Improving at Spar

_Dellik_ · 06-07-2015

I've been sparring a lot on my new account recently, and I've found that a lot of the time I am going even with my opponents, and we both keep trading evenly, back and forth, or not at all. When I try to go around them and hit them on an open side, I am usually countered or hit for free.

I don't care about my score right now so I am going to keep practicing regardless, but I could use some advice on taking control of a spar and not making my practice so empty. Thanks in advance. I spar on PC using the arrow keys and S.

Albie · 06-07-2015

Get someone who knows what they're doing to show you some tips and tell you what to improve, as Droid and did for me. It really helps.
Spar opponents better than you - You learn more from losing. Make a practice account if you're worried about your score.
Enter a sparring guild, when you guild spar you can learn lots of techniques and put them to use in singles spar.
Finally, practice makes perfect. Nothing helps you improve more than dedication and practice.

As far as techniques go, I'll list what I do in different scenarios.

Your opponent has good wifi?
Spar normally, hit once then move away to a different location. Try not to be predictable and predict where you think they will go and swing your sword there.

Bad wifi
If your opponent is laggy and stops moving but cannot be hit, hit everywhere in the arena. Once their wifi catches up, everywhere you've swung your sword will appear for them. If you've swung your sword everywhere you're guaranteed to get a hit.

Delay
I find fighting delay tricky, try and stick close to a wall and swing your sword a lot. Predict where they'll go and swing there, make sure to keep them at bay as on your screen they might look like they're 3 tiles away from you but in reality they're right next to you.

Lawless · 06-07-2015

Just keep practicing & learn to read your opponent's movements. Everyone plays differently, so you may have to change your play style according to your opponent.

Sorry I can't give you specific "techniques" to be more of an effective sparrer, but I hope this helps.

_Dellik_ · 06-07-2015

Posted by Albie;

Get someone who knows what they're doing to show you some tips and tell you what to improve, as Droid and did for me.

This might not be the easiest of things for me, I only have a couple friends who are really good in spar. I'll try though.

Posted by Albie;

Spar opponents better than you - You learn more from losing.

I will try to do this in the future, I don't always have control of who I fight though, the tournament room queues are too long so I usually stick to the side rooms.

Posted by Albie;

Enter a sparring guild, when you guild spar you can learn lots of techniques and put them to use in singles spar.

I occasionally guild spar with Absence when we have 2 members online, it is fun to attempt to 2v5, no good gs guild would want me though.[/QUOTE]

Posted by Albie;

As far as techniques go, I'll list what I do in different scenarios.

Your opponent has good wifi?
Spar normally, hit once then move away to a different location. Try not to be predictable and predict where you think they will go and swing your sword there.

Bad wifi
If your opponent is laggy and stops moving but cannot be hit, hit everywhere in the arena. Once their wifi catches up, everywhere you've swung your sword will appear for them. If you've swung your sword everywhere you're guaranteed to get a hit.

Delay
I find fighting delay tricky, try and stick close to a wall and swing your sword a lot. Predict where they'll go and swing there, make sure to keep them at bay as on your screen they might look like they're 3 tiles away from you but in reality they're right next to you.

Thanks for all the advice, i'll try to implement these tips into my practice.

Thallen · 06-07-2015

#1 best way to get good at sparring is to spar actively and understand the tendencies and ping of every player that actively spars

petefunk · 06-08-2015

Best way to improve? Get the **** out of your android and get an iphone 5s or a PC

Red · 06-08-2015

Posted by _Dellik_

This might not be the easiest of things for me, I only have a couple friends who are really good in spar. I'll try though.

I will try to do this in the future, I don't always have control of who I fight though, the tournament room queues are too long so I usually stick to the side rooms.

I occasionally guild spar with Absence when we have 2 members online, it is fun to attempt to 2v5, no good gs guild would want me though.

Thanks for all the advice, i'll try to implement these tips into my practice.[/QUOTE]

I'll happily spar you and help you improve

Erick · 06-08-2015

Use VPN

David · 06-08-2015

"Get to 5,000 spar wins" should be everyones goal before they start asking how to get good at sparring, in my opinion.

