Toon Link Stage Counter Picks/Bans {BOWSER!}

Bowser

Counter- Lylat Cruise, Delfino Plaza, Frigate Orpheon
Ban- Jungle Japes, Castle Siege​

Synopsis~ On top of being a great camping stage, Lylat Cruise gimps Bowser's recovery pretty bad. Using Dsmash at the edge when the stage is tilted is pretty much a guaranteed kill. Delfino Plaza's water stages prevent Bowsersides, while giving Toon Link an advantageous point to spike Bowser while hes in the water. This stage also gimps Bowser's recovery. Take advantage of all the times the stage shifts to parts with Water. Try to get spikes, because Bowser can't spike you. Be wary of when the stage shifts to walk-off parts, Bowser can chain grab you then. Stay in the air and away from Bowser at those times. When at Frigate Orpheon, just stay on the right side of the stage. Whenever you hit him with a move that will knock him off-stage, make sure its to the right. This will mess up his recovery and give you an advantage. This stage also allows for good camping. Ban Jungle Japes because the kill zones and water give Bowser an advantage in getting kills. Castle Siege has many stage transitions that can lead to chain grab deaths by Bowser. The second stage of the stage also gives a big advantage to Bowser because he can chain grab you to your death, and camping is impossible at that phase.

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Captain Falcon

Counter- Final Destination,Smashville
Ban- Norfair,Battlefield​

Synopsis~ Basically against Captain Falcon, you want to counter pick stages where you can abuse projectiles to the maximum extent you can. Stages like Smashville and Final Destination have not much going on, so there won't be much between your projectiles and Captain Falcon. You want to keep Falcon at bay and stop his aerial approaches with your projectiles as much as you can. Ban stages with many platforms that Falcon can use to his advantage. Battlefield and defiantly Norfair are out of the question. He can use the platforms at those stages to avoid your projectiles and pressure you with his aerials. Falcon can also "juggle" you with his Uair whenever your above him on a platform. Stay at the middle of stages and avoid getting on platforms as often as you can when facing Falcon.

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Diddy Kong

Counter- Rainbow Cruise, Lylat Cruise, Yoshi's Island
Ban- Final Destination,Battlefield, Smashville​

Synopsis~ Ban Final Destination, defiantly. No platforms of anything like that to distract him from his banana game. You want to ban stages with not much going on, and little interference between you and Diddy. Ban battlefield because its small and Diddy has an easy time managing his bananas there. If a banana lands on a platform, Diddy can just Z-catch it with no lag and continue to throw it at you. Ban Smashville because its basically a smaller FD with a platform that won't help you much in this fight. Counter Pick stages with a lot of stuff going on. Rainbow Cruise is good because the stage is constantly moving, just as you should be in this fight. Be extra careful when the stage goes to the top where the stage is flat, you should be most cautious there. Lylat Cruise is also a good stage against Diddy because the stage is slanted and interferes with his banana throw. The platforms also tilt, so that might bother Diddy too. Yoshi's Island is an iffy counter pick. Its a pretty basic stage, but the platform can be used for your advantage. You should try to get him up on that platform as much as you can, and Z-catch his bananas whenever they land on that platform. D-smash at the edge for gimps never hurt either!

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Donkey Kong

Counter- Rainbow Cruise, Final Destination
Ban- Luigi's Mansion, Jungle Japes​

Synopsis~ Defiantly ban Luigi's Mansion. DK lives FOREVER there. The pillars at that stage block projectiles, and DK can do some crazy stuff with ceilings in the lower half of the house. Jungle Japes and it's small horizontal blast zones suck. DK has an east time killing Toon Link at this stage and can recover from the water with no problem. He can also guard the edge with his Up-B very well on this stage, leading to a lot of gimp kills for DK. Counter pick Rainbow cruise as DK doesn't do as well as you in the air. Just watch for walls, as DK can keep using his Dtilt when your against one. Don't be in between DK and a wall. Final Destination is also good as DK has nowhere to go against your spam. Just control the stage and watch out for those stage spikes from his cargo- back throw. Tech and struggle to save yourself!

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Falco

Counter- Norfair, Rainbow Cruise, Lylat Cruise
Ban- Battlefield, Pictochat, Jungle Japes​

Synopsis~ First off, before the first match even starts, STAGE STRIKE BATTLEFIELD. He has an infinite chain grab on us on the platforms. If you get stuck with this stage, just stay off the platforms the whole match. Before the second match, BAN PICTOCHAT. If you get grabbed, you're going to get infinited. He can chain grab you to the edge and laser lock you easily. You can also ban Jungle Japes. Falco can chain grab you into a spike INTO THE WATER. This more or less means death. They can also spam phantasm much more effectively then on other stages with all the glitchy edges to grab. You could also get spiked by his phantasm if your unlucky. Also ban Final Destination. Lots of room for Falco to spam lasers and Chain Grab. His phantasm does well here due. Norfair would be a good counter pick due to very little room for Falco to chain grab. You also have a very good chance of surviving spikes if you stay on the upper platforms when your at high percents. Projectiles here also give us an advantage as it is more of a vertical stage then a horizontal one. Falco can only shoot lasers straight, while Toon Link can throw angled boomerangs and bombs. Rainbow cruise is also good as Falco doesn't have many chain grabbing and camping options. It helps that both of you will be in the air a lot because Falco's recovery isn't very helpful there and Toon Link's aerials game is superior to Falcos. Lylat Cruise can also mess up Falco. The tilting stage and platforms will help you a lot against a spammy Falco. Also, Falco can't recover very well on this stage.

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Fox

Counter- Yoshi's Island, Lylat Cruise, Luigi's Mansion, Battlefield
Ban- Finals Destination, Corneria​

Synopsis~ The general idea against Fox is the bigger the stage, the better. This means we want to keep in mind that counter picking small stages is something to put high on our priority list. Final Destination is as big and un-interfering as it gets. With no platforms to take advantage of, Toon Link is doomed to probably getting spammed from a distance by Fox's blaster. Corneria has a very small vertical blast zone. Now we can profit from this, but Fox's Usmash can profit more. Also, with the wall at the right side of the stage, you can get shine infinited if your not careful. You can Dtilt lock him against it, but Fox has a better chance then you do. Luigi's mansion takes away most of Fox's spam game. The walls provide cover from the blaster and will give you time to pull out bombs safely. The ceiling in the lower layer of the house makes makes killing for Fox much harder. His Usmash can't kill unless he breaks down some of the house. If he does, break the rest of the house so it comes back up. Battlefield is a good counter pick because its small, and provides platforms to move around Fox's laser, while also maximizing our own projectile game. Yoshi's Island is also a great counter pick because of the one central platform to avoid Fox's lasers. Dsmash at the edge is also an OHKO against Fox. Since the stage goes straight down and has no underside, Fox's shine won't be as effective. Lylat Cruise is also a good counter pick because the tilted stage messes up Fox's lasers. The platforms also help you dodge his spam. Fox can't recover very well on this stage, so be sure to gimp him every time you get the chance.

