gallax
Smash Hero
Marth
General Discussion:
Marth is considered one of pika's hardest matchups. He has excellent range, great airiels, fast moves, speed, and good priority. He is the ultimate killing machine. Overall, he is the most balanced character, with an exception of the lack of a projectile and a gimpable recovery. The only thing that keeps marth from being the ultimate character in the game is his tiara, which he never takes off.
Pika's Advantages:
1.) Pika has a projectile, marth does not
2.) Crawling can get you underneath some of this airiels
3.) Greater Edgehogging/guarding ability
4.) Can CG marth
5.) QAC (that's all i have to say)
Pika's Disadvantages:
1.) Marth can cancel the tjolt with neutral a/fair
2.) Pika weight makes him easier to kill
3.) Pika's fsmash's sweetspot is near 1/2(behind the ball), marths is at the tip
4.) Due to number 3, marth's range>pika's range
5.) Pika's airiel game is outranged/prioritized by marth
6.) Marth has a counter, COUNTER
Strategy for Winning:
The Tjolt
Unlike most matchups, spamming the tjolt can be rendered ineffictive here. A simple jab can stop it. In the air, a fair can also cancel it. Do not be afraid to spam it though. It draws marth in close. He has no projectile unlike you. Remember this. He has to come in close to attack. But the problem with this is that his range is greater than yours.
Spacing
When marth gets in close, he has a variety of moves that he can use. The first is his dancing blades. When he uses this be sure to powershield. Do not roll towards or spotdodge. You can roll backwards and tjolt, but this can be risky. Do not stop shielding until the very end of the combo. It can rack up a lot of damage. (Note: Marth can be grabbed while using the DB, but it's very diffucult). When he gets done using his DB, you can fsmash/dsmash, or whatever it is that you feel like. There is a small lag so be sure to take advantage of it.
The Shieldbreaker
The next move that marth can use is his shieldbreaker. More and more marths are implementing this in their game because it is super effective/powerful and has amazing range. Some combo's that lead into this are DB(two swings)>SB, dtilt>SB, and just basically jumping close while charging the SB in the air and then releasing it when he is in front of you. BE SURE NEVER TO SHIELD! EVER! Spotdodge at all times. If you shield it will be broken and he will kill you.
The Dolphin Slash
Some other things that marth's like/can do is use their dolphin slash(upB) to break out of combo's/grabs and to kill. Be sure to watch out for this move, cuz it has good horizontal knockback. Most people know this, but marth's loves their fair/bair. This moves is dangerous and can combo into more fairs/bairs. Be sure to airdodge and stay outside the range. If you crawl you can avoid some airiels. But, what seems to be a trend is that marths are now using the nair again. The second hit hasn't been nerfed so it is a great pika killer in the air. When marths use this on the ground, do not dodge since you will be hit by the second hit. In the air, DI out of the way.
Grabbing
As for fighting, be sure to chaingrab and keep grabbing. Grab>dthrow>usmash/dsmash is great since you can use your thunder if he does above you. Don't be surprised when he counters though. When marth gets in close, you must get in closer. Do not let him use his dtilts to push you back. Stay in close cuz he is less dangerous due to no tippers. Plus, pika is way more deadly close in.
The QAC
One thing that cannot be stressed is to use the QAC. Use it for getting in close, mindgames, damaging, comboing. USE IT! One of the most inportant tools in this matchup is mindgames. Get him to make a mistake and punish him.
Edgeguarding
The last thing that needs to be addressed in this matchup is edgeguarding. Thunder can be countered but still don't be afraid to use it. Countering can delay him in the air. Marth's recovery is fairly gimpable so don't be afraid to grab onto the ledge. But be sure you have your invincibility frames! If you don't, get off , and start spamming your tjolts at him. You can even jump up and use your thunder while you wavebounce away which gives you time time to turn around and plan out your next moves. (I will have a video up that shows you a very good thunder edgeguard technique very soon). Another thing that is good to know about marth is that he can use his shieldbreaker to bring him near back to the stage so be sure not to get hit by it.
As for marth edgeguarding you, the only thing you have to worry about is using your skullbash. Marth can use his fair/nair/counter/shieldbreaker to really punish this so be careful(extremely)when using this when getting back to the stage. My suggestion is to save your jump. Use the skullbash to get you near the edge, but not close enough so marth will jump off and wreck you. This way, as long as you have your second jump saved, you can jump close and airdoge/QA onto the stage/ledge
Video:
A must watch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=045z9NnwBz8
Chu(Pikachu) vs Dav3(Marth) [Final Destination]
http://youtube.com/watch?v=V6GAItg_kYM
Overall matchup:
Marth>Pikachu
General Discussion:
Marth is considered one of pika's hardest matchups. He has excellent range, great airiels, fast moves, speed, and good priority. He is the ultimate killing machine. Overall, he is the most balanced character, with an exception of the lack of a projectile and a gimpable recovery. The only thing that keeps marth from being the ultimate character in the game is his tiara, which he never takes off.
