The Future Of Law Enforcement- A UMK11 Robocop Guide

[Malec]

The only reason I would replace Cobra Cannon with Wrist Rocket is if I'm against a character or player who will be spending a lot of time airborne. Wrist Rocket is much more consistent as an anti-air.

That said, I might try out Low Shot, Flamethrower, Air Charge. That way I'll keep the Cobra Cannon and still have an effective answer for those fuck-neutral characters.

Imo the best overall setup and I cant stress this one out enough, instant air charge is a game changer.

 

[Malec]

The only buffs I would give him is the range of his u3 and making f32 and/or f21 better on block, like -3 or -2

I have to quote myself on this one. One more buff I would love to see, is that Flamethrower would restand airborne opponents.

 

[CrazyFingers]

By the way, I'm curious: why everybody seems to prefer bf2 shoulder cannon insted of the default bf2? I'm just exploring the character, so idk.
They are both highs, and although shoulder cannon is faster and gives plus frames on block, the other rifle has literally fullscreen pushback if they block the first hit, which is no joke at all.

I found myself replacing shoulder cannon with other specials to have different gameplans (like caltrops or shield charge) because the regular bf2 seems to do the job.

The arm cannon is specifically there as a check for zoning. The massive damage and and hit advantage makes it super hard/essentially impossible (outside of a few choice exception) to effectively trade with. Its fast as hell too which is super important. Meanwhile cobra cannon is pretty slow, has poor recovery (where the arm cannon has a lot less, the amp having essentially no recovery at all) and is pretty ass on block in general. It has good pushback but most of the time i prefer the trade potential.

 

[CrazyFingers]

The guide is articulate and meticulous yet excessively optimistic. When Robocop was initially released, I anticipated that he was going to be a strong character, but when I fought against Cetrion, Geras, Jacqui, Liu Kang, and other top tier characters, I was struggling against competition equal to my skill level. The primary issue with Robocop is that when plan A, which involves zoning with the low auto, fails to work effectively because of projectile parries, reflects, or absorptions, plan B does not exist. Unless the zoning is broken, this type of "all zoning or nothing" character has never been good in fighting games.

The damage comparisons to characters like Jade and Joker are also misunderstood and invalid. Jade's b+3 string is superior to any string that Robocop has. She also has one of the best uppercuts in the game and functional reversal attacks. Because of custom moves, she now has access to arguably one of the best special moves in the game in Delia's Dance. Why do you think that Jade players stopped complaining all of a sudden? LOL.

As far as Joker is concerned, the comparisons to Robocop are flawed and uninformed. f+1 and f+2 are some of the best strings in the game. He can also cancel these strings into a safe special move. He has an amazing uppercut, a long-range d+4, a launching jab string, a cancel-able fatal blow, and a krushing blow on the forward throw from the cancel-able fatal blow. When you have a plethora of tools, you can afford to have low damage output. But because of custom moves, Joker does not even have low damage output. LOL. Kapow!

There is a reason that nobody is using or winning with this character. Sonic Fox tried and even they could not win, which is all you need to know about the current state of Robocop.

The biggest flaw with your analysis on Robocop is this idea that he's a purely zoning character. He is meant more to be playing at the midrange and just happens to have the zoning he has. He's not this all in sort of character, he requires a little more finesse than that. I also dont like the idea that "sonic isnt using the character so they must not be good" ive heard this god knows how many times over the years and 9/10 times and its usually said about characters they tried for a week then dropped. A week isnt even close to enough time to develop a character thoroughly, even for sonic. Especially when the character in question easily puts people into the trap of thinking he's supposed to only be zoning. The frustratiom with projectile parries is valid but utilizing low shot from ranges where you're not going to be able to react to it along with stuff like D4, B4 and Dash up F3/F2 mitigiate a lot of those issues. If youre committing to this "all or nothing, ride or die" zoning style yea, youre gonna get your ass kicked.

I cant really argue with Jade's power level cuz yea, the character is kinda wild now but as far as B3 being better than ANY string Robocop has is just needlessly negative which is a common them i've been finding when it comes to Robocop's strings. Jade's B3 isnt too dismilar so something like Robocop's F2 except it trades off the KB mind games for plus frames which is totally justifiable and comparable. The hitbox on F2 isnt as good but thats again, like ive been saying, where his dashes come into play. Ive noticed other robocop players just stare at his buttons in a vaccuum without taking into account the idea of dash canceling his normals.

