Armada: The Future of a God

The Smash scene didn’t know it yet, but this determination would bring forth a player whose records, win rates, and sheer skill would become legendary. The West may still have been playing with their petty feuds and their so called “King” but the young Swedish child who had decided to be the best would turn out to be no king. He was going to become a God.

After making a splash back in 2009, coming in 2nd place at his very first event in the United States, Armada has competed for nearly 10 years at the highest level before announcing that he was hanging up the sticks. While Armada's retirement in September caught people off guard, it was not the first time he had done so for similar reasons. In January of 2013 he retired from competitive play for 7 months citing a lack of motivation to become a better player. While fans today hope his mind will change, he appears to be very comfortable with his decision and his future role in the community.

There is a lot that we can glean from the mind of a retired professional. Oftentimes getting distance from something can give a brand new perspective about it. The same is true from Armada and Melee singles. The retirement of a player, especially one who is arguably the greatest Smasher to ever play, is a unique opportunity to discover his thoughts on the eras of both Melee as a whole as well as the different phases of his own career. His time as one of the five Gods of Melee is especially important to him and his time at the top. Although he isn’t the first of the five to retire, he will certainly be missed, and his title will likely never be revoked.

It’s important to understand that, to many, the title of one of the five Gods is not something one can just achieve by being top 6 at a major. Armada was part of something that transcends simple skill. Melee across the years has collected and bestowed titles to many players that remain regardless of whether the skill of the player has been maintained over the years. He had his own thoughts in the ongoing conversation in the community about whether these things are tied more to the skill of a player, or the legacy of a player during a specific era. 

In the same way that traditional sports have their heroes that changed their games, or music legends who may not have had the greatest voices but wrote songs that transcended themselves long after their deaths. It is important to look at the context these Smashers fought and competed within before one decides whether the titles granted over the years are simply skill related, or something more.

Does this opinion leave any room for new blood? It would seem not, despite new players making names for themselves in the scene over the last few years. The downside to the “eras of Melee,” as Armada describes, is that there is seemingly no legitimate way to break into the ranks of Kings and Gods any longer. It would seem for newer players who regularly compete with the gods, they simply need to wait for the next era of Melee and perhaps will one day receive a title and accolades of their own.

It’s clear that Melee is a game that continues to evolve even after nearly 18 years since its release. Armada as a player is also someone that has evolved with it for nearly a decade. Now in full retrospect he is able to clearly paint a picture for the community and his fans regarding not only his opinions on the eras of Melee itself but the eras of his own career as well.

wIt’s important to note the struggle that Armada has seen over the years. Early on in his career he spent years almost winning. With enormous gaps between tournaments in what was still a fledgling time for esports, the mental toll was great. As we know however, he would go on to become one of the five gods. More than that, Armada has put out career statistics that are almost too good to believe. His career set win percentage is over 88% but he also has a winning percentage over 50% when playing against the other four gods.

It is an interesting thought then, that the beginning of Armada’s career was so extremely demoralizing for him. Were he a weaker person, and had his breakthrough come perhaps later than it did, we may have never seen the rise of the legend we know today. Although this is his second retirement, and he has left Melee singles behind, we have most certainly not seen the last of his involvement and interest in Smash as a whole.

Despite the initial fear of the fan base after he made his announcement to retire, we can all take a breath of fresh air and know that the humble Swedish legend isn’t going to simply leave his beloved community behind. In addition to streaming on Twitch.tv and regularly uploading content to YouTube, he also has revealed a number of things we can look forward to in the future. Although some of this is a gamble, and may not pan out long term, Armada has always been a player who gives everything a solid try.

However, there is one thing that has been on every Smash player’s mind in recent memory. Super Smash Brothers Ultimate. Whether you are excited for the game or remain skeptical, the hype that has been generated over the last several months is undeniable. Much of the fan base, as with every new release, is curious as to whether or not this will be the game that bridges the gap between the old guard Melee players, and the modern title players. Armada is no different from the rest. Historically, Melee players have been resistant to new iterations of smash, electing to stick with the game they have played since 2001. Armada however has been more open minded and he has his own hopes for the game to come.

It was no secret that Armada was no fan of Smash 4. Right from the start he knew that the game would not be something he wanted to play long term. However, for those who are still holding out hope that their favorite Smash pro might compete in Ultimate for longer than 3 months, take heart! Firstly, it’s important to remember that he actually liked Brawl, and competed in events for nearly a year and a half. On top of that he already seems to like Ultimate far more than Smash 4! Despite his history of skepticism towards Nintendo, there are things about Ultimate that have given him more hope than in the past.

All in all, there is still a bright future going forward for Armada. He is clearly still in love with the Smash scene. As saddening as it was to see him leave Melee singles behind, we have not seen the last of him by any stretch. He left his singles career behind as a legend. Thankfully, whether he is streaming, commentating, playing doubles with Android, competing in a new title, or simply releasing YouTube content, we have a lot to look forward to in his future. We as fans and supporters have not been forgotten, and his love for the people and the series that has helped shape him into the man he is today is still potent.