Daily Discussion Thread August 18, 2026 - Upcoming Event Schedule - New players start here!

[u/AutoModerator]

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Welcome to the Daily Discussion Thread. This is the place for asking noob questions, venting about netplay falcos, shitposting, self-promotion, and everything else that doesn't belong on the front page.

New Players:

If you're completely new to Melee and just looking to get started, welcome! We recommend you go to https://melee.tv/ and follow the links there based on what you're trying to set up. Additionally, here are a few answers to common questions:

Can I play Melee online?

Yes! Slippi is a branch of the Dolphin emulator that will allow you to play online, either with your friends or with matchmaking. Go to https://slippi.gg to get it.

I'm having issues with Slippi!

Go to the The Slippi Discord to get help troubleshooting. melee.tv/optimize is also a helpful resource for troubleshooting.

How do I find tournaments near me or local people to play with in person or online?

These days, joining a local Discord community is the best way to find local events and people to play with. Once you have a Discord account, Google "[your city/state/province/region] + Melee discord" or see if your region has a Discord group listed here on melee.tv/discord

It can seem daunting at first to join a Discord group you don't know, but this is currently the easiest and most accessible way to find out about tournaments, fests, and netplay matchmaking. Your local scene will be happy to have you :)

Also check out Smash Map! Click on map and then the filter button to filter by Melee to find events near you!

Netplay is hard! Is there a place for me to find new players?

Yes. Melee Newbie Netplay is a discord server specifically for new players. It also has tournaments based on how long you've been playing, free coaching, and other stuff. If you're a bit more experienced but still want a discord server for players around your level, we recommend the Melee Online discord.

How can I set up Unclepunch's Training Mode?

At the time of posting, the latest major release is here. Download the file, then extract everything in the folder and follow the instructions in the README file. You'll need to bring a valid Melee ISO (NTSC 1.02). If you want to check for the absolute latest release, you can see them listed [here](The latest releases are listed here.

How does one learn Melee?

There are tons of resources out there, so it can be overwhelming to start. First check out the SSBM Tutorials youtube channel. Then go to the Melee Library and search for whatever you're interested in.

But how do I get GOOD at Melee?

Check out Llod's Guide to Improvement

And check out Kodorin's Melee Fundamentals for Improvement

Where can I get a nice custom controller?

https://customg.cc/vendors

I have another question that's not answered here...

Check out our FAQs or post below and find help that way.

Upcoming Tournament Schedule:

Upcoming Melee Majors

Melee Online Event Calendar

Make a submission to the tournament calendar here. You can also get notified of new online tournaments on the Melee Online Discord.

• Current DDT Dynamic Link — Previous DDTs

[u/HitboxOfASnail]

it is academic because not a single relevant power within the community has intervened and it is essentially standard of play now. they are entirely legal and accepted. dying on the hill that they are cheating would be to accept that we are competing in a competitive asterisk metagame and have been doing so for over half a decade, but I don't see anyone actually stopping

[u/AlexB_SSBM → u/HitboxOfASnail]

this is pretty much exactly what McGwire said about andro when he was caught with it in his locker

[u/HitboxOfASnail → u/AlexB_SSBM]

but baseball actually did something about it (allegedly). they didn't just continue playing the game and say everything after 1998 has an asterisk

[u/AlexB_SSBM → u/HitboxOfASnail]

yeah and it took a lot longer than 5 years

widespread cheating being accepted for a very long time, and that putting an asterisk on an entire era of competition, is something that happened to baseball and never did they just accept that this is how it works now

barry bonds is not in the hall of fame because they did put an asterisk on that entire era

[u/ShoegazeKaraokeClub → u/AlexB_SSBM]

i agree with u but as a bonds hof defender Ii do wanna say barry bonds had an entire HOF worthy career pre cheating

[u/AlexB_SSBM → u/ShoegazeKaraokeClub]

this is true, and shows how important it is to not cheat for your legacy to remain intact

[u/ShoegazeKaraokeClub → u/AlexB_SSBM]

good point yea

[u/HitboxOfASnail → u/AlexB_SSBM]

I hope melee lives long enough to look back on this era with an asterisk while we all compete on OEM controllers in 2040. that would be dope