I don't know what or, everywhere I look for help to get better at this game none of it works for me. Either it simply doesn't help me improve or I can't even use the method. I've been seriously trying to get better, but every method I try it simply doesn't work. You might be thinking maybe I don't practice long enough, I've been playing smash 4 since release of the 3ds version and that has almost been a year now, and after all that practice I can hardly beat a level 9 cpu. (more than half of the time I lose really) I've watched a lot of tournament matches, but I don't learn anything from them. I'm at the point where I really think I should just stop trying because obviously nothing is working. If anyone has been in this situation before, or just has some advice, all of it would be helpful to me.
I was in this situation before, and what I did was play a lot of games and watched a lot of youtubes. I also tried finding basic combos of every character and noting what other players, or even For Glory players strategies, mind games, approaches, and combos. Even if they weren't too good. Just KNOWING the game is very important, becuase competitive play looks... The same as us? Maybe a little better? It didn't make ANY SENSE to me at first.
Why were these players better than me? Some of MY combos were even better, but when I played these guys I could barely touch them. Keep in mind that I didn't know what I was doing wrong, until I looked at replays of me. My ABSOLUTE BEST was as good as decent to these guys, and when I was against players that fell for my..."mind games"
We often think of our best and compare it with decent play by high level players. This also makes us think there's "something" in our way, but we don't know what. There's even a "something" in my was in terms of spacing, approaching, and consistency. It's actually a huge gap, that isn't as visible as a gap in melee, or other games, but WE CAN'T let it get in the way. This is a big killer for future players, but they must realize this, and they will lose!
Often times, top or high level players think of Many options, for many things. I thought of doing this one thing, but do it the best I can. For example, if an opponent is in a corner, they could make a roll read, a jump to the stage read, a run and attack read, jump away from the stage read, a pivot read, and the list goes on! Reading the right option can get my Jigglypuff a combo, a stringed combo, an edge guard, or even a rest. Often times it looks easy and linear becuase of a projectile, or really good habit reading, but it isn't. Top tiers often do this easy becuase of options, and that's why they're top tier!
Knowing a little bit of every characters options will also make it easier to start playing great, rather than playing every character a bunch. Once you know this, you'll start noticing HABITS of the other player. For example, how they approach, recover, combo, and play. Even if you can't punish these habits, you're still learning the game and getting better at reading habits. You don't have to win to get progress. Sometimes going into For Glory and observing players habits are the best way to learn this. You don't need tobpunish them at first. You can intentionally lose if you want, or not give it your all, or even lose. Eventually, start looking at tourney sets and try to discover these habits of other players. Even good ones! Remember, this could be harder becuase the sets on YouTube are often of best players at tourneys. 100+ players go to Xanadu, but 7 sets or less go to YouTube sometimes, and only maybe three or two times more sets are on stream. Maybe even less.
Next you practice tech, combos, punishing, and just general stuff with your character. Eventually you'll be able to punish habits with your character, and develop good spacing. Watching top players using your character can also help, and just other YouTube stuff. Eventually, you'll be able to follow to matches that are going on on stream, or even in grand finals at EVO or apex!
Transitions can be rough, and it seems like we're always lacking behind, but we're not! I feel like I'm almost at a high level play and I haven't gotten too too close to ever winning a tourney. I've even tied for last at one not too long ago. Some great players in top 8 at a big event don't always win at their locals every time they're there! Just remember, don't quit, have fun, and listen to the high level players at improving. Though not all tips help, you should listen to them all anyway. Everything I've said might not help you at all, though they did help me! Improvement also takes a lot of time, and seems like it might not be there until you see physical results.
Training should probably consist of going to tourneys (even if you're not confident), FG or anthers ladder, YouTube, twitch, SmashBoards, training mode, playing lower level cpu's (7 at the most), and whatever else you wish to add. Level 9s and 8s can read inputs, and even I have trouble beating them, even though I usually can. If you have anymore questions abkut basically anything, just ask!
