Downstacker's Guide to the Galaxy
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Downstacker's Guide to the Galaxy
Anonymous1 Thu May 10, 2012 1:24 am
It's about time i posted this. I know this guide is pretty long, but if you have the time to read/skim through it (I would suggest just going through a section at a time as opposed to trying to read the whole thing at one time), it might enlighten you a little bit.
Part 1
Downstacking Techniques
Here I'll be posting some general stuff on downstacking that helped me become the player I am today!
There are a few techniques I use when downstacking. The first technique, I showed in the first post. I'll call it the "Garbage Double Technique" If anyone can think of a better name, please give me one because I'm terrible at making names.
Garbage Double:
I piece placement
Predicting your hole
Stacking Flat Over Holes
Downstacking Rhythm
Knowing when to stack up
Reversing holes
Consecutive Downstacking
In an earlier section, I talked about what happens when you have holes stacked over each other. Well, sometimes, when the holes are not stacked over each other (i.e. spread apart*), you can choose to downstack many holes (3-4) at once, and then turn the last garbage hole into a large line clear. This can be very efficient if you can get 3 garbage singles, and then a garbage Tetris. For instance:
http://harddrop.com/fumen/?m110@NdC3gbF3gbN3gbM3gbA3gbP3gbF3gbJ3gbG3gbE3gb?I3pbAoU0AmOCbE0oo2A1no2Ao3krDzoo2ABMVTASI7QEy4z?nDFbUVEFD0dEJS9CE5oo2A3oMDE1doUgbvUbcAwNcACD5rD?FbEBEJGVTASosaEFbcEE5oo2AnH0CE7eVvzAJyAAwNuAUou?XEpN98AQcTDEloo2AtiSrDFb0sDPM98AQ+brDFbUfDsQVTA?SYD5DuoBAAAAAAwN/Bun9TASowNE1oo2AoC7rDFbEcEvoo2?AtSirDFbsYEVMVTASowNE1oo2AkXReEFLsRASIbeEhViTAS?IClEFM98AwBJvEFbMwDBcudDn488AQcTDElN98AQ+7dD0oo?2ABMVTAS4MrDmXyrDFbEcEoi2TASYKNEsIhAA8+AF+AGFBS?FBDoOAApBBf/OAB2HGDEhoA6AFb8sEvQ98AQ/IbE0oo2Akn?VKETPckDroSTASonRASI/MEuNlkDVP2kEloo2Ao3krDzoA6?AlCPAAEUBDQBmXBHYB9ZBmbBhgBcfBAAA
*Actually you can almost always use Consecutive Downstacking, but it's a lot easier to do when the holes are spread apart.
What makes consecutive holes? Mainly, the first thing is that the holes are not stacked together. Even if the holes are spread relatively far, if two of the holes are stacked, or near stacked, you'll be in trouble if you're trying to downstack using Consecutive Downstacking (see frame 2). Then, the second thing to see is, how spread out are the holes. The more spread out the holes are, the easier it is to use Consecutive Downstacking, since spread out holes means you have more options to place your pieces (see frame 4).
http://harddrop.com/fumen/?m110@1dE3gbJ3gbK3gbH3gbH3gbK3gbA3pbAoUPATPckDro?STASYKNEsY8CA2dAAibA3obAAA3jbAAlbA3nbA3gbAAibAA?hbA3pbAAA3qbAwNuAFStJEFb85AFbsYE0Sg/DF388AQcTDE?loo2AjCpTASYkXEFStJE0oo2Aj2AAAJeEYgbLYHcAwNGAmQ?5hE1ACAA2dA3jbAAibAAjbA3jb8eA38ecDBfsbA3ibAAjbA?AjbA3rbAwNzAo3krDzoo2ABMVTASI7QEy4znDFbMLEVP98A?Doo2AjG88Awd0TASoKTASIINEFrmAA
There are two important aspects to do Consecutive Downstacking. The first important aspect is looking for spread holes, and then set a goal. If I see I can downstack consecutive garbage lines, then I'll set my goal to the 3rd, 4th, or 5th hole (or whatever the last hole I think I can reach is). After that, the other important thing behind downstacking consecutive holes is to not stack over future holes. Here's another example:
http://harddrop.com/fumen/?m110@NdD3gbG3gbG3gbR3gbD3gbF3gbK3gbN3gbE3gbJ3gb?D3pbAoUPAzo2TASoFvEFbMwDvisCA1dHYgbIYbcAAA7eGMk?OkAkXpTAyi1TASIbeEhViTASIClEFM98AQcTDElN98AQlbo?EFoOAAO8AJtAD/AvFBAwNmAXnzJCvH98Axno2ADX5aEl1ge?EJSVTASY5LEXmceEhVC5DurBAA
One hindrance to Consecutive Downstacking is that you can really only do it if your field is relatively clear. If you have a lot (or even a few) lines stacked up, then you won't be able to use this technique. But if you're using garbage doubles and the other techniques, then having a clear field isn't too difficult.
Learning to recognize when you can do this can take a while, but it can help a lot in games like TF where you rarely receive single lines of garbage, but when you do, the garbage comes in consecutive lines of 3-5 (because of combos and doubles). And when this happens, and the lines are favorable for consecutive downstacking, you can just plow through the lines and get down to your straight line garbage easily.
Consecutive Downstacking is also good if you're trying to play dig race and use the least amount of pieces (although I recommend playing to be efficient rather than using least pieces).
