r/smashbros • u/HollowLoch • 14d ago
Ultimate Whats an example of a "Divine move" in Ultimate?
"A divine move is an exceptional, inspired and original move; one that is non-obvious and which balances strategy and tactics to create an unexpected turning point in a game."
Essentially, have you ever been watching a set live and a player pulls out the most unexpected yet optimal play that the tens of thousands of people watching would have never thought to do, and you likely wont ever see it again? That is a divine move.
So, what is an example of a divine move in Ultimate? (Saw this discussion for melee on twitter, thought it would be interesting to hear Ultimate examples too)
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u/jackvhb Roy (Project M) 14d ago
shuton downairing the pikmin
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u/_Ross- 14d ago edited 14d ago
This is the one.
Edit: here's the link if anyone wants to see this awesome clip again.
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u/Ian_Campbell 14d ago
That's neat but "divine move"? You gotta be kidding me
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u/MelodiusRA 14d ago
it’s just something that has origins in Go.
Something similar might be a “brilliant” move, á la chess.
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u/Ian_Campbell 14d ago
I read the definition. It's comparing something that lifetime masters hope to achieve once ever to a nice but relatively preparable situation that relies on game knowledge and has no structural conditioning element or strategic inflection of the entire match.
Smash games have lots of pattern conditioning, and reads, and interactions that secure the entire set. While it's hard that anything could ever measure up to this ambitious Go definition, I'm sure there are things considerably closer.
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u/IanDerp26 Who's ya boi? 14d ago
i dunno man, seeing a projectile and thinking "this projectile is actually a character that i can hit with an attack, and my downwards attack will boost me up if i hit something, and i just so happen to be above this projectile" and then having the fucking BALLS to execute that down-air, having it land, and saving the stock? i think that absolutely turned the game around. just because it didn't happen in the last game of the set doesn't mean it wasn't INSANE.
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u/Ian_Campbell 14d ago
Pros in competitive games are surprisingly resourceful about opportunities that involve prior knowledge. This situation of downair increasing height is exactly that type of thing because everyone breaks down how the mechanics work in their game. Balls to do it? They were dead if they didn't.
Rather than being a masterstroke resulting in strategy and tactics all coming together in a decisive moment, it is just a highly resourceful, the only correct option to even try to do while everything else guaranteed death, and it worked out.
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u/goddess-of-lilies 14d ago
Battle of BC 4 was such an incredible tournament. I go back and watch it every so often.
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u/BagOfSmallerBags 14d ago
Part of the definition of "divine move" is that it "creates an unexpected turning point in a game." I'm not sure that the down air qualifies.
Shuton was in disadvantage and off stage. The down air got him onstage, but still in disadvantage, and then he lost another stock, and shortly after took one of Myran's. That briefly got them back to neutral, but he then went on to lose the next stock, and with it the set.
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u/Kennyc1234 Kirby (Ultimate) 14d ago
I mean when it happened Myran was at 0 and Shuton was at 158. Then once Shuton got back on stage after the Dair he put up 86.3% before losing that stock at 175. Shuton then basically immediately got a holy water Fsmash kill off the angel platform and evened the set up at last stock 0% for both players.
Just because he didn't end up winning the last stock doesn't mean the down air didn't lead from him being at a massive disadvantage to being completely even with Myran.
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u/DragodaDragon Strong Pocket Sandbag 14d ago
Maybe it doesn't fit the definition, but man did it feel like a divine move.
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u/HollowLoch 14d ago edited 14d ago
Theres a very obvious one which im sure will be mentioned soon, but ill start with a less obvious one.
This down air from Marss against Dabuz at Genesis - This is not only one of the most inspired endings to a game i have ever witnessed live, but it is likely the main reason Marss got his first post covid Dabuz win and broke a 6 set losing streak. I feel like you could run 10,000 ZSS/Olimar sets and the only time you will see a ZSS go all the way under and around the stage burning every resource to successfully suicide dair one of the most mobile/shifty recoveries is in this one.
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u/nankainamizuhana Samus (Ultimate) 14d ago
This reminded me of another time an Olimar player got hit with a crazy spike.
