Editing Wavedash

Amongst the community, the first recorded mention of wavedashing in ''Melee'' was in the form of a [[Smashboards]] [http://smashboards.com/threads/new-strategy-easter-egg-all-reader.12593/ thread] published on January 24th, 2002 by a player named rob1out, using an alternate account named "Ultimate Melee". Initially called "mad dashing", the thread shows some signs of being unused to the new strategy, such as by claiming that the {{SSBM|Ice Climbers}} can most easily perform the tactic. However, he noted that it led to some interesting combat applications, such as the ability to perform smash attacks during the move. Despite the earlier thread existing, it was widely assumed that SmashBoards veteran and mod Toadbanjoconker discovered the technique in spring 2002, allegedly posting a now-deleted thread and video about his discovery. This rumor, however, stemmed from an unsourced article that was published on SmashWiki on August 27th, 2006. Mentions of the alleged thread and video were only made after the article was published, suggesting that they may have never existed in the first place.  

Both "wavedash" and "mad dash" stemmed from the {{uv|Tekken}} fighting game series; in the installment of ''{{s|wikipedia|Tekken Tag Tournament}}'', some characters could perform a rapid, crouching slide, allowing for such characters to quickly pursue attackers and safely parry low attacks, amongst other powerful benefits. A similar tactic with an identical name also existed in the ''{{s|wikipedia|Marvel vs. Capcom}}'' series via a rapid series of crouch-cancelled dashes, though it had fewer practical offensive applications than ''Tekken Tag Tournament''. ''Tekken'' style wavedashing can be seen in [[Kazuya Mishima]]'s moveset, dubbed the "[[Crouch Dash]]" instead.

While Sakurai noted that wavedashing was widespread in an interview with ''Nintendo Power'', he disliked the technique, as he felt it had led to a significant degree of separation between beginning and advanced players{{fact}}; in addition, Sakurai wanted players to find new ways to play ''Brawl'', with hopes of introducing more aerial combat to the game. As to accomplish this, air dodging was reworked for ''Brawl'', where instead of granting a boost in momentum and allowing for characters to change direction in midair, air dodges followed the path that the character was initially travelling, and created no new momentum. Owing to these changes, wavedashing was effectively removed from ''Brawl'', as air dodging could no longer be exploited like it could in ''Melee''. Despite this, some characters are able to transfer the momentum from their jump into the ground and slide in a fashion similar to a wavedash upon landing from their jump based on their falling speed rather than their traction. However, it tends to favor characters with slower falling speeds, but even then, a majority of their momentum comes from their initial jump alone, meaning that the character would constantly have to jump and quickly land from the peak of their jump in order to get the most distance. Unlike wavedashing, the momentum from their slide is considerably negligible in comparison and cannot be applied effectively when close to the ground. Thus, transferring jump momentum into the ground generally provides no significant advantage in competitive play as it requires significant startup time and barely provides extra distance for the player in a stationary position. Additionally, while air dodging into the ground at an angle is possible, the player will always end up using their shield upon landing, which often creates a delay when trying to to set up combos.

===''Ultimate''===

Directional air dodges return in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'', bringing wavedashing and wavelanding back as well. However, wavedashing cannot be performed as quickly as in ''Melee'', as characters have faster initial jump velocities and directional air dodges have a five frame windup animation. Additionally, wavelanding takes longer, due to air dodges having higher landing lag and characters halting at the end of the wavedash, rather than retaining momentum fully throughout like in ''Melee''. Also, dodging repeatedly causes the dodges to be executed slower and slower. Because of this, wavedashing is slower and less safe overall.

 

Finally, the boost given by air dodges is impossible to fully transfer into sliding momentum, as during the windup of an air dodge, the user pulls back in the opposite direction slightly before moving in the inputted direction, and [[traction]] for the entire cast is much higher than previous games, thus virtually all of the air dodge momentum will wear off by the time the character fully lands. Furthermore, wavedashes cannot slide off edges in ''Ultimate'', hindering the utility of wavelands as a movement option on platforms and removing the easy access to ledge-grabbing that ''Melee''{{'}}s wavedashing includes.

 

While this modern wavedash is not useless, having some very situational applications like wavelanding on platforms to read and surprise the opponent, the reasons stated above as well as the series simply evolving in a way that downplays the technique makes the wavedash not nearly as popular as in ''Melee'' and a rarity in a competitive match.

Despite its versatility, wavedashing requires considerable startup. A character is vulnerable (and not yet moving) while performing the jump and air dodge, and for 10 [[frame]]s afterwards they are unable to attack (while "landing" from the wavedash). Because of this lag, it is unwieldy for a character to wavedash in close quarters where quick attacks endanger them, and prediction and proper spacing is a must. Since fighters are considered standing during a wavedash, they are unable to dash, and dash attack by extension. While a relatively minor handicap, it does hinder fighters that rely on dash attacks as a central part of their kit. This is especially apparent in ''Ultimate'', as dash attacks have been buffed across the board since ''Melee'' to be among the fastest and/or strongest attacks in most fighters' moveset.