Editing Neutral game

Every game starts out in what can be considered a neutral position: a medium distance away from each other relative to the size of the stage. This theoretically means that no character starts a game with a positional advantage. However, this is not always the case in practice. Some characters will spawn in the exact position they want to be at, putting them at an advantage. This can come down to the size and shape of the stage and what port a [[controller]] is plugged into depending on the game.  

The neutral game can be looked at as a [https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1AJqWdlRkZDeYU8KrhcJuIiXCqO09xWO9byR1W5xGLSc/edit?usp=sharing triangle of sorts], like Rock, Paper, Scissors, where each vertex overrides another. Grabbing goes through shielding, [[Shield]]s can block attacks and leave opportunities to punish afterward, and regular attacks can outprioritize grabs due to their generally superior range and speed. The strategy comes in trying to anticipate what the opponent will do next and planning around it. This way of looking at the neutral game is a bit reductive, however; players generally have more than 3 options available to them (such as moving out of the way if they feel they are too close to the opponent, or using different attacks at a time). Each attribute also, despite naturally having an advantage over the second and a disadvantage over the third, does not mean a character that excels in that one attribute will automatically win or lose a specific matchup, as the skill of the individual player is still the ultimate deciding factor.

The goal is not to stay in a neutral position forever, as the game would grind to a halt and go to a [[time out]]. Both players are looking to "win" the neutral game by whatever means they deem fit. A common way to win the neutral game is to get around the opponent and into a positional advantage, i.e. wherever a character's attacks are the most effective. Characters with fast attacks and good grabs would want to be as close to the opponent as possible. Characters good at zoning and setting traps would want to get as far away as possible. Characters with long and disjointed attacks would want to be just far enough away to hit their opponent but they can't hit back. Another way is to force or trick the opponent into making a mistake or risky action, then capitalizing off this bait with a strong [[punish]]. There are also some characters that excel in a neutral position depending on the [[matchup]], such as those with strong [[projectile]]s may be used to pressure the enemy into making a move. The stage also plays a factor into this strategy, as characters can exploit certain geography and [[stage hazard]]s to make winning the neutral game easier.

The neutral game is an integral part of any match, with professional players essentially being required to master its intricacies. Knowing which characters excel at which ranges and how to get into said ranges is extremely important in a competitive setting, as putting oneself at a disadvantage without a solid gameplan is never a good idea. There are many ways to win the neutral game; one common technique is to throw out quick and safe moves to entice the opponent into making a gambit, sometimes doing something slightly more committal as a bait for the same purpose. If the opponent makes a big play but misses, they hand over a prime opportunity to punish them. Another strategy is to gradually encroach into their side of the stage, restricting their options and eventually forcing them to make a risky play. After conditioning the opponent like this for a while, a player can surprise said opponent by being immediately aggressive and bypassing the neutral game entirely to catch them off guard. Depending on the character, a player can also simply run away until they are far enough away to start their zoning. However, all of these strategies have the inherent risk of backfiring if the opponent anticipates them and counters, and sometimes turns the tables by using these very strategies for their own purposes.