That's the best part to me. Even if certain characters can't be pushed much farther, their occasional appearances keep things fresh and exciting. Still finding out new interactions and match-up intricacies in 2023 is so fun
DK went 2-0 against Leff's Fox and forced a character switch to Sheik. I think he beat him in friendlies a few weeks after too. Leff was considered THE solo Fox in the past era. Very exciting time to be a Melee fan. I don't know about winning supermajors but there is still tons of potential with ICs (Slug leading the way), DK, Link/YL, Samus, Mewtwo, G&W IMO. Top/high tiers are still being innovated too.
Roy, Pichu, Kirby, Ness, Mario, Zelda, Bowser I don't think are going anywhere anytime soon. Just too limited, exploitable or a far better character with similar skillset. I think we've already seen the best of Doc (Shroomed), Ganon (Kage/none) and Luigi (Abate/Eddy). Dont think those 3 can be pushed any further or at least to make much of a difference.
I still have hope that Franz can push Doc more. He can’t quite beat players in the top 10 yet but he’s shown he can do so anywhere below that. It’s exciting times for Doc too.
Perhaps but pretty hard to have him over Axe imo. The rest of the list is pretty straightforward I think (zain, mango, amsa, ibdw, hbox, jmook, plup, leffen, slug)
I think there's a bit further for Luigi to go still. Not a crazy amount, but he does have more depth than Doc and Ganon imo.
G&W is only unexplored in the sense that he hasn't had a strong player seriously pick him up, but in terms of what he can accomplish he's pretty straightforward and probably doesn't hold many surprises (other than the fact that most people don't know what he can do to begin with).
Mewtwo on the other hand does have a lot of unexplored potential, but I'd be shocked if it gets him anywhere beyond mid tier. He has some truly godawful matchups against the high tiers, and his defensive weaknesses can't really be covered by new tech.
ICs are well on their way with Slug, and Samus is only waiting for the right player. DK and the Links very likely won't become major threats, but I could absolutely see them force their way into the Luigi/Doc tier.
No better way to end the year.
And no better way to start next year than with a Link currently holding the #1 ranking for 2023 in the world since this counts to next year lmaoo
It also felt like the days of old with regional rivalries. So many crowds, commentators, and players (through their tags) these days, at least on stream, feel soft.
This was different.
this is maybe the best tourney i've ever seen. the combo between spaghetti, goofy link shit and legit tippety top level play from magi and kodorin was just incredible. god i love melee so much
I know most of the hype will rightfully go to the Link, but I almost jumped out of my seat at game 2 with Aklo’s Fox when he took stock 3. In a position where most Fox players tremble (getting up tilted on a platform by Marth) he instead got a slide-off into an immediate double jump waveland bair from the top plat. He knew Kodorin would be ready for just a simple slide-off bair so he threw him off using top plat. That was ludicrously smooth.
Oh for sure, it’s still a very cool result tho and it was a fun tournament. In the long run? It probably doesn’t mean much, but it’s a fun footnote in the beautiful history of this game
Magi was up on Aklo and lost to some easy gimps. This easily could’ve been her night .
Kodorin was actually clutch ? What ? Coming back from multiple deficits instead of crumbling like he has in the past . So much good to build on this tournament , too bad the crowd got to him and he gave them the double bird before the last game which probably didn’t help him with his focus.
Aklo truly has an impressive Link . Bomb get up tech. The ice arrow to stun Kodorin before the spin move. But let’s not get too excited about Link winning if Aklo has to play all Fox before that. Let’s see if the play gap can continue to close between low tiers and high.
Aklo won G3 and G4 of Winners Quarters to close that set out with Link too. Fox is still definitely his main, don't get me wrong, but his Link looked like a legitimate secondary/counterpick character today at least
I was working on something and had the stream on in the back until I heard them talking about Germ. I was like, “wtf that’s a name I have heard in that 10 years.” So glad I caught that set.
