How to Get Better at Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: The Ultimate Beginner's Roadmap to Winning More Matches

By Dr. Brian James, AuD, CCC-A & Insights from the Super Smash Bros. Community

Quick Answer

Want to get better at Super Smash Bros. Ultimate? Focus on mastering movement, choosing one main character, learning neutral, practicing recovery, reviewing your matches, and competing in local tournaments. Consistent, focused practice is the fastest path to becoming a stronger Smash player.

Every Great Smash Player Started Exactly Where You Are

If you've ever walked away from a match thinking,

"How did they hit me with that?"

or

"I can't believe I lost again."

You're not alone.

Every professional Smash player—from local champions to world-class competitors—started by getting completely destroyed.

The difference wasn't natural talent.

The difference was that they kept learning.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is one of the deepest competitive fighting games ever created. With over 80 fighters, hundreds of matchups, unique movement mechanics, and endless mind games, there's always something new to master.

The exciting part?

You don't need perfect reflexes or years of experience to start improving.

You simply need the right habits.

This guide combines practical advice shared by the Super Smash Bros. community, educational insights from top coaches like IzAw, and performance principles used by successful competitors. Whether you're playing online, battling friends, or entering your very first local tournament, these strategies will help you become a smarter, more confident player.

Author's Note

This guide blends practical advice from experienced members of the Super Smash Bros. community with expanded coaching, tournament experience, and performance principles from Dr. Brian James, co-owner of The Vault Family & Event Gaming Center. The goal isn't just to help you win more games—it's to help you enjoy the journey of becoming a better competitor.

Improvement Starts with Losing

This may sound strange, but losing is one of the fastest ways to improve.

Many beginners become discouraged after losing several matches in a row.

Experienced players expect it.

Every loss answers an important question:

What can I improve next?

Instead of saying:

"That player was cheap."

Try asking yourself:

• Why did I lose neutral?

• Did I panic while recovering?

• Was I always jumping?

• Did I become predictable?

• Did I throw unsafe attacks?

Every answer becomes tomorrow's improvement.

The players who improve the fastest aren't the ones who never lose.

They're the ones who learn something every time they do.

Stop Comparing Yourself to Tournament Veterans

One Reddit player summed it up perfectly:

"Some people have been putting years of serious practice into this game."

That's absolutely true.

Many players at local tournaments have:

• Thousands of online matches

• Years of tournament experience

• Extensive matchup knowledge

• Character-specific practice

• Hours spent reviewing their own gameplay

You're not competing against someone who started yesterday.

You're competing against someone who simply has more experience.

And someday…

That player will be you.

Pick One Character

One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is constantly switching fighters.

Monday:Mario.

Tuesday:Cloud.

Wednesday:Steve.

Thursday:Joker.

Friday:Kirby.

Your brain never develops muscle memory.

Instead, choose one character.

Learn:

• Recovery

• Bread-and-butter combos

• Kill options

• Best aerials

• Fastest attacks

• Out-of-shield options

• Weak matchups

Once those become second nature, adding another character becomes much easier.

Movement Wins More Games Than Combos

Flashy combo videos are fun.

But movement wins tournaments.

Spend time practicing:

• Short hops

• Fast falls

• Dash dancing

• Walking

• Empty jumps

• Platform movement

• Ledge movement

• Recovery angles

If movement becomes automatic, you'll spend more time thinking about strategy instead of controlling your character.

Professional players often look "fast" because their movement is effortless.

Learn Neutral First

Many new players search YouTube for:

"Best combo."

But combos only happen after winning neutral.

Neutral is the battle for control before either player lands a hit.

Winning neutral means:

• Better spacing

• Better positioning

• Smarter movement

• Better patience

• Better timing

The better your neutral becomes…

…the more opportunities you'll have for combos.

Don't Mash Buttons

One of the easiest habits to recognize is button mashing.

Beginners attack because they're nervous.

Experienced players attack because they see an opportunity.

Ask yourself before every attack:

• Why am I swinging?

• What happens if I miss?

• Can they punish me?

Sometimes…

Doing absolutely nothing is the strongest play.

Play Against Better Players

Nobody enjoys losing.

But losing against strong players is one of the fastest ways to improve.

Strong opponents expose:

• Unsafe habits

• Predictable recoveries

• Poor spacing

• Panic options

• Weak ledge play

Don't fear better players.

Seek them out.

Every difficult match is free coaching.

