Ladder (technique)
A ladder is a technique usable by a team of two players using the same character that allows them both to attain unreachable heights.
Variations
Luigi ladder
The Luigi ladder involves two Luigis repeatedly using their sourspotted Super Jump Punch against each other back and forth, allowing them to steadily climb upwards and away from the stage. An applied usage allows players to stall indefinitely against a ceiling.
The technique can be performed in all four games, though its applications can be varied. In Super Smash Bros., Super Jump Punch grants some horizontal distance, allowing to act as a method for stage jumping.
The technique's use, however, is most infamous in Melee. Changes to Luigi's Super Jump Punch causes the technique to instead send the two Luigi's straight upward, and the team can even jump up beyond the upper blast line. Applied usage of the technique can also allow for recovery options, though the lack of horizontal distance from Super Jump Punch makes this a situational use. The Luigis do not KO each other since Super Jump Punch has no knockback. Similar variants of the technique involving attacks like Link's Spin Attack and Samus' Screw Attack end up KOing the characters when they cross the blast line.
While carried over for Brawl, the two Luigis now KO each other upon crossing the upper blast line; despite this, it can be used for stalling against a ceiling.
Pac-Ladder
The Pac-Ladder involves two Pac-Mans repeatedly using their up special move, Pac-Jump, alternately. As each Pac-Man bounces on the other's trampoline, they both climb successively higher until they are both out of reach for many opponents. They can then stall with the technique until time ends. If the match is decided by Sudden Death, then the process may be repeated if needed until Bob-ombs eventually spawn under the Pac-Mans and fall onto their opponents.
Marth ladder
The Marth ladder involves two Marths repeatedly using their up special move, Dolphin Slash, alternately. As each Marth gets hit by the other's attack, they both climb successively higher until they are both out of reach for many opponents.
Yoshi ladder
The Yoshi ladder is done by two Yoshis, using the neutral-B on each other. After the "attacked" Yoshi escapes the egg he gains his midair jump (if it has been used already) and the Yoshi that escapes uses the neutral-B on the other one, immediately uses the midair jump, and the cycle starts again. This technique was discovered by aMSa (the best Yoshi Player in the world) who made this video with fellow yoshi main Pata.
Shulk ladder
The Shulk ladder functions similarly to the Marth ladder, with two Shulks repeatedly using Air Slash one after the other and canceling helplessness using the other player's attack. Due to Shulk's Monado Arts, there are multiple ways to achieve this, although this will eventually lead to a KO at the upper blast line. It is also difficult to do in the Smash Art, since knockback given and taken is increased.
In tournaments
As stalling is banned in tournaments, ladders are banned in tournament play and are sometimes specifically mentioned in tournament rulesets. Otherwise, it would be possible in doubles (with the usual Friendly Fire turned on) for a team to take an early lead, and then use the ladder technique to create an effectively unbeatable stalling strategy.
Trivia
- It is also possible to perform the Luigi ladder by having both players Super Jump Punch on the same frame, creating a much shorter jump which gives control back to the players much faster and in a synchronised fashion. However, as both Luigis must be next to each other, the uses for recovery are far more limited, and avoiding the helpless state is purposeless when stalling.
- Interestingly, 2 Marios can be seen doing the Ladder technique in Melee's special movie.
