Seeking Basic Advice For Improvement

[Kothorix]

Alright, so I apologize if this thread is in the wrong place. I don't know much about computers, forums or forum etiquette. I've looked around and can't find a "I'm looking for advice" board, but its totally possible I'm blind. In fact, I know I'm blind.

Anyway, I've been playing Smash 4 on WiiU for about 2 weeks now. I've played the other smash games but never got into them. I want to 'get into' this one. I want to be good.

So a few things that I just don't understand happen. I feel like if I understood them, my gameplay would improve. No one really ever is able to answer my questions though, so I want to ask them here and see. I'm already so frustrated with the game I want to throw my WiiU in the trash.

1. My down smashes are always trumped by opponents up smashes. What I mean is...when I'm in the air and coming down overhead on an enemy, I can hit down-A and they will hit up-A, and about 90% of the time they will hit me and I won't hit them. Why does this happen? I've asked several of my friends this question and they mutter something about 'character priority' and look at the floor; but It really doesn't seem to matter what two characters are fighting. So, my conclusion would be that up-smashes just out prioritize down-smashes, except they DON'T about 10% of the time. I think its been like this in every smash game, at least, it has been for me. What is really infuriating is when I'm playing against someone and their downsmash trumps my upsmash EVERY time; like they just know something I don't. I think this has been the single most frustrating part of any game in this series for me.

2. The CPU grabs me constantly. I play against the CPU at lvl 9 to try to get better, and its pretty handsy. It seems to be able to grab me when I'm shielded, when I'm rolling, when I'm jumping, and even when I'm mid-attack. So there is obviously something about grabbing I just don't understand. How do I not get grabbed? Also, is there a way to escape grabbing? CPU seems to think there is. I've tried mashing buttons, I've tried tapping the control stick in the opposite direction, I've tried hitting grab at the moment i'm grabbed AND right before they throw me. These are all different things people have told me to do, by the way. Nothing works.

3. Airdodging or Teching? Alright, so I get tossed around like a ragdoll a lot because I'm bad. Now, my question is; is it better to airdodge and land or is it better to try to tech right as I hit the ground? I just want to get in the habit of doing the right thing.

4. VS Rosalina. Upsmash, Upsmash, Upsmash, dead. Always. Why?

5. What do I do...in general? So, every game I start out wondering what my goal even is. Obviously, I want to knock the opponent off the edge, but there is like an in-between part that I don't really understand. Should I try to force them toward the edge and...do some kind of magic that makes them fall early? Do I want to be in the middle of the stage and just build up % on them? Should I just try using the best launch moves I have right off the bat and hope they forget to use their up-B? I once saw a Little Mac charge at his opponent and then the other guy just grabbed him and threw him off the edge and killed him at like 0%. Is that a strategy? Just throw them off the edge at 0% ? I don't know. Sometimes I'm fighting someone and I get them to like 200% and then I'm thinking "They should be dead...but I don't know how to make that happen." And then they launch me into space while I'm at like 70%.

6. How do I choose my main? I've already read SamuraiPanda's post. So the problem with me is...I'm not good with anyone, and I don't necessarily like any of the characters more than any other one either. I've played nearly every character on the roster at least once (except DLC and things I havent unlocked yet...in which case I don't know about) and I have no idea.

7. Which advanced techniques should I focus on? So I watch a lot of youtube videos, and man this game has some intricacies. I'm talking about the kind of stuff like DI, dash-dancing, perfect pivoting, and probably about 100 other things. So as a new player, which things are most important? Are they all necessary to know? I mean, I saw one guy talking about some technique where you like..throw an item at the ground and then pick it up immediately and it inches you forward a tiny bit. Is there even a use for something like that?

Alright, well anyway, thanks for reading.

 

[GreenMonkey]

Alright, so I apologize if this thread is in the wrong place. I don't know much about computers, forums or forum etiquette. I've looked around and can't find a "I'm looking for advice" board, but its totally possible I'm blind. In fact, I know I'm blind.

Anyway, I've been playing Smash 4 on WiiU for about 2 weeks now. I've played the other smash games but never got into them. I want to 'get into' this one. I want to be good.

So a few things that I just don't understand happen. I feel like if I understood them, my gameplay would improve. No one really ever is able to answer my questions though, so I want to ask them here and see. I'm already so frustrated with the game I want to throw my WiiU in the trash.

1. My down smashes are always trumped by opponents up smashes. What I mean is...when I'm in the air and coming down overhead on an enemy, I can hit down-A and they will hit up-A, and about 90% of the time they will hit me and I won't hit them. Why does this happen? I've asked several of my friends this question and they mutter something about 'character priority' and look at the floor; but It really doesn't seem to matter what two characters are fighting. So, my conclusion would be that up-smashes just out prioritize down-smashes, except they DON'T about 10% of the time. I think its been like this in every smash game, at least, it has been for me. What is really infuriating is when I'm playing against someone and their downsmash trumps my upsmash EVERY time; like they just know something I don't. I think this has been the single most frustrating part of any game in this series for me.

2. The CPU grabs me constantly. I play against the CPU at lvl 9 to try to get better, and its pretty handsy. It seems to be able to grab me when I'm shielded, when I'm rolling, when I'm jumping, and even when I'm mid-attack. So there is obviously something about grabbing I just don't understand. How do I not get grabbed? Also, is there a way to escape grabbing? CPU seems to think there is. I've tried mashing buttons, I've tried tapping the control stick in the opposite direction, I've tried hitting grab at the moment i'm grabbed AND right before they throw me. These are all different things people have told me to do, by the way. Nothing works.

