- Game Versions
- Smash 3DS, Smash Wii U
I happen to believe that Battlefield is Ganondorf's best stage. The platforms can give him cover from projectiles and from attacks from above, and they also give him some interesting shennanigans with his side b. This guide will go in depth about why this is such a good stage for Ganondorf, and what you can do to abuse it.
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#1: Projectile Cover
Battlefield's platforms give you cover from projectiles. This is helpful against characters like
who can otherwise create a danger zone on the ground.
On FD, it's hard to avoid this danger zone.
You could jump;
but this gives her an advantage. She could just charge more needles, or run in and do any number of things. Without platforms, you give Sheik an advantage.
WITH platforms however;
you can safely keep yourself out of her danger zone without giving her an advantage. If she charges more needles, so what? If she runs in, you can drop down > shield to catch an incoming attack. These platforms are key against projectiles campers like Sheik.
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#2: Rushdown Cover
Again, the platforms help with, but they also help with the likes of . These characters have less room to run around on Battlefield than their ideal stage, which would be FD. It's easier for Ganondorf to play his patient baiting game in the more enclosed space.
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#3: Combo Helpers
It's no secret that platforms help extend the longevity of combos, and with combos as short as Ganondorf's, this is great. Extra followups here, but remember that your opponent can do the same thing.
I find when my opponent lands on a platform and doesn't tech, an up air is a great followup because it covers so much of the platform. Nair can be used in the same way, as it has similar coverage. You can use your other aerials too, but these are more for hard reads as you will likely have to guess where your opponent will get up and use that aerial accordingly, particularly with Dair.
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#4: Better Options for Reading Recovery (pics coming later!)
The platforms on Battlefield also help with reading your opponent's recovery. They can give you cover from your opponent's assault, and buy you more time to react to what your opponent does. Here's a scenario with Sonic. Say you've launched him offstage with a good up smash read:
He wants to retaliate with a down air, because we're pretending this Sonic has a bad habit of using it.
If you were on FD, this would be more of a problem, but since you're on battlefield:
...the platforms give you cover. Now you can retaliate with a nice uair;
...or whatever you like.
Now this is quite the punishable endeavor, and not many top-level Sonics would likely do this, but this is just an easy example. This scenario also works if your opponent tries to retaliate with an aerial from up high. They can't reach you through the platform, but you can certainly reach them. So as a general rule, when they're offstage, if you're not out there gimping them, you wanna be right here:
...as this is a very advantageous spot for you. From here you can wait for your opponent to throw out an attack, and still be safe and ready to punish. Be mindful of horizontal attacks however, particularly Sheik's Bouncing Fish and Charizard's Flare Blitz, as the platforms give you NO COVER from these if used correctly.
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#5: Side B Stuff
Here we go. One of the main reasons I pick BF as dorf.
Under a platform, Side B will pop your opponent onto the platform instead of the ground, leading to many more followups than if they landed on the ground.
This works on every character in the game with aerial Side B, but only on these 18 with grounded Side B:
The grounded and aerial side b present you with different options. Here are some pics to illustrate each. I will first demonstrate the grounded side b with Diddy:
Here you see the grounded version leaves you on the ground, but your opponent on the platform. This is safer than the aerial counter part, as it'd be quite hard to punish Ganondorf even if they tech. It also guarantees aerials as followups. I find this helpful for killing with Bair. You can pop them up on the platform, read their getup, and punish with a bair. Really tho, any aerial is a followup here, even if they tech.
***REMEMBER*** This only works on the 18 listed, not on the rest of the cast.
Also, the timing for the tech is very specific, as I have been informed. It's very hard to do consistently, so you will likely have the element of surprise on your side.
Now here's the aerial side b. Keep in mind, this works with every character. I will be demonstrating with sheik:
As you can see, this places you on the same platform as your opponent. It's more risky, as they could tech the aerial side b and punish you. However, it also opens up the door to guaranteed ground followups, even if they tech. These followups require better reads, but free tilts, smashes, and the like are your reward here.
Side note: this is very situational, but it also works on the top platform with aerial side b:
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#6: Dark Dive Sharking
Credit goes to @Hi-Hatz for this and the photos, but since it's pretty effective on BF, I had to talk about it here too.
If you don't know, dark dive has both a command grab and a normal hitbox. You can abuse this normal hitbox pretty effectively from the ledge, particularly on Battlefield.
You can hit your opponent, but they can't hit you. Be careful that you don't set yourself up to be gimped, as this could leave you in a vulnerable position. Instead of using it all the time, save it for when your opponent least expects it.
As you can guess, this increases Ganondorf's already huge ledge game potential.
The pink boxes on the main level of Battlefield indicate the range of the Dark Dive sharking. Ignore the rest, they don't apply to this.
Once again, these two are @Hi-Hatz's pics, not mine.
Still testing stuff, will add more info as it's found.
