I was discussing this on the discord, but what I have been doing now is utilizing her first hit whiff strings to utilize her safe mid hitting strings like (1) 2,4 which is awesome for blowing up walk back especially thanks to the Krushing blow that it triggers. I have even been using 2,1,2 for similar purposes, staggers etc. It's the best way to utilize her staff normal safely and I was testing this against Baraka who as everyone knows has really solid advancing buttons in his own right and was contesting him well enough.
Forward 4 going over low pokes is really awesome especially since it is safe on block, I use this normal a lot and use it to set up throw scenarios as well.
Against characters you can't zone I just stay up close/mid screen because with her down 4 and Back 3 she can reasonably hold people in check and her throw game is good since she has a lot of safe staggers.
Basically while I think back 1,2 isn't terrible, I only really advise using it if you have spaced the opponent out well or to catch them slipping/whiffing. Same thing goes for back 2 honestly. Not bad normals, but best utilized for the footsie game, not as block string type of attacks at least not in her zoning variation. There's more latitude for this stuff with pole vault in her other variations.
Forward 2,1 isn't anything to write home about, but conditioning can really help get the ball rolling on this.
Forward 3,4,3 and Back 3,4,3,4 go without saying honestly.
I think most of her tools are functional, they're just a bit more specific scenario based as opposed to her having any particular (this button does everything) like characters in previous titles. I really like her and her synergy with other characters.
