Flawless Blocking Reaction

[Dreamcatcher]

So we are now a couple months into this game and I gotta ask... does someone have a way to take advantage of this every time they can? I'm watching match videos all the time trying to absorb new tech like a sponge. Case in point, I've watched sets between Gunshow, Raptor, Biohazard, etc. and they just make it look effortless. I wouldn't go as far to say that they've "planned" every single one, just knew how to react when they actually did get the flawless alert. So my real question is this: Does someone have a method to make sure they are consistent with the input RIGHT when it happens?

I had an idea to lab it with the sound up a bit and not watch the screen, so that way your senses are filtered to focus on hearing the unique sound of the flawless block. That way when you hear the sound in game, you immediately do the input. Other than that I have no real suggestion other than just playing and playing and playing. Bearing in mind any gaps, but also countering jumpkicks and anything else.

Recently I spent a lot of time labbing flawless block on wakeup attacks and could do it very consistently... but when I play live online then all of a sudden I make one wrong read, someone rolls or jumps straight up, and I'm dead. Lol

By labbing different characters I did see some weird differences too. I already knew the cast didn't all react the same with their wakeup attacks, for example Cassie moves backward a chunk on her launcher... so any good ideas for finisher if you were to flawless block with that? (or any of your mains?)

Help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Professor Oak]

Id love to play some games where we just focus on this. There is a strat hard to lab in practice mode where you do a safe but negative string, anticipate the counter poke, and block on that frame. Slayer does it well with Kabal.

 

[Ram]

Here's a video that may help by our very own @Evil Canadian

 

[Dreamcatcher]

Id love to play some games where we just focus on this. There is a strat hard to lab in practice mode where you do a safe but negative string, anticipate the counter poke, and block on that frame. Slayer does it well with Kabal.

Yeah I feel like it's hard to truly lab everything you want without another player, which kinda sucks but oh well.

What I was really wondering about the pros was how they got to that level of reaction timing when they just happened to get the flawless block, they immediately know to do the input. In the middle of some random exchange, unplanned. I guess it might really just be playing a ton to get used to it in that case.

 

[Ram]

I don't think players who do it consistently are reacting to the flawless block, I think they plan for it. Kind of like anti-airing or teching throws: both are easier to do when you are expecting/thinking about them, rather than just trying to react to them.

 

[Dreamcatcher]

I don't think players who do it consistently are reacting to the flawless block, I think they plan for it. Kind of like anti-airing or teching throws: both are easier to do when you are expecting/thinking about them, rather than just trying to react to them.

That's true. I guess I need to really dig into frames and rethink everything I'm doing in between turns. Thanks for the video by the way, it was helpful. @Evil Canadian

 

[Hellbringer]

Its making a read, for example if u read they gonna wakeup with u2 or u3 u can flawless block, its abit tricky cause everyone has different wakeupp attacks and some have multiple hits
Same as when u read they gonna poke after u did a string that ends your turn. With kung lao for example after his f4 wich is -3 or something, alof of ppl poke because its minus but not by much so they dont wanna give lao a free d3, so flawless blocking after f4 is a pretty good option to counter pokes (or fast mids).

 

[Professor Oak]

Yeah, whats been said, they arent reacting. Its planned.

 

[Error404]

You have to make a read in order to flawless block and have the exact timing. You will never get it on reaction IMO

 

[YoungTeezy 305]

I was thinking about this same thing today.

I was playing a set with Regal Vixen (ranked #43 on XBL), and I noticed that I was getting a flawless block on a certain string and cancel he was doing with Kitana's second variation.

I decided to react to the sound the next time it happened with an up2 and I got. Check it out:

 

[YoungTeezy 305]

Now that I think about it, I'm guessing that I would let go of block and then block again as a reaction to Kitana's amp cancel which would cause the flawless block. It was happening a lot during the set.

 

[LawAbidingCitizen]

Yeah I feel like it's hard to truly lab everything you want without another player, which kinda sucks but oh well.

What I was really wondering about the pros was how they got to that level of reaction timing when they just happened to get the flawless block, they immediately know to do the input. In the middle of some random exchange, unplanned. I guess it might really just be playing a ton to get used to it in that case.