Watch Educational Videos

One recommendation appears repeatedly throughout the Smash community:

Watch IzAw's "Art of Smash" Series

Thousands of players credit these videos with transforming the way they understand the game.

Topics include:

• Movement

• Neutral

• Advantage State

• Disadvantage State

• Recovery

• Edge Guarding

• Character Guides

• Advanced Techniques

Instead of watching only highlight reels…

Spend time learning why great players make the decisions they do.

Knowledge compounds.

Review Your Own Matches

Watching your own gameplay feels uncomfortable.

Do it anyway.

Ask:

• Why did I lose each stock?

• Was I recovering the same way?

• Did I always jump from ledge?

• Was I throwing unsafe smash attacks?

• Did I panic?

You'll notice habits immediately that you never recognized while playing.

The replay doesn't lie.

Practice With Purpose

Playing for six hours doesn't guarantee improvement.

Focused practice does.

A great practice session might look like this:

TimeGoal15 minMovement drills15 minRecovery practice20 minOnline matches10 minReplay review

Improvement isn't measured by hours.

It's measured by intentional practice.

15 Awesome Smash Tips That Can Improve Your Game Fast

You don't need to master every advanced technique overnight. In fact, trying to learn everything at once usually slows your progress. Focus on building great habits one at a time, and you'll notice steady improvement every week.

1. Save Your Double Jump

One of the biggest beginner mistakes is using your double jump immediately after getting knocked off the stage.

Your double jump is one of your most valuable recovery tools.

Instead of always jumping right away, mix things up:

• Recover low

• Recover high

• Wait before jumping

• Air dodge toward the ledge

• Use your recovery move first (when appropriate)

The less predictable your recovery, the harder it becomes for opponents to edge guard you.

Pro Tip: Watch top tournament players. You'll notice they rarely recover the exact same way twice.

2. Watch Your Opponent—Not Yourself

Your eyes naturally follow your own character.

Try shifting your focus.

Watch your opponent instead.

Look for:

• Are they always jumping in?

• Do they roll after shielding?

• Do they attack immediately after landing?

• Do they always recover high?

The more information you gather, the easier it becomes to predict their next move.

Smash isn't just a fighting game—it's a game of patterns.

3. Stop Running Everywhere

Many beginners hold the control stick all the way to the side and sprint constantly.

Walking is actually incredibly powerful.

Walking allows you to:

• Shield instantly

• React faster

• Control spacing

• Bait attacks

Many professional players walk far more than new players realize.

4. Don't Panic Shield

Shield is powerful...

But it's not magic.

If you're constantly holding shield, experienced players will:

• Grab you

• Cross you up

• Pressure your shield

• Break your shield

Instead, mix between:

• Shield

• Movement

• Jumping

• Spot dodging

• Parrying

• Walking away

The best defense is unpredictability.

5. Learn One Reliable Combo

Don't memorize twenty combo videos.

Master one.

Then master another.

For example:

• Down Throw → Forward Air

• Up Throw → Up Air

• Landing Neutral Air → Dash Attack

Consistency beats complexity.

6. Master Recovery

Many stocks are lost because players don't understand recovery.

Practice recovering:

• From high

• From low

• Without jumping

• After getting hit

• While being edge guarded

Spend 20 minutes in Training Mode doing nothing but recovery practice.

It pays huge dividends.

7. Edge Guard Carefully

Just because your opponent is offstage doesn't mean you should chase them.

Ask yourself:

• Can my character recover safely?

• Am I risking my stock?

• Would ledge trapping be better?

Sometimes staying safely on stage wins far more games.

8. Learn Ledge Trapping

Professional players often don't chase.

Instead...

They wait.

Ledge trapping means controlling the ledge while forcing your opponent into bad decisions.

Cover:

• Neutral get-up

• Roll

• Jump

• Get-up attack

You'll earn far more stocks than reckless edge guarding.

9. Stop Fishing for Smash Attacks

Everyone loves landing a huge Forward Smash.

The problem?

Experienced players expect it.

Instead of randomly charging smash attacks...

Earn them.

Use them after:

• Reads

• Shield breaks

• Tech chases

• Hard punishes

• Confirmed setups

Patience wins games.

10. Mix Up Your Landing

Never land the same way twice.

Alternate between:

• Empty land

• Fast fall aerial

• Air dodge

• Drift left

• Drift right

• Platform landings

Predictable landings become easy punish opportunities.

11. Learn Stage Control

Smash isn't just about attacking.

It's about controlling space.

Generally speaking...

