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Dealing With Superman

TakeAChance

TYM White Knight
Hey guys, I have been practicing some matchups for tournament play and thought I would bring forth these helpful tips for dealing with Superman. Now, some of these may be debated/debunked and I encourage you to do so. The more knowledge we gain, the less of a threat this perceived monster will be.


Dealing With Superman


The Lasers
Oh god the horrible horrible lasers. First thing is first. Patience is key. Scouting and reads is essential.

Full screen you can jump the laser. I recommend you do so when superman jumps. He has nothing in his arsenal to punish you full screen when he leaves his feet. This allows you to get one step closer to him.

Midscreen.

This is where you have to be patient. Jumping is no longer an option here. As soon as you see him leave his feet, Dash. Block the incoming laser, and dash again. You will now be in his face. If your character has a slower/longer dash, you will have to wait until you block the laser.

When you get somewhat close to him and you see him jump straight up, you can double dash UNDERNEATH him, and get a full combo AA punish on his way down. Just something to keep in mind.

If he starts mixing them with ground eye blasts, you can duck/jump accordingly. They are much easier to deal with then air lasers.

Meter Burned Lasers

Never duck when blocking supermans lasers. There is no need to. If he meter burns it in the air, you still get a free dash afterwards. Most will do this when you are getting too close to utilize the push back it causes.


The Frametrap.

Dealing with f23~breathe seems to be a general complaint among many who play against Superman. If superman is getting too liberal with his f23~breathe loops, you CAN backdash the next f23 after a breathe. If you have a 6f jab with a little bit of reach, he cannot do another f23. Go to the lab and practice to see if you can interupt his next string. Other than f23 Superman doesn't have a whole lot of threats from that range that you can't beat out with your faster normals.

Characters That Can Backdash F23~Breathe Loops
Black Adam
Catwoman



Characters That CANNOT backdash F23~Breathe Loops
Ares
Deathstroke
Doomsday
Green Lantern
Grundy
Lex
Raven
Sinestro


Superman's "MIXUPS"

Superman's 112(oh) string mixed up with 11~low throw and 223 string mixed with 22~low throw give a lot of people problems. It is a 50/50, however it is NOT a safe 50/50. Anytime Superman Scoops, you MUST punish him. It's VERY VERY negative. Once superman gets punished a couple times for trying to scoop you, he will be more apt to finish his string, which still leaves him at -10. Use this to your advantage.

Supermans 223 string will leave him at -3 if he finishes the string. This is the string he will most likely doll out to try and 50/50 you. The same scenario applies as above. Punish the low, start your pressure after the overhead. You wont get a combo punish off this string unless he scoops, but you will get a chance to turn the tables around.


Supermans specials for the most part are all insanely negative. Some of them are harder than others to punish but everyone should be punishing his superman punch, his low scoop, his ground lasers and his air dive everytime you block it. Doing so will make superman consider his options.

Backdashing out of F23~breathe loops midscreen will break up his offense. Not respecting his crossup j2 will force him to go on the defensive everytime he lands it and in general, prevent him from running all over you.

PUSHBLOCKING

If you have a life lead, and superman is going ham on you. You can keep him out safely by just utilizing your push block. No mixups, no damage, just a bar and you get the 50/50 safely off of you. Use this when you need it whether you are trying to time him out, or just keep a life lead.

More tips to come as I find them.

If anyone has anymore things to add please do so and I hope this helps at least one person out there deal with the man of steel.
 

JaredL

Aww shit <REDACTED DUE TO FEELINGS> its Shapzam
Most of the trouble I have is when he starts doing those horribly pesky ground 12% hitting lasers with fat ass chip damage. I try to duck it but I sometimes get caught on the dash and it really hurts.
 

TakeAChance

TYM White Knight
Most of the trouble I have is when he starts doing those horribly pesky ground 12% hitting lasers with fat ass chip damage. I try to duck it but I sometimes get caught on the dash and it really hurts.
It happens to us all. That's where the patience part comes in. It has a sort of long startup animation. You can jump on reaction once you get used to them.
 

JaredL

Aww shit <REDACTED DUE TO FEELINGS> its Shapzam
Same thing applies. But yes you are correct. 112 has the faster startup, but the 1 is a true high so most use 223. I will add that into the above.
I don't know any supermen who use 112 as a mix up honestly.

112 ends with a knockdown.
11 scoop goes full combo.

22 scoop goes full combo.
223 goes full combo.

223 also hits mid. I'd just use 223.
 

TakeAChance

TYM White Knight
I don't know any supermen who use 112 as a mix up honestly.

112 ends with a knockdown.
11 scoop goes full combo.

22 scoop goes full combo.
223 goes full combo.

223 also hits mid. I'd just use 223.
Already been adjusted. Thanks!
 

JaredL

Aww shit <REDACTED DUE TO FEELINGS> its Shapzam
Sadly the 223 is not -10, its -3. That thing is saaaafe.

But yeah, punishing the 22 scoop is necessary.
 

TakeAChance

TYM White Knight
Sadly the 223 is not -10, its -3. That thing is saaaafe.

But yeah, punishing the 22 scoop is necessary.
Yep, but at 10frames, you can make it very hard for him to land it. As noted above, his j2 is -8 unless he basically hits you on the floor with it.
 

4x4lo8o

Warrior
The Frametrap.