Also for anyone who hasn't seen apocalypse's blockbox survivor video, you're missing out!
If you watch, he keeps his field flat and clear pretty much the whole time which is why he can downstack so fast!
Part 1
- Spoiler:
- Hello all.
You may have seen or heard of me. But allow me tell you who I am anyways. I am anonymous, the best downstacker on all of Hard Drop!
Okay, that may not be 100% true. If you're judging by downstacking speed, Apocalypse is the best downstacker, but if you're judging by efficiency, then I am confident in saying that I am the best downstacker*!
*Only in terms of Blockbox. If you're not familiar with Blockbox. Basically, it's all completely messy garbage, and double sends 1 line, triple sends 2 lines, tetris sends 4 lines, and Back to Back also adds an extra line send (so B2B tetris sends 5 lines). Also, there are no spins and no combos.
NOTE: This part is stuff about Blockbox strategy. If you don't want to read about Blockbox strategy, then skip down to the downstacking section, although I encourage you to read this part as it may give you some good insight into downstacking.
So before I begin, we should define what efficiency is. I determine efficiency in terms of three things:
- lines built up
- lines sent
- lines downstacked
The basic gist of my definition is lines built up vs lines sent and lines downstacked. I consider a line sent and a line downstacked to be of equal value (this isn't always true, but for simplification, they're of equal value).
http://harddrop.com/fumen/?m110@7eIxMWKAhoo2AzOZyDsoBAASoB1mBXTPKAhoo2AkHx?hDsoBAA2kBFiB0aBzgBSYPKAhoo2AUMmQEsoBAAmeoUmbqU?pbSoB7eQzhBXeBVdBmfBJcBTVB6gB3QPKAhoo2A0ouXEp9B?AAejBCiBsYB2cBZVBXbBCWB0SB5eBneEYC3RpB3QpA3pbiP?PUAhoo2AnCqhDh7UTASIT5DurkrDneoUJwG3pbSzqUAhoo2?AnCqhDh7UTASYBNEVkkrD7eDSjB1hB3bBcfBVerzgbszgbQ?pA39e0lC3IwpbOPPsAB2STASIjNEFbMLEuow2BFb8sEvQ98?Aw68dEFbEcEo488AQIukD0gyrDKeI3gbI3gbI3gbI3pbZaB?7eAAAA
Anyways, Here's a table showing the efficiency of all the different line clears. For efficiency, I did efficiency = (lines sent + lines downstacked) / lines built. In the table, I labeled back to back as b2b and garbage clears as g [line clear]. I realize that the math is slightly inaccurate since I didn't take into account the little block that goes into the garbage line, but a long time ago, I did the math and took into account the little block, and the results are pretty much the same, so bear with me.
According to the table, the most efficient things you can do are (in this order):
1. garbage single
2. garbage double / garbage b2b tetris
3. garbage tetris
4. garbage triple
5. non garbage line clears
What does this tell us? None garbage line clears are bad, and theoretically, you should maximize garbage singles. Here is the most efficient game you can play:
http://harddrop.com/fumen/?m110@NdI3gbH3gbH3gbH3gbH3gbH3gbH3gbH3gbH3gbH3gb?I3pbppH7eLJ2Ap6AJ/ApDBJIBpMBAAAJRBpVBJaBAwNIA2H?GDEhoA6AAAA
Clearly, this situation is highly unlikely, and actually impossible to do with the bag system. Theoretically though, this placement is what you should be striving for.
Personally though, I don't try to follow this strategy. The above strategy is way too difficult to achieve.
The basis of my strategy is that every clear must include a garbage line. This means (theoretically) no regular singles, no regular doubles, triples or tetrises. You can only get garbage singles, garbage doubles, etc.
Going more in depth, my main strategy is to keep my field as clear as possible through garbage clears. If your field is clear, it's easy to stack on and easy to keep clear (or at least easier than if your field was jaggedy). So how do you keep your field clear? Getting garbage doubles! Garbage doubles are excellent for three reasons. They have the second highest efficiency, if you do them (right) they keep your field nice and clean which also allows you to get garbage singles, and you don't really have to look down your field so much. Here's a pretty typical dig race 10 lines game I play:
Sorry I don't know how to make previews on fumen
http://harddrop.com/fumen/?m110@NdA3gbN3gbD3gbM3gbG3gbL3gbG3gbG3gbP3hbI3pb?SuH7eAsuAzcwNnbxNnbwNTdsuA7eTliOKAnoo2AzOZyDsoB?AAmpOKAnoo2AkHxhDsoBAAvsOKAnoo2AzOZyDsoBAAzvOAA?P9AG7AszOKAnoo2AkHxhDsoBAA5uOAA63OKAnoo2AkHxhDs?oBAAZ5OKAnoo2AzOZyDsoBAAN7OAAJ9OKAnoo2AkHxhDsoB?AAMGPKAnoo2AzOZyDsoBAAGOPKAnoo2AkHxhDsoBAAzKPAA?STPQAzOZyDs488Aw3CwBFL8iD2SPAAVhBZKPKAnoo2AkHxh?DsoBAAAwNAA
Of course, you won't always be able to get just garbage singles and doubles. Often times you'll have to get garbage triples, garbage tetrises, and even *shivers* regular singles, although these aren't necessarily bad things, just try to minimize them if you can.
My strategy is much better than the one above because my strategy, while difficult, is still achievable and efficient.
