How important are alt characters?

[LividLynx]

Hi everyone. My question is in the title, how important are alt characters? I personally have been maining Lucario and play my best with him. I have tried switching to other characters, including Marth, Cpt. Falcon and Pikachu (who I mained in brawl). I have invested a good amount of time into these other characters, watched matches etc etc, but Lucario is easily my best character. He just fits my fighting style the best. So I pose the question, are alts important? or is specialization and character loyalty ok?

I play only one other person regularly, so I usually only fight Falco, Cpt Falcon, Ganadorf, sometimes Bowser and the occasional swords man. I am wondering since I am fighting a limited cast, that I am not seeing the importance of alt characters.

Any thoughts?

 

[QQQQQQQ7777777]

you might want to change the title to multiple mains. People are going to thing you are talking about the alternate costume engine.

 

[mYzeALot]

A lot of people feel like sticking to one character and finding out how to play their bad matcups will get you the farthest in the long run. The only reason to use a different character is for either just an unbearable matchup or a situation that you can't feel comfortable in.

 

[Kati]

Yeah, and knowing how to play a character can help provide knowledge as to how to play against them. Consider people who main extreme characters like Bowser or Ganon. If they never pick up a fast character, they could remain ignorant to just how much speed helps, or what the challenges are for those who aren't powerhouses.

 

[Zujx]

If your having fun playing just one character right now keep at it get really good with him.
I'm sure you'll burn out on him eventually and pursue an alt till than just enjoy have fun.

 

[Malion]

I'm a bit of a jack of all trades and try to be the best I can with everyone.

But this is mainly because me and my friends often pick each other's characters to shake things up.

 

[LividLynx]

Ok thanks for the responses.

 

[Malion]

real answer.
no alts
no items
fox only
final destination!

 

[Vashimus]

I stick with one character, all the time, no matter what game it is. Reasons being A: I rely on muscle memory primarily because I don't have the luxury of playing every day, and playing multiple characters with completely different moves and physics screws that over, and B: focusing on one character and getting good with them will benefit you more in the long run than trying to split that duty between multiple ones. Now it's different if you completely switch characters, but for those who can't decide between Charizard and Link, it's time to make a choice with who you want to take to the next level, because you're not going to master both.

Using alt characters to fight your main character's harder matchups I also find pretty silly. Unless the matchup something like 8-2 on a good day (and how many of those matchups are in P:M?), then I find it ridiculous when someone switches characters because their main lost to such-and-such in a matchup that's not even that terrible. If your BEST character couldn't beat him, chances are that pocket ZSS you break out once in a blue moon isn't gonna fare much better. Not to mention if you do win the next round, your opponent can simply counter-counterpick you and change characters themselves. Then you're really ****ed, because now you're playing a character who isn't your main, in matchup you're not as familiar with, and end up struggling just as much in it as the original matchup you tried to avoid in the first place. Not good.

Bottom line, learn all your matchups with your character. Don't say "I can't beat" and instead say "I currently struggle with", persevere and play those matchups over and over. It will make you a better player overall, and it will give you a better understanding of your character and knowledge of the game you wouldn't have gotten before.

 

[metroid1117]

Secondaries or multiple mains are a debatable subject. IMHO, it depends on how familiar you are with the game. If you are just starting to get into competitive Smash, then I think having multiple mains is not a good idea since you'll have to channel time into learning both characters rather than maintaining proficiency with both characters. However, if you are familiar with the game and have moderate "Smash" skill (which will improve as you continue playing the game), then having multiple mains is up to you. Certain top Melee players like Mew2King practice specific match-ups (Sheik/Marth vs Falco and Fox vs Jiggs, for example), but other players like Axe and Wobbles will stick to one character for any given match-up (Pikachu and ICs, respectively). However, if you choose to have multiple mains, try to pick characters that compliment each other in terms of match-up spread.

Using alt characters to fight your main character's harder matchups I also find pretty silly. Unless the matchup something like 8-2 on a good day (and how many of those matchups are in P:M?), then I find it ridiculous when someone switches characters because their main lost to such-and-such in a matchup that's not even that terrible. If your BEST character couldn't beat him, chances are that pocket ZSS you break out once in a blue moon isn't gonna fare much better. Not to mention if you do win the next round, your opponent can simply counter-counterpick you and change characters themselves. Then you're really ****ed, because now you're playing a character who isn't your main, in matchup you're not as familiar with, and end up struggling just as much in it as the original matchup you tried to avoid in the first place. Not good.

Although I agree with you to some extent, the issue of being proficient at multiple characters becomes less of a problem at higher levels of play. In addition, at this point in the metagame where not every character is equally represented in every region, lack of match-up experience on your opponent's part is reason enough to switch. This will become less viable of a strategy as time goes on, but since PM is still receiving some changes, this would be a viable strategy in today's metagame.

 

[Vashimus]

Yeah, it comes it with greater skill level, and I was hoping someone to come in and say "Look at Reflex/Eli play all these different characters and place well with all of them." OK, you're not Reflex and Eli. lol But yeah, when you're still at a novice level, it's best to start with one guy. And in friendlies, anything goes. You feel like exposing your friend with your fraudulent Squirtle, more power to you.