Dealing with f23~breathe seems to be a general complaint among many who play against Superman. If superman is getting too libereal with his f23~breathe loops, you CAN backdash the next f23 after a breathe. Every character in the game can do this. If you have a 6f jab with a little bit of reach, he cannot do another f23. Go to the lab and practice to see if you can interupt his next string. Other than f23 Superman doesn't have a whole lot of threats from that range that you can't beat out with your faster normals.
Can you please show me how to do this with Ares?
As far as I can tell you get blown up for back dashing after breathe. If he follows up with f23 he hits you during the recovery frames of your dash.

The hit box on f23 blows up Ares 6 frame d1. I've also never successfully been able to MB a b3 between breathe and f23, I'm not sure if that's supposed to be possible or not but it's another thing I've heard people suggest but haven't ever been able to successfully pull off.

Pushblock seems to be Ares only option against f23~breath loops. Sometime I actually let the breathe hit me on purpose and pray he doesn't MB just so I get knocked fullscreen



Great thread though. I was literally just getting on TYM to ask why one like it didn't exist yet
 

JaredL

Aww shit <REDACTED DUE TO FEELINGS> its Shapzam
I feel a lot of this can be fixed without doing much damage by simply making his breath -3 or something.
 

TakeAChance

TYM White Knight
Can you please show me how to do this with Ares?
As far as I can tell you get blown up for back dashing after breathe. If he follows up with f23 he hits you during the recovery frames of your dash.

The hit box on f23 blows up Ares 6 frame d1. I've also never successfully been able to MB a b3 between breathe and f23, I'm not sure if that's supposed to be possible or not but it's another thing I've heard people suggest but haven't ever been able to successfully pull off.

Pushblock seems to be Ares only option against f23~breath loops. Sometime I actually let the breathe hit me on purpose and pray he doesn't MB just so I get knocked fullscreen



Great thread though. I was literally just getting on TYM to ask why one like it didn't exist yet
I have not tested with aries, but some character's back dashes are better than others. If Ares is too slow then that may not be a solution for him :s. Can someone verify?
 

LaR

Apprentice
Yea Ares cant backdash the f23 frametrap he can sometimes d1 but it tends to wiff alot if you dont time it right and even if you do get the timing right he can scout you're d1 and wiff punish it.
 

JaredL

Aww shit <REDACTED DUE TO FEELINGS> its Shapzam
I have not tested with aries, but some character's back dashes are better than others. If Ares is to slow then that may not be a solution for him :s. Can someone verify?
Man, black adam spoiled me with his back dash.

I play anyone not him, and backdash and I feel like "aww man that sucks"

I tested it somewhat and it did seem to be the case most of the time. Though, there was odd times when he could escape. Maybe it depends on how he is hit?
 

TakeAChance

TYM White Knight
Yea Ares cant backdash the f23 frametrap he can sometimes d1 but it tends to wiff alot if you dont time it right and even if you do get the timing right he can scout you're d1 and wiff punish it.
So push blocking may be his best viable option. How does ares do full screen against supes?
 

JaredL

Aww shit <REDACTED DUE TO FEELINGS> its Shapzam
He can't do much, all he has is his a high frieball to keep him out. Its by far his worst match up along with cyborg which both seem like a 9-1 match-ups to me.
Now now, it takes just a simple D1 for Ares to launch into his combos and potential resets.

And if he decides to zone you out you can teleport. Hes not devoid of options
 

4x4lo8o

Warrior
Yea Ares cant backdash the f23 frametrap he can sometimes d1 but it tends to wiff alot if you dont time it right and even if you do get the timing right he can scout you're d1 and wiff punish it.
Do you have any idea what exactly causes the d1 to hit or not? I can't get anything to happen in practice mode consistently. I think it's because I suck doing the f23~breathe loop tight enough.

I'm not sure either way, but I suspect either if d1 hits it's because the Superman messed up his timing somehow or that if Superman starts his f23 on the first frame possible after breathe and Ares does his d1 on the first frame possible that f2 wins and Ares has to delay his d1 by a frame or something. In any case, it's really frustrating for the Ares player. Hopefully there's just a trick I haven't figured out yet and it'll come as I continue to grind out the match up
 
D

Deleted member 5032

Guest
Everytime I try to backdash Superman, his fucking advancing punches catch me and I eat some ridiculous combo. Deathstroke's backdash isn't fantastic, though.
 

TakeAChance

TYM White Knight
Everytime I try to backdash Superman, his fucking advancing punches catch me and I eat some ridiculous combo. Deathstroke's backdash isn't fantastic, though.
I think we should compile a list of characters that can and cannot backdash it. I will add it to the original thread.

If anyone is bored and wants to test a few characters please do!
 

4x4lo8o

Warrior
I tested it somewhat and it did seem to be the case most of the time. Though, there was odd times when he could escape. Maybe it depends on how he is hit?
I presume it's because the f23 follow up was off slightly. Either way it doesn't matter too much. The best Ares gets by dashing is blocking the f23 and getting stuck in the loop again. No fun.

So push blocking may be his best viable option. How does ares do full screen against supes?
Not good. It's hard, Ares zoning tools just aren't good against Superman. The fireball has a really long recovery on whiff, and Superman can jump and punish really easily. Axe is slow and disappears if you get hit. Sword is good, but you only get one every 6 or 7 seconds and using it removes your combo potential.

Now now, it takes just a simple D1 for Ares to launch into his combos and potential resets.

And if he decides to zone you out you can teleport. Hes not devoid of options
But as discussed d1 just doesn't work well against Superman. So many of his moves have that floaty hitbox property that makes it whiff.

And teleport doesn't help that much. You can't use it on reaction - it's too slow and gets hit, you can't use on a block laser - it's too slow and gets punished, and you can use it on a read but that's just a guessing game and if Superman guess right it's painful.