How to Improve Without Tournaments - Smash Ultimate

Many people are taking a break from Smash at the moment, and understandably so. It's impossible to go to tournemants right now. But if you still have a drive to get better or you just want to do well in wifi tourneys, these tips can certainly help.
Resources for studying the game:
Ultimate Frame Data: ultimateframed...
Character Discords: smashcords.com...
SSBWiki: www.ssbwiki.co...
Music from the Mario Kart Double Dash soundtrack
Twitter: / bananaboyssb
Instagram: / bananaboyssb

[@exzyyd392]

>have an adapter >have friends Well damn I'll just keep being terrible

[@Atonal_7]

We can lag and be lonely together 😔

[@emperorblob7886]

I have friends but they either don't play smash ultimate or they are bad

[@zaos7321]

@@emperorblob7886 same, adding that with my garbage internet that I can only use i select 3 hours each day, which isn't even guaranteed because I have homework to do or practice

[@b-matiasezraking599]

Bruh, I don't even have online

[@mlg_joe7]

I can relate alot man

[@jukkasaarinen35]

"simp-Lee" this joke is so high IQ my head almost blew open.

[@warmspaghettios1259]

Wanna 1v1, I'm very new to the game and I'm looking to get better

[@akshayy_xd]

@@warmspaghettios1259 simp

[@ekene4886]

@@warmspaghettios1259 sounds like something a simp would say smh my head

[@warmspaghettios1259]

@@akshayy_xd would you like to 1v1 also I need to get better

[@warmspaghettios1259]

@@ekene4886 would you like to 1v1 also I do need practice

[@FrenzyLight]

Hey that’s me! ❤️ 05:49

[@cakecakes31]

Yo

[@bimblor6866]

Yo

[@HaydenTheEeeeeeeeevilEukaryote]

Frenzy Light Copyright claim this video and swipe all that ad revenue

[@shanek2724]

@@HaydenTheEeeeeeeeevilEukaryote haha

[@FrenzyLight]

@@HaydenTheEeeeeeeeevilEukaryote Bananaboy is the homie lmfao, he can use whatever he wants from my end

[@dallinkoger5533]

Hehe, guess what nerds, I've seen the legendary BananaBoy in person. He was on the laptop, he do be working doe. So I didn't bother him.

[@archived1606]

Dallin Warner no way

[@r.i.petika829]

That’s actually a very respectful thing to do; good job :)👍🏿

[@Nbafanla03]

Dallin Warner I would have gave him a hug

[@dallinkoger5533]

@@archived1606 Yes sir. I got watch him play irl as well.

[@zacnmac]

:0 Wait..this is the internet...he’s lying right? 😕

[@Juggleboy]

1:12 I feel attacked. Even the keeby skin. Ouch

[@kalarse]

Same

[@djdrizzy9139]

Yeah, it sucks that the windbox can be shielded. Wouldn't say that's the reason Kirby "sucks"...

[@shinny1374]

FeelsKirbyMan

[@N12015]

@@djdrizzy9139 It's the air movility and problems with F-Throw (That's why most tournaments prefer Stadium 2 over stadium 1) which makes his game pretty inconsistent and his air game underwhelming. But yeah, is kinda ridiculous that a command grab cannot defeat shields.

[@djdrizzy9139]

@@N12015 Inhale does beat shields, it's just that the windbox (basically, the furthest part of inhale) doesn't. Also, answer this: If Kirby isn't good because of his air game, then why was he good in 64? His mobility was about the same then...

[@InfinityFantasy]

Here’s the worst part about Quickplay: Hero’s RNG but with EVERY character Items combined with one stock games Super laggy games that make you miss inputs Lots and lots of Jokers...

[@fairnbalanced3378]

I main joker for different reasons

[@IQuarent]

A bad match up, lag or a rude opponent can be tilting already, but whats 1000 times worse is randomly getting matches with horrible stages, items, or fsm because quickplay is a fucking disaster.