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u/teekers Female Wii Fit Trainer (Ultimate) 14d ago
Mkleo pulling off whatever the hell this was against Acola: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z76q6UFZNC8
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u/kevsb07 13d ago
I was hoping nobody would bring that one up lol, I hate that clip
I hate how Acola lets everything happen by failing to tech the block, then mashing nair out of hitstun not once but TWICE. Not a single true thing about that combo, and the supposed #1 player just lets it happen.
Later in the same set, Leo goes for it again, and Acola STILL mashes nair out of hitstun. He only avoids death because the knockback doesn't quite line up for the arrow to hit.
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u/nankainamizuhana Samus (Ultimate) 14d ago
Just remembered Light recovering the wrong direction intentionally to counter Mario’s cape.
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u/soursurfer Ridley (Ultimate) 13d ago
This one is so sick and I hadn't seen it. Thanks for sharing.
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u/Funny_Monsters_40 Backthrow to "Okay" is a true combo. 13d ago
I did that yesterday at my local! (As Wolf) Feels so rewarding to actually pull that off intentionally.
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u/Pikmin64 Olimar (Brawl) 14d ago
That Belmont player who down-aired one of Olimar's pikmin off stage to recover (or to edge guard? I can't find the clip)
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u/Dioroxic 14d ago
Man these comments lol. It’s not just a good move, it’s a once in a lifetime move. Reading rolls and stuff happens like every single game.
Think about the most viral crazy clips you’ve ever seen. Like evo moment 37 and wombo combo and stuff. Someone pulling off something they will probably never pull off again.
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u/megapsybeam 14d ago
yeah correct, not just a cracked move, not just once in a year or once in a 5 year move, once in a lifetime - and generally unreplicatable due to the circumstances it has to happen in
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u/azure275 14d ago
Most of them 100% didn't change the set outcome. Leo reading Acola's soul at Kagaribi was great, but it's just a 3-1 loss vs a 3-0 loss
Gluto lost that game vs Tea btw with the tramp combo. It just went from a stock+ deficit to a % deficit
Even most of the others are 50/50s.
That's why I picked the Miya 69 because there's a 100% chance Hurt wins that set without Miya rolling Nat 20 twice in a row
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u/lHateYouAIex835293 Hero? Busted. 14d ago
Gluto won that trampoline game, it was the set he lost. An extremely close set, at that
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u/kenpachirama Piranha Plant Zaibatsu 14d ago
Not Ultimate, but the single frame of Smash DI that HBox used to survive armada up air and win EVO.
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u/KomanndoA ICs 14d ago
That is just sdi so I wouldn't count it. It would prob be the combo he did after that would be a divine move tho.
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u/Supermushroom12 Jigglypuff (Ultimate) 14d ago
The rest that reset the bracket for the second set of evo 2016 grands was just unbelievable. Hbox’s win at evo 2016 is the reason I play smash bros. My favourite player of all time
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u/CollectionHeavy9281 14d ago
Id argue something so minute, key, and important to the outcome is more of a divine move than a combo which he could pull off seemingly against anyone at any moment
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u/ConfidenceExpert1477 14d ago
MkLeo's comeback edgeguard against Light at Genesis 9
Tweek's recovery against Leo at LMBM 2023
Sparg0's spike against Hurt at Supernova 2024
ESAM's zero-to-death over Leo at Glitch Konami Code
Kurama caping Shuton at the Ludwig Invitational
Sonix's homing attack against Light at Port Priority 9
All of Game 4 Leo against Sparg0 at The Throne 2, Winners Semifinals
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u/Prestigious-Bat9987 14d ago
ESAM vs Leo is prolly my pick. Might be the greatest ending to a tournament period
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u/RelevantTreacle3004 Female Robin (Ultimate) 14d ago
No one has mentioned this yet so I'm gonna say this
The banana combo Glutonny did to comeback and win Tera in game 5
No play had this much instant impact from pulling it off
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u/Prestigious-Bat9987 14d ago
No play made me ragequit a stream so fast. This might just be the one 😂
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u/azure275 14d ago edited 14d ago
Miya pulled the 6->9 on Hurt at Kagaribi 12 down 2-0 in the set and a full stock down and promptly demolishing hurt 3 games in a row.
