Art of Smash: Advanced - Part 2

Summary

This video delves into advanced game mechanics in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, focusing on key concepts like sweet and sour spots, invincibility frames, directional influence (DI), smash DI, and edgeguarding techniques. It explains how certain mechanics, such as staling, super armor, and resets, impact gameplay, and how players can leverage them to improve performance. The video also touches on advanced strategies like tomahawk grabs, buffering, and recovery tactics. Designed for players looking to refine their skills, it emphasizes understanding the intricate details of the game to gain a competitive edge.

Takeaways

• 😀 Sweet spot attacks deal the most damage and knockback, while sour spots are weaker but can lead to different setups.
• 😀 Invincibility and intangibility frames prevent damage during specific times. Invincibility allows hits to register without knockback, while intangibility makes the character unhittable.
• 😀 Super armor prevents flinching from hits but doesn't stop damage. Heavy armor has a damage threshold, after which it becomes less effective.
• 😀 Directional Influence (DI) helps alter the trajectory of being launched. Combo DI escapes combos, while Survival DI increases survival chances against killing moves.
• 😀 Smash DI allows characters to move during hitlag, making it useful to escape multi-hit attacks. Rubbing the control stick is an efficient way to Smash DI.
• 😀 Move staling occurs when a move is used repeatedly, making it weaker. A move can refresh once it’s no longer on the staling list, and projectiles can also stale moves.
• 😀 Ledge trumping occurs when a player grabs the ledge while the opponent is holding it, forcing them off and creating a punish opportunity.
• 😀 A 2-frame refers to the two frames of vulnerability when a character grabs the ledge. Some recoveries, like tethering, prevent this vulnerability.
• 😀 Resets, also known as Jab Locks, are used to punish opponents who fail to tech after being hit. This leads to potential follow-ups like smash attacks or combos.
• 😀 Tomahawk grabs are a mix-up technique to punish opponents who shield too much. Fast falling into a grab is a useful strategy when pressuring opponents.

Q & A

What is the difference between a sweet spot and a sour spot in an attack?

A sweet spot is the part of an attack that deals the most damage and knockback, typically when the move is spaced correctly. A sour spot is the weak hit of an attack, which occurs when the move is not spaced properly or hits with the late part of the move. While the sour spot is generally weaker, it can sometimes have its own benefits.

What are Invincibility Frames and how do they differ from Intangibility Frames?

Invincibility Frames are periods during which a character cannot be attacked or damaged. Intangibility Frames are similar, but the character is completely unhittable, meaning attacks will pass through them. During invincibility, hits may register but cause no damage or knockback.

What is the role of Super Armor in gameplay?

Super Armor allows a character to take damage from an attack but not flinch. It can be countered by grabbing the character during the super armor. It's stronger than Heavy Armor, which can absorb damage up to a certain threshold before breaking.

What is Directional Influence (DI) and how can it be used to survive longer in the game?

Directional Influence (DI) is a mechanic that lets players alter the trajectory or direction in which they are launched after being hit. By DI'ing away from the opponent, players can escape combos. DI'ing towards the stage or diagonally up/down can help in surviving longer, especially in crucial moments.

What is the difference between Combo DI and Survival DI?

Combo DI is used to escape combos by creating distance between the player and the opponent. Survival DI, on the other hand, is focused on surviving strong killing moves by adjusting the direction of the launch to avoid dying.

How does Smash DI affect gameplay?

Smash DI allows players to influence their position during Hitlag, which is particularly useful for getting out of multi-hit attacks. The most effective way to perform Smash DI is by rapidly moving the control stick.

What does it mean for a move to stale in Smash?

A move becomes stale when it is used repeatedly, causing it to deal less damage and knockback. This is tracked in a hidden list, and moves can be unstaled once they are no longer on the list, making them fresh again. Projectiles can stale moves, but throwable items do not.

What is Ledge Trumping and how can it be used to edgeguard opponents?

Ledge Trumping occurs when a player grabs the ledge while their opponent is already holding it, forcing them off the ledge. This can be punished by quickly grabbing the ledge yourself. A late Trump may allow the opponent to avoid punishment.

What is a 2-Frame vulnerability and how can it be punished?

A 2-Frame vulnerability refers to the two frames of vulnerability a character has when they first grab the ledge. This can be punished by hitting the opponent during this brief window, preventing them from using their double jump.

What are Reset or Lock techniques and how can they be used in gameplay?

Resets, also known as Jab Locks, occur when a player forces an opponent who missed a tech to bounce again. This gives the attacker another opportunity to punish, often leading to a quick follow-up move like a smash attack or a combo starter. Only certain moves can reset, and it can be performed a limited number of times.