Smash 3DS I'm just plain awful at this...

[Daxter]

I've been playing Smash since Melee, so I'm far from new to Smash Bros, but SSB3DS is the first one I've really tried to put time into. As it stands though, I'm an embarrassment to the community. I was going to main Yoshi, but I keep hearing talk about how overpowered he is and I really don't want to resort to cheap wins, so I've gone with Mario after playing a friend's Project M. Things aren't going well, to the tune of a win rate of less than 30%.

I've tried mimicking tactics and defending more than I used to, but somehow everyone knows exactly what I'm going to do before I even do it, or sometimes even before I know I'm doing it! They make every effort to taunt me when I go flying for the umpteenth time too.

- I've yet to clear Classic on 9.0 like everyone else.
- I can barely beat a level 8 computer, never mind level 9.
- My win rate as you've seen is laughably low.
- I can't even win For Fun games.
- I easily lose to the "Low Tier" characters, especially Ike and Megaman.
- I fall for the same tricks over and over again.

I have no idea what I'm doing wrong no matter how many times I watch the replays, and watching other players doesn't help because I can't replicate them or keep up with what they're doing. When I actually fight a battle I get nervous - I'm a naturally anxious person with low self esteem anyway - because I reallllllly don't want to lose, which only makes it worse when I inevitably lose. Fighting the computer won't help me against live opponents either; it behaves too aggressively compared to the real thing. So I'm stuck as a bad player for good?

EDIT: Things are getting worse. I've now lost 20 games in a row, all to low-tier characters and I haven't learned a thing. Am I too dumb for Smash Bros.?

 

[King Donkey Kong]

First off, play whatever character you want, Yoshi is great in this game but no one is really "bad".

If everyone knows what you are going to do, switch up what you do.

Don't fall for the same thing over and over again, change up what you are doing.

Message me if you want to play a bit, maybe I can help from seeing you play.

 

[Shack]

Mario isn't the best in this game, so that could be part of the reason for your losses. Also For Fun mode is way too random with lag, items, 3 other players. If you want to get good at 1v1, for fun wont help you.

I think the biggest thing to adjust to from a Melee mind set is the air dodges and rolls. They are a lot safer, spamable and viable than in the past. You might be playing too slow to keep up with better players. I would try different characters and find someone you like better. Also use short hop fast falls and you will dominate 90% of people online because you can jump over their dash attacks, rolls, and smashes and hit them with a nair, fair, etc.

 

[Terotrous]

My first piece of advice would be to watch a lot of Shockwave. There's a Mario player there named Jumpman who is quite good, and the commentary is also generally helpful.

https://www.youtube.com/user/TourneyLocator/playlists

You may find at this point that some of what's going on goes over your head. That's fine, that just means you need to watch more. As you watch a lot of matches, you'll gradually start to see patterns in the choices the players make. You should also probably practice a bit more against the AI until you can beat level 9s consistently, even though they don't really play like human players they will help you get your movement down.

 

[Daxter]

Thanks so far guys. One of the hardest things on my self esteem Smash-wise is the number of other threads like mine on here where people are told to "git gud." Or other threads where someone asks for advice against Ike or other such characters, only to be told they're "garbage tier" and "12 year olds are outwitting them with a bad character." It makes me even more depressed about my skills to be honest; I'm probably a decade older than the average player, so being outwitted in that regards rubs the "salty" in more, so to speak.

EDIT: After losing 20 times in a row, win rate has sunk below 20%. Ugh.... I'm a joke.

 

[Terotrous]

Thanks so far guys. One of the hardest things on my self esteem Smash-wise is the number of other threads like mine on here where people are told to "git gud."

I find this board isn't too bad as long as people post politely. If you post something like "Yo, I am the best at Melee but I can't play this crap game because people just roll over and over and there's no way to punish it", then yeah, people are going to blow that up, but otherwise you're fairly safe.

