What's there to say about Ermac's massive meterless combos?
Commonly known:
f21d2 > f4 xx > bf2 > dash > bf1 > nj2 > j3 xx > db4 > f4, 3 (37% meterless)
And:
222 xx > Soul Ball > J2 > f21d2 > J4 xx > Tele > b321 (40% meterless)
Not to mention Vortex potential
Even if Ermac is punishable, if he lands a f2 or 2, its quite possible to do at least 37%
without meter. Very few characters in the game can do this. Since Ermac builds meter quite quickly in his combos and EX doesn't make his combos do much more damage, not using it could just save it up for either a vortex or breakers. So, if Ermac lands a f1,2, or ji2 on you, he's guaranteed to do more than 1/3 of your health in damage without using meter. If an opponent uses a combo breaker, Ermac will have even more of a meter advantage, which he can then use to break punishes. I'm sure its also possible to combo for at least 30% with a low starter.
Essentially:
Enemy Punish= 30% w/o meter, >40% with meter and some have a vortex
Ermac Punish= 37-40% w/o meter, vortex with meter
The response to Ermac hitting you with f212 while blocking is to spend meter on an armored attack. The response to a punish is a combo breaker, and since Ermac generally has more meter, he has more opportunities to do so. All I'm getting from your argument is that, Ermac, when blocked, gets shit on.
What characters are there that are totally safe / unstoppable even when blocked? Do you think those characters will always exist / never be nerfed for their safeness? Why play any kombatants besides those without safe strings?