Anyways, I hope this has been insightful, or at least interesting for you. But, enough talk about Blockbox! You're here to learn how to downstack, not Blockbox strategy!
Downstacking Techniques
Here I'll be posting some general stuff on downstacking that helped me become the player I am today!
There are a few techniques I use when downstacking. The first technique, I showed in the first post. I'll call it the "Garbage Double Technique" If anyone can think of a better name, please give me one because I'm terrible at making names.
Garbage Double:
- Spoiler:
The basic premise is that you just get a bunch of garbage doubles, and you get garbage singles if you can. The main point of this is to keep your field clear and try to avoid any garbage Tetrises, garbage Triples, and most of all non garbage line clears. (Although to be honest, garbage Tetrises and garbage Triples are still good and I get them a lot) Anyways, garbage doubles are good because they keep your field clear so you can keep getting more garbage doubles. Since your field is clear, you can get more garbage singles, and the cycle of g goubles and g singles repeats (hopefully). Clear field means easy to stack on, which will allow you to do whatever you want. You can keep downstacking, or if you see your opponent is about to die, you can stack up, or you can make an easy t-spin, etc.
So how do you learn how to do this? I suggest you play dig race 10 lines and at the beginning of the game, try to get as many garbage doubles as you can. 18 lines and you'll feel pressured at the top, 5 lines isn't enough. You could also play dig challenge. Personally, I learned how to do this by practicing this at the beginning of every survivor game (or dig challenge if you play Nullpomino). People complain that the beginning part of survivor/dig challenge is too slow, but this is the perfect opportunity to attempt this. You can try getting garbage doubles at the beginning of the games and then when the game starts going fast, you just downstack regularly.
Here's an examples of me doing it.
http://harddrop.com/fumen/?m110@OdP3gbG3gbK3gbB3gbM3gbJ3gbH3gbH3gbJ3gbE3pb?NaVKAnoo2AzOZyDsoBAA7eKC7A2tOAA5xA8uOKAnoo2AkHx?hDsoBAATuOAA/9A53A80OKAnoo2AkHxhDsoBAAWzOAA3EBT?6ATdNRnbFYYimbYiycc4A7eLZxOKAnoo2AUMmQEsoBAAN9O?KAnoo2AkHxhDsoBAAT/OWAQM9dE0W98AwkkrDBM98AQ5drD?MnBAA37OAACDPKAnoo2AkHxhDsoBAAVIPWAQM9dE0W98Awk?krDBM98AQ5drDMnBAAiAPAAOHPKAnoo2AkHxhDsoBAASOPA?ApGPKAnoo2AkHxhDsoBAANRPKAnoo2AzOZyDsoBAAAwNAA
I piece placement
- Spoiler:
Everyone knows that on games like Blockbox, the I piece is the most important piece there is. And, I completely agree, but for different reasons than most people.
Most people see I pieces as nothing more than something to make Tetrises. Some people see them as a way to alleviate bad stacking habits, like this:
http://harddrop.com/fumen/?m110@7eNyfI3hBTgBsdBFcBufBZKPPAU9taEFb82Dzoo2Ai?iaCAMIPAAWWB3SByRBVMBZ2OVAU9taEFb82Dzoo2AiiSTAS?YlNEPBAAAAAA
But I pieces are useful for a wide variety of things, such as making Tetrises, or more importantly downstacking. Say what?! The I piece is good for downstacking? Yes! The I piece basically gives you one free line clear that can open up many options for you. For example, in my Specific Downstack section, the very first example uses an I piece to downstack.
Also, you should know that if you get that one free line clear, it should ONLY be used for garbage lines, and not lines that you built up. For instance, this is good:
http://harddrop.com/fumen/?m110@rdD3gbJ3gbL3gbB3gbM3gbK3gbJ3gbA3pbZ2H7eFCJ?BMPBNLB6scCRBAAA
This is bad:
Actually I can't think of a good situation. If I do, I'll put a fumen down, but for now, goo.
The I piece is also good if you have a messy field, having an I piece will allow you to stack up and fix your field. A lot of the time, players have a messy field, and then they stack up to fix their field, but they don't keep in mind to have an I piece, and they end up stacking 5-6 lines.
green lines denote stuff you've already built up.
http://harddrop.com/fumen/?m110@9bD3/ckzobkzgbkzlbnzgbkzjbqzgbmzF3gbJ3gbD3?gbK3gbE3pbRPwEAo3MoD7eGxKAt3OAA6IBsBB33ArJBAwNG?AV2LNEMnBAAzbHYjeZOB7eAAwNrA2HGDEhoA6AFbsiDs4jJ?EFb82Dzoo2AuH98AQiDKEnIyTASolrDzNKDA
I pieces are good for getting rid of excess pieces on your field too:
http://harddrop.com/fumen/?m110@adG3hbH3gbJ3gbM3gbF3gbE3gbF3gbF3gbC3gbK3gb?A3pbZkVVAJoo2AjHhDEkoo2AkH98AQ+74DTBAAA7eHAwNyA?iA3TASIE2DBP98AwNXTAS4XNEFbUOCFbkOEpYQrDFbsiDvE?laEFbsYEvXpTAT5AAASwOAAX6Ac2AN5AuGBAwNoA3oMDEFb?EmDF8tTAyE88AQlboEFb8KCFbkzDBSVTASYM5Dl1kaEAwNo?APSNXEFbEcEo488AQFdrE0oo2Ao3krDFbcsAlsLSAS4sdDk?oA6A9bD34cF3QphbB30lC3RpgbC31l9eQpIwkzgbB30l9eK?wbch6NEAo3MoD7eCSrOAAX1As8AzbHYje16NGAV2LNEMnBA?A7eAZ8AIcUKnbWKGe2ZA7eBFABzyOAAHc4Gob6GGeu2OGAV?2LNEMnBAA7eAAwNJAonjXEhW98ARAAAA
One thing you have to watch out for though, is stacking an I piece over a close by upcoming garbage hole that.
