Dude, noob’s “9f mid combo starter” is incredibly stubby and truly punishable (not like you or whoever talking about how f3 is -8 lol) at -17 (yes there’s pushback but over half the cast can easily punish it) and the 1+3 is slow to come out giving so much time to prepare for the punish. My point is just that noob doesn’t get to just throw out b1. You wanna talk about Cassie? Go ahead lol.
It’s funny you bring up noob when noob’s gameplan is almost identical to Shao Kahn’s. Noob relies on b2 and d4, and can’t make people stand block, and plays a whiff punish, neutral based game where it’s difficult to open people up but he hits hard when he hits.
"But over half the cast can easily punish it." How and with how much dmg? Unless you mean slides, shadow kicks, sand trap etc. Also do you know how much dmg Noob can deal after a b1, 1+3 on hit? Almost 40% with 1 bar. I ll take that risk if i can deal that much dmg and take 10% dmg.
Do you know that NS does not leave any hurtbox after using b1? He can destroy button mashers up close with proper spacing.
Are you seriously comparing the tools NS has, with the tools SK has?
Noob relies on b2, d4, f4, f2, f3 (probably the best AA normal in the game leading to a shitload of dmg), d3 (why everyone forgets d3 i ll never understand its godlike) and b4. Hell, he can even whiff punish with b1 as well while doing footsies war. Most of his normals leave no hurtbox at all.
SK on the other hand, has b4, d4 and f3. F3 having a 10f startup is the only thing that still makes him relevant.