Big props to to the major Kitana players at Evo!

[DrDogg]

Cyrax? I saw hardly any in the streams. Did they happen to bypass every single streamed match or something?

Yes... just like you bypassed this:

Keep in mind the stream only showed about 10% of the matches played... if that. There were over 500 players in the MK tournament and only about 50 got any stream time.

 

[DIRTY]

Feel like a dick that I didn't mention Konqrr on my post in the previous page. Was immediately saddened when Konqrr and Osu were put toe to toe, And Konqqr VS Slips was another highlight for me in this tourney. Konqrr, Inspired me to strive higher with Kitana. Was also upset a certain Dominican was unable to make it. Awesome to see Kit doin her thing throughout this tourney though. And... I'm a stoner, Forgive me.

There was one other Kitana player before semi finals that was also impressive, Didn't catch his name though.

 

[Lyuben]

Yes... just like you bypassed this:

Still, if he was among the most popular you would think you would see him more within the 10% but yes point taken I guess.

 

[Hella Pogi]

Yeah it was cool watching, especially since I slowly started to learn Kitana as a 3rd (for whatever reason)

But to be honest the only Kitana I can remember is the one that beat Ryan Hart
:top:

 

[xkheretic]

Good showing from the Kit players. Good work. Also, cheers to DrDogg for the commentary.

Should we complile an archive of match videos and critique / analyse them? (provided the player(s) gives permission to do so of course..)

 

[Dark Kobra]

Good showing from the Kit players. Good work. Also, cheers to DrDogg for the commentary.

Should we complile an archive of match videos and critique / analyse them? (provided the player(s) gives permission to do so of course..)

Sounds a great idea man!!

If this does go ahead and obviously with the said persons permission, maybe the player involved in the match up could talk about his or her stratergies during the match.... what they found difficult etc.. what they found easy to punish etc...... also possibly give their insight on what they would do if they replayed the match.... Would they use a different strategy etc???

 

[xkheretic]

^ An even better idea. Lets see what the players say... Maybe they don't want their matches to be dissected, but I hope they do.

 

[16 Bit]

I'm down.

 

[Dark Kobra]

^ An even better idea. Lets see what the players say... Maybe they don't want their matches to dissected, but I hope they do.

Yeah I agree!! Just re-edited my original post a tad

 

[xkheretic]

A little off topic, but I wouldn't mind looking over the Crazy Dominican vs Tom Brady set off the Kombat Network stream from 2 weeks ago. CD's rush down is ridiculous. Relentless pressure. Would be good to compare some of the Evo matches against it.

 

[Konqrr]

I can't wait until people learn how to fight against rushdown Kitana and her d1 pressure so that I can learn to fight what they do. This game is evolving.

 

[16 Bit]

Yeah, the era of throwing out d+1~cutter without consequence is probably almost over.

 

[Earthbound360]

Phew man 16 bit, that match was pretty crazy. Only one I've watched so far and I learned a lot. But what makes me wonder is why F2 > Fake Out Kick works. F2 doesn't lead into any possible overhead, so realisticly people should be guarding low the whole time.
It would make sense with B1 though since you cannot duck that and it leads to an overhead. I know I'm in no position to give a player of your level any advice, but once people catch onto that string, wouldn't it be wiser to use B1 instead? B1,2 for an overhead, and B1 Fake out kick for a low hit.

I also like the use of F2 into cutter. Its large range seems to easily set it up to get you at a reliable frame advantage. In fact, now that I think it, F2 > Fake out might work together with this. If the opponent is anticipating a cutter instead, they could be mashing D1 to stop it during the delay, but instead could be eating a cutter, providing you with a free jump in. Should this fail, I'm pretty sure Fake out is safe on block.

Kudos 16, I learned a lot. Gotta utilize some of that.

 

[16 Bit]

You're right, f+2~fake out kick is a silly strat. It works because even top guys don't know every matchup. It is indeed safe. It's amazing how often the f+4,1 string works too. We all know how Kitana plays but don't ever give too much respect to good players and assume they do as well.

 

[Earthbound360]

I guess you're right, but I'd prefer not to build strategies around "oh they might not know" just in case I am wrong. I have noticed that people fall victim to the overhead that is F4,1 also, and it makes me laugh because it provides a free combo for such a silly opening.

I like to do F4,1,Fake out kick though for a high~low mixup sometimes however.

But as I was saying, the strat might have worked because they were anticipating a cutter instead. Once they start anticipating the kick instead and try to poke out, we can whip out cutter instead, land that since it outsped their poke attempt, and get a safe jump in on hit. Just playing theory fighter here, but could this be a possible mindgame?

 

[VIDA]

Osu I really liked that f4,1~fake out off of jps. Makes the opp have to block high AND then low, works great for mixing it up off of jps, esp the safe jump ones off of cutters that hit.

