Fast vs Slow

[Aiser]

Have I been the only one to notice this? generally on youtube, and google video or just smashbros its self. I tend to see alot of links trying to outspeed their oponite and generally failing at it miserable. I mostly see the newer Links do this, however I look at experenced Links and they're a bit more calm and defensive not up in your face with aggression.


My question is why? is it because germ seems to pull off a fast link well? I've seen some links go through whole matches without even fireing off a rang. what gives?

gonna lay on some of you, Link. Is. Slow. hell I use to think he could be fast too, till I realised if I slowed things down I actually did better.

Is this just some phase Link players go through? or is it just a matter of prefrence.

I don't think its prefrence at all.

Link is slow the opposite of fast.
He has 3/4 projectiles, two of which can be used frequently the other two only in small amounts of moderation.
He has an awesome sex kick.
He can up-b out of his shield
And last but not least an AWESOME shield grab game.

With all these tools link has why is everyone doing the opposite? all of these things set him up to be a pretty good turtling character.

btw first serious thread I've made! LOL

[Skler]

Holy crap Aiser made a serious thread!?

Some serous Link's play fast. Look at the Germ! He plays fast and well, but that's his style. I personally play pretty slow and defensive. A lot of the Link's on youtube do seem to be WDing shffl machines with few projectiles. It looks really cool and everything, but standing back and forcing your opponent to come to you is usually safer (and more effective because Link has a lot of defensive options).

[Aiser]

Well the thing is germ maybe fast but if you look at it, he's in a way still doing what link does best. forcing his opponite to make mistakes. I may not like his style perse but he does make the fast link work. The thing is so many people try to immitate it.

Then again theres alot of links who try to immitate aniki or hdl. I find a slow turtling link to much safer and far more effective.

[JJJ]

Where in CT you from Aiser?

I prefer to play Link mostly defensive with unexpected offense when playing my friends...but they suck so its all good :P

[Aiser]

Stafford lol.

[JJJ]

ahhh Darien here....i really don't know too many towns outside my area >.<

[Aiser]

<.< wow you're pretty down south. lol

[SLH]

Yeah, i've noticed this as well. It's just a choice of playing aggressive vs. passive. Some Links like to play aggresively, focusing on keeping up with their opponent's speed and trying to overwhelm them, and tend to tone down on the projectile spamming. First player to come to mind is the GERM.

Others focus on using the projectiles to position their opponents, slow them down, or to create set-ups for other attacks. Aniki, in this case.

Which is better? Good question. I've always found that playing Link aggressively was stupid, but GERM has decent success playing that way.

Good thread. +rep for trying to start a decent discussion in the Link forum, for once.

[Aiser]

I use to play really agressive with my Link, but like I said I tond down my speed, and played passive trying to read my opponite in the beginning of this 'trasgression' I sucked royally, however as I practiced with it more and developed this style of play more. I realised in the long run its better, I don't make mistakes as much as I did trying to match a fox in speed. Nore was using wasted moves.

If you ask me the passive style > Aggressive style its just to easy to mindgame a link into doing something stupid when he's aggressive.

[Z-N_Freak]

If I don't throw out my Rang at least a 50 times per macth, I'll lose :p
No, seriously, I use the rang before I try to attack. I try to place it so it'll cover my tracks or I'll hope that It hits an opponent at the right time so that I can continu Attacking or do an extra grab :)

[MASAHIROx]

sounds like camping to me....

lol i hope my vids did not inspire you to write this up ...><......if it did, i understand...i love the rang especially at close distances when they dont expect it...the satisfaction!

[MADHEX]

I use to play really agressive with my Link, but like I said I tond down my speed, and played passive trying to read my opponite in the beginning of this 'trasgression' I sucked royally, however as I practiced with it more and developed this style of play more. I realised in the long run its better, I don't make mistakes as much as I did trying to match a fox in speed. Nore was using wasted moves.

