BEGINNERS GUIDE
BEGINNERS GUIDE
OVERVIEW Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is available exclusively for Nintendo Switch, and has quickly becoming one of the most popular games on the system. With its massive popularity, however, there are bound to be new players who aren’t familiar with how the series’ mechanics work, what the different modes are all about, and how they can improve their skills and turn into a formidable opponent. But that’s what we’re here for! In this Super Smash Bros. Ultimate beginner’s guide, I will provide you with everything you need to get started in Nintendo’s most popular fighter.
how to fIGHT Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s control scheme is essentially identical to that used in every game since Melee, and the game even supports GameCube controllers for those used to that setup. Most actions are performed in the game with a single button press, as well as an optional stick movement to access special moves. The goal of a basic Super Smash Bros. match is to score more eliminations than your opponents. As you deal damage, the percentage above that character’s icon will go up. The higher it is, the more likely it is that they’ll get sent flying after the next big attack. Matches can be determined by “stock,” where everyone has a limited number of lives, or they can be timed. In the latter option, the winner is determined by subtracting your deaths from your kills. 6
How to Fight
Basic attacks / Jab Press the “A” button
on your controller without moving the left stick to perform a neutral attack. Moving the stick left, right, up, or down while down this will give your character a different standard attack. Standard attacks are quick, and good for building up damage on your opponent if they’re a slower character who cannot keep up with your movement speed. Certain characters will perform longer attacks if you keep hitting the “A” button. Fox, for instance, will deliver a flurry of kicks, quickly racking up damage from the ground.
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Special attacks The “B” button in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is devoted to special attacks. These are moves tailored to each characters’ unique abilities, and often deliver radically more damage at the cost of speed. Mario, for instance, and spin a target around with a cape and deflect projectiles, as well as launch targets into the air as he collects coins. Like with the basic attacks, moving the left stick while pressing “B” will change the attacks. All characters have neutral specials, up-specials, and side-specials, and downspecials, though not all of these are attacks. Pokémon Trainer’s down-special, for instance, changes out the three available monsters instead of dealing damage.
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Special attacks are great options for keeping your opponent on their heels, and for characters with projectile weapons, you can use them to deal damage from afar. Just don’t rely on them exclusively, as many of them have long windup times that make them easy to avoid.
How to Fight
Smash Attacks Perhaps the most important move you’ll use in the game, smash attacks are the moves you’ll often use to knock an enemy off the stage. They take longer to use than standard attacks but can be quicker than special attacks, making them a great option later in fights. There are a few ways to perform a smash attack. The first is to use the right analog stick (the C-stick on the GameCube) and simply move it in the direction of the attack you want. This will deliver a quick version of the attack, albeit not at its maximum power. To deal even more pain, you can perform a smash attack my slamming the left analog stick in one direction while holding down the “A” button. Your character will begin charging up a more powerful smash attack and will execute it once the button is released. This is a riskier move, but it has massive payoff.
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Movement/actions You can move left and right, duck, and travel between thin platforms by using the left analog stick by itself. If you slam the stick to the left or right, you’ll perform a run, which can come in handy when you’re closing in on a stunned enemy to perform a smash attack. Jumping can be done by either pressing the stick up, or by using the “X” or “Y” buttons. If you’re below a thin platform, you can jump on top of it without having to go around to the edge. To use your shield, press the ZL or ZR buttons on a Switch controller, or the left or right triggers on the GameCube controller. This will protect you from damage from attacks, but it takes damage over time and if you let it run completely out, you’ll be stunned and left open to a big attack.
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How to Fight
You can also counter another player’s shield by performing a grab – use the shoulder buttons on the Switch controller and the “Z” button on the GameCube controller. This will ignore the shield and allow you to then throw your enemy, but performing a grab while an enemy is attacking will result in your character taking damage. You also have access to a few evasive and recovery moves that can help you stay in a fight. Press the shield button and either left or right on the left stick to perform a dodge. You can do this both on the ground and in the air, and it’s crucial for avoiding big attacks. Your up-special attack can also be used as a recovery move for reaching ledges after you’re knocked away. Typically, your character will launch themselves upward for this move, but a few require more work. Ness, for instance, instead fires a lightning bolt from his body, which you then must manually direct toward him in order to launch him back to the ledge. 11
Choosing a Character
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Choosing a Charater
The most important thing you can do when
getting started in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is pick a character who is balanced and easy to use. Certain fighters like Incineroar and Ness are a ton of fun once you’ve become used to the game’s pace and mechanics, but you are going to struggle with performing recovery moves or reliably doing damage. Here are some great characters to try when starting out:
•Mario •Pikachu •Kirby •Donky Kong •Link •Fox •Marth
Experiment with a few of the characters in the above list, and determine which one most closely matches your preferred play-style. Link and Fox rely heavily on projectiles, for instance, while Donkey Kong is a slow and heavy character. If you find yourself enjoying Donkey Kong, consider then trying out Charizard 13
or Bowser, who have similar attributes but very different attacks. You should have multiple characters you feel comfortable using, and you should have characters who work well in one-versus-one and larger battles. Fast characters perform particularly well in individual fights, while the chaos afforded in multiperson free-for-all battles gives characters like Ganondorf and Ike the opportunity to unleash huge attacks. Make sure you’re making use of all of a fighter’s moves before judging their effectiveness, as well. Simon, for instance, has several different projectile attacks, none of which will win a battle if used alone. When used together and alongside his standard whip attack, however, they’re absolutely vicious. Other moves should be used in combination with attacks, and there is no better time to learn this than when you’re picking a character. Mario’s F.L.U.D.D. blaster doesn’t do damage on its own, but it can send an opponent soaring away from the stage if you use it to follow up a smash attack! 14
Teching
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Advanced Techniques
What is Teching in Smash Ultimate? Teching allows a player to avoid bouncing off of surfaces after being hit. Officially, it’s called a ‘Fall Break’, and lets you take action far more quickly than you otherwise would have been able to after being hit. There are different types of tech, and it’s one of the first things you should learn when you’re looking to improve as a beginner.
How to tech It’s simple. When you’re in a tumble animation, such as after you’re hit with an attack, press the Shield button (the left or right triggers by default) just before you hit a surface. This can stop you getting punished further through your vulnerability frames after being knocked onto the ground, and allow you to avoid getting launched a great distance.
grounded tech You can tech on the ground after being hit by a move to make your character get up far more quickly. This avoids vulnerability suffered after a character is grounded, and stops your opponent pulling off further combos or jab-locks. You can input a direction at the same time as the Shield button to roll while you tech.
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