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What was the most exciting tournament match you ever played?

coolwhip

Noob
Compared to other fighters in MK9 yes b23 is more of a difficult hit confirm since you have to choose to confirm into bomb or use smoke away. You are not simply doing the special or not doing it. No need to tell me what is and what isn't with Smoke regarding hit-confirms in MK. I have spent 3.5 years with the character and understand him extremely well.
Bravo, I applaud you. What does it have to do with anything? All I said is B23 is not that difficult to hit confirm. It's really not more difficult than say, hit-confirming Kung Lao's 21 into spin (it's probably much easier actually). Yeah, I realize you don't want to be left at -8 by just doing b23 so you want to Smoke away, but if that's your biggest worry then you're fine. After 3.5 years, I'm sure you've mastered it.
 

coolwhip

Noob
I'm not a robot, and don't have "insane" reactions but they are good.
After the D4 on hit, you are expecting one of two things, another d4 or the b2. So watching for one and being safe against the other makes it pretty easy to fuzzy
I don't know man, if this was as simple as you're making it out to be then Smoke would be worthless, as opposed to having some of the best footsies in the game. Guys who play against Smoke on the regular have never been able to do what you're suggesting.
 

coolwhip

Noob
LOL just no
If we're strictly talking about 2-hit strings then it's really not that difficult. I mean, in this thread I have someone telling me reacting to Smoke's B2 is no big deal. Therefore, hit confirming B23 should be a piece of cake.
 

ForeverKing

Patreon.com/MK_ForeverKing
Bravo, I applaud you. What does it have to do with anything? All I said is B23 is not that difficult to hit confirm. It's really not more difficult than say, hit-confirming Kung Lao's 21 into spin (it's probably much easier actually). Yeah, I realize you don't want to be left at -8 by just doing b23 so you want to Smoke away, but if that's your biggest worry then you're fine. After 3.5 years, I'm sure you've mastered it.
Kung Lao's 21 spin is actually pretty tough to hit confirm. Especially in the heat of a tournament match
 

SaltFace NS

Ultimate Mileena Exterminator
Let's see...my most exciting tournament matches in which my nerves were making me tingle either in the inside or outside.

Myself vs @GGA 16 Bit at my 1st major for an NRS Game at CEO 2013.

I knew Bit was a top player & someone who I have tremendous respect for. I was super nervous during that entire set & tried my hardest not to have my nerves get the better of me.

KIT 2014 both the match to make Top 8 winners & the match to make Losers Finals I had vs @AK Harold.

And our 2nd battle for Losers Finals.

Harold was my demon for the longest. It was like no matter what I did, no matter how close I got I was never able to put that guy away. But at the same time he was one of greatest players I ever had the pleasure to train with because he always pushed me beyond my limits in order to be able to come out on top with the victory.

Myself vs @GGA Max (not posting link because it's already in this thread) Max & I met at the beginning of Injustice on PSN & he was the 1st Bane that had ever kicked my ass. Since that day while online we became training partners & as I learned Bane from him I helped him out with Harley. KIT 2014 was our 1st (and so far) ever tournament encounter with one another. My nervousness was apparent just by how I was playing.

Final Round 2014 Myself vs Team Tri-State. 1st round of the Team Tournament it was Team AK (Myself, Harold, Glass Sword, Smarrgasm, & Pig of the Hut) vs Team Tri-State (SonicFox, REO, DarthArma, Rico Suave, & KDZ). I went up 1st against SonicFox & pulled out a win, next came DarthArma in which the clown princess came out on top, next was REO & I remember shocking the room when I used IJ2 to beat out MMH's Trait 3 at the start of the fight. After a tough one vs REO next came Rico Suave & when the dust settled Harley was still on Top...now only one game away from an OCV came KDZ. After a rough battle Harley finally succumbed to exhaustion. I remember after that loss everyone (including my opponents) gave me a standing ovation for my efforts. During all of it my hands were shaking & sweat was just pouring down my head.

SummerJam 2014 Myself vs @Decay II was a nerve racking match. I was down 1-2 & Decay only needed chip to advance to Top 8. It was one of those matches I pulled a rabbit out my hat & essentially stole it away.