http://harddrop.com/fumen/?m110@idK3gbG3gbQ3gbG3gbD3gbM3gbG3gbF3pbZvH7ePAw?NiA3oMDEFLHSAS4XNE3oo2A5H5TASYRhEuoo2AnnDvDFnBA?AAwNjA0H98AwBrNEJ388AQlDKEFbMwDBcudDn488AwkkrDB?s8CAAwNtA5H5TAyiLDEFbkzDBSVTASYlNEFbsYE0Sg/DFbc?fEwoo2Azno2AsOprDTBAAAS1OmA5H5TAyiRTASoakD0Q0CE?sW98AQzUTAS4MrDUPNXEFbMLEGqBAAXrOkA0gKKEJmZTASo?0JE0H98Awx88AQeS5DQDVTASIT5DurkrDAwNUAPM98AQWrh?ECDVTASYBNEVkkrDevOpAiA3TAS4XNEuo+1DFDlaEzow2BF?bEBEFP98A3M98AwUDKE0OphEFBAAAztOAAs1Ap3Av5A6xAz?vAuzAZtOxAzno2ATPukDroo2Aw+kkDlN98Awv0rDsYEbEsW?98AwScaE0oSTASoTABBoQOBDBAAAAwNAA
In conclusion, I pieces are the shiznit. They allow you to fix your messy fields, they let you clear excess pieces on your field so you can keep it clean, and in general it provides a lot of flexibility in downstacking.
Predicting your hole
- Spoiler:
Another fundamental downstacking technique is predicting your hole. In order to be a good downstacker, you have to know what your next garbage hole is going to look like. Here's an example:
http://harddrop.com/fumen/?m110@JeF3gbD3gbK3gbK3gbD3pbiLI7eC/VBGZBAwNiAnH2?JEnoo2A0H98AQFVrDkoo2ABG98AwN88AQIerDjoBAA9bD3Z?ex6NTAzH98AwN88AQcTDEkoo2APGdCA7eAlbB9bHYZe5MPe?AV2LNEM388AwN88AQIerDj488AwBRoDFbcfEzoBAA7eAAAA?
As you can see, I know that the hole is going to need an I, L, or J piece, so I hold one of those pieces. And then I use it when the time comes!
To be pro, you also need to know how to change your hole. Obviously, you can't change where your next garbage hole is. But, you can change what you want your hole to look like, and what your next garbage hole is going to look like too. The second part of this sentence "what your next garbage hole is going to look like" is especially crucial. One mistake I see many people make is that they don't foresee what their next hole is going to look like. This is EXTREMELY important; not just in downstacking, but in creating prophecy t-spins and other advanced techniques. Here's some examples of me changing the garbage hole.
ugh, messed up the fumen. Frame 21 to 24, I only had 1 S piece, not 2 in a row.
http://harddrop.com/fumen/?m110@NdC3gbJ3gbH3gbH3gbK3gbG3gbH3gbJ3gbK3gbM3gb?A3pbhtH7eWGzANyAc5ASABX2AbsA89ALnAd/AC5AG1Av3AZ?9AfIBdMBUNBTOBCJBZGBuQBfGPlApoo2AjHhDEkoo2AwA3T?ASY91DpN98AwKyrDFG98AQ8MXEFBAAAAwNxAiA3TASocTAS?YBNEuoQOB0oo2AoC7rDFb8bDuG/1DJmZTASI/MEtOZyDFbc?fEQBAAAAwN0A0H98AQIheEFb82Duoo2AJP98ADoo2AzH98A?wN5aE04znDFb82DFbEmDvoo2AU9taE/d8epbcDibai1lkz8?ecDB3Kwts9bAAA7eJXCPTAD9jJEn488AQ+brDFbkzDPDdCA?T/OAA6QBUOBOWB9YBKWBZXBZeBAAA
Note that when I "change" the hole, I know exactly what I'm doing. I planned out that whole sequence in my head. I saw that I didn't have a good piece sequence to downstack through those holes, and I saw that if I put the S piece there, I would need a J piece. However, there was a J piece coming up in my preview so I changed the hole. After that, it's just a matter of filling in the rest of the field so I don't get any wasted singles and stuff.