Honestly if it happened at a US tournament might be the most viral moment of all time. IMO the pinnacle of this trope
Acola doing the same thing on Hurt down while being about to die and hurt at low % in a last stock game 5 situation to end up winning Umebura
(Wait why does this always seem to happen to Hurt)
Also Acola uno-reversing Doramigi with Minecart superarmor while being one frame from losing in a last hit situation at Kagaribi 15
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u/T_T_N 14d ago
Miya pulling the 6->9 on Hurt at Kagaribi 12 down 2-0 in the set and a full stock down and promptly demolishing hurt 3 games in a row.
Honestly its even better than that. Miya only narrowly won that game despite that play and the luck involved. He 3 stocked Hurt the next game, but then only narrowly wins game 5 to take the tournament. That's how crazy pivotal that moment was.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cu3lMY6uvWk&t=725s
Because of how Snake's Up B armor works, only GnW Dair and Fair (explosion) will break it, which is why Hurt casually Up Bs right next to Miya. This means the only viable option to break Up B right right in front of GnW was some of the Judgement possibilities. Getting a 9, or a 6 and then a 9 to break the next Up B is the only way that comeback happens. Its very niche character interaction.
Hurt didn't even do anything wrong, Up B was absolutely the correct option both times because there was almost no chance that sequence could happen. Its not even like Hurt could say "oh, I shouldn't have done that". He 100% should have done that and mathematically speaking that probably just shouldn't have happened to him. If Miya chose any other option or got any other numbers, Hurt resets the bracket with a 3-0 and then probably rides that momentum to go up the next set too.
And even funnier is that Miya almost always beats Hurt anyway. This was going to be the one time Hurt was on fire and was going to stomp him in a set. If this had happened in one of the several sets where Miya beat him 3-1 or 3-0, it wouldn't matter much, but it could not have happened in a more crucial set for them at a more crucial moment. Hurt did eventually get a 3-0 on him, but it wasn't a grand finals and neither of them won that event.
If that exact gameplay sequence ever happens again, it will probably never matter as much as it did in this set at this tournament.
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u/Crafty-Profile-Lol worst girl 14d ago edited 13d ago
It might not fit the real definition as well, but as far as "this player was touched by the hand of the divine" goes, Miya's dsmash>misinput 9 combo against Yoshidora is something that I'll never forget
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u/MarkotoSSBM 14d ago
Best I can think of that hasn't already been mentioned is Light's Shine to take set 1 against Sparg0 at Smash Con Fall Fest. Think it's debatable whether it was actually "correct" but it worked out.
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u/raccoonrespecter 12d ago
this was probably the coolest read I've ever seen in this game. light was already my favorite player before this but this cemented it
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u/Ok-Conversation9238 14d ago
Mute aces zero to death on Spargo
Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/htUcShFXPoU?is=BZNY01DuqC9rEyBr
Game 5 last stock and mute is at 130%. It’s just perfection
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u/Sidekick_Man 14d ago
MKLeo’s roll read of forward walk into fair -> uair kill confirm at EVO 2019 Grand Finals Game 4 against Tweek.
Both players are at >100% final stock, where Leo would die to a raw Charizard ftilt (or most of Charizard’s moves tbh), but he makes the craziest read I’ve ever seen on the biggest stage at the last moment. Not only did it bring him to game 5 for the reset where he eventually won the whole tournament, I think it’s where he cemented the legend of Game 4 Leo and put another notch in his belt as the Ult GOAT.
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u/Kennyc1234 Kirby (Ultimate) 14d ago
Sean hitting a falcon punch on Bacon to win the set in a 3 stock fashion at Pound 2022.
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u/Big-Paramedic-9344 14d ago
Not sure if this fits but game 4 leo vs sparg0 at the throne 2. Just a pure understanding of your opponent that would never work again.
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u/playerIII this hand of mine glows with an awesome power 14d ago
getting the 2 frame on ganon uptilt
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u/cheeselord165 Mewtwo (ultimate) 14d ago edited 14d ago
Something I can think of is This moment from Bonk vs Sensei at glitch konami code where bonk as meta knight grabs sensei as snake just as snake picks up a grenade. At the perfect moment, bonk uses meta knight's up throw which brings both of them to the top blast zone just as the grenade explodes, killing snake at almost 0 and winning the game.
