Best way of learning Melee competitively?

[KyroChao]

So over the past few months, I've been trying to get back into melee. I've been playing around with all the characters and trying to pick up one(leaning on luigi ganon or Dr.Mario(my old main)) but all i've been able to do is fight Cpu's. I tried running netplay on my dads computer as i dont have my own, but it fails to read and use open GL 3.0 and 3.1 and dont feel like fixing it atm(though i might look into it). From what i can tell, melee will take possibly several years to learn as it is but without anyone to actually physically fight, how can i get into the scene? I am going to a tournament this summer for smash 4 and melee but is there anything I can do outside of participating in tournaments?

 

[EPsilon933]

Learn the essential techniques
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4n4s5yB7ZkE&feature=channel_page
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiZLs2doK8E&feature=channel_page
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFmGIOcWdsM&feature=channel_page

I recommend learning/using 1 of the tournament viable 8 simply because they're tournament viable (Fox, Falco, Sheik, Jigglypuff, Marth, Peach, Ice Climbers, Captain Falcon)

You could try playing Smash 4 online. There's a strong degree of overlapping skill between that game and Melee. They're both part of the same series and use very similar controls. You'll learn the strategic aspects on how to win, such as finding habits in an opponent, how to basically exploit those habits, how to mix up your own strategies, and how to play the neutral game. Also, use a wired connection to help reduce lag if you want to do this

Melee doesn't really take several years to learn. It's the simplest fighting game out there. It will take that long to get good. As for simply learning it with the ATs listed in the videos I linked, I'd guess it should only take someone a week to be able to do them on command in training mode. Doing them against human players will take variably longer

 

[Massive]

Melee revolves around playing other people in person. In order to get better at that, you need to DO that.
Practice techskill or whatever, but there is no substitute for actual play against others.

Join your local scene's facebook group and see if you can't get some real practice.
You're near Memphis, Right?

 

[Cool]

Good advice above.

The most technical players can fall short because they are not well versed in actually reading and reacting to a real opponent.

 

[Squire]

I recommend learning/using 1 of the tournament viable 8 simply because they're tournament viable (Fox, Falco, Sheik, Jigglypuff, Marth, Peach, Ice Climbers, Captain Falcon)

Axe's Pikachu is viable. So is aMSa's Yoshi, and Shroomed's Doc was. They all do/did very well at tournament.

Play who you want. Top 8 isn't the right choice for everyone just because they're the highest on the tier list. Match-up knowledge and being comfortable with the character decides way more matches than "Fox beats [insert character]". The Top 8 are the Top 8 for a reason, but they're not the only options for success.

Examples:

https://youtu.be/_vi7XlSpv4Y?t=5m
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NiQwaWxHxs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eY__UutiBc4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrNmOg2H5Ck
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy2FHHG0TGc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaNu2SAhnl4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ii83aUMP4mo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4WpX4Jhh7M

Come on. Let's not stagnate the game by telling new players they need to pick up Top 8 to ever win.

EDIT: after reading this again, it came off a little rude. Not intended. I'm not trying to start a debate. I just don't think everyone starting the game should pick up a Top 8 character.

 

[Cool]

Axe's Pikachu is viable. So is aMSa's Yoshi, and Shroomed's Doc was. They all do/did very well at tournament.

Play who you want. Top 8 isn't the right choice for everyone just because they're the highest on the tier list. Match-up knowledge and being comfortable with the character decides way more matches than "Fox beats [insert character]". The Top 8 are the Top 8 for a reason, but they're not the only options for success.

Examples:

https://youtu.be/_vi7XlSpv4Y?t=5m
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NiQwaWxHxs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eY__UutiBc4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrNmOg2H5Ck
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy2FHHG0TGc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaNu2SAhnl4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ii83aUMP4mo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4WpX4Jhh7M

Come on. Let's not stagnate the game by telling new players they need to pick up Top 8 to ever win.

EDIT: after reading this again, it came off a little rude. Not intended. I'm not trying to start a debate. I just don't think everyone starting the game should pick up a Top 8 character.

Melee has been around for quite a while now, so we have a pretty good idea. It's just a suggestion to start, not an attempt to stagnate the game, though I do see where you're coming from.

 

[Squire]

Melee has been around for quite a while now, so we have a pretty good idea. It's just a suggestion to start, not an attempt to stagnate the game, though I do see where you're coming from.

That's fair, but keep in mind the meta is still constantly evolving. It's actually amazing to think about. Most games have a pretty set meta by this time in their lifespan, but we're still discovering cool new things about this game at a decent pace. Look at how Yoshi has jumped in the tier list. Look at shield dropping. The game is far from having a dead meta.

 

[Cool]

That's fair, but keep in mind the meta is still constantly evolving. It's actually amazing to think about. Most games have a pretty set meta by this time in their lifespan, but we're still discovering cool new things about this game at a decent pace. Look at how Yoshi has jumped in the tier list. Look at shield dropping. The game is far from having a dead meta.

That's true, and that's part of what makes this game so great.

 

[KyroChao]

Thank you everyone for the advice, I'll be sure to check out all links and videos when i get time at home. And yes, i am near Memphis so that facebook may just help a ton :o

 

[Deleted member]

First thing I would say is get your friends to play it as a party game. Most likely your friends are sub-par at melee but playing with humans, no matter their skill level, is COMPLETELY different compared to playing against bots (thats what I did ans still do). If you can't get any friends to play whatsoever I recommend playing Sm4sh on 3Ds or Wii U, it doesn't really matter because you are doing this to learn how humans play and then these skills can be transferred to melee.

Secondly, look for Facebook groups that are near you and try and meet up with other players. Remember to ask them about how you could improve your game play and they will gladly help (hopefully).

Thirdly look up video tutorials and practice tech skill in your free time!

Lastly, if all of the above fail play against lvl 9 bots, they will drastically improve gameplay.

 

[B00nes]

Tech skill at first, at least for me, seemed to get in the way from learning fundamentals. I felt I was trying too hard to do all these crazy combos.
I recommend working on getting smart at the game. Ie reading rolls, understanding baiting / punishing, shield grabbing.
Tech skill is for practicing on your own. I

 

[B00nes]

I personally feel that you have to learn fundamentals before getting into tech skill. When i first started I felt I was trying too hard to do all these wacky techs and I lost often because of that.
The goal is to be smart, not have fast fingers. Understand concepts like reading rolls, baiting and punishing, and shield grabbing. Playing against human players is a must. I would definitely recommend finding the scene in your area. Watch and study mid level matches (like say before vgbootcamp's top 8) and try to understand what the players are thinking when they do specific actions

 

[Cool]

First thing I would say is get your friends to play it as a party game. Most likely your friends are sub-par at melee but playing with humans, no matter their skill level, is COMPLETELY different compared to playing against bots (thats what I did ans still do). If you can't get any friends to play whatsoever I recommend playing Sm4sh on 3Ds or Wii U, it doesn't really matter because you are doing this to learn how humans play and then these skills can be transferred to melee.

Secondly, look for Facebook groups that are near you and try and meet up with other players. Remember to ask them about how you could improve your game play and they will gladly help (hopefully).

Thirdly look up video tutorials and practice tech skill in your free time!

Lastly, if all of the above fail play against lvl 9 bots, they will drastically improve gameplay.

YEAH NO BOTS. People don't play like CPUs.

You may want to start by playing them when you're initially learning to read, but any more than that will have you playing against dudes as if they're gonna do some stupid **** like rapid jabs.