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Would competitive play benefit from weaker shields?

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S_B

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It's still relatively early in the metagame at this point, but it already feels like most of the A-tiers are going to once again be the ultra fast, light characters (Shiek, Diddy, Sonic, etc.) with heavier characters falling to the low tiers yet again.

So I was thinking: would SSB4 benefit if shields were overall weaker, especially on lighter characters?

Specifically, something like one of the following:

-Shields recharge more slowly on lighter characters, making them more likely to be shield poked/have shields broken.

-Lighter characters experience significantly more shieldstun, especially when hit with strong attacks, ensuring that there's less chance of a followup attack if a shield is poorly timed by a lighter character.

-Heavier characters' attacks deal significantly more damage to shields in general, causing more shield pokes.

I mention these because it feels like defense is too strong, especially in the case of light, fast characters that should be the most capable of evading the attacks of heavy characters instead of shielding and retaliating immediately afterward, usually going into a combo that will last more than long enough for their shield to completely recharge anyway.

I don't want to make shield breaking super commonplace because, in the case of most heavies, a shield break on a light character may as well be the loss of a stock.

In fact, I wouldn't mind a different kind of "shield break" at all, where instead of incapacitating the character, the shield would absorb as much damage as it could from the attack, then the player would be hit with the remainder of the % and some of the knockback that would've hit them otherwise (and maybe there could be a 10% extra damage penalty for losing your shield or something).

What would this mean for lighter characters? It would ideally mean that you cannot simply stand in the path of a heavier character's attacks and just shield them. You'll either need to spotdodge or evade the attack some other way.

Your shield would be something that will only protect you through a few attacks before you need to use other defensive options (and let's be honest: the best defense in SSB is very often a good offense).

I can't help but feel that we wouldn't see heavier, slower characters sliding down the tiers as quickly if their attacks couldn't just be easily shrugged off by shielding (especially by lighter characters who can overwhelm with offense most of the time anyway).
 
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W.A.C.

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If the characters that are super light (like Kirby and Jiggypuff) had way lighter shields than heavy characters, their competitive viability would go to hell. This would only benefit balance if everyone's shields were weaker, which would still help heavier characters because they hit harder.
 
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S_B

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If the characters that are super light (like Kirby and Jiggypuff) had way lighter shields than heavy characters, their competitive viability would go to hell. This would only benefit balance if everyone's shields were weaker, which would still help heavier characters because they hit harder.
So maybe option #3 then where heavier characters just do more shield damage?
 

HeroMystic

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The only nerf to shields that everyone would benefit from is more shieldstun.
I would actually say the biggest culprit is shield regeneration. The offensive use of shield would go straight to hell if more shield stun was applied, and it would hurt a vast amount of the cast that do not have the ability to break through disjointed moves with their neutrals.

You nerf shield HP regeneration, everything stays same except you have to be more conscious with how much you shield.
 

webbedspace

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I would actually say the biggest culprit is shield regeneration. The offensive use of shield would go straight to hell if more shield stun was applied, and it would hurt a vast amount of the cast that do not have the ability to break through disjointed moves with their neutrals.

You nerf shield HP regeneration, everything stays same except you have to be more conscious with how much you shield.
The save file and amiibo hackers need to get onto mass-producing +0/+0/+0 Shield Degenerator badges, as soon as the Smooth Lander folks have had their turn.
 

S_B

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You nerf shield HP regeneration, everything stays same except you have to be more conscious with how much you shield.
I agree with this as well.

It would also raise the skill ceiling as you'd have to think about how to budget your shield instead of just assuming you'll always have it.
 

W.A.C.

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I'm an extremely defensive Smash player, but even I agree that regeneration with shields is too fast. The health of shields are fine.
 

JmacAttack

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I'm an extremely defensive Smash player, but even I agree that regeneration with shields is too fast. The health of shields are fine.
The regeneration rate does seem a bit absurd. Shield health is indeed fine, but that regeneration rate... if you don't break a shield outright in one or two hits, it's not getting broken.
 

#HBC | Red Ryu

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While I like the discussion, it's still a "what if?" If changed. So I'm going to lock this since it's not directly about comp play.
 
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