Melee is very frustrating

[Sprenzy]

Little things like ledge dashes since I main Marth, Sheik and Fox. It just really hard to get consistent because especially for sheik and fox I can't follow with my eyes, I kinda have to know the rhythm of the input. so that means I accidentally do ledge hops or get ups often

another problem is that I always do things randomly, or out of pure reaction as one might call it. I just simply don't have a strategy I don't know these stuff so I just randomly do dashdances and wavedashes but it just feels like every move is not thought out and that it's random

 

[Synnett]

We all went through that don't worry lmao. What I suggest is practicing your platform movements. Say you have nothing to do, pick up your controller and wavedash around, grab the ledges and everything. The more you do it the more your muscle memory will remember the stage. You then feel more comfortable in a match and you have the time to think your options.

And with enough experience, you won't even look at your character anymore, you will be able to focus on your opponent more.

Don't give up!

 

[Ten of Nine]

Melee is very similar to learning a language, playing a musical instrument, or anything that has a learning curve.

At the beginning it's quite tough, there is a lot to take in. You have to get the point where things start to become second nature or muscle memory to reach a new level of fun with the game. Like with anything that requires effort, not everyone has the patience or passion to break through the initial learning phase. But the ones that do usually get addicted to Melee, and it definitely has a learning curve that will last you a lifetime.

So just stick with it, and segment your practice into bite sized things you can master and feel progress with. Using a modular approach and setting goals can help you grow faster. I teach piano, and the biggest mistake I see new people make is that they get ahead of themselves, they try way too many things at the same time and they try and learn too fast. This ends in sloppy technique and bad habits. Have fun while you learn, and if you find something frustrating give it a break move onto something else, maybe even just play around with another character, or maybe give the game a break and come back after a day or whatever.


Above all else though, playing with people better than you is the fastest way to grow, naturally implementing new things into your actual gameplay will take your mind off how frustrating it once was (I've found this true no matter how much experience you've got).

 

[ThunderCat]

The last two posters really nailed it. Breaking through the tech skill barrier is definitely tough, then you can start learning mindgames. I can feel for you on the struggle though, I've been really inconsistent and it has me tearing my hair out sometimes lmfao

As for dash dances use it is a way to move, giving a longer press in one direction and quickly pulling back will give your dash dance some variance and you can move around the stage like that. Good way to fake people out y'know

 

[Onmitsu]

I love throwing in wave dashes with the dancing.

 

[ChivalRuse]

If your movement feels random, it's because it is random. Don't move at all unless you have a purpose behind it. Otherwise, you aren't accomplishing anything. It's better to not give up stage control than to do it simply because you feel like you should be moving.