If you ask me the passive style > Aggressive style its just to easy to mindgame a link into doing something stupid when he's aggressive.

same here trying to out speed a everybody knows is impossible when you a fast character you have to play calm basically call them in and punish them and then space yourself i might be a falco if i could play like a lot better then can know he would be my main.

[Stos]

LOL i play a pretty slow Link i donno why but i like to play slow but when iam pumped up like just started a combo i get faster and faster and then somehow the opponent fs me up, but sometimes i finish the combo.

[smashfan34]

LOL i play a pretty slow Link i donno why but i like to play slow but when iam pumped up like just started a combo i get faster and faster and then somehow the opponent fs me up, but sometimes i finish the combo.

I don't know I think, I kinda play medium, sometimes fast, and in some situations slow. it just depends, like I usually use alot of bombs and boomerangs, to start comboing. but then my link like "takes off" once I start them with a combo. I don't know, when new people come and watch, I usually play link really fast. I'd say my most used moves would have to be up aerial and forwards aerial. I actually cut down on down aerial recently because, I try to kill with up B before 100%. so I usually try to kill with up B rather than down aerial, it all depends though.
I also try to sex kick off the stage when they try to come back. or do bair.
I just wanted to add one thing real quick...
I think the reason people try to speed up link is because. Well i have afriend that was like, if you play link, link is slow but if you get good like the germ, you can speed him up. And I think because the germ plays agressive and fast, and hes basiclaly an idol, for link, people think they have to play fast or something.

[Link_Rules_Chu]

you guys dont have to listen to me cause im just a nobody and i only started playing link and its been like less than a month. (i play like 10 hours a day i think) the first vid i saw was of the germ and i was like kool! but after a while i realised links projectiles are his biggest strengths and if you keep running away and bashing peoples heads with bombs and boomer rangs (playing slow) they get anoyed and when that boomer rang hits you can set up massive combos thats where my agresive link comes out. but i relly get anoyed with falcos i dont know how to stop them from shooting like psycos that gun stuns me and is too fast and i cant throw anything at it. help?

i pretty much agree with every one here the other people just have to see the light. or challenge a slow playing link to bsh their brains it and show them what makes a link rock

[SPAWN]

I use to play really agressive with my Link, but like I said I tond down my speed, and played passive trying to read my opponite in the beginning of this 'trasgression' I sucked royally, however as I practiced with it more and developed this style of play more. I realised in the long run its better, I don't make mistakes as much as I did trying to match a fox in speed. Nore was using wasted moves.

If you ask me the passive style > Aggressive style its just to easy to mindgame a link into doing something stupid when he's aggressive.

OMFG AT AISER'S FIRST POST, EVERYONE POS REP HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!

'Tis the truth. I think a fast Link isn't all that great. I'm going to tell you Aiser's transition. When I first played Aiser, he had a very fast Link. When I played it though, I usually beat it (I use Doc and Sheik and with Sheik I didn't need to bother with cg'ing). I had him over some more times and he continued to play fast and it didn't work against me. Then, one day, he came over and played slow, and it was a lot harder for me to beat him. Now...or whenever I last had him over, the first match we played, he was on par with my Sheik...which makes me feel like I suck. All in all, imo, Slow>Fast for link.

[Link-NY]

Usually i play at diffrent speeds depending on what character i play. If im playing aginst CF,Fox,Flaco,shiek or marth who alwasy outspeed Link then i played a calm El_Lovo like style which would be the "Responce Link" this is probably the most effective Link style in my opinion. If im playing aginst someone like Mario G-dorf and ect then thats when i play a speed Link but overall slow Link >>>>> Fast Link =b

[ancientevil11]

Spamming is your best friend with Link. Always play it safe and make them go to you. You have more options that way anyway. As for speed, basically what everyone else here believes.....play fast enough.

"...be patient."

[Maikeru17]

I normally play a fast Link, but not an agressive Link. I like to play more counter, rather than defensive. Lead them into a trap with ranged (xD...short hop my bow as a fake advance...) attacks all mixed up, and usually they come right into my [shield] grab combo's.

