@General M2Dave Can you share your approach to the Batman matchup? His trait seems to reduce the efficacy of Darkseid's zoning and parademon mixups quite a bit.
I have attained a good understanding of the Batman match thanks to King. First of all, understanding how Batman players utilize trait against Darkseid is important. Darkseid is not Cheetah or Scarecrow so the zoning with trait in combination with straight and up batarangs is immaterial against Darkseid. Omega beams easily trade with batarangs in Darkseid's favor and cause Batman to lose trait, which means the trait will mostly be used to approach you, usually in the following three ways.
1) Activate trait and walk forward. In order to counter this approach, meet Batman in footsies range and use d+3 and d,b+1, which are safe on block, even against trait, when spaced correctly. You can also jump or do an instant aerial teleport or stomp, but all of these options are risky. You can dash forward and throw, which is especially risky, but throwing causes Batman to lose trait, even when the throw is escaped successfully.
2) Activate trait, release trait, and dash forward. While Batman's trait has lots of hit stun, the block stun is minimal so you can try blocking and interrupting the following attack with d+1. I thought Sonic Fox did an excellent job implementing this strategy when he fought King's Batman with Joker at CEO. By the way, you can also teleport or instant aerial teleport preemptively, but these two options can be risky.
3) Activate trait, release trait, and jump 2. Unless Batman jumps on you from a really close range, Darkseid's uppercut always loses to jumping 2. When Batman has no trait, I try to anti-air with MB b+3. When he has trait, I anti-air preemptively with jump back 1 or jump back 3. Whether you trade or anti-air jumping 2 successfully, the trait may still you, but Batman gets no follows ups. You can also teleport or instant aerial teleport preemptively, which can be risky.
You can of course always push block or activate your own trait in order to stop Batman's approach, but Batman will have trait more frequently than you will have meter or your own trait. With adequate match up experience, you should be able to block Batman's grounded mix ups consistently, but blocking jumping 2 can be challenging. At least half the time, I highly doubt even Batman players know whether the move will cross up or not.
Finally, I would play a more offensive style over a zoning style in this match. Zoning for too long allows Batman to charge trait very frequently and you want to limit the trait quantity. Every time I get a knockdown I go for mix ups. Slide is not a threatening wake up attack so do not be reluctant to play offensively.
