My impressions on the changes so far after a few hours of farting around:
-Spit is killer. Being able to use this more regularly makes it easier to build meter here and there.
-d2 will never truly replace EXdb2, but it didn't let me down, either.
-I don't mind losing the armoured launchers. It's nice to have a low-risk and high-risk reversal available, even if they don't start combos anymore.
-On that note, is there even a reason to use db2 in any capacity now? f412xxdb4 seems to be the same as a blockstring, except it has better pushback. EX db4 can anti-air (though why you would use it that way is questionable).
-Is it just me, or is it possible to land db4 at the end of some combos instead of slide now? Did f412xxbf2, 21, f412xxdb4 work before, or am I going crazy?
-The changes to spit and d2 make it seem like it's easier for Noxious to save meter, so EX Forceballs are easier to justify without feeling like you're crippling your anti-air game (and ddBLK, to an extent).
-b3xxEXdf3 seems pretty good on the risk-reward front, given the loss of the armoured launchers. The gap between them on block is less dicey when armour gives way less reward, and I think it's safe on block--at the very least, way safer than EXdb2. Still combos on hit, too.
-f412xxEXdf3 is basically the same thing as above, except that you can mix in f412xxEXdb3. If they hold it, it's slightly plus. If you go one step further and mix in f412xxdb4, it'll disincline them from using armour every time.
-Bless NRS for retaining the sacred b2.
-EX df1 is still pretty much pointless. Bummer, that.
Overall, with the exception of losing a high-reward anti-air and his EX spit still sucking, I actually think the universal changes are leaving Reptile sitting pretty. I think he has the potential to be even more moderate, with more low-risk options than before and a slight economical improvement on meter. I think, at least for Noxious, that Reptile's biggest challenge may shift from meter management to the anti-air struggle.
