User blog:Plasmaster/Smash Study Hall: DEFENSE!

Hey there Smashers! Welcome back to the next entry of the Super Smash Bros. strategy guide blog series, Smash Study Hall! Plasmaster here.

Also, this is the second Smash Study Hall post to be dedicated to an aspect of Smash overall rather than just a single character, so that's pretty exciting. If you haven't read my Edge Game guide, I definitely recommend checking it out.

Now, let's get to it. Defense in Smash is a great way to make sure you don't take too much damage, but remember, it isn't your first priority. If you always focus on defense, you won't be taking too many offensive measures, which is kind of important in a fighting game. Also, many defensive maneuvers will become too predictable if you overuse them. Defense is important, but don't let it be your main focus or it will get in the way of you being able to perform well in a game.

There are five main defensive maneuvers that every character can perform. Granted one of them is technically an offensive maneuver, but bear with me.

Shields are up first. Shields will block attacks and prevent you from taking damage. They are a reliable way to defend yourself if your shield is at near full size. There are two kinds of health in Smash Bros. Regular health is your damage gauge you want to keep the numbers low so you don't get launched as far. Shield Health on the other hand is the amount of damage your shield can continue to take before it breaks. Simply holding your shield up will make it lose shield health as well. The smaller your shield gets, the less shield health you have, and the less damage it takes to break your shield. Some attacks that break shields are Marth and Lucina's Shield Breaker, Roy's Flare Blade, Ganondorf's up tilt, Buster Shulk's forward smash, Samus' Charge Shot at full charge, Link's Spin Attack (on the ground) at full charge, and Donkey Kong's Headbutt, just to name a few. If one of these attacks are coming at you, DO NOT PUT UP YOUR SHIELD. Too many times have I fought players on For Glory with my Marth or Lucina that will just hold up their shield as I charge the neutral special. However, there is a reliable way to avoid this problem while still using your shield. Perfect shielding is putting up your shield just as an attack is about to connect. This minimizes the amount of damage the shield takes from incoming attacks. You need to get the timing just right though. If you want to practice this, I suggest making a customized character (any of them work really) and giving them the Explosive Perfect Shield equipment. Then go practice it on some computers or maybe even on some friends online. The explosion will indicate that you're doing it right. After a few practices with this, try it without the equipment. Do not equip the Easy Perfect Shield equipment, it will become a crutch to you and you will be unable to get the timing right when you try it in an actual match without customs.

OKAY, so that was long...but now it is time for Maneuvers You Can Do Out of Shield. There are three major maneuvers you can execute out of shield.

1) Grabbing: Personally, I use this a lot. After blocking an enemy attack, press 'A' to grab them and then throw them or pummel them or whatever. I don't even use the Grab button, I just press Shield and A at the same time and still get the same result. You can use whatever button combination is comfortable for you, just remember that Shield Grab option is there if you have the opportunity for it.

2) Up Special OOS: Up Special Out of Shield can be a good way to surprise your opponent; if your character's up special deals damage, all the better! Block an enemy attack with the shield and then use the up special; this is easier to do if you use tap jump. Up Special OOS makes for a good surprise attack and can get you out of a sticky situation if the need arises. Don't overuse this method; if your opponent manages to dodge the attack, they can punish you while you're helpless.

3) Up Smash OOS: This method is better than Up Special OOS for a few reasons. It is more instantaneous, is more likely to hit an opponent that is right next to you, and won't leave you helpless. However, your opponent can still punish you on the ending lag if they catch on, so don't overuse it. Like Up Special OOS, this is easier to do with tap jump active.

Defensive Maneuver number three is the Roll. Rolling can be useful for getting past an incoming attack and behind your opponent for an attack from behind. Don't overuse this maneuver though. Roll-happy players can be easily punished with a pivot grab, pivot forward tilt, or down smash. The Roll is, and I must emphasize this, a defensive maneuver, not an approach option. Using this to approach an opponent is a terrible idea; unless you're opponent doesn't know what game they're even playing right now, you will get punished for using this as an approach option. Trust me, I know from experience; I myself have been guilty of rolling too much here and there.

Numero Quatro is the Sidestep or Spot-Dodge. Press shield and then flick the control stick down to perform a sidestep. The spot-dodge is great for dodging enemy grabs, forward tilts, forward smashes, down tilts, and incoming projectiles. To be honest, I don't use this very often, and when I do, it is usually by accident. It is still a great maneuver and probably one of the best defensive maneuvers in the game.

Finally, the Air-Dodge. This can be a good move if your opponent is going for an aerial attack while you're descending or jumping. It can be a good way to get out of aerial combos, but overusing it will allow your opponent to read the air-dodge and punish right after the animation ends. A great use of the air-dodge is to grab items in the air. If you play as Peach, Diddy Kong, Link, Toon Link, Robin, or R.O.B., the air-dodge is great for grabbing a Vegetable, banana peel, bomb, discarded Tome or Levin Sword, and Gyro respectively.

That's just about all there is to defense in smash. If you want to know more about Defense vs. Offense, just search 'Offense vs. Defense Smash Bros.' on YouTube, you're sure to get plenty of helpful results. In fact, here is the best one I could find: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbEP0PUqnUM

Also, if you want to know more about Up Special/Smash out of shield, you can find some things about that on YouTube as well.

I hope you enjoyed this guide on Defensive Maneuvers in Smash! I also hope this guide helped you to improve your defensive game.

If you have any questions, please let me know down in the comments. While you're at it, let me know what characters you'd like to see as well as what other Smash strats like this guide you'd like to see!

Until next time, keep on smashing and leave it to Heropon!