Anyway, if you'd like any more specific advice, you'll have to elaborate on some of the things that are troubling you. For example, in your OP you said that you keep getting hit by the same tricks over and over. If you can recognize that you're seeing the same setup, what's causing you to get hit by it again? Nervousness? Not knowing how to respond to it? Knowing what to do, but not executing it correctly? All of those things have to be addressed differently, so it's important to know which one it is.

 

[Deadshot]

have fun with it

 

[jackpot_]

Don't give up! Smash 3DS actually gave me some hell this time around for the first few days I played it, but I continued to bust out alot of tricks I've done through the past few games, since they put mah boi Ness in again, and they've seemed to work pretty well. If you've been playing since melee, try to get comfortable to the games new basic mechanics through playing a char. you're comfortable with and know inside and out, and once you've figured out how rolling, air dodging, and other stuff uniquely works, transition into learning new characters you really want to main in this game. Also, don't get upset. I really got frusturated when I lost during my first for glory matches, but just know that the person you're playing is happy they just got a win haha. Trust me, keep adapting and you should be able to boost that W/L ratio, if that's really what you're after. (Which it shouldn't be; just play to feel personal progression. Ratios are baloney) Sorry that this was long, hope I helped.

 

[Starman15]

If you can't play competitively, don't. It clearly isn't for you. I don't mean that in a mean way, I just mean that you'd probably have a better time playing more casually. Plus, remember, you're playing the 3DS version which is a bit tougher to play, if you have a Wii U, maybe you'll really shine on there with an actual controller.

 

[HYP3R]

Thanks so far guys. One of the hardest things on my self esteem Smash-wise is the number of other threads like mine on here where people are told to "git gud." Or other threads where someone asks for advice against Ike or other such characters, only to be told they're "garbage tier" and "12 year olds are outwitting them with a bad character." It makes me even more depressed about my skills to be honest; I'm probably a decade older than the average player, so being outwitted in that regards rubs the "salty" in more, so to speak.

EDIT: After losing 20 times in a row, win rate has sunk below 20%. Ugh.... I'm a joke.

From what I see you really dislike losing, I can't blame you for that because nobody likes losing, but you also have to understand that in order to start winning you have to fix your mistakes. Saving replays and watching them over asking yourself "what was my opponent doing to give themselves an advantage over me?" and also it's a lot easier to spot bad habits in a replay than in the heat of a battle. I still have a bad rolling habit under pressure I need to break.

If you want me to give you direct advice for your habits and playstyle you can shoot me a pm, we can play a few matches and i'll give you a critique.
Other than that just keep playing and trying to have fun don't let those losses get into your head.

 

[EarthBoundRules]

If you want to improve, I'd suggest playing lots of 1v1 For Glory and matches with Smashboards members. I've improved substantially after 1000 For Glory matches.

 

[Yokta]

What's your Global Smash Power?

 

[AdaptiveTrigger]

Sounds like to me your biggest problem is that you are coming down on yourself too hard. You're picking out all these things to tell yourself that you are bad at the game. If you keep thinking that you are bad, then you will never be good.

Focus on the small victories. Rather than looking at what you do wrong, look at what you do right and use that to boost your self esteem. Don't worry about what everyone else can do. Understand that everyone started from somewhere.

It doesn't matter if you started playing since Melee, because your time to improve is now. Don't let yourself feel bad when you think you've failed at something. When you don't succeed at something, use that as an opportunity to improve yourself rather than as something to make yourself feel bad. That is the mindset you need to adopt.

 

[Eternal phoenix Fire]

Thanks so far guys. One of the hardest things on my self esteem Smash-wise is the number of other threads like mine on here where people are told to "git gud." Or other threads where someone asks for advice against Ike or other such characters, only to be told they're "garbage tier" and "12 year olds are outwitting them with a bad character." It makes me even more depressed about my skills to be honest; I'm probably a decade older than the average player, so being outwitted in that regards rubs the "salty" in more, so to speak.