[@survivorofthecurse717]

Nowadays, it's actually a lot worse. Even laggier opponents, toxicity and salt that can seriously get under your skin, nothing but wolf (or any rushdowns, but mostly wolf), Pac (zoners/campers as a whole, but pac is the worse), or ZSS, they either win and then quit to save their precious GSP, or RQ to do the same. Doesn't help that the online community is intoxicating and stupid as well. And I'm right in the middle of the chaos. Lovely...

[@exots3296]

friendly reminder we pay for this service ^o^

[@birdbird749]

Yeah quick play/elite smash is honestly the most infuriating online mode I have ever played in any game. I don’t even know what it is anymore but I just get pissed off in a special kind of way where I just wanna throw my whole switch out of a window

[@PrestoJacobson]

Making a 1v1 arena with room for only 2 people total (including you) is much less stressful and can be a breath of air compared to the stress of GSP.

[@oscarblack6927]

Governments: work at home smash players:

[@Alex-jz2hk]

In the training section I want to add something more Search -Art of Training and -Zero Spacing they will help you in your movement and spacing (and helps on how to build muscle memory that is pretty much why Top players have time to play the neutral and do complex mindgames at the same time well only reason) Im not joking this shit is why people win tournments They don't need to think the input and spacing (kinda) of what they are doing but think of what the oponent is doing

[@briangrosenbach]

"SimpLee spend more time playing" 2:55

[@dad4436]

This video also works when you live somewhere without tournaments

[@isaacm4757]

#storyofmylife

[@vienna9428]

Yeah

[@BussySlayercranker]

There are small tournaments every once in a while here but I'm never able to go to them

[@dad4436]

Living in the middle of nowhere is tough

[@borederlands5387]

"It can also help to watch replays of good players of your character" *laughs in corrin main*

[@joviel6620]

*laughs in 2022*

[@staugoten]

well you can stop laughing

[@nintendom7293]

3 corrins in top 8 of geinisis X

[@borederlands5387]

that's how corrin was struggling 3 years ago blud @@nintendom7293

[@shijima_ending]

watching loads of yeet smash vids and tourney vods legit made me better. last summer, i didn’t play a lot of smash because my friends went back home (i’m in uni), so i mostly watched smash vids. weirdly enough, i didn’t watch them with the intention of getting better and gaining knowledge. i only watched them because i genuinely thought they were entertaining. before summer one of my friends used to murk me, and after summer the table turned

[@Sprocket_777]

I think alot of your viewers are actually pretty new to competitive smash, so it would be cool to make more beginner orientated videos like this one! Like maybe one about how to go from casual smash to competitive.

[@1yin]

0:25 love the online buffering edit you put there. It's almost TOO accurate XD

[@shanek2724]

Don't you just love it when your inputs get deleted from existence during a lag spike and you die at 65%?

[@phosforek7343]

Shane K As a Cloud main it’s even worse cause usually it’s like 20-40%.

[@Cellohhh]

Just beat you banana boy in a Terry ditto to get into elite smash. I'm honored considering I've watched a ton of your videos in order to get better! Thanks man!!!

[@flipflubduck]

God the last minute of this video was so relatable, I just got Link into elite two days ago and I've been playing him since the day this game came out. (Haha I'm bad whatever) Quickplay hasn't helped me at all. Only reason I've gotten better at all is because of grind sessions with friends.

[@daringiconoclast6547]

Solo link main here, got him in elite smash day 1. Didn't play him for almost half a year while I tried to get every other character Into elite smash. Pulled him out for an online Tourney, forgot how to do almost everything advanced, was suddenly mediocre at Link. Now I play mostly Link with just a side of (character of the week) and I'm getting much more consistent with my ledge trapping and bomb setups. Just practicing ledge trumps, wavebounces/reverse B's, bomb setups/ recovery and RAR has gotten me pretty far in most matches. However I don't get very good milage out of spacing tilts or playing defense because I never really practiced that stuff and every once in a while someone comes along and exploits those weaknesses hard.

[@aero6104]

Quickplay is honestly awful. More often than not you'll match up with players who aren't actually trying to improve and learn the complexities of their character, and just camp and/or spam moves.

