How useful is the U+3 stance?

[NKZero]

When I play as Sektor and I'm approaching my opponent, I try to poke my way in till I have him properly blocking. Is getting into the u+3 stance practical in a match? I know it gives me a low or overhead option that can continue to a combo, but at the same time, I find that the overhead is hard to hit confirm into because if I input u+3, 4 and they block the overhead and teleport, I get punished for a full combo.

How many Sektor players actually use this stance to open up their mix-up game? Is it slow activate and then use? Are there other ways to keep your opponent guessing?

 

[GNG Iniquity]

In theory, U3 4 should have a relatively high success rate since you're going to be using B3 4 pretty regularly along with 12B1. People block low against Sektor. Of course, you'll need to condition them to respect your B3 4 before any attempts are made for U3 4 however. There's really no point of actually letting U3 linger though, just mash out an U3 4.

 

[Temjiin]

I'll often jump in and B3 4 to see if I can get an opening and if they block low next time I'll jump in and U3 4 TU. If done quickly it's not a slow attack at all but the range is so poor I wouldn't consider trying to connect unless via jump in. I will use it just as a stance to remind people I use it though and this usually gives me the chance to get at least one B3 4 starter in the game for 37%.

 

[bombrider]

You cannot hit confirm U+3, 4 as you have stated...it is a pure guess.

Instead, either just do an U3, 4 with no Teleport Uppercut (grants no combo but is safe on block) or you can U+3, 4 Enhanced Teleport Uppercut. If you're opponent guess correctly and blocks the overhead into teleport uppercut, you cannot be reliably punished as Enhanced Teleport Uppercut is "safer" on block than regular teleport uppercut (Enhanced Teleport Uppercut is technically punishable, but you essentially need Jedi training in order to punish it consistently lol). Both options have pros and cons...do what works best for you.

 

[PND_Ketchup]

only useful in the corner, midscreen it takes so long you may as well do something else, whenever i go for it i get hit by a D1.

 

[Ravox]

EX Up Missile, they can't poke, they will block, so you do U3, 4.

 

[Temjiin]

You cannot hit confirm U+3, 4 as you have stated...it is a pure guess.

Instead, either just do an U3, 4 with no Teleport Uppercut (grants no combo but is safe on block) or you can U+3, 4 Enhanced Teleport Uppercut. If you're opponent guess correctly and blocks the overhead into teleport uppercut, you cannot be reliably punished as Enhanced Teleport Uppercut is "safer" on block than regular teleport uppercut (Enhanced Teleport Uppercut is technically punishable, but you essentially need Jedi training in order to punish it consistently lol). Both options have pros and cons...do what works best for you.

I meant on hit sorry. It works most of the time for me given my opponent will anticipate another B3 4. It looks to them like I screwed the B3 4 combo up and am going for another.

 

[RomeoBravoDelta]

EX Up Missile, they can't poke, they will block, so you do U3, 4.

They might not poke but they can still guess, and if they guess the overhead correct your in trouble.

And I absolutely would poke in that situation. I'd rather eat the 8% and deny the combo then potentially take 30-40%. I do the same thing with Jade's who try and lock me down with EX Low Boomerang and go for the Staff Overhead.

 

[Ravox]

Well, I don't play Sektor so I don't know much stuff.

But I think you cancel the U3 into block, they take the missile so is a free teleport into combo.

 

[RomeoBravoDelta]

Well, I don't play Sektor so I don't know much stuff.

But I think you cancel the U3 into block, they take the missile so is a free teleport into combo.

You can't cancel U3 with block. Your open until Sektor's leg hits the ground or you attack.

 

[Chaosphere]

You can't cancel U3 with block. Your open until Sektor's leg hits the ground or you attack.

Or dash cancel, but that's neither here nor there.

I love u3. I try to use it as much as I can. I used to hate u3 because I didn't know how to use it and always got poked out of it every time. Now when I use it, it either grants me a full combo or doesn't do anything at all since u34, u34~exTU, and u334 are safe. u334 isn't 100 percent safe, but they can only punish you with an uppercut if they really know what they're doing, but big deal.

