The Super Smash Bros Ultimate community is debating banning Steve from tournament play after a game-breaking new tech was discovered – and some events have already announced bans.
Minecraft’s Steve has been a controversial fighter since his release, and a big reason why is just how many unique options the character has when optimized.
Despite calls to ban the fighter earlier in the post-lockdown era after Japanese Smash prodigy Acola’s dominance with Steve, the Minecraft rep has remained legal, but that could soon be about to change.
A new tech known as ‘Phantom MLG’ lets Steve get out of combos, cancel hit stun, and strike back against opponents who don’t have the same counterplay. This revolutionary tech has sent shockwaves through the community and pros are pushing for a ban more than ever before.
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After the discovery of the tech, discussions began about potentially banning the tech itself, but that created problems due to enforcement and even players potentially performing it by accident.
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As explained by LarryLurr, there are all sorts of issues that could arise if the player accusing another of doing the tech is wrong, especially if it happens in an off-stream match.
Elsewhere, Mexican Smash stars FaZe Sparg0 and recent free agent MkLeo seemed to push for a ban.
Sparg0 tweeted out “ban Steve” while MkLeo pondered, “What if we ban Steve?” after first laughing at the new tech when he saw it.
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Zomba also appeared to call for a ban in a Twitlonger, accusing Steve of “killing the game.”
Moist esports’ Light, however, had a different approach and wondered if not banning the fighter would ruin the game so much that Nintendo would have no choice but no make an emergency patch.
2am time for the real tweets:
Don't ban Steve. Let him fuck up our tournaments until we're all bitching and whining. Then Nintendo might make a move (inhales copium)
— 💧Light💧 (@Light_S21) February 26, 2023Smash tournaments officially ban Steve
So far, some events have banned the fighter, the biggest being the Collision Series.
Although Collision 2023 later in March will not outright ban Steve, the tech will be prohibited and the fighter will not be allowed at events temporarily after in order to “collect data for both our immediate local community and beyond.”
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Related:
Government agency calls out Nintendo’s ‘restrictive’ Smash Bros tournament rules
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🚨#Collision2023 Update🚨
The Collision team has spent the past 48 hours discussing the new Steve adv. tech (PMLG) that was revealed by @XCidoClipDump and @ron_yt0510. Due to the nature of PMLG and the potential complications that it could provide during https://t.co/UTEAkDUhpt…
— Collision Gaming Series (@CollisionSmash) February 27, 2023Meanwhile, Montreal Gaming Center tweeted that Steve will be banned from multiple events “until March 25 with a follow-up for future events and Battle of Z : Light Games.”
Additionally, Steve has been banned in Kansas and a couple of main regions in Missouri. “Banning just the new tech itself is a band-aid solution that requires a lot of leg work on our TOs,” they announced.
Online-wise, Liquid Hungrybox has stated that his decision on whether or not to ban the fighter from Coinbox events would be revealed on stream later this week.
We’ll have to wait and see what more TOs decide to do going forward, but it seems like Steve mains might need to seriously consider a new fighter to pick up – especially if this ban wave spreads.
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