M2Dave
Zoning Master
I agree.
HQT Predator has the best zoning, footsies, and pressure out of the three variations. HQT also has the most ways to make d+4 safe, which is very important given the fact he lacks range and b+2 hits high.
I agree.
Very true, I'll keep at it man
That because you're not using the right moves for the right situation, D4 isnt something you use to set up anything other than a block string/throw attempt in this game.Well here's an example: Against D'vorah, I would be max range and d4 cancel into far mine setup. D4 hits but D'vorah runs in and does f1, it hits me before I recover from the mine animation and she gets a full combo plus oki. Scenario 2: Same start only I place a close mine, she comes at me and starts f1 pressure again, only I'm blocking it but I'm being pushed away from my mine. Scenario 3: same start except d4 is blocked, she runs up and hits me with f1 while I'm in the throw mine animation. Basically, His animations and recovery are too slow so doing mine, disc, or anything else doesn't warrant a rewarding opportunity in most cases. Mine setups appear to only be that useful post knockdown, but even then, the opponent has way more options to get out of the setupsThis isn't just vs D'vorah either, anyone can run up and stop Hunter setups by just being in your face because predator has limited defensive options. Plus, he doesn't excel at building meter more than any of the other mid/low tiered characters and he seems to rely more on meter in this particular variation.
But that's the issue, even Lex could safely land a b2, f2, or d3 into a mine setup. If I were to do a hard knockdown into a mine, I'd still eat an advancing wakeup attack because of the horrendous mine recovery. He should be able to set something up from a max ranged d4. Doing 21, 12, 122, b22, f212, f2, and f21 is pointless to set up a mine on hit because I could just do EX SS and get full combo damage plus a mine setup.
I'm going to have to agree with @A F0xy Grampa here man. D4 trap clearly isn't the answer. Get yourself some space before you start throwing things out. Use a smart disc to cover your trap recovery. You can't start canceling normals into trap and expect it to go well. If you want to do that you will have to use ex trapWell here's an example: Against D'vorah, I would be max range and d4 cancel into far mine setup. D4 hits but D'vorah runs in and does f1, it hits me before I recover from the mine animation and she gets a full combo plus oki. Scenario 2: Same start only I place a close mine, she comes at me and starts f1 pressure again, only I'm blocking it but I'm being pushed away from my mine. Scenario 3: same start except d4 is blocked, she runs up and hits me with f1 while I'm in the throw mine animation. Basically, His animations and recovery are too slow so doing mine, disc, or anything else doesn't warrant a rewarding opportunity in most cases. Mine setups appear to only be that useful post knockdown, but even then, the opponent has way more options to get out of the setups
Ok, say I do d4 disc, it's the same thing. what I'm getting at is, his disc go away on block so having them out to set up a mine is a gimmick. They take too long to set up and if you have a mine out and throw out a disc afterwards your mine will still be blocked if opponent is within range. Mine doesn't get you more damage or anything, it's just another combo started. So why are we limited to MBing it to have it operate correctly? He doesn't build meter fast enough to be this reliant on it imo.
So go throw them after the d4. Put them full screen and then you have all the space in the world to put something on the screen.
Thing is, any blockstring ending in ex trap is interruptible except for s4 ex trap. this is really what worries me in a high level play where most characters would armor through and launch you in some cases. Which in turn, makes it harder for you to do any blockstring coz you will end up mostly negative and susciptible for pressure or in cases getting blown with armored specials
Don't cancel d4 into his specials in this variation. And you can totally get a smart disc on the screen. If they are throwing a projectile to try and make you block or whatever you have a long range armored combo starter. Once the smart disc is really on the screen the opponent will respect it (or get hit I guess lol) and you can use that respect to put a trap down wherever. Once you have a trap down you are forcing them to do something, even if it is just low block it. Now you can use that to your advantage to run up throw/strike mixup. If they decide they don't want to sit there and take it that maybe they jump, so AA them with an uppercut into trap. They have a fair amount of options yes but the point is you are forcing them to make a decision and play your game. You just need to capitalize on that with your read.
So d4, then run half screen for them to visibly see that I'm trying to throw them....? Throw also has ASS recovery frames, any advancing wakeup beats your attempt to put something on screen.
I didn't say string or normal into ex trap was good. This guy is just obsessed with d4 into special so I said if you want to do that you have to use ex trap. And of course that only works on hit so it's really not good. I agree with you though, blockstrings aren't really this character's strong suit. It's more about screen control.
If they are just holding block, yeah run up throw them. We see players run up throw in the middle of the neutral game all the time. If they aren't respecting you then use a normal. It's a mixup. And okay so you threw them and they want to wake up attack from that range to stop you from putting down your trap.... Do you not see how you can't exploit that? Most of the wake up attacks you can probably just block and punish and even those you can't I'm sure you can find a way to punish. Once again, you're forcing a reaction and then you have to punish it.
Who is stopping you? You dont need to ask permission br0.
Is it about predator? If so just ask in the general discussion. You should be able to create a thread if necessary though, at the top of the thread list for predator their should be a create thread option
Foxy how are U liking hunter predator. You think he's as weak as some people are claiming. Always love a top players opinion on characters.
D4 disc is also a bad idea, d4s on hit you're supposed to press advantage, not just throw out random 'set ups'
If you read the op, you would clearly realize its admitted that hunter is a solid variation especially on knockdown set ups. However, it does indeed has its own shortcomings.
This is an interesting post with some very astute points. However, I still firmly believe the answer to your question is that Hunter is absolutely a "good, competitive" variation in MKX for three primary reasons:
To be honest, his Air disc recovery and Air snag recovery are extremely slow. If you try to use it against any character in a neutral situation, you'll get blown up nearly 100% of the time. Any teleport, ground projectile that hits you after you land, or run into combo starter will work.
Nah, it should be used to avoid zoning. You have to anticipate your opponent throwing a projectile and then jump over it and set a trap or disk. It's not full proof by any means, but it's an option.
To be honest idk why he even has healing in this variation. It would suit warrior much better but hey, NRS knows what they're doing right?