These are my main tournament experiences & I'm glad to share them with you.
 

coolwhip

Noob
Kung Lao's 21 spin is actually pretty tough to hit confirm. Especially in the heat of a tournament match
That's exactly what I'm saying. Smoke's B23 is much easier to hit confirm. Actually, I would say that in tournament play, from what I've seen, the majority of the time, Kung Lao's 21 on hit is not hit confirmed unless it's a punish, even by guys like yourself and PL. By contrast, Wafflez hit confirms literally every B23. I'd also say that sometimes Cyrax's 21 goes unconfirmed with guys just doing the full string 121~ragdoll instead. It doesn't happen too often, but still, more times than Smokes b23 going unconfirmed.
 

Slips

Feared by dragons. Desired by virgins.
I don't think it's crazy to say Smoke is better than Cyrax when you think about it.

a) Smoke handles runaway and zoning better than Cyrax.
This is obvious. Shake and teleport punch for projectiles and smoke bomb is a huge threat once Smoke starts closing the gap forcing people to block.

b) Smoke's AA is better than Cyrax.
Cyrax's air grab is super consistent, but the damage is very low. I don't even care half the time. His standing 1 and 2 AA are very iffy AA's and often don't lead to resets. Smoke's standing 2, b2 and d1 for crossups are godlike and can always lead to a reset for insane and stupid damage. I'd rather have Smoke's AA than Cyrax's.

c) Smoke's footsies are better than Cyrax's.
People will argue Cyrax's d4 wins this argument but I beg to differ. Cyrax's d4 only has a disgusting guessing game when it hits you standing. When it hits you crouching, he's actually at disadvantage. As long as you keep a low profile in footsie range you takeaway his best footsie tool. Hell I used to crouch and get hit on purpose by @GGA HAN's Cyrax just to bait him and get advantage. This is not something you can do against Smoke. When you get in footsie range with Smoke, you are automatically stuck in his best guessing game. There's no setting up his best guessing game. Just being in his presence put you there.

d) Smoke does better meterless damage than Cyrax.
This is obvious as well.

e) Smoke has better momentum than Cyrax.
Cyrax hits hard, but at least when it's over...it's over. Smoke can do resets to you, then teleport for more guessing even after you've lost 70%. Shit is stupid. I'm getting mad posting about all this stupid shit.

f) Smoke's runaway is better.
Again, obvious. Smoke away all day.

I'll give Cyrax has a couple things Smoke doesn't, like more unbreakable damage, bombs and silly breaker traps. Wake-up attacks I'd say it's even. But I think when you look at all this garbage Smoke has you can't say Cyrax is without a doubt better.
 

zaf

professor
I don't know man, if this was as simple as you're making it out to be then Smoke would be worthless, as opposed to having some of the best footsies in the game. Guys who play against Smoke on the regular have never been able to do what you're suggesting.
Been playing against smoke since day1, and still do to this day. Probably the character that I have played against the most. I've also played with xsmokex and the other top canadian smokes. Smoke obviously has more options then just d4 and b2 after a d4 on hit. But like you mentioned they train you to expect one of these two, so they are open to really do what they want. But when it comes to a d4 on hit and they go for either a d4 or a b2, ive always just blocked low and fuzzy the b2. I am not saying I never get hit but I have found this to be the most successful way to deal with this pressure. I never said it was bad pressure, because it is good. I am just saying it is not as hard to deal with as some people may have you believe.
 

GGA HAN

Galloping Ghost Arcade
You are really mixed up on this one. I am saying he would need a better d4 to give him a really good guessing game on hit, not that he needs one in general. And when Han talked about not being able to zone Smoke I am pretty sure he was talking about the Smoke/Cyrax MU which is what I was responding to.
sorry if I wasn't clear, I wasn't talking about the matchup of the 2, just the 2 characters in comparison vs the cast
 

Groove Heaven

Jobber-baron
That's exactly what I'm saying. Smoke's B23 is much easier to hit confirm. Actually, I would say that in tournament play, from what I've seen, the majority of the time, Kung Lao's 21 on hit is not hit confirmed unless it's a punish, even by guys like yourself and PL. By contrast, Wafflez hit confirms literally every B23. I'd also say that sometimes Cyrax's 21 goes unconfirmed with guys just doing the full string 121~ragdoll instead. It doesn't happen too often, but still, more times than Smokes b23 going unconfirmed.
Yeah, Lao's 21 is pretty tight and I can't really confirm off of it. The only thing that makes it easier is that you don't have to hit the 1 for spin, if you just do the df fast neg edge uses the 1 from the string.
I think Cyrax's 12 and 21 are easy to confirm, whenever I do the pressure combo on hit it's because I go in thinking they're gonna block for sure. I will say it makes it easier that when you hit someone blocking, Rax only has to hit 1 or 2 to finish the string instead of choosing between two specials with different inputs (like Smoke). To be fair, though, I mess around with Smoke very casually and I can usually confirm it into either special. A Smoke main should be able to...
 