EDIT: After losing 20 times in a row, win rate has sunk below 20%. Ugh.... I'm a joke.

Dude, it's fine.

You have to value your losses as much as your victories. While winning does boost your confidence, losses make you think about what you did wrong.

I have an 80% + win rate on for glory with about 1100 matches or more played, and I'll still get trashed by some players. Remember that you can only do better.

Watching better players helps, especially with the characters you like, but I suggest working your gameplay from the ground up. Instead of trying to learn just a character and set of attack strings, work on improving your foundation of smash.

For example, learning about Directional Influence, which is exactly what it sounds like, you are influencing the trajectory an attack may send you and holding the stick perpendicular to the direction. So if Mario hits you with his Forward smash, a move that launches you horizontally, hold up on the joy stick right before you are sent flying, you will fly up at a higher and and increase your chance for survival. This will being it you because you can adjust your trajectory and effectively use each characters recovery to their strengths.

Learn how to tech, which is when you press L or R right before you hit the ground. You can also use it when you fly into a wall to stop yourself from bouncing off the stage wildly.

Learn how to space with your characters, which is using an attack at it's maximum range to hit your opponent safely so that they can't counter attack or grab you.

Learn power shielding , which is pressing the shield button right before an attack hits you. When you do it right it doesn't diminish your shield or put your character in shield stun so they are vulnerable to a counter attack.

And most importantly , work on your mind games; this comes with just playing and understanding what an opponent can do and how you can deceive the player. For example: if you knock someone down, and every time they hit the ground, they roll right at you. If you notice this behavior, you can place yourself in an optimal position to punish them with an attack, or if the player always roll behind you and hit you with a smash attack, you can anticipate it by turning around and grabbing them or hitting them with something fast. Mind games are a deep tool that you will develop as you play.

Keep pushing man, you'll get there.

Also, I've only beat classic on 9.0 barely with Bowser, and have only done it one time with him and him only.

And For Glory doesn't really mean that much to be honest. You're better off playing people here.

 

[LunarWingCloud]

If it makes you feel any better I'm not much better. Just gotta keep practicing and don't get discouraged. When you find something that works, keep practicing that so you can do it often. When you find something isn't working, avoid doing it or switch things up so when you want to do it, it CAN work.

It's all about evolving a little and trying different things out.

 

[Jonarobin]

Honestly I wouldn't worry about "lower tiered" characters, I've been pwned by a Megaman or too now and then, and I consider myself pretty skilled. Anyways, I'd just say practice and try out a lot of characters, and just figure out how the game works. I wouldn't stick to just one character either, myself I play multiple characters. Mario's a good simple character though, I only used him as a kid for so long, but in brawl I finally started to branch out. Just try different things, and just remember this is for fun! Also playing For Glory 1 vs. 1 is the best way to get better probably, because For Fun and 4 player matches often have more lag it seems. Also, a loss is just a lesson on how to win another time is how I feel about losses...

Good luck improving!

 

[PeachPlumPear]

- I've yet to clear Classic on 9.0 like everyone else.
- I can barely beat a level 8 computer, never mind level 9.

Doesn't matter, level 9 CPU are cheating ******** anyways.

- My win rate as you've seen is laughably low.
- I can't even win For Fun games.

Everyone starts somewhere. Every loss is an opportunity to learn; are you taking that opportunity to analyze both what you did wrong and what your opponent did correctly? If you're getting beaten, it's probably because they're better -- what are they doing that makes them better at this game than you? Are you being too predictable? Do they have better spacing?

- I easily lose to the "Low Tier" characters, especially Ike and Megaman

This early in the game's lifespan, there are no "low tier characters." Everyone is equally viable as far as we know, and even then, the differences in characters doesn't take precedence over the player's skill.

- I fall for the same tricks over and over again.