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Game & Watch

Counter- Smashville, Final Destination, Yoshi's Story
Ban- Corneria, Battlefield​

Synopsis~ In the Game and Watch match up, its essential that you are able to kill him before he kills you. This is really hard, because Game and Watch has really good kill moves and has his amazing bucket cancel DI thing. Smashville should be one of your top choices. The blast zones are small, and there is enough of room for you to camp decently. Final Destination should also be a good choice since it has a lot of room to utilize your projectiles. The blast zones are bigger then Smashville, so Game and Watch has a much better chance of surviving. Yoshi's Story can work well for either charecter, but I think we can take more of an advantage from it. Camping from under the platform makes it have for Game and Watch to approach. The small blast zones should help for killing. Dsmash at the edge could let you set up for gimping his recovery with Nair. On the other hand, Game and Watch can "stall" with his Up-B if he misses the edge to wait for the assist ghost. If he does this, just stay near the edge and get ready to Nair him as he comes up. Corneria is a definite ban. Game and Watch can fill his buckets with the lasers the arwings fire. Those buckets do a LOT of damage. He can also Dtilt lock you against the wall of the ship on the right side of the stage. But you can also do the same to him. The stage is much better for him with the small blast zones, so ban it. Battlefield is also a ban because the platforms allow Game and Watch to get past your projectiles pretty easily. The blast zones are... average, but still not very helpful to us.

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Ganondorf

Counter- Rainbow Cruise, Lylat Cruise, Final Destination
Ban- Delfino Plaza, Battlefield, Norfair​

Synopsis~ Ganondorf likes Delfino Plaza because the stage is usually flat, and has platform thats benefit him. That platforms don't get in way of his thunderstorming and help him with his aerials. Many parts of that stage also include water, which always benefits Ganondorf. Water and Lava are ALWAYS something you want to avoid against Ganondorf. He can kill you with his Side-B without killing himself.Battlefield provides little room to camp and helps Ganondorf's thunderstorming because it is flat. Norfair is also a recommended ban because it has many flat platforms and the lava. You also might want to ban Brinstar because of the lava, but the uneven terrain hurts Ganondorf there. Rainbow Cruise is the top counter pick against Ganondorf because the terrain is mostly not flat, and the stage forces him to move around a lot. Ganondorf is not quick on his feet, so you just need to keep ahead of him and play well on Rainbow Cruise to win the match. Lylat Cruise is also a good counter pick because the terrain is always tilting and its edges make it very hard for Ganondorf to recover. Final Destination might be a good counter pick if you want to take advantage of the space you have to camp. The downside is that it is flat and that helps Ganondorf.

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Ice Climbers

Counter- Rainbow Cruise, Brinstar, Norfair
Ban- Final Destination, Smashville, Yoshi's Island​

Synopsis~ Ice Climbers do best on flat stages with not a lot going on. Final Destination should be the first stage you ban because there is nothing in between you and their infinite. Smashville is also worth banning because its basically a smaller Final Destination with a platforms that won't assist you too much. Yoshi's Island works like battlefield with a platform that tilts instead of moves. The edges of the stage are slanted though, so Dsmash there to get gimps. The Ice climbers hate hazards that interfere with their grab game. Rainbow Cruise is the best place to counter pick because the stage is constantly moving and it is usually not flat. Since it is moving, Ice Climbers can't grab you much because they have to be jumping a lot. They can't grab in the air, so you have to take advantage of their airborne time. Norfair is a great counter pick because the stage isn't straight at all except for on the platforms. Also, those platforms could help you in the fight. The stage ban be split in half, which is even worse for the Ice Climbers, so start attacking the circular things that are holing the stage together if you have the time. The lava there also might save you from getting spiked at the end of their chain grab, or it might just hit them during their chain grab, so make sure your on the bottom part of the stage when the lava is rising. Norfair is also a good counter pick because there are many small platforms for you to move around on and avoid getting grabbed. You also have a good chance of surviving a spike if you stay at the top part of the stage. You might be able to survive their Usmash if you stay near the bottom. The lava at this stage can also save you from getting infinited.

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Ike

Counter- Jungle Japes, Final Destination
Ban- Pirate Ship, Green Greens​

Synopsis~ Pirate Ship should be your first strike. Everything about that stage helps Ike. The water allows him to not have to risk getting gimped when he recovers and helps with all three of his spikes (Dtilt, Aetherspike, Dair). The platforms are well spaced for Ike to take advantage of. Just ban that stage. He can stagespike you with his Bair, so just stay out of the water in general. Ike can also consecutively Fthrow you against the spin when it crashes into the rock, so stay on the left or middle of the stage when the stage gets to that part. Green Greens is also worth a ban because the blast zones are really small and Ike can take advantage of the platforms. The blocks also stop out projectile game. The platforms are well spaced for Ike's smashes. The best place to counter pick Ike is Jungle Japes. The water really screws his recovery over. Also, the platforms are bad for Ike's spacing. Final Destination isn't much of a counter pick, but it has a good amount of space for you to projectile spam. There are also no platforms to help Ike avoid projectiles.