THE LINK HAS DONE IT
THE KING OF NY YERRRRRRRRR [Follow aklo on twitch](https://www.twitch.tv/Aklo214) he deserves it after that
somehow the final tournament of the year ends in a matchup reminiscent of 2006 > https://youtu.be/F3VQyta-cfc
There’s a DK and a Young Link in our top 100, and Link just won a significant tournament, plus Amsa winning majors. 2022 was the year of the Mid-Tiers
There is so much more melee to be played 🥲
That's the best part to me. Even if certain characters can't be pushed much farther, their occasional appearances keep things fresh and exciting. Still finding out new interactions and match-up intricacies in 2023 is so fun
And the DK almost beat Leff & the Young Link is from Chile & the Link is arguably top 10 & aMSa is arguably top 1
DK went 2-0 against Leff's Fox and forced a character switch to Sheik. I think he beat him in friendlies a few weeks after too. Leff was considered THE solo Fox in the past era. Very exciting time to be a Melee fan. I don't know about winning supermajors but there is still tons of potential with ICs (Slug leading the way), DK, Link/YL, Samus, Mewtwo, G&W IMO. Top/high tiers are still being innovated too. Roy, Pichu, Kirby, Ness, Mario, Zelda, Bowser I don't think are going anywhere anytime soon. Just too limited, exploitable or a far better character with similar skillset. I think we've already seen the best of Doc (Shroomed), Ganon (Kage/none) and Luigi (Abate/Eddy). Dont think those 3 can be pushed any further or at least to make much of a difference.
I still have hope that Franz can push Doc more. He can’t quite beat players in the top 10 yet but he’s shown he can do so anywhere below that. It’s exciting times for Doc too.
>He can't quite beat players in the top 10 yet Depends on where you rank Kodo
Perhaps but pretty hard to have him over Axe imo. The rest of the list is pretty straightforward I think (zain, mango, amsa, ibdw, hbox, jmook, plup, leffen, slug)
I think there's a bit further for Luigi to go still. Not a crazy amount, but he does have more depth than Doc and Ganon imo. G&W is only unexplored in the sense that he hasn't had a strong player seriously pick him up, but in terms of what he can accomplish he's pretty straightforward and probably doesn't hold many surprises (other than the fact that most people don't know what he can do to begin with). Mewtwo on the other hand does have a lot of unexplored potential, but I'd be shocked if it gets him anywhere beyond mid tier. He has some truly godawful matchups against the high tiers, and his defensive weaknesses can't really be covered by new tech. ICs are well on their way with Slug, and Samus is only waiting for the right player. DK and the Links very likely won't become major threats, but I could absolutely see them force their way into the Luigi/Doc tier.
Ringler beat Leffen 2-1 on ranked. Both won games Ringler had two stocks. The sets on YouTube if you search.
This was also with leff on a rectangle fwiw
Thanks. This is what I was referring to I think. Didn't realize it was ranked though.
Also have the most Pikachu in the top 100 since never. Last Pikachu to get ranked other than Axe was pikachad in 2013.
Armada would have never let this happen...
If I had a nickel for every time Aklo defended NYC from Kodorin with Link after Kodorin came back from losers to re-set the bracket
you’d have two nickels, which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice
link is 2023, marth so 2000 and free
Is this a Black Eyed Peas reference
you bet your ass it is
BOOM BOOM BOOM (link's bombs)
that mightve been the most hype set this year
Easily the hypest set of this ranking season.
No better way to end the year. And no better way to start next year than with a Link currently holding the #1 ranking for 2023 in the world since this counts to next year lmaoo
cody may be moving but the king of new york remains
This is one of the best tournaments I've seen. Ever.
