The Smash Box is the best alternative to any common Smash Bros. controller or fight stick for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. In order to help you take advantage of the precision of this arcade controller, we have compiled this post to go over the basics of the Smash Box and the key techniques to learn in SSBU.
Before getting started, ensure you have an adapter for your Switch, we recommend our GameCube controller adapter.
If you have any questions about SSBU on Smash Box, be sure to join our Discord and hop into the #smash-ultimate channel. Also be sure to explore the "Smash Box" and "SSBU" tags at the bottom of the post for more How-To content.
The Basics
Profile and Layout
First, thing to do is to ensure you're using the Default Smash Ultimate profile. If you just received your Smash Box, it should be on Profile 1 (the three-way switch on the side of your Smash Box set to "I"). Otherwise, download our Designer Software and load up the profile onto your Smash Box.
Now let's go over the default layout we have Smash Bros. Ultimate.
- The Analog Stick is controlled by your left fingers.
- The D-pad / Linear Tilts are controlled by your left thumb.
- The C-Stick is controlled by your right thumb.
- The 8-buttons on the right are controlled by your right fingers.
Tilt Modifiers
How To Play
Walking
Use the Tilt Modifiers to Walk. Each modifier gives a different speed of Walk!
Short Hop
The digital buttons on the Smash Box make it easier to short hop since you can flick through the button to make the press as quick as possible.
Aerials
Since you have access to the buttons with all of your fingers, there's no more need to use just your thumb for jumping into aerials. In addition, for those who customize their controls already, the digital buttons are sensitive meaning no more having to press through triggers to get precise jump timings.
Tilt Attacks
The main modifiers for Tilt Attacks are Tilt 1 and Tilt 2. While both modifiers can do all Tilt Attacks, they differ in what happens when you do ordinal (ie, diagonal) directions. With Tilt 1, you will get Angled Forward Tilts. With Tilt 2, you will get Turnaround Up and Down Tilts.
Recovery Angles
By combining ordinal inputs with the linear tilts and MODE, you have access to 48 angles in Smash Bros. Ultimate. Below is a showcase of what these angles look like and how to activate them (use the speed options on the gif to slow it down).
Note: You can use these angles for anything that can use angles in SSBU.
Actions for each angle in gif, in order. Bolded are the main angles you should practice first:
- Right
- Up + Right + Y1
- Up + Right + Y1 + MODE
- Up + Right + Y2
- Up + Right + Y2 + MODE
- Up + Right + Tilt 1
- Up + Right
- Up + Right + Tilt 2
- Up + Right + X2 + MODE
- Up + Right + X2
- Up + Right + X1 + MODE
- Up + Right + X1
- Up
Advanced Play
Run Stop with Tilts
You can use Tilt Modifiers to stop your run, giving you more freedom with movement.
Running into Tilt Attacks
Using the Tilt 1 and Tilt 2 to Run Stop leads into easy access to Tilt Attacks in whatever direction you want, even making it easy to do Angled Forward Tilts and turnaround your Up and Down Tilts (something that requires much more difficult timing with Tilt Stick).
Dash Walk
Using Tilt Modifiers makes it easy to do Dash Walks as well, as there's much more leniency in the timing than using Tilt Stick. Tap either X1 or Tilt 2 during your Dash animation to get the Dash Walk.
Reverse Aerial Rush
Very important to maintain momentum and use back airs, simply press back during your run and then press jump. For more info, check out Reverse Aerial Rush and Pivot Cancel in SSBU.
Pivot Cancel
You can use your run-turnaround animation to skid a little bit if you go straight into an attack. It's most useful for Tilt Attacks. Run, press back, then immediately go into a Tilt Attack. For more info, check out Reverse Aerial Rush and Pivot Cancel in SSBU.
Tilt Neutral Special
Use X1 or Tilt 2 to get Neutral Specials while holding a direction. You can use this to turn around in the air, or run into a neutral special. For more information, check out Tilt Neutral B in SSBU.
B-Reverse and Wavebounce
Using the C-Stick buttons right after activating a Special, you can do a quick turnaround in the air. The basics are do a Special facing one direction, and then press C-Stick in the other direction to change your direction/momentum. For more in-depth information, check out B-Reverse and Wavebounce with C-Stick.
SOCD Neutral
On our default settings, you can press left and right at the same time to get a "center" input. This can be used for some interesting things. Experiment with it to see what you can do! For more info on SOCD Neutral check out our post "SOCD Neutral in SSBU."
If you have any more questions, please check out our Index linked below as well as the #smash-ultimate channel in our Discord - all linked below.
May your inputs be blessed,
Cameron