Advice for a Beginner?

[Miridia]

Hello everyone. I just started playing about a week ago. If anyone can tell me anything I need to know, tips, what character I should use, ect, I'd be happy to know. I have Super Smash Bros. Melee for the Gamecube. I have all the characters and stuff, so it would be really cool if someone could help me out.

I'm also new to the forums, so...hi


PM me if you can help me out.

PS:

So far, I really like:

Link, Captain Falcon, Falco, and Fox. If you had to choose between these, who would be fun for me to learn from a beginner's point of view?



Thanks so much for taking your time to read this. My friend set me up with this account a while ago, but I just got on it. :D Thanks in advance again for the help.

 

[mastermoo420]

Choose a main, first. It's up to you and your style. Captain Falcon and Falco can be pretty fun and **** if you can play them well, but Fox is mad fun, too (for me, at least, because I like learning techskill). If you want to get consistent at techskill, using Fox is pretty nice because he requires the most speed so your hands will be able to at least handle every character.

Starting out with SHFFLing is good.

 

[INSANE CARZY GUY]

Here's my thoughts on who to pick pick someone you like playing as and play how you like and if they aren't mid or lower play as a bottom or low tier that way you can learn twice as much, have a back-up, help their dieing metagame, and sometimes they help a lot like I learned all my fox tech skill from mostly pichu and a little from falco(edge stuff). Pichu taught me amazing mindgames, how all moves can be good or bad even nair or side-B you simply have to understand how(hard to explian learned it from years) ,camping right, edge gaurd, traps and etc. sheik taught me how to do combos not f-tilt fair stuff like I do d-tilt bair them off to dair to walljump fair I get fancy with sheik at times. Sheik also taught me how to play smart.

Puff taught me stage control, falco taught me sheild pressure(not pillaring, but simply staying far away enough with f-tilt so I can't be punished right) and platforming, marth taught me everything I know about movement and I learned how to space amazingly from fighting marths.

also to put out there pichu taught me how to fight marth so my falco can **** my brother's marth easily only useing like 10 lasers in the match.

lori once told me that pichu was m2 and that's why his pichu was so good Iunderstood even if you don't and my m2 is WAAAAAYYY better from just a few pichu vs m2 matches.

 

[soju]

I suggest you start by finding a character your most comfortable with and who you enjoy the most. Then start out by starting to use that character, and if your having trouble with the character be it tech skill or mindgames, then try one of the characters like Fox(tech skill), Falcon(reading), Marth(spacing), or Falco(gay). haha ^^

=3= i suggest you starting out playing casually, learn your character, and just learn the game mechanics before you start getting into advanced techniques, then when you think your good enough, go and start learning things like SHFFLing, techs, wavedashes, L-cancels, etc. Then when you think you've gotten good at that, probably starting to go to tournaments or smashfests would be a good choice, playing with the same people is good and all, but playing with a variety of people is even better :3

 

[AceDudeyeah]

Don't play as falco first, you'll develop horrible mindgames! haha
You'll just rush at your opponent with short hop laser and SHFFL

Have you watched these vids yet?
Wak's Advanced How To Play:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4n4s5yB7ZkE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiZLs2doK8E&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFmGIOcWdsM&feature=fvw

Watch those first, pick a main(maybe watch some combo videos of your possible mains to help you decide who would be the coolest for you to play as), then play some matches.
Come back here when you have a match of yourself recorded(crappy camcorder will do. haha), or you can go to that character's own board. This is just the general melee board.
Tell me tho, who you main so I can watch that character's board for your post!

 

[ShadyMilkman]

Those vids he linked are AWESOME! I learned a ton from them a while back.

I wouldn't really suggest picking a main as a first step, but rather to grab a handful of characters you have fun with and just let a main fall in place over time. It's better (imo) to develop overall, general skills before trying to really work on character-specific strategies. Besides, the more you play EVERY character, the more you'll understand how they work and understand what they'll be trying to do against you. Example: If you don't understand to DJC shenanigans of Mewtwo, Peach, Yoshi, and Ness, someone could roflroll you hardcore with them. That's just an example, of course. Focus on fun first, success second, and fun third.