Center stage is your friend.

When you're in the middle:

• You have more recovery options.

• You control movement.

• You survive longer.

• You pressure opponents toward the blast zone.

Good players fight for stage position—not just damage.

12. Don't Forget to Grab

Many beginners almost never grab.

That makes shielding incredibly safe.

Grabs:

• Beat shields

• Start combos

• Create stage control

• Force opponents to stop shielding constantly

If someone shields every time you approach...

Grab them.

13. Learn Frame Data (Eventually)

Don't worry about frame data immediately.

But eventually...

You'll want to know:

• Your fastest move

• Your safest aerial

• Best Out-of-Shield punish

• Which moves are punishable

Understanding why something works is often more important than memorizing combos.

14. Review Tournament Matches

After every tournament...

Ask yourself three questions:

• What worked?

• What didn't?

• What habit kept costing me stocks?

Improvement happens between tournaments—not during them.

15. Have Fun

This might be the most important tip.

Players who genuinely enjoy learning improve faster.

Celebrate:

• Landing a new combo.

• Recovering successfully.

• Winning neutral.

• Taking one more stock than last week.

Improvement isn't measured only by victories.

It's measured by becoming a better player than you were yesterday.

Common Beginner Mistakes

Almost everyone develops bad habits early. Recognizing them is the first step toward fixing them.

❌ Rolling Every Time

Rolling is useful...

Rolling every time gets punished.

❌ Jumping Constantly

If you're always in the air...

Your opponent knows exactly where you're going.

Stay grounded more often than you think.

❌ Always Attacking

Not every opening requires an attack.

Sometimes waiting creates the best opportunity.

❌ Chasing Every Opponent

Sometimes the safest option is simply controlling center stage.

❌ Giving Up After Losing

Every strong player has lost thousands of games.

Seriously.

That's part of becoming good.

The Three-Match Improvement Challenge

Instead of trying to fix everything at once, pick one skill and focus on it for three matches.

MatchFocusMatch 1Watch your opponent instead of yourself.Match 2Save your double jump whenever possible.Match 3Mix up your ledge options and recoveries.

After those matches, ask yourself:

• Did I accomplish my goal?

• What felt different?

• What should I practice next?

The objective isn't to win every game—it's to build one better habit at a time.

Ready to Put Your Skills to the Test?

Reading guides is a great start, but nothing replaces real competition.

At The Vault Family & Event Gaming Center in Portsmouth, Ohio, we host FREE Super Smash Bros. Ultimate tournaments every Saturday in a fun, welcoming environment where players of all skill levels can compete, learn, and improve.

Whether it's your first tournament or your fiftieth, you'll find friendly competition, experienced players willing to share advice, and plenty of opportunities to sharpen your skills.

Weekly Tournament Schedule

EventTimeCheck-In2:30 PMTournament Begins3:00 PMEntry FeeFREESkill LevelEveryone Welcome

Bring a friend, meet new competitors, and discover why local tournaments are one of the fastest ways to level up your game.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get good at Smash Ultimate?

There's no magic number.

Some players begin feeling noticeably more confident after just a few weeks of focused practice, while others spend years refining their skills. Improvement isn't measured by how long you've played—it's measured by how intentionally you practice.

If you focus on one new skill each week, you'll likely improve much faster than someone who simply plays match after match without reflecting on what they're doing.

Should I learn combos first?

Not yet.

Think of Smash like building a house.

• Movement is the foundation.

• Neutral is the framing.

• Spacing is the structure.

• Combos are the paint.

A beautiful paint job doesn't matter if the foundation is weak.

Master movement and positioning first. The combos will come naturally.

What's the fastest way to improve?

The players who improve the quickest usually combine several habits:

• Practice with a purpose.

• Watch educational videos.

• Review their own replays.

• Ask stronger players for advice.

• Play against opponents who challenge them.

• Enter local tournaments regularly.

There isn't a secret shortcut—just consistent, focused effort.

Is online play enough?

Online play is great for getting repetitions and learning matchups, but it has limitations.

Local tournaments teach things that online play can't:

• Managing tournament nerves

• Adapting between games

• Reading body language

• Playing without online delay

• Meeting experienced players who can offer feedback

The best improvement usually comes from doing both.

Should I copy professional players?

Absolutely—but don't just copy their combos.

Watch how they:

• Move around the stage.

• Control space.

• Recover differently each time.

• Stay patient.

• Choose safe options.

• Punish mistakes instead of forcing attacks.