Save replays where you lose and analyze what you are doing wrong, then try to work in subtle improvements one by one. Don't do everything at once. For example, if you're relying on rolling too much, try to work in alternative defenses, such as spacing to avoid attacks, shielding, or spot dodging.

If you are losing to someone in For Glory, don't leave. You will learn how to deal with their tactics if you try to pay attention. What do they do when you approach? When recovering from a ledge, do they roll, jump, drop + jump, attack, or get up? How do they react to projectiles? Do they rely on shield or rolls more?

 

[BKTang']

I was going to main Yoshi, but I keep hearing talk about how overpowered he is and I really don't want to resort to cheap wins, so I've gone with Mario after playing a friend's Project M.

First of all, you don't have to be told who to play with. If you want to main Yoshi, go for it! There is no OP character, just good players.

- I've yet to clear Classic on 9.0 like everyone else.

Me too, I tried once and I have been literally destroyed in the first battle, even though I have a 70% W/L ratio.

- I can barely beat a level 8 computer, never mind level 9.

They cheat, doing counters and perfect shields everywhere.Human players can't do this!

- I can't even win For Fun games.

I find these harder than For Glory, because of the randomness. You can have a strategy and set-up combos in 1vs1, but For Fun it's nearly impossible with the objects and stuff.

- I easily lose to the "Low Tier" characters, especially Ike and Megaman.

Wow, Ike and Megaman fans won't be happy! It's too early to say which character is Low or High tier

I have no idea what I'm doing wrong no matter how many times I watch the replays, and watching other players doesn't help because I can't replicate them or keep up with what they're doing. When I actually fight a battle I get nervous - I'm a naturally anxious person with low self esteem anyway - because I reallllllly don't want to lose, which only makes it worse when I inevitably lose. Fighting the computer won't help me against live opponents either; it behaves too aggressively compared to the real thing. So I'm stuck as a bad player for good?

It's just a game, don't take it too seriously! Try to be relaxed when playing, enjoying your game
Also I think you become better by losing, it helps you to learn about the match-ups and your weaknesses

Keep it up, I'm curious about your playstyle now! If you want to play just PM me

And play Yoshi!

 

[rubiksmoose]

So, I signed up just to tell you this: I have/had the same issue as you only worse! I'm sitting at <20% now and it was killing me. I made a post on reddit and got a lot of great tips on how to get better. (reddit.com/r/smashbros/comments/2kh76a/what_do_i_need_to_do_to_elevate_my_skill_level/)

One thing is vital: your online win rate DOES NOT MATTER. Nobody else can even see it. And, as an indication of how successful you will be at competition it is poor if not terrible indicator. However, I understand that losing all the time is not fun (trust me, I know) but the only way to get better is to face people seriously better than you and learn what they are doing. Feel free to PM me you friend code as I might be at your same skill level! We could learn from each other.

 

[Kikaioh]

One suggestion I have is to find a sparring partner that you can regularly play against. Playing against the same person over and over again might make it easier to examine your matches, find patterns in your opponent's behavior, experiment and figure out adjustments to get better.

 

[One Handed Sword]

I've been playing Smash since Melee, so I'm far from new to Smash Bros, but SSB3DS is the first one I've really tried to put time into. As it stands though, I'm an embarrassment to the community. I was going to main Yoshi, but I keep hearing talk about how overpowered he is and I really don't want to resort to cheap wins, so I've gone with Mario after playing a friend's Project M. Things aren't going well, to the tune of a win rate of less than 30%.

I've tried mimicking tactics and defending more than I used to, but somehow everyone knows exactly what I'm going to do before I even do it, or sometimes even before I know I'm doing it! They make every effort to taunt me when I go flying for the umpteenth time too.

- I've yet to clear Classic on 9.0 like everyone else.
- I can barely beat a level 8 computer, never mind level 9.
- My win rate as you've seen is laughably low.
- I can't even win For Fun games.
- I easily lose to the "Low Tier" characters, especially Ike and Megaman.
- I fall for the same tricks over and over again.

