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Everything wrong with Jade

GLoRToR

Positive Poster!
This is not a whining for buffs type of demand thread.
This is a whining about "my character is bad and here is why" thread.

After seeing a complete lack of success with Jade at the Summit from actual prominent players while more and more people come to her General Discussion Thread to express their dismay about the character with all but two or three people in denial and trying to sound like nothing's wrong with her, I feel it's high time to address her issues. Especially since much better characters already have similar threads going on about them. I'm fairly sure there is going to be a handful of knowbetters, upplayers and people who don't play her coming in here trying to make it sound like she's some sort of hidden top tier and I'm just talking nonsense, I urge people who still try to take this character seriously and care for this character to pay them no heed and try to work towards getting her some love in the upcoming patch(es).

Like it or not, characters only get attention if players are vocal about them. Jade's kit is not in good health currently.

Currently, according to many, there are only three characters worse than Jade in the game: Frost, Shao Kahn and Kotal.
This doesn't necessarily mean that she's a -bad- character in the sense that those who play well at a fundamental level and utilise her Emerald Defender variation will see some success playing her.
This simply means that characters like Liu Kang, Scorpion or even Kung Lao simply boast better kits, do more damage and have better individual tools.
This simply means that playing characters like Liu Kang or Scorpion you will have better rates of success overall if you play those kits at the same, high level that requires Jade to seem viable.
It also means that the game is not horribly imbalanced.

Disclaimer: I don't know what she needs because game balance is not about changing one or two things about a single character.

ALSO. This is not a salt thread so let's get that out of the way real fast, I have way more wins with her than losses and I'm not some button masher who jumps 10+ times a match and hopes to win by mashing out strings.
I felt the need to emphasize this because TYM has a track record of forum bullies who like to try and discredit thread authors in one way or another.
Primarily people who play top tiers and are deathly afraid of the next patch.

Anyway, here goes.

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STRENGTHS
  • Best D4 in the game: Even though it leads to nothing, it resets neutral on hit and has a great hitbox and a nice receding hurtbox.
  • Best D2 in the game: Great reach, standard damage, it's currently her best punish. Sadly.
  • Good movement speeds
  • Decent control of space
  • Range on normals: She has some long range moves but with moves like some F4 and what all Kabal boasts, she's average at best.
  • Average D1
  • Average D3
  • Air Glaive: When meterburned this projectile grants her + frames even on block, that sadly she has nothing to capitalise on with.
  • Glow: Limited immunity to certain projectiles and some ranged options in the game.
WEAKNESSES
  • Worst Flawless Block / Wakeup game with her u2 having hitbox issues and range problems and her u3 being low profiled.
  • Worst normal in the game: F2 is i28, -19 and her only launcher.
  • Worst damage in the game: Because of the above she has no real reliable BnB combo.
  • Below average low: F3 has worse reach than a D1 and is i16 which makes it one of the least viable lows in the game.
  • Negative on every prominent string, huge gap on her best string b3434
  • Average zoning even in her zoner variation
  • Unsafe Specials
  • Worst Parry in the game: Objectively the worst parry at i12 and 7 active frames, can't be held and is an obvious animation unlike Skarlet's, while it does not parry teleports or specials, jumping moves or lows.
  • Bad second variation with negative cancels and a "safe" special that leads to nothing and has hitbox issues / gets blown up by some crouching moves and uppercuts.
  • Bad and very few Krushing Blow conditions
  • Fatal Blow: In a game of fullscreen dodging armoured specials being turned into Fatal Blows such as Kabal or tracking ranged multi-hit fullscreens such as Erron, Jade's is mediocre at best.
Average zoning:
BF1 starts up very slowly because it takes an extra circle around her. Doesn't reliably hit teleports behind her currently. Worse than Skarlet's and Liu's similar straight high projectiles.
Low Spark starts up very slowly, is heavily negative so downright suicide to use upclose, and is a Standing Low Projectile so it doesn't even crouch like Liu's or Cassie's.
Upglaive is an unreliable anti-air which starts up slowly and can only anti-air on a read, which runs the risk of getting whiffpunished so it's poor quality.
Air Glaive is not superior to Kabal's or Sub Zero's similar moves.

