Sharking: Difference between revisions

'''Sharking''' is the act of going underneath a stage to attack opponents from below. Its name directly references [[Wikipedia:Shark|sharks]], which swim close enough to the surface of the water so that their dorsal fins are seen overhead. It is best performed by characters with multiple jumps such as {{SSBB|Meta Knight}} and [[Kirby]], who will be able to recover after performing sharking. It can only be performed on stages containing either [[Platform #Semisoft platforms|semisoft platforms]] (those that can be traveled upward through, but not downward through), or thin [[Platform #Hard platforms|hard platforms]] (though the latter is more risky for the attacker). Notable eamples of the former include [[Delfino Plaza]] and [[Halberd]], while examples of the latter include [[Jungle Japes]]. The principle behind sharking is that while underneath the stage, a character can attack and/or [[shield damage|damage shields]] relatively safely, while their opponent has few options to counterattack due to being unable to pass through the platform. However, an experienced player can perform a [[meteor smash]] on a sharker, which if timed accurately usually results in an immediate [[KO]].

Sharking has historically been a legitimate if risky strategy, as while it allows attack without much chance of counterattack, it is easy to make a mistake and [[self-destruct]]. This is more true in ''SSB64'' and ''Melee'', due to their faster physics and falling speed in general compared to other games. In ''Brawl'', Meta Knight in particular can shark with ease on many stages, thanks to a combination of a very fast and disjointed up aerial, plus a choice of four quick recovery moves. This for many has driven sharking into an area considered [[cheap]] or even [[broken]] on certain stages (though usually only when performed by Meta Knight, perhaps a testament to how some would consider the character himself broken). Sharking is commonly combined with [[Camping#Planking|planking]] to allow the sharking character to restore their jumps and be minimally vulnerable to attacks, though this latter technique is no longer possible in ''Smash 4'' due to its new [[edge]] mechanics eliminating the viability of planking.