The little decisions often matter more than flashy plays.

How many characters should I play?

For beginners, one.

Once you're comfortable, add a secondary character to help cover difficult matchups or simply for fun.

Many competitive players have:

• One main

• One secondary

• One pocket character they use occasionally

Trying to master ten characters at once usually slows your progress.

What if I keep losing?

Keep showing up.

Seriously.

Every respected tournament player has gone through long stretches of losing.

Losses aren't proof that you're failing.

They're proof that you're learning.

Remember:

You don't lose—you either win or you learn.

Building a Winning Practice Routine

One of the biggest differences between casual and competitive players is how they practice.

Instead of simply playing until you're tired, build a routine that targets specific skills.

Daily (15–20 Minutes)

• Practice movement.

• Practice short hops and fast falls.

• Recover from different positions.

• Warm up your hands.

Several Times Per Week

• Play online matches with one specific goal.

• Save and review your replays.

• Watch one educational video.

• Practice one combo until it feels automatic.

Weekly

• Attend a local tournament.

• Play friendlies with stronger opponents.

• Ask for feedback after matches.

• Set one improvement goal for the following week.

Small improvements add up quickly over time.

The Smash Improvement Mindset

Mechanics matter.

Knowledge matters.

But mindset often decides close matches.

Great competitors understand that improvement is rarely a straight line.

Some weeks you'll feel unstoppable.

Other weeks you'll wonder if you've gotten worse.

That's normal.

Growth often happens beneath the surface before it becomes visible in your results.

The players who improve the most are usually the ones who:

• Stay curious.

• Ask questions.

• Welcome feedback.

• Experiment with new ideas.

• Keep practicing even after difficult losses.

Winning is exciting.

Learning is lasting.

Join the Local Smash Community

One of the best parts of Smash isn't the game itself.

It's the community.

Local tournaments introduce you to:

• New training partners

• Character specialists

• Friendly rivals

• Experienced competitors

• Lifelong friendships

You'll improve faster because you'll have people encouraging you, challenging you, and sharing what they've learned.

Every tournament becomes another opportunity to grow.

Train at The Vault

If you're looking for a welcoming place to improve, we'd love to have you join us.

The Vault Family & Event Gaming Center in downtown Portsmouth, Ohio, hosts FREE Super Smash Bros. Ultimate tournaments every Saturday.

Whether you're entering your very first bracket or chasing a tournament victory, you'll find:

🏆 Friendly competition

🎮 High-end gaming equipment

🤝 Helpful players who enjoy teaching newcomers

👨👩👧👦 A family-friendly atmosphere

🌟 A growing local Smash community

Winning is fun.

Improving is even better.

Come experience both.

About the Author

Dr. Brian James, AuD, CCC-A

Dr. Brian James is the co-owner of The Vault Family & Event Gaming Center in Portsmouth, Ohio, and a lifelong gamer who is passionate about building a thriving esports community in southern Ohio.

As a Doctor of Audiology, Dr. James has spent his career helping people maximize performance through science, communication, and lifelong learning. Those same principles apply to competitive gaming. He believes that becoming a better player isn't just about reaction time—it's about developing smart habits, staying mentally resilient, and practicing with purpose.

Through The Vault's weekly FREE Super Smash Bros. Ultimate tournaments, Dr. James enjoys helping players of every age and skill level build confidence, compete in a positive environment, and discover the excitement of local esports.

The Super Smash Bros. Community

This guide is also inspired by the collective knowledge of the Super Smash Bros. community, including experienced players who generously share strategies, coaching, and encouragement through online forums and discussions.

In particular, community recommendations such as studying IzAw's educational content, embracing losses as opportunities to improve, and focusing on long-term growth have helped thousands of players become stronger competitors.

The Smash community continues to be one of the greatest resources for anyone looking to improve, whether they're picking up a controller for the first time or preparing for their next major tournament.

Final Thoughts

There is no single trick that transforms someone into a great Smash player.

There is only consistent improvement.

Every stock teaches something.

Every tournament builds experience.

Every replay reveals a lesson.

Every opponent offers a chance to grow.

The players who eventually become champions aren't necessarily the most naturally gifted.

They're the ones who continue practicing after everyone else has gone home.

So pick a character.

Learn one new habit.

Enter that local tournament.

Shake hands after every match.

Celebrate every improvement—no matter how small.

One day, you'll look back at the player you are today and realize just how far you've come.

We'll see you in bracket. 🎮🏆