Smash 101: Combat tactics masterclass

This is what it all comes down to. Sending your opponent sailing off the edge of the stage without going over yourself. Here's how to do it with style.

#1, The edge-guard

What it is: The technique for making sure your quarry doesn’t come crawling back onto the edge of the stage once you’ve sent them off.

How to do it: Only one character can hang onto the edge of a platform at a time, so make sure that character is yours. Smash your opponent off the side, then immediately drop off and grab the ledge. If they come double-jumping back and try to grasp the side, they’ll suddenly become inflicted with melty-finger syndrome and slip straight down to oblivion.

And if they try a mid-air attack to knock you off, simply climb back onto the stage. As you flip up to solid ground you’ll become briefly invincible (watch out for the white flash), so if you time it right their hit will miss and you’ll still block them from grabbing the ledge. Beautiful.

Why you should use it: Provided your initial smash sends the other guy far enough, you can almost guarantee he won’t be coming back.

#2, The edge-hop

What it is: A way of seriously confusing your opponent when fighting at the side of the stage.

How to do it: Drop off the stage, fall to just less than jump height from the edge, then double-jump back and grab the side. Repeat as many times as you want.

Why you should use it: They’ve knocked you off. Then they haven’t. Then you’ve fallen off. Then you haven’t. By the third time you drop and return, it will be blatently obvious to your opponent that you’re screwing with them, but they won’t be able to do a damn thing about it. Any time they get close, you can just hit A or B to flip back onto the stage with an attack, and if they try to jump over the edge to knock you off, you can just employ a bit of edge-guarding invincibility to send them plummeting. Yes, using this technique makes you a bit of a bastard, but no, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.