Ganondorf Smash 4 Tech Showcase/Tutorial

I've compiled a quick video about some relevant tech that Ganondorf players should know. This demo isn't really meant to delve into the intricacies of all of the techniques, as most of the tech shown here is covered in detail elsewhere, but I hope you find it useful!

Follow me:   / aliigleed  
Track: Nostrand (Ratatat) http://y2u.be/kVtGCACwpW8

• Ledge-cancelled wizard foot is a basic technique. On most stages, start wizard foot just outside the center of the stage in the direction of the ledge you are facing. Not shown here, but very useful for trumps and ledge pressure, is to instantly grab the ledge after ledge cancelling.
• Aerial flame choke is very useful, can't be teched, and has many followups on most of the cast (http://bit.ly/1WEJO6I). A good mixup when both you and your opponent are on a platform is to drop, immediately jump, and then use aerial flame choke on your opponent. This move is key on Battlefield, where you can drag grounded opponents onto a platform for devastating punishes.
• Platform-drop cancelled wizard foot (aka Helldrop) doesn't have a lot of utility outside of mindgames. In my experience, tapping down and special simultaneously will cancel WK, but it may take you a lot of practice to perform consistently. (This tech is also kind of a meme in the Ganon community, as every week or so someone new discovers it and makes a video.)
• D-air during platform drop is a very useful tech to learn, and it is easiest to perform with the tilt C-stick or with the A button.
• Using D-air on an opponent beneath the platform from above the platform requires precise timing and can only be done on taller characters and sometimes varies by standing animation.
• "Tipman," the foot of the ending portion of Ganon's U-air, is an essential tool in Ganon's game for gimping recoveries and resetting opponents. It is particularly powerful with a reverse-aerial-rush (RAR), as demonstrated in the video. http://bit.ly/1ThVMlM http://y2u.be/In2FSJAPJ8s http://bit.ly/1W4XQhz
• Performing specials immediately after ledge jump is an important part of Ganon's ledge game. The most important one is aerial flame choke, as you can often catch opponents off guard (though it is easily adapted to if they expect it). It can net kills on opponents who are vulnerable to D-smash after aerial flame choke. http://bit.ly/1WEJO6I
• Ledge-hop aerials to get on stage are amazing, but are punishable. Ledge-hop B-air is the best one to practice with, as it is the aerial with the most generous timing. Ledge-hop U-air probably has the most utility, but it is generally more difficult to do consistently. The method to get on stage without an aerial is frame-perfect, but it is the fastest of all the options. Practice these techs on walled stages or in slow-mo in training. http://y2u.be/1oBLDQlPkQk
• Many grounded characters, when struck by D-air at specific percentages, will be sent upward and can be footstooled for more followups. Footstool to Wizard foot is also true on most of the cast (Sheik being one exception), and if performed offstage will kill at nearly any %.
• Bypassing ledgesnap with Ganon's Up-B is a good way to punish opponents standing near the ledge. This is a simple technique to perform, but requires some practice in order to prevent accidental SD's that result from holding down too long. Use this technique with caution on characters who easily cover the ledge (Falcon, Little Mac, etc.) as it leaves you vulnerable to certain moves. Somewhat related--Ganondorf has the lowest ledge hang in the game, and is invulnerable to many moves initiated on stage that would normally hit other characters (including Mega Man's fully charged F-smash).
• Reversing Ganon's Up-B is helpful on many stages as a way to mix up recovery, especially on Battlefield. However, this sometimes leaves you vulnerable as you aren't as safe as the normal trajectory. It's also a good mixup to hit opponents off stage who are sitting at the edge of the stage. This move can result in SD's if not performed properly, and the vertical variant of B-reversed dark dive is particularly difficult to pull off consistently, so be sure to practice this technique before attempting to implement it.
• Ganondorf's aerials can be autocancelled, meaning if you land at a certain part of the animation, your end lag will be reduced. F-air is a special case where you can do a grounded special instantly upon landing, sometimes referred to as B-landing. See autocancel frames on aerials here http://bit.ly/1ODM3yL.
• Ganondorf's D-air, if the hitbox is as close to the stage as possible, will frame cancel, drastically reducing its endlag. This is a frame-perfect technique and is difficult to pull off consistently, but knowing the technique exists and attempting it where possible (such as a followup to unteched choke) can help your game. Specific followups: http://y2u.be/0QPrOGeveEo