Zelda (SSBM): Difference between revisions

Currently, Zelda is 22nd on the tier list, in the F tier, her best placement so far. Zelda's positive attributes include an effective KO move with her [[Lightning Kick]], as well as several powerful attacks that possess [[transcendent priority]].  Zelda's primary weakness, however, is her poor mobility; she possesses (along with Jigglypuff) the slowest dash speed in the game, and is a slow-faller.  These attributes combine with her very high [[traction]], resulting in the shortest [[wavedash]] in the game (along with Peach). Additionally, despite Zelda's long range on her recovery, it is fairly predictable and easily edgeguarded and/or edgehogged due to its awkward ending lag. This contributes to Zelda having poor matchups against most of the cast, with some even matchups such as {{SSBM|Dr. Mario}} now considered losing in the current metagame, with her problems against top-tiers being further exacerbated by their more developed metas compared to Zelda’s rather stagnant developments.

Despite most of her moves dealing high knockback, she has an acceptable combo game. Her dash attack is her primary combo starter on the ground, all of her tilts are great comboing moves, her forward tilt send her opponents backwards, allowing for potential combo starters, her up tilt can juggle at low percentages and follow-up with a up aerial when it stops comboing and her down tilt can combo into itself until around 95% and can also combo into her down smash. Up smash can also be used a few times in a row at low percentages if the opponent gets caught right above her. In addition to this, Zelda possesses a good grab game, having the 9th longest non-tether grab range in the game. Her up throw can be a kill confirm around 80% as it leads to a guaranteed bair/fair on certain matchups. It also has the potential to chain throw at low percentages, and her down throw has several potential follow-ups, such as a dash attack, Lightning Kick, or even a forward tilt and can set up stage spikes and early edge-guards. Her forward and back throws are quite powerful and can set up edge-guards or even K.O. at high percentages. Her down air also has a fair amount of utility if edge cancelled. It can lock down some ennemies to garantee a bair/fair if fast falled. Neutral air can also be used to garantee these aerials (on certain matchups) if landed without the last hitbox, which will make the opponent pop up with a set knockback.

Zelda also possesses a fast initial dash speed and initial airdodge speed, allowing her to move fairly quickly around platforms when optimized at its best. When timed perfectly, removes almost any lag on landing. As mentioned, her initial dash speed is abnormally fast, as it reaches the peak of the dash speed almost instantly. Dashing for between 2 and 4 frames before wavedashing leads to an extended wavedash; it is a faster way to cover ground than dashing, or wavedashing.

Despite her array of powerful moves and decent platform movement, she suffers numerous flaws. In addition to a poor approach on the ground, most of Zelda's moveset consists of unreliable finishers. Her up smash suffer from SDI problems as opponents can easily SDI out of it before the last hit. Zelda's up aerial, while powerful, is impossible to land on a grounded opponent, as it has some start-up lag and the hitbox is just above her. Her Lightning Kicks need to be sweetspotted to KO effectively and finally, her forward and back throws can only KO at very high percentages when used near the edge. As such, Zelda's up tilt and down smash are possibly her only reliable KO moves and even those have their flaws; the former is rather slow and the latter is rather weak for a smash attack.

Zelda also suffers from having generally situational specials (save [[Transform]]). Nayru's Love can only harm attackers in short ranges, and it has high ending lag and it doesn't protect her from attacks above her. Din's Fire, as mentioned earlier, doesn't aid her approach at all and it too suffers from high ending lag. [[Farore's Wind]], generally considered her best special move, as its hitbox can lead most of the time to a bair / fair if done properly. It also allows Zelda to have some extremely precise techs on platforms and ledges. One of the main use of up B, is the ability to stall at the ledge while remaining invincible, while also throwing constant hitboxes. The move itself has a rather low ending lag when Zelda lands on the ground with it, wich can be used to have some tricky movement. Although when reentering with Up B while airborne, the move has an awkwardly long endling lag, wich can be easy for opponents to react. It can also be edge cancelled to make some surprise attacks. Although Farore’s Wind can grant some decent vertical distance, she can be susceptible to missing the ledge or landing in an exploitable spot on-stage, leaving her susceptible to punishes. It is also burdened for being rather slow and for lacking power.