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Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: Marth Character Review

Marth, the prince of Altea, is a veteran swordsman from the Fire Emblem series who has been a part of the Super Smash Bros. roster since Melee. In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Marth retains his signature style, focusing on precision and spacing to dominate his opponents. Below is a detailed review of Marth, covering his strengths, weaknesses, effective strategies, and matchups against other characters.

Strengths

1. Tipper Mechanic: Marth's most defining feature is his tipper mechanic, where the tip of his sword deals significantly more damage and knockback compared to the rest of the blade. This makes spacing crucial, as well-placed hits can KO opponents at surprisingly low percentages.

2. Range and Speed: Marth boasts considerable range with his sword attacks, allowing him to keep opponents at bay. Coupled with his swift movement speed, Marth can easily dance around opponents, applying pressure while remaining elusive.

3. Disjointed Hitboxes: As a sword fighter, Marth's attacks have disjointed hitboxes, meaning his sword can hit opponents without the risk of trading blows. This gives him an advantage in many neutral interactions.

4. Versatile Recovery: Marth's up-special, Dolphin Slash, is a quick and versatile recovery move that can be used both defensively and offensively. It has a fast startup, making it an effective out-of-shield option.

5. Strong Edgeguarding: With tools like his forward aerial, neutral aerial, and down tilt, Marth excels at edgeguarding. His ability to chase opponents offstage and secure KOs makes him a formidable opponent when it comes to ledge play.

Weaknesses

1. Reliance on Tipper: While the tipper mechanic is a strength, it is also a liability. Marth's damage output and KO potential heavily rely on landing precise hits. Misplacing attacks can lead to low damage and missed opportunities.

2. Lack of Kill Confirms: Unlike some other characters, Marth lacks reliable kill confirms. This can make closing out stocks challenging, especially against opponents who are adept at avoiding his tipper attacks.

3. Linear Recovery: Although Dolphin Slash is a quick recovery move, it is relatively linear and can be predictable. Skilled opponents can exploit this by intercepting Marth's recovery attempts.

4. Lightweight: Marth is relatively light, meaning he can be KO'd earlier than heavier characters. This requires players to be more cautious in their approach, especially against hard-hitting opponents.

Effective Strategies

1. Master Spacing: As Marth, mastering spacing is crucial. Practice positioning to consistently land tipper hits, maximizing damage and knockback. Utilize your range to control the pace of the match, keeping opponents at a comfortable distance.

2. Utilize Aerials: Marth's aerials, particularly his forward aerial and neutral aerial, are excellent tools for maintaining stage control and pressuring opponents. Use short hops and fast falls to weave aerials into your approach and retreat strategies.

3. Edgeguard Aggressively: Take advantage of Marth's edgeguarding capabilities. Use his long-reaching aerials and down tilt to keep opponents offstage. Don't hesitate to pursue opponents offstage, as Marth can recover quickly with Dolphin Slash.

4. Mix Up Approaches: Keep your opponents guessing by mixing up your approaches. Use a combination of dash dancing, shield drops, and aerial approaches to keep your gameplay unpredictable.

Matchups

1. Favorable Matchups: Marth generally performs well against characters who struggle against disjointed hitboxes or have poor range, such as Little Mac and Ganondorf. His ability to control space and edgeguard effectively gives him an advantage in these matchups.

2. Even Matchups: Against characters like Mario and Lucina, Marth's matchups are relatively even. Both sides have tools to counter each other, making these matchups skill-dependent.

3. Challenging Matchups: Characters with projectiles or those who can easily exploit Marth's recovery, like Pikachu or Samus, can pose a challenge. These matchups require Marth players to be patient and find openings to close the distance.

Conclusion

Marth remains a beloved character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, offering a rewarding experience for players who enjoy precision and elegant swordplay. His strengths lie in his ability to control space and punish opponents with powerful tipper attacks. However, mastering Marth requires dedication to spacing and an understanding of his weaknesses. With the right strategy and practice, Marth can be a formidable force on the battlefield.