New blood

[streak]

Hey all, I'm just another new player wanting to get at least somewhat competent at fighting games haha

Well ok "new" is not quite accurate, I have some experience but it's really quite limited. I played a bit of Meltyblood Re-Act way back when it came out on PC, mostly just Training Mode/Arcade/vs AI (and on keyboard no less haha), but never really put much time into it. Later on I picked up Blazblue because I liked its aesthetics and I did still have an interest in fighting games. But again, never really spent enough time with it. Moved on to playing Starcraft 2 and now mainly League of Legends.

Somehow ended up getting Persona 4 Arena. I still really like fighting games and also enjoy watching them regardless of whether I actually play said games or not.

And so I finally made an account here in an attempt to learn and hopefully actually get good at this, instead of just coming here to look for some combos for me to do on training mode dummy haha

This seems like a good time to learn the basics, with Chrono Phantasma coming out soon-ish I think? Probably still a long time off but that's just more time for me to learn the basics I guess. Also Under Night In-Birth looks interesting although that's got to be one of the weirder game titles out there.

Mostly playing Persona right now, not sure if I should focus on one game or try to mess around in BBCSE as well.

Played my first matches online today in P4A, went 4W 16L lol, was laggy on and off but had fun and managed to pick up quite a bit of experience.

I'd like to think I have at least some idea of how to pick apart my gameplay and look for areas to improve on as I do that a lot for Starcraft 2. But it seems like there's also just a lot of bad habits involved, mostly the usual suspects like panic button mashing, falling back on auto combo when I actually get a hit in even though I spent quite a bit of time in Training mode practicing basic BnBs, pressing buttons when I really shouldn't be, constantly trying to use dash to gap close etc.

Some questions I have right now:

Should I be focusing on getting rid of those bad habits first before trying too hard to fix other issues?

Also is there a "recommended order" to work on mechanics/fundamentals or just something that must absolutely be learned before anything else?

Is there a general way to deal with people that keep away and spam projectiles or does it really depend on the characters and the moves they have? I have a hard time dealing with Naoto/Yukiko/Teddie spamming bullets/traps/fire/fans/random items, some guide lines would be nice before getting into character specific solutions. Right now I feel like I'd rather fight rush down characters like Chie because I'd have a chance to score a hit between blocking rather than still having to try and close the distance after blocking. Oh, and also if a projectile comes from behind me which direction do I have to push to block?

How necessary is it to learn the properties of each individual move for my main and for other characters? I'd assume it could be quite useful at higher level of play, but how often do people actually think about those in a middle of a round?

Is it correct to assume it's not that important for me right now to learn advanced combos and it's more important to just know how to actually get a hit in? Of the games I actually won it felt more like I just managed to block more of the other guys stuff and then get a few hits in after that rather than actively trying to land my combos. Oh and random supers haha although some weren't that random to me, must have seemed random to the other guy

I think there were a few more questions, but they slipped my mind lol so that's all for now =)

Oh I'm trying to learn Labrys right now but Shadow Labrys and Aigis also seem fun so I'll probably try them out before settling on one for a main.

[InWithTheAshes]

Is it correct to assume it's not that important for me right now to learn advanced combos and it's more important to just know how to actually get a hit in? Of the games I actually won it felt more like I just managed to block more of the other guys stuff and then get a few hits in after that rather than actively trying to land my combos.

This, yes. Simply, by the logic that what you do once you hit someone isn't that helpful a thing until you, well, hit them.

[Airk]

I'd like to think I have at least some idea of how to pick apart my gameplay and look for areas to improve on as I do that a lot for Starcraft 2. But it seems like there's also just a lot of bad habits involved, mostly the usual suspects like panic button mashing, falling back on auto combo when I actually get a hit in even though I spent quite a bit of time in Training mode practicing basic BnBs, pressing buttons when I really shouldn't be, constantly trying to use dash to gap close etc.

If it makes you feel better, everyone has these issues when they're new, and you have a leg up already because you recognize you have them.

A good way to work on remembering to confirm into your BnBs is to play vs the CPU in training mode and focus on "Okay, when I get a hit in, I do this..."; Don't worry too much about how you get those hits, because how you get hits vs the CPU doesn't necessarily have much to do with how you get them vs people. Just use this to practice remembering what to do when you hit.

Should I be focusing on getting rid of those bad habits first before trying too hard to fix other issues?

You can do these things simultaneously. It's not like there's some training regimen where you need to spend X total hours learning how to not mash, and the sooner you put in X hours, the sooner you can move on to something else. It's more like you need to play Z matches, and try to remember not to mash. If you can try to remember not to mash, then you should feel free to do other stuff too.

Also is there a "recommended order" to work on mechanics/fundamentals or just something that must absolutely be learned before anything else?

The only thing that I can safely say "You really REALLY should work on this first" is...execution. If you can't reliably make your character do what you want them to do, then nothing else matters because all your mindgames, spacing, and whatnot will go right out the window when you fail to do what you intended to. Execution must come first.

After that? Learn 1-2 combos - try to pick widely applicable ones. A grounded BnB and anti-air BnB would be good for P4A. Bonus points if you can add a super at the end, but not required.

