I Dream Of Hats: Looking For Kung Lao Wisdom.

[Lt. Boxy Angelman]

So I had a dream last night I picked up Kung Lao and was dispensing Shaolin vengeance upon the world. And it felt gooooooood. Then I Dive Kicked Reptile into the crowd of Monks in the Courtyard and woke up.
Diversifying my roster has been a key to my learning as of late, so I now find myself quite curious about the Hat Man in his final, 1.05 state. I know he's still a killing machine, but I know next to nothing about using him strategically or the science that goes into his Hat Fu.
Talk to me 'bout Hats, friends. How does one properly ride the Lao Lightning?

 

[AK Toxic]

I like the part when you mentioned Reptile

 

[gdf]

Kung Lao is not the same as vanilla Kung Lao. He has tools to answer to everyone/thing, but now the when and where is different.

So if you find out how to play this new Lao, tell me,

 

[Lt. Boxy Angelman]

Kung Lao is not the same as vanilla Kung Lao. He has tools to answer to everyone/thing, but now the when and where is different.

So if you find out how to play this new Lao, tell me,

Thats kind of how I feel. I mean I've always known HOW to play him, but I havent touched him since even before his patchy undoing, so Im trying to get a feel back for him and how to keep him alive...strengths and weaknesses, what to milk for all its worth, what to avoid no matter how good an idea it may seem, etc.

 

[miloPKL]

watch [MENTION=8893]Crawlingshadow[/MENTION] on twitch tv and you will understand how to play kung lao. one of the best laos around for sure and he streams like every day.

 

[gdf]

I don't mean to be a jerk, but is he playing against people online or offline?

 

[miloPKL]

I don't mean to be a jerk, but is he playing against people online or offline?

online. however i dont believe "he plays online" is reason enough to disregard him altogether. you can get an idea from watching match ups, get an understanding of some laosy setups and what will combo and where, which bnb to use to punish your opppnent when they are using a certain character etc. thats just my opinion, take it or leave it because im not entering an online v offline argument in this thread.

i wanna throw a few ideas and things i use personally to you better players out there, can you guide or correct any of this info for me? perhaps you can point out the flaws?

Lately ive been trying to make better use of KL pressure. when im in the enemies face ive been practicing normal strings instead of bnb or high damage setups. heres some options for mix up ive found coming from the basic 11.*

2 is active on the 7th frame, very fast poke and combo starter. 21 is +7 on hit.
11~ is +9 on hit and 0 on block.*
112 is +7 on hit and 0 on block.
d+4 is +12 on hit and 0 on block
b+33(3) is your fastest low combo starter. b+33 is +8 on hit and can finish up with another 3 for distancing the opponent or spin for a combo setup, or a tricky hat for a low high low combo.

11 is great for lao rush and option select. you can use it a lot for mix up. when the opponent is conditioned to 11, you can use 112 and catch them off guard. mixing between 11, 112, b+33(3), 21 (212), 24-1+3 plum flower and so on.*


11~ throw
11~ 112>spin
11~ 1121~ d4>lowhat
11~ 1211~ d4~ f2 (overhead)
11~ b33>spin
11~ b33>hat
11~ 21>spin
11~ 21212>overhead/lowhat (50/50)

of course you can start with 21 or 24 or whatever to keep them guessing. im just giving some examples here.

you can mix a 24 hi lo combo starter nearly anywhere in the strings as well. but 24 is only +4 on hit so make the best of it when you can.*

24 plum flower
24 iron boom
24 spin

so without going super deep into it, this is what im trying lately. any suggestions or corrections? am i on the money or nowhere near? thanks for your help

 

[gdf]

I'm not bashing online, it's just stuff like teleport+3, and 2,4,low hat are better online than offline. So I don't play as an online Kung Lao at all. Because I want to make sure that everything I use, I can use in a tournament while retaining the same properties.

I like all of your mix-ups, but to be honest I can't say that I'm a better player. If what you do works, then you are good. If it doesn't, it doesn't.

Nothing speaks more than results. But it really is a nice list, I intend on incorporating a lot of that into my game. Thanks for the effort you put into that.

 

[A F0xy Grampa]

2 4 overhead
F2
Rolls
Divekicks
Anti airs
1121 mindgames (finished string on block, none of this 11-throw stuff)

Pretty much all you need besides his Bnb

 

[BenGmanUk]

I was looking forward to seeing PLs new KL tech, then he used Raiden. I am disappoint.

Sent from my HTC Desire S using Tapatalk

 

[Big Pampering]

I was looking forward to seeing PLs new KL tech, then he used Raiden. I am disappoint.

Sent from my HTC Desire S using Tapatalk

he used lao three matches, in case you didnt know. Btw I understand the reason why roll is good, but what to do if it gets blocked, low hat is obvious noy an option anymore.

