Why high execution when low execution yields the same or better results?

This post arrises admittedly from some salt that I have, but I think it's also a fair and legit question:

Why play high execution characters?

Personally I try to bring diversity and originality to the world of Mortal Kombat wich means I am usually maining lower tier or high execution characters. However, I am a bout to give it up, it really really sucks to understand the gameplay mechanics at a deeper level than my opponent, but then lose anyway because they use a fighter that is stupid simple:

Some examples; Jason's low-overhead juggle loops into itself and simple ender for like 30+%, Sub Zero can hit an iceball or a clone at which point he doesn't have to worry about any mechanics at all. Ermac threatens obscene damage from anywhere at anytime, Scorpion gets rediculous free damage and vortexs. Smoke has easy resets, and Cyrax bomb traps. Kung Lao can pressure you and chip at an obscene level. Mileena has an easy answer to everything.

So what's the point of learning somebody like Kitana or Jaqui's non-full-auto variants? What do you really gain except a harder curve?

I feel like it creates a situation where you HAVE to play the brain dead characters unless you're at the absolute top of the game, which most of us aren't. Otherwise you lose to inferior competition.

TL;DR: Balance is not just a characters potential ability to compete, but also the ease at which they are able to do so. I am tired of fuck easy characters carrying people. I want a reason to keep at the more difficult characters, but I'm worried that it's never going to actually pay off.

Low execution characters aren't always top tier, nor are high execution characters always low tier. For example Balanced has relatively easy execution but isn't particularly great, yet Swarm Queen is high execution and very good.

Just realized this isn't just me. Look at the last couple rounds here;

Pig is pretty damn good, as is King, but tell me that Lao's retarded pressure didn't just steal this set.

Youphemism said:

Low execution characters aren't always top tier, nor are high execution characters always low tier. For example Balanced has relatively easy execution but isn't particularly great, yet Swarm Queen is high execution and very good.

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I understand that, but it's not the point of the thread.

ZeroSymbolic said:

I understand that, but it's not the point of the thread.

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Well you're implying that low execution characters are better than high execution characters which is why I said that. What IS your point then?

Did you say Kung Lao can pressure you and chip at an obscene level?


I think the problem is that you're playing an unupdated version of the game.

Kung Lao is way harder to play than Kenshi.

Youphemism said:

Well you're implying that low execution characters are better than high execution characters which is why I said that. What IS your point then?

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My point is that in many cases I'm starting to feel like the advantages you get from learning a high execution character are not substantial enough to warrant the time and effort.

Well the top characters are: Alien(medium to easy execution), Mileena(medium execution), Cage(high execution), Kano(easy), Sonya(high execution), Ermac(kinda high execution), D'Vorah(high execution), Jax(medium execution), etc..

I'm not sure I get your point.

ZeroSymbolic said:

My point is that in many cases I'm starting to feel like the advantages you get from learning a high execution character are not substantial enough to warrant the time and effort.

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But it's not all high execution characters because as I said variations like Swarm Queen, Dragon's Fire and A-List are all very good variations. It just so happens that some other high execution variations aren't as good, but it's the same with easy execution characters. Piercing and Tarkatan aren't particularly high execution but very good, Necromancer and Balanced aren't high execution but aren't great.

Execution isn't the main factor in how good or bad a character is. You're generalizing your problem to ALL high execution characters when not all high execution characters aren't worth playing.

Youphemism said:

But it's not all high execution characters because as I said variations like Swarm Queen, Dragon's Fire and A-List are all very good variations. It just so happens that some other high execution variations aren't as good, but it's the same with easy execution characters. Piercing and Tarkatan aren't particularly high execution but very good, Necromancer and Balanced aren't high execution but aren't great.

Execution isn't the main factor in how good or bad a character is. You're generalizing your problem to ALL high execution characters when not all high execution characters aren't worth playing.

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So is just the case that Jacqui's Shotgun variation just isn't worth while?

Also in what world is Ermac difficult to use? Hit lift, free string, cancel into a projectile which yields another free string. :-/

I believe playing low execution characters gives the player more 'brain ram' to focus on the match. And a bit less worry.

ZeroSymbolic said:

So is just the case that Jacqui's Shotgun variation just isn't worth while?

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Jacqui's shotgun variation is not high execution.

And it's definitely worth playing. It has the best setplay of any character in the game as well as the highest damage off safe 50/50s.

I didn't play MK9 so I'm by gonna talk like I understood it, but I'll often times hear MK9 players use REO and Kabal as a reason why execution doesn't matter, and high execution characters can definitely be worth it.

Since when does execution have anything to do with how good a character is or isn't?

A character is good or bad depending on the tools they have available, regardless of if the majority of players can actually execute it effectively.

