It creates a three way scenario with a chance for neutral to reset, one character gaining advantage or one characters being pushed into disadvantage. When people are punished for safe on shield options, it is the option following it option that is punished. If he wants, he could choose to remain safe by dashing away, or he could choose an option that is not safe, but keeps the pressure on Mario to act. Unless FoxвЂ™s bair is perfect shielded, Fox has initiative. An option being safe on shield means that the player using that option will have some form of initiative when it comes to the choosing the next option. This has been a lot of numbers, so let's get to the point of all this. Mario would lose this scenario if he decided to drop shield, but every out of shield option would either allow Mario to escape (Rolls) or beat (grab, jump aerials, jump canceled options, spot dodge) Of course, spot dodging looks to be the most favorable option here to beat two of FoxвЂ™s most common follow ups after landing bair on shield, but another jump bair beats spot dodging, not to mention a simple turn around charged up smash could seal a stock. MarioвЂ™s frame 2 jab would come out on frame 9 after the shield drop. This is equal to the amount of time it takes for Mario to drop shield, however, then Mario has to start an action. But what if, instead of up tilting, the Fox turns around and grabs? Turning around take 1 frame and FoxвЂ™s grab comes out on frame 6 for a total of 7 frames.

This, of course, is only if the Mario player continues to hold shield after being hit by back air. If done perfectly, Mario can drop shield (7) turn around (1) and down smash (5) Fox with 5 frames to spare. However, what happens if Mario continues shielding the up tilt? FoxвЂ™s up tilt is -17 on shield if the first hitbox connects. In all but one scenario, out of shield options are beat out by up tilt. In total jab will come out frame 9 and is hit by up tilt. All options that require dropping shield are -7 in addition to the startup of the option.A total of 4 frames from when he can act out of shield. Jump-Canceled up b out of shield, after 1 frame of jumpsquat being interrupted is intangible on frame 3.MarioвЂ™s jumpsquat is 5 frames, so a jump aerial is hit by up tilt.Grab is frame 6 and gets hit by up tilt.Spot dodge is intangible on frame 3, he can avoid the hit, and will have +1 frame advantage on Fox.Both of MarioвЂ™s rolls are intangible on frame 4, he gets hit by up tilt.For the sake of discussion, I wonвЂ™t factor in shield pushback or optimal spacing, though those should be kept in mind.

Lets say the Fox is going to up tilt after hitting a MarioвЂ™s shield with an autocancel bair. Otherwise, they must deal with shield drop lag. The person in shield can only use the four out of shield options at the same time as Fox can perform any action unless the bair was perfect shielded. Shield stun wears off and the shielder can perform an input at the same time as the fox. Using RubenвЂ™s calculator FoxвЂ™s auto cancel bair has 0 frame advantage. Knowing this, lets see what happens when fox perfectly auto-cancels a back-air on shield When someone does decide to shield and they do not perfect shield, they are either committing at least 18 frames to shielding, or performing an out of shield option.

4 shield options available directly after of shield lock/stun and can be done without shield drop lag (roll, spot dodge, jump, grab).

So what does it mean to be safe on shield? ShayaвЂ™s thread on smashboards gives an overiew of the frame data with shielding, but the most important factors for this discussion are Safe on shield options are part of how charactersВ are evaluated and what players often think of when deciding who has a strong neutral game. Shielding is one of the most effective ways to avoid taking damage so much so that much of the Smash 4 metagame is designed around taking advantage of, working around, and tricking opponents who have decided to shield.

Inkling smash ultimate frame data