[@daringiconoclast6547]

@@aero6104 unfortunately those are playstyles we have to learn to deal with when playing competitively, and in some cases incorporate into our own gameplay. Basically, if the opponent never learns how to deal with one move there is no reason to stop using it.

[@luees7545]

Bruh as a fellow link main you just described my experience with smash in a nutshell

[@lightcouragefake574]

Quick play is good for learning what most players react with in certain situations. Especially character specific ones. It taught me that Robins always jump and Levin aerial off ledge and that a lot of players roll into you after taking your stock.

[@mat6168]

5:12 Finally AppleBoySSB

[@Lordecai]

This is going to be a really weird video 10 years from now when all context is lost

[@MartianSantas]

So we hope

[@tracerbullet85]

People aren't gonna be watching this video 10 years from now

[@Lordecai]

Tracer Bullet you’d be surprised

[@epistarter1136]

LordeWhy youtube would probably get replaced with another company can considering how flawed this platform is.

[@Lordecai]

Epi Start er I don’t think so dude. KZbin is backed by Google and google is virtually everywhere

[@froakie1404]

“Assuming things go back to normal” welp

[@skycomrade4608]

I appreciated the tiny Tatami Galaxy reference out of the blue.

[@gum8788]

2:56 Simp - Lee

[@Ryusuta]

"Assuming things get back to normal again..." ...*Whimper*

[@polarstriker3854]

One recurring theme I've noticed in your videos is playing with people who are around the same skill level as you. However, I am currently at a point where all of my friends and all of the people that I have a chance to play regularly wipe the floor with me. For example, my best friend who I used to be about even with now tends to win nine out of ten games against me. I've almost started to feel irrelevant even as a training partner for my friends, and I don't feel like I have anyone to play against where we are at the same skill level. Do you have any suggestions for this scenario?

[@AverageHandle_]

Wow this actually really helps thanks Banana Boy

[@radiolarity]

6:20 made my day ngl

[@borederlands5387]

Your quickplay experience is literally mine i have had the legendary "other player is a good sport not too laggy and i actually learn something" situation happen like once or twice tho

[@yalielperuano]

Bruh the 15 dollars jab 🤣🤣🤣. I’m glad I’m part of his scene.

[@hamnkapten7977]

My strat as of recent has been to make a 2 person arena with the basic tourney rules. Most people are willing to stick around for at least a handful of games, and it's a good mix of skill. I usually play a best of 3 if they're not good enough to help me improve, and I play people who are better than me as long as they're willing to hang out. I've had some really fun times and have noticed lots of improvements(I'm still quite mediocre)

[@aliarrhaoui1516]

5:29 Very rare to see someone who has watched Tatami Galaxy nowadays.

[@IIIISai]

Him : How to get better Me as a pacman player: *Watch Tea's pacman plays*

[@NipahAllDay]

I used to play elite smash and learnt a lot. I went to a tournament few weeks before the corona virus and got second place. After deciding to go to locals and keep getting consistent placements, quick play just feel garbage now. I feel less motivated in practicing online Smash since it’s so hard to find players in discord and random arenas.

[@Ace-hn5mq]

Great video dude. Your channel should have way more subs

[@dimwitbeavis3165]

4:49 leffen is genuinely trying to do.. something

[@ryman3084]

1:34 that over extension was sick as hell

[@LivingTheorem]

Off topic, but I noticed you had a short clip from the Tatami Galaxy. Literally no anime watcher/ manga reader that I've spoken with has even heard about it. And for some reason that show gives me a FLCL vibe. Nice video also

[@Red-wb2ey]

6:00 Pretty sure that Sheik dragdown up-air combos are a bread and butter.

[@mosalhusari]

Red I think they’re some of her more advanced tools I

[@professionalspecialist5780]

The "can you tech Mewtwo's side B" thumbnail is amazing

[@vitaming582]

I honestly like the online tournament mode a lot more than quickplay. It's far from perfect, even when it's in 1vs1 mode since it's 2 stock, FD only and you can't rematch anyone. The skill level among players is also all over the place. But at the very least it's consistent, and you're not forced to play stamina mode against a Ness with a 56k modem. There's also no gsp, and no salt associated with it.

