Would you stop maining a character because they wound up being in a really bad tier?

[25%Cotton]

i played jigglypuff and zelda in brawl (though i generally stopped playing zelda in the last two years of brawl and in 4 rarely play her)

so my answer is no.

i seem to be really lucky this generation, though. all the characters i like seem like they'll likely turn up in mid-high/high

 

[IblisTriggersPuppet]

No

I main or play a character cause either they play great to me or fit my play style

greninja dark pit zero suit and sonic fit my play style
little mac ness and all the others in my siggy play great to me

 

[Professor Pumpkaboo]

Tiers are for Queers but for Cereal, I don't care about tiers. I play for fun.

 

[LittlePac]

Not always... this is just BS.

Some characters might be placed top tier based on some high level playstyle but this seems to usually NOT be the case. At least that's what I see from tons of tier lists in games I've played.

then you don't understand how tier lists are made - like, at all.

 

[Shin Bowser Meow]

I lucked out this time. Bowser don't seem too bad this time around. The game is still hella young though. Players will get better, new tech will be discovered, stuff is going to change.

I don't think a person should let their character hold them back if they plan on playing competitively. I'm all for being a character specialist and remaining loyal to your character, but don't use your characters tier as a crutch when/if you are losing way more than you win.

I respect the tier whores and the character loyalists. Do what you gotta do to get the W.

 

[Clemente]

then you don't understand how tier lists are made - like, at all.

No, I do. I'm saying there's plenty of stuff which is considered top tier in a tournament setting which is great in casual or mid level play too.

I know that it does happen where a hard to do loop/combo or maneuver is discovered and that character will jump tiers and that doesn't make the character good in mid level play, but I've found it's usually not the case.

 

[Spirst]

I used PT and Jigglypuff in Melee so tier positioning isn't a big part of my character decision. Before I got the game or saw videos of it, I decided I would main Greninja. So far, my choice looks to finally be good seeing as how he's a very viable character.

 

[Miku Boy]

Tiers don't affect one's performance. Simple as that. It's why we have mains, to see what you can do with one character. I main Fox.

 

[chipndip]

I feel like this topic is being somewhat romanticized.

I mean, can we all really say that we'd all only use our favorite characters even if it meant losing one thousand matches, or that we wouldn't even consider learning a different one even if it meant winning the same? Don't take this the wrong way, but as much as I have my favorite characters, I definitely wouldn't main a character that was too severely handicapped against top-tier opponents in competitive play. I'd still play them at all, but for a tourney or some other competitive reason, can we all really say that we'd all use a Megaman-ish character to get the job done?

Summary: With the amount and degree of "HELL NO" answers, are we all really being true to ourselves with these answers?

 

[Professor Pumpkaboo]

I feel like this topic is being somewhat romanticized.

I mean, can we all really say that we'd all only use our favorite characters even if it meant losing one thousand matches, or that we wouldn't even consider learning a different one even if it meant winning the same? Don't take this the wrong way, but as much as I have my favorite characters, I definitely wouldn't main a character that was too severely handicapped against top-tier opponents in competitive play. I'd still play them at all, but for a tourney or some other competitive reason, can we all really say that we'd all use a Megaman-ish character to get the job done?

Summary: With the amount and degree of "HELL NO" answers, are we all really being true to ourselves with these answers?

I know I am. I don't play for Tiers. I don't care for Tiers. If someone tells me Villager is low Tier I go "huh I dont care, she is fun"

 

[DougX]

I'll always keep Luigi on hold regardless of what happens to him in the long run as he is one of my favorite characters and I like using him. I'm finding him to be a bit tricky to use properly, but I'm trying to learn how to master him more... It's hard, but I'm bound to learn and adapt eventually.

I'll also keep Dr. Mario on hold as he's cool too. c:

 

[LittlePac]

No, I do. I'm saying there's plenty of stuff which is considered top tier in a tournament setting which is great in casual or mid level play too.

I know that it does happen where a hard to do loop/combo or maneuver is discovered and that character will jump tiers and that doesn't make the character good in mid level play, but I've found it's usually not the case.

Well, it was in brawl. This game seems to have fixed some glaring problems brawl had (chain grabs come immediately to mind), but time will tell.

 

[Moldy Clay]

I feel like this topic is being somewhat romanticized.

I mean, can we all really say that we'd all only use our favorite characters even if it meant losing one thousand matches, or that we wouldn't even consider learning a different one even if it meant winning the same? Don't take this the wrong way, but as much as I have my favorite characters, I definitely wouldn't main a character that was too severely handicapped against top-tier opponents in competitive play. I'd still play them at all, but for a tourney or some other competitive reason, can we all really say that we'd all use a Megaman-ish character to get the job done?