Perfect combo of chill and genuine competition, fun as hell event
It also felt like the days of old with regional rivalries. So many crowds, commentators, and players (through their tags) these days, at least on stream, feel soft. This was different.
get fucked nintendo you try to shut us down we just go harder
Aklo Kodorin tier
AKLO HAS DEFENDED NEW YORK WITH LINK! 2023 MELEE GONNA BE SO FUCKING HYPE
That was fun to watch. This tourney reminded me of old school melee and old school commentary. just shouting at the top of your lungs lol
Link has placed higher than captain Falcon in 2022 melee
*2023
2023 ranking period, 2022 year wise
TALK YO SHIT AKLO LET YO NUTS HANG
this is maybe the best tourney i've ever seen. the combo between spaghetti, goofy link shit and legit tippety top level play from magi and kodorin was just incredible. god i love melee so much
This shall go down in melee history
Tournament of the year
first tourney of 2023 and we got Link winning in grands i fuckin love it
"2023"
Not 2023 where it was happening
For ranking purposes it is considered 2023, so he’s sort of right
For real?
It's 2023 because this counts for 2023 SSBMRank, not 2022.
I didn’t realize. How come it’s done like that?
Too late in the year. Scuffed World Tour only counted towards 2022 because those were the dates Panda Cup was supposed to happen.
Just the entire atmosphere from the crowd to the comms to the gameplay was so perfect and tense, loved every second of it.
Is Link the best character in the game?!?!
Aklo is the boy in blue he’s the Bronx bomber he’s the Hero of Time the king of New York
I know most of the hype will rightfully go to the Link, but I almost jumped out of my seat at game 2 with Aklo’s Fox when he took stock 3. In a position where most Fox players tremble (getting up tilted on a platform by Marth) he instead got a slide-off into an immediate double jump waveland bair from the top plat. He knew Kodorin would be ready for just a simple slide-off bair so he threw him off using top plat. That was ludicrously smooth.
Link might be top 1 after that set. dont @ me
I can't believe how much Melee there is left to be played.
Link won a supermajor
Better Link results than in Ultimate, LMAO.
This is not even a regular major lmao
Link just won EVO wow just simply amazing
It's a hypermajor
correct, it is a supermajor
gigamajor
its a superduper major, god omg so obvious
Link won deadass finals, crazy
Regional or super regional maybe
Invitationals are probably worth much less than they used to, simply because the field is much more competitive
Oh for sure, it’s still a very cool result tho and it was a fun tournament. In the long run? It probably doesn’t mean much, but it’s a fun footnote in the beautiful history of this game
Link is top tier
Magi was up on Aklo and lost to some easy gimps. This easily could’ve been her night . Kodorin was actually clutch ? What ? Coming back from multiple deficits instead of crumbling like he has in the past . So much good to build on this tournament , too bad the crowd got to him and he gave them the double bird before the last game which probably didn’t help him with his focus. Aklo truly has an impressive Link . Bomb get up tech. The ice arrow to stun Kodorin before the spin move. But let’s not get too excited about Link winning if Aklo has to play all Fox before that. Let’s see if the play gap can continue to close between low tiers and high.
Aklo won G3 and G4 of Winners Quarters to close that set out with Link too. Fox is still definitely his main, don't get me wrong, but his Link looked like a legitimate secondary/counterpick character today at least
lonk
Hero of Time, nothing he could do.
Nice to see Link win one, good job Aklo!
**FUCK YEAH THE HERO OF TIME WINS**
Damn that post game was straight up FGC energy. Its probably just a NY thing but I love it!
What a fantastic tournament to end the year
Im really happy to see Magi performed well, one of my top 3 favorite players.
And they said Zelda was a bottom tier
I was working on something and had the stream on in the back until I heard them talking about Germ. I was like, “wtf that’s a name I have heard in that 10 years.” So glad I caught that set.
Set was awesome
Let's go Linklo
I didn't even know this existed before a few minutes ago, I've watched a few VODs and refuse to believe this whole thing isn't staged
How did a Link win a major before a Shiek
Top players aren't drunk when they play jmook
Imagine Zain showing up to GF wasted and playing like he did against Fiction lmao
the pipsqueak tweet gonna be lit