[Kyle Kerplunk]

I agree with you Aesir on your opinion about a lack there of projectiels and not playing defensively... however fast doesn't always mean stupid. Some Link will spam but not move at all the whole match so their oponent may have a hard time getting in but on the same token they're not racking up any damage. I prefer a fast Link when it's available when its not I'll resort to shield and defensive games. But being mobile is a a huge part of Link's game as well granted this is very pending on levels, characters and different play styles. Both styles have their weakness and advantages though, Germ plays an impecable tank Link but also knows the game well enough and how do to it and his constant attacking and shffls seem to keep his oponents on their toes and on their defensive games thus not letting characters in certain situations overwhelm Link with speed. The difference between a good tank Link and a bad one is a good tank link will know how to use him and not to get stupid. And it is possible to still use projectiels while on the offense to set up your opponents. Personally I play a fast link when its beneficial when not I'll resort to a defensive Link. I think Link's can havea great shffl game potentialy but either way you're right in saying not using projectiels with Link is stupid either style can use them and they should be.

[Kyle Kerplunk]

Oh and also sorry for the double post but unexperieced Link's may not know the difference between out speeding a character and out manuvering or out positions a character.

[balladechina212]

I usually play a fast Link and lose constantly to my friends who play Shiek, Falco, Fox, or Marth. I realize that if I play slow I would do better but sometimes I just don't have the patience for it. Even though I sometimes don't listen to my own advice, slow>fast.

[Link226]

Hmmm.....now that i think about it i honestly play both ways....u can ask anybody that has played me. At first i would play agressive and fast....but when i see that i have been doing that for a long time or when they start to beat me i would slow down. I would spam wit my projectiles and play safer...i would play sorta defensive. Its a really great mindgame if u ask me. Cuz its a sudden change in the game....everything becomes different and your opponent would have to adapt to another fighting style of yours.

[SLH]

^ Kyle got it right. Saying "Oh, playing fast with Link is stupid, I play slow!" is just... well, stupid, to be blunt. It's technical vs. mental, not fast vs. slow. You should have your technical skill at a point where you can WD and shffl without thinking about it, then focus purely on mindgames. Playing a 'fast' Link is easy. I've been told plenty of times that my Link is fast. Am I a technical player? No.

...I think I got off topic somewhere in there, but you get the point. <_<

[Aiser]

Well I think what I was trying to get at was aggression vs. passive but genearlly when you think aggression you think fast and when you think passive you think slow.

Generally I find being passive to be the way to go. there are times where being aggressive pays off, but generally a passive link will be more successful then an aggressive link.

I think thats why and further supports my theory on the type of person you are is reflected in your playstyle/character you chose. I'm passive-aggressive, so being link means I don't have to constantly move around, I can wait them out, and strike accordingly. that doesn't mean I don't sometimes act aggressive. when I get an opening thats where my aggression takes place. To be blunt this is how I think link should be played, keep combos short and simple and out think your opponite link has all the skills nessassary to be do that just not enough people are good enough to exploit that.

Look at Azen or Isais Link, they're passive and they use links tools to wear down the opponites mind then they strike. I mean ffs I know you shouldn't use Azen when talking about character match ups but **** he almost beat chillins fox on FD. for those of you who don't know who chillin is he's probably like the best fox main in the country.

well to wrap this up, the point I'm trying to get accross is. If you play instinctive with link and not mental you're gonna fail. If you play mental, you're going to succeed atleast a little bit, if you can develope anti-fox stratagies and find a good second character to fight sheik and falco you should be set. I myself use marth which is less of rape against these two and if my link fails against a fox or CF I just switch to marth.

[DaZe]

Wow, someone actually posted a thread people can draw advice from. Congrats, Aiser.

I play an aggrasive Link most of the time, against some of my friends it works out rather well. I can usually beat the main Peach of the group and I do fairly well against some of their Marths and Falcons.

When I go up against the Foxes or Falcos or Shieks, though, *shiver* I really don't want to think about that right now.

