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Match-up Discussion MK2 Liu Kang VS Johnny Cage

MKB

MKB

Forum General Emeritus
VS


Rules of this discussion:
  • You may contribute anything that will further the interest and understanding of the matchup. This includes strategies, videos, combos, etc.
  • Feel free to answer the default questions posed in the first reply, though you are not required to do so.
  • Please keep the discussion focused on the two characters in question.
 
MKB

MKB

Forum General Emeritus
This match is a real punch in the balls for Cage, pardon the pun. Not much he can do against an elite Kang.

The stay away Kang that spams a constant mix of fireballs will have their way with Cage. Cage's glowing green balls don't come out quick enough and of course can't do anything VS a low fireball. Cage is going to be in the air a lot to jump those fireballs which is bad news all around for him. Unlike other players such as Mileena, Kitana, and Scorpion, Cage can't cancel out his jump with an air projectile and is basically a sitting duck. When that happens... Kang looks to uppercut or aaHP bicycle kick.

For Cage to have a chance, he needs to get in close. His CQC is of course superior, but unfortunately Kang can often low toe right out of it. By landing a few sweeps, Cage can open up a turtling Kang to be more offensive. A good tactic which usually works is a couple sweeps, crossover JK, shadow kick. In terms of specials, the shadow is nice and all, but against Kang is a bad idea in general just because of how much ducking he will be doing (punishable by an uppercut.)

I like Cage's playstyle, but he has too many issues to face against Kang. Cage loses badly, 9-1.
  • Best way for Cage to open up Kang?
  • Should Kang play keep-away or get in close?
  • How can Cage counter the spamming Kang?
 
Last edited:
mortal_jason

mortal_jason

Kitana's Bodyguard
Cage has almost no chance vs elite top tier. This match is indeed a punch in the nuts for Cage :(.
Still, there aren't too many elite Kangs around these days, so there are some strategies that do work against Kang...

CAGE
It is indeed a shame that Cage's low green ball doesn't hit players in a crouch position. But, it is still an effective move if you can predict Kang jumping backwards. Kangs generally fears Cage up close, so anytime you close the gap, you can expect Kang to jump away, so throw a ball. Also it is good at stopping flying attacks. High green ball is also good when Kang jumps back... it's all a matter of tricky timing. Shadow kick is extremely risky, but you can duck Kang's high fireball and shadow kick him immediately. The problem with that is, you leave yourself open for a low fireball if he throws low instead of high. Crossover/shadow kick is a great idea, but the best Kangs will low toe and not get hit. Use sweeps to try and get in close. Coax Kang into throwing low fireballs so you can block and sweep. Or anticipate from far away and jump kick/shadow kick him. There are not a lot of options for poor Johnny in this one, but it's still fun because it's so challenging.

KANG
You can't lose this match from afar- you control the match from that position. Cage jumps at you? Flying kick, uppercut, or any other number of anti-air moves. Cage gets close? Low toe, mixed in with fireballs to keep him back. If Johnny throws a green ball from a close distance, just duck it and bike kick him. Same goes for any whiffed shadow kicks. Unleash a deluge of fireballs (air, instant, high and low) and Kang is virtually unhittable. If you're feeling confident, Kang isn't too bad up close either with his CQC, but watch out for Cage's ballbreaker. Ironically, this match is sometimes tricky for me with Kang because I feel I have TOO many options, and can't decide what to do.

I played a few my Cage vs scorpangel's Kang a few months back... you all would have laughed. It was the saddest looking MK2 match ever. His Kang just low toed/low fb, and my Cage had no option other than sweeps and crossovers. I did sneak one win out against him, but it was NOT fun.
Kang wins this match 9-1, and chances are Cage only wins that 1 match when Kang gets bored.
 
Reactions: MKB
dookiebrain

dookiebrain

Kombatant
Most of you will think Im nuts for this but I ONLY use cage against Kang. I think Cage is the best person for kang (already think im nuts?)

zippy found out why when I washed him 4-0 cage vs kang, feel free to ask him.

its simple, Cage can shut down kangs bycycle kick and flying kick with ease, Kang simply cannot even do 1 single fly kick or bike kick without getting juggled out. Cage can force Kang in the corner and force kang to either only use a low-toe, or TRY using fireballs from a distance.

when you golden punch offensively while using HP and LP simultaneaously, kang is shut down.....period..... he gets reduced to running with fireballs and up close his only counter will be the low-toe. Cages golden punching is prob the best in the game to defeat Kang, HP,LP,(block) HP, LP, HP, LP shuts kang down to nothing, but has to be used in total Offense. many different types of usage for goldens, in this case, offensive goldens shut him down.

apparently zippy has been killing everyone with Kang, I beat him 4-0 using cage and these tactics. he actually begged me NOT to upload video.

Cage 9-1 over Kang, and if not, kang is reduced to nothing but a low-toe.



take away this tactic and Kang shits all over Cage.

my personal oppinion.

unfort, just like in UMK3, golden punching changes the game. same applies here....
 
MKB

MKB

Forum General Emeritus
dookiebrain said:
Cage 9-1 over Kang, and if not, kang is reduced to nothing but a low-toe.

take away this tactic and Kang shits all over Cage.

my personal oppinion.

unfort, just like in UMK3, golden punching changes the game. same applies here....
Click to expand...
Nice to have you back, Dookie. Would you mind recording a series against an elite Kang VS your Cage? I'd like to see this proposed strategy in action.
 
mortal_jason

mortal_jason

Kitana's Bodyguard
dookiebrain said:
Most of you will think Im nuts for this but I ONLY use cage against Kang. I think Cage is the best person for kang (already think im nuts?)
unfort, just like in UMK3, golden punching changes the game. same applies here....
Click to expand...
I use goldens all the time with Cage, this is still a hard match. What do you do if Kang just spams?
I would like to see you do a set vs Scorpangel's Kang. If you beat him 9-1 then I'll reconsider my matchup assessment ;)
Goldens are great, but you end up taking a ton of chip damage from fireballs. How are you doing any damage to Kang if all he's doing is throwing fbs while you golden?
 
