If you have any matchup specific tips, it would be much appreciated if you could share and I'll get them added to the Matchup guide I'm (VERY) slowly working on.
Stuff like: Low sai hinders Sub's ability to slide and Ice Clone basically neutralizes EX fade in the corner.
Anything like that for other characters could be beneficial for sure.
I don't think I have any other questions, but your gameplay was definitely eye-opening for me. You utilized a lot of things that my noob-self just didn't even think of. Example: f34 is neutral on block, but I never used it just to check the opponent to both put fear of the overhead in them and see how they would most likely try to block it. Seeing your experienced and high level play is definitely helping me learn.
This next question is a general one for ANYONE (not specifically you): How would you recommend practicing hit confirms? Just going into practice and setting the AI to block random combos and trying to successfully confirm whether to continue or stop?
What even are our hit confirmable starters?
I made the mistake (and bad habit) early on of having a pure mixup mentality. Instead of hit confirming, I learned to predict what the other person will and won't block instead but that causes me tons of missed damage and opportunities when they fail to block something I expected they would and gets me punished with the opposite.
Long post incoming. Generally for me to be able to get good at hit confirms I first get my combos down in training mode to the point that I can execute them even if I had a blindfold over my eyes.
From there I usually like to hit any type of string that allows me 2-hits into a special cancel such as B2,2 & F2,3 which are also the main two strings you will use as Mileena when you are playing footsies & spacing on the ground. Ethereal makes it easier for me to hit confirm due to the fact I can cancel in EX Fade & actually see if my opponent is in hit stun & continue my combo from there. But at the end of the day getting good at hit confirms is all about practice & visually reacting to your moves hitting the opponent & going from there.
Now some match us where I recommend a certain variation vs characters.
Piercing you can use for these reasons (basic description)
•Kitana (Low sai ducks fans & B1,2)
•Sub Zero (Low sai forces neutral & no slides & B1,2)
•Jacqui (Low sai for Full Auto spammers)
•Kano (Low sai for knife throws in Cutthroat & Commando & B1,2)
•Johnny Cage (Low sai for zoning battle & B1,2)
I'll have more for you as time goes on & I get input from you guys.
Ravenous I recommend for. See my earlier thread about Ravenous to understand the full usage of the High Pounce.
•Kitana (you make everything safe with High Pounce)
•Kenshi (everything can be made safe with High Pounce)
•Takeda (everything is safe with High Pounce)
I need the game in front of me so I can properly run through the cast lol. But I will tell you that I use Ravenous vs characters that don't have strong armor break options & have normals or specials greater or at 7 frames. If someone does not have something faster than that then everything can be made safe with High Pounce. Keep in mind you must still deal with armor reversals but you can use the Pounce as a conditioning tool to bait it out easy.
Ethereal I now officially use as my #1 for.
The Entire Cast (Ex Fade gets through any pressure that has gaps in it & the utility of the variation allows for lame defensive play or heavy rushdown) however you can still use the other 2 if you prefer.
But I will always go Ethereal for
•Jax
•Erron Black
•Kung Lao
•Tanya
•Goro
•Tremor
•Cassie Cage
•Sonya
•Predator
•Shinnok (Pre Patch)
•Jason
•Raiden
•Reptile
•Liu Kang
Basically I use Ethereal vs that large chunk of the cast that centers their gameplay on heavy pressure, vortex, & knockdown due to the ability of the EX Fade being able to counteract it.
That's all I got for you guys for now. Once I'm back in ATL i work on this more.
