Super Smash Bros. Brawl/Techniques and Strategies

This page will list most of the universal techniques available to each character, as well as provide overall strategies to help readers improve.

Short Hop
A feature programmed into the game, yet surprisingly not well-known is the short hop. By releasing the jump button after pressing it before the character leaves the ground, he will jump lower than normal. This technique is usually used to attack grounded opponents with aerials.

Fast Fall
By pressing down in the air, you will fall faster. This is useful if you need to get back to the ground fast.

Tech
After getting hit by a strong attack and falling back to the ground, you will usually end up lying on the floor, needing a little time to get back up. By pressing the Shield button just before touching the ground, your character will flip upright, allowing you to fight instantly. It is not the best decision to always tech, sometimes not teching might help you be more unpredictable.

DI
DI, short for directional influence, refers to holding the control stick to a direction when a character is sent flying that enables players to live longer. Usually, the direction that need to be held is perpendicular to the direction of knockback.

SDI
Short for smash directional influence, SDI is a similar technique to DI. During an attacks hitlag, pressing the control stick during this time will shift your direction a little. This technique is mainly used to shift yourself further away from a blastzone and helps you escape multi-hit moves.

Momentum canceling
Momentum canceling is another technique that helps you survive longer. When being sent flying, immediately fastfall and perform your characters fastest aerial to negate a little knockback. Some moves can also negate knockback completely, such as Donkey Kong's Spinning Kong and Mr. Game & Watch's not full Oil Panic. This technique, along with employing DI, will help you live much longer than you normally would.

Dashing Shield
You can perform a dashing shield by pressing the shield button while dashing. (Be careful to press it before you release the control stick.) Your character will slide a little while shielding. This is good for rushing some characters and punishing them afterwards with a shield grab or an OOS (out of shield) option. This technique makes it easier to approach characters with long attack ranges like Marth or Metaknight. Don't be predictable with this, especially against characters with long grab ranges like Link, Samus, and King Dedede.

Glide Tossing
Glide Tossing is an interesting technique that can only be performed while holding an item. If you tap the C-Stick or second control stick in any direction while sidestepping, you will toss the item while gliding a short distance, similar to a wavedash. The effect is more obvious for characters with long sidesteps, such as Zero Suit Samus. Using this technique lets you advance and retreat while tossing an item at your opponents, which will usually prevent them from approaching and punishing the endlag of your sidesteps.

Double Wiimote
Double Wiimoting is basically getting 2 wii remotes to control and play with 2 characters at a time. (Incase you have trouble playing with 2 remotes at one time, try taping the additional wii remote on top of the other as this will keep them stable like a single controller and not wobbly. One should be facing you as if playing with one remote and the back of the other is taped on top of the other in the same position [ D pad lines up with D pad on right side] The D pad of the top controller should be somewhat like a new L-Button as is on a GameCube controller or so). This is a very complicated strategy for you have to focus on the movements of both characters at one time. You must also keep in mind which controller is controlling which character! It helps to get 2 of the same characters and keep them together so moves won't get confused until you increase your skill. You will also notice if you want to shield that it will not be as convient as a single controller with standard configuration but with 2 characters one is able to make up for a missed attack or defense of another.(Note that at first this is a very fatiguing position for your left index finger but you will soon develop strength.( For those who want a challenge or those who simply can't choose 1 character.)