Shellshifting

Shellshifting or "SSing" is an advanced technique for Squirtle users in Super Smash Bros Brawl. It gives Squirtle's ground movement unlimited possibilities just like a wavedash. There are many applications to SSing that greatly improves Squirtle's offense as well as his defense.

How To Shellshift

SSing is actually quite easy to get down but applying it is where the skill comes into play. To do a SS just dash in any direction and quickly press the opposite direction. The result is that sSuirtle slides backwards without any lag to follow up with an attack. The longer you hold the opposite direction the longer the SS and by just lightly tapping it you can stall yourself momentarily. [1]

Applications

Standard Attack And Aerials

Coming out of SSing you can do virtually every attack and jump so even short hopped aerials are possible. 3 very prominent attacks out of SSing are Squirtle's standard A natural combo, Shffl fair and shffl nair. All three come out very quick and have good knockback. The shffl fair can be combined with SSing to produce the wall of pain affect.

Shellshift Dancing

Shellshift Dancing or SSD, sometimes called shell dancing can be used for mind games as well as making shellshifting very versatile. To SSD you must first do a regular SS and as Squirtle is coming out of his shell press the opposite direction. This will cause Squirtle to do another SS in opposite direction. Just repeat this and Squirtle will be sliding back and forth in his shell just slightly coming out each time. This works best if you hold each direction you shift in until it is time to shift again.

Shellshift to Grab/Dash Attack

Two attacks that are especially good are Shellshift Grab or shift grab which makes Squirtle's grab ranges massive(one third of Final Dest.) and shellshift dash attack or just shift attack which also adds distance to Squirtle's dash a attack. Simply press either A and the direction you are shifting to do a shift attack or press grab out of a SS to do a shift grab.

Pump Slide

The Shellshift to Pump Slide or SSPS is the greatest application of the shellshift technique and is very difficult to pull off perfectly. It allows Squirtle to slide across a tremendous distance(almost all of Final Destination) an do his up smash attack "Hydro Pump". To do a SSPS first do a complete SS(the longest possible slide you can get) then up smash. If done incorrectly Squirtle will just slide little distance and do his up smash. If done right there are two ways of using SSPS to your advantage, one by releasing up smash very quickly which will result in Hydro Pump staying in about the middle of the huge distance covered by the PS while Squirtle slides past Hydro pump with great speed, and two by Holding the up smash until the end of the PS which results in a very strong up smash attack.