http://harddrop.com/fumen/?m110@OdQ3gbD3gbF3gbK3gbM3gbJ3gbB3gbQ3gbG3gbC3pb?rnH7eFcyA5xAAwNrAu32rDFbEcEoi2TASY91Dloo2AzYANE?O388Aw6DXEiSZrDFbkzDPDdCAAwNdAtSirDzoo2Ahoo2AUo?o2AT9TQEF388AQcTDEFBAAAfrOVAJoo2AjHhDEkoo2AkH98?AQ+74DTBAAAAwNiAiA3TAS4XNEFbEwCFbkOEpYQrDFbsiDv?E2JEnoo2AV5BAA4c8eqbQpib1libQplbcDhbRpC3ts8ecDk?z5cAwN4AJmceEliSTASoUSASYshE0oo2Ahoo2AKoo2APG98?Awt2TASYlNEFbsiDoCZyDloo2Ao3krD7ea24AfrOpAB2STA?S4XNE3oo2AX9sJEFb82DFbkOEVP98AwNpTASY91Dloo2AzA?AAAttOWAo3krDFb82Dzoo2AD9jJEnoSTAyZAAATpOAAfABO?BBaHBiBBcFBtCBZJB/NBuTBcTBlNBzQBZQBTNB0QB6WB5UB?3HB+OBKGBeCBz9A/8A9bD3ZeS7N4Apoo2AQM9nDpl2TASoc?TAS4nrDF388AwBpTASYbSASIjNEFb8KCFbkzDPzSTASoiJE?FbEVC7eDV4AdkOAAZZBceBUcoUmbqU7daSPTAun9TASoPKE?o3MoDFbEVCFrmAA7eAAwNJAonjXEhW98ARAAAA
In this game, I say that I have no upcoming T piece, and then a T piece comes along, but just pretend I didn't have a T piece coming up lol.
A lot of my technique is recognizing what shapes your garbage holes are going to form and holding the piece you need. Then once you have the piece you need, you just fill in the field so that you don't waste any lines with singles. And, if you have an unfavorable piece sequence, then you change the hole so that you do have a favorable piece sequence.
Stacking Flat Over Holes
- Spoiler:
When downstacking, the one thing everyone says is "don't stack over the holes". However, I think a better philosophy is "don't stack over the holes... but if you do, stack flat over the holes". Why do you stack flat over the next holes? So that when you clear your current garbage line, your next garbage hole is open.
Furthermore, if you have a flat stack over your next hole as opposed to just not stacking over holes, you'll have more ways to downstack the hole.
http://harddrop.com/fumen/?m110@1dlzmbqzibkzH3gbC3gbK3gbM3gbA3pbmLI7eGAwNw?AQDtJE0W98AwWXTASIceD5N98AQurTASYhaEFbEcEo488AQ?FdrE0oo2Ao3krDc2cN2ca2cZxcO2cOmqrAiA3TASo0uDFb8?sEvgyTASIbeEhViTASIceDzoo2AseirDFbEcEoe8CA1dlzg?bkzkbqzibkz9eF3gb8eHcAgb7eEmTBOmqiAun9TASICKEsW?98AwN88ADoo2AKow2BFbEVCFb0sDJ/BAAa2cZxcZxc
Here's an example of me stacking flat over holes
http://harddrop.com/fumen/?m110@NdI3gbE3gbH3gbN3gbD3gbM3gbC3gbG3gbL3gbO3qb?xqH7eBG2A85A9bD3Ze16NXAuoneEFbkzDPDVTASosaEFb0s?Dsi+CA7eAauOAA+bUKnbWKQe3PA7eB1BB7/A+bdDmbdDRey?UA7eD/+AF6A+4Af2A/boUmbqUQe7PA7eAinOXAuoneEFbkz?DPDVTASosaEFb0sDsi+CA+bNRnbNRQe0/NAA7eFbtA5ABcC?BX4A9FB7DBlcxNobxNod2oA7eEcnOXAuoneEFbkzDPDVTAS?osaEFb0sDsi+CASvOpAt3MoDFb0HEFF3TASYKNEs488AQur?TAS414D0oo2AKoo2Aw+kkDFBAAAJDBUDBF0OAA9bD3hc4Go?b6GmbDA/cy6N3AB2STAS4nrDYP98AQcTDEloo2ApN98AwjT?DEkoSTAS4FNEyoo2AKow2BFbEVCFLHSASocBA7eAOPBJcoU?mbqUGe2ZA7eEaRBbEPAA3+OXAuoneEFbkzDPDVTASosaEFb?0sDsi+CAZAPAA3HPmAt3MoDFbkzDPDVTASYlNEFb0sDJP98?AQP88AwNpTASYKNEMnBAAlc4Gob6GodxYOAA7eHubB0aB2d?BzWBdWB6XB7TBMQBDdHYTdpeB7eAAAA
Downstacking Rhythm
- Spoiler:
Sometimes when you downstack, you have The Feeling. You're downstacking like a pro! You clear through 8 lines in 4 seconds! And then, suddenly you mess up and you lose your downstack mojo. I see this a lot when I watch people downstack. They downstack a few holes, and then they get stuck on one hole for a long time. You lose your rhythm, and then you either lose the game, or it takes you a while to recover back to your normal state.
So what causes players to lose this downstack mojo? There are two main situations: awkward stacks/piece placements, and having a block over your hole.
Block over your hole:
http://harddrop.com/fumen/?m110@YekzjbA3gbM3gbD3pbAoUaACj7kDroo2APSNXEFb8s?EvgyTASYKNEsoBAA7eBCbBAAA
For example, here's a game of me playing dig race:
http://harddrop.com/fumen/?m110@NdB3gbO3gbJ3gbH3gbC3gbG3gbK3gbJ3gbN3gbH3gb?B3pbA4G7ebizA8yAOyAd7AX6AzzA5vA57AmEBfHB0HBKJBT?KB8EBNDBZGBbJB6PBfRBdMBOLBT8A9NB5RBceBecB/iBAAA?
Notice how at some points I have a block over the hole. However, I fill in the rows until the single block over the hole is gone.
