Hey guys. So I've been DESPERATELY committed to trying to learn and main this character (huge Bruce Lee fan and have always wanted to main Kang but mained Kung Lao in 9 and X because he fit my playstyle more). Fact is I consider myself pretty good at a handful of other fighting games like Street Fighter, DBFZ, and Injustice but I've been getting bodied at this game hard on average and I have no idea why. I'm starting to think I just need to take Liu Kang into training mode more. I feel like every time I press buttons I get out footsied and all of my normals get stuffed. I just feel like I can't press buttons and when I am on the offensive I don't really know how to pressure with LK properly I think. I've been using Shaolin Stance cancels but opponents that are a bit more privy know there are gaps on the unsafe overhead and meter cancel.
So I've been trying to focus on bicycle kick and f3 string pressure. My biggest question and problem is knowing when on my end it is my turn with this character and when my pressure should end. After a bicycle kick on hit it leaves you at plus 3 so I'm thinking there should be good follow ups to when you hit a regular bicycle kick but I don't know what I should be following up with (I know crouching 3 and 4 reach, if you go for the 4,3 string again you have a chance to whiff and get punished as from what I can tell only the first hit lands reliably and the second can easily whiff, I don't think the 3,3,3,3 string connects, etc.)
Also his F4,3 string. I'm beginning to think this is just the way you play the character but I feel like this is his main tool in neutral and pressure tool. I've been going for a mix of repeat F43's, throw, his B34 low string if I feel like they're not gonna mash out a jab or something quick. Here's my thing. I'm not super knowledgable on the frame data yet so I guess the following are my general questions on LK:
What to do in neutral/footsies?
How to properly pressure? Frame traps?
What is his fastest/best whiff punish (there are things I know are I can punish but I don't think I'm trying to punish with something fast enough. Been trying to use 3,3,3,3, string because it gets him the most damage)? I guess really HOW to punish as Liu Kang.
Best ways to use Shaolin stance? (for that matter I kind of feel like his Luohuo Quan variation is miles better than his second one)
What to do after the following buttons/strings (like can I follow up with something to pressure specifically or does my pressure end and I should stop pressing buttons?):
-F4
-F43
-F43+U3
General followups after strings?
What are the practical applications/what's the purpose of the B124 string (I guess used for pressure since it's safe? But isn't 123 easier to get out and more reliable?) and 343 (I've heard 34 can be used a good anti air and I"ve seen Ninjakilla use 34 in corner combos)
Useage of LK's forward 2? Honestly seems like a useless button outside of combo extension although I suppose I answered my own question as it's quite good I think in that regard, just no much else.
General tips to not get bodied as Liu Kang? I got steamrolled hard by a Kabal last night who just had better buttons/normals to keep poking me at a range where I was struggling to get him. Lots of walking back and me trying to walk him down but I'm always just out of reach and he whiff punishes me. I'm getting a lot of that and I want to get better. Is there some secret to walkspeed/walking properly in this game that makes it particularly strong and how do I stay aware? I'm playing this game and am legitimately always afraid to press a button which honestly is weird for me since in other fighting games I'm usually accustomed to very fast and rushdown oriented play which is my preference. Whatever it is I'm getting bodied, not just losing but losing real bad sometimes and I don't know what I'm doing or not doing. Honestly just been surfing youtube and the internet trying to supplement my training mode practice. Played MKX and MK9 since their launches online and never had an experience like this where I've been so rough at a fighting game in general.
Atm I feel like I'm just struggling and struggling bad. Part of it is MK11 not clicking with me yet in terms of how I'm playng it and I feel part of it is me not being as knowledgable about my character as I should be.