MBK · 06-08-2015

Posted by David

"Get to 5,000 spar wins" should be everyones goal before they start asking how to get good at sparring, in my opinion.

I beg to differ.
Even if you have a couple of wins and want to get better...you can ask for it.

Determination and practice...2 key words...follow them and you can bewt the **** out of anyone.

David · 06-08-2015

I get that you can ask how to get better and try to learn the techniques and stuff, but the only way you can start applying them correctly to different spar styles is through practice practice practice.

By 5,000 spars I feel like it's pretty safe to say that you've basically seen every single spar style and are capable of identifying them correctly. Again- the only way to get better at sparring is through doing it constantly with people that are much better than you. You can either mimic some of their tendencies or adapt and find a suitable counter to it.

KuyaGabeGraal · 06-08-2015

Posted by Thallen

#1 best way to get good at sparring is to spar actively and understand the tendencies and ping of every player that actively spars

What thallen said is the main thing you have to do. You can learn a lot by watching spar matches, I'd recommend the mixed room. This might take some time since some people learn fast but most learn slow.

Crono · 06-08-2015

One thing that helps me is to not look at myself too much and focus mostly on the other guy.

Hap · 06-08-2015

It happens to me to spread some butter on my screen, it helps me to keep my movements fluid and reduce lag.

Albie · 06-08-2015

Mixed room queue's might be long, but you'll learn so much more from fighting one good player than 3 inexperienced players.
I stuck by the rules I gave and practiced a lot, and in a matter of 3 weeks I can happily fight anyone in battle arena without falling flat on my face.

06-07-2015	1
_Dellik_ Akechi Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: MoD Town Posts: 154	Improving at Spar I've been sparring a lot on my new account recently, and I've found that a lot of the time I am going even with my opponents, and we both keep trading evenly, back and forth, or not at all. When I try to go around them and hit them on an open side, I am usually countered or hit for free. I don't care about my score right now so I am going to keep practicing regardless, but I could use some advice on taking control of a spar and not making my practice so empty. Thanks in advance. I spar on PC using the arrow keys and S.

06-07-2015	2
Albie Registered User Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Battle Arena Posts: 1,550	Get someone who knows what they're doing to show you some tips and tell you what to improve, as Droid and did for me. It really helps. Spar opponents better than you - You learn more from losing. Make a practice account if you're worried about your score. Enter a sparring guild, when you guild spar you can learn lots of techniques and put them to use in singles spar. Finally, practice makes perfect. Nothing helps you improve more than dedication and practice. As far as techniques go, I'll list what I do in different scenarios. Your opponent has good wifi? Spar normally, hit once then move away to a different location. Try not to be predictable and predict where you think they will go and swing your sword there. Bad wifi If your opponent is laggy and stops moving but cannot be hit, hit everywhere in the arena. Once their wifi catches up, everywhere you've swung your sword will appear for them. If you've swung your sword everywhere you're guaranteed to get a hit. Delay I find fighting delay tricky, try and stick close to a wall and swing your sword a lot. Predict where they'll go and swing there, make sure to keep them at bay as on your screen they might look like they're 3 tiles away from you but in reality they're right next to you.

06-07-2015	3
Lawless Registered User Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 3	Just keep practicing & learn to read your opponent's movements. Everyone plays differently, so you may have to change your play style according to your opponent. Sorry I can't give you specific "techniques" to be more of an effective sparrer, but I hope this helps.

06-07-2015	5
Thallen Enguard & Alumni Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 5,773	#1 best way to get good at sparring is to spar actively and understand the tendencies and ping of every player that actively spars

06-08-2015	6
petefunk Registered User Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 2	Best way to improve? Get the **** out of your android and get an iphone 5s or a PC

06-08-2015	8
Erick Erick Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: CA Posts: 78	Use VPN

06-08-2015	9
David of Orange Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 826	"Get to 5,000 spar wins" should be everyones goal before they start asking how to get good at sparring, in my opinion.

06-08-2015	13
Crono :pluffy: Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Sweden Posts: 5,945	One thing that helps me is to not look at myself too much and focus mostly on the other guy.

06-08-2015	14
Hap K-on Join Date: May 2015 Location: France Posts: 21	It happens to me to spread some butter on my screen, it helps me to keep my movements fluid and reduce lag.