And here's a game where you downstack 4 lines and then have a block over your hole:
http://harddrop.com/fumen/?m110@1dF3gbF3gbJ3gbM3gbB3gbM3gbD3pbiBI7eJ9KB2LB?TIBUEB9xOvAtSirDzoo2Ahoo2ACj7kDroo2APSNXEFbEEBU?988Aw6DXEiSZrDFbkzDPDdCA68OAAmRBfZBAwNJAhT98Aw3?CwBDBAAAAAA
This is the kind of thing I was talking about at the beginning of the section. Many people downstack 4 holes and then they meet block over the hole and are temporarily setback. And then in those few moments, they lose a lot of position, time, or even the game.
So how do you stop this? Just fill in the rows so that you don't have a block over your hole. You can also think about it like this. However many blocks you have over that garbage hole, you have to clear that many lines. This is a very important concept, and when I finally understood this, I improved my downstacking skills a lot faster and became pro.
http://harddrop.com/fumen/?m110@ldkzoblzjbkzibqzhbqzA3gbN3gbG3gbK3gbC3pbAo?UiAUNyrDloo2AsOprDzoo2APSNXEFb0HEFF3TASYKNEsoBA?A7eLAwNeADD1dDyoo2ABP98AQC1dDTP98Aws78AQC2JEl9B?AAcMB5LBAwNiAUNyrDloo2AsOprDzoo2APSNXEFb0HEFF3T?ASYKNEsoBAAFBPeADD1dDyoo2ABP98AQC1dDTP98Aws78AQ?C2JEl9BAAOQBzTB5PBaYBcMPtAwno2AsOprDzoo2APSNXEF?b0HEFF3TAyE88Aw68dEFb8bDFbsYEJmBDEFBAAANiBAAA
Also take note that I say "clear at least 3 lines or more". You can also build up one more line (so you've built up a total of 4 lines) and get a garbage Tetris, which is technically more efficient. But, for me, I'd rather not take the risk of building up excess lines which could make my stack uneven or possibly cause me to have to get a single, so I just get the garbage triple.
Vipjun pointed out to me that after he realized this, he could visualize his field a lot better. I'm not going to try to type out/explain our discussion because then you'll just get really confused, but hopefully this picture will be sufficient.
This section also works well with "stacking flat over holes", so keep that in mind!
Knowing when to stack up
- Spoiler:
In general, you want to keep your field empty and clean, but there are times where keeping your stack low is bad. Specifically, whenever you reach garbage holes that are stacked, that means you need to start building up because when lines are next to eachother and on top of eachother, putting down pieces can block upcoming garbage holes. Like this:
http://harddrop.com/fumen/?m110@YdK3gbH3gbH3gbJ3gbL3gbK3gbL3gbG3gbB3pbAoUk?A03tTASonRASYD5DuY0TASoCXEloo2ATPckDroSTASo/QE7?eHiHqNAjX7rDyN98AQcTDEFBAAANHquAu32TASYlNEvoo2A?iiSTAyE88AQzgeEFb0HEPP98AwabNEkoo2Alu+1DF8BAAcH?qjAiiSTAS4FNEyoo2AzYANEO388Aw6DXEiSZrDFbkzDPDdC?AOHqVABG98AwhcXEprDeEFbMLEQPONEOBAAAZCqgAiiSTAS?4FNEyoo2AU+bTASI4dDS07xDloo2Ao3krDbCqDAO1fAA/Cq?tAO1vvAX9BUASoCXEloo2A5H5TASorkEFG98AQ4EeD5OZyD?FbEcEFfS5DTBAAA/CqAA
When the holes are like this, you've got to start building up lines to plow through the garbage holes. If they're in a column of 2, then build a 2 column hole around them. If they're in a column of 3, then build a 3 column hole. If they're in 4 different columns, then it gets slightly more difficult. When they're in 4 column holes, then it's pretty much the same as 3 column, but with a slight twist which is confusing to explain, but hopefully you will see it in the fumen.
http://harddrop.com/fumen/?m110@1dA3gbJ3gbH3gbJ3gbH3gbJ3gbG3pbAoUmATPckDro?STAS4gRASI/MEsQ/JEFbMwDBcudDn488AQcTDEl9BAADdkz?hbrzhbrzhbrzhbrzhbqzlcAwNeATPckDroo2AVJ98AQr78A?wUTDE1UpTASYKNEsoBAADdcDhbjDhbjDhbjDhbjDhbiDrbA?3AAmbA3AAnbAAA3nbA3gbAA5bAwNmAzno2Aj3khENG98Aw8?WeDjB9nDFbMwDBcudDn488AQcTDEl9BAANdkzibqzibqzib?qzibpzlcAwNZATPckDroo2Azno2Aj3khENG98AQcTDEFBAA?ANdcDibiDibiDibiDibhDsbA3AAlbAAA3nbA3AApbA3AAmb?A3AAvbAwNcATPckDroSTASYlRASI/MEsQ/JEFbkzDPDlaE7?eAAwNGAzYIXEF/BAA
http://harddrop.com/fumen/?m110@YdK3gbH3gbH3gbJ3gbL3gbK3gbL3gbG3gbB3pbAoUk?A03tTASonRASYD5DuY0TASoCXEloo2ATPckDroSTASo/QE8?cqzibqzibqzDdAwNAA7eDi3Am8AlBBAwNtAjCpTASIX1Dvn?0rDFbEcEvoo2ATPckDroo2Ayno2APM98Aws78AwSGoDFBAA?AjdrzhbrzlcOGB7eD6LBAAAAAAAwNmAX9zdEFb82Dmoo2An?CqhDh7UTASosaEFbEEBFbMmEJ3UTAT5AAAidK3gbH3gbH3J?wA3gbF3AAibA3mbAAibA3lbAAkbA3AAlbA3rbAAA7eBAwNa?AQM9dE0W98AwDJlDooo2AU9UTASITeDtoBAAAwN2AiA3TAS?4MrDFbsiDhAX5Dvw0TASYKNE3oo2AtCJvEFbEBEJGlaEFb8?sEvQ98AQzY5DMnBAAGdqzibqzibqz5cAAA7eDi8AmBBlGB8?8OuADD1dDyoo2AU+bTASYKNEs488AwBRoDFbUVElFyrDBPV?TASIjRASIc5DkoBAA6dozkbozRcAAA7eEiQBdWBubBJaBAA?A
When I say "be cautious how many lines you build" in frame 15. I mean that however many garbage holes are stacked, that's how many lines you have to build up. So, in frame 15, within the 3 column well, you have 3 stacked holes, so you want to build up 3 lines. If you build up 4 lines, then you'll have one line left over which will cause you to get an unnecessary single.
