Stage spike
A stage spike is a type of KO that refers to when one is knocked against part of the stage and falls straight down in a similar fashion to a meteor smash. Stage spikes can be used as an edge-guarding technique or as a guard break technique, depending on who is doing the stage spike. One example is Marth using his Dolphin Slash below the stage to knock a recovering opponent into the stage and kill them. This can be teched out of, but it's very difficult to do so. Another example is Captain Falcon's Falcon Dive, it is safer to use since Captain Falcon can use the move again after he succesfully grabs an opponent. A stage spike can also be performed by some moves on opponents who edgehog.
Applications
Stage spikes are mostly useful for characters with no true meteor smashes (for instance, Meta Knight and Squirtle). However, they are great for all characters. For instance, Marth has two meteor smashes. In the above example, the opponent would almost certainly be above or to the side of Marth, so his Down aerial is useless as a meteor smash. By using the Dolphin Slash, he knocks the opponent up and into the bottom of the stage, causing them to bounce off and die as if they were meteor smashed, as well as allowing Marth to recover. Donkey Kong also has a technique which is carry an opponent and then toss him or her there with his throws.
Self stage spiking
Self stage spiking is basically an unfortunate, failed recovery move. It's when the player tries to recover, but misses the ledge, and instead ends up hitting part of the stage, bouncing off, and then falling down as if they were spiked. Ness' and Lucas' PK Thunder is an example of self stage spiking.
Stages that stage spike
Some stages have some a part that may stage spike. A few of them are:
- The lips of Final Destination.
- The lips of Battlefield.
- The lips of Smashville.
- The lowest platform of Temple if hit underneath. Also, the ceiling of the area entirely beneath the Temple.
- The bottom of the wing on the bottom right of Corneria.
- Occasionally, underneath Frigate Orpheon's symmetrical side.
- The head of the boat in Pirate Ship, though the stage itself has a meteor smash hitbox, as opposed to simply having a sloped wall condusive to stage spikes.
- The sides of Spear Pillar if hit underneath. However it is not easy to pull off.
- The underside of the center platform of Great Bay.
- The bottom of the capsule that appears during the giant lava wave on Norfair.
- The bottom of some platforms on New Pork City
