A casual Toon Link wishes to become competitive. Care to help?

[pika-power]

Okay, I am casual, but I have decided I wish to become competitive.

I main Toon Link, and so far I am practicing short hoped nairs.

That is pretty much all I can do so far. I have been attempting Shda, but it is difficult.

Here is my thread I originally made: http://smashboards.com/showthread.php?t=180908

I want to know what techniques I should learn, and in what order.

[VietGeek]

- Spacing/playing smart (this is crucial; I missed this step with Toon Link and my TL suffered behind my main character for months. It's better to know the character, even if it takes months, before you focus on the advanced techniques). Not a technique, but a necessity.

- Shorthopping other "AT" basics (fastfalling how to airdodge intelligently, etc.)
- Counterpicking (mostly stages unless you plan to play more characters)
- Toon Link match-ups to other characters.

- Jump Cancel Throw (for your bombs and other items you might pick up)
- SHDA

SHDA extensions:
Bair to arrow cancel
SH Fair/Nair to arrow cancel

Notice, none of Toon Link's staple ATs are really taken into account until later. As a late player of TL, I felt the need to quickly learn the ATs, but disregarded knowing the lag and whatnot of every single one of Toon Link's moves. Don't be me, learn him before you learn the ATs that relate to him. Spamming ATs, but playing stupid doesn't give you wins.

[pika-power]

Okay, I am curious about a few things.

1. How do I learn spacing?

2. What other basic advanced techniques (oxymoron) are there? You put etc, but I am new to this, what else to learn?

3. If my friends still play casual, is counterpicking important?

4. How do I go about "learning" the character?

5. In the other thread, I got told playing good players is a good idea. Would this help me learn spacing and learn the character?

6. Another small question. What secondary would you recommend to compliment Toon Link? I like R.O.B. a bit, but I am open to suggestions. (I am not going to start them yet, but I could begin to learn their moves and such when playing casually.)

[VietGeek]

1. Spacing is basically distancing your moves and actions to keep you safe while hurting the foe. For example, a well-spaced Nair will give you a good chance to escape (a Nair hit from the tip of the sword), while a Nair executed close to an enemy is generally bad (generally because exceptions exist). Also, for projectiles, knowing when to use them is crucial. Using projectiles in close range for example, is not smart. To learn spacing for Toon Link, simply know the max length of his sword, and the varying lengths of his attacks, and keep safe (as in, attack trying to not get hit).

2. There are some things you can learn that I cannot go into because some of it is obscure or too numerous. While I told you the staple ATs of TL, other knowledge is necessary. For example, the benefits and such of choosing a particular controller slot: search "Controller port guide".

3. If you want to play competitive, whether or not your friends play casual or not is irrelevant. If you play competitive, you play in tournaments, and therefore need to learn the basics of tourney play. Even if your friends are casual, you can implement some tourney rules into your play. Like when they randomly say: "Eh, I'll switch to <character>," that is in a way counterpicking (although if they switched into a bad match-up, that's not CPing, but it's an example). If they're stuck to being casual than just live with it or get new friends. lol

4. Get a feel for any lag in his moves, how fast they come out, how much damage, how much base knockback, etc. To learn the character, play him. That is the best way IMO. You may suck with him at first, but you'll eventually improve.

5. Yes, for better players will punish you for mistakes and spacing badly. As a player, if they mess up, you seize the opportunity as well. Play to win, and in the case, play to learn as well. It's all fair game.

6. You should choose whoever patches up Toon Link's bad match-ups (for example, choosing DK as a secondary because is he a Meta Knight counter and so on). If you like ROB, then by all means learn him. It doesn't hurt, and you can have a third if you wish.

Just so you know though, both TL and ROB have trouble with MK, but so does most of the cast. =/

Also, feel free to browse the Brawl tactical forums to give you a lot of the techniques and whatnot to help you get started. Starting late means you have to play catch-up in a way. But don't overwhelm yourself; learn what you can at your pace.

Btw, if you go to a tourney the first time, you'll probably lose. But it'll give you a wealth of information on how competitive players play and whatnot that will be invaluable to you.

[TLMarth]

Toon Link guides directory (Esp. for beginners who want to find out some common knowledge) (http://smashboards.com/showthread.php?p=4214396#poststop)

[JJR.O.B.]

choose ROB as a secondary

he is amazing

i main ROB and second Toon Link

[Santi]

choose ROB as a secondary

he is amazing

i main ROB and second Toon Link

ROB is amazing
:(
always beats me in tournies.

[Thechene]

http://smashboards.com/showthread.php?t=182433