After u34 you always want to use exTU to make the string safe. Unless you KNOW they are going to remain blocking low you can use regular tu but there's no way to know that so you might as well make it safe. I usually only do this if I have close to three bars of meter. Since sektor's xray is pretty much useless you always want to have a couple bars of meter for a combo break. I still use u34 if i don't have close to 3 bars, but then I just don't link in teleportsince u34 by itself is safe. At least they have to respect the extra option you have and yeah you're missing out on some damage but you're also not taking a full combo so it's an advantage in my eyes. And u334 is what you use when your opponent knows how to play and can react to your leg lift by standing up instead of remaining in crouch.

If the opponent knows you use u34 and u334 it really opens them up. They have to respect it which gives you more options.

 

[Robotic]

The thing about u3 is, when can it REALLY be used? Is it a better move than other options Sektor has at the moment you could use it?

This is all theory as I've yet to attempt this, but I feel u3 overhead might be of good use for d4 heavy opponents....just throwing that out there.

Also, the overhead should only be attempted on it's own - it's not worth the meter for a gamble that may not pay off and certainly not for a regular TU followup that cannot be hit confirmed; the risk is humongous. It's better to use it sparingly so your opponent knows blocking low against Sek can be punished too.

 

[Chaosphere]

The thing about u3 is, when can it REALLY be used? Is it a better move than other options Sektor has at the moment you could use it?

This is all theory as I've yet to attempt this, but I feel u3 overhead might be of good use for d4 heavy opponents....just throwing that out there.

Also, the overhead should only be attempted on it's own - it's not worth the meter for a gamble that may not pay off and certainly not for a regular TU followup that cannot be hit confirmed; the risk is humongous. It's better to use it sparingly so your opponent knows blocking low against Sek can be punished too.

Yeah. I just seem to run into 9 out of 10 people always blocking low against me so that's why I'm "forced" to use it so much.

 

[MK Peanuts]

Yeah. I just seem to run into 9 out of 10 people always blocking low against me so that's why I'm "forced" to use it so much.

Why not throw them?

 

[Robotic]

Why not throw them?

I do. And I love it

 

[PPJ]

it was a great option to use after pre-nerf blocked jump punch... now its more risky but still decent

another use of it is to use it sort of like a taunt fullscreen, then cancel to whatever. I wish it built meter though lol

 

[Chaosphere]

Why not throw them?

I do. Not every time though.

 

[ryublaze]

it was a great option to use after pre-nerf blocked jump punch... now its more risky but still decent

another use of it is to use it sort of like a taunt fullscreen, then cancel to whatever. I wish it built meter though lol

I've been thinking about this like to bait out a projectile. It feels like the teleport after U3, 4 is an instant air teleport since he is up in the air. I could be wrong but it always feels fast.

 

[ryublaze]

Oh yeah, and does anybody else just use B3 and not B3, 4 in their mixups? I think B3 is a great poke and you can just use it like D4.

 

[RomeoBravoDelta]

There is one unconventional use of u3 that no one has mentioned, at least not in this particular thread. It's not exactly useful in high-level play, but it's something to keep in mind nonetheless.

If you are fighting a particularly obstinate zoner, rather than firing missiles, you can bait a projectile with a leg lift. Once they fire, do the overhead into a TU.

 

[PPJ]

Oh yeah, and does anybody else just use B3 and not B3, 4 in their mixups? I think B3 is a great poke and you can just use it like D4.

b+3 is imo his best poke... some will say f+2 but tbh they both equally as good I guess

 

[Chaosphere]

u34 can beat out some low pokes too, but good luck timing that

 

[RomeoBravoDelta]

For what it's worth, you can cancel u3 with any special.

 

[cHAncEman1292]

There's a reason that Sektor's overhead requires a stance...he'd be a monster if it wasn't. That being said, his overhead is absolutely worth using just because everyone who knows Sektor expects him to lead in with his low string. Like people have mentioned its range is short and its recovery is bad. These can be fixed with a jump-in punch and a special-cancel respectively.

 

[AK L0rdoftheFLY]

I use u3 4 cancel into front missle...even if they counter a blocked u3 4 the front missile hits putting them in enough stun for me to apply pressure. If the overhead hits the missle does nothing but that's ok. I use u3 to cancel missles all the time. If they see u3 come out and I train them to block front missle or flame, then I can dash cancel it into pressure or the low starter.

Jip u3 3 front/up missle works too. The mix up potential is great if you don't want to commit to the big damage or waste a meter. After final round I'm switching all my energy to sektor...I think is he most under rated.