biohazard930
Smash Apprentice
For those new to the tournament scene, counterpicking may be a lesser knowledge of the game. Let's try to correct that for the Yoshi community. Below I've a list of possible legal stages. Let's discuss one at a time, speaking of advantages, disadvantages, strategies, and possibly even common matchups as they relate to Yoshi. After each stage has been discussed, I'll try to update this post with some information, including whether we think the stage is neutral, for, or against Yoshi.
Also, mention in your post what you want the next stage to be or if you think a stage left out should be discussed.
Also, if you have an idea for how to improve this, please let me know.
Battlefield
Yoshi's Take: Neutral
Battlefield presents a few problems for Yoshi, but none is bad enough to shut any part of his game down. The platforms force the aerial game to play a larger part, which is mostly a good thing for Yoshi. He can fight up, but coming down it's a bit more difficult to be offensive as the Dair isn't ranged and the DownB's use is limited. It's more difficult to egg spam when the opponent is even with Yoshi and especially when he is below. However, when the opponent is on a platform and Yoshi is underneath, his egg spam is aided a bit. The chaingrab is limited here as well. However, Yoshi's Usmash reaches past the bottom platforms. This is key. Also, his recovery isn't gimped as easily by the stage's edge.
To sum it up, Yoshi will usually want to stay off the platforms and keep the opponent above him. The platforms will limit the opponent and open for the egg spam. Chaingrabs are limited but can lead to a Usmash through a platform. The platforms can also give Yoshi extra height when edgeguarding, useful for egg spam or a larger height for a Fair spike.
Characters to Play: Short range characters, ones whose Usmash cannot reach the platforms. Projectile spammers are also more limited here.
Characters to Avoid: Long range characters whose Usmash reaches the platforms may be tough. Also try to avoid characters whose matchup depends heavily on the chaingrab.
Final Destination
Yoshi's Take: Good
As all know, Final Destination is a pretty basic stage. Just about everything goes (and works) here. That means Yoshi can spam eggs to no end, be it from the ground or from the ledge, and this gives him a good advantage over characters with no or slower projectiles. The borders are a bit larger, so vertical KOs are a bit more difficult. Chaingrabs can be carried out at Yoshi's pleasure, though. The only terrible thing is that the curved stage area under the edges can kill Yoshi's second jump and gimp his recovery. Though this can be avoid almost all of the time if the player is conscious of the threat.
Final Destination is good for Yoshi, but then again, it's good for many other characters. Thus, in comparison, it's likely favoring a bit to the "neutral" side of good rather than the "great" side.
Characters to Play: Slow, big characters and ones for which the matchup is dependent on chaingrabs may work nicely for Yoshi.
Characters to Avoid: Quick characters and those with good projectiles are a pain. There's nowhere to go if you get in a fix. Lucario is especially annoying due to his good projectile and his ability to wall cling.
Lylat Cruise
Yoshi's Take: Neutral
While Lylat is similar to Battlefield, its lower platforms and tilted edges tend to sway the fray towards a ground battle. Those platforms and edges make chaingrabs even harder, thus limiting Yoshi's ground game. Eggs are nice to chuck about if the opponent takes up residence on the platforms, of course. However, Yoshi should avoid the platforms himself at all, well, most costs. Though this makes Lylat seem like a more limiting Battlefield, those same tilted edges make for DownB slide fun, a phenomenon most are probably unfamiliar with. And more importantly, it gives Yoshi more options for Edge Canceled Eggs, which are always nice. Lastly, watch out for the thin edges. They can gimp the recovery, similar to Final Destination's edges.
Lylat Cruise seems like a modified Battlefield, but the details are different. It lends heavily to ground battle, and the tilted edges give Yoshi many more options at the ends of the stage. Though, it's important to look out for the gimp.
Characters to Play: Projectile characters are hindered by both the platforms and tilted edges. Characters with weaker ground games are a bit more advantageous than normal here as well.
Characters to Avoid: The opposite of course is true in that strong ground games present big problems. And don't forget to very much avoid characters whose matchup depends on the chaingrab.
Smashville
Yoshi's Island (Brawl)
Brinstar
Yoshi's Take: Bad
Brinstar is not very fun. The stage is fairly small and (essentially) gets even smaller when broken apart. Thus, Yoshi can't camp very well. This is worsened by the fact that the tentacle things just above each edgealmost completely restrict Edge Canceled Eggs. The Egg Roll is limited as well. The odd platform spacing does not favor Yoshi, either. The only positive thing here is that the acid can stop you from getting gimped. However, that's little compensation. Stay away from this stage.
Characters to Play: Slow characters are about the only ones you'd want to try. You could also attempt characters that like to spike and gimp, though that advantage is a bit slim.
Characters to Avoid: Everyone. No, not really, but there's no reason to go here against characters that Yoshi can gimp. That would be wasted, and just about every other advantage is gone as well.