 

[Chzrm3]

I think M2K has like... 4 characters that he can play really well at high levels of play. Of course there's his Marth and Sheik, and he's also still got a great Fox. On top of that, I've seen him use Peach vs. Chu Dat pretty successfully.

There's also Armada, who mains Peach but uses Young Link specifically against Hbox.

I think it's good when you're learning to stick primarily with one character, and get as good as possible with that character. After that, you can branch out based on what match-ups give you the most trouble.

 

[Xenozoa425]

This is pretty much why I try play all characters at an above average level, at the least. Learning all the characters and their playstyles in-general gives you a pretty good advantage that can cover a large variety of matchups.

 

[Xinc]

If you want to specialize in one character, that's great. But each character has a specific counter or two, and you want a character that can hold its ground against that character, or at least that specific matchup.

 

[GHNeko]

Personally, I feel that character specialization is pretty important at lower levels as switching characters a lot can be a determent to mastering various mechanics within the game.

By sticking to a single character you're able to develop general skills at a faster rate and memorize/recognize scenarios in which to execute general skills while applying the unique attributes, skills, and nuances of your character.

At higher levels of play, it comes down to preference/comfort/experience.

I'm aiming to be a character specialist in the long run, but being able to play multiple characters along the way is helpful for me as it grants me general knowledge, insight into more characters, and helps me with perspectives that may allow me to take my character specialization to the next level.

I do feel that as the game grows more balanced, and tiers become less meaningful due to the game being more MU dependent that unless you have a way to practice your bad MUs as a specialist, that having back up characters to tackle these bad MUs will be the wiser decision in the long run.

 

[Strong Badam]

extremely

in a balanced game with unique characters, how they interact becomes volatile. ideally, you will not have characters that have a perfect matchup spread (because they would then be imbalanced, and then fixed). thus, you would need to have multiple characters to have a good personal matchup spread. there are going to be 5 maybe 10 characters that beat up your main and there's not necessarily anything wrong with those characters. you either accept that you'll probably lose to similarly-skilled players because of those MUs or you look at the roster of 30+ viable characters and choose one or two that help you out in those MUs. that's what i did, and i've been having so much more fun with this game ever since.

 

[SpiderMad]

With what SB said though, if you have a soul focus/fire for one character: you want to hope you don't lose that. The worst feeling can be M2K syndrome when it comes to tourney. If you're newer and not growing with said character though you should probably pick up a couple more and make sure your smash fundamentals exist with each, and not to find you're attached to your main for the aspects/gimmicks alone to propel you (this doesn't apply if you're beating good people obviously). Most sane people get bored with the same Melee character(s) for years, and that's why P:M is great.

 

[LividLynx]

Thanks for all the great responses. What I am taking away from it is get really good with my main (Lucario), see what characters give me trouble, and then pick a character good against those match ups.

 

[GHNeko]

That's be the more sane option.

Of course, you could be insane and simply work on your bad MUs until they become manageable for you. With that amount of MU experience, you'll more than likely be more experienced in the MU and that could turn the tides in your favor.

That's not a certain thing tho.

 

[LividLynx]

I am not the most sane person, and I really do like my Lucario. Knowing me I will probably smash my face against bad match ups, get frustrated, pick someone else, then get frustrated that my alt character isn't Luario, and go back to Luario.

 

[GHNeko]

Sounds like you're a character specialist.

Better practice A LOT in training and really iron out those bad MUs as they show up. And learn gimmicks. Learn them all. Abusing MU knowledge will be your saving grace as a specialist.

 

[Xinc]

Sounds like you're a character specialist.

Better practice A LOT in training and really iron out those bad MUs as they show up. And learn gimmicks. Learn them all. Abusing MU knowledge will be your saving grace as a specialist.

Also iron out a few bad habits, because some characters can definitely exploit something, like if you roll too much or overcommit.

 

[NightShadow6]

I think it wouldn't be bad to have another character for an extremely bad match up for your main. In this game though I feel as if anyone can beat anyone.

Put enough time into a character and you should be able too jump any hurdles that you happen to find.

 

[Crescent Monkey]

I'm just going to throw it out there that playing bad matchups can actually help your skill alot. I main Captain Falcon, and playing against a character like Sheik really helps me play better, because anything that I do that is unsafe gets punished hard, which really helps me iron out bad habits and become a better overall player. If you are serious about winning tourneys, then having a good secondary/multiple mains is a good idea, but playing those bad matchups with your main is one of the fastest ways to elevate to that level in the first place. Another thing is that winning against skilled players in a bad matchup is probably the best feeling that you get out of this game. I got to play against Ryoko's Sheik for a solid block of time at Pound, and I won maybe 3 games out of at least 20, but man was it ever worth it for those 3 games.

 

[GreenMunchkin]

I play spacies for fun, but also a lot because it helps learn to fight against them. Having alt characters also helps if you get 4-stocked in the ditto (happened to me with Marth ).