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Your move is blocked. You're at a huge disadvantage. Why mash?

Should you mash after being at a huge disadvantage?

  • Yes

    Votes: 49 62.0%
  • No

    Votes: 30 38.0%

  • Total voters
    79

DarksydeDash

You know me as RisingShieldBro online.
I don't do it but here is my reasons why others might:
-You can chip your opponent out. (Ex: Flash's LC or MMH's TU)
-You want to test your opponent's knowledge of frame date
-You want to give up
-You want to troll
-Your hitbox becomes near impossible to hit (Ex: WW sweep)
-High risk, high reward
-Abusing online lag
-You have ways to keep yourself safe (Ex: Sinestro, Batman, Aquaman, and Zod traits.)
-You DGAF
-New to the game
-Abusing unfamiliarity of matchup knowledge
-Unsafe move has good enough pushback (Zod's Phantom strike, Superman's flying punch, MMH's TS)
-Trying to obtain a free clash
- mind games
-Your opponent is scared to push a button
- Read on dashing
-Irrelevant frame data (Martian's downward teleport, Zatanna's divekick)
-Move has invincible startup
-Move has faster frames than opponent's
-Opponent has been throwing you
-You just want that health bar gone
 

Axel_Redd

Vampire Jesus....he wants YOUR blood now!!
To be fair Injustice isn't the best example because you have zero escape/reversal options when you are standing with considerable frame disadvantage. You just have to guess high/low, you can't backdash and you can't mash reversal because only wake up attacks have invincibility.

So I guess some Injustice players don't really understand the concept of having actual counter options lol. It's only guess block or pushblock pretty much. And the option to mash buttons doesn't come up as much because of the poor mobility (walk speeds and dashes are horrible pressure options).

If reversals had invincibility and if jab, jab, walk up/dash, throw or frame trap was a legitimate strat in Injustice then players would understand the value and importance of mashing despite being in negative frames.
isnt mashing anything in fighting games bad? your example doesnt really illustrate how mashing something in negative frames is a good idea?
 
isnt mashing anything in fighting games bad? your example doesnt really illustrate how mashing something in negative frames is a good idea?
It's only bad if you're being predictable with it. But this goes for everything, not just mashing.

An example of "dumb thing that works" that often comes up is people who wake up with crouching medium kick in SF instead of blocking or doing a wake up attack. You always hear Mike Ross complaining about it. Why would they do this? Surely any smart player would know that wake up cr.mk would lose to any meaty button you press or a meaty throw. So why wouldn't they block, tech or reversal instead? The reasoning for this example is that wake up cr.mk hits low. So if you are trying to bait a DP or make their throw attempt whiff, you will be walking backwards outside of their range. But if you are walking back that means you aren't blocking low. That's why cr.mk works in these situations. Even if it's the "dumbest" possible thing to do when you are waking up, it will work if they are trying to bait a throw or DP.

That's just an example of something dumb that can become the smartest of reads.

For mashing buttons, the reasoning is that in certain fighting games, you sometimes want to take advantage of your +frames to take a step forward and go for a throw or frame trap. This leaves a gap that allows your opponent to hit you first or trade. So if they often go for the cr.mp, walk up, cr.mp/throw mixup, you could eventually start mashing or reversal to avoid or punish their mixup attempt. Otherwise you'll always be sitting there guessing and taking all the pressure forever.

If you mash buttons/DPs here and there, then they might get more hesitant to frame trap you next time. Which increases the chances of being baited but also opens a window for you to reverse the pressure. e.g. Next time they won't press buttons and will just block to bait your DP. And you, instead of blocking or mashing DP like they expect you to, could decide to just walk up to them and get a free throw. Again, they'll think you're stupid because walking forward when you are -3 isn't very "smart". But it will still work against the best players.

Of course sometimes you'll see top players keep doing the same "mistakes" over and over again. Because at some point it becomes this yomi game of "I dare you to do it again" vs "Sure I'm not afraid of you". That's why it's harder to condition players who play at the highest level because some players absolutely refuse to respect you or refuse to let fear dictate their decisions. But as a player you also need to recognize these kinds of cocky players and take advantage of their arrogance. And that means you might need to mash buttons and throw random unsafe moves against players like Smug, Infiltration or PL.
 
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@MylesWright_

I'll be back 3ing
People do it because of characters like Killer Frost who have no mix-ups or pressure outside of a slow 50/50. If they are at -5 she can't do anything that really gives her any advantage and she can't play footsies so mashing will beat either of the slow 50/50 options
 
E

Eldriken

Guest
People do it because of characters like Killer Frost who have no mix-ups or pressure outside of a slow 50/50. If they are at -5 she can't do anything that really gives her any advantage and she can't play footsies so mashing will beat either of the slow 50/50 options
You should really seek out another hobby.
 

StevoSuprem0

I'm gonna make this skill gap... disappear.
Because fuck you. That's why.

In reality, it makes some sense to mash a punish. Perhaps you should just block incase they don't input their punish fast enough, but mashing can also punish their punish if they time it that poorly, or whiff punish them if they do something that doesn't reach.
At a high level, sticking to blocking is best because they are less likely to misstime their punishes by enough for you mashing something out to catch them.
 

Superi0rMagik

You only get smarter by playing a smarter opponent
To make you're opponent bow down at you're feet and let him know you run shit not him! Dafuq! Make them all pay!
 

Vagrant

Noob
-Blocked Dive Kick into Ex Cartwheel in MK*
Because if I'm not being punished already before I even have a chance to EXCW that means they were late and EXCW will blow up whatever they're late on the punish with. Same logic applies to SRK.