Unsafe Specials:
Shadow Kick is heavily negative AND a high for some reason. Its meterburn option is also unsafe so the mixup is not really a viable one.
Butterfly is -13 which means it can get full combo punished on block. It's unintelligible why this move is punishable if it's not a launcher.
Glow, her signature move, is -44 on activation which means it's literally only viable on hard knockdown or on reaction against slow projectiles against non-teleporting opponents. It also wears off if she takes a hit and has mediocre startup frames. As well as Glow is ignored by a good few ranged moves, see thread.

CORE WEAKNESS: RISK/REWARD
This is what's actually wrong about her, and every other problem she has points in this direction, determining her place on the roster currently.
Simply put, for how much work she needs to put in, she really doesn't get a lot back and most of her options in most scenarios force a conservative, slow-paced struggle against a cast most of whose toolkit contains either gap closers or some sort of measure that circumvents Jade from capitalising on her turn, while they all also deal superior damage.


@16 Bit
 
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I have been playing a lot of Jade recently and I agree. I have mainly been using a custom variation with the advanced nitro kick, air glave, and the low green smoke thing. I should try to use the pole vault more but I just dont like it. I have been having some success, but she definitely has some glaring issues, many of which you pointed out.

She has no real mix up game, however not many characters do not in this game. The Krushing Blow for the parry is something I have never hit once. She also has a lot of high starters. I feel like the 1 2 1 should start mid. She also doesn't deal much damage when compared to Geras, Sonya, Scorpion, and Noob.

Jade's space control is amazing though. Her B2, D2, and D3 are very good, and the nitro kick is great at catching people off guard. Overall I agree with her needing some work to make her more viable. Not too much since then she would be a little too good.
EDIT: I also would like it if we got a 2%-3% damage buff for certain combos. Sometimes a throw is the better damaging option and it sucks
 
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For me the thing is that Jade is not even that weak, but the top tier characters are so strong that playing Jade feels unfair somehow.

Why do I have to play this unsafe low damage character when there is a thing named Scorpion that has mobility, great normals, HUGE damage, easy af krushing blows, etc.
 

stokedAF

casual kahnage
I tried her recently and had a lot of fun. Seems like she had a lot of options. If Shao Kahn is considered one of the few that are worse than her then that would explain it as I play Kahn 98% of the time lol. I have fun with him though and I’m glad I decided to stick to one character this time. It’s different for me.

I might try to do the jade and baraka towers while I wait for Shang. I kinda wanted to stick with Shao Kahn until I got bored but it hasnt happened yet. I don’t expect to beat summit players and don’t mind losing though lol.
 

ShadyHeart

Relationship with Sonya ended
The 2 things that piss me off the most with Jade are they took away her signature 'rangs, replacing them with a horribly slow high projectile that accomplishes nothing and they neutered shadow kick. Even Kitana used 'rangs better than Jade does now.
 

Rozalin1780

Good? Bad? I'm the one with the fans
Worst Flawless Block / Wakeup game with her u2 having hitbox issues and range problems and her u3 being low profiled
“Worst” is a bit strong of a word considering Kitana’s U2 has worse range than Jade’s and it’s hitbox angles upward where the opponent has to pretty much be at point blank range or advancing forward. Jade can at least U2 Sub Zero’s F2 overhead at max range while Kitana cannot and will eat a F24 KB if it whiffs.

I agree with a lot of the points being made, but this stood out to me.
 

GLoRToR

Positive Poster!
“Worst” is a bit strong of a word considering Kitana’s U2 has worse range than Jade’s and it’s hitbox angles upward where the opponent has to pretty much be at point blank range or advancing forward. Jade can at least U2 Sub Zero’s F2 overhead at max range while Kitana cannot and will eat a F24 KB if it whiffs.

I agree with a lot of the points being made, but this stood out to me.
Fair. I thought it was the same t/rex limb. i haven't extensively played Kitana yet past the necessary labbing for the matchup.
 

