Editing Counter (matchup)

In relative terms, a '''counter''' is a character that is commonly agreed by the [[community]] to be the "correct" character to use against another specific character, as they have tools that make beating said other character relatively easy. [[Matchup]]s are typically measured in a ratio to determine counters. Players often switch to a counter when [[counterpick]]ing.

A '''hard counter''' is when a character holds a strong advantage against another. Many multiplayer games are designed around characters being hard counters to each other, though the developers of the ''Smash'' series have never made this conscious effort. The concept of the hard counter is relative; in ''Melee'', for instance, {{SSBM|Peach}} is often said to be a hard counter to the {{SSBM|Ice Climbers}}. Thus, Peach '''counters''' the Ice Climbers. An example in ''Brawl'' is that the {{SSBB|Ice Climbers}} are a hard counter to {{SSBB|Ganondorf}}. A hard counter usually has a combination of the following elements, such as an infinite or "zero-death" (from zero damage to death) [[combo]] or [[chain throw]], an especially high imbalance in the characters' abilities, the ability of one character being able to KO the countered character considerably early or [[gimp]] them with considerable ease, and the inability for the countered character to [[approach]] effectively, that makes the match extremely difficult for the countered character. In terms of matchup ratios, a hard counter is usually considered to be 35-65 or worse.

===Examples of hard counters in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' games===

A '''soft counter''' indicates a matchup that favors one character noticeably, but only slightly. What makes a character a soft counter, as well as the difference between a hard and soft counter, is somewhat subjective. The main qualifier for a character to be a soft counter is the circumstances in which they excel being more niche or otherwise less effective. In terms of numbers, soft counters are usually 55-45 or 60-40 matchups. In ''Melee'' for instance, {{SSBM|Fox}} can be said to soft counter {{SSBM|Sheik}}, though victory while playing as Fox is far from guaranteed. In ''Brawl'', {{SSBB|Snake}} can be said to be a soft counter to {{SSBB|Diddy Kong}}, though only if the Snake player has close to perfect [[spacing]]. These matchups also tend to change depending on the stage. As with the {{SSBB|Meta Knight}} versus Snake matchup, it is routinely said that Meta Knight only has a slight advantage on [[Halberd]] due to its low ceiling, while Meta Knight has a large advantage on [[Brinstar]] due to the aerial based fighting it supports. Regarding matchups in which {{SSBB|Marth}} soft counters his opponent, many of these matchups are more in his favor on [[Battlefield]]. Most soft counters are defined as being soft counters on the [[starter stage]]s, as there is usually a slightly greater chance of the advantageous character winning on the starter stage.