 

[BenGmanUk]

he used lao three matches, in case you didnt know. Btw I understand the reason why roll is good, but what to do if it gets blocked, low hat is obvious noy an option anymore.

Yeah I saw two of them I think, though didn't see anything new.

From roll you can teleport~3, throw, 24/112/21, cross over etc. You have to make them respect the roll~low hat option first though. Blocked roll is only -4 so still safe.

 

[miloPKL]

agree with ben G, you gotta condition them so they respect the roll. lo hat combos from the roll. the mixup for the enemy becomes "lo block or not lo block?"

OneBoxyRobot how did you get on with your kung lao?

 

[Lt. Boxy Angelman]

Considering putting the Hat back on. I have a question.

How important is 21212?
Because I friggin' hate it on pad. But it's the only qualm standing between me and my Hat.
21212 not being absolutely necessary = Boxy plays Kung Lao.

 

[SunnyD]

Considering putting the Hat back on. I have a question.

How important is 21212?
Because I friggin' hate it on pad. But it's the only qualm standing between me and my Hat.
21212 not being absolutely necessary = Boxy plays Kung Lao.

Its alright if you know the opponent is going to block your next hit. 212121 builds about 65% of a bar mof meter on block, but 1121 build 35%. 1121 is much easier to hit confirm, you never have to worry about pressing the buttons quickly, i prefer it to 212121 just because it's easier to execute. But 212121 is a great tool if you read your opponent well. Alot of people block after a tele, You can insta 3 into 212121, which builds like 75% meter.

You should only use it if you are premeditated to use it, if you try to do it on the fly you're not going to be able to do it fast enough and eat a combo.

 

[STB Sgt Reed]

So, I always notice people saying go from tele 3 into a combo... but seems like they have time after tele 3 to hit me before I can go into 112 ... do you have to delay the 3 or what?

 

[miloPKL]

21212 is absolutely necessary. its a huge part of his game. it gains massive meter. it leads to a high/low mixup (overhead or lo hat). it comes out in just 7 frames, interrupting many of your opponents advances. its essential for corner pressure, botching some opponent wakeups and putting them into a guess for corner pressure.

 

[miloPKL]

So, I always notice people saying go from tele 3 into a combo... but seems like they have time after tele 3 to hit me before I can go into 112 ... do you have to delay the 3 or what?

yes. wait a little before the 3. the risk is being intercepted. but it leads to very good combos.

 

[Tokiwartoothxdk]

So, I always notice people saying go from tele 3 into a combo... but seems like they have time after tele 3 to hit me before I can go into 112 ... do you have to delay the 3 or what?

you have to used a slight delayed 3 for combos, as instant 3 is for more of a pressure thing than anything

 

[Lt. Boxy Angelman]

Hmm. I'll have to whip my fingers into shape to get it down, then. Just in case.

 

[GNG Iniquity]

Hmm. I'll have to whip my fingers into shape to get it down, then. Just in case.

I use my thumb and slide 21212 took me about 20 minutes to get it down, but it's easy to execute now! Very practical on pad. Others like to rotate the controller and do 21212 with their index and middle finger but I don't like releasing block in the process.

 

[Lt. Boxy Angelman]

Officially picked back up my Hat.
21212's and EX Hat Trick problems are a thing of the past.
Got his big shit down, got his little shit down, Rolls, F2s, 24 Throw, never Low Hat in close proximity, etc.
Now it's time to move on from BnB's to survival and matchup prowess.

The first immediate pain in my ass: Raiden. Gotta figure out optimal punishes for that damned Thunder God.

 

[Hellion_96]

Officially picked back up my Hat.
21212's and EX Hat Trick problems are a thing of the past.
Got his big shit down, got his little shit down, Rolls, F2s, 24 Throw, never Low Hat in close proximity, etc.
Now it's time to move on from BnB's to survival and matchup prowess.

The first immediate pain in my ass: Raiden. Gotta figure out optimal punishes for that damned Thunder God.

Just lame raiden out. His big hitbox hinders him in the matchup and you can punish tele with spin on reaction even tho its risky. KL is too mobile and fast for raiden.

 

[Lt. Boxy Angelman]

Just lame raiden out. His big hitbox hinders him in the matchup and you can punish tele with spin on reaction even tho its risky. KL is too mobile and fast for raiden.

Out lame the Lame God. I like it. Gracias, my friend .

The satisfaction of finally being able to execute with someone I previously cound't make work for beans is glorious.

 

[gdf]

A little note, Pig Of The Hut discovered that after Raiden's kick string (3,3,4). If you block the first two kicks, you can spin the last kick.

I'm pretty sure...