AK Harold

Warrior
Ok let's go ahead and discuss this list again.

Not all invalid but let's see.

Negative strings
All strings are negative on block in this game, it is a core design and all plus strings have gaps. Jade is actually above average on strings. Her B3 series has a -2 stagger, hit confirm -7, and a flawless only gap. Her other strings outside of overhead and b12 are safe and provide pushback on most to avoid the throw meta. F4 is safe confirmable so the 1 being unsafe is irrelevant. Compare her buttons to another character and we can talk. She isn't the best (kabal) but she is better than most.

Zoning
It's the kit that counts. Individual pieces are not good for most things. Sonya rings suck cuz they are a high and don't force action, but I hope everyone here understands it is good because it allows her to pace and inch in to be her 50 50.

Glow
You can react to just about everyones projectiles and depending on match up fire back without worry at all. Specifically if you're glow vs cetrion she can only vines. Up close cetrion will have nothing because it also immunes her rock wall giving cetrion no safety. Glow instantly changes neutral and zoning no one else has this except full screen fatals.

Air glaive
She can mb and be plus. She can also convert damage on air hits easily. It's diagonal and can be done at any height so it's really good at space control vs most the cast.

Low spark
She has a projectile that forces action or flawless. It also knocks down and can anti air with it's upper hitbox. You are zoning, why are you using this up close. If it's after f2 that is a fake online tactic or used rarely to mess with people's heads. Against characters without an advancing special move it's relentless.

Upglaive
Clears the skies and converts to combos. With all the above zoning options, it promotes jumping. This beats jumping. Amped version also covers mid screen as well for a safe guess at range.

Straight glaives
It's for controlling charactersbthat can fly over low spark and frame traps on duck or block to your other options. It's also a timing change up if you are rapid firing.

Shadow kick
She can use this to anti zone as well vs other characters to punish then trying to shoot back. On hit can side switch with amp, this is crucial to zoning. It's unsafe like everyone else's similar high rapidly advancing special. Jaqui is the only outlier.

Walk speed you already mentioned, amplifies zoning. D2 as well for anti jump or advancing normals. D4 to push them out.

Combine all these things, she is a dominant zoner.

She isn't a one size fit all, if you want that play Cassie guns and low gunshot. She is a Swiss army knife zoner and can deal with multiple scenarios.

Many characters don't have a get out of jail safe special.
I have a lot more, but some of your points are a far stretch on weaknesses. These are just a few. Many players are starting to ask what to do vs Jade now. She doesn't have good representation yet, but she is far from bottom tier. Hopefully, she does get buffed and I get a free ride again.
 

GLoRToR

Positive Poster!
Ok let's go ahead and discuss this list again.

Not all invalid but let's see.

Negative strings
All strings are negative on block in this game, it is a core design and all plus strings have gaps. Jade is actually above average on strings. Her B3 series has a -2 stagger, hit confirm -7, and a flawless only gap. Her other strings outside of overhead and b12 are safe and provide pushback on most to avoid the throw meta. F4 is safe confirmable so the 1 being unsafe is irrelevant. Compare her buttons to another character and we can talk. She isn't the best (kabal) but she is better than most.

Zoning
It's the kit that counts. Individual pieces are not good for most things. Sonya rings suck cuz they are a high and don't force action, but I hope everyone here understands it is good because it allows her to pace and inch in to be her 50 50.

Glow
You can react to just about everyones projectiles and depending on match up fire back without worry at all. Specifically if you're glow vs cetrion she can only vines. Up close cetrion will have nothing because it also immunes her rock wall giving cetrion no safety. Glow instantly changes neutral and zoning no one else has this except full screen fatals.

Air glaive
She can mb and be plus. She can also convert damage on air hits easily. It's diagonal and can be done at any height so it's really good at space control vs most the cast.

Low spark
She has a projectile that forces action or flawless. It also knocks down and can anti air with it's upper hitbox. You are zoning, why are you using this up close. If it's after f2 that is a fake online tactic or used rarely to mess with people's heads. Against characters without an advancing special move it's relentless.