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Jigglypuff

Counter- Corneria, Final Destination, Battleship Halberd
Ban- Jungle Japes, Smashville​

Synopsis~ Jigglypuff likes small horizontal blast zones because they make it easier to kill with her WOP Fairs/Bairs. Ban Jungle Japes because the blast zones on the sides are really small and make it easy for Jigglypuff to get kills. The platforms at that stage don't bother Jigglypuff's air game much either. Smashville should be your second choice to ban because its small enough for Jigglypuff to have an easier time approaching. This is bad. Jigglypuff should have to have a lot of trouble approaching Toon Link, so Smashville would not be a bad choice. The platform also doesn't bother Jigglypuff's aerial game much. Corneria is a good counter pick because it makes it really easy for us to get kills. Jigglypuff is really, really light, so low killing percentages would be expected at this stage. Final Destination would be a good second choice because there is a lot of room to spam and make it even harder for Jigglypuff to approach. The blast zones are also pretty big, so Jigglypuff should have a hard time killing. Battleship Halberd would also be a good counter pick because the relatively flat stage should make it easy for us to control our projectiles, while the low ceiling and big horizontal blast zones help out Toon Link when he needs to get the kill.

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King Dedede

Counter- Jungle Japes, Norfair
Ban- Delfino Plaza, Corneria​

Synopsis~ This match up is mostly about DDD's chain grab. Delfino Plaza should be your first ban for oh so many reasons. The stage has walk off edges, Meaning that if you get grabbed during that phase of the stage, your dead. Also, the stage has many phases with walls, meaning Dedede can infinite you against the wall until the stage changes. Corneria should be your next strike because the wall there just begs for an infinite. Dedede can just star at the right side of the stage until you come over there to chain grab you. The blast zones are also pretty small, so he can kill you much earlier then you can kill him, considering how heavy King Dedede is. The best stage to counter pick is Jungle Japes. The two small side platforms allow for no chain grab, while the central platform has another platforms above it that can help you keep away from Dedede's grab range. Since Dedede is much better at killing vertically then horizontally, Jungle Japes has blast zones that very much work against him. Toon Link should kill with Fsmash of Fair near the edges whenever he can. Norfair is also a good counter pick if you just want to avoid getting chain grabbed. He can throw you a maximum of two times on any on the platforms before the platform ends. The high amount of aerial movement this stage requires also helps us because our air game is better then Dedede's. And with Dedede being a primarily ground-based character, he will have a much tougher time at this stage.

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Kirby

Counter- Luigi's Mansion, Battlefield, Battleship Halberd
Ban- Rainbow Cruise, Frigate Orpheon​

Synopsis~ Defiantly ban Rainbow Cruise first. Toon Link usually likes stages that make the other character have to move around, but with Kirby its not the case.While allegedly a good Toon Link stage, Rainbow Cruise benefits Kirby much more. Kirby gets to stay in the air and can easily avoid projectiles while were trying frantically to keep up with this stage without getting gimped by Kirby. All Kirby really needs to do for a kill is Dair you once without there being a platform under you. Kirby's aerials can also keep you from advancing when the stage moves, so you might juts get WOP'd to your death while Kirby uses his multiple jumps to make it back to a platform. Frigate Orpheon is next on the ban list because, well, it begs for gimps. If your even on the right side of the stage, your in danger. If Kirby knocks you off the right side of the stage, your pretty much going to get Dair'd. The stage also doesn't give Toon Link much room to maneuver, and the stage flip can mess up spacing a lot more for Toon Link then for Kirby. Luigi's Mansion would be your best bet against Kirby. When the house is up, it offers Kirby very little room to float around. The horizontal blast zones are also pretty big, so you won't have to worry about Kirby's Fsmash killing you TOO early. When the house is down, there is a good amount of room for you to get some projectiles out. Another good counter pick would be Battlefield. It gives some space to move around, and doesn't help Kirby much while hes in the air. The platforms can also help you avoid getting trapped in the air by Kirby. Battleship Halberd can also be a good counter pick because it basically works a lot like Battlefield. When the stage lands on one of its numerous landing spots, you'll have the chance to move around a lot move. Remember that when that platforms is moving in the air, you can recover through the stage. That might help you not get gimped by Kirby. But remember, Kirby can also do the same. It would be best to go for Dair spikes while onstage if he tries to recover through the stage, because the risk of suicide if you miss isn't there.

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Link

Counter- Rainbow Cruise, Frigate Orpheon
Ban- Pirate Ship, Brinstar, Norfair​

Synopsis~ What mostly makes or breaks Link's game is his bad recovery. Taking advantage of the difficulty factor in recovering is essential against Link. To start off with, ban Pirate Ship. Link will not have to worry about recovering for most of the stage, and the platforms are good for Link's aerial game. Another good ban is Brinstar. The lava can be very beneficial to Link when he can't make it back to the stage with his recovery. The Platforms are also spaced very close together, helping Link's spacing by a great deal. The small blast zones will also get you killed very early. Norfair would also be a good ban because the lava, again, is beneficial to for his recovery. The platforms can be used to your advantage if you keep moving, but Link has the advantage at the center of the stage. A good counter pick for this match up is Rainbow Cruise. Link will have to keep moving, and is pretty much screwed when trying to keep up with Toon Link's speed. The easy gimping of Link's recovery makes this the best stage to pick. Another good counter pick would be Frigate Orpheon. The stage is somewhat small, and has platforms that will benefit Toon Link's spacing. The right side of the stage also makes it near impossible for Link to recover during one of the flips, due to there being no edge. All you need to do is stay on the right side of the stage to have the advantage.

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Lucario

Counter- Corneria, Lylat Cruise
Ban- Frigate Orpheon, Luigi's Mansion​

Synopsis~ The best stage to ban against Lucario is undoubtedly Frigate Orpheon. When you can't tether the non-existent edges on the right side, your going to get gimped by Lucario. The actual ledges of the stage have walls for Lucario to grab onto in case you try to ledge hog him. Your best hope on this stage is to wait for the flip and stay at the middle of the sloped base of the stage. Luigi's Mansion is another good ban because it takes away most of Toon Link's killing options. Lucario also has a much easier time then Toon Link killing horizontally, so you have a much higher chance of dying earlier then Lucario. The mansion also allows Lucario to live up to very high percents, so he can take advantage of that and enhance his moves with aura. Even with all of the mansion broken, the really high ceiling makes it hard to kill Lucario. Corneria is a good counter pick stage because you can kill Lucario really early. The small blast zones make it very hard for Lucario to stay alive to get aura. This stage also makes it hard for Lucario to camp. Lylat Cruise is also a good counter pick because it makes it difficult for Lucario to spam. Also, The ledges make Lucario a big target it you grab them while hes trying to recover.

