Hello everyone, since the time of this account, Ive wanted to 2nd/main Link not because hes underused or anything, but because I love Link as a character and his moveset, and I have many questions (Ive read through the guides, but Im still going to ask somethings anyway for clarification) and I hope everyone can help me kind of get Link's train rolling.
1. If Im fighting a small or even mid-small character, should I bother trying to Zair while they are on the ground.
On stages with slopes or an "indent" (i.e. the middle section of Halberd) then feel free to zair opponents of any size on the ground. Otherwise use zair sparingly.
*Note that with slopes, zair will literally travel along the edge of the slope, meaning you can hit opponents with the second hit of zair that would normally have been too high. However this is very situational because of timing, the short range of zair and the slope
2. How effective is Tether hogging as an edge guard in general.
Zair edgehogging has medium usefulness.
To address the issue in the same way as NakeD3, although zair edgehogging like that is useful, speedhogging is even better. You simply run off the edge, then do a little circle with your control stick. It will automatically grab the edge, and is faster and less situational than having to fall offstage then grab the edge.
The other way to address the issue:
Triple-zair edgehogging the edge can thoroughly prevent some characters from returning to the stage or even getting in the retaliatory swipe as they die, but against many members of the cast it merely puts you on the edge as they recover up and over you.
This is effective against these characters:
Ike (During UpB, SideB only if their range extends to the ledge and not past it)
Ivysaur (Lolbadtetherrecovery)
Olimar
Fox
Falco
Wolf
Ice Climbers
It occasionally works against:
Mario
Lucario
Wario (if he screwed up with the bike)
ZSS
Samus
Bowser (If he is level with the stage, you can just hang low off the edge with zair)
DK (Same as Bowser)
Squirtle
Never use against:
ROB
Marth (stagespike ftl)
Pit
Jigglypuff
Gay & Watch
Snake
Little green aliens
I'm too lazy to look up any of the other characters.
3. Do I ever (for the most part) want to approach, keep good distance with Zair and projectiles, or force their approach and punish.
The only time you ought to approach is for the kill or a very very easy punish, and even then it is best to force your opponent to come to you. If you feel a desperate impulse to approach for whatever reason, at least don't do it with a DAC. Slowly close the distance as you spam, force them into an easily punishable position.
4. If I do approach, what are all my options to do it.
DAC for the very very rare occasion, fakeout bombsliding into fsmashes work well as surprise moves, otherwise follow the advice above.
5. I feel like I have bad bomb usage, I try things like DACUSing them up as a trap, or jumping and dropping them near/above my foe, but often it doesnt work well, is it just me failing to use them well, or should I just throw them at them?
DACUS? Do you mean a DACIT/bombslide by chance?
In any case, bombs are your most versatile weapon. Abuse bombslides, ZACs, invincibombing, zair w/ bombs, JC bomb throws, bombsmashing, bomb draw to AC, etc, etc. If you are really having trouble, try playing on Battlefield just using bombs to rack up damage.
6. Say Im being juggled by MK or Marth, what are my all my reliable options to counter/escape it, and which is most effective.
If you have a bomb in hand, you can "invincibomb" the opponent if they are going to try to continue juggling you. Normal airdodges work as well, because your main priority is to get back on stage rather than try and retaliate. However, FF'ed nairs, regular zairs, and a mindgamed daired ZAC all work as well.
7.I was hit off and grab the ledge, however now Im stuck there, again what are Link's options against Ledge trapping and what is our safest option.
You can always do the single/double/triple zair edgegrab to mindgame when you are getting back on stage. Mix it up between rolling, attacking, and jumping. Letting go of the edge, then fairing onto the stage (you can get both hits off a spilt second before you land) works, and you can also AC onto the stage. Otherwise you can "plank" by letting go, jumping and fairing so that your head is slightly below the stage (you still hit them, but they can't hit you), and shooting arrows before regrabbing the edge all work as well.
8. Fair, this move I find difficult to use, should I approach with this, or just try to kill? Also against shorties, is it wise to use this against them on the ground, if so how, and even if not is there a reliable way to atleast hit them.
This can be used to approach at low percentages, and can even lead into a grab against certain heavy, fastfalling characters (like Link, what a coincidence!). But on the whole, aim to use it as a kill move, fastfalling into the second of fair. It can also be used as you get back onto the stage.
There was a guy here named LinkSpecialist who was the "King of Fairs," dunno what happened to him. But even the pros respected his fair use of fairs (lolpuns)
9. Is our DACUS as "spammable" as Snake's, or is it strictly a reserve tactic.
Strictly reserve. It is NOT spammable under ANY circumstance. No, not even against your two-year old brother who can't move the control stick without help.
10. Jab infinite...I feel dirty by it, but its not like I wont use it as Link, but preforming it, do you just walk forward and 1st hit jab, or JC and walk forward.
You can do it either way. Don't feel dirty; just remember that every other character in the game has some sort of dirty combo against Link.
11. Whats the best way to deal with campers (Falco, Snake), and should I as Link ever try to outcamp other camping characters (not that I like camping -_-)
Falco is probably in Link's top two worst matchups. You have no choice BUT to approach, and yet approaching screws you over too (CGs anyone?). If you can't CP a different character, use every mindgame available to you, and then some. Keep him at midrange, spam ONLY when you have the chance.
With Link vs Snake, spam away. The gale boomerang automatically blows up Snake's dsmash in any of its animations (hit or "pull"), arrows stop grenades dead in their tracks, and bombs can really mess up Snake.
Against TL, your spam games are pretty much equal. The key in that matchup is to be the one who DOESN'T approach the other.
Pit is like Falco, except less bad. Don't expect to be spamming much, but do it when you can.
Fox will make you approach as well, keep him at mid distance, much like Pit.
Thats all my major things, sorry its so long and all, but I really want to become a better Link, and not a scrub like so many out their.
I'm curious.
