Free Step Dodge

Don't try to get the basics down while playing online. Those aren't the right basics. I still suck online.

I can't counter, I can't punish, I can't figure a damned thing out...I'm about done.

No matter how hard I try, I can't get any better. Why try when nothing comes of your hard work?

Don't know. Are you trying online? Because that's where you can't do all those things.

*sigh*....I'd rather not have to go back to fighting those now OP bots, considering that they counter almost EVERYTHING I throw at them...

Well, there's three options. Or... four actually.
Online, offline against cpu, offline against players or just stop.

I can't stop. I've come too far, I've tried too hard to just stop....I'll figure something out.
Thanks for the brief conversation.

What do you consider the basics? Blocking, holding, execution? Or more advanced techniques like slow escaping, fuzzy guarding and throw punishing? In any case, the best practice would be offline against real players but for the basics you should be training on your own.

If you think you've got the basics down, playing against the AI at level 6 (not 7 or 8, it makes them inhumanly reactive!) could help you apply the basics. Online/offline against players is mostly there for improving your mindgame, not necessarily applying fundamentals.

Damn, thanks man. I appreciate the feedback.

Pictured and JAIMY speak the truth. You cannot learn DOA5 properly online. Offline, your fundamentals will develop gradually over time. I practice against the Level 8 AI and it has help me out immensely in my fundamentals. Playing the Level 7 AI would be a good idea IMO. Have you checked out my guide? It might have some tips that could help out: https://files.acrobat.com/a/preview/2cc9307a-88b6-49e5-a3a2-bb59981ce603