Editing Stage legality

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{{ArticleIcons|series=y|competitive=y}}
{{ArticleIcons|series=y|competitive=y}}
{{competitive expertise|This article might not include all reasons why stages are banned/infrequently legal/retired.}}
{{competitive expertise}}
'''Stage legality''' refers to the playable status of various [[stage]]s in mainstream [[tournaments]].
'''Stage legality''' refers to the playable status of various [[stage]]s in mainstream [[tournaments]].


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'''Banned stages''' cannot be chosen at all. Stages can be banned for several reasons, common reasons including but not limited to:
'''Banned stages''' cannot be chosen at all. Stages can be banned for several reasons, common reasons including but not limited to:
*Especially poor matchup balance by providing a rather extreme advantage for certain [[character]]s (such as allowing the character to utilise excessive, gamebreaking [[camping]], or utilise infinite [[chain throw]]s, as in the case of {{SSBM|Fox}} in [[Temple]] for the former, or {{SSBB|King Dedede}} in [[Shadow Moses Island]] for the latter).
*Especially poor matchup balance by providing a rather extreme advantage for certain [[character]]s (such as allowing the character to utilise excessive, gamebreaking [[camping]], or utilise infinite [[chain throw]]s, as in the case of {{SSBM|Fox}} in [[Temple]] for the former, or {{SSBB|King Dedede}} in [[Shadow Moses Island]] for the latter).
*Intrusive [[stage hazard]]s that can easily KO players who are knocked into them, or force players to give up an advantage to avoid them. An extreme example of this is [[Gamer]].
*Powerful [[stage hazard]]s that can easily KO players who are knocked into them, or force players to give up an advantage to avoid them. An extreme example of this is [[Gamer]].
*Allowing players to abuse [[glitch]]es in the game.
*Allowing players to abuse [[glitch]]es in the game.
*Possessing one or more "[[caves of life]]," allowing characters to survive much longer than feasibly possible under usual circumstances, and creating a general over-centralisation on the ability to [[tech]].
*Possessing one or more "[[caves of life]]," allowing characters to survive much longer than feasibly possible under usual circumstances, and creating a general over-centralisation on the ability to [[tech]].
*Possessing permanent walk-off [[blast line]]s and walls; the former creates unreasonably powerful camping positions and allows for potential easy [[zero-death]]s that wouldn't occur normally, as well as marginalizing or completely eliminating offstage play (nullifying the value of a good recovery), while the latter also creates powerful camping positions and allow for zero-death or otherwise heavily damaging combos that wouldn't be possible otherwise. Walk-offs and walls that occur only temporarily on a stage are considered detrimental, but acceptable enough to usually not result in a stage's banning by themselves.
*Possessing permanent walk-off [[blast line]]s and walls; the former creates unreasonably powerful camping positions and allows for potential easy [[zero-death]]s that wouldn't occur normally, as well as marginalizing or completely eliminating offstage play (nullifying the value of a good recovery), while the latter also creates powerful camping positions and allow for zero-death or otherwise heavily damaging combos that wouldn't be possible otherwise. Walk-offs and walls that occur only temporarily on a stage are considered detrimental, but acceptable enough to usually not result in a stage's banning by themselves.
*Drastically altering gameplay and the strategies needed to win (such as [[Icicle Mountain]] and [[Mario Bros.]]).
*Drastically altering gameplay and the strategies needed to win (such as [[Icicle Mountain]] and [[Mario Bros. (stage)|Mario Bros.]]).
*Possessing elements that causes the stage to be too strenuous on the system's CPU and thus being capable of reducing the game's frame rate mid-match (such as [[Fountain of Dreams]] in ''Melee'' doubles play).
*Possessing elements that causes the stage to be too strenuous on the system's CPU and thus being capable of reducing the game's frame rate mid-match (such as [[Fountain of Dreams]] in ''Melee'' doubles play).


The term '''legal stage''' can also be used to describe any neutral or counterpick stage, or equivalently, any non-banned stage.
The term '''legal stage''' can also be used to describe any neutral or counterpick stage, or equivalently, any non-banned stage.


In general, due to the wide variety between stages and stage types and the series as a whole not necessarily being designed with serious competitive play in mind, very few stages are balanced enough to be legal for professional competitive play, which is why a majority of stages in all games end up being banned.
In general, due to the wide variety between stages and stage types, almost all of the stages within any given game are banned and very few are balanced enough to be legal for professional competitive play.


Despite the banned stages list, most tournaments feature some variation of the "gentleman rule", a rule that allows players to choose any stage they want, including banned stages, if all players in the match agree to it. This is usually the only way for banned stages to see serious tournament play. However, even with this rule in effect, it rarely sees use to play on banned stages outside a much higher-skilled player letting an opposing more casual or very young player choose any stage they want, as most competitive players never want to willingly play on the banned stages for the same reasons the ruleset had them banned. Even with the rule in effect, TOs may still ban some stages from being played on via the gentleman rule, if the stage has a propensity to delay the tournament by causing much longer matches (such as Temple, [[New Pork City]], and [[The Great Cave Offensive]]).
Despite the banned stages list, most tournaments feature some variation of the "gentleman rule", a rule that allows players to choose any stage they want, including banned stages, if all players in the match agree to it. This is usually the only way for banned stages to see serious tournament play. However, even with this rule in effect, it rarely sees use to play on banned stages outside a much higher-skilled player letting an opposing more casual or very young player choose any stage they want, as most competitive players never want to willingly play on the banned stages for the same reasons the ruleset had them banned. Even with the rule in effect, TOs may still ban some stages from being played on via the gentleman rule, if the stage has a propensity to delay the tournament by causing much longer matches (such as Temple, [[New Pork City]], and [[The Great Cave Offensive]]).


