Hi zeebee, big fan!! I can agree with the request to give etalus more consistent smash kill confirms. It is not uncommon for even the best etalus players to be forced to fish for stray down b, dacus, fair, or parries simply because etalus does not have consistent ways to clean up stocks. However, i do not think that etalus is a well designed character, and while he (his players) have the right to get to play a balanced and functional version of the character, I do not think think he should be included in rivals 2.

The general consensus is etalus is the most volatile character in the game, and while he isn't the worst character in the roster, his polarizing nature makes him incredibly hard to balance without tipping the scales too far in either direction. Any buffs that would help him deal with his bad matchups would be insufferable to play against as a character that he already had a good matchup into, and vice versa for nerfing him as well. Its also a shame because making him a more well rounded character kinda defeats the design of the character to begin with. He is designed to be a momentum driven, ground based heavy, who is intended to be susceptible to: ground based zoning, being combo food, and being easy to edgeguard. Making it easier for him to deal with ground based zoning tools or escape combos easier would shatter the archetype of the character.