Is Taunting a Mind-Game in competitive play?

[Gabukin]

Title pretty much says it all.
I've noticed that when someone taunts me in a match it tends to make me choke which leads to me playing more recklessly then I usually do and most of the time I lose because of it. which is frustrating.
I was wondering what you guys think about this. do you think taunting is a legitimate Mind-Game?

 

[DakotaBonez]

It's my specialty

 

[Gabukin]

It's my specialty

Does it Typically work in your favor?

 

[DakotaBonez]

Does it Typically work in your favor?

I don't just randomly throw them out, I make sure I only taunt right when my opponent gets knocked out, and make sure to stand at the edge of the stage, far from the respawn point.
By the time my opponent respawns they think they've caught me off guard, they usually rush towards me by the time my taunt has finished and I can easily punish them.

Doesn't work against characters with ranged attacks.

 

[allshort17]

It's not common, but it can be effective. Taunting mid-game or after a crazy kill can really push momentum.

 

[KingTeo]

I usually taunt in game. i'd say it's definitely viable. I love myself so getting away withsomething cool like taunting in a serious battle makes me want to lose even less. Cuz no one likes losing after taunting. Thas embarassing mang.

It also messses up other people pretty well too. Both online and friends.

510

 

[Jigglymaster]

It works rather well when you're playing a defensive character like DHD. Taunting can sometimes really rile up the opponent and cause them to carelessly charge at you, leaving them flustered and unable to catch momentum. Of course, its nothing personal to the person I'm playing against and I feel like I should apologize to them afterwards which I usually do. I know for one that I wouldn't want somebody else to do that to me so I do feel rather guilty doing it. But hey, its a strategy.

 

[Amazing Ampharos]

I usually taunt after kills if I'm playing a character who doesn't have a move to charge (like DK or Samus). I don't think it particularly helps me, but it doesn't hurt either. No opponents I've ever played were daunted at all by taunting at any random time; it's such an ordinary thing to do that no one seems to even think the taunts are disrespectful or anything.

 

[The Real Gamer]

Use any tools at your disposal to your advantage. If you're opponent is psychologically effected by taunting, then taunt till the cows come home.

Most high level players won't be phased by it though.

 

[Locke 06]

Pick your spots when taunting. Taunt too much, and it loses effect. But it is definitely a legitimate mind-game.

For instance, some people like to regroup after a kill and sit on the respawn platform for a bit. Taunt, and it might disrupt their focus or make them come off the platform before they wanted to.

Also, if you're Luigi you utilize the taunt. Taunt kill = instant win in just about everyone's book.

 

[MM720]

I believe Taunting DOES affect your opponent and is provoking.

However if you taunt your opponent often, and then LOSE (while playing seriously) then you might as well tattoo "I GOT OWNED" on your forehead. Taunting isn't something you should abuse unless you got the skill to back it up IMO.

 

[Gabukin]

Use any tools at your disposal to your advantage. If you're opponent is psychologically effected by taunting, then taunt till the cows come home.

Most high level players won't be phased by it though.

I'm in no way a high level player, but taunting always seems to phase me. I feel like I'm being disrespected when I get taunted. any advice for how to not let it get in you head?

 

[Amazing Ampharos]

I'm in no way a high level player, but taunting always seems to phase me. I feel like I'm being disrespected when I get taunted. any advice for how to not let it get in you head?

I usually just taunt for fun; the characters make funny noises and take silly poses when taunting (the more "serious" characters somtimes look cool instead). If you imagine that the opponent is doing it for a reason like that just to have fun, you won't feel disrespected and won't need to untangle this mindgame. If you want something more general, imagine the enemy character just did an attack... except it has no hitboxes or other properites that might help them win (with a few exceptions, of course). If your opponent threw out a random dtilt that had no chance to hit, would it bother you? Look at a taunt the same way.

EDIT: Even more generally, some good advice is to never let your opponent into your head. You're there to play your game; the only things coming from your opponent you should even pay mind are the things you can exploit to help you. If you let opponents mentally bully you, you'll be losing to a lot more stuff that shouldn't be a problem than just taunts.

 

[MM720]

I'm in no way a high level player, but taunting always seems to phase me. I feel like I'm being disrespected when I get taunted. any advice for how to not let it get in you head?

