Okay. I have adjusted the main thread accordingly. While all pressure utilizing b121 is worse, the way had everything phrased is still correct as far as playstyle goes. It is just far more risky.
Every hit of b121 is now -3 on block. The push back does not seem to be changed or if it has it is subtle. You still get between 5-8 hits on block depending on the character.
As of now it appears that the gap is the same size. 14 frame armored reversals still trade while slower ones get beat.
What this boils down to is that Fisticuffs is just going to have a much harder time in a lot of matchups. His fastest moves are a 9 frame high and an 8 frame d1. Most characters in the game can beat that. So since he is always negative when you stagger this string it is going to be very easy for most characters to just poke out. There is a 13 frame gap between the next b1 after it is staggered and a 12 frame gap before a 1.
The issue I have with this is that his offensive (non-mixup) pressure was nerfed while he received no other changes or fixes in return. It was a mid-tier variation at best, with some matchups that were more in his favor than others.
Fisticuffs is now undoubtedly Johnny's worst variation and with the buffs given out this patch possibly one of the worst in the game.
I do not enjoy flaming or ranting on forums, I've always tried to be concise and make my point clear and be done with it. So, with that, here I go.
Now I know I am in the minority but while I found it interesting to play and fiddle with some other characters and variations this was the only variation in the game that I actually enjoyed playing consistently. I have little reason to continue playing this variation at this point. Even if they do decide to fix or buff it in some other way, it will likely be a month or more before the next patch.
With this patch Flame Fist now has the ability to cancel its' damage buff into his safe on block special that will still combo on hit. I do not understand NRS buff/nerf decisions. This patch seems like they changed far too much across the cast.
The Johnny Cage character forum has been what I consider to be one of, if not the most level-headed character forum on this entire site. For that, almost every character that could be considered worse than Cage as well as some who were on the same tier got buffs while he got nerfs and no fixes. So we've done it guys, Cage is now likely bottom 5. I am not going to make any excessive threads or posts about how you need cry to get anything done for your character despite the evidence to support the validity of that statement. I have said what I wanted to say. I am done now.
I will likely be playing MKX far less often now. I have tried to find a local scene but have never gotten any responses, the online isn't good, and the only variation that I actually enjoyed playing has been nerfed without getting anything in return. So my insight into this character is unlikely to evolve much after this. If I can help and still see questions that I can answer I will try my best to do so. I wish nothing but the best of luck to anyone who continues to use Fisticuffs.