Summary: With the amount and degree of "HELL NO" answers, are we all really being true to ourselves with these answers?

I don't know why you'd think we wouldn't.

The answer is that we don't drop mains because of tiers, not that we don't choose characters we think we're more likely to win with.

In Brawl, for example, I played my favorites and ones that just felt good/fun to play. This went up to 19 or so characters.

But when it was a serious match, and I was playing to win, I would switch to a smaller group of about 5-6 that I was confident I'd win as.

It's a situational thing. If you're playing to win money, you're going to switch to characters that you're more likely to win as, but that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice your favorites to do so. A lot of top tier characters are favorites anyway, and likeable characters.

My faves in Brawl span the entire tier list. The ones I played the most were top tier and bottom tier.

In SSB4, I haven't officially found my crew of faves yet, but I can guarantee it will be all over the tier list, from bottom to top. I'll play who I have fun as, even if I lose. Worst case scenario, switch to another fave that's better. Still playing someone like.

I don't support the idea of a single main, I feel like it limits you. Having options allows for you to experiment and still win with favorites. I don't have to choose them based on tier lists. Tier lists are based directly on players anyway, and they fluctuate like hell. You could have a first tier list with Ganondorf in the middle or moderately high, then have him drop. So you'd have to constantly change mains simply because a group of people say they're not good anymore or because someone else is winning as other characters.

The most sensible thing is to just stick to who you like, and then if worrying about actual tournaments, switch to the ones you like in higher tiers and focus on them.

So in no way do you have to stop playing favorites.

And even if you do play bottom tier the whole time, it's about having fun. If you have fun with that character, you're going to play them. And if you're playing for fun, and playing bottom tier, you're probably not really playing tournaments anyway outside of friends.

 

[shapular]

Yes, but it depends. If they're still viable or I can still win with them, I'd probably stick with them (like G&W in Brawl), but if I can't win with them then I won't (like G&W in Melee). It might actually be happening already. I was maining Wii Fit Trainer at first but I've gotten really frustrated with her and I don't think she's that good anymore and I've been using Zelda and Yoshi more.

I want to get really good at this game and become power ranked in Tennessee, and playing a good character will help a lot with that.

 

[Rikter]

If the character feels right to play to me then tier doesn't matter much to me. I'd rather be good at a character I enjoy playing rather then grinding out games as the best character yet not one I enjoy.

 

[Ting Sing]

No, I'd never change my character based on what it's tier is. If I need to, I'll be a low-tier hero.

 

[elitex12]

Pfffft, I could care less for the teir list, only thing that matters to me is how they play. Like Ganondorf is quickly rising on my mains list... hits like a tank, not to mention that warlock punch has some occasional Super-Armor ability, making it even more awesome. He's a clone of Captain Falcon with his default moveset, but I just take my falcon mind-set and slow it down a bit.

 

[Mr.Deoxys]

I use who I like to use.
It doesn't matter what tier they are.

 

[Deleted member]

I play whoever I damn well want to no matter the tier. They could be rock bottom of the tier list or more broken than Brawl Meta Knight and I would still play them just because I like playing them.

 

[xXShadeXx]

I don't see why I would. I main the people I do because I like then and they fit my play style. Even if I have a disadvantage, doesn't mean I'm gonna drop my character. Ness is never too high on the tier list, and even though he and Lucas had a few bad disadvantages in Brawl, didn't stop me from playing as them.

So, I play who I want, and no tier list will tell me otherwise.

 

[Cherubas]

Honestly, I would not, for a few reasons.

First of all, I would actually prefer that my mains were not top tier. This makes me seem like a (slightly) more impressive player when I can win with them and people know they're "weaker" than the characters I'm facing.

It also means that some players will be avoiding my mains due to bad reputation. This means fewer Nesses and Bowser Jrs.

Fewer of them out there would mean that other players would have a harder time preparing to face me because they'd have a harder time finding high level players with those characters to practice against.

It would also make it easier for me to become the very best Ness and Bj known to the smash community. How awesome would it be to have my name synonymous with the character because everyone knows I'm the best one there is? Right?

On top of all of that, if someone is my main it means that I, for whatever reason, find them worthwhile to go to over and over. A tier list is, at the end of the day, just a list of opinions. They may be the opinions of the best players out there, and they may be the opinions of the large majority of the community, but if someone is my main before I look at a tier list they don't magically become weaker after I see the list. They have the same moves and stats that I liked before seeing the list.

Overall, I see nothing but benefits to having my mains being as low tier as possible.