I have no idea what I'm doing wrong no matter how many times I watch the replays, and watching other players doesn't help because I can't replicate them or keep up with what they're doing. When I actually fight a battle I get nervous - I'm a naturally anxious person with low self esteem anyway - because I reallllllly don't want to lose, which only makes it worse when I inevitably lose. Fighting the computer won't help me against live opponents either; it behaves too aggressively compared to the real thing. So I'm stuck as a bad player for good?

EDIT: Things are getting worse. I've now lost 20 games in a row, all to low-tier characters and I haven't learned a thing. Am I too dumb for Smash Bros.?

• Lost 50 matches in a row. 20 of them were mirror matches of my main.
• Dedicated a week to beat classic 9.0 and I still could not (I beat it eventually though)
• I lose to Megamans,Ganons and an Olimar once.
• Playing for fun is all about luck so expect a few losses.#
• LV9 CPU is grueling for me as well

That was me awhile back but with some determination I have sneaked in a decent 53 percent win rate with 200+ wins. We should play each other sometime.

 

[Raijinken]

It really just is a matter of practice. If it feels like you're learning too slowly, don't fret over it, and just keep trying.

And main who you want. I main by favoritism and Marth just happened to be a very reliable pick for three games in a row. Yoshi's strong, but it's not like the poor MetaKnight fans in Brawl who have to worry about their favorite getting banned for being a gamebreaker. He still takes skill and knowledge to play well. And, especially at this stage of play (still learning, not competing, etc), try your best to ignore tiers, as they really aren't relevant until high level play, and even then, are largely still a matter of speculation (a lot of obvious "This character is more good than everyone else" characters like Sheik and Rosaluma, but you can still win these by being a smarter or better player, especially online). Play who you want, how you want.

Also, as for beating 9.0, beef up on equipment stats. The conditions that Classic and All Star submit you to really aren't accurate representations of skill. Just like beating a bunch of computers, it doesn't mean you're that good (though it does normally imply some level of mastery of dodging and landing killing blows), it just means you learned to beat the computer.

So really, just keep at it. Not everyone is pro, but if you really want to be, then keeping at it is the only way it'll happen.

 

[Jigglypumped]

If you can't play competitively, don't. It clearly isn't for you. I don't mean that in a mean way, I just mean that you'd probably have a better time playing more casually. Plus, remember, you're playing the 3DS version which is a bit tougher to play, if you have a Wii U, maybe you'll really shine on there with an actual controller.

I agree with this. I'm good against friends who are also casual, but I don't have the will or time to put in the effort to learn advanced techniques and do whatever other research is required to get to a competitive level. If you're in the same boat, I would suggest just sticking to casual play; there's nothing that says that you have to be the best to have fun. The common thing I see with all these threads is that people who aren't on the level of competitive players are making themselves miserable by comparing themselves to experts. Don't do that.

However, if you do want to put effort and time into developing your skills, that's exactly what you'll have to do. It's still a new game that doesn't have the same exact mechanics are previous installments, so even though you've been playing since Melee, you're going to have to spend a lot of time to get better. I know there are people who are already excelling at SSB4, but those people are probably the same that were playing competitively in Brawl and Melee, so they had less work to do to get good at this game (although new techniques and combos and all that seem to still be coming out as they explore their options).

Basically, stop torturing yourself. Don't let a game make you upset--it's meant to be enjoyable.

