Match Up Experience BxA Ragnarok vs RM Jago Blake

[Ragnarök Tyr]

Over the past few months, I've taken steps to try and balance time spent in the lab practicing, matches played against those of considerably higher skill and those whose abilities are below my own to help them improve. It has worked, to an extent. Normally I don't have an issue in critiquing matches of others (when I'm asked) However I often have trouble get reviews/criticisms for myself. While yes its true that reviewing your own matches is necessary for improvement it's always good to have another judge you as well.

So I'll be using this as my little slice of TYM. An ongoing thread that will hopefully bring an influx of perspectives of provided match footage. Now, all that being said....

I was asked recently to play a set with someone and critique their performance. While I was happy to oblige, the character is not one that I have used frequently if at all since the launch of MKX. Below is a link leading to 1 of 2 videos in which my opponent (Kusanag1) uses Kung Lao against me. If he were an Ermac player I could provide some form of guidance in approaching the Lao match up, or even how to approach Ermac (in general but without being character specific)

So, that being the case if any skilled Kung Lao mains are present feel free to leave your Tag/Handle/Name and whatever advice you'd be willing to share with the player and I will relay it to him in a timely manner.

 

[Ragnarök Tyr]

It's been maybe three months or so since I've faced off against a Sonya player who used Covert Ops. I understand that match up to a degree. Though tonight I was able to play EXiLE/MTL Jer in a series of 32 matches, of which I happened to win 2. I can honestly say I've never played against Demolition and only seen it played by others. As such I didn't quite understand what was happening, so to speak.

•I dropped several combos in the beginning and end of the set.
•I didn't Anti Air Jer, despite him jumping on wake up out of a few knockdowns in the corner.
•I didn't counter poke his blocked d3's in time to stop the B33/ B14 mix ups.

Overall, I let him get away with a lot. Granted there is a lot of guess work involved in this match up, between his Mix Ups + the Threat of Grenades, there were holes where I could have escaped the pressure or punished him better.


Now, I'm aware that there may be few if any Demo Sonya players here, Though if you happen to see anything I missed, feel free to point it out. The matches can be found here:

Feedback/Critique is welcomed. I just ask it's not something along the lines of 'guess better'.

 

[Doombawkz]

I think we might've played online at one point, and I'd love to get more sets in some time.

 

[Ragnarök Tyr]

Not sure if we have. What is your ID? I'm generally online from 7-11 pm eastern.

 

[big j gleez]

Your posts are always awesome and I enjoy your content.

As far as the match up goes...

I think you let him in too easily at times. I think checking him with b12 more would be good. Or even F43. I also think Mystic is much better in this match up. The biggest thing when facing Sonya of any variation is to limit her chances of getting in as much as possible. You can only guess for so long. Mystic's push is great for keeping her away. Even if you trade with her grenade it is an even 5% trade and pushes her further back. I also noticed after b124 he was beating your D1 (6 frames) with a D3 (7 frames), which has one more frame of start up and b124 is 0 on block. It's tough to master the timing but if you do, it makes the match up so much more difficult. The opponent then has to respect that D1. It opens up so much more for Ermac and can force the opponent to use a bar of meter and possibly be baited. When your opponent is blocking after b124 it also opens up the overhead, low or throw. When I played Toxin before he did this very well against my Sonya. Hope that helps. Keep being awesome.

 

[Ragnarök Tyr]

Every week for the better part of a month I would attempt to defeat Aquaman in a FT10 specifically against Blood God. A variation, which by his own admission has no gimmicks and forces him to play at his hardest. There were many failures, typically one overwhelming loss after another. Rather than quitting the MU, I took a closer look at why I lost and why he'd win. Yesterday was the first time in a little over a month I'd asked for a set. This time, I emerged the Victor at 10-4. Next week I look forward to playing again.

 

[Meep8345]

The Lao mu isn't really hard anymore at all since all he has is staggers now and his ex hat pressure is bad since there's no risk in pressing a button anymore. But I'm down for playing some games My psn is PotatoPower99.

 

[Ragnarök Tyr]

A productive evening, as I like it. First came a casual set with a player working to improve. Then came an interesting set of matches with SOS Zulu / NaCl. A very mix up heavy Smoke that was difficult to combat. Then Reptile, Cut Throat & Finally Cybernetic Kano. Below is a sample of the matches played, the tail end of things when it was against Kano. Still working on a variation against Cybernetic. It seems like Master of Souls or Mystic would be more ideal than Spectral, though I could be wrong.

@Nausea ?

 

[Ragnarök Tyr]

Tonight's opponent came courtesy of Team ANBU. Knowing one of their leaders, this player came recommended as someone who was said to be very good. Anbu_Gimmick someone I originally saw from the USFIV Scene. A player with a strong knack for execution, able to do all of the intricate combos & set ups with characters such as C VIper & Ibuki. It was no surprise when I learned he primarily used the Cancel characters of MKX. Going in, I knew more or less what to expect having seen his execution in SF4.

I don't often play against A-List Cage. That still surprises me given how good the character actually is. One of my biggest weaknesses is the inability to currently Fuzzy Guard 113 and 11/12 F2 during his cancel pressure. That or spot/read a slight pause into a D4. While the recording cuts off at 5-4 in my favor, we played a few more matches before I had to leave for a long overdue set with a teammate. Ultimately it ended 7-6 or so.

I've been considering using A-List on the side. For the last few days I've been working with his Cancels, namely 114, 12 and 333. F3 SKC F3 SKC F3 is still something I can't do consistently; it will come in time.

