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Guide - Reptile Your Guide To Defeating Reptile (In Depth)

D7X

EMPEROR | D7X
I see many people struggling against Reptile. Many people claim he's "cheap", but once you see his weaknesses, you force the Reptile player to adapt to your game. Now, stop bitching and read: :DOGE

PUNISHING REPTILE'S BnB WAKEUPS
Reptile is quite punishable.
First off, many people do not punish Reptile after Reptillian Dash (BF2), ex Claw Swipe (DB2ex), and ex Slide (BF4ex).

These are ALL punishable.

Dash

use a very quick combo starter. 112 for D'Vorah, for example, is a great punisher for dash. It is quick. Find out what your character should use to punish the dash. It might take a bit of practice.

ex Claw Swipe

This is -14 making it not hard to punish. Unlike the safe claw swipe, the meterburned version is unsafe, and many do not know. Again, find the best punisher you can use for your character. You cannot let Reptiles get away with this.

ex Slide

ex Slide is easier than the other two to punish. Many people do not punish because of the push back. A proper punisher for this would be a forward advancing string. Jax's F21 is an example of a great punisher for this. Find what string works the best for you. I did not put regular slide, because it is a very easy punish and almost anything can punish it.

LIST OF GAPS

This is off the top of my head, feel free to suggest more!

• B1D4 (Gap) Forceball
• B1 (Gap) Pounce
• 34 (Gap) Gas
• F412 (Gap) Forceball
• F412 (Gap) Basilisk
• F412 (Gap) Invisibility
• F412 (Gap) Claw Swipe
• F41/B3/F3 (Gap) Invisibilty

PUNISHING STRINGS/SPECIAL MOVES

Reptile is a very honest character despite what some say.

B1D4/B1~Pounce

Let's start with this. You will mainly be blocking high against Reptile. So many people sleep on this string. It is reactable and super punishable. Fighting Reptile, you always should anticipate this move. Once you see the tongue stick out, that is when you block low. There are many options out of this. After you block low, and anticipate a forceball, you can either crossup Reptile for a side switch, or just punish use a very quick move to punish BEFORE the forceball comes out. If you are not comfortable doing this, you can always armor through the forceball. The pounce is very reactable so blocking low then seeing the pounce and blocking high is key.

F412~Forceball (Corner)

The Forceball is fairly reactable. You can see it coming, or made a read. After F412, you can jump out of the corner for a side switch and get a free punish due to the slow recovery

WHIFF PUNISHING

There are two main super unsafe moves you should always whiff punish. B34, and Pounce (DB4).

B34

B34 is safe on block, and can also armor break many armored wake ups. The risk of using this is the whiff recovery. Many Reptiles love to throw this out at the beginning of a round, and in the neutral (D4 is a much better option than B34 mostly). Making a read can give you a free combo. Back dashing causes B34 to whiff. Noticing patterns of when Reptiles use this is also something to note. Doing B34 after B2 many Reptiles like doing.

"when blocking pay close attention. Its a 3 hit string but from certain distances sometimes only 2 hits will connect on block. When this happens its very easy to whiff punish when the third hit misses." Thanks you to @PlatypusVortex for pointing this out

DB4

Though safe on block, knowing the range of this can help you out. It goes a little over 3/4 of the screen. A good Reptile can calculate and space this move well and not abuse it. However, mistakes can be made. Depending how far away Reptile ends up after whiffing, different moves should be used at different times at different ranges. Testing what tools you have to whiff punish this at different ranges will help with the MU

DEALING WITH REPTILE'S ZONING

Reptile's zoning is good and all, but it does have many ways around it. First thing to note: DO NOT jump over the forceballs. Us Reptiles are always anticipating those jumps. We have many ways to counter them: Pounce, JIK, Spit, DD+Block. Instead, be patient and slowly work your way in. Once you see the forceball coming out, you can start coming in. If you're close enough to the zoning Reptile, you can punish the forceball. Keep in mind some characters have tools to go under the forceballs. Don't forget to duck all the spitballs too. Reptile is a character easy to counter zone. Even Sub Zero's ice ball trades with spit. Due to the slow start up and recovery of his zoning tools, I would say he would not be a top 10 zoner.

COMMON REPTILE SHENANIGANS

Reptile has many gimmicks and just common tricks in general. SOME OF THESE GIMMICKS ARE POSTED IN THE VARIATION SPECIFIC ARE BELOW.

F412~DB2. DB2ex

Oh boy, you all have seen this before. On block you think it's your turn after claw swipe, but they hit you with meter burned claw swipe after. The first time against any Reptile, I would recommend respecting the claw swipe. As I mentioned above, you can punish ex Claw Swipe

B2 Into String/Special move

Anything after B2 is a risk. It's not technically their turn. Instead of respecting, make them scared to do something after B2. As I mentioned, always watch out for ex Claw Swipe after safe moves. Make the Reptile have to guess what you're going to do instead of the other way around

Staggers/Pokes

F41 is Reptile's main stagger. Unlike most, it is a fairly reactable stagger. If you do not see the 2 in F412 right away, go right into your turn. After doing this once, I would advise baiting the claw swipe the second time: After F41, block. Many Reptiles will ex claw swipe after seeing you trying to reverse pressure. If you notice patterns of when they D3, block and reverse to your pressure. Reptiles take advantage that you will mainly be blocking high, turning everything to their turn with a low poke.

VARIATION SPECIFIC STRATEGY

Nimble

Nimble is a VERY risky variation, with high reward.
Here I am listing the things you cannot let Nimble players get away with!

- [On Block] F412~exBasilisk: After F412 you can do many things. Armor, poke, etc. Hit confirming for Reptiles is really only done with the (F4)12, and not F4(1)2. So, they will keep doing this if you let them get away with it. If you stop them, they will be forced to adapt. For people that know the MU, they will only use this as a punish.

