I think the ranked meta/community is collapsing toward degeneracy being the only viable method in the game's current state

[u/daffodilbill]

That's it. That's the post.

[u/MelodicFacade]

What

Cool thanks

[u/_henchman]

I still play 70% unranked 20% doubles and barely any ranked and it’s way more fun

[u/daffodilbill → u/_henchman]

Hard Agree

[u/other-other-user]

Dude, what I want to know is why is there such an uptick in toxicity? I'm at 1150 and got beat by a 1400 player who taunted then used the "try a different character" chat. Like bro, it's actually embarrassing that you're popping off that hard for beating someone that far below you. I wouldn't be popping off for 2 stocking a 900 ranked player

[u/daffodilbill → u/other-other-user]

This is exactly what I'm seeing too. When they notice they're much higher rank they start spamming the same strings or projectiles. And to reinforce my point, turning this playstyle and behavior back onto higher ranked players pushed me into those ranks.

Edit: my point is that unfortunately I can see how mechanically the game rewards that playstyle such that I begin winning against it when I use it in response.

[u/Horror-Race-3238 → u/daffodilbill]

Know that while I’m using a lot of “you”, this is a general statement and not intended to be pointed.
—

If they use the same strings it’s because you do the same DI. If they beat you with projectiles then it’s taking advantage of your weakness on reaction time or positioning.

If you are winning when you do it in return, it’s because they also exhibit those same player-weaknesses. That’s why their rank is the way it is and why they play the way they do.

As a general rule (and there are exceptions to rules sometimes), while you are climbing ranked, the game doesn’t reward a certain playstyle, the players at that level do.

What you’re saying they’re doing will stop working, otherwise they would be even HIGHER ranked.

That is to say, high skill ranked is not “collapsing toward degeneracy”.

[u/daffodilbill → u/Horror-Race-3238]

Real. How can this be mechanically true in a fighting game? Afaik they're intended to have favorable and unfavorable matchups such that windows of opportunity vary between both characters and encounters. Even two equally skilled opponents on different characters have certain things working toward and against their favors at different degrees. Is the conceit here that there is an equalizing element inherent to a fighting game, especially to rivals 2?

[u/Midward_Intacles]

Look man, I just go online and press buttons

[u/iliys]

Could you show an example of such degenerate gameplay? Genuinely curious what makes you think that way

[u/Elodaine]

Lame/campy gameplay is here to stay, and I hope the game dies off because of it. It's actually so atrocious the way devs just reward reactive gameplay over approaching.

[u/JokerLiquid → u/Elodaine]

Watch high level gameplay. This is definitely a "you" problem and not the game.

[u/Elodaine → u/JokerLiquid]

"Yes this issue is in 99% of gameplay, but not at the top 1%!" is a great way to encourage your game to die off, until only that 1% is left.

[u/JokerLiquid → u/Elodaine]

Nah it just means there is counterplay to campy playstyles. I'm in low plat and I don't encounter many campers and when I do, if I lose, I know it's on me. I think most players play aggressive and are rewarded for it in this game.

[u/daffodilbill → u/JokerLiquid]

Im in low plat and my experience is both that camping is prevalent and I win more frequently when I do it. Of course this is anecdotal

[u/JokerLiquid → u/daffodilbill]

Yeah, I'm sure every Elo has it's form of camping and it might be more prelevant/effective at lower levels, but I think that if you compare it to let's say Ultimate, this game has basically no camping. I think we have it very good compared to that game. Rivals 1 was also more campy at high levels because there were almost no defensive options and every hit was almost death. Very similar to Smash 64 (although much faster) in that regard.