Basic Questions for Discussion.

[Clevr]

Hey there.

I currently am fairly new to Brawl, and have been deciding on who I'm going to main with. After about 3 months of testing different characters, I've decided that I'm going to be maining Toon Link, Meta Knight, and Lucas. However, I'd like Toon Link to be my primary main character.

I've read a lot of strategy guides, posts on this forum, Allisbrawl.com, and Brawlcentral.com, I have seen a lot of videos of Toon Link combos and guids on YouTube, and believe that I have more or less mastered what's in those videos.

What do I mean? I mean that I think I've mastered the SH - Nair - Quick Draw, the Bomb Spike to Dair spike, etc... One thing I do not know so well is doing to combo of continuous Bairs.

But really, the main problem, I feel, is that I really never know how or when to approach an opponent, and with what move. Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of people who Brawl in my area, so I usually have to play against Lvl 9's instead of actual people. But, really, my main questions is how do you approach opponents?

Do you start out by throwing a Boomerang, pulling out a bomb, charging up an arrow, quick drawing, or just charging right into combat? How does this differ with the map you're on // the character you're facing?

When you're in the middle of combat, when is it the right time to retreat to fire some more projectiles, when is it the right time to jump and do some arials? When is it time to do a smash attack? Etc, etc...

Most of Toon Link's attacks are really good, but I really have no idea when I should be doing one thing or another. Hopefully those who read this can help me out!

PS. I read a lot about how "spacing" is crucial to playing as Toon Link. What exactely do you mean? Keeping close // far from the character? If somebody could explain this and how to do it well, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Thanks a lot,

- Clever

[Clevr]

Anyone? I suppose the question is pretty general...

[VietGeek]

Most Toon Links don't need to approach, you just camp and get the foe to approach you. Then you retaliate with Nairs, Bairs, etc. to get them away from you and repeat. That's the mentality of playing w/ TL though. Even if you don't like it, it somehow just sticks to you as part of TL's playstyle.

Spacing is important as camping too close to opponents gets you punished. Most Toon Links try to get as far away from the enemy prior to camping. In close combat, you want to stay near the tip of TL's blade to try to distance yourself and send them in a forward trajectory relative to your attack. Too close and the enemy will be send in a backward trajectory instead most of the time.

To approach, I usually stop my quick draw arrows by ending the lagless arrow on the ground backwards, but still have the arrow move in the same direction. Basically, the arrow will look like it came out of your back if done correctly (tilt control stick to your back during the same time you launch the second arrow). This sets up for Bairs, which if performed via C-stick, won't tilt you forward after you land on the ground (it'll leave you backwards to continue to SH Bairs).

If your foe forces you to approach, SH pull a bomb, arrow cancel it, SH throw bomb and DI forward (move toward enemy) and arrow cancel it as well. Throw a boomerang onto the ground to make it reflect up, SH airdodge and cancel it with Zair (hookshot) and Nair. That should distance the foe, which will be hit by the boomerang if timed correctly. Now do a Fair and it should kill them (at higher percentages).

^ That, by the way, is all in theory. It's doubtful you will EVER pull out the entirety of that "combo" (mostly because your opponent must have some crappy DI to get caught in all that). The first part tells you how [b[I[/b] approach though.

But know that I've watched like only 1 Toon Link gameplay video (and that was the overhyped Anti-Christ), so my methods are probably unconventional. Therefore, they aren't tired and true.

Not creative, just unconventional...

Know that I'm still working on approaches though. Toon Link doesn't have the versatile approaches of Marth that I've known so well for 4 or so years.

EDIT: Just so I don't come off as rude. I mean Anti-Christ was overhyped in the fact that everyone was like: "Zomg hez awesome; our TL messiah." I do not mean he is bad. He, in theory has a solid, great Toon Link that uses TL's bomb game to consistently pressure his foe.

[TLMarth]

If you are new, it's not as much about learning advanced techniques but getting the basic feel of the game. It's better to play for a while than ask people how to play. BUt as a general guideline, use projectiles and attack while the opponent is in stun. At early percentages, you combo, and later, try to KO(as always use projectiles first)