Pika's Advantages:
1.) Pika has a projectile, marth does not
2.) Crawling can get you underneath some of this airiels
3.) Greater Edgehogging/guarding ability
4.) Can CG marth
5.) QAC (that's all i have to say)
Pika's Disadvantages:
1.) Marth can cancel the tjolt with neutral a/fair
2.) Pika weight makes him easier to kill
3.) Pika's fsmash's sweetspot is near 1/2(behind the ball), marths is at the tip
4.) Due to number 3, marth's range>pika's range
5.) Pika's airiel game is outranged/prioritized by marth
6.) Marth has a counter, COUNTER
Strategy for Winning:
The Tjolt
Unlike most matchups, spamming the tjolt can be rendered ineffictive here. A simple jab can stop it. In the air, a fair can also cancel it. Do not be afraid to spam it though. It draws marth in close. He has no projectile unlike you. Remember this. He has to come in close to attack. But the problem with this is that his range is greater than yours.
Spacing
When marth gets in close, he has a variety of moves that he can use. The first is his dancing blades. When he uses this be sure to powershield. Do not roll towards or spotdodge. You can roll backwards and tjolt, but this can be risky. Do not stop shielding until the very end of the combo. It can rack up a lot of damage. (Note: Marth can be grabbed while using the DB, but it's very diffucult). When he gets done using his DB, you can fsmash/dsmash, or whatever it is that you feel like. There is a small lag so be sure to take advantage of it.
The Shieldbreaker
The next move that marth can use is his shieldbreaker. More and more marths are implementing this in their game because it is super effective/powerful and has amazing range. Some combo's that lead into this are DB(two swings)>SB, dtilt>SB, and just basically jumping close while charging the SB in the air and then releasing it when he is in front of you. BE SURE NEVER TO SHIELD! EVER! Spotdodge at all times. If you shield it will be broken and he will kill you.
The Dolphin Slash
Some other things that marth's like/can do is use their dolphin slash(upB) to break out of combo's/grabs and to kill. Be sure to watch out for this move, cuz it has good horizontal knockback. Most people know this, but marth's loves their fair/bair. This moves is dangerous and can combo into more fairs/bairs. Be sure to airdodge and stay outside the range. If you crawl you can avoid some airiels. But, what seems to be a trend is that marths are now using the nair again. The second hit hasn't been nerfed so it is a great pika killer in the air. When marths use this on the ground, do not dodge since you will be hit by the second hit. In the air, DI out of the way.
Grabbing
As for fighting, be sure to chaingrab and keep grabbing. Grab>dthrow>usmash/dsmash is great since you can use your thunder if he does above you. Don't be surprised when he counters though. When marth gets in close, you must get in closer. Do not let him use his dtilts to push you back. Stay in close cuz he is less dangerous due to no tippers. Plus, pika is way more deadly close in.
The QAC
One thing that cannot be stressed is to use the QAC. Use it for getting in close, mindgames, damaging, comboing. USE IT! One of the most inportant tools in this matchup is mindgames. Get him to make a mistake and punish him.
Edgeguarding
The last thing that needs to be addressed in this matchup is edgeguarding. Thunder can be countered but still don't be afraid to use it. Countering can delay him in the air. Marth's recovery is fairly gimpable so don't be afraid to grab onto the ledge. But be sure you have your invincibility frames! If you don't, get off , and start spamming your tjolts at him. You can even jump up and use your thunder while you wavebounce away which gives you time time to turn around and plan out your next moves. (I will have a video up that shows you a very good thunder edgeguard technique very soon). Another thing that is good to know about marth is that he can use his shieldbreaker to bring him near back to the stage so be sure not to get hit by it.
As for marth edgeguarding you, the only thing you have to worry about is using your skullbash. Marth can use his fair/nair/counter/shieldbreaker to really punish this so be careful(extremely)when using this when getting back to the stage. My suggestion is to save your jump. Use the skullbash to get you near the edge, but not close enough so marth will jump off and wreck you. This way, as long as you have your second jump saved, you can jump close and airdoge/QA onto the stage/ledge
Video:
A must watch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=045z9NnwBz8
Chu(Pikachu) vs Dav3(Marth) [Final Destination]
http://youtube.com/watch?v=V6GAItg_kYM
Overall matchup:
Marth>Pikachu