Wavedash
A wavedash is a technique in Super Smash Bros. Melee that is performed by air dodging diagonally into the ground, causing the character to slide a short distance. As it is uncommon in casual play, the Melee community sees wavedashing as an advanced technique superior to dashing because it allows players to perform any ground action while moving horizontally on the ground.
Contrary to popular belief, wavedashing is not strictly a glitch; it is more accurately a corner case of Melee's physics engine. When airdodging diagonally to the ground, all of the momentum of the airdodge is transferred into horizontal (ground) movement, since the character can no longer fall. Additionally, performing a wavedash causes the game to recognize the character as landing from the helpless state due to airdodges causing the state. Thus, the game is not recognizing wavedashing as a specific "technique" (such as an attack or movement) but as if the character simply landed and stood still; the sliding effect is due to the "slipperiness" inherent in the game's engine. Masahiro Sakurai has admitted in an interview with Nintendo Power that wavedashing was noticed during development, but decided on not removing it from gameplay.
In competitive play, characters like Mewtwo, Luigi, and the Ice Climbers players rely heavily on wavedashing for their primary movement, while users of nearly every other character wavedash frequently for positioning and maneuvering, particularly during combos or mindgames.
History
When the tournament ruleset allowed items, aerial item catches during an air dodge were often safer than grounded item catches. The discovery of wavedashing is widely credited to Smashboards veteran Toadbanjoconker who attempted such a catch on April 3rd, 2002, though wavedashing was known to the Melee community as early as January 2002. In a January 24, 2002 post, Smashboards user Ultimate Melee described a technique known as "mad dashing" that was performed by air dodging into the ground. He alleged that the technique was the easiest to perform with the Ice Climbers, which is incorrect, though understandable, since the Ice Climbers have the second-lowest traction in the game. Henceforth, wavedashing began to enter smashers' repertoires. It did not become a part of high-level competition until months later.
Technical details
Wavedashing describes a sliding motion that occurs by jumping and then immediately air dodging at a sharp angle into the ground. The length a character slides in their wavedash is determined by a number of factors: by the angle at which they air dodged (low angles yield long wavedashes), how close to ground they were before air dodging (the closer the character, the longer the wavedash), and the character's traction. Low traction yields long wavedashes, while high traction yields short wavedashes. Thus characters like Luigi, Ice Climbers, and Marth have long wavedashes, while Peach and Zelda have short wavedashes. Both long and short wavedashes have their own advantages and disadvantages; while long wavedashes are generally better for approaching and wavesmashing, shorter wavedashes are better for comboing and positioning.
Additionally, there are special surfaces on stages on which wavedashes are longer; classic examples are the UFO on Fourside and the oil slick on Flat Zone.
Performing the technique
Traditionally, wavedashing is the technique-to-know for newer players, for a mastery of wavedashing reflects both a nimbleness of fingers and a knowledge of high-level play. It is performed by pressing X or Y (or up on the control stick) to jump, followed immediately by L or R, and diagonally down on the control stick, to perform the air dodge. Ideally, the wavedashing character should slide without ever appearing to leave the ground.
Because wavedashing can be difficult to master, some players train themselves by wavedashing directly from a crouching position, which provides them the opportunity to wavedash only by pressing the two buttons (jump and air dodge) instead of timing a control stick movement as well. This method of wavedashing, however, is slow and not optimal for battle.
The speed of a character's jump also impacts the timing of their wavedash - the time interval between the jump and the air dodge is greater for characters with slow jumps (like Bowser and Link) and smaller for characters with fast jumps (like Fox and Pikachu). That said, during a match, one must compensate for startup lag in a wavedash, depending on the character being used.
Advantages of wavedashing
While in a wavedash, the character is considered by the game to be standing - thus, they can perform any ground attacks that could normally be performed from a standing position, such as smashes, standing grabs and jabs. The character also retains all of their standing defensive maneuvers such as sidestepping and shielding. Clearly, wavedashing enables a moving versatility dashing can't match.
Another advantage lies in the ability to wavedash backwards while facing forwards, which allows characters to perform standing attacks while moving both backwards and forwards. This is helpful for mindgames, especially with characters with longer wavedashes. This technique also allows relatively safer retreats from opponents, and should the player fall off the stage with the wavedash, they will immediately grab onto the ledge, giving rise to a powerful and fast edgeguard option.
Disadvantages of wavedashing
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 frames 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 is a must.
An accidental air dodge instead of a wavedash can be detrimental to the player; in particular, the player's character, in a state of helplessness is vulnerable to combos and other attacks. Additionally, if the player attempted to edgeguard with a wavedash to grab the edge, then it's possible for the player to SD by air dodging off the stage instead (this is called an Azendash, after the name of a smasher). If playing Samus, Young Link or Link, this can avoided by wall-grappling immediately during the airdodge, though this only work if the the player is facing the ledge and on certain stages.
Strategies
Approach
For some characters, wavedashing is a better form of movement than dashing. This is especially true for characters of low traction and a slow dash, such as Luigi, Ice Climbers and Mewtwo. These characters are special in that almost all their movement is best done via wavedashing. They can wavedash long distances faster than they can dash.
One can take the concept of maneuverability from wavedashing a step further, using to dodge enemy attacks and set up a counterattack. A common example of this tactic: a player faces a charging enemy, who will most likely launch a dash attack or short hop aerial from their dash. To avoid being hit, one can wavedash backwards, dodging the attack and landing an attack of their own during the enemy's lag time. Wavedashing in this fashion is very common in approach-based mindgames.
