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How to get better at mindgames?

The Coach

Smash Cadet
Joined
Oct 30, 2014
Messages
35
Location
Ames, Iowa
What are some useful techniques, or advice that people can give for those like me who are looking to improve their mindgame skills. Also what are things to think when playing. I've always gone with the approach of trying to get my opponent to get something they shouldn't do. What are some other techniques?
 

TreK

Is "that guy"
Joined
Aug 27, 2008
Messages
2,960
Location
France
I have two tricks to train that, but most of it comes with experience, and careful studying of the game until you understand how each mechanic influences the decision making process. It's just like PPMD says : thinking comes before the game. Mostly.

The first of my tricks is to focus on one particular move of the opponent, and try to guess and punish when he/she will use it. It can be anything, a roll, a wavedash, a projectile, a getup option, a poke, a recovery route, anything, really. Just focus on that one thing until you know your opponent's patterns so well you can cause him to make that one move on command and profit.
This exercise teaches you to understand patterns in your opponent's mind, and abuse them. In a real match, if you've done this exercise enough, you will be able to see patterns without having to think about it.

The second is to focus on one of your own moves instead. Give yourself objectives such as "this stock, I'm going to kill with a fair", "this match, I'm going to land at least five dash attacks", "I'm not going to use any nair this stock", and stuff like that. Don't spam that one move you're supposed to land, though : make sure when you do use it, it works, by creating yourself the opportunity to use it.
This exercise lets you look at your own playstyle and get out of your own habits. In a real match, if you noticed that the opponent is more often punishing than taking risks, you will be able to adapt much quicker if you've done this exercise well enough.

Oh btw, whenever you train, you should ask yourself what are you training, and when is it going to be useful. You have to actually know what you're doing, basically. Nausicaa-sempai calls it being conscious of your own train of thoughts and this guy's a good teacher so listen to him.

With that said, if you don't understand notions like spacing, game phases, option covering, baiting and stuff, go look them up first. If you still wow at combos but don't wow at good dash dances yet, you've still got things to figure out before you can actually train your mind.

A couple more tricks that will get you out of pools but won't make you a good players because they only work on people who do not realize this :
-in a tech chase situation, people tend to roll to the nearest ledge if they are at low%, and towards the center of the stage if they are at kill %. Some people always roll to the center of the stage, others always roll away from you. Those are the three main patterns, and you should be able to recognize them as fast as possible.
-in a tech chase situation, if you jump and look like you'll land on your opponent, people tend to do a getup attack but you can double jump/use an air stall move to punish this
-it is easier to kill and to juggle someone who doesn't have his double jump anymore, so don't rush your juggles : threaten the opponent just enough that they will spend their double jump to gtfo, and then you can continue juggling, and kill a good 30% earlier than you would have otherwise.
-look at what the opponent does when he respawns and when you respawn. Most people always do the same thing every time.
-people who are at kill % tend to shield more, so they are easier to grab
-if you do not have to leave the center of the stage, don't feel forced to. It's a very advantageous position.
-there is no shame in camping. Those who think there is probably aren't good enough to counter it and you should teach them the hard way.

Oh and question everything you read. As far as you are concerned, I suck at this game.
 

KFrosty

Smash Apprentice
Joined
Dec 8, 2013
Messages
96
Just by playing with my friends, you could learn their playing style and really analyze what they do, then once you learn that player's individual weakness, learn to exploit it. Alternatively, make sure you are changing up your moves enough to prevent them from doing the same to you.

An example of this for me is that my friend plays a very offensive play style, and I learned to play Roy, who has a very powerful counter. I started learning his favorite combos and then would counter the strongest hit. It would make him fearful of approaching me and when I would play less counters it made him more confident to try his favorite combos again. I was getting 2 stocks for every 1 he got during that time. Eventually, he would learn to mix up his favorite combo by incorporating a grab from time to time, which is the best way to stop counters, making him get the advantage over me.

This is but one thing you can do, and I know there is more, but I am not a tournament player, so I can't say exactly what to do to win.
 

The Coach

Smash Cadet
Joined
Oct 30, 2014
Messages
35
Location
Ames, Iowa
Thanks A lot, I'm not new to the game so I already know a good amount of this but how to apply it is different. All of this was very helpful
 

Boomhound

Smash Apprentice
Joined
May 11, 2014
Messages
121
Location
Cork, Ireland
It's all about movement.
Mind-games are the manipulation of your opponent's choices, your positioning influences what choices your opponent makes, therefore movement/positioning is key to affecting your opponent's choices.
If you are successful, your opponent will be forced to change his play style or lose and if your opponent is changing his play style you are in control, you've taken him out of his comfort zone and you are affecting his mind-set.
Ever get a feeling of frustration, hopelessness or anger while playing against someone? Chances are it was your opponent's play that caused this, not your own.

You need strong movement to bait, punish and to play safely, but you also need good judgment to know what kind of positioning/movement is needed- so be critical of habits, both your own and your opponent's.

General patterns: choices of recovery, grabs- when and how, dash-dance habits, repetitive teching.

I'm gonna give an example of some critical thinking vs. Marth as Fox.

Problems:
1. This Marth dash-dances constantly, I keep whiffing everything and when I do he punishes with grab.
2. Whenever I string a combo together he interrupts with counter, eg. U-throw Uair.
3. He edge-guards me with F-smash as I try to side/up-B to ledge.

Solutions:
1. I adapt by going deeper when shffl'ing an aerial or grabbing so I don't whiff and if I do I spot dodge to avoid the grab.

2. If he's countered me more than once, I try waiting after Uthrow, if he counters I punish him.

3. I alter my timing by shining and then recovering, I angle my Firefox up and grab edge on the way down, I shorten my side-B.
I vary between as many options as possible to become unpredictable and mess up his timing.

Sorry for the wall of text! Let me summarise it into a sentence:
Take control by not letting your opponent's play style work.
^Ultimate mind-game.^
 
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