- Ending Corner Combo In F41~Basilisk: This is NOT safe at all. You can meterless wake up punish it. (Depending on how close to the ground you were already) This is a very fake setup. In different circumstances it is more safe than others however. Testing this in the lab with your character is mandatory to defeating a gimmicky Nimble.

Deceptive

Deceptive is noticeably better than the other two variations. It does have its gimmicks however. In my opinion the mix up game is much stronger in Deceptive than the other two.

- [On Block] F41/F412/B3/F3~Invisibility B2, Jump, B3, F4, etc.
If you guess right, you can hit them out of invisibility. This is important. Reptiles should not be able to get away with this. Deceptive gains easy plus frames, but you have to know when it is your turn by testing them in the lab. Test all of the strings mentioned above into invisibility and see when it is your turn. [Record AI]

- Be Patient
You can hear what moves Reptile does due to distinct noises. While invisible, you should try your best to view and here all the shit Reptile does. OFIDYAN in his Deceptive guide, explains what you can see and hear. If you want to watch it:


Noxious

There is not much to say about this variation. He gains Noxious gas that inflicts unblockable damage. .20% per second at close range.

- Ending Combo In F412~DD3 is safe.
Even in the corner it is completely safe. It is great for baiting wakeups, and us Reptiles are ready for it! It boosts the DoT


CONCLUSION

Reptile is an overall fair character. To use him, you must adapt to your opponent. If the opponent knows the MU, we're going to have to completely change our style. The key is to be patient and know when it is your turn. Reptile has his fair share of low lights. I hope this guide helped. If I missed anything, which I'm sure I did, please tell me.

@Genocide512
@OFIDYAN
@THTB
@G4S J360
@xXFiercePlayXx
@DatProStunner
@Milkman
@RM Cossner
@Syzoth
@EVB Alright RyRy
@SoS Zulu
@Other Reptiles

@STB Shujinkydink - I remember you saying one time you have a hard time fighting Reptile. I know you said you knew the MU and still had trouble, but I made this and hoping there was something you didn't know. Lemme know what you think? :p


 
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Vslayer

Juiced Moose On The Loose
Lead Moderator
Thanks for this! I defo had trouble with him with Brawler, not sure how Hollywood will fare I haven't tried it online yet, but this is is going to help a lot.

Any Covert Ops and Stunt Double players know how these variations are against Reptile?
 

D7X

EMPEROR | D7X
Thanks for this! I defo had trouble with him with Brawler, not sure how Hollywood will fare I haven't tried it online yet, but this is is going to help a lot.

Any Covert Ops and Stunt Double players know how these variations are against Reptile?
Yeah no problem man! Stunt Double not 100% sure, but imo Reptile beats Covert 6-4
 

Riot Frenzy

Acidic Reptile
The biggest thing I get away with is players not knowing his ex moves are unsafe including his ex traits on block
 
Super Character guide to punish Unbreakable (this is important)
First: Choose any other character but Unbreakable (Even variation-less Sub Zero can do).
Second: Take a cup of coffee and take your time to relax when punishing it's parry.
Third: Jump at him like there's no tomorrow.
Fourth: Profit.
 

Dankster Morgan

It is better this way
Super Character guide to punish Unbreakable (this is important)
First: Choose any other character but Unbreakable (Even variation-less Sub Zero can do).
Second: Take a cup of coffee and take your time to relax when punishing it's parry.
Third: Jump at him like there's no tomorrow.
Fourth: Profit.
Vs ranked Unbreakables I will throw a projectile and watch them parry it, run up from full screen and punish the parry lmfao
 

PlatypusVortex

15 time Evo champion
To add to the b34 section i would also say that when blocking pay close attention. Its a 3 hit string but from certain distances sometimes only 2 hits will connect on block. When this happens its very easy to whiff punish when the third hit misses.
 

D7X

EMPEROR | D7X
To add to the b34 section i would also say that when blocking pay close attention. Its a 3 hit string but from certain distances sometimes only 2 hits will connect on block. When this happens its very easy to whiff punish when the third hit misses.
Yeah these little details that I miss man. I'ma add that! :D
 

MadeOfMetal

Kenshi Srubtastic,Cyrax, Special Forces Mains
yeah Many players don't realize, 34/B1D4/F412 into DF3/DB3 is very punishable on block. anyone with a 7 frame starter can interupt the Ball coming out and combo, not only can they armor that gap very easily but they can also just as easily Crossover and punish with full combo befor eRep can block. so if they ever do this you should full combo it no matter the situation on block from now on.

And cassie has flip to Gap almost all his Cancels, so there should be Zero problems beating Reptile with Cassie esp Brawler.
she has great dirt in that variation, 212 can be Tick thorwed off the first second and third hit OMG right. then she has MAssive damage off JIK that is OP and forget AAing this move unless you are Mileena/Ermac.

not to mention she has some of the best frame data in the game, great mixups to beat Reptiles, and great mindgames, great space control, one of the best Mids so great Neutral, and all the tools to get in quick, so she has no problems with Zoning if used correctly
 
Reactions: D7X

Wam-Zlay

Reptile / Noob
This guide is a reason to quit mkx or stop playing reptile.

forceballs are almost punishable from everywhere on the screen

here is a video :

 
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M.D.

Spammer. Crouch walk hater.
Soo..this ongoing trend lately to make reptile look mid tier is because people actually lose vs Reptile with top tiers or just making sure everyone knows he needs buffs?

Bane tier here i come. 5 days left.


Also, let me add a tl;dr guide as well:

1. Any kind of nimble activation -> armor time into 40%
2. Any stagger whatsoever -> your turn
3. There is nothing plus in anything that the character will ever do. +2 is not plus in MKX