Rango the Mercenary
The Mercenary
Most of the time, I see people using Aether two ways:
1) Recover low
2) After DThrow.
The second is a big no-no. You don't do this. Ever. You will flub it and you will get punished. Use Fair or Nair instead. Don't forget to switch to UThrow after 30% damage and make sure you gauge your enemy so you know when it will stop working or switch to airdodge bait into Uair. Remember!
Secondly, as for recovery, don't always go low. Watching Takun play with Ryo, I noticed how other players (Ryo included) will look for the perfect timing to spike you or ruin your recovery. If you're going to Aether back on stage, mix the timing around and throw them off. Do it in their face, just above the ledge, slightly below the ledge. MIX IT UP!
But to use it offensively sounds suicidal. Clearly, anyone good will airdodge it, or block it, and punish you right after. This isn't Fire Emblem, so you can't just throw that attack around. But there are ways to use it outside of recovery. Remember, this isn't Brawl. You have options.
One thing that has saved me from some juggle combos is to Aether after a Uair. I got juggled by a Rosalina, so I used Aether. I came down VERY quickly, snapped the ledge, and reset the neutral. You can't do this more than once or twice or you'll be eating halos up the ass. However, if your juggling opponent is directly below you, your blade may actually catch them into the drift of the attack and deliver ~20% damage right there, turning it right back into your favor.
The other is against enemies who corner you. You're not always going to be able to dash-grab someone while you're on the ledge. They will sense it coming. The same goes for approaching with an aerial or even a naked job. Do you sense offense coming? Get near the ledge, while facing the opponent, and AETHER! You've just thrown out a surprise attack that hits far enough in front of Ike to beat out anything, and if they're hit, there's ~20% damage. At the end of the attack, you snap the ledge or simply land. If they shielded, snap the ledge. You're safe from damage using a tactical retreat.
Since this is an offensive topic, I would also like to use this thread to further elaborate on a very clever tactic - Aethercide. At CEO, I saw Ryo deliberately use Aether well off-stage to suicide for the kill, landing him and Sol the victory in a doubles match. If you're a stock ahead, with proper timing and balls of steel, you can turn a match into your favor if you properly space and time your Aether for one-shot kills. However, I am no expert at using it, but it is certainly worth trying. It's similar to countering someone from the ledge, while they're on-stage, and dragging them down with Aether. Only that's a defensive tactic while this is flat-out chasing them off-stage and taking the plunge.
1) Recover low
2) After DThrow.
The second is a big no-no. You don't do this. Ever. You will flub it and you will get punished. Use Fair or Nair instead. Don't forget to switch to UThrow after 30% damage and make sure you gauge your enemy so you know when it will stop working or switch to airdodge bait into Uair. Remember!
Secondly, as for recovery, don't always go low. Watching Takun play with Ryo, I noticed how other players (Ryo included) will look for the perfect timing to spike you or ruin your recovery. If you're going to Aether back on stage, mix the timing around and throw them off. Do it in their face, just above the ledge, slightly below the ledge. MIX IT UP!
But to use it offensively sounds suicidal. Clearly, anyone good will airdodge it, or block it, and punish you right after. This isn't Fire Emblem, so you can't just throw that attack around. But there are ways to use it outside of recovery. Remember, this isn't Brawl. You have options.
One thing that has saved me from some juggle combos is to Aether after a Uair. I got juggled by a Rosalina, so I used Aether. I came down VERY quickly, snapped the ledge, and reset the neutral. You can't do this more than once or twice or you'll be eating halos up the ass. However, if your juggling opponent is directly below you, your blade may actually catch them into the drift of the attack and deliver ~20% damage right there, turning it right back into your favor.
The other is against enemies who corner you. You're not always going to be able to dash-grab someone while you're on the ledge. They will sense it coming. The same goes for approaching with an aerial or even a naked job. Do you sense offense coming? Get near the ledge, while facing the opponent, and AETHER! You've just thrown out a surprise attack that hits far enough in front of Ike to beat out anything, and if they're hit, there's ~20% damage. At the end of the attack, you snap the ledge or simply land. If they shielded, snap the ledge. You're safe from damage using a tactical retreat.
Since this is an offensive topic, I would also like to use this thread to further elaborate on a very clever tactic - Aethercide. At CEO, I saw Ryo deliberately use Aether well off-stage to suicide for the kill, landing him and Sol the victory in a doubles match. If you're a stock ahead, with proper timing and balls of steel, you can turn a match into your favor if you properly space and time your Aether for one-shot kills. However, I am no expert at using it, but it is certainly worth trying. It's similar to countering someone from the ledge, while they're on-stage, and dragging them down with Aether. Only that's a defensive tactic while this is flat-out chasing them off-stage and taking the plunge.
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