So with more time with Jade, I'm ready to make a bit of an analysis of her. Not really final say, but just my thoughts at this point with Emerald Defender. So take it with a grain of salt.
I still don't believe Jade is a character in dire need of much for the long term. Damage buff for ground punishes via something that launches and/or ex glaive connecting on everyone after 43. b12 having more pushback, but same on block data. And after that...I think she wouldn't really need anything else. I think REO's initial tier list nails how she is...well balanced, not really overbearing.
Air glaive is already established as great, and I think it really shapes matchups way more than credited and makes the variation really better than the pole vault one. Covering that diagonal angle is really good in a 2D fighter. The fact that the EX is so good on block and hit gives her some really free instances of glow, and that in itself can change the flow of the match entirely vs some characters and both of these give her a considerable upside in matchups.
I've gotten more comfortable in how I want to use her strings and normals and they all just have their own particular place of use. f2 on oki is very useful and the range is something the opponent has to really respect, even outside of oki. b12 isn't great within b1 range, but outside of it is where it basically shines. 124's KB definitely demonstrates where the usage of the normal is intended, and gives her that sweep range string meant to poke at and gain space. The big concern in these normals is how weak they are to jumping opponents, but thankfully, her anti airs are really consistent. Air glaive compliments all of this stuff well by giving her that safe poking tool that is pretty flexible, and low projectile as a trading option is pretty useful.
On the flip side, her damage being so bad really checks her effectiveness in certain matchups. If she hit harder, she'd have plenty more decidedly advantage matchups. I wouldn't be mad if it's kept as a relevant weakness, though. It's clearly meant to be her shortcoming. I think breakaway really exposes it more than anything.
Nitro kick gets a bad rep, but vs people who play me regularly, the KB is such a factor that the fact that they try to avoid nitro kick altogether just opens up a lot more freedom once I land the first nitro kick to do other stuff and keep pressing. Like if f21 lands, or I get KB launchers, that 27% that KB nitro kick provides is a little bit more meaningful lol.
I think matchup-wise, ED does fairly well. Geras having moments where he can lose the use of pillar is particularly noteworthy and gives her a bit of control once glow is on. The fact that glow can nullify EB's fatal blow is hilariously useful and allows her a ton of leeway in those low life scenarios vs him, as well as in general vs his stance MB. Noob and Scorpion stand out as problematic, largely because of damage and their abilities to check a lot of her neutral game with their specific teleports. Cetrion losing so many of her zoning options as soon as glow becomes active is great. Air glaive makes Skarlet much more playable, even with her teleport. Jax and Jacqui hate air glaive in general. Just to name a few things that really helps her in matchups. They would be better or less difficult with more damage, though.
So yeah. I still think she's pretty good. Not top tier material, but not a complete waste of a character choice, especially with other characters in your arsenal. And I don't think she'll be touched at all when nerfs hit, so life will likely be even better once NRS decides rebalancing is a go. But even with changes, she won't get far if you don't know how to use her whole kit in this varation, and that'll keep people away from her, unless she ends up top tier lol.