Then play. The only way to learn spacing/footsies/movement is to play. And play a lot. You'll lose a lot. 4 for 20 isn't bad at all. But the only way to learn this stuff is by playing. You can know everything there is to know about the game, but only playing can teach you say, at just what range your airdash will carry you over that projectile to hit your opponent rather than getting anti-aired.

Is there a general way to deal with people that keep away and spam projectiles or does it really depend on the characters and the moves they have? I have a hard time dealing with Naoto/Yukiko/Teddie spamming bullets/traps/fire/fans/random items, some guide lines would be nice before getting into character specific solutions.

The simple answer is that you go where the projectiles aren't. Odds are your opponent isn't reacting to your movements, but rather, just throwing stuff out and letting you run into it. You can use evasive action to pass through a lot of stuff. You can highjump/double jump - while airblocking - to avoid a bunch more. And sometimes you just have to carefully walk forward a step or two, block and repeat. There are no global solutions - you have to try things and see what works.

Oh, and also if a projectile comes from behind me which direction do I have to push to block?

Blocking is always relative to your OPPONENT, regardless of what direction the "attack" looks like it's coming from.

How necessary is it to learn the properties of each individual move for my main and for other characters? I'd assume it could be quite useful at higher level of play, but how often do people actually think about those in a middle of a round?

It's absolutely critical that you know at least in a general sense what every single one of your character's moves is good for (the answer for some of them might be "nothing" but you still need to know that.). You will never get out of a beginner state without this knowledge. For characters you don't play, it's important to know what their options are. You don't necessarily need to know the buttons, or the motions or the frame data, but you need to know "That flipkick needs to be blocked high." and "that was his R-Action; I can punish that after I block it" and stuff like that.

Is it correct to assume it's not that important for me right now to learn advanced combos and it's more important to just know how to actually get a hit in? Of the games I actually won it felt more like I just managed to block more of the other guys stuff and then get a few hits in after that rather than actively trying to land my combos.

Well, there are multiple things at work here:

#1) Fundamentally, getting hit less than the other guy is how you win. So being better at blocking their stuff than they are at blocking yours is crucial.

#2) Conversely, if you can't get any hits in, you're going to lose, so you need to learn how to get hits in.

#3) What you do after you get that hit is important, but not as important as the other two - you NEED to be able to confirm most hits into SOMETHING, even if it's just a couple of hits. Few things are more frustrating than losing to an opponent that you outplayed, but who got twice the damage you did everytime he hit you. So you need to not only be able to "get a hit in" but turn that hit into damage. Start with the 1-2 combos mentioned above. Then, as you improve, look at your replays (save and watch your replays!) and say "Okay, I'm getting good damage when I just land a 5A, but I get nothing for my sweep; Is there a combo I can do off that?" and learn a new combo that way, rather than trying to learn a ton of advanced combos all at once.

[Moy_X7]

Also is there a "recommended order" to work on mechanics/fundamentals or just something that must absolutely be learned before anything else?

My "recommended order" of things that need to be learned when looking into maining/subbing a character is...

1) Learn the properties of every single one of your moves, including what they can be canceled into (if anything). With that said, READ YOUR CHARACTER'S WIKI PAGE AND FRAME DATA.

2) Learn combos, start out with common BnBs and branch out to situation-specific combos.

3) Learn how to hit-confirm and how to transition from a would-be starter into a proper blockstring.

4) Go to the character forums and learn strategies for your character including advanced ways to mix-up the opponent, how to get the most out of a knockdown, what to do in X situation, etc.

Outside of your character specifics, you need to learn the game specific mechanics and eventually learn what the opposing characters can do both through experience and by reading their wiki page/frame data.

How necessary is it to learn the properties of each individual move for my main and for other characters? I'd assume it could be quite useful at higher level of play, but how often do people actually think about those in a middle of a round?

I feel like it is essential for people to learn what every single one of their character's moves can and cannot do first and foremost. It's not necessary to learn what every single one of your opposing character's moves can do but at least learn which moves hit high/low, which moves have invulnerability (be it partial or full), which moves the opponent can use to reset pressure, which moves end the opponent's blockstring or leave them in situational disadvantage (usually something that's negative and can't be canceled), and which moves can be punished.

You don't actually "think" about it mid-match, you just automatically know what to do and what not to do given enough experience and knowledge. Example: A random character uses their DP and you block it, you automatically know when and how to punish it after you've been exposed to it long enough.

Is it correct to assume it's not that important for me right now to learn advanced combos and it's more important to just know how to actually get a hit in?

Correct, knowing combos is all good and dandy but it doesn't mean much if you can't land the combo starter or if you're too fixated on just trying to land a specific combo starter that leads into that shiny new combo you just learned. Combos are a newbie's worst enemy if they don't work on their fundamentals. Gotta learn how to crawl before you teach yourself to walk

[Silmerion]

I dunno how much of this will actually help you, but here's my guide to Training Mode if you haven't already seen it.

[streak]

Thanks for all the replies! I think I have a better idea how to improve my game now.

I dunno how much of this will actually help you, but here's my guide to Training Mode if you haven't already seen it.

That's definitely useful =)

Well I guess I'm going back to the time machinetraining mode