Best counter against taunting is to win the match. Like I said, that'll instantly nullify any disrespect you may have felt and is going to make your taunter feel just like you felt when he taunted you, but worse

If you get matched with a taunting opponent you can't possibly win against, then there are 2 options IMO:

1: Stop playing seriously and taunt back/teabag. That way you're "punishing" your opponent by not letting him have a fair match. Chances are he's also going to stop playing seriously and keep taunting/messing around. If he does, you can get several free hits in and try to regain the lead. WARNING: If you do this and still lose, then sucks to be you (especially if he beats you while playing non-seriously).
NOTE: Use this only as a last resort and only if you really feel that your opponent is majorly disrespecting you. If you do this, there's always a chance that he'll just quit mid-match or just keep trying to beat you up (and then leave when he wins). It's not really a sportsmanlike thing to do.


2: Just deal with it. If he taunts only after KOing you or when he wins then it's pretty normal and you should just accept it. If he does it while playing in a sandbagging or disrespectful manner then you can either try Option 1 or just quit (either mid-match or after).

 

[Eternal phoenix Fire]

I usually taunt after a suicide just to say "whoops", or if they suicide way too early I'll jump off myself then taunt. However, I don't taunt after I kill someone, seems pretty rude.

When I get taunted I usually just go " lol okayyy" and proceed to embarrass the player by reading everything he does and maximize damage off my confirmed hits, the goal being that I need to eliminate all possible options and hit you with something improbable towards the end .

 

[al-LAYN]

Most high level players won't be phased by it though.

This. High level players won't think too much of it, and they rather tend to laugh it out. It can get to you, however, if you're struggling/lacking behind in stocks, but, again, only if you let it get to you.

 

[KlefkiHolder]

I've never really been phased by taunting and I'm a low level player. Maybe it's because I like to practice tech skill between stocks and I just equate taunting to that. It's normal to me and I understand it, so I don't get taken advantage of as a result.

But I'm just one person

 

[Shaya]

Things are different online and offline. Online on for glory, taunts are one of the few forms of communication one can express to someone "something". Other forms include running off the stage twice and instantly leaving.

Wouldn't really say this is appropriate here, but better rather for either online discussion or the general or something. Taking a thread title ("Is taunting a mind-game") and adding "in competitive play" to the end of it suddenly doesn't validate every thread to be posted in here.

 

[KEWB]

I'm by no means a serious that competitively, but I taunt after pretty much every kill if I have the opportunity. Done it since Smash 64. IDK, it's not to be disrespectful or anything, it's not really a mind game, it's just natural for me to taunt.

 

[Orngeblu]

Against me it is! MKhsfhfdgjdfhkjljgfkhjkgfdhgdfkhghj

*ahem*

I don't like to taunt sometimes because I feel like it'll bring on some bad Karma for me, lol. Maybe next game I might SD (yey lag, or YEY I PRESSED UP SPECIAL AND GRENINJA BOUNCED OFF THE ****ING WALL, RIGHT NEXT TO THE LEDGE, LOST MY RECOVERY AND FELL TO MY DEATH *ahem*) and usually it gives them a free win, unless I bring it back. Then they taunt and makes me feel like they think they're better than me.

Depends on how you see people in For Glory. They can easily get into your head if you're really conscious about that.

That may not be how people are in For Glory, but you can never know with such limited communication.

 

[meleebrawler]

I tend to taunt when my opponent is shooting and I'm outside of their range.

 

[many37]

I taunt right after the match starts, when I kill, and when I get killed/SD. I use it to troll and for self-amusement. :D

 

[Loki]

ANOTHER taunting thread?
And even more, considering it a mindgame tactic...

I take real mind-games over taunting anyday.

 

[Quartzsoldier]

Yeah
I notice myself trying to attack while my opponent is taunting

 

[Gabukin]

ANOTHER taunting thread?
And even more, considering it a mindgame tactic...

I take real mind-games over taunting anyday.

So you're blatantly ignoring the psychological advantages you can get from taunting?
You sound stubborn.

 

[Forever 9]

So you're blatantly ignoring the psychological advantages you can get from taunting?
You sound stubborn.