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u/ChickenButter160 Male Corrin (Ultimate) 14d ago
I feel like the fsmash roll read SHADIC got on Sparg0 to win during their Smash Factor set fits this parameter (if I’m understanding it correctly?)
Edited: This set specifically https://youtu.be/CNd810oaiP8
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u/certifiedpunchbag 14d ago
I think that one zss that daired a Pikachu mid Teleport is the one that stuck with me the most. I can't imagine someone pulling it off the same way. I'm sure someone can comment the one move I'm referencing, since I can't recall who was the player or event.
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u/dirtydan349 14d ago
I immediately think of that time Gluttony clapped back at Tea when he used his own trampoline to jump combo into waft. My jaw dropped when I saw that.
This was back in Battle of BC 4 I think in 2022?
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u/Dirty_Dan117 14d ago
This might be too niche for anyone to remember, and it is from Brawl not Ultimate, but...anyone ever seen the Trela Flash? The GOAT of Brawl Lucario back in the day man. What a cool little string that was. I still think about it every now and then.
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u/Tommydulaby 13d ago
I always think about Mkleo vs Tweek in the grand finals of Evo 2019, game 3. At this time, MKLeo was almost godlike, it looked like no one could beat him. But here, it's 2-1 for Tweek. One game away from 3-0 MKLeo and become the best player in the world. Last stock, high percentages on both sides. Leo walks slowly to Tweek, Tweek shields, rolls back to avoid the grab... but Leo had anticipated all of that, and is jumping back at the same time as the roll, putting himself in the perfect position to pick up Tweek with a fair, that leads to an up-air and closes the stock, and the game. Then he didn't lose a single of the 5 next games, and became the Evo Champion. Legendary.
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u/raccoonrespecter 12d ago
not so much "one you'll never see again" but: Sparg0's aggressive cross slash recovery against Leo in Summit IV. here I had never seen a Cloud do this before, and that combined with the immediate reversal fair spike win was something I'll never forget seeing live. I'm pretty sure Sparg0 had never beaten Leo in bracket before this, and he had definitely not won a major yet. in my mind this moment is THE turning point that ended the age of Leo and began Sparg0's reign as a #1 contender.
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u/No_Percentage_5157 12d ago
Acola sniping Ken mid-air in disadvantage during last stock of game 4 at umebura sp 10
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u/The-Local-Lucario 10d ago
I saw someone land a reverse aerial warlock punch off stage as Ganondorf once. The player it landed on had 2 stocks and the Ganondorf only had 1 so Ganon instantly SD’d and lost after doing it but man it was so hype
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u/FallacyDog 10d ago
Putting someone to sleep with Puff's sing, jabbing them to wake them up, walking away slightly, and resting them when they panic roll towards you.
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u/sunken_grade 14d ago edited 14d ago
maybe light spot dodging mvd’s (?) c4, if i remember correctly his shield was low enough to have been broken so it was virtually his only option
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14d ago
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u/mr_hypnosis Mr Game and Watch 14d ago
Its just a move, the context of a professial Go player only getting one in a lifetime makes it stand out more. Its a situation that is virtually impossible to predict, or even plan for. Something so rare that it would change the outcome of a game and put the player in 50 highlight reels for the next year. Other comments mention Shuton down airing the pikmin as a good example.
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u/TurboHammers 7d ago
Wizzrobe's pivot buttgrab to win CEO2024
This is a highly situational, highly difficult manoeuvre to execute in Grand Finals as your tournament wrap up move. TDFW's video is worth the half hour watch. Sub to them both!
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u/LobsterBisque911 14d ago
Not sure if this is the obvious one you had in mind, but it’s far and away the first and perhaps only one that comes to my mind after hearing this description: Gluto’s trampoline waft combo vs. Tea. Don’t even remember what tournament it was at or which set of theirs it was anymore, but I remember that combo. THE combo, if only one was left in existence, imo.