Im gonna start having Kit use b1 more tho, cause its true as long as there's no whiff she can link it into cutter for chip 3-4%/2/5 meter/+4 frame adv, fake out for the low 8%, or overhead (2 input) for 7%.

 

[VIDA]

I guess you're right, but I'd prefer not to build strategies around "oh they might not know" just in case I am wrong. I have noticed that people fall victim to the overhead that is F4,1 also, and it makes me laugh because it provides a free combo for such a silly opening.

I like to do F4,1,Fake out kick though for a high~low mixup sometimes however.

But as I was saying, the strat might have worked because they were anticipating a cutter instead. Once they start anticipating the kick instead and try to poke out, we can whip out cutter instead, land that since it outsped their poke attempt, and get a safe jump in on hit. Just playing theory fighter here, but could this be a possible mindgame?

Personally I just try to get her to mix it up with everything. Sometimes its f2~fake out, sometimes b1~overhead...etc to throw them off and keep them guessing. Obviously the low options arent THAT good since fakeout is slow, but its seems safe on block (tested on dummy with d1). Its funny cause it seems to have the startup frames of pretty leg (db3) and I guess the idea was it faked that, but pretty leg just hits high, no reason to not block low on player reaction to those startup frames.

 

[Earthbound360]

Pretty kick is kinda useless IMO, so I never use it. But what I'm trying to do here is play OFF that odd delay before Fake out kick. Bait a counter by constantly using it on a block string. Once they try to hit you out of the delay, bring in the cutter instead.

Back to the pretty kick though, I have seen this one Kitana use it as a wakeup option, but I feel that cutter is quicker and hits harder, thus provides better results. In terms of safety, square boost has em all beat.

 

[VIDA]

Pretty kick is kinda useless IMO, so I never use it. But what I'm trying to do here is play OFF that odd delay before Fake out kick. Bait a counter by constantly using it on a block string. Once they try to hit you out of the delay, bring in the cutter instead.

Back to the pretty kick though, I have seen this one Kitana use it as a wakeup option, but I feel that cutter is quicker and hits harder, thus provides better results. In terms of safety, square boost has em all beat.

EX pretty is supposed to be an excellent wakeup with lots of invincibility as well as being super quick to come out. Great for countering in close with the health bar dwindingly down or just pushing out the corner pressure. Dont know if EX cutter is better for all that tho, it does do something like 6% chip on its own tho.

As far as regulars yeah I'll always have her do cutter as a wakeup when she's pressured in close, unless its in the corner. As long as it doesnt whiff it always yields good results. Wonder if regular pretty does anything better as a wakeup?

 

[REYTHEGREAT]

People need to stop sleeping on kitana. Congrats to all.

 

[Earthbound360]

Can you duck under any of the hits of Pretty Kick? (On another note, this may be off topic, better suited for the general discussion thread)

 

[Konqrr]

Can you duck under any of the hits of Pretty Kick? (On another note, this may be off topic, better suited for the general discussion thread)

You can duck under ALL of Kitana's special moves except for the last two hits of her :en Cutter, but you can hit her before those hits come out so it's a moot point.

 

[Earthbound360]

Pretty sure you can't duck under Kitana's fake out kick

I forgot to say crouch guard. I know ducking puts you under things crouh gard doesnt. I thought that Cutter hits crouch guarders, and a well timed air square boost could as well.

 

[VIDA]

Pretty sure you can't duck under Kitana's fake out kick

I forgot to say crouch guard. I know ducking puts you under things crouh gard doesnt. I thought that Cutter hits crouch guarders, and a well timed air square boost could as well.

Sq boost just above the floor of a stage can actually hit a NAKED DUCKERS! Ive had her do it to opps that kept staying there to avoid her fans. Idt u can IaSB it tho, has to be at the very end of a forward jumping arc.

Xray also hits naked duckers, catches them by surprise under the same cicrumstances as well. Regular cutter can be ducked under with a guard or not.

 

[16 Bit]

I guess you're right, but I'd prefer not to build strategies around "oh they might not know" just in case I am wrong. I have noticed that people fall victim to the overhead that is F4,1 also, and it makes me laugh because it provides a free combo for such a silly opening.

I like to do F4,1,Fake out kick though for a high~low mixup sometimes however.

But as I was saying, the strat might have worked because they were anticipating a cutter instead. Once they start anticipating the kick instead and try to poke out, we can whip out cutter instead, land that since it outsped their poke attempt, and get a safe jump in on hit. Just playing theory fighter here, but could this be a possible mindgame?

I agree but since this stuff is all safe I go into matches and try it out.

I'm not sure if you can poke out of f+2~fake out. Nobody has ever tried. They just start blocking it everytime. They're too afraid of f+2,1.