Losing online

Newbie Saikyo Dojo
1

There’s probably been a thread like this but I just felt like I had to mention it.

I lose a lot online on ranked, often to players that I know aren’t better than me. I say this because they seem to have no semblance of fundamentals. They don’t try to play footsies (I’ve never been whiff punished online yet wtf) they rarely use solid blockstrings, they don’t attempt frame traps (maybe bc online), etc.

I currently have ~600PP/~1200BP on my Ryu (yes, laughable. yes, to a stranger I look like a scrub too, which I sort of am but not in the traditional sense)

I can usually pick out opponent tendencies (wake up DP masher, predictable tick throw set up, empty jump-happy, back dasher, foolish jumper) as well as the gimmicks they’re trying to use but I often can’t adapt within 1 game and end up losing.

Here’s a list of things that I have noticed people doing that I just can’t adapt to, and I lose:

  • throwing upon a whiffed air normal landing
  • DP mash during my frame traps
  • waking up with throw
  • throw after moves that are around -2 on block (for example a tatsu cancelled from a normal)

I feel like some of these things are made more difficult to deal with because of lag (especially things like throw after F.HP on Ryu, or tatsus, I know offline I can at least challenge it with a jab or tech but more often than not I get thrown or hit online)

Is it a common thing to throw attempt after landing from a whiffed air normal? I’ve been told that it is, but I was never one to do that and I find it really difficult getting used to teching in that situation.

I also find that I get sort of nervous online because I only get that one game before I have to find them and try again. I’m used to playing offline where I could run it back 10 games in a row until I understood the player more.

If there’s strategies or things I should be doing online to avoid getting blown up by these kinds of tactics, please let me know. I don’t want to lose anymore points to people I know I could beat offline =/.

(Also I really find it hard to get used to players who are ALWAYS hitting buttons in scenarios where you normally wouldn’t. Example: cr.lp cr.lp cr.lp, small delay cr. hk. Its so unsafe to have most sweeps blocked at that range so I don’t expect them to hit that button but they end up counter hitting me when I try to close back in with a blockstring of my own. GG >_>)

2

Don’t try to play respectful when they aren’t either. You’re the smarter player here, if you notice a pattern, adapt accordingly. Blocked a jump in and they go for a throw? Backdash or neutral jump and punish their throw attempt. They’re mashing DP during your pressure or combos? chain some cr. lp’s together and then abruptly stop to make their mash come out, things like that. Play calm and collective against these types of people, let them make mistakes and do weird stuff, then punish them hard for it.

Also, if you’re nervous when playing that’s kinda normal when you’re new, it’ll go away in time. You could try playing some endless, it’s generally more laid back and filled with people that just want to improve their character as there are no points or stats involved. Ranked players often have this “whatever gets me wins and points is what I’ll roll with” mentality.

You could check these videos out, they explain dealing with random players very well. There’s three parts and each video is rather lengthy, so I’m not telling you to watch all of it, but it’s a pretty nice resource if you’re ever bored.

SRK isn’t letting me embed, so here’s a link