GGA HAN

Galloping Ghost Arcade
I don't think it's crazy to say Smoke is better than Cyrax when you think about it.

a) Smoke handles runaway and zoning better than Cyrax.
This is obvious. Shake and teleport punch for projectiles and smoke bomb is a huge threat once Smoke starts closing the gap forcing people to block.

b) Smoke's AA is better than Cyrax.
Cyrax's air grab is super consistent, but the damage is very low. I don't even care half the time. His standing 1 and 2 AA are very iffy AA's and often don't lead to resets. Smoke's standing 2, b2 and d1 for crossups are godlike and can always lead to a reset for insane and stupid damage. I'd rather have Smoke's AA than Cyrax's.

c) Smoke's footsies are better than Cyrax's.
People will argue Cyrax's d4 wins this argument but I beg to differ. Cyrax's d4 only has a disgusting guessing game when it hits you standing. When it hits you crouching, he's actually at disadvantage. As long as you keep a low profile in footsie range you takeaway his best footsie tool. Hell I used to crouch and get hit on purpose by @GGA HAN's Cyrax just to bait him and get advantage. This is not something you can do against Smoke. When you get in footsie range with Smoke, you are automatically stuck in his best guessing game. There's no setting up his best guessing game. Just being in his presence put you there.

d) Smoke does better meterless damage than Cyrax.
This is obvious as well.

e) Smoke has better momentum than Cyrax.
Cyrax hits hard, but at least when it's over...it's over. Smoke can do resets to you, then teleport for more guessing even after you've lost 70%. Shit is stupid. I'm getting mad posting about all this stupid shit.

f) Smoke's runaway is better.
Again, obvious. Smoke away all day.

I'll give Cyrax has a couple things Smoke doesn't, like more unbreakable damage, bombs and silly breaker traps. Wake-up attacks I'd say it's even. But I think when you look at all this garbage Smoke has you can't say Cyrax is without a doubt better.
<downplaying mode engaged>

I would also like to add on to point B that if you are cornered vs Cyrax, jumping is a great way out of the corner...antiair grab flips positions, and now you can run away from him again.
 

coolwhip

Noob
I don't think it's crazy to say Smoke is better than Cyrax when you think about it.

a) Smoke handles runaway and zoning better than Cyrax.
This is obvious. Shake and teleport punch for projectiles and smoke bomb is a huge threat once Smoke starts closing the gap forcing people to block.

b) Smoke's AA is better than Cyrax.
Cyrax's air grab is super consistent, but the damage is very low. I don't even care half the time. His standing 1 and 2 AA are very iffy AA's and often don't lead to resets. Smoke's standing 2, b2 and d1 for crossups are godlike and can always lead to a reset for insane and stupid damage. I'd rather have Smoke's AA than Cyrax's.

c) Smoke's footsies are better than Cyrax's.
People will argue Cyrax's d4 wins this argument but I beg to differ. Cyrax's d4 only has a disgusting guessing game when it hits you standing. When it hits you crouching, he's actually at disadvantage. As long as you keep a low profile in footsie range you takeaway his best footsie tool. Hell I used to crouch and get hit on purpose by @GGA HAN's Cyrax just to bait him and get advantage. This is not something you can do against Smoke. When you get in footsie range with Smoke, you are automatically stuck in his best guessing game. There's no setting up his best guessing game. Just being in his presence put you there.

d) Smoke does better meterless damage than Cyrax.
This is obvious as well.

e) Smoke has better momentum than Cyrax.
Cyrax hits hard, but at least when it's over...it's over. Smoke can do resets to you, then teleport for more guessing even after you've lost 70%. Shit is stupid. I'm getting mad posting about all this stupid shit.

f) Smoke's runaway is better.
Again, obvious. Smoke away all day.

I'll give Cyrax has a couple things Smoke doesn't, like more unbreakable damage, bombs and silly breaker traps. Wake-up attacks I'd say it's even. But I think when you look at all this garbage Smoke has you can't say Cyrax is without a doubt better.
Can't debate much of the above but Cyrax has significantly better pressure. So once he gets in that footsie range, you're extra worried about him getting in your face. Command grab is super dumb. I'd also say Cyrax has a much better corner game.