Onto Joker, now im of the opinion that Robocop just straight up outneutrals this character and in general gives him a hard time but thats not the same as comparing their tools to eachother in the context of fighting the rest of the cast so i'll avoid any talk like that. F1 is a FANTASTIC button but you have to keep in mind that it is also highly negative on block. Its staggerable due to the spacing it provides but other than that it can be awkward in a lot of cases for him to move after the fact. I have stuffed options like buttons or backdash after it easily. Ive answered this kind of stuff with Robocop's supposedly stubby buttons a ton for reference on how easy it is when you have the read on them staggering. On to F2 while yes this button is crazy its honestly not as crazy as sometime like his S2 imo but BOTH of these buttons have the same issue which is they are highs. This genuinely matters in every situation you want to use them in because they become susceptible to low pokes and the like. Dont get me wrong they are batshit crazy strings that deserve to be talked about but theyre not as ironclad as you might think. In comparison to Robocop's strings who are shorter but are mids, paired with dashing, he plays the neutral just as well when you factor in hus D4 (which is highly comparable to Joker's, this isnt up for debate tbh) Also Robocop has TWO KB throws and decent pressure options but he's also not a rushdown character like Joker is so the design is going to be different.

There is this insistance that the character does nothing but zone and thats exactly why im not surprised he's looked at in such a poor light thats actually why i even made the guide in the first place because i wanted to give my perspective on the character.

Is he god tier top tier? No, he's like mid tier at best but im not going to trash the character in the guide. Im playing the character, i mentioned the weaknesses i just didnt put large emphasis on them because at the end of the day, purely focusing on the negatives will not improve my skill on the charactet and is needlessly self loathing tbh. This gameplan IS effective but if youre coming to this character looking for one thing when he isnt that thing, youre gonna be disappointed.

 

[CrazyFingers]

On a less debatey note, i want to thank you all for the kind words on the guide's thoroughness. Any disagreements on my tone aside, i aimed to be as thorough and detailed with this thing as i could in order to properly convey my playstyle and mindset behind the character so again, thank you for the lovely words and even the good spirited debates. Its all been an enjoyable experience.

 

[Hara-Killer]

any hint /tip to how beat the final "E" in char towers ??
is there any Jinsei/augment good ??

 

[CrazyFingers]

any hint /tip to how beat the final "E" in char towers ??
is there any Jinsei/augment good ??

Armor and Health regen consumables did it for me.

 

[SpaceyPirateUgh]

First of all, great guide and as always it is excellent to see passion around Robocop from everyone in this thread. I have a huge soft spot for Robo but am trying to get Mileena and stunt double johnny to work, plus I always find myself drifting back to the damn cowboy. However I agree completely that there is a 'there' there with Robocop for several reasons I'd love to hear anyone's take on.

There are some folks who simply cannot deal with him -- players, not characters. I think @RoboCop called him a 'scrub killer' and that's very accurate. If you don't know how to get in, you will lose to Robo.

Secondly, chip is a big deal with this guy and I think that's a critical part of his gameplan. Sure, opening up people is not easy but he can always send you away and you can eat 10% easily trying to get back.

I think there's more to the loadout discussion too. Obviously I'm running low9 and flamethrower for neutral/strike-throw/get-up prevention and all the normal reasons. But to be honest the OCP charge and the missile aren't even on my radar anymore. One, I love the way Cheval synergizes with the gameplan. If you go into a match-up assuming you are there to zone and chip them out, it's absolutely perfect as both an additional tool and some extra unpreventable damage on their way in. I like to think I've mastered errons acid and this is very similar and helps the keep out as well. This is also why I'm not big on the missile: cobra cannon works better with this plan since it sends them away on block.

Second, where's the love for the cmd grab? Against a teleporter, sure, but there's no better option for opening someone up than a mid grab. The only knock against it is it doesn't advance his throw KB game which is a great source of damage. However if you're in full robo stagger mode, this thing is terrifying and puts you in position to get a read on wakeup jump and earn a combo with the AA special which is major style points. It also easily corners them for flamethrower shenanigans. EDIT: wow, I just booted my robo up for the first time in a while and saw what the no-fun police did to the flamethrower/mid grab combo, incredible. well, I don't think you can ever go without the flamethrower so nice knowing you grab. There might be room for playing around with missile's +frames and the grab.