==Major differences in communities==
==Major differences in communities==
There are many [[community]] preferences in terms of stage choices, with there being no agreed-upon standard across all regions on what exactly constitutes a "legal stage", so a stage's legality can be dependent on the region the tournament is in; this is especially true in ''Brawl'' and ''Smash 4'', due to a lack of an officially standardized stage list. [[Pokémon Stadium 2]] in ''Brawl'', for instance, was generally banned in the [[Tristate Area]], while tournaments in [[Texas]] usually allowed the stage to be a legal counterpick choice.  
There are many [[community]] preferences in terms of stage choices, with there being no agreed-upon standard across all regions on what exactly constitutes a "proper stage", so a stage's legality can be dependent on the region the tournament is in; this is especially true in ''Brawl'' and ''Smash 4'', due to a lack of an officially standardized stage list. [[Pokémon Stadium 2]] in ''Brawl'', for instance, was generally banned in the [[Tristate Area]], while tournaments in [[Texas]] usually allowed the stage to be a legal counterpick choice.  


The commonality of characters can also play a role in what stages are legal or banned. Again in ''Brawl'', the rising prominence of {{SSBB|Meta Knight}} in the [[metagame]] led to stage lists in most regions becoming more restrictive. In the Tristate region, Meta Knight was not banned from tournaments, and as a result, the Tristate tournament scene banned or otherwise restricted stages such as [[Delfino Plaza]], [[Halberd]], and [[Rainbow Cruise]] due to Meta Knight's overwhelming power on such stages. In some regions, however, Meta Knight was not as widely used as the Tristate Area; as such, some of the aforementioned stages have differing legalities, with Halberd sometimes being a starter stage and [[Frigate Orpheon]] going from a banned stage to a counterpick. [[WHOBO 4]], the first American MK-banned major, featured an expansive stagelist that included Delfino Plaza, Halberd, Rainbow Cruise, and Brinstar as counterpicks, even though most of these stages were banned in MK-legal tournaments at the time.
The commonality of characters can also play a role in what stages are legal or banned. Again in ''Brawl'', the rising prominence of {{SSBB|Meta Knight}} in the [[metagame]] led to stage lists in most regions becoming more restrictive. In the Tristate region, Meta Knight was not banned from tournaments, and as a result, the Tristate tournament scene banned or otherwise restricted stages such as [[Delfino Plaza]], [[Halberd]], and [[Rainbow Cruise]] due to Meta Knight's overwhelming power on such stages. In some regions, however, Meta Knight was not as widely used as the Tristate Area; as such, some of the aforementioned stages have differing legalities, with Halberd sometimes being a starter stage and [[Frigate Orpheon]] going from a banned stage to a counterpick. [[WHOBO 4]], the first American MK-banned major, featured an expansive stagelist that included Delfino Plaza, Halberd, Rainbow Cruise, and Brinstar as counterpicks, even though most of these stages were banned in MK-legal tournaments at the time.


==Stage legality in ''[[Smash 64]]''==
==Stage legality in ''[[Smash 64]]''==
The following is ''Smash 64's'' banlist for stages in tournaments. Until mid-2015, four stages — [[Dream Land]], [[Hyrule Castle]], [[Congo Jungle]], and [[Peach's Castle]] — were legal. Currently, [[Dream Land]] is the only stage that can be used in tournaments. However, with tournaments switching from the vanilla version of the game to the [[19XX]] mod, in some tournaments like {{Trn|GENESIS 5}} or {{Trn|GENESIS 6}}, the stages [[Duel Zone]] and {{SSB|Final Destination}}, which weren't available without hacking, have seen some tournament presence in doubles, though this is generally rare.  
The following is ''Smash 64's'' banlist for stages in tournaments. Until mid-2015, four stages — {{SSB|Dream Land}}, [[Hyrule Castle]], {{SSB|Congo Jungle}}, and [[Peach's Castle]] — were legal. Currently, [[Dream Land]] is the only stage that can be used in tournaments. However, with tournaments switching from the vanilla version of the game to the [[19XX]] mod, in some tournaments like {{Trn|GENESIS 5}} or {{Trn|GENESIS 6}}, the stages {{SSB|Battlefield}} and {{SSB|Final Destination}}, which weren't available without hacking, have seen some tournament presence in doubles though this is generally rare.  


More recently, [[Smash Remix]] has allowed for certain hacked stages in tournaments, such as Zebes Landing (a version of Dream Land without wind), and even stages with a different layout, like 64 versions of [[Smashville]], [[Yoshi's Story]], [[Pokémon Stadium]] and others.
More recently [[Smash Remix]] has allowed for certain hacked stages in tournaments such as Zebes Landing (a version of Dreamland without wind,) and even stages with a different layout like 64 versions of [[Smashville]], [[Yoshi's Story]], [[Pokemon Stadium]] and others.