But, in defense of your argument, Smoke probably makes you pay for a mistake worse than Cyrax because Smoke bomb will whiff punish anything at any range, so you can never mess up. Comparing their tools, I agree that it's pretty close but I think Cyrax has the better match-up chart, especially against the top tier and that probably sways it in his favor.
 

Slips

Feared by dragons. Desired by virgins.
Can't debate much of the above but Cyrax has significantly better pressure. So once he gets in that footsie range, you're extra worried about him getting in your face. Command grab is super dumb. I'd also say Cyrax has a much better corner game.

But, in defense of your argument, Smoke probably makes you pay for a mistake worse than Cyrax because Smoke bomb will whiff punish anything at any range, so you can never mess up. Comparing their tools, I agree that it's pretty close but I think Cyrax has the better match-up chart, especially against the top tier and that probably sways it in his favor.
True I'll give you once Cyrax gets in it's slightly more scarier cause of command grab and 21 pressure. I mainly wanted to remind people that it's easy to stay out of that guessing game if you just crouch and mash pokes to stop him from getting in. Corner game Cyrax slightly has the upperhand I agree.

I am not sold on Cyrax having a better matchup chart though. Who beats Smoke besides KL and I guess Kabal?
 

zaf

professor
True I'll give you once Cyrax gets in it's slightly more scarier cause of command grab and 21 pressure. I mainly wanted to remind people that it's easy to stay out of that guessing game if you just crouch and mash pokes to stop him from getting in. Corner game Cyrax slightly has the upperhand I agree.

I am not sold on Cyrax having a better matchup chart though. Who beats Smoke besides KL and I guess Kabal?
Besides KL and kabal there is..... Cage, jax, sonya
 

coolwhip

Noob
I am not sold on Cyrax having a better matchup chart though. Who beats Smoke besides KL and I guess Kabal?
I'm no Smoke main so I'm just throwing this out from theory fighting coupled with what Smoke players (read: Wafflez) say: Kung Lao, Kabal, Cage, Sonya and Jax.
 

RM AtK!

aka - RM_AtK !
True I'll give you once Cyrax gets in it's slightly more scarier cause of command grab and 21 pressure. I mainly wanted to remind people that it's easy to stay out of that guessing game if you just crouch and mash pokes to stop him from getting in. Corner game Cyrax slightly has the upperhand I agree.

I am not sold on Cyrax having a better matchup chart though. Who beats Smoke besides KL and I guess Kabal?
who beats cyrax?? Kabal on rooftop day?
 

RiBBz22

TYM's Confirmed Prophet/Time-Traveler
Bravo, I applaud you. What does it have to do with anything? All I said is B23 is not that difficult to hit confirm. It's really not more difficult than say, hit-confirming Kung Lao's 21 into spin (it's probably much easier actually). Yeah, I realize you don't want to be left at -8 by just doing b23 so you want to Smoke away, but if that's your biggest worry then you're fine. After 3.5 years, I'm sure you've mastered it.
It has to do with knowing whether or not the hit-confirm or easy or not though experience. Yeah I am solid with it, but it is not a derp hit-confirm at all in the same ballpark that several other characters may have.
 

Slips

Feared by dragons. Desired by virgins.
who beats cyrax?? Kabal on rooftop day?
A lot of people would argue Kitana, Kenshi, Sonya, and obviously Kabal. Other problem matchups would be Jax, Sekor and Freddy.

Nobody beats Kabal on rooftop day. Nobody said Smoke is better than Kabal so I don't know what the point of bringing that up is.
 

Slips

Feared by dragons. Desired by virgins.
I wouldn't be able to tell you outside the fact that they have all that armor. I'm only going by Tommy's match up chart
Not to rag on Tommy but he's notorious for not being able to play outside his own meta.
 

RM AtK!

aka - RM_AtK !
I wouldn't be able to tell you outside the fact that they have all that armor. I'm only going by Tommy's match up chart
they both bully him... d3 goes under f3 d4 can be ex nutpunched (on hit) he has no armor to get away or out of pressure. (some of the things vs cage)

sonya is his worst matchup probably she completely dominates him.. and seeing that smokes main game is his d4 usage u cant do that with her at all because her's outranges yours and mixes up into spacing or f1 etc that leaves her at +1.. dive kick is really scary to anti air seeing as it outpriorities alot. Cant really pressure her due to smokes pressure being mainly normals and ez to ex kartwheel out of or instant dive kick.

Jax bullies smokes big hitbox and is bathed in armor