Anyway much love to all robos. Mine was purple but now that Rain is here I'm switching to green to summon Reptile.

 

[RoboCop]

Secondly, chip is a big deal with this guy and I think that's a critical part of his gameplan. Sure, opening up people is not easy but he can always send you away and you can eat 10% easily trying to get back.

I keep seeing this argument made and it drives me insane. No, RoboCop does not do more chip than your average character. He probably does substantially less overall. Here's the thing: RoboCop deals a decent amount of zoning chip. Once the opponent is in, it becomes their turn to chip him down. And you know what does more chip than spamming bf2? Eating safe staggers and mixups for 30 seconds while you try to get some breathing room with RoboCop's nonexistent defense. And don't forget that you may also be blocking your opponent's projectile after every blocked bf2, so even the zoning chip may equal out eventually.

 

[CrazyFingers]

I keep seeing this argument made and it drives me insane. No, RoboCop does not do more chip than your average character. He probably does substantially less overall. Here's the thing: RoboCop deals a decent amount of zoning chip. Once the opponent is in, it becomes their turn to chip him down. And you know what does more chip than spamming bf2? Eating safe staggers and mixups for 30 seconds while you try to get some breathing room with RoboCop's nonexistent defense. And don't forget that you may also be blocking your opponent's projectile after every blocked bf2, so even the zoning chip equals out eventually.

You keep talking about being stuck in stagger pressure for these ridiculous amounts of time. If youre eating more damage in chip via staggers than your opponent is in zoning, you need to man up and start pressing some damn buttons.

 

[RoboCop]

You keep talking about being stuck in stagger pressure for these ridiculous amounts of time. If youre eating more damage in chip via staggers than your opponent is in zoning, you need to man up and start pressing some damn buttons.

I mean, "30 seconds" is obviously hyperbole, but there are characters who can work around RoboCop's d1 and d3. D4 is a little more reliable for creating space but is also full-kombo punishable if you make a bad read. If you're up against a Kotal, Lao, Scarlet, Kabal, or any other character with massive hitboxes into massive damage it's not always smart to "man up and start pressing buttoms" unless I want to risk eating a 3rd of my health bar just to try to make my opponent back off.

All I'm saying is that the "chip" argument in favor of RoboCop isn't real. Someone thought about it for half a second, realized zoning deals chip, realized RoboCop is supposed to be a zoning character, so they added 2 + 2 and came to the incorrect conclusion that RoboCop is a chip machine. They failed to consider that opposing characters can also cause zoning chip while also causing substantially more rushdown chip than RoboCop could ever hope to dish out. No need for the personal attack.

 

[CrazyFingers]

I mean, "30 seconds" is obviously hyperbole, but there are characters who can work around RoboCop's d1 and d3. D4 is a little more reliable for creating space but is also full-kombo punishable if you make a bad read. If you're up against a Kotal, Lao, Scarlet, Kabal, or any other character with massive hitboxes into massive damage it's not always smart to "man up and start pressing buttoms" unless I want to risk eating a 3rd of my health bar just to try to make my opponent back off.

All I'm saying is that the "chip" argument in favor of RoboCop isn't real. Someone thought about it for half a second, realized zoning deals chip, realized RoboCop is supposed to be a zoning character, so they added 2 + 2 and came to the incorrect conclusion that RoboCop is a chip machine. They failed to consider that opposing characters can also cause zoning chip while also causing substantially more rushdown chip than RoboCop could ever hope to dish out. No need to the personal attack.

It wasnt really a personal attack its more just an observation. Robocop has really good buttons to get out of staggers with correct timing. I have busted guts constantly with F3 in the middle of stagger pressure. Pokes get whiff punished a lot its not just a robocop thing, thats how a lot of stagger pressure functions. Also, they can do their own zoning chip but he is consistently going to out chip them. In my experience most characters cant outzone him unless they have counter zoning tools to augment it (glow, teleports etc) so Robocop IS dealing more chip in general than most characters. Hell, chip numbers arent very high in this game anyway but Robocop has significant chip throughout a match.