I think I'll start working on slowing myself down, and hopefully it works out. Thanks for the tip.

[Aiser]

^ Well don't slow yourself down, just become a bit more passive, its always good to be fast. But when you become to aggressive you get punished for it greatly.

[SPAWN]

^^ I sure do know about that whole too agressive thing and getting punished for it.

[Super Luigi!]

To me speed (Fox, Shiek ect) is better than those who use raw power (Ganondorf, Bowser) because being speedy you can get more attacks. Plus, if your skilled enough, raw powers can barely hit you. I versed lvl8 Ganondorf with Fox and suffered 120 damage out of 5 lives.

[DaZe]

try playing an actual person then come back and tell us how it worked out

[Aiser]

To me speed (Fox, Shiek ect) is better than those who use raw power (Ganondorf, Bowser) because being speedy you can get more attacks. Plus, if your skilled enough, raw powers can barely hit you. I versed lvl8 Ganondorf with Fox and suffered 120 damage out of 5 lives.
I can play a level 7 fox and four stock it with link, your point? =\

[SPAWN]

^^I can play a level 9 Fox with Link and 4 stock it. 7<9, I win.

[Skler]

I can play a level 9 ness on jungle japes with 99 stock and not take any damage.

[SPAWN]

^^ H4x0rs!!!!!!!!!

[Deva]

I have been using Link for over five years (yes, since the original Smash Bros. released). Despite the fact that I have been a die hard Link user I don't let it cloud my judgement of Link's usefulnes as a character. After reading the postings of Projectile god Link vs. Speed demon in your face Link, My response comes from that of anyone who plans on using Link in a professional tournament. The key to any charcter is to change up the strategy. In my personal opinion Projectiles are more well suited for the type of character Link is. However, in a real tournament, shffling and wave dodging for speed is just as important. They must be used in near unison to make Link an effective character. This also why I don't agree with Link's tier ranking. For example, in Final Destination, using Link's projectiles at the begining of the match to keep the opponent at bay should rack up a significant amount of damage if used correctly. When the opponent gets close, again depending on the situation, you could use a nair shffle or CC the oncoming attack to begin a usual combo of a defensive Link player. Here's the part that is critical. It is then normal for a Link player to back off and repeat the strategy. Instead, since the opponent knows the strategy, change it up. Jump in their face with quick shffles and wave dodges. It doesn't even have to be for very long. Just enough to throw an opponent off before you either repeat the original strategy or start a completely new one.

[Deva]

Yes, I am new to this site, but I have been playing Smash Bros. for a very long time and have been keeping up with MLG for about two years. I plan on enterring MLG the next time they are in Seattle and will settle for nothing less than first in the Smash singles. I realize that this is a strange claim for someone who has only recently found out about this site or even entered a proffesional tournament. I am just trying to show that though my label says "Smash n00b" I am dedicated to Smash Bros. and know what I am talking about.

Note: I can four stock three level nine Foxes on a team against me. lol. I didn't really mean that in reference against what has been posted earlier. In other words it was a joke, though it is true.

[DaZe]

Hey Aiser, any way I could get some matches of your Link? You really sound like you know what you're talking about and I really want to see how you play. ^_^

[Aiser]

^ I suck alot <_< my links gone through so many changes in the last 6 months its not even funny, but I'll try.

[hit0]

WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN?
It happens because people tend to pick up link and inmedialty try to make him tech heavy instead of consentrating on the mindgames, once you have decent mindgames u tend to be more careful about where and when to attack instead of jus going all tech crazy on ur opponent...i think that ppl should try to observe and think before they attack or make an action to counter a reaction...any character can move "lightspeed", but without mindgames it's just another dummy.

[SPAWN]

^^ Well, I'm really trying to get my camera workin. Well... I should say, trying to get it onto my computer. I now know exactly what I need to do. I just need the right equipment. Hopefully, there can be more Aiser vids soon. They'll be vs me, raserucort, and brookmang.