That said, all of the reasons above are kind of moot. The most important reason that the tier wouldn't matter is because I just love the characters. Ness has been my main in every game. I feel like we're a team. He's never been top tier and because of his recovery mechanic it's possible he never will be top tier even if they make 17 more smash games, but he'll always be top tier in my heart. And Bowser Jr. is my favorite Nintendo character of all time. I love his personality. Even if he was just a weaker Bowser clone (which is just about a worst case scenario, mind you) I would have practiced with him until I could main him, because I've wanted him in smash forever. These two mains are pretty much set in stone for me and neither has anything to do with tiers.

(Plus I'm one of THOSE players who intentionally tries to avoid top tier characters cause my ego won't let me take the easy way out. I felt guilty playing Fox in Melee. That's the closest I've come to having a top tier secondary main.)

 

[ZombieBran]

People can say all they want that tiers only matter in tournaments, but they're wrong.
Obviously characters only a few places away from each other on a list are usually pretty balanced against one another. But try using Brawl Bowser against any competent Meta Knight. Unless you vastly outperform your opponent, you will lose.

People can also say that those who choose based on tiers are shallow, whatever that means, but that is also wrong. You choose character because you like their series? Congrats, you are just a "shallow". This is not their series. They'll play very different here than in their own series. What makes your method of choosing a main more valid than any other? Nothing.

tl;dr: Stop acting holier than thou. Anyone can choose a main for whatever reason they please. Whether because they are a good character or because they're sexy. It's all equally valid.

 

[2spongee4u]

I play characters depending on how much I like to play them which doesn't help with my indecisive nature but it allows me to have fun and learn lots of characters. Though my smash4 main Palutena is a lot different then I am use to so I am currently sucking it in for glory (or I could just suck over all... probably more likely.)

 

[Lag Chan]

I've been a little conflicted about the matter. Game and Watch has been a character I've always liked, yet he does feel really bad in this game. Maybe not Melee bad but far from how he was in Brawl. Playing online with him gives me mixed results, there'll be times I lose where I think if he was just a little stronger I could've won.

For now I'm going with Dedede primarily, but I'll keep going with Game and Watch to see if I can make something work with him. If not I'll probably have to keep Game and Watch to For Fun only.

 

[Cherubas]

People can say all they want that tiers only matter in tournaments, but they're wrong.
Obviously characters only a few places away from each other on a list are usually pretty balanced against one another. But try using Brawl Bowser against any competent Meta Knight. Unless you vastly outperform your opponent, you will lose.

People can also say that those who choose based on tiers are shallow, whatever that means, but that is also wrong. You choose character because you like their series? Congrats, you are just a "shallow". This is not their series. They'll play very different here than in their own series. What makes your method of choosing a main more valid than any other? Nothing.

tl;dr: Stop acting holier than thou. Anyone can choose a main for whatever reason they please. Whether because they are a good character or because they're sexy. It's all equally valid.

Who called you shallow? You seem very hurt by this. I'll talk to their mothers. Who was it specifically?

Also, I do have to point out that this is specifically the Smash for 3DS section, so bringing up Brawl Bowser here is a bit irrelevant.

 

[DrRiceBoy]

I play characters based on whether I like their playstyle and/or if I like their character.

 

[LinkNIvy]

I stopped playing Link because I'm frustrated with some of his mechanics, but I play Wii Fit, Ganondorf and Villager a ton, so tiers haven't been that important to me.

 

[chipndip]

I don't know why you'd think we wouldn't.

The answer is that we don't drop mains because of tiers, not that we don't choose characters we think we're more likely to win with.

In Brawl, for example, I played my favorites and ones that just felt good/fun to play. This went up to 19 or so characters.

But when it was a serious match, and I was playing to win, I would switch to a smaller group of about 5-6 that I was confident I'd win as.

It's a situational thing. If you're playing to win money, you're going to switch to characters that you're more likely to win as, but that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice your favorites to do so. A lot of top tier characters are favorites anyway, and likeable characters.

My faves in Brawl span the entire tier list. The ones I played the most were top tier and bottom tier.

In SSB4, I haven't officially found my crew of faves yet, but I can guarantee it will be all over the tier list, from bottom to top. I'll play who I have fun as, even if I lose. Worst case scenario, switch to another fave that's better. Still playing someone like.

I don't support the idea of a single main, I feel like it limits you. Having options allows for you to experiment and still win with favorites. I don't have to choose them based on tier lists. Tier lists are based directly on players anyway, and they fluctuate like hell. You could have a first tier list with Ganondorf in the middle or moderately high, then have him drop. So you'd have to constantly change mains simply because a group of people say they're not good anymore or because someone else is winning as other characters.