This idea of "rushdown chip" is kinda just false outside of what, Joker maybe? Most characters arent really dealing that much chip in their pressure and anything that does deal that much chip in pressure usually ends the pressure or resets to neutral midscreen which is super ideal.

 

[SpaceyPirateUgh]

All I'm saying is that the "chip" argument in favor of RoboCop isn't real. Someone thought about it for half a second, realized zoning deals chip, realized RoboCop is supposed to be a zoning character, so they added 2 + 2 and came to the incorrect conclusion that RoboCop is a chip machine. They failed to consider that opposing characters can also cause zoning chip while also causing substantially more rushdown chip than RoboCop could ever hope to dish out. No need for the personal attack.

well, that's not how I came to the conclusion. I actually don't even consider the amount of chip you're receiving to be all that relevant. I was talking about how Robocop takes people from 1000 to 0, a good chunk of that is usually going to be chip if you're playing properly. Once they're in, the goal is to get them away again for the most part (unless it's stagger time), so they can keep eating chip.

 

[Pyrosis]

I could understand if @CrazyFingers has a mild degree of frustrations with your replies @RoboCop. You seem to have this defeatist mindset when it comes to playing the character where it seems like you're insistent that Robocop can do nothing in certain contexts in the fight and is just a free win for the opponent. Like he legit just can't play the game if a character out there in the currently nebulous meta that's higher on the tier list gets in on him.

It seems like every time someone says something positive about the character and the things he can do in the game you just meet it with disdain and more character pity

 

[RoboCop]

Phew, let's take these one at a time:

@CrazyFingers I'm not saying I don't do that stuff. But to say he has "really good buttons to get out of pressure" is along the same lines as Stephanie saying he does "bigly" damage; it's patently untrue. F3 is his only fast cancelable mid, at 10-frames, so sure, it can break out of pressure, but then what? You've got f32 which I can't remember the exact block disadvantage right now, but it's enough that it's the opponent's turn afterwards, even if you cancel into f3222 since they can always duck and punish or low poke. Sure, you can risk Flamethrow to make them respect the followup, but naked amped flamethrower is what, 12%? While risking an easy full-kombo punish from your opponent? No. Can you interrupt pressure with f3? Yes. Does that make it on the same level as the tools the rest of the cast has? Absolutely not.

@SpaceyPirateUgh I'm saying that's an argument that's been floating around but it falls apart the second you put any brainpower into thinking about it.

@Pyrosis You say RoboCop is good, here's why, and I say no he's not, here's why, and we talk about it. If anyone is getting frustrated, it's because they want to post incorrect info, are being called on it, and are not able to refute it without personal attacks. Great. Attack me and not the argument because anyone with eyes can see how utterly gimped this character is lol.

"You seem to have this defeatist mindset when it comes to playing the character where it seems like you're insistent that Robocop can do nothing in certain contexts in the fight and is just a free win for the opponent. Like he legit just can't play the game if a character out there in the currently nebulous meta that's higher on the tier list gets in on him." No need to incorrectly summarize my arguments when my entire thread history is right here for the reading. I don't even know how to respond to this because it doesn't apply to anything I've said.

I also keep seeing these arguments of "no, you can f3" or "no, he doesn't suck for this reason". But all these arguments exist in a void that doesn't consider the rest of the kast. RoboCop's up-close game is gimped because he's a hard zoner, and that's fine, that's a standard design decision. Only, he gets outzoned by characters with better rushdown lol. How can anyone defend that? There are characters who can low-profile his Low Shot and punish him who also are more of a close-range threat.

 

[Hellbringer]

I dont think robocop is that bad. @RoboCop When you say hes bad vs lao or kabal for example is because i play those characters much longer then you play robocop. That together with you not playing the character optimal and because im used to your playstyle you can't just say the character is useless.

 

[Pyrosis]

I disagree foremost that just because a character makes a top 8 that suddenly makes them good. If all it takes is for the character to make a top 8 to be considered a good character, then why is the character not considered good when you see @CrazyFingers beating recognizable names with Robocop? I also don't consider Robocop to be a "hard zoner" and playing him in that way is, in my opinion, playing the character wrong.

