Are you a Sheik main getting started on Smash Box? Or are you looking for a quick and dirty reference guide on how to ninja? This is the guide for you! Fast and furious, here is a Tech Skill Overview of Sheik!
We'll be demonstrating using this awesome layout! For more information on how to make your own custom button layout, click here!
JC Grab
Dash (Analog Forward) -> Jump (Y) -> Grab (Z)
This is a very quick motion, and you only have 3 frames to cancel your Jump into Grab. The buttons are right next to each other on this button layout, making this technique as easy and convenient as possible!
You can also alternatively perform JC Grab with Analog Up Tap Jump. Both feel good, but I recommend Y Jump into Z Grab since they are literally next to each other!Boost Grab
Dash (Analog Forward) -> Dash Attack (A) -> Grab (Z)
We are cancelling a Dash Attack into a Grab before the attack comes out to boost our distance! This technique has a specific timing. Too fast and you will not get much boost distance. Too slow and you will not cancel your Dash Attack into Grab.
TIP: Hit the speaker icon on the GIF above and listen to the rhythm of how I press A into Z!Long Wave Dash
Jump (Y), Y1 Modifier + Down-Forward (or Down-Back) -> Air Dodge (R)
The Y1 Tilt Modifier is handled by your Left Thumb. Make sure your Smash Box is in Tilt Mode (not D-pad Mode): The top left switch has two positions: Line "|" position makes your Left Thumb buttons a D-Pad; Circle "O" position makes the Left Thumb buttons different Tilt Modifiers.
All of the Tilt Modifiers give you a different Wave Dash angle; Y1 is the most shallow angle! It is important to press Y1 AFTER you press Jump or you will accidentally Dash or Roll (out of shield). You will naturally begin to fit it snugly between the Jump and Air Dodge with some practice!
Sheik has the fastest tier of jump squat in Melee! You are going to want to press Air Dodge on the 4th frame. To better get this timing down, click the speaker icon on the video above and really get a rhythm for what that timing sounds like. Arcade buttons will naturally help you get your wave dash into a very friendly and comfortable motion.Main Recovery Angles
Up + B, then hold a diagonal analog direction + Tilt Modifier
In this case we are holding Up + Forward for our diagonal angle. By adding any of the four Left Thumb Tilt Modifiers, we are able to get a high amount of recovery angles for most all situations!
Each thumb button represents a different angle:Y1 (D-Pad Up): Shallowest and furthest reaching recovery angle.
Y2 (D-Pad Right): Shallow recovery angle.
None: The standard 45° recovery angle.
X2 (D-Pad Down): Steep recovery angle.
X1 (D-Pad Left): Steepest recovery angle.
TIP: You have access to the entire Smash Box Designer Software to customize a near infinite amount of angle possibilities! Make your own profile and see what kind of crazy angle applications you can find! Download the Smash Box Designer Software here.
The best feature of recovery angles using the Tilt Modifiers is that they are the exact same angles every time you press them. That means if you know what buttons you are pressing, you know exactly what angle you are getting -- NO FLUBS!X1 Turnaround Needle Cancel
Jump (X), Analog Back + Tilt Modifier X1 -> Special (Hold B), Needle Cancel (L)
We are using a tilt method to get our Neutral B Needles. X1 Modifier (D-pad Left) is not just for steep recovery angles!
X1, TILT, and TILT2 all are a very slow walk speed -- slow enough to not trip a Side B! Whichever direction we are holding, we will perform a Neutral B facing that direction.
I am using X1 in this case because it is easier to coordinate my left hand Tilt Modifiers with the Analog stick. This is also the method I use for Fox Turnaround Lasers.
Once again, it is always a good idea for safety to press the Tilt Modifier FIRST before hitting the Analog Direction or B Special. If you aim to hit them all at once -- while very doable -- you are putting yourself at risk over time. Always sneak in safety nets wherever possible! The last thing you want to happen is the Side B Chain coming out when you are trying to Needle Cancel. :P
Charging the Needle is pretty easy timing, and since we are holding down the B button, it is easier to cancel using the L button on your Pinky (rather than reaching over to the R Button). Turn the volume on the video above to help get an idea of the timing for the Needle cancel, and if need be watch in slow motion!Dashing Turnaround Needle Cancel
Dash -> Jump (X), Analog Back + Tilt Modifier X1 -> Special (Hold B), Needle Cancel (L)
This is the exact same thing only we are doing it out of a Dash! This is where using X1 Tilt Modifier with your Left Thumb (rather than TILT or TILT2 with our Right) really starts to shine, because our Right Hand is Jumping into Needles almost immediately out of our squat jump. Each hand is doing its task!Cactuar Dash
Run (hold Forward)
Cancel (tap Down + Back)
Cactuar Dash (release to Neutral and quickly Forward Dash into Back Dash)
There are a lot of inputs going on here in a very quick motion:After we Run Cancel we let go of the Analog Buttons and do a quick Forward Dash into a Back Dash. The game will not allow you to Back Dash right away from your crouch until the slide ends, so we need to perform a quick Dash Dance from Forward to Back!
It is also very practical to Cactuar Dash without SOCDs since it is such a rapid input:
Cactuar Dash (without SOCDs):
Run (hold Forward)
Cancel (release Forward and tap Down)
Cactuar Dash (release Down and quickly Forward Dash into Back Dash)
I personally prefer the SOCD method since I use it with everything else, but both ways work great! Without SOCDs it is much more of a piano motion.
TIP: For more information on what you can do out of Run, and the techniques leading up to Cactuar Dash, follow this link to the SSBM Run Cancel Guide!
I would say this is a pretty good list of things to train up your Sheik! All the references are here, just knock them out one after the other... and you will be TU TU TU GOOD in no time!
Happy Training!-Hit Box Dustin
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