Editing Desynching

{{technical data|General technical data regarding desyncs, explanations, data for Melee, Brawl and Ultimate. A table of desync possibilities could be handy, as well as more technical data. (August 2020)}}

'''Desynching''' is an [[Advanced technique|advanced]] [[Ice Climbers]] [[technique]] that involves separating the two Ice Climbers' states and controlling them individually.

==Overview==

Desynching can also be manually triggered without having to separate the two. This is partially due to how the partner has a several frame delay during most inputs, and from having slightly different attributes from the leader: [[jump]] height, [[gravity]], [[fall speed]], and [[dash]] (as of ''Ultimate''). Specific maneuvers take advantage of these by using specific means to delay the partner's actions, the most common being during [[grab]]s to allow the partner to attack a captive opponent or regrab them (though this particular method no longer applies in ''Ultimate'' due to changes made to grabs). Once both climbers are desynched, they are essentially performing different actions as long as the player continues to press buttons. Desynching can allow the player to perform an [[attack]], move, [[jump]], or [[wavedash]] with either climber, whilst inputting a different command to the other, which can allow for highly damaging true combos, zero-to-death strings, and even [[infinite]]s.

There are several kinds of desync that differ in execution. Most methods differ by game.

::* Up Aerial + Up Aerial

::* Up Aerial + Back Aerial

::* Back Aerial + Back Aerial

::* Back Aerial + Neutral Aerial

::*One method is to short hop and use neutral air, but just before reaching the apex of the height. Afterwards, immediately fast fall and input a move-- letting go of said move as soon as possible.

::*Another method is to fall through a soft platform and use neutral aerial-- albiet without fast falling-- and buffering a special move before touching the ground.

:In a technical standpoint, the move input has to be made BEFORE Nana turns. That way, she will interpret the turn as a forward dash. Out of the skid, the dash interrupts as early as frame 8. This means that the player must skid, turn, and input a move at least 8 frames after the first skid, but less than 6 frames after the turn.

*'''Squall''': Performed by timing an input at the end of a synced [[Squall Hammer]]. This will have Nana act first. Works whether an opponent is hit or not. Autocancels as long as the Ice Climbers land within 30 frames, meaning the player should try to float the last bit of Squall Hammer to float away and autocancel.

:*0-7% (Character dependent)

:**Forward roll with Nana; upward-angled forward tilt with Popo. Can follow up with Nana Squall Hammer, Nana forward tilt, or another grab. Works on all characters, except "feather" lightweights (i.e. Pichu and Jigglypuff); fails during Rage.

:**Forward roll with Nana; up aerial with Popo. Can be followed up by Nana up aerial to do an "alternating ladder" on certain "ball-like" characters (such as Jigglypuff and Wario).

One exception that doesn't use IASA frames is standing grab and/or dash grab. Once initiated with either of these, the player should buffer grab. The moment Popo's hand goes for the grab, the Control Stick should be set to neutral, the grab button released, and a buffered pummel be inputted. Then, immediately press and hold any button while smashing the stick in any direction. This takes a single input for both Ice Climbers, meaning any direction the player wants to smash in they must also throw.

*'''Hitlag''': Requires either the Ice Climbers or the opponent to be hit. Takes the idea of a single Ice Climber attacking/getting attacked to desync. Has 2 setups: Before-Type Setups and After-Type Setups.

:**Jab: Pressing and releasing the first hit of neutral attack within certain frames of any animation can desync the Ice Climbers to have only Popo attack, while Nana can perform her own input.

:***Pressing and releasing neutral attack within the first 4 frames of a dash input, shield release, or crouch can have Popo attack alone. Other animations have different timing windows:

:****Dash input: used during a jab lock. By jabbing once normally with both Ice Climbers, the player can dash jab cancel to have Popo jab for the third jab and have Nana use Squall Hammer to attempt a regrab.

:****Crouch: Has the most potential, but is the most difficult to input. By running and canceling the dash with a crouch and immediate jab, the player can cancel Nana's jab input with a special move. A good pressure tool if executed correctly.

:::*When up smashing out of shield, by releasing and holding the attack button again, the player can have Popo up smash alone while Nana continues charging her up smash. Useful against opponents that try to grab Popo out of shield; when they try to grab him, Nana loses control and immediately strikes the opponent. This can be countered by the opponent using an attack to knock Nana out of her charge, but Popo is free to release it whenever.

::*Short-Hop Neutral Aerial: By connecting with a buffered short-hop neutral aerial on frame 6, the player can cancel Nana's jumpsquat into any special move. Good for out-of-shield neutral aerial (frame 9) on tall characters.

:**With a synced forward aerial being +3 on shield, or a synced neutral aerial being +2, using jab (which comes out on frame 4) allows for a frame trap of -1 and -2, respectively. This can bait out out-of-shield aerials and shield grabs. After hitting synced jab 1 and 2, the player can time a solo Ice Shot with Popo and Nana for a jab lock, or a tech chase. If they miss a tech, this can usually lead to a guaranteed forward smash.

:**During up aerial strings, the player can buffer a second up air during Nana's hitlag, and while Popo is in the animation of his second up air, Nana can be made made to use forward aerial from a double jump.

*'''Ledge''': First initiated after recovering to the ledge by use of Belay or Squall Hammer as both Ice Climbers. During the 2 frame animation of grabbing the ledge, an action must be inputted, and after that, an additional input. The first input is for Popo, and the second is for Nana. The only exception is that making Popo jump will cause Nana to jump as well, albeit she will still perform whatever her input was. For example:

:*Ledge jump + Nana Squall Hammer: This will drop Nana on top of the opponent, providing cover for Popo to get onstage.

:**If an opponent is shielding, this maneuver can be used to incite shieldstun and give Popo an opportunity to grab them. Since she is already desynced from the ledge attack, this can lead to a combo involving Popo using back throw and Nana using forward smash backwards.

*'''Foxtrot''': Performed by producing multiple foxtrots. At the end of a foxtrot, whiff grab and continue to foxtrot with Nana instead, causing her to continue to move. Although this can be used for Ledge Trumping, it offers the risk of vulnerability on Nana's part. Compounded with her knockback rate being higher than Popo's, this is a very situational desync.

:*Can be executed by either holding Shield, or quickly timing a grab.

:**By holding and angling the shield, pressing and holding the Attack button will cause both Popo to whiff his grab, and Nana to charge a smash attack.

:**By pressing the Grab button (while simultaneously inputting a smash attack), the same result can be achieved as the first aforementioned method.

*'''Spot dodge''': By angling the c stick left, right, or down, and hitting z at the same time, and holding both inputs, Popo will automatically pick a shield option (roll, spotdodge) and continue to do this option as long as the c stick is held in a direction, and Nana will continuously grab in place  

As demonstrated in ''{{YouTube|zQ3DzHTdwTA|Two Climbers, Two Hands}}'', continuous desych is a technique and strategy which involves keeping the Climbers desynced for extended periods of time. In addition to making the Climbers much more powerful offensively, they also become harder to approach with continuous desynch. Due to the extreme difficulty of timing and maintaining a continuous string of attacks, the in-combat potential of this approach is clearly substantial, but largely untapped.

#Avoid having Popo use Blizzard; it will end the desynching process.