Quick Techniques

There are quite a few techniques that didn�ft make their way into the instruction manual.

I�fll try not to get too technical with things, but just know that there are lots of small tricks like these for you to play around with.

<Ukemi>

When a blow sends you flying, tap the shield button just before you come into contact with the ground, wall, or ceiling. You�fll bound off the surface with a little hop and, like a judo master, cancel any excess momentum that would have otherwise kept you careening around wildly.

Press with just the right timing.

Since midair move-based recoveries have become more fluid, I believe some will find this technique to be slightly less important than it was in the previous game.

<Perfect Shield>

The enemy closes in to attack. You draw him or her closer, then closer still, and just before the blow connects...

Clang! You just performed a perfect shield! You�fll recover from the blow you just blocked with almost no delay and are in a perfect position to launch a counterattack!

If you do a perfect shield on a big hit, get ready to strike back!

<Stale-Move Negation>

Use a particular move too many times and the damage it deals will begin to decrease!

And so it should. Let�fs face it, it takes more skill to use a character�fs full move set than to rely on the same attack over and over.

Moves will decrease in attack power when used repeatedly and get progressively weaker with additional usage, so try and weave a wide variety of attacks into your offense.

Also, if you feel like your attacks just aren�ft launching the opponent as far as they should... Once again, I suggest you try mixing a few other moves into your offense.

Hey, don�ft you think it�fs time you, y�fknow, tried some other moves?

<Glancing Blows>

This isn�ft really a technique so much as it is a little tidbit of Smash info.

When your attack just grazes the opponent you�fll hear a little "chik," meaning you�fve just barely grazed the opponent.

A glancing blow just nicks the opponent so don�ft expect your enemy to flinch.

<Swim>

In Brawl you can actually swim a little bit when you�fre in water. You�fll soon drown though, and the more damage you�fve accumulated, the less time you�fll be able to stay afloat.

We�fre... We�fre going under!

<Small Jump>

This technique is absolutely vital in a scuffle.

Every character has a momentary animation before they jump where they sort of hunker down. If you let off the jump button before this animation ends you�fll perform a small jump.

Here�fs a comparison with a standard jump.

Try using small jumps to close in and score hits on your opponents while dodging their attacks.

Just take a little leap.

<Pivot Grab>

While dashing, press the direction opposite your current heading while performing a grab. You�fll get more range out of this kind of grab, so try pulling a 180 and scooping up your unsuspecting opponent with it.

You can grab from this far away!

<Eating While Reclining>

Let�fs say you�fve just taken a solid hit. You go flying and collapse on the ground.

You notice a few tasty food items on the ground near you.

If this describes your situation, now�fs the time to hit the A Button. You can scoop up food items and eat them without even standing up.

Mmm... Tasty!

<Breaking Reflectors>

�EMario�fs Cape
�EFox�fs Reflector
�EPit�fs Angel Ring and Mirror Shield
�EZelda�fs Naryu�fs Love

...And so on. All these moves have the ability to reflect incoming projectiles back at your opponent. When you use one of these to send back an attack, it actually increases the damage that projectile does.

But if you and your opponent pump up a projectile�fs damage too high, say by reflecting it back and forth...the projectile will become too powerful and break through your reflecting device.

You�fll take a heavily powered-up shot straight to the body, so you know it�fs going to hurt.