The most sensible thing is to just stick to who you like, and then if worrying about actual tournaments, switch to the ones you like in higher tiers and focus on them.

So in no way do you have to stop playing favorites.

And even if you do play bottom tier the whole time, it's about having fun. If you have fun with that character, you're going to play them. And if you're playing for fun, and playing bottom tier, you're probably not really playing tournaments anyway outside of friends.

What you're describing is not what a "main char" is. A main char is pretty much your MVP char. When the going gets tough and you're pulling out all the stops, your main char is the one you'll usually pick. No one has 5-6 main chars because no one's equally efficient in 5-6 characters. Some people have "pocket chars" for specific match-ups, but for the most part, your main char is one you'll use more often than not to handle most match-ups. What I've read so far is that no matter how bad of a chance this community has by maining char x, they'd never switch to something stronger, ever, because it's more about having fun. Not wrong to say, I guess, but after this degree and amount of nay-say answers, I had the feeling people were romanticizing the concept a tad.

 

[Michael4thewin]

I don't base my decision of who to main on tiers. I base them on how well i feel with them.I mained Link for almost all the smash games and i thought he was really good, but the tiers just plopped him on the bottom. Also if we based it on tiers, everyone would be one character the first tier then the next updated tier comes out with another top character everyone will move to maining them

 

[ThaPhantom07]

No. I always main who feels the best to play and what's I am comfortable with. And if they happen to be low tier so be it. Im not playing at tournaments anyways so the tier list means even less to me.

 

[Minuy600]

Nah, I play as the characters I like to use and are good for me.

 

[Cornstalk]

I don't know if tier really has anything to do with it for Wii Fit Trainer, though the character is pretty sub-par comparatively speaking.

I've given up on Wii Fit Trainer because of how the matches go. It's so... boring. Even when I'm winning it's like I spend most of my time cowering on one side of the screen trying to get an opening to knock them -just- far enough away to have no follow up only to repeat the whole thing over again. Never mind how bloody hard it is to hit short characters that won't leave the ground. I swear Kirby counters Wii Fit by standing still.

Though I'm not sure how I expected a character designed to look mannequin generic to be exciting.

 

[p4k|wyatt]

I originally intended to play Megaman almost exclusively. Im finding him a bit hard to handle. This might have something to do with the fact that I'm really not that great, but Im finding some of his tools are pretty useless in a lot of situations : His down-air and down-b come to mind. I do enjoy playing him from time to time, but I now wouldn't consider him my competitive main.

On a side note, I randomed Greninja in a smash run and immediately fell in love. So much fun~

 

[Erotic&Heretic]

Considering my mains in Brawl were Zelda and Ganondorf...

I'll still will not care about tier lists and play characters that I like / have fun playing with.

 

[Quillion]

No; especially not when a combination of mechanical changes and character buffs have improved the Mighty Glaciers (the traditional low-tiers) from before.

 

[MarthFanatique]

Typically with Smash I start playing a couple of characters that I find fun and enjoyable (like a vast majority of people). Sometimes they have ended up being higher tiers (i.e. Peach and Sheik in Melee); however, in Brawl a lot of my favorites were mid-tier ish (i.e. Peach, Pit, Sheik). I pick my mains based off of who I like. Since Brawl (when I got interested in the competitive scene) I actually disliked playing higher tier characters because I found that I was relying on inherently good characters that I may not actually enjoy playing. I find MK interesting, but I refuse to play him because I find it a talentless endeavor (...plus I somehow am garbage with him).

 

[Storm Eagle]

I main Ganondorf, so no.

 

[Space Stranger]

I don't play for tiers. Luigi has been my favorite Mario character since I was little. Wario's inclusion in Brawl also made me main him more that Luigi. I guess I lucked out with playing with Falcon since I liked his "Falcon PAWNCH".

 

[Carrill]

Despite what I thought, I am definitely maining Wii Fit Trainer despite her inevitably becoming low tier. She has a bunch of glaring flaws, yes. Her terrible grab range infuriates me to no end but I've still had fun with her. I actually enjoy her weird hitboxes, especially her Ftilt's launcher. Her soccer ball is pretty cool with the way that it allows you to essentially counter another incoming projectile. Her up smash is also pretty interesting with the way that it gives you invincibility frames, allowing you to take on pretty much any Dair coming your way.

Her range is overall pretty disappointing and I'll probably have a tough time winning against people around my own skill level but at the very least, she'll be a tertiary main after Peach and Jigglypuff.