We have a lot of resources here if that helps any. :) There's a lot you can do to learn about the competitive scene. Check the moveset and overall usage stats as well as viability rankings for what's popular or viable. Review teams on Smogon's RMT section (or here) that have peaked on the ladder or seem to be successful. Watch replays of major PC or Smogon tournaments for team building ideas and to see how people play. A lot of it comes down to practice.Team building, not knowing the competitive scene and not knowing where to learn about the competitive scene
Your weakness is that you don't know how to play against good players. Play more on the actual ladders and you'll get better.I've reached 1800 on the Random Battle Showdown ladder. I'm wondering why I can't get this success on any of their real tiers. There's some sort of weakness I have, but I've yet to figure it out.
Consider getting a coach. He can help you getting over your panic, can give you tips when you really need them and after a battle can help you analyze the match in order to figure out what you should do and what to avoid the next time. Also, play more: it helps you feel more secure with what you do.I choke and panic a lot, especially when people are watching me. That or I'm too carelessly with my core Pokemon and let them die too quickly.
I'm fascinated by the theoretical side of competitive battling. I like to ponder over team composition, team synergy, strategy, etc forever and ever. It's frustrating, but at the same time fun.
However I have no motivation to play, whatsoever. Even when I manage to build a team, I usually just go "I can test this later" and never actually do it.
Your weakness is that you don't know how to play against good players. Play more on the actual ladders and you'll get better.
The ladder has given me more problems than anything. It's matched me against multiple top players, including a #1 ranked player. Going against players so far ahead in skill hurts more than it helps when all I'm trying to do is learn.
I'm not improving by playing the low ladder either, as soon as I get past the unorthodox teams and get my chance against a real team, I'm pushed back down. It almost feels like a rigged system.
I've reached 1800 on the Random Battle Showdown ladder. I'm wondering why I can't get this success on any of their real tiers. There's some sort of weakness I have, but I've yet to figure it out.
What do you consider your own biggest weakness as a player?
If you don't have a problem in random but you do in other metas, maybe team building is a big problem? That's the biggest difference there, so it'd make sense to look at that if you want to do better elsewhere.
Honestly, my biggest problem is consistency. I get distracted by other interests and things so my competitive battling comes in phases. By the time I'm actually getting half decent I fall off and stop for a while and then when I come back the meta has changed or something and I'm rusty and I have to learn all over again.