ujustgotpwndX2
Quan "Glass Cannon" Chi
After hitting the lab a little bit to work on my kung lao match up i discovered a few gaps in kung laos pressure that make Tempest not that strong. Idk if this is being discovered for the first time or if this already has a thread so forgive me if it does.
FIRST GAP
after a b321 you can back dash assuming the Lao player does a hat spin (db1), this is pretty strong considering that b231 into hat is one of kung laos main pressure strings as well as being a strong combo starter. This doesn't totally end his pressure though, If the lao uses EX spin (df1) then he will catch you leading to a combo. Now assuming he doesn't EX spin then you are free to apply your own pressure.
SECOND GAP
The second gap is in kung laos main "low" starter in f23, If you see the forward 2 you are free to back dash before the second hit comes through, or if you don't feel confident that you can react to this in time then you can wait until the second hit comes out and back dash the incoming hat spin (db1), although this may be slightly harder since their is more block stun when you low block, making this situation possibly harder to get out of. Like before though the lao player can use an EX Spin (df1) to catch you for a combo when you attempt to back dash creating more mind games. as well as being able to spin he is also able to use f21 if he thinks you will back dash the 2nd hit of the string.
THIRD GAP
This gap is probably more known but i will mention it anyway. In between the 44 string a player can back dash. these leads to the lao player being at disadvantage, and like the previous situations lao can EX spin after the first 4 to catch the opposing player. Note: this isn't a common string thrown out in neutral so this isn't as useful.
Conclusion
Lao has some gaps in some of his important strings that lead to the opposing player being able to start their own offense or even punish in some situations, this makes tempests pressure weaker than it was before and gives others more info to help win in the match ups. Along with this some of the only strings where you have to block the hat spin (db1) include 112124 into hat spin and b2 into hat spin. Overall Lao is still a good character but has some flaws that can be abused.
FIRST GAP
after a b321 you can back dash assuming the Lao player does a hat spin (db1), this is pretty strong considering that b231 into hat is one of kung laos main pressure strings as well as being a strong combo starter. This doesn't totally end his pressure though, If the lao uses EX spin (df1) then he will catch you leading to a combo. Now assuming he doesn't EX spin then you are free to apply your own pressure.
SECOND GAP
The second gap is in kung laos main "low" starter in f23, If you see the forward 2 you are free to back dash before the second hit comes through, or if you don't feel confident that you can react to this in time then you can wait until the second hit comes out and back dash the incoming hat spin (db1), although this may be slightly harder since their is more block stun when you low block, making this situation possibly harder to get out of. Like before though the lao player can use an EX Spin (df1) to catch you for a combo when you attempt to back dash creating more mind games. as well as being able to spin he is also able to use f21 if he thinks you will back dash the 2nd hit of the string.
THIRD GAP
This gap is probably more known but i will mention it anyway. In between the 44 string a player can back dash. these leads to the lao player being at disadvantage, and like the previous situations lao can EX spin after the first 4 to catch the opposing player. Note: this isn't a common string thrown out in neutral so this isn't as useful.
Conclusion
Lao has some gaps in some of his important strings that lead to the opposing player being able to start their own offense or even punish in some situations, this makes tempests pressure weaker than it was before and gives others more info to help win in the match ups. Along with this some of the only strings where you have to block the hat spin (db1) include 112124 into hat spin and b2 into hat spin. Overall Lao is still a good character but has some flaws that can be abused.