Castle Siege
Delfino Plaza
Distant Planet
Frigate Orpheon
Green Greens
Halberd
Luigi's mansion
Onett
Pictochat
Pokemon Stadium
Rainbow Cruise
Also, mention in your post what you want the next stage to be or if you think a stage left out should be discussed.
Also, if you have an idea for how to improve this, please let me know.
Battlefield
Yoshi's Take: Neutral
Battlefield presents a few problems for Yoshi, but none is bad enough to shut any part of his game down. The platforms force the aerial game to play a larger part, which is mostly a good thing for Yoshi. He can fight up, but coming down it's a bit more difficult to be offensive as the Dair isn't ranged and the DownB's use is limited. It's more difficult to egg spam when the opponent is even with Yoshi and especially when he is below. However, when the opponent is on a platform and Yoshi is underneath, his egg spam is aided a bit. The chaingrab is limited here as well. However, Yoshi's Usmash reaches past the bottom platforms. This is key. Also, his recovery isn't gimped as easily by the stage's edge.
To sum it up, Yoshi will usually want to stay off the platforms and keep the opponent above him. The platforms will limit the opponent and open for the egg spam. Chaingrabs are limited but can lead to a Usmash through a platform. The platforms can also give Yoshi extra height when edgeguarding, useful for egg spam or a larger height for a Fair spike.
Characters to Play: Short range characters, ones whose Usmash cannot reach the platforms. Projectile spammers are also more limited here.
Characters to Avoid: Long range characters whose Usmash reaches the platforms may be tough. Also try to avoid characters whose matchup depends heavily on the chaingrab.
Final Destination
Yoshi's Take: Good
As all know, Final Destination is a pretty basic stage. Just about everything goes (and works) here. That means Yoshi can spam eggs to no end, be it from the ground or from the ledge, and this gives him a good advantage over characters with no or slower projectiles. The borders are a bit larger, so vertical KOs are a bit more difficult. Chaingrabs can be carried out at Yoshi's pleasure, though. The only terrible thing is that the curved stage area under the edges can kill Yoshi's second jump and gimp his recovery. Though this can be avoid almost all of the time if the player is conscious of the threat.
Final Destination is good for Yoshi, but then again, it's good for many other characters. Thus, in comparison, it's likely favoring a bit to the "neutral" side of good rather than the "great" side.
Characters to Play: Slow, big characters and ones for which the matchup is dependent on chaingrabs may work nicely for Yoshi.
Characters to Avoid: Quick characters and those with good projectiles are a pain. There's nowhere to go if you get in a fix. Lucario is especially annoying due to his good projectile and his ability to wall cling.
Lylat Cruise
Yoshi's Take: Neutral
While Lylat is similar to Battlefield, its lower platforms and tilted edges tend to sway the fray towards a ground battle. Those platforms and edges make chaingrabs even harder, thus limiting Yoshi's ground game. Eggs are nice to chuck about if the opponent takes up residence on the platforms, of course. However, Yoshi should avoid the platforms himself at all, well, most costs. Though this makes Lylat seem like a more limiting Battlefield, those same tilted edges make for DownB slide fun, a phenomenon most are probably unfamiliar with. And more importantly, it gives Yoshi more options for Edge Canceled Eggs, which are always nice. Lastly, watch out for the thin edges. They can gimp the recovery, similar to Final Destination's edges.
Lylat Cruise seems like a modified Battlefield, but the details are different. It lends heavily to ground battle, and the tilted edges give Yoshi many more options at the ends of the stage. Though, it's important to look out for the gimp.
Characters to Play: Projectile characters are hindered by both the platforms and tilted edges. Characters with weaker ground games are a bit more advantageous than normal here as well.
Characters to Avoid: The opposite of course is true in that strong ground games present big problems. And don't forget to very much avoid characters whose matchup depends on the chaingrab.
Smashville
Yoshi's Island (Brawl)
Brinstar
Yoshi's Take: Bad
Brinstar is not very fun. The stage is fairly small and (essentially) gets even smaller when broken apart. Thus, Yoshi can't camp very well. This is worsened by the fact that the tentacle things just above each edgealmost completely restrict Edge Canceled Eggs. The Egg Roll is limited as well. The odd platform spacing does not favor Yoshi, either. The only positive thing here is that the acid can stop you from getting gimped. However, that's little compensation. Stay away from this stage.
Characters to Play: Slow characters are about the only ones you'd want to try. You could also attempt characters that like to spike and gimp, though that advantage is a bit slim.
Characters to Avoid: Everyone. No, not really, but there's no reason to go here against characters that Yoshi can gimp. That would be wasted, and just about every other advantage is gone as well.
Castle Siege
Delfino Plaza
Distant Planet
Frigate Orpheon
Green Greens
Halberd
Luigi's mansion
Onett
Pictochat
Pokemon Stadium
Rainbow Cruise
I agree with Bigmanz.
