Kung Lao General Discussion thread

[superbn0va]

Kung lao could use some good mids or some safe strings that combo without spending meter

 

[Marlow]

Kung lao could use some good mids or some safe strings that combo without spending meter

Yeah everybody wants that for their character.

 

[LEGEND]

Kung lao could use some good mids or some safe strings that combo without spending meter

Yeah everybody wants that for their character.

I would say its a particularly big issue for Lao. He is completely incapable of doing anything without either Kameo or EX meter. No disjointed footsie tools. Shit projectiles.

 

[Marlow]

I would say its a particularly big issue for Lao. He is completely incapable of doing anything without either Kameo or EX meter. No disjointed footsie tools. Shit projectiles.

He's an extreme rushdown character. He's designed to try and live point blank to the other character. I don't think his projectiles or footsies were ever meant to be strong.

 

[LEGEND]

He's an extreme rushdown character. He's designed to try and live point blank to the other character. I don't think his projectiles or footsies were ever meant to be strong.

Rushdown with no ranged normal or respectable mid sure is a design choice of all time

 

[Marlow]

Why would he need a strong ranged normal when his gameplan is about getting in and being right next to the opponent? To me, the character is design is that when he's right next to the opponent, he's got the better tool kit. The caveat is that he has a harder time getting in. Most of his moves seem to support this, like his nice S2 and strings off of it.

If he were to get buffs, I'd rather see him either get a potential tool to help him get in (They could make Spin be this thing, since it's not really being used otherwise), or better damage/reward for when he does get in. Giving him a safe string that leads to a meterless combo just seems boring to me. It'd certainly be a buff, and who wouldn't want that for their character, but I don't think it aligns as well with the initial concept of the character in MK1.

 

[LEGEND]

Why would he need a strong ranged normal when his gameplan is about getting in and being right next to the opponent? To me, the character is design is that when he's right next to the opponent, he's got the better tool kit. The caveat is that he has a harder time getting in. Most of his moves seem to support this, like his nice S2 and strings off of it.

If he were to get buffs, I'd rather see him either get a potential tool to help him get in (They could make Spin be this thing, since it's not really being used otherwise), or better damage/reward for when he does get in. Giving him a safe string that leads to a meterless combo just seems boring to me. It'd certainly be a buff, and who wouldn't want that for their character, but I don't think it aligns as well with the initial concept of the character in MK1.

I think the more important part is the "good mids". You can't have a rushdown character that the opponent doesn't have to respect even when +3 and right in your face.

the second part "safe strings that combo without spending meter" would be nice since that is another weakness of Lao's. Its a weakness that a grip of other characters share, sure. But I don't think it makes sense for a rushdown character to be this way.

Edit: I think they really wanted a straight forward mixup character with Lao. But His F2 takes too many resources to make it safe or deal any kind of damage, and the other end is B4 which again requires resources in order to get any damage off of. To top it off he has B33 / B34. Again requiring resources to get any damage off of B33, and while difficult, It is technically Fuzz-able to a degree. So to me his design is kind of a failure. The buff suggestions would allow him to play the game, or they could fix his "intended design"

 

[Marlow]

Just wondering, what characters actually have safe strings that combo without spending meter? I feel like most of those strings usually start on a high, or a slower ranged mid like Havik's B22.

Why doesn't the opponent need to respect Lao when he's +3? His S2 is going to beat any mid or high they press, and if Lao reads a low like D1 he can block and punish with his own D1 which leads to a jailed string, or he can beat them with one of his own fast lows and again get a chance to jail and pressure. I'm legit asking by the way, this isn't me trying to be a dick, I just want to understand.

Also, is meter somehow hard to generate? I guess I don't see needing meter to launch as that big a deal, since it seems relatively easy to build.

 

[Marlow]

I think giving him a better close range mid, to enforce his 21 string, would make sense. Something relatively safe, but not plus, maybe in the -4 range. Maybe make his B2 have better hit advantage on it's own?

They could speed up his B3, but that string already leads to a safe 50/50, so it's already kind of strong.

Not sure what other move they could adjust.

 

[just_2swift]

Make spin a just frame launcher when it's cancelled at the right frame it would launch.

Gives us lao players to hang out hats on similar to MKXL orbital hat 44 2 frame link

 

[Marlow]

Would it be crazy if they made spin -6 on block (and kept it how it is currently, with it not launching)? That way he'd have a tool that could potentially get him in to the range where he wants to be, at the risk of the armor being broken or getting in but having to block a mix up.

 

[Marlow]

Also did I imagine it, or did they change it so that regular held spin can also move now, not just EX spin?

 

[LEGEND]

Just wondering, what characters actually have safe strings that combo without spending meter? I feel like most of those strings usually start on a high, or a slower ranged mid like Havik's B22.

Why doesn't the opponent need to respect Lao when he's +3? His S2 is going to beat any mid or high they press, and if Lao reads a low like D1 he can block and punish with his own D1 which leads to a jailed string, or he can beat them with one of his own fast lows and again get a chance to jail and pressure. I'm legit asking by the way, this isn't me trying to be a dick, I just want to understand.

Also, is meter somehow hard to generate? I guess I don't see needing meter to launch as that big a deal, since it seems relatively easy to build.

The main thing a good mid would do is get a punish on more of the low pokes that people mash after 21 is blocked. It also would discourage micro ducking. Your summary of his close game is correct. Its just not very good. I figure this gameplay would be stronger given he has no ranged normals / way to play footsies outside of D4. He should have an up close game that is better than something most characters can do.

Also did I imagine it, or did they change it so that regular held spin can also move now, not just EX spin?

regular spin can move its just very slow.

 

[Marlow]

Wouldn't D4 stuff most low pokes after 21? Or if they're mashing D1, just block and then it's a free D1 into pressure?

regular spin can move its just very slow.

They should speed it up. It would be a cool tool, without being braindead or over powered.

 

[LEGEND]

Wouldn't D4 stuff most low pokes after 21? Or if they're mashing D1, just block and then it's a free D1 into pressure?

yeah thats correct. But thats part of what i'm saying. He obviously has things to do. Its just not very good or unique in comparison to most of the cast. . . for a character that is missing other standard tools for some reason unknown.

Even his B33/B34 mixup is technically fuzzy-able. My buddy is fairly consistent at it. Feels very bad to have a low reward mix-up that isn't opening someone up