You can button map to RB and its much easier than triggers. But I use triggers and get it fairly consistent. Knowing that -5 moves will get you free FB and getting that timing down in practice is needed. But you have to practice it live vs good players. On Kombat league no one ever flawless blocks my gaps so I never have to condition them and same for above. Better practice with better players usually equals more FB reversals.

 

[NaughtySenpai]

You can option select the flawless block so that you don't jump but rather either get the s2 or s3 if you mess it up.
You just hit 2 or 3 first and then up every time you think you might get the flawless block, instead of hitting up first or button and direction at the same time.

So yeah basically you just do it, you don't react to the flawless block.

 

[Dreamcatcher]

You can button map to RB and its much easier than triggers. But I use triggers and get it fairly consistent. Knowing that -5 moves will get you free FB and getting that timing down in practice is needed. But you have to practice it live vs good players. On Kombat league no one ever flawless blocks my gaps so I never have to condition them and same for above. Better practice with better players usually equals more FB reversals.

Yeah I took @Juggs advice and tried to switch block a while back. My hands rejected it, no matter what I did I couldn't retrain the muscle memory.

Looks like it's all labbing and knowing the frames.

 

[Juggs]

With flawless block, they don’t do u3/u2 on reaction. Pretty sure there’s an option select to it. Also, it’s more of “I’m gonna try to flawless block” so if it lands you’re ready to u2/u3. I need to use FB more for sure, I usually only try to do it on long range stuff.

 

[Dreamcatcher]

You can option select the flawless block so that you don't jump but rather either get the s2 or s3 if you mess it up.
You just hit 2 or 3 first and then up every time you think you might get the flawless block, instead of hitting up first or button and direction at the same time.

So yeah basically you just do it, you don't react to the flawless block.

Wow I had no idea. Thank you, I will definitely do this.

 

[Invincible Salads]

flawless block d1 and counter with u3 on reaction >:V

 

[Hellbringer]

Created this video a while ago something i use to bait wakeup attacks to do swag flawless block

 

[Matix218]

When i see people consistently flawless block punishing strings with gaps I'm like "wow, that is sick skill/timing/knowledge!". When I see someone flawless block punish a raw move I just shake my head and smile because that is just about the craziest combination of read/spacing/knowledge/exectution this game has to offer. I believe flawless block is going to be a mechanic that separates the great players from the good players in the long run for mk11

 

[NaughtySenpai]

Still think flawless block launchers are pretty situational.
They cost too much meter and if you get caught with your defensive bar pants down after a subpar combo from it, it can cost you the game.

I like the moves that you can flawless block and then 11 or 12 punish into full combos though. Those are tight.

 

[Invincible Salads]

When i see people consistently flawless block punishing strings with gaps I'm like "wow, that is sick skill/timing/knowledge!". When I see someone flawless block punish a raw move I just shake my head and smile because that is just about the craziest combination of read/spacing/knowledge/exectution this game has to offer. I believe flawless block is going to be a mechanic that separates the great players from the good players in the long run for mk11

if somone is regularly flawless blocking me in the neutral and punishing with u2, i don't want to play that person >.>

 

[Dreamcatcher]

Created this video a while ago something i use to bait wakeup attacks to do swag flawless block

This is smart, thank you.

 

[Based Pr0digy]

Flawless block u2'ing a D1 is od

 

[DoDaMuSiC]

With flawless block, they don’t do u3/u2 on reaction. Pretty sure there’s an option select to it. Also, it’s more of “I’m gonna try to flawless block” so if it lands you’re ready to u2/u3. I need to use FB more for sure, I usually only try to do it on long range stuff.

Thats exactly what i do, when i know they are doing a string with a gap that can be fb, i always try to do it and always press u2, if i hit, i hit it, and if i dont i just keep blocking

 

[DoDaMuSiC]

When i see people consistently flawless block punishing strings with gaps I'm like "wow, that is sick skill/timing/knowledge!". When I see someone flawless block punish a raw move I just shake my head and smile because that is just about the craziest combination of read/spacing/knowledge/exectution this game has to offer. I believe flawless block is going to be a mechanic that separates the great players from the good players in the long run for mk11

One day i was playing against frost, and both rounds the guy started with that advancing dive attack, and in both rounds i fb it.
That was the craziest shit i ever did in a mk game lmao