Under_The_Mayo
Master of Quanculations
I'm gonna talk about why I think Quan Chi's low string is going to be used far less, and why consequently F212 will be used more. I'm not saying B324 should be changed, I'm not complaining about it. Just laying out the flaws and how to play around them.
Starting with the good about our low string B324:
- 10 frames
- guaranteed off a jumpin or blocked EX Rune
- leads to 30-40% combos into Armor Spell or Vortex
- easily hit confirmed, or canceled into EX Rune to be safe
Now let's get to the bad.
- B324 is -14 on block. Anyone can full combo punish it. It should only be thrown out on block on the sickest of reads.
- B32 is armorable at certain collision points due to it's funky hitbox causing holes.
- B32 EX Rune is armorable and backdashable.
- B32 is ALSO -14 on block
The last two points are the biggest problems. So if they're blocking low, they just need to wait for the second hit, and then backdash. If we EX Rune, we've wasted a bar. If we stop at B32, obviously they're out.
Armored attacks will blow through B32 EX Rune, and since B32 alone is -14 on block, this means we can't even stop short of the rune and just block. Any armored attack 13 frames or faster will not only interrupt the rune, but will also punish B32 block. For example, SubZero has no reason not to just EX Slide when he sees this string.
And that's just a slide. Cassie, Jax, Lao, Jin, Raiden, Kano, you name it. If you use B324 against them, you WILL be hit with an armored reversal unless you bet it all and input the full string. Even then, they can OS it an still block. And I think this really effects Sorcerer/Warlock. We need meter for B2 Rune, breaker, zoning. And these issues will cause B32 to become basically a waste of meter when people blow it up this easily.
Also, B3 Rune is also interruptable, so while this can screw with them, now you're ditching the whole possibility of actually hitting with your low and confirming into combo, and you're just throwing out B3 Rune, meaning you're burning meter guaranteed.
Moving on, i think this causes F212 to become more important. When using d4, d3, EX Rune in footsies, or inputting off a jumpin, F212 is super easy to hit confirm into F2122. Its first two hits are close enough to break armor sometimes, making it a dream to use in Armor Spell. The string has no holes, and is uninterruptable into EX Rune. And F212 is only -1 on block.
So when you're fishing for a hit, F212 can catch them hitting buttons, and on block you actually have options, unlike the 50/50 on block. You can D3, backdash, NJP, EX Scoop (Warlock) when the blocked string baits them to move. In Armor Spell, F212 blows through their attack, leaving you safe on block or giving an EX Rune follow-up. And if they jump in, F212 in the Armor Spell anti-airs like craaazy, and can confirm into F2122 B1 Trance.
In conclusion, I'm using B32 after EX Rune when I think they're trying to armor through B2 or escape a grab, and sometimes off a jump in. But really, with every part of it being severely negative, and with many characters having a win/win armor opportunity whether we EX Rune or not, our low starter doesn't leave in a good place if it doesn't hit from the first hit. F212, while not a mixup, builds more meter, is uninterruptable into EX Rune, is -1 on block, and wrecks shit on the ground or in the air with armor spell, leaving us in a much better place if it's blocked, and giving the most damage when it hits.
I do not believe this is something that makes Sorecer a bad variation, because B32 is great in the Armor Spell, and his other strings like F212 become super good in Sorecer variation due ot the spell.
Starting with the good about our low string B324:
- 10 frames
- guaranteed off a jumpin or blocked EX Rune
- leads to 30-40% combos into Armor Spell or Vortex
- easily hit confirmed, or canceled into EX Rune to be safe
Now let's get to the bad.
- B324 is -14 on block. Anyone can full combo punish it. It should only be thrown out on block on the sickest of reads.
- B32 is armorable at certain collision points due to it's funky hitbox causing holes.
- B32 EX Rune is armorable and backdashable.
- B32 is ALSO -14 on block
The last two points are the biggest problems. So if they're blocking low, they just need to wait for the second hit, and then backdash. If we EX Rune, we've wasted a bar. If we stop at B32, obviously they're out.
Armored attacks will blow through B32 EX Rune, and since B32 alone is -14 on block, this means we can't even stop short of the rune and just block. Any armored attack 13 frames or faster will not only interrupt the rune, but will also punish B32 block. For example, SubZero has no reason not to just EX Slide when he sees this string.
And that's just a slide. Cassie, Jax, Lao, Jin, Raiden, Kano, you name it. If you use B324 against them, you WILL be hit with an armored reversal unless you bet it all and input the full string. Even then, they can OS it an still block. And I think this really effects Sorcerer/Warlock. We need meter for B2 Rune, breaker, zoning. And these issues will cause B32 to become basically a waste of meter when people blow it up this easily.
Also, B3 Rune is also interruptable, so while this can screw with them, now you're ditching the whole possibility of actually hitting with your low and confirming into combo, and you're just throwing out B3 Rune, meaning you're burning meter guaranteed.
Moving on, i think this causes F212 to become more important. When using d4, d3, EX Rune in footsies, or inputting off a jumpin, F212 is super easy to hit confirm into F2122. Its first two hits are close enough to break armor sometimes, making it a dream to use in Armor Spell. The string has no holes, and is uninterruptable into EX Rune. And F212 is only -1 on block.
So when you're fishing for a hit, F212 can catch them hitting buttons, and on block you actually have options, unlike the 50/50 on block. You can D3, backdash, NJP, EX Scoop (Warlock) when the blocked string baits them to move. In Armor Spell, F212 blows through their attack, leaving you safe on block or giving an EX Rune follow-up. And if they jump in, F212 in the Armor Spell anti-airs like craaazy, and can confirm into F2122 B1 Trance.
In conclusion, I'm using B32 after EX Rune when I think they're trying to armor through B2 or escape a grab, and sometimes off a jump in. But really, with every part of it being severely negative, and with many characters having a win/win armor opportunity whether we EX Rune or not, our low starter doesn't leave in a good place if it doesn't hit from the first hit. F212, while not a mixup, builds more meter, is uninterruptable into EX Rune, is -1 on block, and wrecks shit on the ground or in the air with armor spell, leaving us in a much better place if it's blocked, and giving the most damage when it hits.
I do not believe this is something that makes Sorecer a bad variation, because B32 is great in the Armor Spell, and his other strings like F212 become super good in Sorecer variation due ot the spell.
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