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Lucas

Counter- Yoshi's Island, Final Destination
Ban- Norfair, Corneria, Brinstar​

Synopsis~ The first stage on your ban list should be Norfair. There is practically no chance of gimping Lucas at this stage due to the many edges. Even if you manage to grab an edge, he might get saved by lava. The stage also allows Lucas to space his aerials very well. You must space very, very well to win against Lucas on this stage. Corneria is another stage to ban. Lucas can absorb lasers from the Great Fox and the arwings that fly by. He can get a lot of percent down this way. Also, he can Dtilt lock you against the right wall. The small blast zones also allow Lucas to kill VERY early. Your best bet on this stage would be to stay on the left and projectile spam until he approaches you. Brinstar is also a good stage to ban because Lucas has a good chance of making his recovery, because of the lava. The destructible environment also makes his Usmash and Dsmash much safer. They also last much longer. His Fsmash also kills very early here. A good stage to counter pick against Lucas would be Yoshi's Island. The tilted ground messes up the auto canceling of his aerials, making it harder for him to approach. Also, if you stay under the platform and dish out projectiles, it will add onto the difficulty. The support ghost can also gimp Lucas while hes trying to recover. Remember to Dsmash at the edge to force him to have to recover. The walls also make it harder to for Lucas to recover, so take advantage of that. Another good stage to counter pick is Final Destination. The blast zones aren't too small, so he shouldn't kill you too early. There is also a wide gap between the edges and the blast zones, so you can probably gimp Lucas when hes trying to recover. Tether hogging on Final Destination is great against Lucas. The big stage will also let you spam your heart out. There are also no platforms that help Lucas maneuver around projectiles, so take advantage of that.

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Luigi

Counter- Jungle Japes, Final Destination, Smashville
Ban- Cornaria, Battlefield​

Synopsis~ The best stage to ban when facing Luigi is Cornaria. Luigi can camp the right side of the stage and make you approach. With the wall, Luigi can combo you more easily. Also, Luigi can kill VERY early at this stage. Spamming to force Luigi to approach is your best bet. Another stage to can is Battlefield. The platforms give Luigi easy access around your projectiles. Luigi can also maneuver much quicker and take advantage of the platforms to up his aerial game. Your best bet for a counter pick against Luigi is Jungle Japes. Since the horizontal blast zones are much smaller then the vertical ones, killing should be a lot easier for you then it is for Luigi. Also, the water won't help his recovery much. Since Luigi has an easier time killing vertically, expect him to have some trouble getting kills. Another good counter pick is Final Destination. The big stage allows for projectile spam with no interference. Also, there are no platforms to help Luigi to avoid spam so he will be struggling to get near you. His approaching options will also be very limited. Smashville is also a good counter pick because its essentially Final destination with a platform and smaller horizontal blast zones. The one platform can help Luigi avoid spam, but he'll have to get on it first. Killing off the sides is also easier at this stage.

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Mario

Counter- Pirate Ship, Jungle Japes, Yoshi's Island (Melee)
Ban- Battlefield, Lylat Cruise, Rainbow Cruise​

Synopsis~ The first stage to ban against Mario is Battlefield. The platform help him get by projectiles even easier then he usually does. His fireballs are also very beneficial at this stage. The Platforms also help him juggle you in the air. The edge also allows for easy gimps from Mario. Lylat Cruise works in a very similar to Battlefield. The platforms still help him around projectiles and aid his air game. The tilting stage can mess up Toon Link's quickdraws and such. Since the edge of this stage is small, it becomes harder to recover against a character with such a good edge gimping game. Rainbow Cruise is also a very important stage to ban against Mario because the stage is constantly moving and helps him gimp. Since there will be very few grab-able edges, Mario can Cape and Fludd you much easier then on other stages. You will get gimped a LOT at that stage if Mario is on the offensive. Against Mario, you want to ban stages where he can't edge guard. Pirate Ship is a good stage for this. The water will save you from getting edge hogged and can allow you to live up to much higher percentages. Toon Link can also spike Mario if he ever finds himself in the water. Since Toon Link's spike is better then Mario's in this situation, you should have the advantage there. Another good stage to counter with is Jungle Japes. Again, the water will save you from getting edge hogged and can help you land spikes. The small horizontal blast zones can allow for some easier kills. Finally, Yoshi's Island (Melee) can be a good counter pick. Since the right side of the stage is a walk off, you can't get edge guarded on that side. And since the left side of the stage is very close to the blast zone, you can't expect much edge guarding there if you stay at the center of the stage. If you feel the need to go for a Dsmash gimp on the left pipe, you may do so. I would suggest not doing that until your at a somewhat high percentage.

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Marth

Counter- Rainbow Cruise, Final Destination
Ban- Battlefield, Lylat Cruise​

Synopsis~ The first stage you should ban is Battlefield. It gives Toon Link very little room to camp, and makes Marth's approaching a breeze. The platforms help Marth avoid projectiles and helps him maneuver in the air. The platforms also help with Marth's juggling ability in the air. Another stage to ban is Lylat Cruise. This stage gives a little more room to spam, but the tilting stage messes up arrow cancels. The stage also has advantageous platforms for Marth and getting stage spiked by Marth's Dolphin Slash is much more likely here. A good counter pick against Marth would have to be Rainbow Cruise. Marth has to be constantly moving, so his aerials wont means at much when they get auto canceled. There are also very few places Marth can stage spike at this stage. Another counter pick against Marth is just plain old Final Destination. Lots of camp room, no platforms, just straight up fighting. There will be nothing to help Marth avoid projectiles. Since he has none of his own, he will be constantly having to approach you. The edges help Marth stage spike, so stay away from them.

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Meta Knight

Counter- Final Destination, Smashville
Ban- Frigate Orpheon​

Synopsis~ Well, there's not much to say against MK. Ban Frigate Orpheon because the ledges are small, forcing Toon Link to have a much more precise recovery. That leads to Meta Knight having an easier time gimping you. The stage is also sorta small, and the platforms can help MK move around faster. The stage flip might also be more of a problem to you, considering MK has multiple jumps. Your best bet for a stage to counter Meta Knight is plain old Final Destination. You might have some room to spam, and you'd better take full advantage of it. Remember that Toon Link can wall jump the sides of the stage, that might save you a stock or two. Another good stage to counter pick is Smashville. Basically like FD, but not as good for us. There is SOME room to spam, but not much. You'll have to be quick, because MK can also use the platform(if it happens to be around) to get in close in no time. The ledges also don't let you benefit from a wall jump, so you still have to be careful when recovering. You can also go under the stage and grab the other edge, so be wary of that.

