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Super Smash Bros. Melee in competitive play: Difference between revisions
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Towards 2016 and onward, many of the Five Gods stepped out of competitive ''Melee'' play. {{Sm|PPMD}} announced a hiatus in March 2016, citing numerous health issues. He would return to streaming ''Melee'' in 2019, though he is unsure of his future in bracket. {{Sm|Armada}} formally retired from ''Melee'' once again in September 2018. | Towards 2016 and onward, many of the Five Gods stepped out of competitive ''Melee'' play. {{Sm|PPMD}} announced a hiatus in March 2016, citing numerous health issues. He would return to streaming ''Melee'' in 2019, though he is unsure of his future in bracket. {{Sm|Armada}} formally retired from ''Melee'' once again in September 2018. | ||
The release of ''Ultimate'' saw many top ''Melee'' players give the new game a fair shot, as was done with ''Brawl'' and ''SSB4''. Unlike with those games, however, a significant portion of those ''Melee'' players continued to play ''Ultimate'' well after its release. All of the Five Gods, save for PPMD, and many other top Melee players have frequently live streamed the game and have entered | The release of ''Ultimate'' saw many top ''Melee'' players give the new game a fair shot, as was done with ''Brawl'' and ''SSB4''. Unlike with those games, however, a significant portion of those ''Melee'' players continued to play ''Ultimate'' well after its release. All of the Five Gods, save for PPMD, and many other top Melee players have frequently live streamed the game and have entered ''Ultimate'' singles. Mew2King took a hiatus from ''Melee'' to play ''Ultimate'' and did not compete in ''Melee'' singles for 8 months until {{Trn|The Big House 9}}. {{Sm|Leffen}} took a hiatus from ''Melee'' to focus on ''Ultimate'' and achieved moderate success in bracket, culminating in him winning {{Trn|DreamHack Winter 2019}}. He ultimately redirected his focus back to ''Melee'', citing issues with ''Ultimate''’s online service and his small local scene making it difficult for him to improve, among many other factors. After deciding to play ''Smash'' full-time, {{Sm|Hungrybox}} picked up {{SSBU|Jigglypuff}} and decided to commit more time to ''Ultimate'' while also commentating at several ''Ultimate'' tournaments. Several players have made good bracket runs as well: Wizzrobe impressively making top 8 for both ''Melee'' and ''Ultimate'' at {{Trn|Smash 'N' Splash 5}}; Plup had placed 17th at {{Trn|EVO 2019}} and The Big House 9; and {{Sm|Armada}} had placed 17th at {{Trn|Mainstage}} and The Big House 9. Still others have seen less success in the game but acknowledge its importance, with {{Sm|Mango}} commonly stating that ''Ultimate'' has made him a better ''Melee'' player. | ||
2018 and 2019 marked a period of Hungrybox’s dominance; he won 9 Melee tournaments in a row, starting from {{Trn|DreamHack Montreal 2018}} to {{Trn|Pound 2019}} before finally placing 2nd at {{Trn|Come to Papa 3}}. He would still continue to place well and win other majors, placing 1st at {{Trn|CEO 2019}}, {{Trn|Low Tier City 7}}, {{Trn|Shine 2019}}, and | 2018 and 2019 marked a period of Hungrybox’s dominance; he won 9 Melee tournaments in a row, starting from {{Trn|DreamHack Montreal 2018}} to {{Trn|Pound 2019}} before finally placing 2nd at {{Trn|Come to Papa 3}}. He would still continue to place well and win other majors, placing 1st at {{Trn|CEO 2019}}, {{Trn|Low Tier City 7}}, {{Trn|Shine 2019}}, and Mainstage. This has sparked renewed discussion on {{SSBM|Jigglypuff}}’s placement on the tier list, with Armada claiming that Jigglypuff is currently the best character in the game. Hungrybox’s dominance with what many perceived to be a highly defensive play style sparked discussion of a ledge grab limit, with one later being enforced at {{Trn|Super Smash Con 2019}} and Mainstage. | ||
Many new players would also go on to defeat the remaining gods and win majors, some with unconventional characters. At {{Trn|EVO 2018}}, {{Sm|Swedish Delight}} defeated {{Sm|Armada}} early in winners, and Armada would make an impressive losers run only to lose to {{Sm|Leffen}} in Grand Finals, marking Leffen’s first EVO win. {{Sm|Zain}} would later take 1st at {{Trn|Shine 2018}} over Mango and Hungrybox. Wizzrobe would later get his first supermajor victory at {{Trn|Smash 'N' Splash 5}} by double-eliminating Hungrybox. This marks the first ''Melee'' tournament won by a solo {{SSBM|Captain Falcon}} main since {{Sm|Isai}} at {{Trn|MOAST 3}} all the way back in 2005. {{Sm|Axe}} would also go on and take 1st at {{Trn|Smash Summit 8}} over the likes of Mango, Leffen, Hungrybox, Zain, and Wizzrobe. This marks Axe’s first supermajor win and the first ever major win by a solo {{SSBM|Pikachu}}. The rise of unorthodox characters has spurred renewed interest in Melee, and rise of many new challengers to the Gods has signaled the end of their reign. | Many new players would also go on to defeat the remaining gods and win majors, some with unconventional characters. At {{Trn|EVO 2018}}, {{Sm|Swedish Delight}} defeated {{Sm|Armada}} early in winners, and Armada would make an impressive losers run only to lose to {{Sm|Leffen}} in Grand Finals, marking Leffen’s first EVO win. {{Sm|Zain}} would later take 1st at {{Trn|Shine 2018}} over Mango and Hungrybox. Wizzrobe would later get his first supermajor victory at {{Trn|Smash 'N' Splash 5}} by double-eliminating Hungrybox. This marks the first ''Melee'' tournament won by a solo {{SSBM|Captain Falcon}} main since {{Sm|Isai}} at {{Trn|MOAST 3}} all the way back in 2005. {{Sm|Axe}} would also go on and take 1st at {{Trn|Smash Summit 8}} over the likes of Mango, Leffen, Hungrybox, Zain, and Wizzrobe. This marks Axe’s first supermajor win and the first ever major win by a solo {{SSBM|Pikachu}}. The rise of unorthodox characters has spurred renewed interest in Melee, and rise of many new challengers to the Gods has signaled the end of their reign. | ||