{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
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! Commonly cited reasons for status
! Commonly cited reasons for status
|-
|-
| [[Dream Land]]
| {{SSB|Dream Land}}
| style="background:#dfffbf" | Starter
| style="background:#dfffbf" | Starter
| style="background:#dfffbf" | Starter
| style="background:#dfffbf" | Starter
| A modified version of this stage without [[hazard]]s (the wind) or alternative versions in [[Smash Remix]] such as Zebes Landing is sometimes used as an alternative.
| A modified version of this stage without [[hazard]]s (the wind) or alternative versions in [[Smash Remix]] such as '''Zebes Landing''' is sometimes used as an alternative.
|-
|-
| [[Congo Jungle]]
| {{SSB|Congo Jungle}}
| style="background:#ffdfbf" | Retired starter<ref name="Apex 2015 Ruleset"/>
| style="background:#ffdfbf" | Retired starter<ref name="Apex 2015 Ruleset"/>
| style="background:#ffefbf" | Infrequently legal<ref name="Apex 2015 Ruleset"/><ref name="GENESIS 6 Ruleset"/><ref name="Smash'N'Splash 5 Ruleset">[[Tournament:Smash 'N' Splash 5#Stages|Smash 'N' Splash 5]]</ref>
| style="background:#ffefbf" | Infrequently legal<ref name="Apex 2015 Ruleset"/><ref name="GENESIS 6 Ruleset"/><ref name="Smash'N'Splash 5 Ruleset">[https://www.ssbwiki.com/Tournament:Smash_%27N%27_Splash_5#Stages Smash'N'Splash 5]</ref>
| Top platforms are too high (characters such as Ness can have difficulty approaching without double jumping); Lack of ledge DI hurts recoveries; poor lighting; barrel turning is randomized and it removes double jump hurting certain recoveries.
| Top platforms are too high (characters such as Ness can have difficulty approaching without double jumping); Lack of ledge DI hurts recoveries; poor lighting; barrel turning is randomized and it removes double jump hurting certain recoveries.
|-
|-
| [[Hyrule Castle]]
| [[Hyrule Castle]]
| style="background:#ffdfbf" | Retired starter<ref name="Apex 2015 Ruleset">[[Tournament:Apex 2015#Ruleset|Apex 2015]]</ref>
| style="background:#ffdfbf" | Retired starter<ref name="Apex 2015 Ruleset">[https://www.ssbwiki.com/Tournament:Apex_2015#Ruleset Apex 2015]</ref>
| style="background:#ffefbf" | Infrequently legal<ref name="Apex 2015 Ruleset"/><ref name="GENESIS 6 Ruleset"/>
| style="background:#ffefbf" | Infrequently legal<ref name="Apex 2015 Ruleset"/><ref name="GENESIS 6 Ruleset"/>
| Too large; cave of life/the tent at stage's right side promotes camping and can lead to powerful combos; left slant is hard to approach; Tornado stage hazards are too powerful and disruptive to gameplay and can also randomly be fast or slow.
| Too large; cave of life/the tent at stage's right side promotes camping and can lead to powerful combos; left slant is hard to approach; Tornado stage hazards are too powerful and disruptive to gameplay and can also randomly be fast or slow.
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| Lack of platforms hurt movement options and promote camping; unavailable without hacks; Freezes occasionally (presumed due to the game triggering Master Hand.)
| Lack of platforms hurt movement options and promote camping; unavailable without hacks; Freezes occasionally (presumed due to the game triggering Master Hand.)
|-
|-
| [[Duel Zone]]
| {{SSB|Battlefield}}
| style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned
| style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned
| style="background:#ffefbf" | Infrequently legal<ref name="GENESIS 6 Ruleset"/>
| style="background:#ffefbf" | Infrequently legal<ref name="GENESIS 6 Ruleset"/>
| Platforms are higher than Dream Land preventing certain characters from platform cancelling; Ledge DI can cause an SD by "warping" the character into the bottom due to ledge physics; Unavailable without hacks
| Platforms are higher than Dreamland preventing certain characters from platform cancelling; Ledge DI can cause an SD by "warping" the character into the bottom due to ledge physics; Unavailable without hacks
|-
|-
| [[Meta Crystal]]
| [[Meta Crystal]]
| style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned
| style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned
| style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned
| style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned
| Unavailable without hacks; Too small; slants can alter gameplay
| Unavailable without hacks; Too small.
|}
|}


