How to use Samus Effectively in Super Smash Bros. Melee

Basics

• 1

  As with many characters, it's key to learn all of the moves that come out of both the A and B buttons. While you'll want to stay away from the main fighting as much as possible, you'll want to be able to fight out of a tight situation or capitalize on a closer opponents weakness when the opportunity arises. Go into training and get used to all of her melee moves out of the A button, and get used to manipulating her ranged attacks out of the B button.

• 2

  Practice your aim. You'll need to be able to time it so that the charged beam or your missiles can nail an opponent from across the screen at their weakest, and least expected, moment. Use Samus in single player mode and play around with the charged shot until you know its flight speed and size. Use both the hard hitting missiles (pressing the control stick forward and the B button at the same time) and homing missiles (angling the control stick forward a bit and pressing B) to disrupt and damage your opponent.

• 3

  Know when to use the bombs and screw attack. Don't spam them, but you can use the screw attack to leap through situations in which you are surrounded, and use a trail of bombs to keep anyone from attacking you until you are too far away.

• 4

  Learn to watch the whole battlefield. Keep an eye on other opponents, and watch for your opening when they are too busy dodging someone else's attacks.

Advanced Moves

• 5

  Samus isn't helpless up close. Use her flame attacks to disrupt your opponent, and string together combo's with her lighter hitting moves. Wait for when you've racked up the damage on your opponent and pull out a powerful charged shot or a Smash Attack. Use this to finish off the last opponent left on the battlefield to end the match.

• 6

  You can use the grapple beam (by pressing Z or R(L) and A together) to get back on the stage. Shoot it to the ledge if you just can't quite make that jump.

• 7

  You can also use the bomb jump to float down back into the fray. If you get the timing just right, you can even bounce off of a pattern of bombs like in other Metroid games. You can use this to recover from even underneath the stage.