Did Steve Get Banned from Smash? The Controversial Reign and Restrictions of Minecraft’s Blocky Brawler
Yes, the question is a resounding one: Steve from Minecraft has indeed been banned, or at the very least, heavily restricted, in various Super Smash Bros. Ultimate tournaments. This isn’t a blanket ban across the entire competitive scene, but a series of bans and restrictions implemented by individual tournament organizers and communities, stemming from concerns over his perceived dominance, unique mechanics, and overall impact on the game’s competitive landscape. The situation is complex and multifaceted, sparking fervent debates within the Smash community.
The Rise and Fall of a Blocky Titan
Steve’s introduction as a DLC fighter in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate was met with a mix of excitement and trepidation. As the second fighter from Microsoft (after Banjo & Kazooie) and the first of indie origin, he brought a totally unique playstyle. Unlike other characters, Steve’s core mechanics revolve around resource management, mining, crafting, and block building, adding layers of complexity unseen before. He quickly established himself as a top-tier contender, possessing incredibly strong advantages states, powerful combos such as “axe ladders” and “pick loops,” and the ability to cancel hitstun through advanced techniques.
The Problem With Steve
The concerns regarding Steve largely boil down to three main issues:
- Overwhelming Advantage State: Steve’s capacity to maintain and extend his advantage is unprecedented. With an array of tools that lead to easily racked up damage, he can seemingly dominate opponents for extended periods of time.
- Unpredictable and Chaotic Gameplay: His block-building mechanics force opponents to rethink their entire approach to the game. The constant threat of being trapped, edged guarded with block, or interrupted with his diverse toolkit creates a level of chaos that many find frustrating and strategically debilitating.
- “Phantom MLG” Technique: The discovery of the “Phantom Major League Gaming (PMLG)” technique pushed the frustration to its peak. This exploit allowed Steve to use a “phantom” block to interrupt hit-stun sequences, making him even harder to punish and creating situations deemed unfair by some members of the competitive community.
The Ban Wave
The problems that emerged from Steve’s inclusion didn’t go unnoticed. A significant portion of the Smash community began to voice concerns, leading to an eventual ban wave. Several major tournaments and leagues have since instituted bans or restrictions on Steve. This includes:
- Ultimate Shockwave: This major weekly tournament series in Texas banned Steve along with Kazuya Mishima, citing issues with these Fighters Pass Vol. 2 DLC characters.
- Super Smash Odyssey: Like Ultimate Shockwave, this event also prohibited both Steve and Kazuya, signaling a growing trend against these two specific fighters.
- The Coinbox: A prominent online tournament series, spearheaded by top player Hungrybox, also banned Steve for the foreseeable future.
- Collision 2023: Initially, this tournament banned only the Phantom MLG technique, but Steve was entirely banned in subsequent iterations.
- CEO 2023: This tournament announced a potential Steve ban, subject to certain conditions.
These bans weren’t universal, but it’s clear that Steve’s presence created too many issues for a large portion of the competitive scene to ignore.
The Debate Continues
The debate surrounding Steve’s place in the Smash competitive scene is ongoing. While many players and tournament organizers feel the bans are necessary, others argue against them, citing that learning to play against the character is a core part of competitive evolution. They believe that instead of outright banning the character, players should adapt, innovate, and develop strategies to overcome his advantages. However, the consensus among many high level tournament organizers and competitive players leans towards Steve being detrimental to competitive integrity because of his overly powerful toolkit and ability to exploit game mechanics.
FAQs: The Minecraft Steve Situation in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
To further clarify the complex situation surrounding Steve, here are 15 frequently asked questions:
1. What exactly is PMLG?
PMLG, or Phantom Major League Gaming, is a technique unique to Steve that allows him to utilize a “phantom” block to interrupt hit-stun sequences, making him incredibly difficult to punish and recover from pressure.
2. Why is Steve considered top tier?
Steve is widely considered among the top characters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate due to his strong advantage states, powerful combos (like axe ladders and pick loops), resource management mechanics, and unpredictable playstyle.
3. Is Steve DLC?
Yes, Steve and Alex were introduced as downloadable content (DLC) characters as part of Fighters Pass Vol. 2.
4. How much did Steve cost?
The Challenger Pack 7, which included Steve and Alex, was available for purchase for $5.99. It was also included in Fighters Pass Vol. 2.
5. Can Steve build in Smash?
Yes, Steve can build blocks by holding the B button while in the air, a mechanic that lets him recover from the edge, space away from the opponent, or halt other characters’ edge-guard attempts.
6. Is Steve hard to play?
Steve has a unique playstyle, forcing opponents to play in a new way, adapting around his block-building mechanics. Mastering Steve is considered difficult due to his complex mechanics and high execution ceiling.
7. Are any other characters banned alongside Steve?
In some tournaments, like Ultimate Shockwave and Super Smash Odyssey, Kazuya Mishima from Tekken has been banned alongside Steve, also for similar reasons of perceived brokenness.
8. Why is Smash Ultimate rated E10+?
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is rated E10+ because it features no blood or gore, no bad language, and no drug or alcohol abuse. Some character outfits may have slight sexual references, but are not overly blatant.
9. Is Steve banned in all Smash tournaments?
No, Steve is not banned in every tournament. Bans are usually decided on a tournament-by-tournament or community basis, varying across the competitive landscape.
10. Why is Bitcoin blocked?
Bitcoin bans are usually implemented by governments to protect citizens from financial risks associated with cryptocurrency, or to protect the government’s ability to adopt their own digital currencies. This is not related to the Steve ban in Smash, but was mentioned in the source document.
11. Was Captain Zack banned?
Yes, the player Captain Zack received a lifetime ban for match-fixing in 2019, unrelated to any bans on specific characters.
12. Why is “PK” used in Smash?
PK is short for Psycho-Kinetic, often used to define attacks of psychically attuned characters in the game, like Ness and Lucas. PSI is more often a defensive move.
13. Who made Grotesque Steve?
The origin of Grotesque Steve is unknown, but he first appeared on 4chan’s /v/ board as a fan-made character concept.
14. Is Minecraft an indie game in Smash?
Minecraft is considered the first third-party primary universe of indie origin to be in Smash, though it was a Microsoft property at the time of its addition.
15. Is Waluigi in Smash?
Waluigi is not a playable character in Smash Ultimate. Instead, he appears as an Assist Trophy.
The Future of Steve in Smash
The future of Steve in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate tournaments remains uncertain. While some tournament organizers seem set on keeping him banned, others believe that learning to overcome such powerful characters is part of the competitive process. As the metagame evolves, it is possible we might see changes in the restrictions placed on Steve, or in the community’s attitude towards his contentious inclusion. What’s clear is that Steve has irrevocably changed the landscape of Smash competition, sparking conversations that will shape the game for years to come. His impact, be it positive or negative, will forever be a part of the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate history.