 

[SDC]

Don't main link. The biggest mistake I made in returning to melee is when I decided to main mewtwo, and wasted an entire year. Pick up either Fox, Falco, maybe captain falcon too, but focus on those first two, the ones that are actually good characters. Get good with those two, and you shall be well rewarded. :-)

 

[Zodiac]

Just play whoever you like the best first XD, I started with link and worked my way around to a few other characters that can pass for my mains. But just start by concentrating on mindgames and reading your opponent, I know tech skill looks cool but be patient when learning it.

Also dont look at the tier list and be dissapointed that some of your favorite characters aernt in the top ten. Most characters have their uses against high tiers.

 

[UltimateHaxor123]

coming from a fellow beginner: learn to gimp. LOL

 

[Octave]

If you truly want to be good at Melee, you're gonna need to do most everything everybody else said ESPECIALLY AceDudeYeah's post. Watch those three vids. After you've got a basic understanding of techskill, find people in your area who are already good at the game and play against them. Having experience against people is key. Just keep playing and working at it and you will get a lot better.

 

[painlord k11]

play shiek and marth it's easyier lol.

 

[Miridia]

Hello everyone. I just watched those videos. Those were really cool!! I liked them. Anyway, I have a ustream if anyone would like to watch me and try and explain what I'm doing good/bad. I'm Broadcasting right now I will be broadcasting all day.
http://www.ustream.tv/broadcaster/5181205

 

[Miridia]

I suggest you start by finding a character your most comfortable with and who you enjoy the most. Then start out by starting to use that character, and if your having trouble with the character be it tech skill or mindgames, then try one of the characters like Fox(tech skill), Falcon(reading), Marth(spacing), or Falco(gay). haha ^^

=3= i suggest you starting out playing casually, learn your character, and just learn the game mechanics before you start getting into advanced techniques, then when you think your good enough, go and start learning things like SHFFLing, techs, wavedashes, L-cancels, etc. Then when you think you've gotten good at that, probably starting to go to tournaments or smashfests would be a good choice, playing with the same people is good and all, but playing with a variety of people is even better :3

Thank you. And lmfao at your avatar. xD

 

[ArstNeio]

I don't think you should pick a main yet. That's never a good first step; I think it's a much better idea to just experiment with a variety of characters at first.

Don't worry yet about searching through the forums for all of the character specific techniques and guides yet. I think most important is just learning how to space and do basics with each of the characters. Once you've got that down, then you can start worrying about more advanced techs, picking a main, etc.

Also I disagree with the "don't pick Link" comment. Perhaps choosing to main Link means that you'll have more difficulty overcoming your character deficiencies, but I don't think you should decide on a main yet, and I don't think you should avoid playing Link. If anything, Link's generally slower pace of play makes him easier to control as a beginner, and would be a good character to start on. Then you can slowly work on applying the spacing and movement techniques you learned as Link to other characters, and wait until later to decide which character you'll ultimately main.

 

[Miridia]

I don't think you should pick a main yet. That's never a good first step; I think it's a much better idea to just experiment with a variety of characters at first.

Don't worry yet about searching through the forums for all of the character specific techniques and guides yet. I think most important is just learning how to space and do basics with each of the characters. Once you've got that down, then you can start worrying about more advanced techs, picking a main, etc.

Also I disagree with the "don't pick Link" comment. Perhaps choosing to main Link means that you'll have more difficulty overcoming your character deficiencies, but I don't think you should decide on a main yet, and I don't think you should avoid playing Link. If anything, Link's generally slower pace of play makes him easier to control as a beginner, and would be a good character to start on. Then you can slowly work on applying the spacing and movement techniques you learned as Link to other characters, and wait until later to decide which character you'll ultimately main.

That was very informative to me. Thank you. If you had some time, could you watch me play a few games and kind of explain to me what I need to do? I threw the link in the post above last.

 

[ArstNeio]

I totally would, but unfortunately I'm in China right now, and ustream.tv is blocked by the Great Firewall

As is the Apex Livestream which I'm not too happy about either.

 

[Miridia]

Woah. That stinks. Oh well.

 

[Miridia]

So what do you all think I should do to work on as like general basics? I remember reading about I should start with basics, then go into advanced stuff, but can someone tell me exactly what the basics are? What I should do first? Does that mean I get a hold of my character and learn his moves..or? I'm not exactly sure ; ; I'm streaming again http://www.ustream.tv/broadcaster/5181205 Would be great if you guys want to watch and help me out directly.

