Best way to practice against CPUs?

[Deleted member]

I want to get more into the competitive scene of Smash bros, but I have no one to play with because online is far too laggy for me since I live in Australia, and none of my friends have played Smash or own a Wii U/3DS

So naturally, the only way for me to practice Smash is go to public events or practice against CPUs and Training mode, how can I improve when playing against CPUs at home?

 

[CyberHyperPhoenix]

You live in Australia?

You're in luck, join this site here:
qldsmash.com

...And sign up. Once you are there go to the Smash 4 online thread and ask for anyone in SA or anywhere else to battle with you.

If you still want to play against CPU's, play against level 8 CPUs, they don;t have the stupid frame perfect reactions level 9's have.

 

[Deleted member]

You live in Australia?

You're in luck, join this site here:
qldsmash.com

...And sign up. Once you are there go to the Smash 4 online thread and ask for anyone in SA or anywhere else to battle with you.

If you still want to play against CPU's, play against level 8 CPUs, they don;t have the stupid frame perfect reactions level 9's have.

Yeah, I've been using QLD Smash for a while, but about 80% of the time it's still either too laggy or my opponent is just way too good for any improvement to be had.

 

[Wintropy]

This is gonna be really blunt, but:

Don't.

CPUs won't teach you anything except for how to perform certain combos or practice using moves. Otherwise they don't replicate human players well: they have frame-perfect reaction times at higher levels, don't adjust their playstyle to suit what you're doing, can be easily punished by the same things and don't DI or combo effectively. I'd use them as training dummies that you can test new things on or just to beat up to relieve stress, but you won't gain much benefit from practicing against them. You will develop bad habits if you do it that way.

The best thing to do is to go to local events or persevere through online lag. It's not the best system, but if you have an opportunity to play real people, take it. If you want to get into the competitive side of things, you'll have to go events at some stage, so I'd say it's a good idea to get into it as soon as you can and get experience in a competitive setting. Don't make the mistake of only going to your first tourney when you think you're ready to win: go whenever you feel you want to improve, and keep going until you've earned that victory.

 

[Baby_Sneak]

Just go to training mode and keep the mode to "stand," then best it up til you fill comfortable with your character. That's really the only use a cou; getting comfortable with your main. The post above me is more strict about the use of CPUs, but I say they're good for fimilarity with your character

 

[Wintropy]

Just go to training mode and keep the mode to "stand," then best it up til you fill comfortable with your character. That's really the only use a cou; getting comfortable with your main. The post above me is more strict about the use of CPUs, but I say they're good for fimilarity with your character

I'd use them as training dummies that you can test new things on or just to beat up to relieve stress

Got ya covered~ ;3

 

[Baby_Sneak]

Got ya covered~ ;3

You actually talked about something different (I'm talking about being able to move your character well without friction); a point that's actually not thought about enough. Experimentation is highly important in smash.

 

[Wintropy]

You actually talked about something different (I'm talking about being able to move your character well without friction); a point that's actually not thought about enough. Experimentation is highly important in smash.

I don't understand what you're saying or how it's different to what I said, but okay, I'll take your word for it. :3

EDIT: Rereading it, I get what you mean. I thought that was implicit in what I'd said (training dummies and whatnot), but you're right, you can get a feel for your character's moves by using a standing CPU as an opponent.

 

[Baby_Sneak]

I don't understand what you're saying or how it's different to what I said, but okay, I'll take your word for it. :3

My fault lol lemme explain please:
You said this," I'd use them as training dummies that you can test new things on or just to relieve some stress." This is implying that the said person already has familiarity with their character because you don't go outside the box when you have little control over your character, you wait til you are able to firmly handle your character like its second nature, then you start making creative and imaginative ideas and strategies.
What I'm saying is to use the CPU as a way to
Improve your handle on your character. I'm suggesting that the use of CPUs are to build up the bond level you have with your main to the point of "second-nature," where you do everything smoothly and effortless. That's when you start to experiment, which is what you're saying.
But, it don't matter, we both said something gud, and that's good enough

 

[Deleted member]

This is gonna be really blunt, but:

Don't.

CPUs won't teach you anything except for how to perform certain combos or practice using moves. Otherwise they don't replicate human players well: they have frame-perfect reaction times at higher levels, don't adjust their playstyle to suit what you're doing, can be easily punished by the same things and don't DI or combo effectively. I'd use them as training dummies that you can test new things on or just to beat up to relieve stress, but you won't gain much benefit from practicing against them. You will develop bad habits if you do it that way.

The best thing to do is to go to local events or persevere through online lag. It's not the best system, but if you have an opportunity to play real people, take it. If you want to get into the competitive side of things, you'll have to go events at some stage, so I'd say it's a good idea to get into it as soon as you can and get experience in a competitive setting. Don't make the mistake of only going to your first tourney when you think you're ready to win: go whenever you feel you want to improve, and keep going until you've earned that victory.

Going to tourneys is literally something I cannot do at the moment, there's absolutely no way. I'm just far too busy and there's only like 1 tourney every few months in my area to begin with.

 

[Jterr]

When I can't go Online or play a real person. I usually play against Lv. 9 or Lv. 8 CPUs. Although Lv. 9's are just unrealistic and make bad training and cause bad habits. Lv. 8's aren't as bad, but still, fighting CPU's is generally not the best way to train.