I use low tiers, am I screwed for competitive play?

So I’ve recently jumped into the competitive scene after watching from afar for years. Its a ton of fun playing but I want to get decent where I can actually snag a few wins here or there. That being said by chance I always pick low tiered characters in all games. Not because I like forcing challenges on myself, oh God no. I just happen to like how they play. My skill level is only mediocre at best. For tournies I tend to go 2-2 at best or 0-2 (usually I’m 1-2 in everything) in SSFIV, UMvC3, and SFxT. In online play im usually around 60% win rate at worst to 80% win rate at best.

I was wondering, if I really want to be more competitive, should I play high tiers to get my bearings in the competitive scene first? I’m nowhere near pro level, therefore I’m wondering if I should get better with top tiers first before struggling with bottom tier characters. And lets face it, top tiers win tournaments.

TL;DR. Should I stick with low tiers or learn top tiers first?

For reference 1st being the characters i’m “good” with:
SSFIV: 1st: Hakan, Rose, 2nd: Gouken, Seth
UMvC3: 1st: Cap, Iron Man, Thor, Iron Fist, 2nd: Frank, Zero
SFxT: 1st Asuka, Lili, 2nd: Juri, Abel

Play who you like, but if you play a low tier character don’t make it an excuse. If you play who you like its easier to motivate yourself and you learn a lot more.

It ain’t mvc2 so you’re ok :rofl:

Saikyo* for life, my friend.

*Dan main since Street Fighter Alpha 2.

OT: Stick with the characters that you find yourself the most comfortable with. There isn’t a point in learning “top tier” characters if you can’t use them worth a shit.

Well more to my point, i dont use it as an excuse for losing. I use it as an excuse for hindering my learning. I mean i know the basics enough to beat a noob scrub or even a decent player. But throw a good-pro at me and I get peed on for free. Mainly because the lower tiers take so much effort to learn I tend to miss a ton of the basics

If you play the easy high tiers like Wesker you’ll do better sooner but people know the match ups against these characters very well so you will still get stomped if you don’t put in the time to learn them. And if you don’t like Wesker then you’re just going to be discouraged when you inevitably lose.

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…Eh. It’s not really about rather characters being low tier, it’s more about the threshold on which character are viables.

It’s quite possible for a low tier to be viable simply because of the mechanics make it possible.

As long as its not MVC2, then you are more than fine. Just make sure that you LEARN them. Don’t bullshit around. Also, don’t make it an excuse to why you lost because you will look like a scrub.

Also, note that it will be harder for you to win.

I’ve seen that Sanford vid more times than I’d like to admit. Also I know it will be harder to win, but in today’s games it seems like the tiers are so clean cut. I mean if they weren’t you’d see more Kusorus out there. But sadly its rare to see any players either with enough skill or enough patience to learn theese characters.

Actually since you play a low tier, you will almost be forced to learn the basics so you can win with the character.

In all seriousness though, I think that players do better with characters they enjoy rather than playing who’s strongest just because they’re strong. If low tier in said game viable, go play that character.

Only one way to find out.

There are a lot of them in Japan for some reason.

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Kusoru used a match-up very few and far between were even remotely familiar with. On top of which as someone pointed out if you like the characters you use it’s easier to go in and get a bunch of practice in with them. You pick who you want and you play to the best of your ability. There’s no “Oh, well I’m using a low-tier character… meanwhile you have Team Trench-coat.” No regrets, basically.
The Tiers aren’t as clear as it would look unless you’re comparing from opposite ends of the spectrum.
Tiers are like Fantasy Rankings they’re just a determinate for how well you can exceed for little effort spent.

It’s because they are honourable samurai.
And that’s not entirely true there’s as much tier-whoring out in the Land of the Rising Sun as there is here in the States. It’s just not as broadcast. Watch Godsgarden there were a ton of Vergil/Weskers.

As long as the character isn’t garbage, play em.

Just use characters your great with.
Everybody I fight on Marvel thinks they get free wins off me since I use Phoenix Wright, but when the match is over…
I taste my opponents tears of saltiness.
IT’S DELICIOUS.

I am aware, it’s just that anchor She-Hulk boggles my mind to the point where any time somebody says low tier hero I immediately think of Abegen. He is Marvel 3’s Mike Z, he plays grapplers and everything.

Yeah his Tron combos are pretty gross too.

Everyone’s Tron combos are gross, she is MvC2 Iron Man in the sense that if you get a hit and you don’t kill the opponent you are doing something seriously wrong.

What impresses me the most about his Tron is how well he utilizes the projectile invincibility on lariat and Bonne Strike.