Kyu Puff
Smash Champion
I'll try to keep it in an organized fashion like Wobbles. If I misnamed or incorrectly credited a de-sync, feel free to correct me.Wobbles the Phoenix said:Excellent. If you have questions about how to perform a de-sync, post here. If you find a new de-sync, post here or link to a place it's been mentioned. If you find a nuance to an old de-sync that I do not cover in this post, put that information here and I can update. If I happen to post a complete and utter falsehood, then we'll pretend it's true so I don't feel bad. Or you can post here and I'll eliminate it.
This also can be a place to post weird little tidbits about Nana's AI.
I. De-Syncs
First, a definition. De-synching is the action of seperately controlling the Ice Climbers (i.e., you control both Popo and Nana at different times, rather than both at the same time). Normally, when you input a move, Popo will respond, and Nana will respond to the same move a few frames after. When you de-sync, you widen that gap so that you can input a move for Popo, then input a move for Nana at a different time.
Instead of just shooting an Ice Block, you can have Popo shoot an Ice Block, then Nana shoot an Ice Block, then Popo, and so on. You can also input different controls for both of them. For example, you can have Popo f-smash, followed by Nana Ice Block, followed by Popo jumping Blizzard, and so on.
To stay de-synched, you must time their moves so that both Ice Climbers are always occupied. By this, I mean that if Popo is shooting an Ice Block, to stay desynched, you must input another move before Popo recovers from the animation lag. An elementary way to do this is by rhythmically tapping a button, such as B, so that they maintain an equal interval of time between every move.
If you don't understand this definition, I recommend watching these videos. The first is a guide to de-synching in Melee - keep in mind that most of the de-syncs demonstrated in that video are not in Brawl. The second is a Brawl match with lots of effective de-synching.
The following are the known ways to de-sync in Brawl.
1: Buffer De-Sync. Perform any move, other than Belay or Squall Hammer, and near the end of the duration, buffer a quick dash in the opposite direction. You must let go of the control stick before the lag ends. It's a little easier to pull off than the Turnaround De-Sync, but the principle is the same. When you land, Nana will dash in that direction, and Popo will only turn around, allowing you to de-sync.
Credit: Speedsk8er found that it could be done for aerials on 03-17-2008, on 3-31-2008, I built on it, finding that it indeed worked with other moves.
2: Blonde Roll. Press L and Back simulaneously: Popo rolls backwards, and Nana rolls in the wrong direction.
Credit: Som posted this on 02-25-2008.
3: Dash-Dance De-Sync. Simply Dash-Dance and input a command, and only Popo will react. Nana can't pivot or dash-dance, and will humorously slide around in confusion.
Credit: Existed in Melee, confirmed by OoNoiRoO on 02-02-2008.
4: Dash/Smash De-Sync. Dash in the direction opposite to where you're facing, and hit A. You should have Popo charge a smash, and Nana dash attack. If they both charge a smash, you hit A too quickly, if they both dash attack, you hit A too slowly.
Credit: Also existed in Melee, confirmed by me on 02-16-2008.
5: D-Tilt De-Sync. D-Tilt, hold diagonally down in the opposite direction, then input a move. Nana will act alone. This De-Sync is interesting because it doesn't have to connect with an opponent, but the number of moves you can de-sync with are very limited (d-tilt, followed by Squall Hammer, d-tilt, f-tilt, f-smash, or jab if I recall correctly).
Credit: Discovered by VirtualVoid on 03-31-2008.
6: Grab De-Sync. The Ice Climbers de-sync when you grab. You can c-stick smashes, causing Popo to headbutt and Nana to smash. C-stick + Z to have Popo headbutt and Nana charge a smash. You can also control Nana during a throw, allowing you to combo, or to chain grab. For example, d-throw to f-air (Nana) chains at low percentages.
Credit: Classic de-sync from Melee, first noted by Wobbles the Phoenix on 02-04-2008.
7: Hit De-Sync. In Brawl, you can de-sync after any A-button move that connects with an opponent. For any aerial sans b-air, fastfall so that you land during the animation, and input a command while the lag is ending. For b-air, simply hit an opponent, and hold the command near the end of the animation. For ground attacks, wait until the animation is finishing, and input a move for Nana near the end.
Credit: Smasher89 and Speedsk8er both discovered this independently, and I cracked it 03-17-2008, and then RE-cracked it 03-30-2008.
8: Initial Dash De-Sync. Jam the control stick in the direction opposite to where you're facing, let go, and towards the end of the dash, input Blizzard, Ice Block, or Shield + any move. Only Nana responds at first, so she Blizzards, Ice Blocks, or Shields alone, leaving Popo to do anything. The timing on this is tricky, but in my opinion worth learning.