Lastly, I do want to have a discussion about a video game character on the forum. But you can see how just decrying everything everyone says about the character as just not effective at all and you're destined to lose with Robocop cause everything he has is ineffective isn't exactly a fruitful discussion?

And, for that reason, I'm out. -Mark Cuban

 

[RoboCop]

I dont think robocop is that bad. @RoboCop When you say hes bad vs lao or kabal for example is because i play those characters much longer then you play robocop. That together with you not playing the character optimal and because im used to your playstyle you can't just say the character is useless.

When was the last time we even played? A couple weeks after RoboCop dropped? I can assure you, I am not using the memories of our several-month-old matches to form my conclusions lol.

 

[SpaceyPirateUgh]

@SpaceyPirateUgh I'm saying that's an argument that's been floating around but it falls apart the second you put any brainpower into thinking about it.

@Pyrosis Maybe don't post on a video game forum if you don't want to have discussions about the video game? That's literally what this forum is for.

These statements back-to-back are sending me. Maybe let's take this to the general, this is a good guide for anyone trying out the character for themselves.

 

[Hellbringer]

When was the last time we even played? A couple weeks after RoboCop dropped? I can assure you, I am not using the memories of our several-month-old matches to form my conclusions lol.

I only recently started playing mk11 again and i did play against your robocop...

 

[M2Dave]

Onto Joker, now im of the opinion that Robocop just straight up outneutrals this character...

Robocop out-neutrals Joker? I am sorry, but are we playing the same game and the same version of the game? LOL.

 

[RoboCop]

I disagree foremost that just because a character makes a top 8 that suddenly makes them good. If all it takes is for the character to make a top 8 to be considered a good character, then why is the character not considered good when you see @CrazyFingers beating recognizable names with Robocop? I also don't consider Robocop to be a "hard zoner" and playing him in that way is, in my opinion, playing the character wrong.

Lastly, I do want to have a discussion about a video game character on the forum. But you can see how just decrying everything everyone says about the character as just not effective at all and you're destined to lose with Robocop cause everything he has is ineffective isn't exactly a fruitful discussion?

And, for that reason, I'm out. -Mark Cuban

And again, someone who wants to drop some "truth bombs" and then peace out before they can be pulled apart lol. No one ever said just because a character makes top 8 that they're good. But it's a pretty fucking good indication. Pro players can make mediocre characters look pretty good (I rememeber then a bottom-tier character won Soul Calibur 5 EVO), but you don't see almost any representation of bad characters near the end of majors.

"If all it takes is for the character to make a top 8 to be considered a good character" I think you've got that backwards there.

Are you referencing that video video he posted with Dink? That was not a normal set. I don't know what the occasion was, but it wasn't someone who knows how to fight RoboCop fighting RoboCop. Dink is a crazy player, and is miles better than me I imagine, and he couldn't punish Flamethrower lol. I don't know what was up, but that was not a demonstration of a normal RoboCop match.

I'm not "decrying", I'm disagreeing. I fact, I have straight-up asked, if RoboCop isn't bottom 3, what characters are worse than him? The only consistent response seems to be Shao Kahn. If this entire forum can't name 2 more characters worse than RoboCop out of the entire kast, then how is this even a debate?

 

[RoboCop]

I only recently started playing mk11 again and i did play against your robocop...

I have no recollection of that lol. It's been at least a few months since we've played. The only alternative I can think of is you played me when I was having a gout/arthritis flareup and was out of my mind on legal weed and painkillers.

 

[RoboCop]

These statements back-to-back are sending me. Maybe let's take this to the general, this is a good guide for anyone trying out the character for themselves.

Why are those "sending you" lol? I'm attacking the argument, not anyone who has made it. That is literally what you do when debating someone.

No need to take it to general. This is a thread about RoboCop and we're discussing RoboCop and the things mentioned in the thread.

 

[Hellbringer]

I'm not "decrying", I'm disagreeing. I fact, I have straight-up asked, if RoboCop isn't bottom 3, what characters are worse than him? The only consistent response seems to be Shao Kahn. If this entire forum can't name 2 more characters worse than RoboCop out of the entire kast, then how is this even a debate?

A character being bottom 2 in mk11 means nothing. (not that i say hes bottom 2). This game is very balanced. This is not mk9