Also, I realize I have a section in the "specific downstacking part", but this needed more analysis.
EDIT: I was playing a game of dig race 10 lines and did this:
http://harddrop.com/fumen/?m110@NdG3gbE3gbN3gbJ3gbG3gbJ3gbG3gbC3gbJ3gbK3gb?F3pbA4G7eQG1ADyAl4Ay4AnuAstAOtAkkAj0AJVANwOIAiY?54DuoA6A6FBpEBNPBPTBAwNGAonjXEhGCAAAAA
Reversing holes
- Spoiler:
I can't believe I forgot this. It's so simple, but it's such a key concept to understand. Here is what hole reversing is/how to do it:
http://harddrop.com/fumen/?m110@JeqzhbrzhbszgbkzG3gbB3pbAoURAyI7rDyN2JEnoo?2Ao3krDTBAAA7eCAwNbATow2BFbUEDFLHSASIiSASoCXElo?o2AiiaCA7YBAAAJeqzhbrzhbkz9bAAA7eBfeBAAA/dpzhbr?zhbrzhblzlbcDgbkz0bAAA7eCcdBAAAAwNNAJoo2ApN98Aw?mCeDZBAAAJepzhblzwb0l1bAAA7eCZYBAwNmAiA3TAS4XNE?3oo2Au48nDFb8bDu3+1DFM98AwN88AQIerDjoBAAAwNoAMo?o2AKoo2AUoo2ABMVTASIINEP388AQZjXEFbUVEFSNXEzOZy?DJepzEYgblzlbEYobEYkz1bAAA7eBOdBAAAJepzhbrzhblz?lb4Gkz1bAAA7eBNdBAAAJeqzhbrzhbkzlbYikzcD0bAAA7e?BaeBAAAJeqzhbrzhbkzmbkzoU0bAAA7eCdOPjAUoo2AjCpT?AS4wrD2ICbEloo2Ai3+1DFbsYEJ3kaEFrmAAAAAAAA
Notice the T can reverse both sides. This is one reason why the T piece is such a valuable piece. Not only does it fix jaggedy stacks and does t-spins; it also reverses your hole, which is essential when downstacking. T pieces have so much flexibility so it's important to hold T pieces whenever you can (I pieces too!).
It's important for you to see future situations where you need to reverse your hole. For instance, if you create a situation on the left side of the well in the fumen. When you clear the right side, you'll be left with a block over your garbage hole. So you need to reverse it. Depending on the orientation of the blocked hole, you can use a J or T, or a L or T.
Also, you should reverse the hole before you start clearing the lines. So in the fumen, I should reverse the left side before I get the Tetris (or whatever line clear) on the right. That way, I don't have to get a single later on.
http://harddrop.com/fumen/?m110@ZdkzobqzgbkzgbqzgbszhbP3gbE3gbN3gbH3gbB3pb?A4G7eD6RqsA5H5TASIvdDuoo2A1NVTASoiJEFbEVCFbMLEy?oo2AUoo2A0H98AQ5lrE9hc9hc9Rq1AU9taEFb8bDstrTASo?SQEQDerDzoo2A0H98AQ5geEVMVTASI4dDS07xDloo2Ao3kr?DTBAAA/dA3nbBAlbA3JcAgb7eB56O/ADD1dDyOZyDFbEcEo?488AQLOyDIP98Aw8W5DMD98AQjUNEjh0TAS4nrDYP98Aw6D?XEiSZrDFbkzDPDdCAAwNGAnnDvDFnBAAZdkzobqzgbkzhbp?zgblzmbEY8eA3CfEYRcAAA7eC9BB5KBAwNLAo3krDFbMLEw?IxCA
A lot of people forget that L and J pieces can reverse holes too. For instance, in frame 1, a lot of people only see that the T can reverse the blocked hole. However, you need to see that you can use the T or L piece, since this effectively doubles the chance you get the piece you need so you can downstack quicker. (And you can save that T piece for something else like a T spin).
Hole reversing is an incredibly easy technique to understand, yet I see many people don't do it or aren't good at it. However, I definitely recommend learning it because it's such an easy concept to understand and learn and it can increase your downstacking and adding skill by a pretty good margin for such an easy technique.
