Explain to me the skill in this game...

If someone doesn't do those things they literally aren't playing

depends. everyone has to be doing some level of thinking, conscious or not. even just mashing ganon fsmash has a level of thought to it
typically lower level players who aren't very good at the mental aspect tend to fall into routines and very exploitable patterns

the post said at a top level, so by saying that you’re implying that lower level players are playing without thinking of those things

If you aren't thinking of what you want to do you aren't playing the game cause you have to want to do something to do it. Unless you fuck up and misinput but you wanted to do something else in that case

lol

It still boils down to guessing in the end. You can have all the evidence in the world for why someone might want to roll back onto the stage instead of jump onto it, based on their previous moves, but they can always think you’re already thinking that and try to go for something unexpected. It’s just Rock Paper Scissors veiled by everything else

Take a shower.

So, every multiplayer game ever?

I guess so. It just bothers me because seemingly intelligent and well respected people will act like it’s 100% skill and if you lose you’re bad

Yep, pretty much. Even the basic fighting game formula of strikes beating throws, throws beating blocks, and blocks beating strikes is just RPS with extra steps

Guessing + execution is every competitive game ever. Some games are just guessing and conditioning your opponent's behavior like chess.
>Uh I didn't say execution because Smash blah blah blah
Execution is a part of the game, the inputs for the moves are just simple. You still have to string everything together.

Smash has a relatively low skill ceiling, but I wouldn't say it takes no skill at all.
Many players never bother learning the few advanced techniques in the game.

prediction is definitely a big part of high level play, but focus and reaction time are just as important. its not just about guessing right or wrong in rapid succession, but changing that trajectory on the fly when you guess wrong to minimize the negative impact. in high level play you need to make the most out of every opportunity you get on your opponent when they guess wrong while also trying to let them touch you as little as possible when you guess wrong

Take it from a former stinky smasher, don't play this shit seriously. Play other games not populated by as many autists.

There's no skill in Ult only patience. It really bummed me out when I realized how broken not approaching was

Literally just mash. Do the same thing in melee. I've gotten pretty high up in local tourneys just f-air mashing with capt falcon in melee, I've beaten people in Orlando who have gon to legit tourneys and invitationals and I ltierally don't know what I'm doing.

guessing right and wrong is a skill

This is basically all fighting games. Stack the deck with space control and baits so its easier guess what the opponent is going to do next.

Isn't that literally every game

Not always, but it does happen. This phenomenon is called beginners luck.

Wow, a fighting a game where you try to predict your opponent and dodge his attacks? Now that's a new one!

You are not wrong. You perfectly described what competing is like.