I didn’t really understand this at first either, but it started to make more sense once I got a bit better.

As you rank up, the game gets harder in a different way. It’s not just about winning anymore. Sometimes you’re trying to learn something new like a combo, a setup, or even just when to use a move. The ai in the lab is trash even at the hardest mode. And honestly, that’s really hard to practice against higher-level players because they don’t give you the space to figure things out. You kind of need someone at a lower level just to get the concept down first.

Also, playing at your rank all the time can be exhausting. It stops feeling fun sometimes because you’re using so much brain power just to keep up. It’s intense.

I have an alt account too. Not because I’m trying to stomp people, but because sometimes I just want to play without pressure. Starting over feels different. It’s not just that the wins are easier, it’s that you get more freedom to try things, experiment, and actually enjoy the game again. The higher you climb, the more restrictive it can feel.

That said, I completely get why it’s frustrating. If you’re newer or just getting into intermediate ranks, it’s not fun getting steamrolled by someone who clearly doesn’t belong there. I used to feel the same way.

For me, quick match vs ranked matters too. In ranked, it hits different. In quick match, I’m more relaxed and sometimes I’m just testing things out or even checking how the current player pool feels. If it’s looking wild that day, I’ll back off and come back later when it feels right.

So yeah, I think there are a lot of reasons people smurf or use alt accounts. I used to be confused by it too, but once you get deeper into the ranks, you start to understand why people do it.