Ok i'll bite
Cross-posting this because I want some feedback.
Can a knowledgeable Cyrax player enlighten me why Cyrax needs an inescapable 65% reset that requires only one bar of meter to pull off? While you're at it, can you also explain why it's absolutely necessary that Cyrax be allowed 2 ex bomb launchers, 2 normal bombs, AND 2 nets all in one combo (as evidenced by Check's 103% video)?
So far I've heard "because it's hard for Cyrax to get in due to his absent low mix-up game and slow normals!! and just use a breaker!!1" First of all, I would have believed that he has trouble getting in if all of his normals were molasses-tier slow, but they're not (in fact, his 3, 3 string is very fast, arguably as fast as Scorpion's). And second of all, so what? Ermac's offense has a hard time for the exact same reason, you know why? Because his entire playstyle revolves around baiting the opponent into not blocking so he can catch them in a stupidy high damage combo.
Did you ever stop and think for a minute that maybe Cyrax isn't supposed to be all that great in close because he's supposed to bait the opponent into JUMPING, hence all of his anti-air capabilities? His bombs, anti-air special, his net, b+2 overhead, even the neutral jump punch; all are tools designed for players who are especially good at reading when their opponent will jump and capitalizing on it.
As far as wether he NEEDS the resets or not there's really no way to know except for LEAVING THE GAME ALONE and letting things play out. Theory Kombat discussions are fine and entertaining but I have not heard a single argument against the resets that is theoretically so sound that justifies the nerfs. Fact remains that this character hasnt been on a non stop international winning streak because of the resets, so there is no hard evidence AT ALL.
I also understand the frustration of spending hours upon hours working on tech that gets butchered because NRS nerf policy is sometimes based around profit and not quality (aka online players cant punish KL spin or R elbow dash so they get nerfed) In my humble opinion this has done more harm to the game than the resets have, and it is valid to adress it.
The ammount of Ex launchers in the same combo and the ammount of nets and bombs pertain to the character's damage output, which is only ONE of the many variables that need to be considered for game balance. Pointing out these pieces out of context is simply obtuse.
FYI, 3,3 is not hit confirmable and negative on block, on top of that the second hit will whiff on crouch block; so its not a great example of a good normal to support your point. Truth is some of Cyrax's normals are good and some are bad, I'd say that the character has average normals overall. Once again, normals just as damage are just one piece of the puzzle. Like KT Smith said above, a lot of point missing going around.
As far as baiting people to jump ftw... anyone who plays against Cyrax at high level knows not to jump and will never jump. This is also false on a different level since its matchup dependent (Cyrax gets outzoned by many in the cast). You block the net, you learn the timing on the bombs and you dash out. (B2 as AA?? Im not sure what you mean there)
You Cyrax players should be debating one of two things: high damage combos with no resets, or low damage combos with resets abound. You don't get to have amazing anti-air capabilities, high damage with low meter, and inescapable resets in one package and still be able to call him a "balanced character".
So basically damage (and the ammount of meter spent to deal it) and AA capabilities determine wether a character is OP? how about wakeup game? or zoning? or anti zoning? or normals? or ammount of bad matchups? or ammount of good matchups? or armored moves? or mobility? or mixups? or meter building capabilities? or XRay?
Each of these categories is complex and needs to be cross referenced with the ENTIRE cast to even begin to attempt a full analysis of game balance. It is in fact so complex that in some cases it may prove impossible to determine by theoretical discussion alone... so the answer is to let the game play out, an observe the results.
The results so far? Cyrax doesnt dominate neither the high level scene nor the online scene.
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