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! Commonly cited reasons for status
! Commonly cited reasons for status
|-
|-
| {{SSBM|Battlefield}}
| [[Battlefield (SSBM)|Battlefield]]
| style="background:#dfffbf" | Starter
| style="background:#dfffbf" | Starter
| style="background:#dfffbf" | Starter
| style="background:#dfffbf" | Starter
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| Overly large; excessive camping/stalling behind the big fin; fin allows for wall infinites; random, powerful stage hazards in Arwing lasers; several positions from which characters cannot recover which they can easily be forced into, especially by characters with good aerial games; overall gives unfair advantages to fast characters on the stage and aerial-based characters off of it
| Overly large; excessive camping/stalling behind the big fin; fin allows for wall infinites; random, powerful stage hazards in Arwing lasers; several positions from which characters cannot recover which they can easily be forced into, especially by characters with good aerial games; overall gives unfair advantages to fast characters on the stage and aerial-based characters off of it
|-
|-
| [[Dream Land]]
| [[Dream Land N64]]
| style="background:#dfffbf" | Starter
| style="background:#dfffbf" | Starter
| style="background:#dfffbf" | Starter
| style="background:#dfffbf" | Starter
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|-
|-
| [[Final Destination]]
| [[Final Destination]]
| style="background:#efffbf" | Counterpick/starter
| style="background:#dfffbf" | Starter
| style="background:#dfffbf" | Starter
| Typically a counterpick when used with frozen stadium as a starter; The lack of platforms causes certain characters (such as Yoshi) to struggle and significantly changes the dynamics of certain matchups (such as Fox vs. Marth)
| style="background:#dfffbf" | Starter
|
|-
|-
| [[Flat Zone]]
| [[Flat Zone]]
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| Overly powerful stage hazard in Klap Trap; unusually high ceiling gives a disproportional advantage to horizontal finishers; high potential for camping and stalling; very poor matchup balance, giving a disproportionate advantage to characters with projectiles and those that can traverse the stage well
| Overly powerful stage hazard in Klap Trap; unusually high ceiling gives a disproportional advantage to horizontal finishers; high potential for camping and stalling; very poor matchup balance, giving a disproportionate advantage to characters with projectiles and those that can traverse the stage well
|-
|-
| [[Kongo Falls|Kongo Jungle]]
| {{SSBM|Kongo Jungle}}
| style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned
| style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned
| style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned
| style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned
| Powerful camping position on the rock platform on the bottom right of the stage; [[Klaptrap|Klap Trap]] too powerful and difficult to avoid when it enters the Barrel Cannon
| Powerful camping position on the rock platform on the bottom right of the stage; [[Klaptrap|Klap Trap]] too powerful and difficult to avoid when it enters the Barrel Cannon
|-
|-
| [[Kongo Jungle|Kongo Jungle N64]]
| [[Congo Jungle|Kongo Jungle N64]]
| style="background:#ffdfbf" | Retired counterpick
| style="background:#ffdfbf" | Retired counterpick
| style="background:#ffdfbf" | Retired counterpick
| style="background:#ffdfbf" | Retired counterpick
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| Walk-off blast lines; stage is too small; random, disruptive [[stage hazard]] in [[Birdo]]; lack of proper "center" platform hinders gameplay, particularly in doubles
| Walk-off blast lines; stage is too small; random, disruptive [[stage hazard]] in [[Birdo]]; lack of proper "center" platform hinders gameplay, particularly in doubles
|-
|-
| [[Mute City]]
| {{SSBM|Mute City}}
| style="background:#ffdfbf" | Retired counterpick
| style="background:#ffdfbf" | Retired counterpick
| style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned
| style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned
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| style="background:#dfffbf" | Starter
| style="background:#dfffbf" | Starter
| Transformations can allow for wall infinites and camping, especially for Fox and Falco. Certain transformations have locations where players can clip through the stage both intentionally and unintentionally, and most characters are unable to survive.
| Transformations can allow for wall infinites and camping, especially for Fox and Falco. Certain transformations have locations where players can clip through the stage both intentionally and unintentionally, and most characters are unable to survive.
|-
| [[Pokémon Stadium]] (frozen)
| style="background:#ffefbf" | Sometimes legal
| style="background:#ffefbf" | Sometimes legal
| The lack of transformations make for a more balanced and consistent experience. Unavailable without modding. Used in modern online events due to stage transformations causing desyncs when playing online with [[Project Slippi]] and in some offline locals and major tournaments such as [[Riptide]].
|-
|-
| [[Princess Peach's Castle]]
| [[Princess Peach's Castle]]
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In the past, the following stages have been legal counterpicks, but are now banned:
In the past, the following stages have been legal counterpicks, but are now banned:
*[[Big Blue]], [[Brinstar]], [[Corneria]], [[Green Greens]], [[Jungle Japes]], [[Kongo Falls|Kongo Jungle]], [[Kongo Jungle|Kongo Jungle (N64)]], {{SSBM|Mushroom Kingdom}}, [[Mushroom Kingdom II]], [[Mute City]], [[Onett]], [[Poké Floats]], [[Princess Peach's Castle]], [[Rainbow Cruise]], {{SSBM|Yoshi's Island}}
*[[Big Blue]], [[Brinstar]], [[Corneria]], [[Green Greens]], [[Jungle Japes]], {{SSBM|Kongo Jungle}}, [[Congo Jungle|Kongo Jungle (N64)]], {{SSBM|Mushroom Kingdom}}, [[Mushroom Kingdom II]], {{SSBM|Mute City}}, [[Onett]], [[Poké Floats]], [[Princess Peach's Castle]], [[Rainbow Cruise]], {{SSBM|Yoshi's Island}}
The following stages have never been legal in competitive ''Melee'' history:
