You may have already found
this guide on general improvement, but I would really suggest taking the time to read it full - be it in one instance or over a few days - and taking everything to heart. Some of the more important things to remember and take away from
Drastic Improvement (off the top of my head, so still make sure to read it), possibly with my own additions (lol I honestly don't remem what was from there or elsewhere, or from my own opinions) are:
- The mental conditioning/mindset and emotional preparedness you should maintain during and outside of play.
- Being willing to learn; like really be willing to learn. You don't have to enjoy reading through pages and pages of MU threads or character guides, but it'll damn sure help you if you do it anyways. Those pages are filled with some useless junk, but in-between that useless junk is a huge stash of information and experience from players that have been playing for years. Learning from what they say, learning about (research or ask!) things you don't understand from their posts, and then fully comprehending their advice, watching through videos to look out for examples to better solidify in your mind how to practice or perform things they talked about yourself, and slowly applying/integrating them into your play...that's about as efficient you can get with the learning process.
- On that note...you don't have to write down literally everything you can improve on, based on mistakes or little details you noticed in your play, like the guide says. You can mentally note down those things instead, in the same way he describes (just not on paper), and keep them in mind while researching or playing. But at the very least, while researching (reading through threads, watching vids), note down a list/table/whatever of anything that may seem useful to learn, be it soon in the near future, or later to refer back to it when you're more capable. It doesn't have to take a lot of time or effort. Just save the link and describe it with a few words in a word doc or something, and move it to another "have read these" doc for possible future reference once you feel you understand them. You'll gradually need to do this less and less as you begin to gain a broader and more comprehensive understanding of the game. At that point, you shouldn't stop doing so, but if you're up for it...maybe then you can apply all that knowledge and start taking notes on little details in your matches like the guide describes. You'll get much more out of it a few months down the line than you will now, given that you simply won't notice all the things you will later on, once you understand how the little details in game mechanics and MUs interact with your gameplay and your opponents'.
- In addition to reading up on stuff from and watching plays from these more experienced smashers, don't be afraid to speak up as you have hear, and become part of the community. You don't have to post everyday, or even more than every few weeks or less, but make yourself known to at least a few on the boards you'll be lurking and researching on so that you can openly share your ideas, ask for advice, or help out others if you realize you know enough to help (that can help you, too, by reconsidering ideas or facts, and theorizing about them on your own and/or solidify knowledge you've heard elsewhere. It's a healthy part of the learning process).
- Become part of the community in real life, as well. Researching online, playing WiFi/netplay matches, and going to an occasional tournament/fest are all really helpful, but nothing can't substitute for actually putting yourself out there in your nearest competitive scene, playing a variety of players of different levels of experience, developing the "mental" aspect of the game (emotions and mindset...and in terms of actual gameplay, mindgames and reads) and even picking up extra practice partners or potential teachers. Just be sociable and open; even if you're shy, the Smash community is probably one of the more friendly and welcoming ones out there. So long as you love the game and want to improve, nobody is gonna want to legitimately get in your way or be mean about it (excepting some friendly trash talk on the side aha, for the sake of keeping the competitive spirit going). Getting someone to teach you stuff regularly to any degree is far less likely, but by god if you have that opportunity, pounce on it. If they know what they're talking about, an actual personal real-life teacher helps you learn way faster than having to gather info yourself and hoping what you're doing is best. Even if you can't get a teacher, finding someone on your own level or close to it that is willing to learn as well, be it a little less or more than you, can offer mutual learning whenever practicing together, or discussing things. They'll probably share bits of insight that they happen to know that you don't, and vice versa...or at the very least, offer some perspective on various styles of play/mindset.
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But concerning actual things related to in-game stuff to practice, here's a
good list of things to learn, in an order that will generally let progress onto the next "step" as you master each previous steps' content. But you can follow it roughly or not at all; it's just one generally agreed upon order. Most players probably don't learn in that order anyhow, and skip to learn stuff a few steps ahead. Myself included. But you can still keep it for general reference on what to move onto learning next. (+don't expect to get it all quickly; some things take longer to learn than others, and players learn at different speeds too, which isn't directly related to the time and effort put in.)
And remember to have fun. Games played competitively are still meant to be played as games; have fun with it, by whatever means - specific to you - to feel satisfied. That might mean taking an occasional or frequent break to play another game, or play a "casual" 4player FFA (free-for-all). On the reverse, if that competitive learning is what drives you, go for that even more. Just don't take anything too seriously and respect everyone you play with as players who potentially love the game and devote as much or more of their lives to it as you do. And as friends. And. I could keep going all day, but you get the point. Smash is Smash. If you let it, Smash can change lives like few other games or communities can, yo. Take what you will from this, and enjoy your Smash 'career', however successful you are or however long you stay with us.
