So is Ganon still sh*t?

[BlackViper415]

I've watched some gameplay videos, but I can't decide if Ganon has improved or not. He seems faster overall and hits harder, but at the same time, lagless thunderstomps are gone. He seems to have gotten mostly buffs, but I don't know if they were enough to save his character. Can someone who's actually played the game enlighten me a little bit?

 

[Billy Dha Kid]

Let's just say high level Ganandorfs are scarier than high level Grundys.

 

[Geoduck]

"F-tilt and Jab are a bit faster. You can't AC D-air unless we missed something. F-air and N-air has less landing lag. Flame Choke does a lot more damage and leads to D-tilt combos on EVERYONE afaik. Both D-tilt and F-tilt kill a bit earlier. Dash attack, D-air, and U-air iirc however are a bit weaker in this game. Smashes still wreck face when they hit you.

He's still not very good against zoning, and unfortunately his grab range didn't seem to improve noticeably, but ledge changes make him harder to gimp meaning you get to survive a pretty long time usually. He's still entirely about calculated risks for the most part, but he racks up damage faster than in Brawl when he does catch you meaning overall he has more opportunities to make big reads that can kill you really fast."- A2ZOMG

 

[haketh]

It's not even week 2

 

[shaowebb]

I've mained the Dorf since he was included. He is definitely faster. His heel kick is still utter shit though so avoid it like always even if it can shield break a full shield...you just can't hit it. Warlock Punch and his jumping Stomp both got faster and those are his highest damage moves so its good. They aren't free though so scout dat shit.

Best thing I noticed are the following.

1. Inherit changes to ledge game help him a lot. They can't gimp him as bad now that you can ledge steal if they hang on a ledge trying to gimp.
2. Fury is his biggest comeback factor now. As always the more damage you take the further you get knocked back...well its a double edged sword now. Ganondorf typically eats up a lot of damage getting in...well now the more damage you've taken the harder you hit and the more knockback you do. If you are at 70%-80% its the best buffs and Ganondorf can KO most anyone if he has taken that much damage now. He can run it back pretty fast.
3. Running shoulder no longer causes knockback but juggles. This is MAJOR. It means he has a run in combo starter that isn't easily whif punished like dashing flame choke combos. You can now run in, pop em up, up smash, jump up air for kills. One run in can turn a whole match around.
4. Flame choke now combos into more down tilt combos. This was Ganondorf's go to setup before and now it has no gaps in who it can be used on. Dash in with the choke and go nuts.
5. 3 air dodges and enhanced aerial priority for the Dorf. He can escape and he can jump in rather safely now. He needed this because before if you jumped first you typically got juggled off the edge too far to live unless they missed. Well...now its VERY easy to make them miss you or just plain stuff most moves.

OVERALL
Enhanced his airgame tools means he is better at jumpins than before and the system changes improved his ledge recovery and knockback factor. This coupled with his higher combo ability means he is much better than before though in this environment he is still likely a mid tier with heavy comeback factor at best. Most armor abusers will likely switch to Lil Mac or Bowser. Dorf is fun though and he is very VERY easy to start combos with. If you utilize air dodgin and dodge rolls well then he will be a blast for you.

 

[Fromundaman]

Yeah as others have said he's much better. His ability to combo off of choke and dash attack help a lot.

Also I believe he actually can AC Dair if he does a full jump (could be wrong).

That said why would you CP Dorf with Little Mac? Choke gives no fucks about armor and combines into Ftilt and Dtilt which fuck his day up.

 

[shaowebb]

I will say this...he got some SICK custom moves. Recently a tourney was held and customs were okay. If this becomes normal practice buy a fucking Ganondorf AMIIBO for this guy's customs.

His new version of Down B is beautiful for edgeguarding, allows follow ups after air or grounded versions and is a divekick with a lot of knockback. Also he has in place of his UP B a really really good double uppercut that can hit folks edgeguarding even when you try to use it to sweetspot recover. Additionally...sword on Warlock Punch is confirmed. Big ass range.

sigh...these should have outright replaced his old stuff IMO.

 

[THTB]

Played a few matches. Same playstyle, but much more effective due to mechanics and actual buffs.

He's really fun to play...it's hard to get in on characters, and he has to take damage basically, but it pays off due to the fact that he's one of the few characters that kills so early and doesn't die until late. Choke to DTilt is sweet.

I love what they did with him. He feels like a useable character this time around.

 

[Fromundaman]

So after playing as him more I realize he benefits HEAVILY from the general mechanic changes such as Rage and the increased landing lag in the gAME>


After playing against a competent Ganon player for a few hours though I am starting to realize that Flame Choke being techable MAY be the biggest nerf in the history of Smash.

 

[THTB]

So after playing as him more I realize he benefits HEAVILY from the general mechanic changes such as Rage and the increased landing lag in the gAME>


After playing against a competent Ganon player for a few hours though I am starting to realize that Flame Choke being techable MAY be the biggest nerf in the history of Smash.

Yeah, Flame Choke nerf suuuuuuuuuucks. I need to phase the move out of my habits.

 

[Fromundaman]

Yeah, Flame Choke nerf suuuuuuuuuucks. I need to phase the move out of my habits.

It's still a decent move TBH since it discourages just Perfect Shielding Ganon's entire moveset, but it does suck that you now have to guess even more ways to correctly get a tech chase.