The following stages have never been legal in competitive ''Melee'' history:
*[[Brinstar Depths]], [[Flat Zone]], [[Fourside]], [[Great Bay]], [[Icicle Mountain]], [[Temple]], [[Venom]], [[Yoshi's Island (SSB)|Yoshi's Island (N64)]]
*[[Brinstar Depths]], [[Flat Zone]], [[Fourside]], [[Great Bay]], [[Icicle Mountain]], [[Temple]], [[Venom]], [[Yoshi's Island (SSB)|Yoshi's Island (N64)]]
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| Slants at the ledges; tilting can unfairly mess up recoveries
| Slants at the ledges; tilting can unfairly mess up recoveries
|-
|-
| [[Mario Bros.]]
| [[Mario Bros. (stage)|Mario Bros.]]
| style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned
| style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned
| [[Gameplay]] is vastly altered by stage [[enemies]]; overly powerful stage hazards; impassable platforms create caves of life; walk-off blast lines; no lower blast line
| [[Gameplay]] is vastly altered by stage [[enemies]]; overly powerful stage hazards; impassable platforms create caves of life; walk-off blast lines; no lower blast line
|-
|-
| [[Figure-8 Circuit|Mario Circuit]]
| {{SSBB|Mario Circuit}}
| style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned
| style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned
| High potential for camping/stalling; walk-off blast lines; frequent stage hazard in karts that often disrupt gameplay; no lower blast line
| High potential for camping/stalling; walk-off blast lines; frequent stage hazard in karts that often disrupt gameplay; no lower blast line
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| Stage design from WarioWare, Inc. without transformations. Textures usually changed to a Wario Land theme. Too small for doubles.
| Stage design from WarioWare, Inc. without transformations. Textures usually changed to a Wario Land theme. Too small for doubles.
|-
|-
| [[Dream Land]]
| [[Dream Land (64)]]
| style="background:#ffffbf" | Counterpick
| style="background:#ffffbf" | Counterpick
| style="background:#ffffbf" | Counterpick
| style="background:#ffffbf" | Counterpick
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| [[Brinstar]] || style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Lava stage hazard is too powerful, especially against fast-fallers; stage creates significant reliance on aerial games, punishing characters that need to stay on the ground; irregular, disruptive design that can frequently change
| [[Brinstar]] || style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Lava stage hazard is too powerful, especially against fast-fallers; stage creates significant reliance on aerial games, punishing characters that need to stay on the ground; irregular, disruptive design that can frequently change
|-
|-
| [[Dream Land GB|Dream Land]] || style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Scrolling overcentralizes gameplay on keeping up with the stage, giving a strong benefit to characters with good mobility; frequent walk-off blast lines; lower blast line is frequently absent
| [[Dream_Land_(SSB4)|Dream Land]] || style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Scrolling overcentralizes gameplay on keeping up with the stage, giving a strong benefit to characters with good mobility; frequent walk-off blast lines; lower blast line is frequently absent
|-
|-
| [[Dream Land (64)]] || style="background:#ffffbf" | Counterpick || Wind can alter gameplay; the top platform is closer to the ceiling than battlefield; thus sligtly favoring characters with vertical finishers
| [[Dream Land (64)]] || style="background:#ffffbf" | Counterpick || Wind can alter gameplay; the top platform is closer to the ceiling than battlefield; thus sligtly favoring characters with vertical finishers
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| [[Prism Tower]] || style="background:#ffffbf" | Counterpick || Some transformations feature walk-off blast lines.
| [[Prism Tower]] || style="background:#ffffbf" | Counterpick || Some transformations feature walk-off blast lines.
|-
|-
| [[Mute City SNES|Mute City]] || style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Lack of bottom blast line; road is too powerful a stage hazard; potentially random placement of F-Zero racers; provides significant advantage to characters with good aerial mobility
| [[Mute City]] || style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Lack of bottom blast line; road is too powerful a stage hazard; potentially random placement of F-Zero racers; provides significant advantage to characters with good aerial mobility
|-
|-
| [[Magicant]] || style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Flying Men are too powerful a stage hazard and overcentralize gameplay on camping on the rightmost platform.
| [[Magicant]] || style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Flying Men are too powerful a stage hazard and overcentralize gameplay on camping on the rightmost platform.
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| [[Gaur Plain]] || style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Too large; promotes camping and circle camping; walk-off blast lines; grants advantage to characters with good aerial mobility
| [[Gaur Plain]] || style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Too large; promotes camping and circle camping; walk-off blast lines; grants advantage to characters with good aerial mobility
|-
|-
| {{b|Duck Hunt|stage}} || style="background:#ffdfbf" | Retired counterpick || Tree on left side of stage can promote camping and stalling; Duck Hunt Dog can be disruptive; blast lines are close to stage. Banned on December 19, 2016.<ref>https://www.smashladder.com/rankings/smash-3ds/59/2016-part-4/1</ref><ref>https://www.smashladder.com/rankings/smash-3ds/64/2017-opening-season/1</ref>
| {{b|Duck Hunt|stage}} || style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Tree on left side of stage can promote camping and stalling; Duck Hunt Dog can be disruptive; blast lines are close to stage
|-
|-
| [[Balloon Fight]] || style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Walk-off blast lines; Fish and other stage hazards are too disruptive and powerful; lower blast line is difficult to utilize
