I mean arbitrary or not it's just my opinion on where she stands. Never said she couldn't compete with those chars I just personally think that they are better. Dash punch being high (as it should be) actually means something in this game since D2 krushing blows are a thing, and yeah in conjunction with B2 its two good tools to help her in midrange along with her forward walk speed. Again, nobody has downplayed the strength of this character at all but people seem to think we are. The whole thread echoes all of the strengths she has that you listed especially her up close game that we're supposedly downplaying which revolves around staggers using her good frames and conditioning.Lol top 5 or top 10, so arbitrary. She is as good as the best characters currently. Stop it with the numbers.
She is the most beast character up close and is fun to play. Her crushes are very easy to set up. She has a safe on block dash attack that is very unique. It being a high is irrelevant when at higher levels you are jockeying for space so much. And she has a lunging string to threaten the same distance so people won't just neutral duck all the time.
She is extremely strong and it's ok. Just stop downplaying her up close dominance. She has several -2 staggers and excellent walk speed. Frame to frame none of the top tiers that you guys list have anything like hers. Her damage efficiency is above average as well and unlike Sonya up close she is very safe.
Again personal opinion but I think Sonya is better due to her offense revolving around a legit mix that you have to just guess. One option is punishable but the other is safe and pseudo hit confirmable. Add to that the best projectile in the game with onion rings and the turret drop zoning, great wavedash, damage, etc. Her presence everywhere on the screen means imo she gets her game off a bit easier than Jacqui. Which is exactly what I said about the chars I listed: they also have dirt and good stuff about them but either they control the match against a majority of the cast or their access to getting their dirt started is a bit easier. Just to reiterate my thoughts Jacqui: sheis a very good character who is more than viable and sits comfortably in the higher portion of the cast. Not trying to come off as if I feel otherwise.