[@Sandwichking64]

The tatami galaxy reference was hype

[@GoonCommander]

Quickplau has helped me tremendously in learning to fight game and watch, There's so many in elite smash, Now my only "Trash Matchups" that I genuinely suck at are Peach and Snake

[@eliack95]

I don't care how many times I hear "Palu down throw bair is bread and butter", that shit is hard.

[@thecowcowclash]

I appreciate the edited in “simp” photo when he said “ simply”.

[@ajmooretap]

Love the Tatami Galaxy clip!

[@wozthescott2804]

LMAO the thumbnail I'm crying

[@Integral_RoA]

Thanks BananaBoySSB, very cool

[@AvianAnimator]

I live two hours away from Chicago and still go to the locals there (When Corona wasn't stopping me) "ARE YOU WAITING FOR A DOOR TO BE OPENED? HAVE YOU KNOCKED INCESSANTLY? TRY KICKING THE DOOR DOWN AND IF THAT STILL DOESN'T WORK THEN SMASH OPEN THE WALL THERE ARE MANY AVENUES TO THE DREAMS AND GOALS YOU ASPIRE FOR, WE JUST DON'T ALWAYS SEE THE PATH KEEP FIGHTING" - Lord Shaxx

[@bobjeezorham7658]

I just made a ridiculous mistake in Quickplay today that hurt my soul. A Byleth nearly killed me when I was at 40% with just one F-Smash and then he read my Arsene recovery with Down Air. He likely thought it was a really sick play but I just felt so much pain from it. This may not sound related, but I brought it up to say that I think I may need your videos on how to improve at the game, lol.

[@princeofalltoasters8813]

"Assuming things go back to normal" Ahahahahaha I want to rope myself

[@Gryphon-mh7no]

Bananaboy do u do ssbu coaching???

[@blacksmithgames8739]

It sucks that I don’t have good internet, even with an Ethernet adapter. Still, great advice, especially for people who won’t be able to attend locals after this whole thing blows over due to their location.

[@samuffert]

Pff, no tournaments because of a virus? Here i have no tournaments ever. That being said i really apreciate this video dude

[@strykreclipse6845]

1:22 damn. He really said that

[@thenutella1895]

I have a question. What if you haven't played in a while and lose lot of skill from gaining rust. It takes a long time just so I can return to my original skill.

[@UncleLayne]

I'm not interested in getting better at Smash, especially considering I haven't played it since January, but I totally get where you're coming from with not wanting to play elite smash or quickplay. Back when I was really into Halo 3 and wanting to get better at it, I would never get better in the online matches I played. I only really improved when I played with my one friend that was way better than me. We would just play in a small octagon arena with BRs to practice our aim and strafing, and that was the best environment to do it in

[@ghosttiger38]

I find quickplay can be helpful for players who struggle against cheese (such as me, although rarely now, much more common beforehand), unless you just get tilted and don't properly realize that there is a way to beat everything.

[@drediant3526]

I actually spent about 9 months only playing quick play, it got me to the point of noticeable habits but good fundamentals, it’s only good if you play to win, get a serious opponent, and getting lucky with the rule set

[@Azmatic24]

Lol I love the Temp reference at 1:20

[@ryanazman19]

another good way to practice is against level 9 cpus . it will help you with your combos since level 9s have frame perfect airdodges.

[@tobiasterry7194]

I play lvl 9 and 8 myself, typically prefer 8 because it can actually miss techs which is awesome because i was beginning to try and pick up greninja when this whole thing started, and the best local i had prior to this was biweekly

[@ryanazman19]

i usually play level 8s when im learning a new character or warming up . i recently picked up wolf and im currently learning his bread and butter combos

[@Tom-vx7qh]

I would, but... I gotta get back to playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons on my Nintendo Switch

[@tkdjc8gaming538]

What are the fundamentals?? (ik its a dumb question but i wanna improve)

[@starlightchippy3191]

hey! i absolutely love your videos, i’ve improved so much from watching you. i was curious if you’d be able to do a video on dealing with bad matchups? as a dedede main, bad matchups make me wanna scream. if it’s okay, please consider it :)

[@shio5848]

I second this

[@FirePuff12]

Great timing for this video! Thanks!!