Upglaive
Clears the skies and converts to combos. With all the above zoning options, it promotes jumping. This beats jumping. Amped version also covers mid screen as well for a safe guess at range.

Straight glaives
It's for controlling charactersbthat can fly over low spark and frame traps on duck or block to your other options. It's also a timing change up if you are rapid firing.

Shadow kick
She can use this to anti zone as well vs other characters to punish then trying to shoot back. On hit can side switch with amp, this is crucial to zoning. It's unsafe like everyone else's similar high rapidly advancing special. Jaqui is the only outlier.

Walk speed you already mentioned, amplifies zoning. D2 as well for anti jump or advancing normals. D4 to push them out.

Combine all these things, she is a dominant zoner.

She isn't a one size fit all, if you want that play Cassie guns and low gunshot. She is a Swiss army knife zoner and can deal with multiple scenarios.

Many characters don't have a get out of jail safe special.
I have a lot more, but some of your points are a far stretch on weaknesses. These are just a few. Many players are starting to ask what to do vs Jade now. She doesn't have good representation yet, but she is far from bottom tier. Hopefully, she does get buffed and I get a free ride again.
Your points are of course valid.
My post is about things that are wrong about her, though.
I do not argue that all this utility is present and that she's NOT a bad character, but I start with that.

Her main problem is the risk reward and that some characters are just so much better.

As a character she's great.
 

MK9

Apprentice
Every game has better characters, why must we be top tier. Use her vs the characters she’s good vs and learn someone else for her bad matchups.

She’s great for a 5 game set, after that when people learn how to blk than your screwed.

And f3 into fatal is great, unless they no it coming. Cause you land f3 it links, they blk low now they have to blk high.

Also you can’t jump vs her at all unless it’s full screen and ur jumping away. D2 and df4 kill all jumping. I also like d4 into backdash, they hit any button you can db4 anything just about.
 

GLoRToR

Positive Poster!
Every game has better characters, why must we be top tier. Use her vs the characters she’s good vs and learn someone else for her bad matchups.

She’s great for a 5 game set, after that when people learn how to blk than your screwed.

And f3 into fatal is great, unless they no it coming. Cause you land f3 it links, they blk low now they have to blk high.

Also you can’t jump vs her at all unless it’s full screen and ur jumping away. D2 and df4 kill all jumping. I also like d4 into backdash, they hit any button you can db4 anything just about.
I never said she must be top tier.
I also never said Scorpion or anyone has to be nerfed to bottom tier.

Stop thinking in tear-lists and realise that people want their favourite characters to be good.
Not broken, not stupid.
Good.

You don't care that much for Jade, fine, play who you like.
But me,
I'm talking about what all is wrong with the character.
 

Geoffmeister

PS4/EU Ermac main
Really Jade's fine... The only change she really needs is her Wake-up/Flawless Block U2... and maybe that parry.
  • F2 is not a mixup tool, nor really a whiff punisher, but used for reads.
  • B1 (and any follow-up) is a tool used where her B3 cannot, she needs to earn respect for this first... by being super risky... I guess
  • Nitro Kicks redeeming quality is that it has a built-in guessing situation. I don't like it either.
  • You don't get Glow for free, and that's fair.
She gets clear weaknesses and clear advantages. She's versatile at the cost of subpar normals.

For example:
  • B343 is almost as good as Liu Kangs F43U4, theres pushback which accounts for execution where Liu Kang doesn't (always) have to
  • F21 as a (non-high) whiff punisher gets outshined by Dvorahs F2 (20fr mid) or Kitana's B2 (17fr mid)
  • Nitro Kick gets outshined by.. pretty much anyone else's Long-range Special
  • B1 is a weak version of Kabals b1-options
etc.

BUT I've noticed out of the entire cast, no one has air game like Jade (and ability to ignore projectiles), and she still gets access to a lot of these staple tools other characters need to win games, making her play anyones game, or better, as a counter to anyones' game... on harder reads and execution and ability to adapt to MU's.

