Goals in SSBM -- An Intro to the Player vs Player Elements of the Game (pt. 2 of 2)

Part 1 can be found here.

Small article I wrote on a goal-oriented approach to decision-making in SSBM. This section deals with some of the benefits to goal-oriented play that weren't explicitly addressed in part 1 and also goes into a bit more detail when we observe the interactions that occur within a combat sequence. Part 2 of 2.

So to pick up where we left off with Frog last time, we watched a short clip of M2K vs Dr. PP from APEX 2013 where PP predominantly used Falco's laser, safe aerial approaches, empty jumps, and dash dance --> grab / laser to control & condition M2K's options near the edge until M2K eventually gave up on winning from that position and rolled for the middle, resulting in PP gaining a huge combo.

Once we'd discussed that clip sufficiently, I wanted to go over one more clip in order to complete the lesson on goals. This deals with some of the benefits of goal-oriented play that weren't addressed in the first half, and the match analysis focuses a bit more on minute combat interactions rather than playing against a base gameplan (i.e. how to play against Marth's grab as Falco). So there's a bit more of a focus on situational factors (percent, which way a character is facing, etc).

I only hope you find this as helpful as Frog did. Enjoy!!

---- Cue Conversation ----

Frog:

i put on an old game of me vs keasta

where i just kind of aimlessly throw out moves

and thinking about it, i should get punished for stuff like that

KK: 

TBH the issue isn't always you get "punished" for it in the traditional sense of the word

Rather, the greater risk is that you don't get the advantage you could have gotten by doing something that addressed your opponent

Frog: 

im definitely limiting myself if im spending time in lag

Frog:

in times where im throwing out senseless aerials

i could be like

repositioning myself

or just straight up using the gun

KK: 

Indeed

Frog:

not like a dmg punish but kind of punishing myself

by limiting what i can do

raaaa this game is so complicated

KK: 

Not effectively using your opportunities so you lose potential advantage is a form of self-inflicted punishment, yes.

This is probably a big shift from how you're used to playing.

Frog:

you could say that again xD

KK:  

I warn you. Once you begin down this path there's no real turning back.

Frog:

i HAVE to try, im not afraid of failing, just afraid that one day im gonna look back at this whole smash thing and say to myself, maybe i could taken it further

KK: 

On the bright side, something nice I can say about this kind of play...

When I realized you *could* play this way...

Is that I realized this is definitely the funnest way to play SSBM. 

Well, at least for me it is haha.

This is one of the first big steps on your journey to being good at this game.

Welcome :)

Frog:

haha thank you

tomorrow im going to try and find that spark you were talking about

i feel like i could REALLY use that right now. Also i gotta stop with all the caffeine

i feel like thats having a huge influance on how i play as well...

hopefully tomorrow when im totally sober ill be able to just sit down play and apply some of this

but yeah i should really get some sleep, got a long subway ride tomorrow morning  

see ya there?

KK:  

One more small exercise

You mentioned Peach

Frog: 

yessir

KK: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQSMTKhdsDY#t=28m23s

Watch for about 16 seconds

KK:

So, Peach

We're gonna get into a bit more detail with her because Peach is a bit more complicated than Marth

And because it helps build the context of what's happening in the clip

To start, PP is at 102%

What do you think Peach's goals are right now

In terms of what attacks she wants to hit

Frog:

hmm

grab forward throw is one

KK: 

Armada would u-throw combo but that's just splitting hairs

Grab, yes

That's 1

Frog:

nair bair or fair would do the trick, fair i think is the best at this point tho cause its so fast

i mean

nair*

KK: 

You're smart

And as always...

Frog:

downsmash?

KK: 

We must factor in d-smash

Yes

Absolutely

KK:  

So PP lands next to Armada

Armada and PP have their backs to each other

Look what Armada does

Oh, look, it’s that nair we figured he'd be fishing for

Frog:

peepee holds this shield, in anticipation of the nair

KK:  

Indeedy

Frog: 

in that situation, 10/10 times i would go for the backair

peepee has no fear

KK:  

Because blocking there protects him from all of the scary Peach aerials and on occasion the d-smash Armada can do to kill him

KK:  

He is over 100% near the edge as Falco

Armada is mercifully shielding with his back to him

So he doesn't have to worry about grab

Armada's choice to protect himself from PP immediately attacking him has eliminated grab

And the shield also reduces the likelihood of d-smash so

All that's left are aerials

PP's shield there effectively addresses all of Peach's options

Neat, huh?

And because Armada swings first, PP gets to lock him down with some lasers

Because floating above Falco's laser height is one of Peach's goals in the matchup for position

Frog:

hes protected himself against all of peach's goals by being patient in shield, knowing armada is probably hungry

KK: 

Indeed

So he keeps Armada from being able to jump OOS into float by aiming the laser high to catch his jump OOS

And he gets a nair for his troubles

Frog: 

lol

KK: 

Armada then blocks so PP pokes his shield

And gets out of the way ASAP

In doing that motion he is covering his roll in

Frog:

because of that other goal peach has

the grab

KK: 

Indeed

He's baiting for a grab

Covering a roll

And when Armada does neither, he jumps in with an aerial and lands behind Armada and blocks again

Armada bairs OOS into PP's shield

Frog: 

and after armada bairs his shield he punishes

KK:  

Right. PP then acquires a free bair

PP then lasers Armada out of his high float to force him down

Fails to hit a dash dance grab on Armada's landing

Then blocks again

Armada swings with a SH back nair

PP punishes this with WD back > dash JC grab

It's insane how much mileage he gets out of that stock by simply knowing that Armada wants to put him away and playing to that

Frog: 

that grab puts peach in an awkward spot, pp missed those high lasers after tho

KK: 

Indeed

Falco vs Peach is a very interesting matchup because it's such a control-heavy game

Peach is resistant to a lot of Falco's naturally strong suppression tools

In that matchup you maintain advantage by playing around your opponent's goal in a situation

Peach's ability to nair to break certain combos gives her a way out of combos, yes

Her ability to float over lasers give her a way to work around his ground control

These little extra tools she has that she can actively go for

You have the opportunity to play against

And you will be rewarded for countering those successfully

Frog: 

so even tho i cant rack up a 200% combo

if i just start to look for these oppertunities

i can rack up my dmg elsewhere

KK: 

You can just abuse her by controlling her combo break options

Frog: 

by just trying to understand what the peach's goals are

based on whats happened

KK: 

It's a combination of what her best moves are in a situation

Which you'll know if you understand the matchup

Or at least know the basics of the matchup

It's also partially habits, which you've noted too

Because the pilot matters

KK:

Question

Why isn't Armada going for dash attacks?

Frog:

uhm

because it won't combo or kill?

KK:

You're learning :)

I think that is enough for tonight

When you're more comfortable with this stuff tell me

Then I'll give you the next lesson

Night Trevor