[@IndiestSnake]

I'm surprised that fighting CPUs isn't in this vid. Sence my internet is crap and I dont have many friends who like smash, it's the only way I do it. And if the levels high enough, they are inhumanely good.

[@vitaming582]

CPU's might teach you bad habits. Stuff that works on the CPU might not work on a human player and vice versa. Low level CPUs are okay for practicing some basic combos though.

[@c.w35t87]

@@vitaming582 I have been playing CPUs my whole life (mostly) and even though they can do cheap stuff their programmed way can actually help in same aspects like practicing perfect shield since they always attack and mostly use multi hits so you can react as fast as possible depending on where they di while PS. I have been toe to toe against actual good players and I just have my skill fighting CPUs and they go to locals.

[@c.w35t87]

@@sshn5063 Yes, Joker is programmed to up B if you are above him or close to him while jumping so he still do it even with Arsene. Since I main Mario most of the time I play against him I win by just using down B and call it a day.

[@brocksteele7475]

2 big problems I've experienced with this 1. Reinforcing bad habits. The best example here is charging a raw smash attack. CPUs, even level 9s, will walk into these far more than any human above the age of 5. 2. You won't learn how to edge guard. Years of mainly playing against the computer has taught me that when the opponent is offstage, the best decision is to patiently wait for them to reach the ledge. This is where the inhuman aspect winds up hurting the trainee. CPUs' insane reaction time and insistence on recovering means anything you try is likely to fail and put you at a disadvantage. Along with the fact that CPUs don't actually have optimal gameplay (I've never been combo'd out by a Peach or properly zoned by a Samus) and their focus on one playstyle (they just refuse to camp), there's little to learn from CPUs other than the technical side of learning the physical inputs and reacting to openings/conversions.

[@TransShadow42]

6:58 what is this clip? Why was it shown here? I'm so confused, what?

[@RacingSnails64]

ShadowInazumaDigimon probably cuz it's just funny

[@jinko17bro]

Yo BananaBoy, what do you do when the opponent dies and is in their invincible period?

[@c.w35t87]

If my internet wasn't dodo I would accept any challenge 24/7. I'm the classic player that says "one more" and play the whole day none stop, is not healthy but my passion for this series is enormous and it saddens me that I have only played like 13 people in Ultimate and they are not exactly at my skill lvl and more casual. I need to play at least 6 hrs straight against someone.

[@parksgarner3264]

5:32 Tatami Galaxy is an amazing show

[@lexj4747]

"When this clears up" 9 months ago. Utah, man.

[@tamsinsandrielle]

Thank tou for this video! Thanks for your time and your work :)

[@sliceninja4546]

Is no one gonna talk about donkey kong wearing a face mask? 😂

[@astral107]

Amazing video dude. How about considering making a video on frame data next? I know im not the only person who doesnt really understand framedata and what to do with the numbers

[@screweduptx512]

Did my mans just say *MY SPACE* Thought we were in 2008 for a second

[@OCDsaster]

Great video! I really love your content!!!

[@GamingStar1995]

I use training mode. Lvl 7 Computer. 1 hour of pure fighting. If I reach 10 kills before the computer reaches 5 , I can rank up to lvl 8 comp. Repeat. Predicting moves, combos, grabs, DUI's, and ledge guards. Trust me. The more you play in training, the better you can get. Especially against a character you have a hard time beating with your main. Try it. Then @ me when you want these problems.

[@tjknight]

Me not wanting to embarrass myself after the quartine is lifted and just practice at home: Nice

[@Stryfe52]

Ah, 10 months ago, when people thought we’d eventually be back to normal by the end of the year; good times.

