Team up and pummel the competition!
3-on-1 | 2-on-1 | 2-on-2 | 2-on-1-on-1
All team battle strategies are for team attack off with a timed game. They are also focused on the player who is outnumbered. In a 3-on-1 the strategies are geared toward the single player and not the team of three. Strategies for team attack on, a stock game and for the team with the numbers (the team of three in a 3-on-1), are located below the main strategies unless otherwise noted.
3-on-1
This team battle is a true test of skill. If you're the one, keep moving! You'll have three opponents who will ignore each other and concentrate all of their efforts on killing you. If you get caught by one of them, the other two will be on their way to help out.
Your best strategy of attack would be to isolate each opponent and chip away at their energy until you can KO them with a single power hit. When the other two opponents get close, maneuver past them and get over to the opposite side of the stage. Once the first one catches you, start chipping away again.
Use your projectiles to keep them at bay and allow for you to make some distance on the larger stages. On smaller stages, this technique will seem like a hit and run, but it is necessary. If you get trapped by more than one opponent your shield be very ineffective. You're best course of action is to escape to the other side of the stage.
Remember that you can only hold one item at a time. If multiple beam swords appear, keep one and throw the rest off the playing area. You'll have a much greater advantage if you're the only one with a weapon. If a motion sensor bomb appears, pick it up immediately and throw it anywhere. Even if you have a weapon already. Drop that, take care of the bomb, then pick it up again.
While you may think rolling or dodging will help you out in a 3-on-1 match, sometimes that is not the case. You’re vulnerable to attack before and after a roll, and just as you’re coming out of a dodge. While you may avoid the attack of one opponent, the other two will have a field day. If you have isolated one opponent, then rolling and dodging will be effective as there’s no one else to hit you. However, don’t use it as a main defensive technique when you’re surrounded by opponents.
2-on-1
This is very similar to a 3-on-1 battle except that you only have two opponents to worry about instead of three. In this situation, concentrate on the weaker of the two opponents and use the same method as you would in a 3-on-1 match.
Isolate one of the opponents and chip away at their energy until you can KO them with a single power hit. It will be easier if you isolate the weaker opponent, however do not ignore the other player. When both opponents get close to you, maneuver past them and get over to the opposite side of the stage. Once the first one catches you, start chipping away again. On smaller stages this technique will seem like a hit and run, but it is necessary. If you get trapped by the two opponents your shield won't do you much good.
You're best course of action is to escape to the other side of the stage. Once you've KO’d one of the opponents, the match now becomes 1-on-1 for a short period of time. Use this to your advantage by doing as much damage to the remaining opponent as possible. If the stage is large enough, you may even be able to have them alternate. You KO one, and while the other is one his way back, you KO the remaining opponent.
2-on-2
In this match it's all about team work. Never leave your partner! If your two opponents get separated, both of you should concentrate on double teaming one of the opponents. Remember that even with team attack off, bombs and mines will still hurt your team mate. It is also very important to keep an eye on both of your opponents. If you're double teaming one, the other will most likely be doing everything they can to get back into the action and help his teammate. Concentrate all of your efforts on killing the isolated opponent. When the other starts to get close, one of you should break off the attack and keep the other opponent from interrupting.
If your opponents are acting as a team, fight like you normally would and look for an opening in the other opponent. Once you see that opening, leave the one you're attacking and hit the other with a power hit or Smash Attack. The one you're attacking will not be expecting this tactic and you may even save your partner.
2-on-1-on-1
This is a very unique battle in which it's one team against two solo players. If you are the team, simply follow the 2-on-2 strategies. Never leave your opponent, and concentrate on double teaming one of the solo players. It should be a lot easier to double team in this match because your two opponents will not be teammates. They will be after your team, but also after each other. Use this to your advantage and don't attack both of them together unless you absolutely have to. Watch out for one of the solo players trying to steal a kill if the other solo player is high in damage. If you see one of them on his way over to steal, one of you should break off your attack and stop the remaining opponent from interrupting.
Team vs. 1
When playing a 3-on-1 or 2-on-1 match as the team instead of the solo player, the strategy is very simple. Attack in groups at all times. Do not let yourselves get separated from each other. If you can surround your opponent and double or triple team them, your chances of winning will be greatly increased. Work as a team and have one player set your opponent up, while the other two prepare a power hit or Smash Attack.
Stock
If you're playing stock, your strategy should change somewhat from when you are playing a timed game. With a limited amount of lives, it now becomes very important that you keep yourself alive as long as possible. Use the same strategies as you would in a 3-on-1, 2-on-1 or 2-on-1-on-1 match, except make it a point to attack only the weakest opponent unless you absolutely must attack one of your other opponents. If you can KO the weakest opponent first, that will lessen your opponents power as they will have one less partner. This is especially true in a 2-on-1 match because it is now a 1-on-1 game.
In a 3-on-1 match, after you've KO’d the first opponent, go after the next weakest. The best player on the other team will more than likely be looking for an opening to land a power hit while you're dealing with his teammates. Once you eliminate his teammates, he now must face you 1-on-1, where you stand a much better chance.
Motion sensor bombs are very important in a stock match. No matter who lays the bomb, anyone who hits it stands a good chance at getting KO’d. Just remember where the bombs have been laid and try to lure your opponents into them.
Team Attack On
By selecting this feature in the options menu, everyone will be able to hit each other, even teammates. If you are the one that's outnumbered this will work heavily to your advantage. Instead of running when your opponents are close to you, wait until they've all surrounded you and put your shield up. Any attacks they try against you will hit your shield and their teammates if they're close enough. However, if one of your opponents tries to throw you, unless one of the other opponents hits him, you may be in trouble as your shield does not protect against throws.
If you are part of the team, try not to attack the opponent at the same time. Get on either side of the opponent to prevent him from escaping, but stay far enough away from your teammate so you do not get hit by their attacks.
High Damage
When you get high in damage you have several options. A heart or maxim tomato will appear if a player is in need of one. However, this may take a full minute to happen, and you may not be able to get to it. If the score is fairly close, or your opponents are winning you may want to commit suicide. It's not the most honorable way to die, but your opponents won't get a KO out of it.
If you chose to stick it out, remember a few key things. Under normal circumstances only a throw or power move will KO you at high damage. A regular move or standard projectile will not. An aerial attack can also knock you far enough out that you won’t be able to come back. While you're waiting for a heart or maxim tomato, don't do any moves that have a long recovery time. If you miss, you'll be in trouble.
Take heed that because you're at a high damage level, your opponents will be out for blood. They'll probably be concentrating on hitting you with a single power move. Power moves typically have longer recovery times. Use this delay time to counter and escape. Be sure to listen for the faint noise of an item appearing. After you hear it, seek it out.