 

[painlord k11]

So what do you all think I should do to work on as like general basics? I remember reading about I should start with basics, then go into advanced stuff, but can someone tell me exactly what the basics are? What I should do first? Does that mean I get a hold of my character and learn his moves..or? I'm not exactly sure ; ; I'm streaming again http://www.ustream.tv/broadcaster/5181205 Would be great if you guys want to watch and help me out directly.

since falcon cant really sweet spot id learn how to tech if i were you. It's pressing L when ur about to grab the ledge and u get hit by opponents attack instead cause falcon sucks and cant sweet spot so u tech off the wall and u can do this to a wall jump. so tech wall jump recover. practice this by going to fountain of dreams in practice mode get mines put them right near the edge jump off and press B up and try to grab the ledge if bomb explodes press L then to tech off the wall and recover or u can tech then press X to jump off the wall to be tricky then recover. teching normally u can B up into your opponent which is good. Im assuming u play falcon?

 

[edgeluca]

since falcon cant really sweet spot id learn how to tech if i were you. It's pressing L when ur about to grab the ledge and u get hit by opponents attack instead cause falcon sucks and cant sweet spot so u tech off the wall and u can do this to a wall jump. so tech wall jump recover. practice this by going to fountain of dreams in practice mode get mines put them right near the edge jump off and press B up and try to grab the ledge if bomb explodes press L then to tech off the wall and recover or u can tech then press X to jump off the wall to be tricky then recover. teching normally u can B up into your opponent which is good. Im assuming u play falcon?

Actually... you're supposed to press R or L about half a second before you touch the ledge. If you press it after you get hit, you will most definetly not get a tech. And you do a walljump by holding up as you tech, not X.

 

[Miridia]

Actually... you're supposed to press R or L about half a second before you touch the ledge. If you press it after you get hit, you will most definetly not get a tech. And you do a walljump by holding up as you tech, not X.

Thank you.

 

[distraction]

heres my advice: start maining peach and watch a lot of armada videos. hes the best in the world and peach is easy to use. start off with practicing some FC nairs until you get decent. then keep on watching videos of armada and you will get better in no time.

 

[Da Shuffla]

^^^^Pick whoever you want to play, and try out different characters, and see who becomes the most natural.

And about that teching thing. . . for argument's sake, say I'm Fox, and I'm trying to recover against a Falco who is trying to Dair me for the kill. If I press L BEFORE I get hit, that will let me tech? That doesn't exactly make sense to me. I try to press it at the moment I'm getting hit.

 

[Miridia]

^^^^Pick whoever you want to play, and try out different characters, and see who becomes the most natural.

And about that teching thing. . . for argument's sake, say I'm Fox, and I'm trying to recover against a Falco who is trying to Dair me for the kill. If I press L BEFORE I get hit, that will let me tech? That doesn't exactly make sense to me. I try to press it at the moment I'm getting hit.

Awesome. I really like Falcon. He's such a fun character to play as.

 

[edgeluca]

Awesome. I really like Falcon. He's such a fun character to play as.

Don't listen to anyone who tells you who to main. Play who you have most fun with and want to use. People ALWAYS tell me to main a top tier, but I stick with my Samus.

 

[Miridia]

Don't listen to anyone who tells you who to main. Play who you have most fun with and want to use. People ALWAYS tell me to main a top tier, but I stick with my Samus.

:D Ok So do you have any suggestions for a noob like me? I mean like..people say learn the basics..I dunno what that means..

 

[KirbyKaze]

Pick Falco.

 

[Sizzle]

Hopefully you have an active smash scene in your area. If I were you, I would recommend going to the Regional Zone and find some smashers that live near you. If you're lucky, you might find someone who can help you improve by simply playing with you regularly. I think the worst thing about being a new player is having no one who is better than you to play with.

 

[Sizzle]

Double post.

 

[Miridia]

Hopefully you have an active smash scene in your area. If I were you, I would recommend going to the Regional Zone and find some smashers that live near you. If you're lucky, you might find someone who can help you improve by simply playing with you regularly. I think the worst thing about being a new player is having no one who is better than you to play with.

I think I may have one, but but they all play brawl *pukes everwhere*

 

[Miridia]

Pick Falco.

