if they are platform camping. Against people who like to run around the platforms, you can literally walk the middle of the stage (where they can fall through the platforms to the floor) and cover all their (immediate) options with utilt. Usually people are discouraged by this and do something creative (aka, stupid)