[@bii_gii]

i am but a simple man. i see tatami galaxy, i love.

[@nonplayercharacter12333]

People on quickplay fall into at least 3 categories. 1) Sweaty Wifi warriors who try immensely hard and don't give you a game 2 2) Salt Lords who quit after one loss 3) That one person who turned items and stage hazards on and that's your life for 3 - 7 minutes.

[@Drakeerob]

I'm glad that I don't have to play online!

[@offbranddrakeerob4980]

Yo me too!

[@OmegaMetroid93]

I live in Sweden and I have to literally travel across half the country to get to any type of tournament. It sucks. Pretty much been playing online, but I would really want some local matches.

[@Xeconis]

Is that what those people do after emptying the shelves of rolls?

[@FnafMaster1232_Sparky]

Sup boy of banana. A fellow yoshi main I see

[@Puftendo]

Good video brudda

[@dennischan9768]

Late to the video, but is there like a discord made specifically for arenas? I looked around smashcords, but couldn't find anything.

[@jacobvalderama3892]

Does anyone else have unbearable input delay when playing any form of online? I can't land any combos because of it so I just avoid online. All my friends are playing though I feel like i'm the only one who is complaining.

[@Rivio811]

I think I have the same issues. Even if the lag is very subtle, I most of the time can't react or space properly and it really makes me doubt my reactions. Offline however feels so precise, it feels like a different game, to me atleast.

[@RoseyMapleGoth]

Which characters are you guys playing? Cause I have the same issue and I think it has a lot to do with what character is being played. I main captain falcon and I feel like I can barely land anything online but offline everything is so much smoother its crazy.

[@jacobvalderama3892]

Cleotheninja yea same I main falcon. I don’t know how Fatality and NickC do it lmao. I really can’t get used to the input delay. I feel like I would gain bad habits if I were to play online too.

[@TheConstructive]

If I'm not mistaken, you get 2frames of input delay compared to offline at MINIMUM. So it can be pretty significant. I play ICs. Can barely combo people online, lol

[@Rivio811]

@@RoseyMapleGothYeah I agree, I play greninja and things like timing fairs and whiffpunishing just feels unreliable online

[@azophi]

Online. Online. Online. Also playing with your Bros and sharing all the coronavirus around

[@darakin5172]

Banana Boy, you always talk about the basics and fundamentals, but not everyone knows what they are. Could you do a video on them and how to improve them?

[@7HatimF16]

See kids? Even Kongy Dong is cautious. #STAYHOME

[@b-rice3392]

Banana Boy: Watch VODs from top players of your character Me, an Isabelle main:

[@sleepy_Kasai]

I thought they didnt exist

[@c.w35t87]

Oh, I'm not alone, even though she is not my main is my second most used character and my secondary in some cases.

[@theconjurer7471]

I love this Quarantine. As an Ice Climber main I can lab my character until someone finally acknowledges that “hey, maybe Icies are at least high tier” instead of saying “Icies are bottom tier because Nana is an idiot, despite the fact that Icies were 7th in Melee and 2nd in Brawl despite her idiocy.”

[@imasterline]

That so weird that if I play online tourney with 3 other people I will not have lag at all, but quickplay or arena with someone I know will be laggy

[@SeVeRSamus]

As a Samus main, I want all laggy Samus players who are self aware of their evil doings to rethink themselves

[@MoralesAlex805]

This has been my life playing online forever

[@screweduptx512]

Ive tried looking for top level Ryu plays but nobody plays Ryu. And I've been a Ryu main since he was released in Smash 4. He's real slept on

[@calebdelaney1162]

I've started recently playing online and it can be annoying at times due to lag but I feel like I'm going to get better already by playing people who are better than me or near my skill group.

[@user-ej8yv2xq6w]

Yo BananaBoy, I watch ur videos since september last year, do you plan sometimes doing a viewers arena? Also great vid ^-^

[@B3rT286]

Hey Banana boy you should make a video about how to deal with/play aggression/mashing the same way you made one about camping

[@sdgtundra1084]

Congrats at genesis!