Smash Ultimate Tips: Are You Worried About Becoming Too Good?
Tags: Gaming, Nintendo Switch, Features, Esports, Nintendo

Anxiety and Consequences of Rising to the Top

Have you ever been scared of your own potential? Did you discover a new technique or try another character and start beating down your rivals? Did even once you feel like you didn’t deserve to belong at the top?

That level of anxiety is natural. Unfortunately, the resistance it creates is real. The feeling of being too scared to perform better than your perceived potential comes with consequences. Some people end up taking a lead in a set only to choke at the end. They were too scared to flip the script because their subconscious mind lead them to believe they didn’t deserve that win. That other player was better so who had the right to take that win away?

Daigo Umehara, a multiple-time Street Fighter EVO champion, dealt with those consequences physically. The talented rising star fears the consequences of their opponent raging or even becoming violent over a loss. In their mind, they forfeit that win if they choke in the set because they cannot deal with the pressure of winning. They subconsciously fear the consequences.

Unfortunately, the competitive community has had more than its fair share of heckling talented players on the rise. When they upset top players in bracket, their fans might call BS on their character choice, their playstyle, or even send verbal attacks their way.

How Negative Biases Damage Rising Players

Cognitive dissonance. The bias it creates is that the audience, or even the losing player, refuse to believe they lost to a nobody. Everyone thought they should win, and when they didn’t, their minds don’t change immediately. That prodigal player still has to earn the respect of the community and pay their dues before they’re allowed to be on that top player’s level. Biases don’t change overnight.

Here’s one for my Persona 5 fans: If you’ve beaten Shido, you remember the aftermath, right? That’s cognitive dissonance every step of the way.

Unfortunately, these biases damage the prodigy. They might begin retaliating against their critics. They may even quit the scene due to the toxicity of their critics and pursue new endeavors before they’ve had the chance to let their potential shine. Unfortunately, this is nothing new in the competitive scene and has happened to up-and-comers to include Luigi main, Kiyarash.

However, the most recent example comes from DDog, a Steve main who double-eliminated top professional Smash player, Tweek. His upset win at Fusion 100 created discourse across the Smash Twitter community. As such, he became the center of attention around many of Tweek’s fans. This included calls to get Steve banned from competitive Smash.

Take Control, Take Command

Ultimately, however, the burden of success lies in the rising star’s responsibility. If you’re afraid of your potential, learn to not fear what you’re capable of. Top players didn’t magically appear from the cosmos and use their God-given talents to become great overnight. They trained their asses off while dealing with the criticism of their opponents. While their critics were trying to drag them down, these players rose above them.

Criticism will happen as you progress above your competition and your contemporaries. If your playstyle is frustrating your opponents, you’re doing something right. Don’t stop just because they’re the ones losing now. You’re not competing to mind your Ps and Qs. You’re competing to win.

The Roman Gladiators didn’t fight in the coliseum to let their opponent kill them. They fought for survival. Adapt the winning mindset. You’re hungrier for the win than your opponent is. Don’t let critical voices take that potential away from you.

Final Thoughts

It is on you to not appease your critics. This especially includes that voice in your head telling you to know your place. It is on you to reach your potential while continuing to train and improve. The critics’ reaction is on them alone and if it hurts their results in tournament, then that is their burden. Your focus is on winning. Focus on you.

Furthermore, if you’re scared or worried that something is considered “broken,” it is the TOs’ responsibility to determine if something should be banned from competitive play. Until that happens, you must play to win using every tool in your arsenal. Don’t hold back just because you’re getting glared at or heckled.

The critics can take up what should be banned to the TOs. But until anything changes in the ruleset, their complaints won’t help them improve or beat you. If it’s not banned, then it’s on them to learn the matchup, break through their plateaus, and win the game.

It’s on you to reach your full potential, continue improving, and to do what you do best despite what others may think.

If you enjoyed this read, please consider following my blog. If you’re a competitive Smash Ultimate player seeking coaching, check out my page and book me on Metafy! I offer a 20% discount to readers using the code RANGO-SUPERJUMP-20 at checkout!

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Further reading: Check out The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. I strongly recommend this book on your journey if you want to break through your own mental barriers!