 

[Daxter]

Thanks everybody for your replies; I must admit I'm very impressed by this polite, and friendly community ^^ Things are on the up a little; I'm learning new characters by playing Team games - Donkey Kong, Pac Man and oddly enough, Villager work well for me

 

[CCTANK93]

All you need to do is keep playing. I decided to be a Lucina main because I love the character and it didn't start off well. I hadn't played a Marth style character seriously since Melee. If you just keep playing, you'll pick up on better techniques and skills over time. 1 on 1 For Glory would be your best bet for practicing your characters. I've met other Lucina and Marth players that helped me become better with Lucina and helped me win even more as her. Don't let your win/lose ratio get to you. It's not important at all. I used to let it get to me too even though I know I'm a pretty good player. I ended up with a 74% win ratio because I stopped taking it so seriously. You'll start doing better as long as you stay calm and remember it's just a game. And tier list shouldn't be a deciding factor for a character you play. I had been a Mario main for years, even though he was essentially bottom tier. I recommend a character you feel the most comfortable with and branch out from there. Just practice and you'll become better. If you want a sparring partner, message me and I'll help you out. Good luck and remember to have fun.

 

[Magikarpow]

Try more characters. Don't force yourself to main Mario. And try maining Yoshi. If you feel your getting cheap with him, play a lesser character. Practice Grabbing, Blocking and Rolling especially.

Character Suggestions: Samus, ZSS, Duck Hunt Dog, Palutena, Rosalina, Lucina, and Link.
PS: If you really like Mario try Dr. Mario- I thought he was a much better character.

If you want I could play you. I kinda suck as well, so we would be more or less decent ground.

 

[OddCrow]

Let me know if you need someone to play who can tell you what you are doing wrong. I'll gladly play you for a bunch of matches and give the best advice I can. Smash is about passion, and the moment you get defeatist you go on full tilt and lose a bunch in a row. I consider myself a good player, but even I have been simply outplayed and gone on losing streaks. The key though is the right mindset of "improve" not "win" and to have a fresh set of eyes give feedback.

 

[Darklink401]

Yoshi is good, but...what of it? If you want, you can even main him and some other character you like, so you have Yoshi in your back pocket in case things get rough :3

I also struggle to get some wins, but I believe the KEY point to getting better is ALL about finding the right character for YOU, for YOUR playstyle.

Villager has netted me SO many wins, because I just love his plastyle.


And of course, watching your old matches and seeing your mistakes is an amazing way to learn.


Also W/L% is bs, cuz you can spend 9 out of 10 matches bullying a sucky player, or spend 9 out of 10 matches being fudged up by a really good player, to try and beat him.

Also tournaments are apparently really good practice, but I'd suggest getting down the basics and finding your 'main' first.

 

[Daxter]

There was something I wanted to ask about. I just played a 1 vs 1 match against a Mario, as Mario. Often we would use the same attacks - a side-A ground kick for example at the same distance from each other and at the same time. For some reason though, his attacks would always outprioritize mine. Is there a factor in who wins these kinds of clashes?

EDIT: Another example; I meteor smashed someone who was about to side-smash me. The attack landed and he went flying, but I still got hit by his attack somehow and lost the game.

Meanwhile I'm still losing perfect games to opponents who still have 0 - 10% damage by the end of the game.

 

[Paper Maribro]

Well what I would recommend is going back to basics and going into training mode to understand your character. Know how deep is too deep, work out his strengths and weaknesses, practice combos. If you have been a Yoshi main previously, jumping to a new character in a new game will take a bit of getting used to. Combine this with reading up on solid strats and watching videos of the pros. Now find someone who you can play with whose opinion you respect and will constructively critique your game. Dont go out into For Glory immediately expecting wins, it isnt going to happen. Nobody can pick up a game and be perfect with it. I have lost against characters I thought I should have beaten in the past too, one of whom is a Megaman. He absolutely tore me to shreds the first time I played him. I played him for the second group of matches yesterday and he won one game because I screwed up my recovery. As you can see, all it takes is a little practice and patience.

PS if you want to add me for some games/practice/advice, PM me. Although do consider the fact that I am in Australia and I have so far had trouble having a not laggy connection with anyone outside Australia.

 

[Darklink401]

I'll add ya too, Daxter. I'm pretty good, but not great (for reference, my W/L% always fluctuates between the high 50s) so we can probly have some good matches and learn from each other.

