How can I get better?

[Burnt~Ramen]

I've been playing smash a long time casually but have recently wanted to take my game to the next level. I have some friends that I play with, but I'm much better than 2 of them and get constantly beat by the other by his insane combo game and high knowledge of the game. I want him to give me some tips, but the only advice he really gives me is to practice, and that it'll take years to play the game at a high level. Is there a faster way to become one of the better players in my region, like videos that teach advanced techskill or how to read the opponent?

 

[AirFair]

Master the basics first. Not everyone rises to the top as fast as Mango does, and even he had to put in some work for that. Go find the Advanced how to play video and learn all of it. After that start practicing and try to incorporate into your game. Then work on character specific tech. You will be fighting against your own character more than your opponent when you first start. Just work on that first. Then start watching your opponent once you have a better grasp of your options.

 

[EPsilon933]

Smash isn't a very teachable game. There aren't really, I guess the word would be, explicit strategies someone can tell someone else about the game. Games like Street Fighter have it easier. Someone could say something like "Overhead attacks counter low blocks. Look for moments when your opponent tries to block low and try using an overhead against them". There aren't as many easily teachable things in Smash as there are in other fighting games. Smash has too many variables for that

 

[anikom15]

Practice techniques when you're alone, but you can't really get much better without playing more people. Read the matchup guides for your character, too.