Guide - Ermac We Are Many: A Near Comprehensive Guide To Ermac WIP

I spent 2 months writing it. So may it serve you well

Although it pains me to do so. I will be spending the next several days (Maybe weeks) essentially re-writing this guide once the patch is released; as Ermac will no doubt be drastically changed.

I ask all for their patience in this endeavor~

RM xRagnarökx said:

Although it pains me to do so. I will be spending the next several days (Maybe weeks) essentially re-writing this guide once the patch is released; as Ermac will no doubt be drastically changed.

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why do you think that? ermac has unsafe 50/50s and no armored launcher, i don't see him getting changed a lot really. thats what i hope atleast, considering i picked him up as main instead of quan (rip, neverforget, quanlivesmatter)

Ermac has safe 50/50's and some set ups where the mix up is guaranteed/jailed. He also has above average air normals, anti air normals, grounded normals, damage & is safe on virtually everything outside of B32 & B34.

I don't foresee him being butchered, but it wouldn't surprise me if he is toned down a bit.

Let's hope, despite any changes, that he's stays relatively the same. At least for the better. *Crosses fingers and knocks on wood*

I have my work cut out for me...

So I believe after the nerffed f4 some combos wont work ? I am asking bacuse I picked up before the patch and would like to learn how to play with Spectral.

This is true. I'm working on updating the Guide presently

Update. I'll be reconstructing the parts of the Guide effected most by the patch. Namely the combos & damage. It will take some time, so I ask for your patience.

In the meantime, I have put together a compilation of Ermac's Anti Air combos to reflect the change in enders & damage from the October Patch. For those curious, the music was created by Ryan Little, his channel is in the description. Time Stamps for the variations can also be found in the description.

Umm..

This is friggen exceptional.. astute, detailed, well written with videos to illustrate combos, setups and various other things.. this is the kind of thing every character should have.

Very. Very. Well done.

It's also super super nice since I want to pick up MoS again. lol.

darth_infamous said:

Really well done. Interested to see how you examine MOS compared to Mystic. I like Mystic playstyle more, but MOS seems to be far easier execution for nearly the same damage.

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What are the difficulties with Mystic execution?

Wow ! This is good work. I'm just getting started with Ermac though.

@BxA Ragnarök

How are you man ? I hope You still have some empathy for MK.

There are couple things I want to ask about since I have not seen them covered. And also share some small things I've came across while exploring Spectral - because thats the only variation that fascinates me.

So let me start with the questions.

1. B2 - how do you cancel it into d1 or into f21. I've been only able to cancel it into a dash....
2. Best fallow up after clean b2 hit with and without a bar ?
3. What do you think about f3 SA cancel ?
4. Do you have or thought about any setups with b2 HK ?


While I was looking into max damage in the corner with Spectral on a reed with a jip you get a bit more if you do jip 4 into SA.

b123 in the corner is link-able.
34 in the corner is link-able into SA 34

Side note:
I think 34 is underused string that might add additional depth into his armory. I dont know whats the frame data on cancel but its something that people dont really expect and rarely see this string. If I recall its -1 on block so a SA cancel may re gives it another purpose.

I went through both guides, yours and Nasuea's and have not seen it covered - the things I mentioned.

Looking really forward to explore this variation more and more as it so unique and giving his base, he is really good.

I've been onto Spectral for some but didnt really have the opportunity to get the basics down to a level that will allow me to play but recently I devoted some time and were able to play a bit in offline mode and I Am getting there I guess.

There are some other things I wanna to talk about but for now, lets focus on those ones.

I still play MK and considered updating the guide, but with Injustice 3 months away I decided it was more or less an effort spent on other things. As far as your questions go.

1) B2 cannot be cancelled into pokes. It can be special-cancelled or dash/run canceled.

2) Assuming you're talking about a fully charged B2 which is very rare to hit, any conventional combo would work fine. If you're in Mystic, a simple run in F21D2 launcher will lead to about 35-40% meterless depending on the specific moves you do.

3) I use F3 S.A in the corner as a mindgame/gimmick against people.

4) 34 is an under-utilized string. Usually once per set I'll use 34 as a block string into Tele Lift or Soul Ball and the opponent has always been hit by it at least 1x since no Ermac uses this string. Even Kitana Prime, during Casuals at KIT told me, "I've been playing against Ermac for years and have never once seen that string, what is it?" Otherwise the string I believe is -2 on block so there isn't any reason to not use it from time to time.

5) Far as your combo goes, I'm always wary of adding in JI2 combos to Ermac's corner game, only because of the odd gravity scaling some of his combos have. It may be a % or 2 extra, but I generally stick to the standard Stand 4 into S.A combo. If for no other reason than muscle memory.


6) B124 in the corner will link into D1 special. Or D1 into 222 or or D1 into B12 into stand 4. Just depends on the player's execution but they all work for varying levels of damage/gravity scaling.

Thank a lot for feed back.

I thought that I saw in one of your videos that you are canceling b2 into strings - I could be wrong.

Currently I Am trying to figure how to effectively stagger with Mac. I Am focusing on 11, and f2,f2 cancels. I dont really see much (outside of the corner) of a stagger pressure. As I mentioned I just picked him and trying to explore the variation and I begun to wonder is it possible by utilizing his best pokes/staggers to apply heavier pressure based on SA/SA cancel.

Do we know whats the frame data on SA cancels ? What I have mind is condition the opponent to block and then apply SA cancels to apply more blockstrings. Add to it instant air blast and imo we are getting grade higher rusher. However considering the minimum frame advantage he gains from pokes dose SA cancels has to be on point. But I guess reliability depends on the SA cancels frame data.

Another unexplored tool I think jk teleport because there are folks who can AA pretty good and thats when it could come handy.

@BxA Ragnarök
I have two things I would like to as about. I came across unused techniques. I was wondering if its worth exploring and what to know what You think about it.

1. Canceling JK into SA followup
2. b2 automatic combo follow up

The jump kick seems to be useful in the corner. Because like no one else Spectral is able to apply pressure while landing from JK. This could be big because AA for opponent will be riskier.

I started to implement short burst of b2 sometime I miss the hit. So if go with the "auto" fallow up, you can do instant tele to the other side and link f3 ex lift follow up for 20-ish %.

EDIT:

One more thing. I dont know if its known but when Smoke dose f13 smoke bomb you can SA in between the 3 and bomb for a fallow and he cant block because he is still in active frames.