Following a meeting of minds between many notable TOs from across the USA, a new recommended ruleset for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U has been put forward for future events. This reformed rule change mainly deals with alterations to the legal stage list and the removal of the much debated “Dave’s Stupid Rule,” which restricts players from returning to a stage they have previously won on.
The two main casualties from the new 2017 ruleset are the loss of Duck Hunt and Lylat Cruiser as counterpick stages. Many players, both high and low level, have been calling for Duck Hunt’s ban, as the stage promotes campy play due to the tree on the left side, making it a practical instant loss for characters like Little Mac and Ganondorf. The loss of Lylat is a real bone of contention, as while the stage provides well needed variety to the stage list with its titling main platform and alternative tri-platform layout, recovering players can occasionally fall through the stage when trying to recover, resulting in a loss of a stock.
Smash 4 Recommmended Ruleset
Read: https://t.co/wz1LAw469q
— Tantalus @ Home (@TheTantalus) January 27, 2017
The new stage list would have only three starter stages, being Battlefield, Smashville and Final Destination with Town and City, Dream Land and Omega stages acting as counterpicks. While most players seem to be receptive to the new three starters, the inclusion of Dream Land is a confusing decision, as this new proposed ruleset has a ban for Battlefield also banning Dream Land. While they both have tri-platform layouts, they have different stage attributes, which means players will pick them based on character and player match-ups, rather than it being just that they want to go to a tri-platform stage. The currently proposed list of Omega stages is also problematic, as stages like Mario Circuit Brawl and Bridge of Eldin cause recovery problems for those with teleport recoveries.
The post in question does concede that this stage list is only recommended, and that elements of it will change as 2017 continues–but the TOs listed as consultants for this document will use this rule set in future tournaments. The lack of any representatives from Europe is troubling–and I am personally fiercely against the Lylat ban–but we’ll have to see how this proposed rule change pans out at upcoming tournaments like Frostbite and 2GGC: Midwest Mayhem Saga.
Source: TheTantalus