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Ness

Counter- Yoshi's Island, Lylat Cruise
Ban- Brinstar, Pirate Ship​

Synopsis~ Against Ness, you should probably ban Brinstar. The stage is small and doesn't let Toon Link camp much. Since Ness will be in your face a lot, you won't have much room to breath at this stage. Ness can set fire to three parts of this stage with his PK Fire, so that is another obstacle you'd have to get around. The occasional lava also decreases the chanced of Ness getting gimped while hes recovering. Another stage to ban is Pirate Ship. The water will take away the need for Ness to recover all-together. Since Ness has one of the best spikes in the game, getting caught in the water is much worse for us then it is for him. The best stage to counter pick against Ness is Yoshi's Island. The stage gives Toon Link just enough room to camp, and the platform makes it harder for Ness to approach. The shy guys can stop Ness's PK fire. The stage also makes it hard for Ness to recover. He needs to hit the ledge perfectly, so take advantage of that. The Assist Ghost might also block Ness's PK Thunder and screw with his recovery even more. Another good counter pick against Ness is Lylat Cruise. This stage gives a good amount of space for Toon Link to utilize his projectiles. The very small edge and tilting stage can also mess up Ness's recovery pretty easily.

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Olimar

Counter- Jungle Japes, Lylat Cruise, Yoshi's Island
Ban- Luigi's Mansion​

Synopsis~ Ban Luigi's Mansion. Olimar just has to predict which how your going to get up after he hits you against one of the lower ceilings. He can consecutively hit you against those ceilings and rake up quite a bit of damage. If you get stuck on that stage, make sure you destroy the house. The best stage to counter pick against Olimar would be Jungle Japes. Theres a nice amount of room for projectiles, and all you really need to do is get Olimar into the water. From that point, you can just edge guard and he won't be able to make it back onstage. This stage also allows for easier Horizontal kills, so take advantage of that. Another good stage to counter pick is Lylat Cruise. Good amount of space to camp, and Dsmash at the edge can get you a free kill against Olimar. All you really need for a kill is to Dsmash Olimar near the edge and then tether hog. The platforms at this stage can also help you maneuver around Olimar's pikmen. Yoshi's Island works the same way as Lylat Cruise, but the Support Ghost might save Olimar. Due to that, make sure your still ready to edge guard after he starts falling. The Tilting platform can also help you get around pesky pikmen.

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Peach

Counter- Lylat Cruise, Yoshi's Island
Ban- Jungle Japes, Delfino Plaza​

Synopsis~ Defiantly ban Jungle Japes against Peach. The water can save her from spikes, gives Peach her float back, and will gimp up much more then it will her. Since the Horizontal blast zones are so small, Peach will have a much easier time killing then you will. Her auto canceling aerials will all be used to kill you off early. They are also much safer then Toon Link's horizontal kill moves. Peach can also grab the edge automatically if she misses a Peach bomber when trying to recover/ edge guard you. Peach's Uair can also reach through platforms. Since she can float, she can move float under the platforms and perform (pretty much) safe Uairs. You should be able to spike her if you dodge the kick though. Staying at the center of this stage is your best bet against Peach. Another stage to ban against Peach is Delfino Plaza. Again, water can give her back her float during phases of the stage where there are bodies of water. Peach also has an easy time recovering at this stage. When the walk off edges transitions occur, Peach will get a great boost in killing potential. As for counter picks, Lylat would be your best option. The tilted stage can mess up Peach's floats (which are a BIG part of her game). The stage helps Peach's tilts. Projectiles at this stage will also be a hindrance when Peach is trying to approach you. Another good stage would be Yoshi's Island. Since the stage is constantly tilted, Peach will have floating problems. Also, the platform in the middle of the stage also tilts, so Peach has a big disadvantage when floating at this stage. Also, if you happen to get a Dsmash at the edge, its pretty much not a guaranteed kill. Since she will be slowly floating down on her parasol, the Support Ghost might have time to get to her. You should grab the edge and wait there until she dies off of the bottom blast zone. If the ghost arises, then jump off and Nair Peach.

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Pikachu

Counter- Luigi's Mansion, Yoshi's Island
Ban- Final Destination, Smashville​

Synopsis~ Ban Final Destination first. The stage is completely flat, so there is nothing to interrupt Pikachu's QAC. Projectile possibilities are also extremely limited due to how fast Pikachu can reach you with his QAC. Since you won't be able to spam much, you'll probably always have to approach Pikachu. Pikachu's edge guarding game is also very good at this stage. Alongside that, another good stage to ban would be Smashville. It is basically like Final Destination, but you have a better chance with the moving platform. Staying under it should limit Pikachu's options greatly. You should focus less on projectiles and more on approaching at this stage. A good counter pick would be Luigi's Mansion. If the house is assembled, it gives Pikachu very little room to use QAC. The ledges of this stage also make Pikachu's recovery a little more difficult and predictable. Since Pikachu's main kill moves are for killing off the top of the stage, you should also have the advantage when trying to kill at this stage. Another good counter pick is Yoshi's Island. The edges of this stage mess up Pikachu's QAC. The stage also limits Pikachu's recovery options and makes them easier to read.And if Pikachu recovers too low with a skull bash, it gives you a free spike because Pikachu will be stuck in that animation for a short while.