Also as for the hitting priority thing, it all depends on whose hurtbox got hit first.

 

[KEWB]

I've said it before, and for the sake of this discussion I'll say it again: I'm no pro, so take what I say with a grain of salt. I started off with around a 20% W/L but have managed to bring it up to just shy of 40% as of right now. That being said, I sort of share a similar background with Smash as you (I started with the original, but didn't start really putting effort into getting good at the game until this one). Seeing as how we sort of share a somewhat similar perspective on the game at this point, I figure it's possible some of what's been working for me may work for you too.

First of all, try not to get frustrated. I get it, and I get frustrated at times too, but remember that at the end of the day it's just a game. I can't tell you how many times it seemed like the game kept matching me up with players ten times better than me. It's generally a good idea to keep playing people who are better than you so you're pushing your skills to the limit, W/L percentage be d***ed. But don't make yourself miserable. If you need to put the game down for a bit then do it.

Second of all, get rid of the "this character is cheap so I don't want to use them" mentality. Use whatever works for you. Don't let others judge you for the way YOU play the game that YOU paid for, especially at this point in your learning process. If you still feel a sense of obligation to use something that feels less "cheap" in the future, you can cross that bridge when you come to it. For now though, if you want to get better, you really need to start by using what feels right for you.

Focus on basics for now. Don't worry about advanced techniques or anything too serious yet. If you can find one or two combos or techniques that work for you, use them. Keep practicing them. Master them. You might not win with them yet, but as you get the hang of them you can slowly start experimenting with other tactics and approaches and see what works and what doesn't. Baby steps. Whether playing Smash, playing a sport, or playing an instrument, nobody goes from beginner to expert overnight.

Sometimes as you're learning you may start to get into a funk where you feel like you haven't improved much lately and just can't seem to bring your game that next step higher. I've found that it helps to switch things up when you hit a wall like this. Maybe try playing a different game mode, or against CPUs. Maybe try switching to a different character for a bit. I've even gone back to Melee at times to keep things fresh. If you're having trouble figuring out what you're doing wrong or finding new ways to approach your opponent, switching things up like this FORCES you to change your way of thinking and play differently, whether because you're playing against AI, getting used to a different moveset, or playing on a different game engine entirely. When you go back to playing online with your main you'll have a fresher perspective on things and might have an easier time approaching problems you were having before.

I hope some of this helps. I can't guarantee what works for me will work for you, but there's my advice for what it's worth. Remember that at the end of the day, the only way to get better is to keep on playing, regardless of how good or bad you're doing.

 

[Darklink401]

I'm gonna start tryin to do somethin: Practicing in matches just trying to use ONE single type of move. Not to spam. But simply so I can master that move.

In MY case, I suck at grabbing because I barely do it at all. So I'm going to try to win some games solely with grabs and shields (which I also don't use as often as I should) and in a few days, I should be able to incorporate grabs and shields into my playstyle, thus strengthening it overall. Basically, taking my skills piece by piece and honing them one at a time.

Might work, might not. We'll see.

 

[MrPhox]

This game has been out little more than a month and it's the entry in the franchise you've put the most time into?
Answer: Play more.

I don't even have to read the rest of your post.

 

[Dsull]

tbh the first few points you have really dont mean anything. Playing against a computer is a totally different game than against a player. i unlocked my characters then stopped playing anything solo-related, because its pointless when i have wifi access.

My guess is whats happening is youre thinking too hard. I literally dont "think" as you would describe it when i play, its more impulse than anything else. If youre thinking in your head "OK i'll shorthop into this move then do that then this" youre probably taking too long to do it and you just got countered.
Its difficult to kick that habit. And it also creates other bad habits that i have (repeating attacks that have no way in hell of hitting and leave myself wide open lol)

I started this game with like 25% winrate or something like that. As i continued to play for hours on end i got that up to 80% because i started to notice patterns in the bad opponents and learned to counter them. Macs gave me a headache the first few days, now i rarely lose to them because theyre so easy to predict once you notice their pattern.