And there you have it! Learn, practice, and your Battlefield play will improve your Ganondorf. Take advantage of the extra tools and options he has here. You won't regret it.
Thanks so much for reading my guide! Please rate it and give me your feedback, as all input is appreciated.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#1: Projectile Cover
Battlefield's platforms give you cover from projectiles. This is helpful against characters like
who can otherwise create a danger zone on the ground.On FD, it's hard to avoid this danger zone.
You could jump;
but this gives her an advantage. She could just charge more needles, or run in and do any number of things. Without platforms, you give Sheik an advantage.
WITH platforms however;
you can safely keep yourself out of her danger zone without giving her an advantage. If she charges more needles, so what? If she runs in, you can drop down > shield to catch an incoming attack. These platforms are key against projectiles campers like Sheik.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#2: Rushdown Cover
Again, the platforms help with
, but they also help with the likes of . These characters have less room to run around on Battlefield than their ideal stage, which would be FD. It's easier for Ganondorf to play his patient baiting game in the more enclosed space.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#3: Combo Helpers
It's no secret that platforms help extend the longevity of combos, and with combos as short as Ganondorf's, this is great. Extra followups here, but remember that your opponent can do the same thing.
I find when my opponent lands on a platform and doesn't tech, an up air is a great followup because it covers so much of the platform. Nair can be used in the same way, as it has similar coverage. You can use your other aerials too, but these are more for hard reads as you will likely have to guess where your opponent will get up and use that aerial accordingly, particularly with Dair.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#4: Better Options for Reading Recovery (pics coming later!)
The platforms on Battlefield also help with reading your opponent's recovery. They can give you cover from your opponent's assault, and buy you more time to react to what your opponent does. Here's a scenario with Sonic. Say you've launched him offstage with a good up smash read:
He wants to retaliate with a down air, because we're pretending this Sonic has a bad habit of using it.
If you were on FD, this would be more of a problem, but since you're on battlefield:
...the platforms give you cover. Now you can retaliate with a nice uair;
...or whatever you like.
Now this is quite the punishable endeavor, and not many top-level Sonics would likely do this, but this is just an easy example. This scenario also works if your opponent tries to retaliate with an aerial from up high. They can't reach you through the platform, but you can certainly reach them. So as a general rule, when they're offstage, if you're not out there gimping them, you wanna be right here:
...as this is a very advantageous spot for you. From here you can wait for your opponent to throw out an attack, and still be safe and ready to punish. Be mindful of horizontal attacks however, particularly Sheik's Bouncing Fish and Charizard's Flare Blitz, as the platforms give you NO COVER from these if used correctly.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#5: Side B Stuff
Here we go. One of the main reasons I pick BF as dorf.
Under a platform, Side B will pop your opponent onto the platform instead of the ground, leading to many more followups than if they landed on the ground.
This works on every character in the game with aerial Side B, but only on these 18 with grounded Side B:
The grounded and aerial side b present you with different options. Here are some pics to illustrate each. I will first demonstrate the grounded side b with Diddy:
Here you see the grounded version leaves you on the ground, but your opponent on the platform. This is safer than the aerial counter part, as it'd be quite hard to punish Ganondorf even if they tech. It also guarantees aerials as followups. I find this helpful for killing with Bair. You can pop them up on the platform, read their getup, and punish with a bair. Really tho, any aerial is a followup here, even if they tech.
***REMEMBER*** This only works on the 18 listed, not on the rest of the cast.
Also, the timing for the tech is very specific, as I have been informed. It's very hard to do consistently, so you will likely have the element of surprise on your side.
Now here's the aerial side b. Keep in mind, this works with every character. I will be demonstrating with sheik:
As you can see, this places you on the same platform as your opponent. It's more risky, as they could tech the aerial side b and punish you. However, it also opens up the door to guaranteed ground followups, even if they tech. These followups require better reads, but free tilts, smashes, and the like are your reward here.
Side note: this is very situational, but it also works on the top platform with aerial side b:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#6: Dark Dive Sharking
Credit goes to @Hi-Hatz for this and the photos, but since it's pretty effective on BF, I had to talk about it here too.
If you don't know, dark dive has both a command grab and a normal hitbox. You can abuse this normal hitbox pretty effectively from the ledge, particularly on Battlefield.
You can hit your opponent, but they can't hit you. Be careful that you don't set yourself up to be gimped, as this could leave you in a vulnerable position. Instead of using it all the time, save it for when your opponent least expects it.
As you can guess, this increases Ganondorf's already huge ledge game potential.
The pink boxes on the main level of Battlefield indicate the range of the Dark Dive sharking. Ignore the rest, they don't apply to this.
Once again, these two are @Hi-Hatz's pics, not mine.
Still testing stuff, will add more info as it's found.
And there you have it! Learn, practice, and your Battlefield play will improve your Ganondorf. Take advantage of the extra tools and options he has here. You won't regret it.
Thanks so much for reading my guide! Please rate it and give me your feedback, as all input is appreciated.