1) So you're stating the fact that taunting works, thus encouraging Loki to taunt opponents?
2) I thought you said when other people taunt you, it works against your favor. So...? #ironic
3) In my opinion, yes, it might get into the mind of someone, which can cause them to play more aggressively.

 

[wizardto1]

I say so but I think it is more technical than some think. Like tricking someone to taunt. One time I KO my opponent and he didn't came down from the revival platform. So I started taunting.

He came down immediately and killed me.

 

[Gabukin]

1) So you're stating the fact that taunting works, thus encouraging Loki to taunt opponents?
2) I thought you said when other people taunt you, it works against your favor. So...? #ironic
3) In my opinion, yes, it might get into the mind of someone, which can cause them to play more aggressively.

I guess it does seem that I'm encouraging him to taunt. but to me it just seems that Loki was just dismissing the idea of taunts being a legitimate mind game. And yes you're right, it is a bit ironic, but that is the point of the thread. its to see if people actually incorporate taunts into their play style to get inside their opponents head. I just happen to be one of those guys who is mentally effected by taunting.

 

[The TaBuu]

You know what's better than taunting? Squatting and crawling.
Sure sure, we've all had Captain Falcon tell us to show him our moves and Zero Suit Samus asking us if that's all. But have you ever seen Luigi stand there and constantly go up and down, up and down, grabbing his little green hat and showing off his perfect squat form that would make any self-respecting gym jockey jealous? Or have you had a Pikachu crawl backwards towards you, tail in the air and butt towards your face?

My friend, there are mind games and techniques much more devastating than the simple Taunt mechanism. Should you encounter a squatter or crawler, prepare yourself for a high-level match.

 

[Daybreak]

I feel like it's one of the only way players communicate through 'For Glory' mode. It is effective from time to time when it comes to mind games, as long as you keep your wits about you, you will be fine.

It's almost like a bullfight. Don't charge into the matador~

 

[LunarDistortion]

I usually either use Little Mac's Up taunt or crouch repeatedly.

Little Mac's up taunt is extremely short and causes the opponent to charge right at me, then I perform a combo or Side B and they are completely caught off guard. It's a pretty good method for me.

When I have an opponent that can charge at me and actually destroy me in the process or I don't have the time to Taunt, I crouch repeatedly. It's a way of provoking or at least of being playful towards the opponent and puts the enemy off guard.

Taunting is good in moderation, and is an interesting tool in fights.

 

[Nammy12]

I play as Shulk so I usually don't have enough time to switch arts and taunt. (I usually go for a taunt unless I'm facing a really good player)

 

[C.O.M.M]

Every match I play I always greet my opponent with a friendly "HIII!!!"

 

[Mindles]

It's my specialty

YOU CANT PHASE MEHH ;}

 

[Mindles]

i remember spectating a match one time and this fox was really beating down a mario player and being a real a** taunting, until the mario threw the fox off and capped his fox illusion TWICE ending with marios hat bow taunt ,
Basically yeah it can be a good thing to use to really get inside your opponents head but also it can be a downfall considering you get to full of yourself mid-battle

 

[Locke 06]

Basically yeah it can be a good thing to use to really get inside your opponents head but also it can be a downfall considering you get to full of yourself mid-battle

If you are letting your own taunt mess you up, you have many more problems ahead of you. Sounds like you need to get out of your own head, let alone your opponents'.

Edit: the way taunting backfires is that, more often than not, it reminds the opponent to reset their approach and evaluate what has transpired. You taunting can be akin to saying, what you were doing wasn't working. If it wasn't working, let them figure it out and punish in the meantime.

 

[GrnFzzTgr]

I'd say it can be, especially when you're already frustrated. When you're already aggravated, you're more susceptible to to taunts.

 

[Shog]

I use Down Taunt after I SD because it looks like Charizard is raging, and for anything else Side Taunt, for getting a kill with Flare Blitz for example.
And yeah, it works.

 

[Deluxe0111]

Taunting is just one of those things that I naturally do if I get the chance

When I see someone else do it all I think is: Fair game, you've earnt that taunt

 

[Yung Nikey]

Taunting's been a natural thing for me ever since it gave me extra points in SSB64