Ya know, I've tried Falco, and I like him, but I just don't think I have the tech skill to play him. I mean I guess I could REALLY work on it, but I mean I don't know any approaches other than SHL. ^-^;

 

[KirbyKaze]

Falco has the easiest zoning to learn for distance fighting because he does it all with a projectile. So you don't need to learn complicated dash dance spacings or whatever offensively; you just need to know how to respond to them. I'll give you a hint. It usually involves the "B" button.

His combos are all very straight-forward and easy to learn and haven't really significantly changed in 4 years.

His pressure is easier to learn than Fox's.

Other than floaties I think he plays easier against most characters than the other top tiers (though some may have a slightly larger advantage against some of them, and obviously this discounts stupid outlier matchups like Sheik vs Marth).

And, on the whole, he's a very fun character. He has a lot of potential for gimping, comboing, sometimes has issues killing since he doesn't have a straight-up KO combo like U-throw Uair, Shine --> U-smash, or (Sheik move) --> Fair. You learn how to kill better as you get better. He isn't super reliant on grabs but has good methods of getting easy grabs (which makes mixups a breeze with him), and can approach a lot of matchups with a variety of styles so you can be somewhat creative with him. Other characters like Sheik, Falcon, Jiggs, and Peach tend to be more rigid, I think, because their quality options are more condensed into a few traits or moves. Other than movement being kind of strange and his status of "easy to combo", Falco's pretty much a solid package overall.

 

[Miridia]

Falco has the easiest zoning to learn for distance fighting because he does it all with a projectile. So you don't need to learn complicated dash dance spacings or whatever offensively; you just need to know how to respond to them. I'll give you a hint. It usually involves the "B" button.

His combos are all very straight-forward and easy to learn and haven't really significantly changed in 4 years.

His pressure is easier to learn than Fox's.

Other than floaties I think he plays easier against most characters than the other top tiers (though some may have a slightly larger advantage against some of them, and obviously this discounts stupid outlier matchups like Sheik vs Marth).

And, on the whole, he's a very fun character. He has a lot of potential for gimping, comboing, sometimes has issues killing since he doesn't have a straight-up KO combo like U-throw Uair, Shine --> U-smash, or (Sheik move) --> Fair. You learn how to kill better as you get better. He isn't super reliant on grabs but has good methods of getting easy grabs (which makes mixups a breeze with him), and can approach a lot of matchups with a variety of styles so you can be somewhat creative with him. Other characters like Sheik, Falcon, Jiggs, and Peach tend to be more rigid, I think, because their quality options are more condensed into a few traits or moves. Other than movement being kind of strange and his status of "easy to combo", Falco's pretty much a solid package overall.

O.O Thanks for writing a small summary for me. :D I think I'll try out Falco. I'll make a quick video of a match and post it up here.

 

[-ShadowPhoenix-]

Don't main link.

Listen to this.
My first main was link. I played with him from the very beginning up to late 07... Biggest waste of time of my life. I picked up Marth and i got soooo much better. And ive recently picked up Fox and improving alot more as well.

 

[ShadyMilkman]

KK is right as far as Sheik philosophy. Grab is good, needles are great, all things end in fair.


We like to keep it simple and effective.

 

[edgeluca]

:D Ok So do you have any suggestions for a noob like me? I mean like..people say learn the basics..I dunno what that means..

If you were in my region, I'd help train you. Go to your region on smashboards (under tournament section) and try and find some people who live in your area. You can also read guides, or watch tutorials. I think there's a good one of youtube called 'Advanced How to Play'.

 

[ResidentWaffle]

subscribe to

TheWaffle77 on youtube

done.

 

[The_Smash_Champ]

the best advice is to not hold up trying to get gay kills. Every kill counts doesn't matter how you got it, so yes pretty much abuse everything about your character. GIMP GIMP GIMP.

 

[KirbyKaze]

KK is right as far as Sheik philosophy. Grab is good, needles are great, all things end in fair.

Grab whenever, at every percent, only exceptions are ICs and Puff.

Tilt when they're in the air, sometimes on ground, depends on percent and character.

D-smash after like 25, don't do it vs their shield.

Dash Attack whenever, depends on character.

Needles depend on matchup.

Spaced aerials whenever, depends on character.

Shield --> WD OoS.

 

[Blistering Speed]

Fox:

"Hop and kick, hop and kick, all you gotta do is hop and kick."

Credits to King.