Credit: Discovered by me on 02-16-2008. I tested this in Melee and found out that this was possible, but harder to do and less useful because Ice Block came out slower.
9: Ledge/Belay De-Sync. Belay tether to the edge. Nana's invincibility lasts for much longer, allowing Popo alone to get onto the stage. Easy way to set up a floating edgeguard. Alternatively, you can drop down and then jump, causing Nana to get up from the ledge, and Popo to re-grab it.
Credit: Found by me on 03-09-2008.
10: Pivot A. The Pivot De-Sync is one of the fastest and I recommend learning it. Nana can't pivot, and will run backwards whenever you attempt to do so. Pivoting into a jab, tilt, or smash (sans u-smash) will cause Popo to pivot the move, and Nana to dash attack in front of you.
Credit: Existed in Melee, first thing I tried in Brawl, confirmed by me on 02-16-2008.
11: Pivot B. Pivoting Blizzard or Ice Block results in Popo following your command, and Nana free to follow up with any move. It is exactly like "Pivot A", but Nana doesn't dash attack. A common use for this is Pivoted Ice Block to short-hopped Blizzard, to short-hopped Blizzard, and so on.
Credit: Existed in Melee, first thing I tried in Brawl, confirmed by me on 02-16-2008.
12: Pivot to the Ledge. If you stand right next to the ledge, dash towards the ledge, and immediately pivot away, Nana will slide onto the ledge. A quick way to have only Nana edgehog. The pivot has to be frame perfect, or at least close to it.
Credit: Me on 03-31-2008.
13: Platform Fall De-Sync. Right before landing on a platform, press down. Popo drops through the platform, and Nana lands on it.
Credit: Discovered by Som on 02/25/2008.
14: Run/Roll De-Sync. Dash, and almost immediately hit L/R. Popo should roll, leaving Nana free to de-sync.
Credit: Added by me on 03-30-2008.
15: SHFF De-Sync. Short-hop, fastfall, and Popo lands a moment before Nana. Timing is hard, but you can input a move so that either Popo or Nana does it, but not both. For example, as Popo lands, if you input Blizzard, only Nana will do it. However, if you input an f-smash, Popo will smash and Nana will not.
Credit: Discovered by me on 03-21-2008.
16: Start De-Sync. Pause the game with Start, press A to exit the pause window, and immediately let go of A. Only Nana will jab, much like 13 (below). Disruptive in a real game, but can be used online for an instant desynch.
Credit: slacker! found this on 03-13-2008.
17: Starting De-Sync. The Ice Climbers begin the match de-synced. Input something (for example, Ice Block) at the beginning of the match, and let go after the game begins. Nana will Ice Block, Popo won't.
Credit: Was in Melee, confirmed by Chu Dat at Pound 3 on 02-02-2008.
18: Squall De-Sync. Over-B, and input a move at the end of the Squall Hammer animation. If timed correctly, only Nana should respond. Mac2942 noticed that there is a period of synchronization before you can de-sync, you can hold it by spamming Ice Blocks in opposite directions or taunting, and finally de-sync by inputting a move.
Credit: Discovered by KazenoZ, 03-08-2008.
19: Tilt De-Sync. By tilting the control stick in a diagonal direction and hitting A simultaneously, it is possible to have Popo and Nana perform different tilts. Because the tilts have different durations, you can de-sync afterwards.
Credit: Discovered by Som on 02-25-2008.
20: Tipper De-Sync. If you space correctly, you can have only Popo hit the opponent with a move such as f-tilt. Nana, who doesn't suffer hitlag, will be active before Popo.
Credit: Speedsk8er in Melee.
21: Trip De-Sync. Sometimes, one Ice Climber will randomly trip. If this happens, although annoying, you can use it to de-sync while the other Climber stands up.
Credit: Wobbles the Phoenix found this on 02-08-2008.
22: Turnaround De-Sync. By lightly flicking the opposite direction, Popo will turn around, and Nana will do a short forward dash. To understand what I mean, think the second controller motion in a Pivot.
Credit: Good de-sync discovered by Speedsk8er in Melee (correct me if I'm wrong), confirmed by me, 03-17-2008.
23: Z-Roll De-Sync. Press Z and Back at the same time. Popo rolls backwards and Nana grabs. This is an easy de-sync to learn.
Credit: Discovered by Som on 02-25-2008, independly discovered and described by KazenoZ.
II. AI/Nana oddities
<to be completed>
I believe that wraps it up for what we've found so far. AI tidbits and perhaps CG info will come later. If you have a better suggestion for the format of this thread, suggest away.
I'd also like to conduct a poll. Select one.
De-sync/De-Sync (De-yncing)
Desynch (Desynching)
Desync (Desyncing)
Da-sink (Yeah, don't actually choose this one.)
D-SNK?
???