But in regards to your question execution in relation to reward is not the only factor that defines what character you play and I think it matters very little to the majority of people because if you actually like a character in how they look/act and what tools they offer that compliment your playstyle then you'll grind that execution because you want to. Most importantly it is a more fun/rewarding experience for some people to play high execution characters. I for one felt very accomplished when I started nailing King Lao's run cancels in combos all those months ago.

FL Rushdown said:

Since when does execution have anything to do with how good a character is or isn't?

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That's not the argument he's making. The argument put forth is that it doesn't matter how good high execution characters are because there are easy alternatives which you might as well use.

On this sentiment I somewhat disagree since depending on your playstyle, you'll find certain characters more appealing than others. Also, there are certainly high execution characters they are definitely worth playing in terms of their strength.

My advice is to pick whoever lets you win, but know that if you don't like a character or gel with it, you're not gonna do well with them anyways.

I get what you're saying.

The execution curve itself in this game is almost nonexistent compared to MK9 or the curves of other fighters. If you were to pool together all 100+ variations, there are certainly characters who are way rougher around the edges than others execution wise...but when you break the top of the top tier down, it just doesn't come into play all that much.

Pan1cMode said:

That's not the argument he's making. The argument put forth is that it doesn't matter how good high execution characters are because there are easy alternatives which you might as well use.

On this sentiment I somewhat disagree since depending on your playstyle, you'll find certain characters more appealing than others. Also, there are certainly high execution characters they are definitely worth playing in terms of their strength.

My advice is to pick whoever lets you win, but know that if you don't like a character or gel with it, you're not gonna do well with them anyways.

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thats not always true though. There are patches/games where there aren't low execution characters at the top of the tier lists. Execution is pretty much irrelevant at the top level of any game, even in games with combos that have multiple 1-2 frame links it's rare to see the highest level players miss their BnBs.

Some people like high execution, some people don't give a shit about results or what not, some people don't want to straight up tier whore, I don't know? Not like they're playing a game or anything. If you're good, you're good. Stop complaining.

I've seen your type before

you're the kind of guy that prides himself on using low tier or high execution characters. If a character doesn't work with you after a month or so switch. Switching to flame fist was one of the best moves I ever made

Dankster Morgan said:

Well the top characters are: Alien(medium to easy execution), Mileena(medium execution), Cage(high execution), Kano(easy), Sonya(high execution), Ermac(kinda high execution), D'Vorah(high execution), Jax(medium execution), etc..

I'm not sure I get your point.

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None of these characters are difficult to use. They are very easy to play with when using them optimally because of how their tools operate. For example, Johnny may have "high execution", but it's very easy to implement his high reward/minimum risk playstyle and once you've seen/fought one Johnny, you've seen/fought them all.

The harder to use characters for the most part offer little reward in this game.

I 100% understand what ZeroSymbolic is saying. It's harder to apply his argument to fighters, however, because fighters have much more depth than other games. His argument is why main a top tier that's harder to use, than main a top tier that's much easier to use. It's like saying, why would I main Swarm Queen D'Vorah, who I feel has one of the biggest execution requirements in the game, vs. Cutthroat Kano, who's top tier but anyone who's used him for an hour could wreck face without having to give second thoughts to what his moves are.

The idea is to save your own mind space in a sense. In MKXs case, people are very focused so much on what the opponent is going to do (is he going to play spacing, rush me down, disrespect my pressure and attempt to poke out, overhead or low, etc) I feel that as a medium skilled player, it would be difficult to continuously attempt to make reads on your opponent AND have to consistently execute the timing of a Wasp Grenade cancel like B1xxWGC. To some players, shit like this is second nature, and that's a good thing, but to some players, their mind would be more at ease if their character was more forgiving in a sense. Missing a run cancel is unforgiving. Doing an input like Blade Slice and being safe, is VERY forgiving.

My two cents. I hope I'm understanding correctly now that I think about it.

ZeroSymbolic said:

So is just the case that Jacqui's Shotgun variation just isn't worth while?

Also in what world is Ermac difficult to use? Hit lift, free string, cancel into a projectile which yields another free string. :-/

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Shotgun is definitely worth using, what makes you think it's not? And are you implying that it's high execution? Because besides Stanky Leg it's not really a high execution variation.

I think the point he's trying to make here is that if two characters are of relatively equal (and high) tier placement, but one requires you to be Tokido with cybernetic implants and the other can be played effectively by a monkey wearing mittens (dicks out for Harambe!) then why in the blue hell even bother with the former?

And, well, there's plenty of reasons for it, from being a hipster and/or having a superiority complex over being able to press buttons better than the next guy to simply preferring the character or the challenge. I for one prefer ease of execution so I don't drop shit like a pigeon all day since I lean more toward the mittened-monkey end of the spectrum myself, so if you're feeling some type of way about the struggle just give in and main Doomsday when Injustice 2 comes out, bruh.