Online Trouble

[randy7027]

So i used to play smash bros back when melee came out. I was younger so I wasn't all hardcore with it. But now since I am playing one with online play I notice alot of people are good, and cheap. I have been losing alot. It's very discouraging for me now to play. The lag makes it worse to even time anything. It seems like my opponents can perfectly time every move they land and I can't even land a grab without missing. I can't get out of combos and air attacks or anything. I have read stuff on here but none of it helps. Why is it that they can land every hit and I cannot? What is the trick to this game? Why is it when im falling I cant down A without getting smashed or something? Isn't that supposed to stop me from getting hit while falling? Same thing for dashes they almost always grab me yet I cannot pull off a simple shield grab?? Just the last match the mario kept dash attacking me and up attacking me and I couldn't get out of it. Even after I did he did it again..The mechanics in this game I just don't understand. I have played enough of ai matches so I know my characters i'm using I just don't know the advanced techniques that everyone else does. Help?

 

[ndayday]

Lag probably isn't the best environment to learn, but it sounds like you're probably falling into your own traps. For example if you get hit in the air and then airdodge, you will suffer lag upon landing in this game. A lot of people will abuse that if you rely on it too much. Similarly, if whenever you get hit into the air you do a down air on the descent they will know you are going to do that and punish accordingly, whether that's waiting for the move to end and then smash attacking or grabbing you on the lag that will happen if the move hasn't autocancelled. If all you do it dash attack, they will know to shield and grab you, etc.

Unless they are doing a combo, then you should by all means be able to get out of it and any hits beyond that that you receive are reads they're getting on you or punishments to what you are doing.

also down air doesn't protect most characters incredibly well and is not a scissor to paper. It is an option, but you need to know when and how to use it otherwise you'll down air with Fox or something and get upsmashed.

 

[randy7027]

Okay, well it's definitely not me. I think it's the servers cause I don't lag playing anything else just smash. there's a noticeable delay during gameplay. So pretty much always air dodge then? Doesn't seem to be any other way around that. I can never grab anyone when they fall or any other time usually. is it best to grab while shielding? To rack up high damage with fox for example what should you do after the initial combo? It's hard for me to get damage on the opponent and stringing any type of combo, also when they go into the air I can never guess where they will land so when I do it's the opposite of where i think so i can never continue the combo with like an up attack or anything. What helps with that? I have been using him alot lately so some tips would be most appreciated it.

 

[Orngeblu]

I notice alot of people are good, and cheap.

Really?

But anyways, if the lag is so bad, then perhaps you can't play online Sm4sh. I don't have any information to fix your issues with lag. You may also have more input lag than the other player, which is easier for them to play in. I doubt it's the servers if plenty of other players are playing just fine.

Shield Grabbing is best used after you shield an on-coming attack like a dash attack, or Forward Aerial. Basically, any attack approaching you, in which you shield it, you can grab. (Unless they space it enough to avoid your grab range)

Grabs (Usually Down Throw or Uthrow) are common set-ups to a 1-2 hit combo, it varies from character, and everything beyond those 1-2 hit combo's will be further strings will be reads.

Air Dodge is a bit dodgey () this game. I'd suggest not air dodging into the ground unless it's really necessary. This is vague, I know, but what I do when I need to make it back on the ground, after I'm knocked in the air is:

Fast fall. I fast fall into the ground and shield immediately to shield any on-coming attacks.

 

[randy7027]

yeah like, most i'll play just spam the same exploit or combo that I can't get out of easily at all. Like last night I faced a sonic who kept abusing this one move that spins towards you..and I got away from it a few times but not enough to keep me from getting ko'ed..okay it's not my connection so why is there any input lag at all? Makes no sense to me as my connection is fine on everything else..but thanks for the advice so far.

 

[randy7027]

I just faced a little mac and couldn't beat him because he keeps hitting me with his specials and I couldn't get out of it. didn't matter if i shielded or anything. care to explain how that works? Anytime I face him, I lose...

 

[randy7027]

I also notice fox doesn't have much launch ability other than if the enemy fall for simple smashes. tips? I can get someone high damage but then cant ko them cause they dont fall for smash attacks.

 

[Wintropy]

Every character is different. I would suggest trolling the character forums for a while until you find useful information. Then keep on playing until you find what strategies work for you. Finding your main is a good starting point for figuring out what to do next.

In general, if you're having difficulty landing smashes, chances are you're being too open with them. Be a little bit craftier and do what you can to catch your opponent off-guard. Guard and counter-strike if you can or exploit their own moves that are likely to whiff. Again, and I can't stress this enough, find out what works best for your character and what works best for you - you'll have a much better time and a greater appreciation for how the game works if you do that.

Also double-posting is frowned upon here. Maybe edit your posts in future instead of posting twice in a row.

Good luck, my friend, and happy smashing~!

 

[randy7027]

Sorry, I was short for time and didn't think about that, being that it is a forum, I tend to forget that. But thanks for the advice man.