For example:
  • Max range / Keepaway
    - Prioritizing Zoning makes her stronger versus chars strong up-close
    Jacqui, Jax, Baraka.. Any character without a teleport will have a tougher time
  • Mid Range / Footsies
    - Prioritizing back-walk and B2 makes her stronger versus chars strong up-close and max range
    From mid-range she can utilize her AirRangs too. Nitro Kick on hard reads to lock opponents down, move on to B1, move on to B3/Throws.
    Sonya, Cassie, Cetrion, what's key here is good control over her back-walk speed and IAirRang, against advancing strings and baiting jumps (and anti-airs!)
    So inherently her backwalk speed allows to mitigate for her risky mid-range game, she should only take offense when it's guaranteed, and not because it's guaranteed means you should take it every time. The risk isn't in her favor unless she establishes respect so she can move to:
  • Close-up Offense
    - Prioritizing B343 makes her stronger versus characters that are strong in mid-max range
    Using Glow vs Skarlet is pretty useless, since I stopped using Glow in this MU and focus on the close-up offense, she gives Skarlet a lot more trouble
And then there's characters like Scorpion, Erron, Geras or Sub-Zero that can completely bypass any of these gameplans... Not in her favor, but not unwinnable.
My wishlist is Teleport nerfs. shits gotsta go. I think Jade can deal with everything else ... as long as she gets to use flawless block!!
 
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Invincible Salads

Seeker of knowledge
I never said she must be top tier.
I also never said Scorpion or anyone has to be nerfed to bottom tier.

Stop thinking in tear-lists and realise that people want their favourite characters to be good.
Not broken, not stupid.
Good.

You don't care that much for Jade, fine, play who you like.
But me,
I'm talking about what all is wrong with the character.
how many tears are on that list? can i fill my coffee mug with em?
 

kcd117

Kombatant
Maybe when they nerf the top tiers her low dmg won't be as obnoxiously bad as it currently is.

I don't really think she is abysmal, but it is kinda frustrating to work hella hard to keep a jacqui out for half of a round until she finally finds a yolo dash punch and takes the life lead in one more touch.

Imo she was very good in the beta, before the dash cancels were dumbed down into free movement. That change alone was the biggest nerf she received and I hope NRS looks at it bc being able to cancel both of your dashes into stuff at any time is just not right and hurts the neutral really bad.
 

errormacro7

Official Sonya simp
glortor is a scrublord of worst kind.
top 3 of the worst tym posters of all times.
I used to be at odds with GloRtoR in the past because from my point of view he was a troll. The way he would spam status updates and the front page with negative threads complaining about MKX's netcode and lashing out so vehemently and incessantly at NRS for supposedly being the worst company in the world was too much and she seemed to lose some credibility.

But as a Jade fan, he does have a point in this thread. I believe us Jade fans were all traumatized with the way she was treated in MK9. In this game she's kind of underwhelming compared to other characters, and it seems that her being unsafe on almost everything and low damage (HIGH risk/low reward type of character) is somehow justified by long-range normals. They even inexplicably nerfed her Deadly Butterfly move, making it much harder to combo off of it in the corner compared to how easy it was in the beta, and the corner was the only place she could have more elaborate combos instead of settling with canceling her strings into specials. Why?!

Jade deserves better.
 

HeavyNorse

#BlackLivesMatter
I know it's easy to be dismissive to someone's post if they have a bad rep due to past posts and comments. But looking at this post and the work put into it, there's something to take from this that can be useful and turned into something constructive. And there's no reason to dismiss that, whatever your personal opinions about Glortor might be.

And as errormacro7 says, because of how Jade was in MK9, and how a lot of people made that comparison back in the beta, plus being a Jade fan who just wants our main character to be good and fun to play as, it's easy to focus on the stuff Jade isn't good at.

I'm still playing her though and I have a lot of fun doing so. I lose a lot, but I'm not that good a player either, however, I can see why people make the critique about her gameplay. I personally try to adjust and find out what works then, but it does indeed take work to make Jade work. It's fun figuring it out, though I wouldn't mind if NRS buffed Jade a bit here and there, mostly her damage output which I think are rather on the low side.