I needed to psot this thread for two reasons: I always lose to any heavy hitters, and I need to know how to mindgame. I am guessing that is the reason I lose - I'm so predictable. I can destroy anybody on For Glory for the most part, but if they use DK or Gannon, its over and I always lose. Thanks guys, I really need help o.O
To mindgame is to predict what your opponent will do in a situation given to them and respond with something that counters their action, while another part of a mindgame is to condition your opponent into doing something and punishing their action. A lot of other things are in it and you can't really be taught how to mindgame, you simply have to practice it.
Pay attention to your opponents habits and flaws in their gameplay, then exploit the hell out of them. During the Neutral the main mindgame that is held is the RPS situation where Grab beats Shield, Shield beats Attack, and Attack beats Grab. Predicting what your opponent and acting upon it will begin a mindgame.
What's so "game" like of a mindgame you ask? Simply put, because reverse-psychology exists, there is never a definitive answer to a situation. Think about it like this.
Layer 1:
I am going to use an Attack expecting a Grab.
Layer 2:
What if they know I'll attack though, because they have planted the thought of them using a Grab? It would be best to
Grab then, wouldn't it? Since they would Shield the expected attack.
Layer 3:
BUT, wouldn't Shield also be a neutral choice? Unless they do the Grab as initially expected...Then
Attack is the best option.
Essentially Layer 3 is using the same logic as Layer 1. This is what the basic mindgame is shown in a game like Rock, Paper, Scissors. Your opponent will pick either a Defensive option, an Offensive option, or a Commanding Option no matter what in these states, so which do you expect and how are you going to counter it?
It's not as simple as Shield, Grab, Attack sometimes though, different Attacks will pressure a shield and not allow the opponent to punish with a Shield-grab. Some will fake you out to select an option in order to punish whatever option you selected, but that in itself is a mindgame.
This is just an example of what kind of things you wanna be thinking about when playing. Be aware of your habits and predict what your opponent will do based on them, and counter them, as Habits truly are the only way we can be closer to certain with what an opponent will do.