| [[Balloon Fight]] || style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Walk-off blast lines; Fish and other stage hazards are too disruptive and powerful; lower blast line is difficult to utilize
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| [[Pac-Maze]] || style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Cave of life potential; high upper blast line overcentralizes gameplay on horizontal finishers; ghosts too powerful and disruptive a hazard; overcentralization on collecting pellets, which can grant buffs to players
| [[Pac-Maze]] || style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Cave of life potential; high upper blast line overcentralizes gameplay on horizontal finishers; ghosts too powerful and disruptive a hazard; overcentralization on collecting pellets, which can grant buffs to players
|-
|-
| [[Suzaku Castle]] || style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Right side of the stage features a walk-off blast line.
| [[Suzaku Castle]] || style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Walk-off blast lines on right side of the stage
|-
|-
| [[Umbra Clock Tower]] || style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Some stage transformations feature walk-off blast lines and caves of life; aesthetics can disrupt regular gameplay
| [[Umbra Clock Tower]] || style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Some stage transformations feature walk-off blast lines and caves of life; aesthetics can disrupt regular gameplay
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|style="background:#C0C0C0" | Varies || Sometimes banned due to being identical to Final Destination; sometimes legal as an alternative to Final Destination due to Ω forms sometimes having different blast line distances or main platform shapes
|style="background:#C0C0C0" | Varies || Sometimes banned due to being identical to Final Destination; sometimes legal as an alternative to Final Destination due to Ω forms sometimes having different blast line distances or main platform shapes
|-
|-
|{{SSB4|Battlefield}}
|[[Battlefield]]
|style="background:#dfffbf" | Starter ||  
|style="background:#dfffbf" | Starter ||  
|-
|-
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|style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Stage has constant walk-off blast lines and lacks a lower blast line; unusual curvature and gravity of the stage can also impact gameplay physics
|style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Stage has constant walk-off blast lines and lacks a lower blast line; unusual curvature and gravity of the stage can also impact gameplay physics
|-
|-
|[[Mario Circuit]]
|{{SSB4|Mario Circuit}}
|style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Some transformations of the stage can block off blast lines; Shy Guy racers too powerful a stage hazard
|style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Some transformations of the stage can block off blast lines; Shy Guy racers too powerful a stage hazard
|-
|-
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|style="background:#ffdfbf" | Retired counterpick || Stage transformations can have walk-off blast lines or no lower blast line; some potentially powerful camping spots; strongly benefits characters with good air mobility
|style="background:#ffdfbf" | Retired counterpick || Stage transformations can have walk-off blast lines or no lower blast line; some potentially powerful camping spots; strongly benefits characters with good air mobility
|-
|-
|[[Figure-8 Circuit|Mario Circuit (Brawl)]]
|[[Mario Circuit (SSBB)|Mario Circuit (Brawl)]]
|style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Stage has constant walk-off blast lines and lacks a lower blast line; Shy Guy racers too powerful and disruptive a stage hazard
|style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Stage has constant walk-off blast lines and lacks a lower blast line; Shy Guy racers too powerful and disruptive a stage hazard
|-
|-
Line 673: Line 668:
|-
|-
|[[Dream Land 64]]
|[[Dream Land 64]]
|style="background:#ffffbf" | Counterpick || Wind can alter gameplay; the top platform is closer to the ceiling than battlefield, thus slightly favoring characters with vertical finishers
|style="background:#ffffbf" | Counterpick || Wind can alter gameplay; the top platform is closer to the ceiling than battlefield, thus sligtly favoring characters with vertical finishers
|-
|-
|[[The Great Cave Offensive]]
|[[The Great Cave Offensive]]
Line 706: Line 701:
|-
|-
|[[Palutena's Temple]]
|[[Palutena's Temple]]
|style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Too large; promotes circle camping; spikes and hazards too powerful and disruptive; frequent caves of life; promotes characters that can easily maneuver the stage
|style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Too large; promotes circle camping; spikes and hazards too powerful and disruptive; frequent caves of life; promotes characters that can easily manuver the stage
|-
|-
|[[Skyworld]]
|[[Skyworld]]
Line 727: Line 722:
|-
|-
|[[Boxing Ring]]
|[[Boxing Ring]]
|style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Walk-off blast lines; no lower blast line; too large; hanging lights are too strong of a stage hazard and can promote camping
|style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Walk-offs blast lines; no lower blast line; too large; hanging lights are too strong a stage hazard and can promote camping
|-
|-
|[[Gaur Plain]]
|[[Gaur Plain]]
|style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Too large; walk-off blast lines; stage unfairly benefits characters with good aerial mobility; Metal Face is too strong and disruptive a stage hazard
|style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Too large; walk-off blast lines; stage unfairly benefits characters with good aerial mobility; Metal Face too strong and disruptive a stage hazard
|-
|-
|[[Duck Hunt (stage)|Duck Hunt]]
|[[Duck Hunt (stage)|Duck Hunt]]
Line 748: Line 743:
|-
|-
|[[Wuhu Island]]
|[[Wuhu Island]]
|style="background:#ffdfbf" | Retired counterpick || Some transformations feature walk-off blast lines; disruptive stage hazards, such as the fountain and balloon  
