Analyze This Match: SonicFox vs. ArnKratos at NEC 2019

[CrimsonShadow]

Set 1:

Set 2:

These were fantastic sets, with a lot of back and forth. Let's discuss it as a community and outline:

• Adjustments that were made
• Things both players did well, or could have done better
• Takeways and lessons from the sets overall

What do you think?

 

[CrimsonShadow]

Some of my takeaways:

• ArnKratos was handily losing the midrange game at the start of the first set, being hit with several teleports and some of Kollector's longer-ranged normals while he was attempting to zone. He was also being decimated in the corner with command grabs and staggers. ArnKratos adjusted by starting to jump kick his way in frequently, thus not giving Sonic much time to set up and react in footsie range, and it paid off. He also started jumping out of the corner in anticipation of the grabs. Sonic eventually adjusted and started to bait this and anti-air him (including for a big damage A2A conversation into FB), but it wasn't enough.
• At the start of the second set Sonic's midscreen offense completely changed, and he began to go for lots of command grabs and throws rather than let ArnKratos sit there, block and take his turn. He also began trip guarding AK on the jump-ins, which cost AK bigtime, an then low-profiled another jump in into the throw Krushing Blow. Nearly all of ArnKratos' jump ins in that set whiffed due to Sonic's spacing, ducking, and minor adjustments. At the end of the first round in game 3, he again just sat and waited when he had AK cornered for him to jump out, and punished him for it.
• Sonic switched a lot of his tick-grabs, staggers, and blockstrings in the corner from Set 1 to walk-up throw in the second set, which seemed to catch ArnKratos off-guard repeatedly since he wasn't ready to tech. By the time AK caught onto it, Sonic switched up and threw him out of the corner to beat the tech.

 

[AREZ God of War]

Set 1:

Set 2:

These was a fantastic sets, with a lot of back and forth. Let's discuss it as a community and outline:

• Adjustments that were made
• Things both players did well, or could have done better
• Takeways and lessons from the sets overall

What do you think?

"these was a fantastic sets" lolol idk why this even that funny but I'm cracking up like an r-tard teehee

"last edited 19 minutes ago" hahaha
Dude Crimson, RYE DON RE JUSTA SHPEAKA ENGRISH???

 

[Arqwart]

• Sonic started calling out Arn's 11 stagger pressure with D1s
• Sonic started non-block ducking when Arn did a cross-over jump kick which made the kicks miss and allow for a full combo punish

I think the above two things alone made an enormous difference in the pace of the match. Sonic basically began to ignore / work around Arn's main pressure tools while simultaneously changing his offensive style (as mentioned by Crimson above).

 

[Darth Mao]

Great thread, we need more threads like these.

 

[CrimsonShadow]

Great thread, we need more threads like these.

Thanks Mao — I honestly wish we could get more engagement and replies, because discussing gameplay is one of my favorite things.