Reactions: MKB
M

MIKECALDWELL

Kombatant
dookiebrain, To confirm your statement, yes we think you're nuts. Not nuts in general, but for thinking that shutting down liu's bike kicks and flying kicks are going to make a bit of difference in this matchup. You're just gonna get chipped and anti aired all day.

*edit* On a sidenote, it's nice to see you posting again.
 
mortal_jason

mortal_jason

Kitana's Bodyguard
MIKECALDWELL said:
dookiebrain, To confirm your statement, yes we think you're nuts. Not nuts in general, but for thinking that shutting down liu's bike kicks and flying kicks are going to make a bit of difference in this matchup. You're just gonna get chipped and anti aired all day.

*edit* On a sidenote, it's nice to see you posting again.
Click to expand...
Maybe he has a strategy we haven't thought of. That's why I want to see some recorded matches. I can assure anyone that if I do a 10 set my Cage vs Scorpangel's Kang, AT BEST I will come out 2-8. If I golden, I'll get fireballed. If I jump, I'll get anti-aired. If I get close, I'll get low toed. It's nearly impossible, so I am definitely interested in seeing someone with a winning strategy for this match up.
 
mortal_jason

mortal_jason

Kitana's Bodyguard
MIKECALDWELL said:
LOL. Yea and then Cage might have a chance.
Click to expand...
LOL yeah blindfolded Kang player just low toes all match, Johnny can't do shit. I couldn't score crossover kicks vs Scorpangel coz when I got close he would just low toe. An extremely frustrating match against an elite Liu. The only way I ever beat him was getting lucky with sweeps.
 
mortal_jason

mortal_jason

Kitana's Bodyguard
I would argue that every character in MK2 has more options vs Kang than Johnny does. Even lower-tiered Reptile and Sub-Zero can apply pressure with Forceballs and Ground Freezes, respectively.
 
MKB

MKB

Forum General Emeritus
mortal_jason said:
I would argue that every character in MK2 has more options vs Kang than Johnny does. Even lower-tiered Reptile and Sub-Zero can apply pressure with Forceballs and Ground Freezes, respectively.
Click to expand...
Aside from Scorpion, I agree that Cage is the worst counter to Kang.
 
MKB

MKB

Forum General Emeritus
MIKECALDWELL said:
I don't know if it's because I'm just more comfortable with Scorpion, but I'll take Scorpion over Cage in this matchup any day.
Click to expand...
Your Scorpion is atypical from the norm. From a theoretical standpoint, Scorpion has less to work with against Kang than does Cage IMO.
 
mortal_jason

mortal_jason

Kitana's Bodyguard
It's a good debate. You could really argue either side. Scorpion has better ways to punish Liu's blocked flying attacks. Cage is scarier up close vs Liu. Take your pick. They both get their cages rattled (ha) vs an elite Kang.
 
dookiebrain

dookiebrain

Kombatant
its called zoning with golden punching, kang gets shut down. Ill explain better from work in a few hours.

btw, ever see mk1 single golden punch canceling at close quarters? this is how I use goldens in mk2, plus zoning with goldens as well.

great to be back, You guys are prob a heck of alot better then me at the game right now, but good to be back. instead of the 3 of you, now theres the 4 of us lol
 
M

MIKECALDWELL

Kombatant
dookiebrain said:
its called zoning with golden punching, kang gets shut down. Ill explain better from work in a few hours.

btw, ever see mk1 single golden punch canceling at close quarters? this is how I use goldens in mk2, plus zoning with goldens as well.

great to be back, You guys are prob a heck of alot better then me at the game right now, but good to be back. instead of the 3 of you, now theres the 4 of us lol
Click to expand...
I know exactly what you're talking about, but the problem is getting inside to begin with. Even if you do manage to get inside, liu can just low toe his way out. mortal_jason, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Liu can even low toe under Cage's crossover JKs.
 
mortal_jason

mortal_jason

Kitana's Bodyguard
MIKECALDWELL said:
I know exactly what you're talking about, but the problem is getting inside to begin with. Even if you do manage to get inside, liu can just low toe his way out. mortal_jason, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Liu can even low toe under Cage's crossover JKs.
Click to expand...
Yep I think I mentioned it somewhere before, that vs Scorpangel's Kang, when I try to do crossover kicks, he's impossible to connect with coz he just low toes. My only chance was winning his low toes vs my sweep kicks. It was incredibly un-fun.
 
mortal_jason

mortal_jason

Kitana's Bodyguard
MIKECALDWELL said:
Yet for some reason, you still wanted to run that set.
Click to expand...
I wanted to beat the best Kang of alltime with my JC. I'm a stubborn bastard.

LOL nah... I DO enjoy that match, but vs a Kang that plays that way, it was really ridiculous. both of us were so afraid to do anything.
I didn't want to get slaughtered and he didn't want to lose such an easy match. My only options were blocking low fireballs and sweeping, or trying to sweep through his low toes.

I would VERY VERY much like to see dookie play him and record a set. I don't see how kara jabbing (punch cancels) can do anything to Kang when you can't ever get near him in the first place coz of low toes.
 
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