|style="background:#ffdfbf" | Retired counterpick || Some transformations feature walk-off blast lines; disruptive stage hazards, such as the fountain and balloon  
|-
|-
|[[Miiverse]]
|[[Miiverse]]
Line 763: Line 758:
|-
|-
|[[Suzaku Castle]]
|[[Suzaku Castle]]
|style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Right side of stage features a walk-off blast line.
|style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Right side of stage features walk-off blast line
|-
|-
|[[Peach's Castle|Peach's Castle (64)]]
|[[Peach's Castle|Peach's Castle (64)]]
Line 805: Line 800:
|-
|-
|[[Small Battlefield]]
|[[Small Battlefield]]
|style="background:#efffbf" | Counterpick/Starter || Stage layout is similar to Pokémon Stadium 2, albeit with a smaller stage size and larger platforms. Thus, there has been some debate on where Small Battlefield stands in the current stage list, with some tournaments having it replace PS2 as a starter, while others put it as a counterpick.
|style="background:#efffbf" | Counterpick/Starter || Stage layout is similar to Pokemon Stadium 2, albeit with a smaller stage size and larger platforms. thus, there has been some debate on where Small Battlefield stands in the current stage list, with some tournaments having it replace PS2 as a starter, while others put it as a counterpick
|-
|-
|{{SSBU|Big Battlefield}}
|{{SSBU|Big Battlefield}}
Line 816: Line 811:
|style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned  || Disruptive geometry; offstage triangles and walls can block K.Os and promote camping.
|style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned  || Disruptive geometry; offstage triangles and walls can block K.Os and promote camping.
|-
|-
|[[Kongo Jungle]]
|{{SSB|Kongo Jungle}}
|style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned  || Too large; high ceiling; platform layout promotes stalling and circle camping.
|style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned  || Too large; high ceiling; platform layout promotes stalling and circle camping.
|-
|-
Line 825: Line 820:
|style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned  || Clouds off right side of the stage highly favor camping; right blast zone is extremely far away from the main body of the stage.
|style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned  || Clouds off right side of the stage highly favor camping; right blast zone is extremely far away from the main body of the stage.
|-
|-
|[[Dream Land]]
|{{SSB|Dream Land}}
|style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned  || Too similar to Battlefield, omitted from most rulesets to reduce redundancy.
|style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned  || Too similar to Battlefield, omitted from most rulesets to reduce redundancy.
|-
|-
Line 859: Line 854:
|-
|-
|[[Yoshi's Story]]
|[[Yoshi's Story]]
|style="background:#ffefbf" | Infrequently legal<ref name="Smashadelphia Ruleset">[[Tournament:Smashadelphia Ultimate#Ruleset|Smashadelphia Ultimate]] (December 9th, 2018)</ref><ref name="GENESIS 6 Ruleset"/> || Features slopes on the ledges; blast zones are rather close to the main stage. Also features a low ceiling, which can lead to early kills, making this stage banned in some tournaments.
|style="background:#ffffbf" | Counterpick<ref name="Smashadelphia Ruleset">[https://www.ssbwiki.com/Tournament:Smashadelphia_Ultimate#Ruleset Smashadelphia Ultimate (December 9th, 2018)]</ref><ref name="GENESIS 6 Ruleset"/> || Features slopes on the ledges; blast zones are rather close to the main stage
|-
|-
|[[Fountain of Dreams]]
|[[Fountain of Dreams]]
Line 874: Line 869:
|-
|-
|[[Pokémon Stadium]]
|[[Pokémon Stadium]]
|style="background:#ffefbf" | Infrequently legal || Often excluded in favor of Pokémon Stadium 2: Top and side blast zones are the same, stage is a bit smaller, platforms a bit lower, camera is angled differently.
|style="background:#ffefbf" | Infrequently legal || Often excluded in favor of Pokémon Stadium 2: Blast zones are the same, stage is a bit smaller, platforms a bit higher, camera is angled differently.
|-
|-
|[[Onett]]
|[[Onett]]
Line 901: Line 896:
|-
|-
|[[WarioWare, Inc.]]
|[[WarioWare, Inc.]]
|style="background:#ffefbf" | Infrequently legal<ref name="Glitch 6 Ruleset">[[Tournament:Glitch 6|Glitch 6]] (January 20th, 2019)</ref><ref name="Smashadelphia Ruleset"/> || Horizontal blast zones are extremely close to the main body of the stage; unusual camera.
|style="background:#ffefbf" | Infrequently legal<ref name="Glitch 6 Ruleset">[https://www.ssbwiki.com/Tournament:Glitch_6 Glitch 6 (January 20th, 2019)]</ref><ref name="Smashadelphia Ruleset"/> || Horizontal blast zones are extremely close to the main body of the stage; unusual camera.
|-
|-
|[[Bridge of Eldin]]
|[[Bridge of Eldin]]
Line 919: Line 914:
|-
|-
|[[Lylat Cruise]]
|[[Lylat Cruise]]
|style="background:#ffefbf" | Infrequently legal || Slants can alter gameplay and mess up projectiles; certain recoveries had difficulties grabbing the ledge prior to 8.0.0.
|style="background:#efffbf" | Counterpick/Starter || Slants can alter gameplay; certain recoveries had difficulties grabbing the ledge prior to 8.0.0.
|-
|-
|[[Pokémon Stadium 2]]
|[[Pokémon Stadium 2]]
|style="background:#efffbf" | Counterpick/Starter || Sometimes deemed as a counterpick, with Small Battlefield replacing it as a starter, and other times excluded in favor of the original Pokémon Stadium in certain regions of the world.
|style="background:#efffbf" | Counterpick/Starter || Sometimes deemed as a counterpick, with Small Battlefield replacing it as a starter, and other times excluded in favor of the original Pokemon Stadium in certain regions of the world.
|-
|-
|[[Port Town Aero Dive]]
|[[Port Town Aero Dive]]
Line 946: Line 941:
|-
|-
|[[Shadow Moses Island]]
|[[Shadow Moses Island]]
|style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Contains walls which block access to side blast lines when not destroyed and allow for infinites; walk-off blast lines; stage has no access to a bottom blast line.
|style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Contains walls, only top blast zone is accessible.
|-
|-
|[[Luigi's Mansion]]
|[[Luigi's Mansion]]
Line 958: Line 953:
|-
|-
|[[75m]]
|[[75m]]