3. Airdodging or Teching? Alright, so I get tossed around like a ragdoll a lot because I'm bad. Now, my question is; is it better to airdodge and land or is it better to try to tech right as I hit the ground? I just want to get in the habit of doing the right thing.

4. VS Rosalina. Upsmash, Upsmash, Upsmash, dead. Always. Why?

5. What do I do...in general? So, every game I start out wondering what my goal even is. Obviously, I want to knock the opponent off the edge, but there is like an in-between part that I don't really understand. Should I try to force them toward the edge and...do some kind of magic that makes them fall early? Do I want to be in the middle of the stage and just build up % on them? Should I just try using the best launch moves I have right off the bat and hope they forget to use their up-B? I once saw a Little Mac charge at his opponent and then the other guy just grabbed him and threw him off the edge and killed him at like 0%. Is that a strategy? Just throw them off the edge at 0% ? I don't know. Sometimes I'm fighting someone and I get them to like 200% and then I'm thinking "They should be dead...but I don't know how to make that happen." And then they launch me into space while I'm at like 70%.

Alright, well anyway, thanks for reading.

First of all, welcome to Smashboards! Let's be friends!

Alright, let me try to inform you as much as a monkey can with your questions:

1. Sorry to be nit-picky, but D-Smashes can only be performed on the ground. What you meant is D-Air. Your friends were partially right with their "character priority" explanation. When you try to Down-Air your friend and they Up-Smash at the same time, what happens is that their Up-Smash often out-prioritize your D-Air. What this means is that their U-Smash has a higher priority over your D-Air. Think of it as a list of to-dos. The things with higher priority comes before the things with less priority. So when attacks clash, the one with the higher priority wins out. So next time you try to attack from above, either use a really strong D-Air (ex. Link's & Toon Link's) or another high priority move (ex. Ganon & Capt. Falcon's Down-B). If two attacks have the same priority, they will cancel out and nothing will happen.

2. Avoiding grabs is rather simple but depends on your situation. If you're throwing out slow, laggy attacks, then try to use faster moves such as tilts to prevent getting grabs. If you're shielding too much, try to mix up your defensive game with rolls, spot-dodges, and jumping. However, if you're sure that the CPU is going for a grab, then throw out a fast hitbox. Hitboxes always beat grabs, so quick attacks like Jab, F-Tilt, and D-Tilt work really well for countering grab-happy opponents. If you do get grabbed, however, mash every button as fast as you can. Seem crazy, but it'll get your character out of their grab faster.

3. When you airdodge and land, you will have a few frames of landing lag, which no one wants. If your opponent is throwing out a smash attack and you can only avoid it with an airdodge, then that would be the better option. However, teching is often superior because it's lag-free and you can tech and land in three positions: tech and roll left, tech and roll right, or simple tech and stay in the same spot. However, try not to tech and land in the same spot every time or you'll get read and punished.

4. R&L is deadly especially with their combined U-Smash. If you're having trouble landing, try to use B-reverses to mix up your landings or Up-B strategically to get out of sticky situations. Also, Rosa's U-Smash is much less powerful without Luma there, so make sure to isolate the two and kill Luma quickly so you can stay alive longer!

5. Oof that is deep and philosophical and I don't think my monkey brain can help you that much with this one. When you start out a match, the usually goal is to control the center of the stage and rack up damage quickly via combos and whatnot. The Little Mac example is called a gimp and it's when you edgeguard someone and kill them at reaaaallllly early percents. Depending on the character, you may/may not want to go for gimps all the time (ex. Peach edgeguards better than Little Mac) but it's always worth a shot. They are really hype when you get one, though! Also, try not to use strong Smash attacks early on because you'll stale them, or make them less deadly, the more you use the same move. Try to conserve them only when your opponent gets to killing percents, then unleash those powerful attacks!

Phew that was really long but I hoped I helped!

 

[Kothorix]

Wow, thanks GreenMonkey for the quick and thorough reply. I do have a few questions about terminology though. What is a spot-dodge and what is a B-reverse?

 

[GreenMonkey]

Wow, thanks GreenMonkey for the quick and thorough reply. I do have a few questions about terminology though. What is a spot-dodge and what is a B-reverse?

No problem! I'm glad to help.

A spot-dodge is almost like an air-dodge on the ground and is performed by holding shield and down. +
When you see someone running towards you with a dash attack/grab, you can spot-dodge and follow up with a punish (ex. Jigglypuff can Rest after a spot-dodge if spaced correctly). This works for avoiding any short-duration moves. Multi-hits or moves that have lingering hitboxes (ex. Luigi's dash attack and N-Air, respectively) will hit you after the spot-dodge.

A B-reverse is a technique where you input B, then immediately hold your control stick to the direction behind you. + /
For example, if Rosa is charging a U-Smash right below you, and you don't have a second jump left to change where you're landing, you can B-reverse to change your momentum. An air-dodge also allows you to slightly alter your momentum, but it causes landing lag and may not change where you're falling towards enough. Make sure that you don't press B and shift your control stick at the same time or you'll input a Side-B instead. Not good. Practice practice practice in training mode first, then you'll start to apply it in real matches.

MySmashCorner, a YouTuber, covers a lot of advanced techniques and strategies. You should check him out if you're interested in all kinds of cool, flashy tricks!

 

[N7Kopper]

For clarification on what priority actually is, here's the Wiki link.
For a summation, priority is - with a few special case rules - based on damage. Specifically, a damage difference of 7% or more will cause the weaker attack to be outprioritised.