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Pit

Counter- Cornaria, Pirate Ship
Ban- Battleship Halberd, Lylat Cruise​

Synopsis~ Your best choice for a ban against Pit would have to be Halberd. If you ever end up on that little platform in the middle, Pic can easily Uair you from below. Also, since the stage doesn't have a solid bottom during transitions, Pit can also Uair you from beneath the stage most of the time. The best solution to this would be to jump and Dair to try and spike Pit while he is using Uair. Pit can also fly/ glide under the stage very easily during transitions. You should basically avoid getting on platforms in general against Pit. You should take full advantage of when the stage ends up on the ship , where Pit's recovery isn't as impossible to gimp and where you always are not at a disadvantage to Pit's Uair. The stage will also be bigger then, allowing for easier camping. Another stage to ban against Pit is Lylat Cruise. The tilting to the stage gives no disadvantage to Pit's arrows, while it hinders ours. Pit can still go under the stage to recover at this stage, so gimping is harder. The stage also has platforms which you should stay off of. Even though the stage has a solid bottom, its still thin enough for Pit to be able to Uair you from underneath. Again, Dair should b used when this happens. The tilting stage gives you the ability to try to gimp Pit with Dsmash at the edge, but Pit's recovery is good enough to probably be able to save him. A good counter pick stage would be Cornaria. Dsmash either side of the stage WILL gimp for a free kill. The blast zones at this stage are also really small, making killing for Toon Link a lot easier then it is for Pit. Pit can chain grab you for a little while against the wall on the right side of the stage, so don't get grabbed. Another good counter pick is Pirate Ship. The water gives us safe spiking capabilities, and the two platforms are much safer to be on then regular platforms because you can maneuver up and down much quicker. Pit can spike you with his Dtilt at the edge, so watch out for that. The big, open space at this stage gives you room to move around Pit's projectiles and makes spamming much easier for us.

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Pokémon Trainer

Counter- Final Destination, Jungle Japes, Pirate Ship
Ban- Castle Siege, Delfino Plaza​

Synopsis~ Overall, the best stage to ban against Pokemon Trainer is Castle Siege. The terrain makes it hard to spam, and the second transition renders projectiles almost useless. Ivysaur's razor leaf can still go through the statues while our projectiles cannot (except for a RETURNING boomerang). During the transitions, where are walk off edges, meaning neither of you will have to recover. This helps Pokemon Trainer much more then it does us (especially Ivysaur). Delfino Plaza is another good stage to ban because every time the stage isn't a transition, the Pokemon have the advantage. During the transition, gimping Ivysaur is the only thing we have in our advantage. Also, if the Pokemon try to recover from under the stage during transitions, you should spike them. During portions of the stage when there are any walls, the Pokemon can infinite you against them. Your best option would be to either avoid walls, or use Dtilt to infinite them instead of the other way around. A good counter pick against the Pokemon would be Final Destination. You pretty much have a lot of room to camp and make approaching really hard for the Pokemon. Also, the lip of FD makes the Pokemon have to recover at an angle, so gimping them at the edge is much easier then usual. Jungle Japes is also a good counter pick. Again, this stage allows for easy camping. It makes recovering MUCH harder for the Pokemon. Ivysaur is pretty much dead whenever he gets hit off the stage. Since your Dair can reach though the stage slightly, you can easily spike them if they ever miss the edge. Pirate Ship is also a good counter pick because it allows for much easier spikes and killing. Projectiles are awesome at this stage, so feel free to abuse them. Recovering is also a problem for the Pokemon because if you ever grab the edge, they're pretty much gonna get hit/spiked soon after. Ivysaur also kills himself if he tried to recover from the front of the stage, so keep pressure to the front.

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R.O.B.

Counter- Norfair, Battlefield, Jungle Japes
Ban- Final Destination, Smashville​

Synopsis~ Ban Final Destination first. R.O.B. can out camp you and rake up damage with projectiles easily at this stage. The ledges of this stage also make it easier for R.O.B. to gimp you with stage spikes. Smashville also helps R.O.B.'s camping game. He can also recover under the stage without much effort. You should stay under the platform and near the center of the stage whenever possible. A good counter pick against R.O.B. would be Norfair. The platforms allow for easy maneuvering for Toon Link, making our spam game more deadly then R.O.B.'s. If you stay on the same side of the stage as R.O.B., he pretty much can't hit you with his projectiles. Exploiting R.O.B.'s underside is also much easier at this stage due to all the platforms. You'll always want to be on the lower platforms at this stage (except when it comes time for you to kill). Battlefield is also a good counter pick. The platforms can help get around R.O.B.'s Gyro and lasers. Spamming should be easier for Toon Link then R.O.B. here. Staying under platforms is very beneficial this match up, so do so. Finally, Jungle Japes can also be a very good counter pick. The stage allows for safer spikes, and not getting gimped during your recovery is always a plus. Killing is much easier her horizontally, so Fsmash and Fair should be used to kill R.O.B.

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Samus

Counter- Jungle Japes, Luigi's Mansion
Ban- Battlefield, Final Destination​

Synopsis~ Battlefield is the best place to ban. Samus can use platforms largely to her advantage when spamming, especially for homing missiles. Her Up-B is also very difficult to punish if she is at the center of the stage, because she can land on the top platform quickly. Samus can also Zair you from the edge when she's trying to get back onstage. The best thing to do at this stage is to stay under either the left or right platform. This will help you avoid some spam, aid your maneuverability, and it makes it so Samus can't use her Up-B as effectively. Final Destination might also be a stage you want to ban. Samus can spam a little faster then you, so that might be a problem. The large stage will make camping easier for her. The best stage to counter pick against Samus is Jungle Japes. The stage actually benefits your methods of spam more then it does hers if you stay on either the left or right platforms (right is preferred). A missed spike also doesn't automatically kill you at this stage. Samus' Zair also gets really messed up here because it tried to sweet spot the edges from far away. Your Zair does this too, but not from nearly as close. Staying on the left or right platforms also helps you avoid Samus' Zair. Samus can Uair you from under platforms, so watch out for that. You can just short hop and Dair to spike her through the stage if she attempts this. Killing is also in your favor here. Since the stage has a high ceiling, Samus' Dtilt and Dsmash won't be killing until much later percents. All you need to worry about is her Fsmash. You still have Fsmash, Fair, and possibly Nair to kill with horizontally. Luigi's Mansion is also a good counter pick because the walls of the house can be used as a shield to block Samus' projectiles. Just like Jungle Japes, killing is in out favor here again. Horizontal kill moves should be used. The stage also prevents Samus' Zair from the edge.

