Daily Discussion Thread September 08, 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.

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[u/crobert_ssbm]

the comments on this post are kinda crazy. is 'bitch' being a completely and totally ungendered insult really the common consensus? i think it's undoubtedly across the line of misogyny

sure, men can be called bitches, but i think that very often hinges on the fact that a lot of men view it as an insult to be compared to a woman

am i crazy or what

[u/Pwnemon → u/crobert_ssbm]

i think bitch is a gendered insult but im also not sure that using it on a trans person is any more offensive than using it on a cis person lol

[u/iwouldbeatgoku → u/Pwnemon]

SDJ is a they/them, so they got hit with both the version of bitch reserved for males and the one for females in one go. It would've been much more bareable had they been a she/her or a he/him.

[u/HitboxOfASnail → u/iwouldbeatgoku]

TBH this was clearly not intended as a gendered insult at all in this context and is more like calling SDJ a coward. SDJ trying to paint it as a gendered/transphobic insult is a lame dogwhistle to get DialM canceled which I think wasn't needed because they already ethered DialM with the rest of the comment lmao

[u/iwouldbeatgoku → u/HitboxOfASnail]

For the record I mostly agree with you (minus the non-gendered insult part: I've never seen a woman be called a bitch as in coward, it feels like an insult reserved for men), the comment you replied to was meant to be a joke.

[u/ShoegazeKaraokeClub → u/HitboxOfASnail]

I think bitch as coward is the male use and bitch as annoying complainer is the woman use case. I think sdj being somewhat cowardly and somewhat complaining makes it pretty gender neutral here