 

[Deluxe0111]

I completely get what you mean when you say you get anxious - most of my losses are usually me screwing up because i'm close to winning then I start to feel the pressure
This goes with anything but i found that you just need to take some deep breaths before a game and it really calms you down

Find a play style you can click with, trial characters for a 4/5 games give them a chance if you don't like them move onto the next one

So far i've mained about 7 characters and i've only just started to settle into it

And another thing - from my experiance some of my favourite matches i've played, i've actually lost

Chin up!

 

[Shiliski]

Step one: You ignore whatever people say and go right back to playing Yoshi. If people want to whine, learn to enjoy the taste of their tears. For some, the taste of sorrow is an acquired one, but you'll have to accept the fact that if you ever get good there will be plenty of people who are going to whine about you, and most of those complaints are going to be completely illegitimate. You may as well get used to complaints right away. I'm pretty sure that this is the first game where Yoshi has been even viable, so Yoshi players deserve a break. I shied away from Meta Knight in Brawl because people were complaining about him, but now I regret that because I realize just how unhealthy that mindset is. Never let someone talk you out of playing your favorite character. If the character isn't banned in tournaments, then they're a legit option.

Step two: Stop worrying about your W/L ratio. I know its disheartening to lose over and over, but giving up at this point means never getting better. Even top players are going to lose, and the only way to avoid that is to play against opponents who are too bad for you to learn anything from. Losing is going to be another thing you'll have to get used to if you ever want to get better.

Step three: Realize that nobody is going to judge you for being bad at Smash, and anyone who does is a loser. You're here, you're trying, and that's what matters. Yes, we do get annoyed when some whiney player talks about how "Yoshi/RosaLuma/Little Mac/PacMan/Shiek/ZSS/whoever are the most broken BS ever and they need to be banned immediately!", but that's only because they're trying to do to us what they've done to you: Take away your favorite character that you actually want to get good with. Don't worry about being an "embarrassment" to anyone, because that's not even how it works.


Before you can win, you have to have a winner's mindset, and having a winner's mindset means not allowing losers to influence you in negative ways.

 

[Wintropy]

My advice?

Have fun.

If you aren't enjoying playing the game, then it defeats the purpose of playing the game at all. It ceases to be a game and becomes an effort, something that you're doing just to satisfy yourself. It's important to remember that everybody has to start off somewhere and you may just be taking it way too seriously. Better to improve slowly and enjoy yourself than be an instant pro and distance yourself from the actual fun of playing and improving as you play.

Have fun and you'll naturally start to improve. The journey of a thousand miles and all that jazzmatazz~

 

[Daxter]

One question; how do I safely approach people? If I try to they either grab me or down-smash me EVERY time, no matter who I play as.

 

[OddCrow]

One question; how do I safely approach people? If I try to they either grab me or down-smash me EVERY time, no matter who I play as.

There is no right answer - but, try these tips.

1. Mix it up. Sometimes charge for a dash attack, other times short hop nair, other times short hop behind them and grab, other times run up and shield. If you become predictable you become dead.

2. Don't focus on approaching so much. ALWAYS notice if the opponent is trying to bait approaches by moving near the edge and charging something/firing projectiles. Often, it's a good idea to do the same and see if that will force THEM to approach. Smash is cat and mouse, not cat and cat. When you're the mouse, don't fall for the cats traps. When you're the cat, try to out-think the mouse

3. Learn their habits too as you mix it up. If you notice them shield EVERY time you come near, because they want dat easymode shield grab - then recognize it and stop just short of their range or even just grab them yourself.

If you find yourself spending the entire match trying to "get in" you're probably going to lose. This means the opponent is doing a good job of spacing, baiting and punishing you. Play in a way that is hard to read while also focusing more on making THEM approach you.