We had the opportunity to sit down with the All-Star Invitational winner and G3 representative, Ixtlanian, for a full AI Arena guide on how to become a pro player and what are the essentials you need to nail down before you level up your game. As discussed in the first guide, the airspace is divided into four parts. Let's focus on some of them to understand what to pay attention to when practicing.
Side of Stage
One of the most important zones in which your fighter often finds himself is the side of the stage. It is critical to learn how to get back to the platform from here as quickly as possible, as every moment of inactivity reduces the chances of survival.
This space can be roughly divided into three zones, each requiring different directions and actions. While in the air, the fighter can make three upward movements: jump, uppercut (attack + up or up-side), and flipkick (special + up or up-side). In the lower two parts of this zone, train the fighter to perform jump-attack-special sequences. In the upper part, there is a danger of jumping out of the map, so it is important to move sideways toward the platform in combination with a special move. By pressing this key combination, the fighter will execute the “Flykick” move, allowing a sharp jerk to the side and preventing a fall. This move is essential for staying on the platform.
Tips from Ixtlanian
- Repeat Actions in Each Zone: Show several times the actions and directions in different parts of each zone. Any unnecessary movement can ruin everything. Repeat this on both sides of the platform.
- Use the “Your Positioning” Focus: This ensures your fighter knows exactly where he is. Ignore the enemy's location and actions to avoid confusion. Experiment with both “oversampling” and “multi-stream” for balancing data to see what works best.
- Fine-Tune Actions with Multi-Stream: If the training results in a good Direction Policy but unsatisfactory actions, save the data in a separate slot. Set the maximum Direction Lambda, repeat the training, emphasizing the actions, and use Multi-Stream. This maintains the desired directionality and tweaks the actions.
- Maximize Direction Percentage: Aim for the maximum percentage of direction at each location on the map and a cumulative probability of all actions close to 100%. This allows your fighter to act faster, as the chance of applying each action is calculated per frame (60 per second). The higher the chance, the more likely he is to perform the desired ability, saving precious moments.
- Use the “Recoveries Remaining” Trick: For advanced players, this trick helps the fighter understand which techniques have already been used, increasing the likelihood of using other techniques. For example, if your fighter has already jumped in the air, he will focus on a flykick or an uppercut.
Near Blast Zone
The Near Blast Zone is a high-danger area where your fighter risks losing his life if he crosses it. Similar to the side of the stage, this part can be divided into zones where the optimal behavioral policy has been well-studied by top players. Follow this scheme for the best results.
The basic principles and settings here are the same as in the previous section, along with most of the tips. Here is an additional tip to make training easier:
Tips from Ixtlanian
- Set Spawn in Training Mode: To place your fighter in the right location, go into settings in training mode. Under SPAWN, turn on Use Respawn and place your fighter in the desired spot. Close the Spawn Settings and press Enter to have your fighter instantly appear in the right spot and start falling. Press record and perform the necessary actions. This simplifies the training process.
- Focus on “Your Positioning”: This is all your fighter needs to pay attention to in this area.
- Dominate Each Training Area: Ensure that each part of the training is dominated by the necessary direction and action. This prevents your fighter from wasting precious time on the verge of death.
Under Stage
This area under the main platform is where the fighter often finds himself when thrown off the edge. Don't ignore this part—it can save your life more than once if trained correctly.
Tips from Ixtlanian
- Show Necessary Actions: Demonstrate the necessary actions in the highlighted areas without needing any specific focus settings. Your fighter will understand everything if shown enough times.
- Experiment with Data Balancing: Any kind of data balancing will work well for this workout. Just experiment to find the best method.
By following these tips, you will ensure your fighter can get back on the platform safely. Explore the finer points on your own for more advanced mastery. In the next AI Arena guide, we will discuss how to control aerial combat so you can dominate your opponents on and off the platform.
