I had the chance to try out beta this past week and felt like making a list of the changes and my thoughts on them (also, for some reason I can't find any record of the Ermac beta changes here?).
Global:
b1: faster start-up to 7 or 8 frames (down from 11), changed to a high (from mid)
- This allows for easier linking in combo's, linking after standing-Teleport for Mystic and MoS and punishing what s2 can't.
- However, Ermac losing his fastest "mid" isn't great, his other mids are 13 frames (f3 and f2) both lacking advance and reach, this also hurts his counter poke game.
Personally, I prefer being able to punish more situations but it's hard calling this a buff.
b2: longer charge duration increases on block advantage
- haven't really had a chance to test this out in other variations besides Spectral, it's just very impractical but I could see it being useful if it somehow had armor-breaking properties (which isn't asking alot for a 32 start-up move, imo)
f43: safer, around -4 (down from -11) on block
- for 12%, I think this is a fair change, he can safely use his furthest reaching normal (f4) as a footsie tool, although f4 completely whiffs on low profiles (such as Tanyas teleport delay), it's his best option if the opponent is between mid and close range
f34: around +10 on block (up from -6)
- this is obviously not going to stay, would be nice if it was neutral or slightly minus
Hover input DU+block (from DDU)
- yay
MoS:
The only change I found with MoS is that he can reloop vortex with B3/F4-Teleport-B12-F21d2-b12-Soul Ball-b12, giving him a strong comeback factor whenever the opponent is in a Soul Ball
Mystic:
Tele Choke safer to -14 (down from -24) on block
- this is warranted, variation is useless otherwise
EX Tele Choke safer to -1 (down from -24) on block
- gives him a good reason to be respected, opponents can't just crossup Ermacs armor options. Potentially one of the best specials in the beta version. IMO it could lose the armor and still be a very good tool for him
Spectral:
Next to the input change Ermac can also go into Hover from what height he is during a jump, this allows him to dodge projectiles and punish from that situation.