Eventually when you start recognizing when you need to reverse holes, you can do advanced stuff like this:
http://harddrop.com/fumen/?m110@NdE3gbK3gbE3gbK3gbD3gbR3gbD3gbH3gbK3gbL3gb?A3pbA4G7ecDtA+xAv0A96Aa4Ap4AS4AOABsDBvEBDDBJBBk?GBvPB9OBNSBMOBTLBycpnAX9zdEFbEmDvoo2A3u+1DFbMLE?yCZyDloo2Aw+kkDl46ACFrmAA6epAA6UBuWBJRBjMBpXBkX?BnVBOjBAAA
Consecutive Downstacking
In an earlier section, I talked about what happens when you have holes stacked over each other. Well, sometimes, when the holes are not stacked over each other (i.e. spread apart*), you can choose to downstack many holes (3-4) at once, and then turn the last garbage hole into a large line clear. This can be very efficient if you can get 3 garbage singles, and then a garbage Tetris. For instance:
http://harddrop.com/fumen/?m110@NdC3gbF3gbN3gbM3gbA3gbP3gbF3gbJ3gbG3gbE3gb?I3pbAoU0AmOCbE0oo2A1no2Ao3krDzoo2ABMVTASI7QEy4z?nDFbUVEFD0dEJS9CE5oo2A3oMDE1doUgbvUbcAwNcACD5rD?FbEBEJGVTASosaEFbcEE5oo2AnH0CE7eVvzAJyAAwNuAUou?XEpN98AQcTDEloo2AtiSrDFb0sDPM98AQ+brDFbUfDsQVTA?SYD5DuoBAAAAAAwN/Bun9TASowNE1oo2AoC7rDFbEcEvoo2?AtSirDFbsYEVMVTASowNE1oo2AkXReEFLsRASIbeEhViTAS?IClEFM98AwBJvEFbMwDBcudDn488AQcTDElN98AQ+7dD0oo?2ABMVTAS4MrDmXyrDFbEcEoi2TASYKNEsIhAA8+AF+AGFBS?FBDoOAApBBf/OAB2HGDEhoA6AFb8sEvQ98AQ/IbE0oo2Akn?VKETPckDroSTASonRASI/MEuNlkDVP2kEloo2Ao3krDzoA6?AlCPAAEUBDQBmXBHYB9ZBmbBhgBcfBAAA
*Actually you can almost always use Consecutive Downstacking, but it's a lot easier to do when the holes are spread apart.
What makes consecutive holes? Mainly, the first thing is that the holes are not stacked together. Even if the holes are spread relatively far, if two of the holes are stacked, or near stacked, you'll be in trouble if you're trying to downstack using Consecutive Downstacking (see frame 2). Then, the second thing to see is, how spread out are the holes. The more spread out the holes are, the easier it is to use Consecutive Downstacking, since spread out holes means you have more options to place your pieces (see frame 4).
http://harddrop.com/fumen/?m110@1dE3gbJ3gbK3gbH3gbH3gbK3gbA3pbAoUPATPckDro?STASYKNEsY8CA2dAAibA3obAAA3jbAAlbA3nbA3gbAAibAA?hbA3pbAAA3qbAwNuAFStJEFb85AFbsYE0Sg/DF388AQcTDE?loo2AjCpTASYkXEFStJE0oo2Aj2AAAJeEYgbLYHcAwNGAmQ?5hE1ACAA2dA3jbAAibAAjbA3jb8eA38ecDBfsbA3ibAAjbA?AjbA3rbAwNzAo3krDzoo2ABMVTASI7QEy4znDFbMLEVP98A?Doo2AjG88Awd0TASoKTASIINEFrmAA
There are two important aspects to do Consecutive Downstacking. The first important aspect is looking for spread holes, and then set a goal. If I see I can downstack consecutive garbage lines, then I'll set my goal to the 3rd, 4th, or 5th hole (or whatever the last hole I think I can reach is). After that, the other important thing behind downstacking consecutive holes is to not stack over future holes. Here's another example:
http://harddrop.com/fumen/?m110@NdD3gbG3gbG3gbR3gbD3gbF3gbK3gbN3gbE3gbJ3gb?D3pbAoUPAzo2TASoFvEFbMwDvisCA1dHYgbIYbcAAA7eGMk?OkAkXpTAyi1TASIbeEhViTASIClEFM98AQcTDElN98AQlbo?EFoOAAO8AJtAD/AvFBAwNmAXnzJCvH98Axno2ADX5aEl1ge?EJSVTASY5LEXmceEhVC5DurBAA
One hindrance to Consecutive Downstacking is that you can really only do it if your field is relatively clear. If you have a lot (or even a few) lines stacked up, then you won't be able to use this technique. But if you're using garbage doubles and the other techniques, then having a clear field isn't too difficult.
Learning to recognize when you can do this can take a while, but it can help a lot in games like TF where you rarely receive single lines of garbage, but when you do, the garbage comes in consecutive lines of 3-5 (because of combos and doubles). And when this happens, and the lines are favorable for consecutive downstacking, you can just plow through the lines and get down to your straight line garbage easily.
Consecutive Downstacking is also good if you're trying to play dig race and use the least amount of pieces (although I recommend playing to be efficient rather than using least pieces).
Also for anyone who hasn't seen apocalypse's blockbox survivor video, you're missing out!
If you watch, he keeps his field flat and clear pretty much the whole time which is why he can downstack so fast!
Anonymous1- Posts : 13
Join date : 2012-03-23
Age : 31
Location : USA -
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