Wavedashing is a quick way to move but is also instrumental in characters' combos and their defense. Characters with poor rolls or sidesteps, such as Samus and Mr. Game & Watch, rely on wavedashing to extricate themselves from difficult situations.
Additionally, the concept of air dodging into the ground provides a useful segue from a character's air game to their ground game. This is especially important for Luigi, whose slow, floaty air game and speedy ground game lack synergy. A good Luigi player will often follow a short hop aerial with a "waveland" to reposition, giving Luigi a chance to surprise his opponent with a sudden attack or retreat. This technique can only be done by a few characters with a few attacks (other notable examples are Marth's short hop forward aerial and Dr. Mario's short hop back aerial), but for them wavelanding is vital to continuing combos and pressuring the enemy.
Wavesmashing
Wavesmashing is the act of smashing while wavedashing, and is an example of the offensive advantages of wavedashing. Since characters can attack during the slide, a typical offensive movement would be to wavedash forward while smashing, minimizing the startup time of the smash (which would be considerable if a character tried to smash after dashing) and potentially finishing the opponent. Wavesmashing is particularly useful for a character like Luigi whose dash attack is very poor but whose smashes (in Luigi's case, down smash, a vertical launcher) are effective.
Although such terms as "wavetilting" and "wavegrabbing" are not as widely used, they fall under the same blanket concept of wavesmashing: that a character can use many and varied attacks while wavedashing.
Wavelanding
Wavelanding is performed after a character jumps to his/her peak and descends. As the character is approaching the ground the player presses L or R, initiating an air dodge. The ground then stops the air dodge animation and begins a normal wavedash. This is especially useful for moving around platforms quickly and for getting onto the stage quickly.
Wavelanding returns in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, with limited uses. It is performed by holding in a desired direction while air dodging very close to the ground. Unlike wavelanding in Melee, the length of the slide is not dependent on traction, but on the character's air speed.
Wavedropping
A Wavedrop is a useful technique when trying to maintain control while the player is Falling or Dashing. To Wavedrop, the player must jump as high as they want, fall from a completed aerial attack, fall from a DI, fall from a normal jump, Fast fall, or jump from a dash and hold the control stick down. Then air dodge right before the player lands on the ground while holding down the control stick. The player will land in a Wavedashing animation. Wavedropping is essentially the same as Wavedashing except that the player doesn't subsequently move in any direction.
Waveshielding
Beginning wavedashers often shield right after wavedashing because they do not quickly remove their finger from the L or R button; this idea can be used to a player's advantage as a defensive technique known as waveshielding, the act of shielding right after wavedashing. It's a safe way to travel because the shield blocks most enemy threats. A player can jump-cancel from their shield into another wavedash, allowing them to move with their shield long distances. In a more offensive sense, waveshielding is also an excellent way to set a shffl'ing adversary up to be shield-grabbed.
In a similar vein, characters can sidestep and roll during their wavedash, both defensive movements that allow characters to avoid enemy projectiles and attacks (including grabs) without forfeiting movement.
Edge-hogging
- Main article: Edge-hogging
Another aspect of wavedashing is that one can fall off platforms backwards, which is impossible by any other technique besides moonwalking, shorthopping backwards, and shielding an attack. This seeming oddity has a practical use; it allows characters to edge-hog very quickly. A backwards wavedash towards the edge will topple the combatant over the side of the stage where they will immediately grab the ledge, thereby preventing their opponent from doing the same. Generally, this is the fastest and safest way to edge-hog.
Triangle jumping
Triangle jumping is a technique similar to wavelanding. It only differs in the fact that part of the character's airdodge is allowed to be seen, giving some invincibility frames, yet still moving forward with a slight waveland.
Other uses
As touched on previously, wavedashing from a jump-canceled shield increases a player's defensive options, allowing them a quick retreat or attack from their shield. On a similar note, wavedashing from shine allows Fox and Falco to perpetuate their shine combos.
One can wavedash directly onto the stage from hanging on the edge by dropping off, immediately double jumping, and then air dodging back on-stage. This technique is commonly known as ledge dashing. One can waveland onto platforms, a technique often used on three-platform stages such as Battlefield and Yoshi's Story.
Wavedashing in Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Wavedashing in Super Smash Bros. Brawl was removed due to the change in the way the physics engine handles the air dodge, in that its direction is now determined by the player's aerial momentum, rather than their analog input. Landing traction upon hitting the ground in Brawl has been reduced considerably, effectively removing any exploitable movement options brought on by the previous game's mechanics.
While wavedashing is technically removed, Yoshi has the ability to perform a pseudo-wavedash called the Dragonic Reverse, which entails canceling the double-jump animation with an attack. Yoshi's unusual double jump allows him to do this because of the dip that it has in the intro frames.
Hacking
Recently, a code for Ocarina (the free alternative for USB Gecko), released by the hacker Phantom Wings, is able to make the air dodging system similar to Melee's, thus giving players the ability to Wavedash and also "fly" back onto the stage if too far from the stage to recover due to not being helpless after Air Dodging; however, characters will gradually descend during flight due to gravity. LeeHarris of Smash World Forums posted the code online on the board. A version of this hack is used to allow wavedashing in Project M.
