Darklink401
Smash Master
Road to Improvement - A Darklink401 Tale
I thought I was good at Smash ever since my Melee and Brawl days. But then I decided to try out For Glory mode in the new Smash. Needless to say, I faced off against quite a few players that made me rethink everything.
I was pretty much garbage at this game.
Sure, it was new, and everyone was getting used to it. But I quickly realized something. I didn't really play the game using even 30% of my options.
All I had going for me was a semi-decent aerial game, since I used Villager a lot.
So I decided, since I wasn't good at anything else, I'd simply focus on my one area of skill, to try and be good with just that. I got pretty far. I felt myself getting better and better at my aerial game. I could face off equally against even the strongest friend I had, and against most others, I was quite a bit above them.
However, online, I kept finding more and more people who broke what idea I had about someone being 'good' at this game.
I had felt that, I had attained a level where I could put up a fight against anyone, even if all I had was good air game, and nothing else.
But I was wrong. There were some people who trounced me. Simply shielding well and grabbing me or punishing me was enough.
I was stuck. I thought I had taken my aerial game as far as it could go. I tried different characters, but none were better than Villager. In fact, sometimes I felt I could win with no one BUT Villager. It was, honestly, quite depressing.
I felt I was doing so well with Villager because the character was good, not because of what I could do, as a player.
So I decided to get better.
Spending almost an hour in an enclosed box, being wailed on by level 9s at 300% damage, simply to learn how to tech.
Using extremely ground-based characters, such as Fox and Little Mac, to force myself to get better at predictions, shielding, and dodging, as well as spacing on the ground.
Looking up what I could find in general techniques, and character-specific techniques for my mains, trying to learn how to do them. I wanted to get better.
Currently, after much practice with the aforementioned ground game, especially on the more defensive side, since I was WAY too reckless before, I've recently decided to add the final piece of the puzzle. Grabbing.
I've been practicing grabbing, such as running up and grabbing, pivot grabbing, etc.
I feel that I've improved significantly, simply by incorporating the other two options, shielding, and grabbing, into my triangle of general options.
With my air game mastered, I'm going to try and master these two now.
Not because I want to win. But because I feel that I want to get better at this game I love so much.
To be able to put up a fight against anyone, even if I lose.
I know a lot probably won't have read all that, but I felt like I should get it out there, how I decided to get better. Why?
Because, with that being said....I'd like your feedback, Smashboards.
Do you think the way I decided to improve, step by step, rather than everything at once, was a smart decision?
And most importantly, what's YOUR tale? Was it as difficult for you to get to where you are?
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