@dark55, if you're using Pig's definition, then bottom 5 doesn't mean what it normally does. In most fighting games, being the lowest tier would indicate that the character is unviable at a competitive level, except as perhaps a counterpick (e.g. Infiltration's Hakan in SF4). If you're saying that bottom 5 can still compete, then what is the point of that grouping? Are you saying that the other 23 characters on the roster have better options? Also, are you saying that all characters in the bottom 5 are equal to each other?
@Pnut, I'm not saying that Kotal is viable because one player has had success with him, like Xian with Gen, or Scamby recently with team Resident Evil in UMvC 3. I'm saying he's viable because in multiple locals he's winning/placing top 3 and in majors he's getting top 32/16. Of course, any singular, skilled FG player can have success with a bad character, but when you see this many instances, the tools of the character are assisting the player, at least to some degree. Now, as I mentioned above to Dark, if your argument is that bottom 5 characters in MKX can still compete at a high level, unlike most fighting games, then fine. Though, as I also say, that would seem to invalidate the point of calling them bottom 5.
To help with this, as I'm not looking to flame anyone, just debate, why don't we list our bottom/hard to win with picks. For me, I'd say Goro and Jacqui. Previously, I'd also include Reptile, but with his recent buffs, he's looking much better. Same with Kitana and Kenshi, to an even greater degree. Characters like Ferra/Tor, Kano, Takeda, Liu Kang, and Mileena don't win for free, but they're definitely not bad. Predator isn't that great, but it's too early to say for sure. So, all in all, with the recent patch, I'd say most characters in MKX can compete, which is pretty cool.
And, lastly, for anyone saying that Kotal has gaps in his strings, yes, we know, and so do players who are taking this game seriously. Does this weaken Kotal? Absolutely. It means you can't just go ham. However, having the option to go low/overhead at any point is still very useful and many characters can only punish if they react in time and have meter on deck to do so. Does it suck to play against characters like Jax and Reptile, who can punish you
every time they block a low/overhead sword? Of course. That's why you play differently against those characters, use a different variation, or even counterpick. Almost all top level players right now can play multiple characters. That's what it means to be the best. If you're thinking you can just play Kotal and be top of the pack, well, that's highly doubtful.
