Cassie Cage-General+Spec Ops and Hollywood
1. 50/50 mix ups and pressure (4/5) –Cassie's mixups include a low/overhead starter of DF1, a completely safe high/low/overhead in B212, D1+2 that does excellent chip, and a F3 overhead into the Getaway Flip, which can be option selected into F33 to make it unpunishable by most of the cast. The Getaway flip is full combo punishable if it isn't Meter Burned or Option Selected, but if both of these are on point, then Cassie takes little risk for maximum reward of a vortex and good damage. B1 resembles prepatch Superman's F2, and it's her number 1 means of getting in and applying pressure to the opponent. She can keep them guessing between B12, EX Guns, and B124 on block since it has a gap. 332, even though it's a high, is good for maintaining block pressure because it's slightly plus. In her Hollywood variation, F34 is a great pressure tool because it does 18% on hit and it's completely safe on block against anyone not named Reptile. D3 and D4 are good to use after regular nutpunches to keep the opponent in check and force them to block the next mixup. In her Spec Ops variation, you can call a regular missile which hits low, then do a F3 overhead as the missile is coming down to create difficult to block situations, similar to Summoner Quan Chi with his bat. You can also do the reverse with an overhead EX missile and DF1 low. Additionally, you can pile on the missiles in the corner with an EX overhead, regular low, and an overhead or low mixup right after that to create quasi unblockables.
2. Neutral game and footsies (5/5) –Cassie has some of the best footsies in the game. Her B1 is not only good for pressure, but it comes in handy here as well. She can full combo punish or catch the opponent in the middle of something with a well timed and well spaced B1. Her jump 1 and standing 1 are also great anti airs. B2 does not have a hitbox, so it's a good poking tool to use. The lack of a gap in B212, D1+2 forces people to respect it at all times, and you can do a regular Getaway Flip after this at max range to remain completely safe.
3. Defensive options (5/5) – Cassie's Powerflip is quite possibly the best EX move in the game. It has a startup of 5 frames, it launches, and it's completely safe. It blows up gaps in offense and leads to good damage. EX Glowkick on descent leads to good damage as well, but the Powerflip is more recommended. B1 returns to this category yet again because it's an excellent whiff punisher. F44 is excellent for blowing up most armored attacks in the game because it's a launcher and it's completely safe.
4. Zoning and anti-zoning (2/5) – Cassie's gun is a pretty terrible projectile because of how slow the start up is, and the fact that it's a high. However, in Spec Ops, she can call an EX Overhead missile and charge at it for a mixup unless you put something on the screen to stop her. In Hollywood, you have to be on point with your instant air Akimbos for effective zoning.
5. Damage output (4.5/5) – Cassie gets around 25% for a very basic BnB and 37% for an optimized BnB midscreen. In the corner, she gets around 40-44% on average before the combos start getting really difficult. Considering she's a vortex character, this is really good damage.
Total: 20.5/25