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Sheik

Counter- Jungle Japes, Lylat Cruise
Ban- Norfair, Battlefield​

Synopsis~ The most important stage to ban against Sheik is Norfair. The numerous platforms make it much easier for her to recover, and not get gimped. They also help her get vanish kills (she can just Up-B all around the place and grab onto ledges easily). The platforms are small, so you should keep yourself a platform away from Sheik if you're at killing percentage. Shiek also excels at battlefield. The platforms help her maneuver and get around Toon Link's projectiles. The edge also make it slightly harder to gimp Sheik. Her Uair reaches through the edges of the stage, so watch out for that. The best counter pick against Sheik is Jungle Japes. The stage makes camping a lot easier for you and is bad for Sheik's needles. Since the stage a high ceiling, Sheik will have a very hard time trying to kill you. You should be using Fsmash and Fair to kill her. And if Sheik ever falls in the water,you just need to go to the left side of the stage and grab the edge for an easy gimp. You should stay at the center of the stage and under the platform for mostly and draw Sheik to you with projectiles. Lylat Cruise is another good choice for a counter pick. The slopes mess up her projectiles much more then they mess up ours. You can also get a free kill if you Dsmash at the edge and tether hog. Use the platforms at this stage to help you maneuver around and get in close to Sheik when you need to.

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Snake

Counter- Rainbow Cruise, Battlefield
Ban- Lylat Cruise, Smashville​

Synopsis~ Ban Lylat Cruise against Snake. Snake can make much more use of his projectiles then Toon Link can. His C-4 can reach through platforms, so the platforms at this stage generally are not safe. Grenades can also get an extra, somewhat unpredictable bounce from the tilted stage. Snake can camp at his best if hes at a distance. He can hide under a platform to limit your options of hotting him, while also helping him take control of the stage. Also, the ceiling isn't very high, so Utilts from Snake will kill easier. You can try to gimp him wit a Dsmash at the edge here though. Another stage to ban against Snake is Smashville. Since the stage is so small, Snakes projectiles can take up the majority of it. The moving platform can be very deadly if it has a C-4 stuck to it. Snake can blow it up anytime its moving around like that. Since the stage has short horizontal blast zones, moves like Fair and Fsmash should probably be used for killing Snake. A good stage to counter pick against Snake is Rainbow Cruise. Since Snake has slow mobility, he has to constantly be focused on keeping up. Also, his projectiles can't keep up with the moving stage. His C-4s and mines will constantly be left behind, and his grenades become much more avoidable. Toon Link's projectiles stay airborne for a while, so they shouldn't be too affected. Just be wary of Snake's Utilt when the stage shifts to the top of the Screen, or you'll get killed early. It's best to either avoid him during this time, or try to get a Utilt, Usmash/ Uair in before he has the chance to his you with his Utilt. Another good counter pick against Snake is Battlefield. The platforms give Toon Link some room to maneuver and don't bother projectiles too much since boomerangs and arrows go horizontally (while bombs can reach under platforms in the opponent is directly underneath). Snake's C-4 can reach under platforms, so watch out for that.

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Sonic

Counter- Norfair, Pirate Ship
Ban- Yoshi's Island, Lylat Cruise​

Synopsis~ The stage you should probably be banning against Sonic would be Yoshi's Island. Sonic can iSDR at the edges of the stage. This can prove troublesome, so stay in the center if you get taken to this stage. The platform at this stage also helps Sonic get around projectiles. And since the stage itself is so small, you don't have much room to dish out projectiles in the first place. Shy guys can also get in the way of projectiles here. Another stage you'll want to avoid is Lylat Cruise. Sonic has an easier time gimping your recovery here. with his aerials and Up-B. The tilting can also get in the way of projectile management. Again, this stage is small and has platforms, so Sonic has an easier time approaching you. A good counter pick against Sonic would be Norfair. The many edges make it almost impossible for Sonic to gimp your recovery. The platforms also help your mobility and don't give Sonic much running room. Your aerials will be a big asset at this stage. Another good counter pick is Pirate Ship. The stage allows you to stay VERY mobile and the platforms also help you get around quicker. It also helps that getting Sonic in the water can lead to a safe spike. When the ship hits the rock, you can Dtilt lock Sonic against the ship. During the portion in which you are in the air, you should be primarily throwing bombs and boomerangs if not in close range combat since arrows get messed up then.

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Wario

Counter- Smashville, Yoshi's Island
Ban- Brinstar, Norfair​

Synopsis~ You'll want to first ban Brinstar in this match up. It's really easy for Wario to stay mobile and avoid almost everything you throw at him. The stage layout also is a little too "cramped" for Toon Link's projectiles. The small, slanted platforms really discourage Zair usage and will effect Toon Link's spacing badly. If you ever have to face Wario at this stage, keep close to him and only use projectiles if you're sure he won't reach you. Try to take advantage of the time Wario spends on the top platform by pressuring him from beneath. Another stage you'll want to avoid against Wario is Norfair. The platforms make it very easy for Wario to maneuver everywhere. He can bait you with jumps easily and all the platforms can get you in serious trouble if Wario gets under you. This stage also makes it so Wario doesn't have to worry about recovering much. If you ever get the change to bait a Uair and Dair him through a platform, take it! It could help land you a safe spike. Spacing with aerials is key at this stage since you can't use much Zair, so make sure to keep your distance and hit with the tip of the sword whenever you can. A good stage to counterpick against Wario is Smashville. The stage itself is small, and keeps Wario at a good distance for you to use projectiles and Zair effectively. The ledges are also thin and low on the stage and will make it hard for Wario to sweetspot if he chooses to recover low. Since he'll probably have to recover high, you have a good chance of getting a few hits in with proper edge guarding. The horizontal hitboxes are pretty small, so you jsut need to worry about Wario's Fsmash, Ftilt, and fart when near the edge. The platform also helps cover above you if you can manage to play mobile and stay under it. If you can do that, you should be throwing out boomerangs if Wario's far away or a bunch of Zairs if hes near you. Another good stage to take Wario to is Yoshi's Island. That platform really helps cover above you and can be used to safely throw bomb up at Wario if he happens to be high in the air. The ledges also force Wario to recover to not recover low (because that setups up for an easy edgehog/spike), so you'll also have an easy time edge guarding Wario at this stage. Killing with Fair shouldn't be too hard if you catch him on a platform. The uneven plane also might mess up Wario's aerials.