|style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Platforms are too small; features a walk-off blast zone; contains hazards (even with hazards turned off); stage promotes circle camping due to extreme size.
|style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Platforms are too small; features a walk-off blast zone; contains hazards (even with hazards turned off). Stage promotes circle camping due to extreme size.
|-
|-
|[[Mario Bros.]]
|[[Mario Bros.]]
Line 988: Line 983:
|-
|-
|[[Unova Pokémon League]]
|[[Unova Pokémon League]]
|style="background:#ffefbf" | Infrequently legal<ref name="GENESIS 6 Ruleset">[[Tournament:GENESIS 6#Ruleset|GENESIS 6]]</ref>|| Similar to [[Pokémon Stadium 2]]; visually dark; teleport recoveries don't 'hug' against the sides of the stage; lightning effects can cause issues with certain colorblind players.
|style="background:#ffefbf" | Infrequently legal<ref name="GENESIS 6 Ruleset">[https://www.ssbwiki.com/Tournament:GENESIS_6#Ruleset GENESIS 6]</ref> || Similar to [[Pokémon Stadium 2]]; visually dark; teleport recoveries don't 'hug' against the sides of the stage; lightning effects can cause issues with certain colorblind players.
|-
|-
|[[Prism Tower]]
|[[Prism Tower]]
Line 1,051: Line 1,046:
|-
|-
|[[Gamer]]
|[[Gamer]]
|style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Layout is randomized; often includes caves of life. Its Battlefield and Ω forms are often banned due to the camera angle differing from other stages and the blast zone walls being concealed.
|style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Layout is randomized; often includes caves of life. Its Battlefield and Ω forms are often banned due to the camera angle differing from other stages.
|-
|-
|[[Garden of Hope]]
|[[Garden of Hope]]
Line 1,057: Line 1,052:
|-
|-
|[[Town and City]]
|[[Town and City]]
|style="background:#efffbf" | Counterpick/Starter || While in early years of Ultimate the stage was consistently considered a starter<ref name="GENESIS 6 Ruleset"/>, views of the stage have changed as more competitively viable stages (including competitively viable Hazards On stages) were added to the game. This is mainly due to Town and City usually being the only transformative stage in most competitive stage lists, as well as having a transformation which is duplicative of Final Destination. When the platforms return during transformation, there is technically a walk-off, which can lead to unfair KOs at extremely low percentages as the platforms move to the blastzones.
|style="background:#dfffbf" | Starter<ref name="GENESIS 6 Ruleset"/> ||
|-
|-
|[[Wii Fit Studio]]
|[[Wii Fit Studio]]
Line 1,093: Line 1,088:
|-
|-
|[[Suzaku Castle]]
|[[Suzaku Castle]]
|style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Features walk-off blast zone on the right, and a powerful camping spot on the left.
|style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || Features walk-off blast zones on the right, and a powerful camping spot on the left.
|-
|-
|[[Midgar]]
|[[Midgar]]
Line 1,123: Line 1,118:
|-
|-
|[[King of Fighters Stadium]]
|[[King of Fighters Stadium]]
|style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || The stage has large walls on either side which can allow for infinites. The stage is fairly large. Finally, the mechanic of the walls requiring a fighter to be launched into them with sufficient horizontal speed strongly favours fighters with vertical KO options and horizontal moves with high base knockback.
|style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || The stage has large walls on either side which can allow for infinites. The stage is fairly large, and it has walk-off blast zones. Finally, the mechanic of the walls requiring a fighter to be launched into them with sufficient horizontal speed strongly favours fighters with vertical KO options and horizontal moves with high base knockback.
|-
|-
|[[Garreg Mach Monastery]]
|[[Garreg Mach Monastery]]
Line 1,132: Line 1,127:
|-
|-
|[[Minecraft World]]
|[[Minecraft World]]
|style="background:#ffefbf" | Infrequently legal || The stage randomly chooses between one of six different layouts, but each one can be manually selected with button inputs. Provides a home-stage advantage to {{SSBU|Steve}} due to it being designed with his [[Mine]] mechanic in mind; stage is overall rather large paired with large blast zones
|style="background:#C0C0C0" | Unknown || The stage features random layouts, but they can be predetermined with button inputs. Provides a home-stage advantage to {{SSBU|Steve}} due to it being designed with his [[Mine]] mechanic in mind; stage is overall rather large paired with large blast zones
|-
|-
|[[Northern Cave]]
|[[Northern Cave]]
|style="background:#ffefbf" | Infrequently legal || Stage layout is static and laid out similarly to Kalos Pokémon League without side walls but background is visually busy.
|style="background:#C0C0C0" | Unknown || Stage layout is static and laid out similarly to Kalos Pokemon League without side walls but background is visually busy.
|-
|-
|[[Cloud Sea of Alrest]]
|[[Cloud Sea of Alrest]]
|style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || The right side of the stage is irregularly slanted, and the angle of the slope occasionally changes. The area starting immediately below the stage is obscured by clouds, making edgeguarding difficult. The meteor blast zone is also very close to the stage.
|style="background:#C0C0C0" | Unknown || The right side of the stage is irregularly slanted, and the area starting immediately below the stage is obscured by clouds, making edgeguarding difficult. The meteor blast zone is also very close to the stage.
|-
|[[Mishima Dojo]]
|style="background:#ffbfbf" | Banned || The stage has large walls on either side and a ceiling which can allow for infinites. While the walls and ceiling are destructible, the blast zones beyond them are close to the stage.
|-
|[[Hollow Bastion]]
|style="background:#efffbf" | Counterpick/Starter || Stage layout is static and laid out identically to Smashville with hazards off.
|}
|}


Line 1,151: Line 1,140:


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}


[[Category:Competitive play]]
[[Category:Competitive play]]

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