Nevertheless, I've rambled on long enough. I'm aware not many really post responses in this, my own little slice of TYM. Though if you see something I should have done during the matches, feedback is always welcomed.

 

[Ragnarök Tyr]

I'm in between several tasks at the moment so I don't have time to write up a lengthy dissertation of this set of matches. So all I will say, is that I was privy to playing a decent length of set with Killtron. It isn't often I run into Jax players much less heavy weapons. So this was an interesting and fun exercise.

P.s I'm interested in exploring this match up a bit more. Are there any strong Heavy Weapons players here who reside on PSN?

 

[Ragnarök Tyr]

It's been some time since I've been able to do this. I've long since struggled with the Shinnok Match Up. He's one of the characters in this game I despise, despite my character on paper being a good match up against him. Kryptonite, as it were.

So, I found myself invited to play some matches with EVB Dragon who has picked up....Shinnok. Imagine my 'excitement'. Bone Shaper & Imposter, primarily the former. I dropped numerous things over the course of these games, punches, pressure opportunities, baits etc. It's a match up that nags me.


Curse you @ArmedCalf

That being said, any feedback is appreciated. I will return to the lab, again to beat this match up into my brain.

 

[Tweedy]

I'm pretty confident in the Mystic match up, but if you need Tarkatan XP, let me know.

The connection should be pretty good if you're in Indiana. My tag is EXiLE_Tweedy.

 

[Ragnarök Tyr]

I haven't played a good Tarkatan in some time, so it would be welcomed experience. I've already logged off for the evening, but if you're on, send a request to "CxRagnarok" and i'll accept it later.

 

[Ragnarök Tyr]

I don't normally title my videos as sets, since I'm rarely looking to prove anything during a set of matches. Though this was an offered FT5 from Coach Steve, wherein he used Cybernetic. As I mentioned earlier it's rare that I run across them. Ultimately, I made a number of mistakes in the earlier matches, the 'clutch' if you will that cost me rounds/games. I also miss timed multiple Push Trade attempts while moving forward, resulting in unnecessary damage from projectiles.

In any case, for you viewing pleasure and of course, feedback if you feel so inclined.

 

[Ragnarök Tyr]

A larger sample of the matches played between myself and ANBU Gimmick. Ultimately the set ended 10-8 in his favor. For one reason or another I couldn't OS the gaps in Flame Fist. Still, an entertaining set as always.

 

[Ragnarök Tyr]

I don't suppose anyone knows of an Option Select to use against Commando Kano's tick grab set ups?

 

[Ragnarök Tyr]

@Nausea What is your approach in the Goro match up with Spectral? I tried to play footsies with him, but eventually I found it easier to play keep-away.

 

[CrazyFingers]

So I have a matchup that you honestly might not even need to practice. Mystic vs Butcher feels FREE AS FUCK for Mystic. I don't...even know what I'm supposed to do with that nonsense.

 

[Ragnarök Tyr]

So I have a matchup that you honestly might not even need to practice. Mystic vs Butcher feels FREE AS FUCK for Mystic. I don't...even know what I'm supposed to do with that nonsense.

I've only played against one Butcher, but the match up did feel a bit tilted in my favor. I haven't broken the match up down in detail. Wouldn't do it now for obvious reasons. If you have any recorded matches against a Mystic, I'd be willing to give some insight.

 

[CrazyFingers]

I've only played against one Butcher, but the match up did feel a bit tilted in my favor. I haven't broken the match up down in detail. Wouldn't do it now for obvious reasons. If you have any recorded matches against a Mystic, I'd be willing to give some insight.

Will keep that in mind but yea the choke polarizes that matchup so damn much doesn't feel like much you can do.

 

[Ragnarök Tyr]

May also just be a bad match up for Leather Face in general. Mystic & Spectral (not Applicable to Pretty Lady)

 

[CrazyFingers]

May also just be a bad match up for Leather Face in general. Mystic & Spectral (not Applicable to Pretty Lady)

Yea really strong zoning gives Killer and Butcher real problems. Not even sure how they'll help him there, guess ill find out what happens later today.

 

[Ragnarök Tyr]

It's not often I run into another Ermac player who understands the character & his tools on the same level I do. Especially one that keeps me guessing on his movements, but has mine scouted well in advance. While a few matches were close, Niredina was ultimately the decisive victor of the set.

So, here you can see one of the more interesting mirror matches, Mystic Ermac.

 

[Ragnarök Tyr]

For curiosity's sake I decided to play a set of matches against Jago Blake. It's been some time since we've crossed paths. Unlike our last encounter, I opted to not use Ermac. Rather, I returned to Tremor, who I haven't used seriously against high caliber opponents for some time. It certainly shows, my Crystalline has become rather...simplistic. Certainly elements of the match up were overlooked. However, it was engaging all the same. Blake won 5-2. We will play again soon, I'm sure of it.

 

[Ragnarök Tyr]

Despite ongoing equipment malfunctions, I was able to eek out something of a set with NS Footwurk. Though, ultimately I had to leave when my Monitor began frequently shutting itself off. Admittedly, my Sektor has been neglected as of late, so I wasn't as crisp as I was before. I also apparently caught him during a Live Stream, so you're getting free commentary to go with the matches. Apparently he doesn't play many Sektor's, so it was a bit of a learning experience for us both.

The haze you'll occasionally see is my Monitor essentially dying and turning itself back on.