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Wolf

Counter- Rainbow Cruise, Lylat Cruise
Ban- Smashville, Yoshi's Island​

Synopsis~ The stage you'll most likely want to ban against Wolf is Smashville. Wolf's scarring is most affective at this stage and can lead to him having a much easier time recovering. If you ever see Wolf trying to recover and you are in a position to edge guard him, be prepared to cover the area slightly behind you too. This stage gives Wolf a great amount of room to maneuver and use his blaster, while it confides Toon Link much more and makes it difficult to space correctly since Wolf can approach swiftly at any time. Wolf can also make good use of the platform to get around projectiles and close in easier. Wolf's Bair and Dsmash also kill much earlier here then Toon Link's kill moves do. Another stage to ban would be Yoshi's Island. The walls of the stage make it impossible for Wolf to get caught under the stage. The edges are also great for scarring and are slanted in a way that makes it hard to hit wolf if hes grabbing onto the edge. Wolf also kills much easier at this stage then Toon Link does. If you get taken to this stage, try to keep your distance from Wolf and get him on the top platform. A great stage to counter pick against Wolf would be Rainbow Cruise. With Wolf's bad recovery and vertical aerial movement, this stage is perfect for gimping Wolf. Just keep dishing out projectiles and make him fall behind to the point where he wont be able to keep up with the moving stage. Keep your distance from him and have a fresh Usmash ready for when the stage goes to the top part. Another good stage to counter pick is Lylat Cruise. The slanted stage and narrow edge make it very hard for Wolf to recover if you edge guard right. Dsmash at the ledge also means a free kill, so keep that in mind.

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Yoshi

Counter- Lylat Cruise, Yoshi's Island
Ban- Delfino Plaza, Battleship Halberd​

Synopsis~ The stage that will probably give Yoshi the biggest advantage in this match-up is Delfino Plaza. A big weakness of Yoshis is his recovery. Since all the stage portions have either walk of ledges or water, Yoshi is safe. The actual transition positrons of the stage allow Yoshi to recover from under the stage with and air dodged second jump, so hes safe there too. If you see the Yoshi make a mistake and not air dodge, get over him and ready to Dair him through the stage. Since this stage has several walk-off edges, Yoshi can get some grab-release shenanigans going, so make sure not to get grabbed during those parts. During the portions with water, you can go for a few safe spike attempts, but watch out since Yoshi has a spike of his own. Another stage you'll want to ban is Battleship Halberd. just like Delfino Plaza, Yoshi can air dodge his second just through the stage for a safer recovery. Unlike Delfino Plaza, not all segments of this stage are easy for Yoshi to recover on. Whenever the stage lands somewhere on the ship, you should be playing more aggressively and going for the kill. This stage is also pretty small and makes it hard to dish out projectiles effectively. Take advantage of when this stage lands and space yourself better when you still can. you should also be focusing on not getting grabbed. A great counter pick stage to take Yoshi to is Lylat Cruise. The platforms make it very hard for Yoshi to hit you with projectiles, since they can be used as cover. This means that you can stand under one and spam safely from a distance. The ledges also make it so Yoshi has to recover in a more predictable fashion, so predict how he'll recover and punish him after his air dodge. You can also Dsmash Yoshi and the edges of this stage to attempt a gimp. another good stage to take Yoshi to is Yoshi's Island. Just like Lylat Cruise, this stage also makes Yoshi's recovery predictable use to the wall edges. He'll have to be recovering straight up if he ever hits the wall, so be ready. This stage also makes it easy to out-camp Yoshi use to the big "ceiling" platform in the center of the stage. If you're under it, Yoshi won't really be able to hit you with eggs. So take advantage of this and get a lot of projectiles out there. you can also perform the Dsmash at the edge gimp at this stage, so don't be afraid to.

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Zelda

Counter- Lylat Cruise, Yoshi's Island
Ban- Battlefield, Brinstar​

Synopsis~ You'll probably be wanting to bad Battlefield against Zelda. The platforms can help her maneuver around a little more to get past projectiles. The platforms also really help her Usmash and Utilt, so you should avoid being on a platform above Zelda. It's also a god idea to try to get Zelda on the platforms because you have the advantage when beneath her. Another stage you'll want to avoid is Brinstar. There are many part of the stage you can hit, so Zelda can use her smashes on them to make their hitboxes last much longer. You'll want to break the stage in half as soon as you can to prevent Zelda from using the middle part of the stage to make her moves last longer. This will also hinder Zelda's recovery. Gimping Zelda on this stage shouldn't be too hard, so take advantage of her bad recovery. Again, it is very important to avoid being on any of the platforms (especially since the ceiling of this stage is low), so try to avoid them. A good counter pick would have to be Lylat Cruise. Dsmash gimps will easily cost her a stock, so don't be afraid to use them at the edge. The edges on this stage are also bad for Zelda's recovery. Also, while the stage is tilted, it will be a little more difficult for Zelda to use aerials correctly. The tilted stage also wont help her much if she tries to reflect your projectiles back at you. Another good counter pick is Yoshi's Island. This stage is really helpful when trying to camp Zelda. Maneuvering is very easy for you, and the one platform is also not a problem to stay off of. Against, a Dsmash at the ledge can score you a free KO as long as Zelda doesn't get saved by a riding ghost platform.

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Zero Suit Samus

Counter- Lylat Cruise, Jungle Japes
Ban- Battlefield, Yoshi's Island​

Synopsis~ The stage you'll usually be wanting to ban against Zero Suit Samus is Battlefield. This stage makes it easy for her to space well. You'll want to avoid getting on platforms if you can, especially platforms above her. Staying under the left or right platforms and near the ground is a good strategy against ZSS. Be ready for a plasma whip when she runs off platforms. Another stage you don't want to fight ZSS on is Yoshi's Island. The big platform should be avoided getting on altogether. The platform puts you in a really bad position, as it is hard to get back down undamaged once you get on it. You'll be wanting to stay out of her whip range if she is near the edges of the stage. A benefit of playing at Yoshi's Island is that you might be able to pull off a Dsmash gimp at the edge. If you do pull it off, remember that the support ghost might pop up and save her randomly. Also be sure to remember that ZSS can wall jump(she can also do it out of her Down-B), at the sides of the stage are just big walls. This makes recovering easier for her. A good counter pick stage you'd want to take ZSS to is Lylat Cruise. The tilting stage isn't really good for her whip and aerial mobility. Platforms are less of a hazard, so don't be too afraid of getting on them. Dsmash at the edge should get you a free stock, so keep that in mind. Another good stage to take ZSS to is Jungle Japes. This stage is really bad for for her recovery and can lead to an easy kill if you get her into the water and edge guard appropriately. Trying to spike ZSS here won't instantly kill you if you miss, so don't hesitate to try. Avoiding the center platform is also a good idea.

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